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Astronium is a common tree
with an area of natural distribution from Mexico and the Caribbean through
Central America and South America to the Andes Mountains in the west and
south to Argentina. There are no US CITES regulations (reciprocal international
eco-region treaties concerning threatened or endangered species) with
references to Astronium. It is found at altitudes ranging from 500 to
3,000 feet but is most common at 1,500 to 1,800 feet in both dry and humid
forests. It is considered a good candidate for plantation farming with
easy germination, wide habitat range and 35 to 45 year merchantable harvest
rotations.
Government agencies in all countries we purchase from (such as Ibama
in Brazil) have land management plans which are based on selective and
sustainable logging practices. There are also independent third party
agencies such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) who provide the
same. Companies that log in these areas are required to submit detailed
forest management plans prior to harvesting. These plans identify trees
by specie and allow for selective harvesting. Seed trees and trees under
a certain diameter are left behind to keep the cycle of growth healthy.
In some cases government agencies require companies to replant areas
that have been cleared in the past (see picture below).
Unfortunately, logging practices in the rainforest regions of Central
and South America are greatly misunderstood. Clear cutting is not a
logging practice used by the forest products industry. It occurs when
land is cleared for farming and ranching. This is the largest danger
to the tropical rainforests. By creating jobs for local people and land
owners from tropical timber products the incentive to convert tropical
forests to agriculture is minimized thus helping to sustain the rainforest. |
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