Case study

Influence of resin tapping on wood characteristics and properties

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Objective:

Assess how resin tapping can induce changes in the physical, chemical, and mechanical wood properties of the trees, thus conditioning its technological suitability for certain uses and, consequently, its commercial value. 

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Context:

Resin tapping is an important activity to increase the profitability of pine forests as it constitutes an annual income. It contributes to job creation in depressed rural areas and compels the management of pine forests, reducing the impact of fires.
At the wood level, this activity exploits the most commercially valuable part of the stem. Thus, a question arising is whether resin tapping changes the characteristics of wood and if those changes imply any limitations to its use, devaluing it. One way of answering this question consists in comparing the anatomical, physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of wood from resin tapped and non-tapped trees.

Contacts:

Maria Emília Silva, emil_ms@utad.pt
Carlos Loureiro, carlos.a.r.loureiro@gmail.com
Jani Pires, janipires@gmail.com

Further information:

Silva ME, Loureiro C, Gaspar MJ, Pires J, Ribeiro M, Loureiro C, Coutinho JP, Santos E, Carvalho A, Brito JL, Salgueiro A, Lousada JL, 2018. RESIMPROVE - Desenvolvimento de processos de produção e extração de resina de pinheiro para a melhoria da eficiência, racionalização e expansão da atividade. ISBN 978-989-704-264-5