PRODUCTION CHAIN OF FOREST BIOMASS ENERGY: A CASE OF EUCALYPTUS FIREWOOD IN THE PRODUCTIVE POLE OF ITAPEVA/SP STATE

Abstract

The biomass from forests is an important source of energy, in the Brazilian energy matrix, being the eucalyptus the main species to the supplying of firewood demand. Therefore, diagnosing the critical factors that limited the competitive performance of the production of the eucalyptus wood chain was the goal of this work. The study area was the productive pole of Itapeva/SP state and the field survey was conducted in the second half of 2013, using the analysis of supply chains as a conceptual theoretical framework. As a tool for data collection, we used a semi-structured questionnaire, a script for interviews and conducting panels, involving issues related to the production chain of the eucalyptus wood, covering 23 different agents involved in it. The analyzed chain showed to be structured, even facing a production setback, due to a macroeconomic environment that resulted in a drop in the demand for forest products. These products face significant important local barriers, which need to be defeated to increase the chain performance.