Rastreabilidade de madeira na Amazônia: integração de evidências documentais, físicas e químicas na verificação da legalidade e da origem florestal

Abstract

Logging in the Amazon is one of the main vectors of environmental degradation, often associated with complex production chains and vulnerable to illicit practices. Although the control of wood production and transport in Brazil is based on documentary instruments, such as the Forest Origin Document (DOF) and the Sustainable Forest Management Plans (PMFS), evidence demonstrates that these mechanisms present structural weaknesses that allow the insertion of illegal wood in formal marketing circuits, configuring the phenomenon of "appearance of legality". In this context, it becomes necessary to incorporate complementary approaches based on material evidence, able to improve the traceability and verification of forest origin. From the analysis of expert reports produced within the framework of a large-scale federal inspection operation, it was found that there was a high degree of non-conformity between the declared information and the material characteristics of the wooden loads, with a predominance of irregularities related to volume, species identification, documentary validity, and origin of the holding. Recurring patterns of fraud have been identified, including under- declaration of volume, substitution of species, and manipulation of forest credits, highlighting significant limitations of control systems based solely on administrative records. As a methodological alternative, an approach of volumetric quantification based on the relationship between wood mass and bulk density was developed and validated, demonstrating high operational efficiency and accuracy suitable for application in expert contexts. The analysis of the internal variability of density and moisture content showed significant heterogeneity in the pieces, reinforcing the importance of consistent sampling strategies for reliable estimates. At the same time, the potential of X-ray fluorescence by total reflection (TXRF) in the characterization of wood chemical signature as a tool for inference of geographical origin was investigated. The results indicated that the elemental composition reflects regional environmental conditions, allowing for the discrimination of samples based on multivariate standards. The integration between documentary, physical and chemical evidence was demonstrated a robust strategy for the forensic traceability of wood, enabling independent verification of legality and origin of the loads. This approach contributes to the strengthening of environmental governance, offering technical subsidies for improving enforcement practices and combating illegal timber trade in the Amazon.