Potential topoclimatic zones as support for forest plantation in the Amazon: Advances and challenges to growing paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum)

•Forestry using native species represents a mitigating activity in the Amazon.•We developed methodologies to map the topoclimatic zones for paricá plantation.•Our results provide support to public policies in the Amazon degraded areas.

Forestry using native species represents a potential climate change mitigating activity in deforested areas of the Amazon. The challenge is to increase knowledge of the ecology, behavior and management of Amazon species, in addition to the preferential topoclimatic conditions necessary for plantation. Thus, this study aims to identify and map the potential topoclimatic zones to support paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum) plantation in the State of Pará, Brazil. By using data and information on the behavior of the species in areas where it occurrs naturally, the most suitable conditions for the species were defined by using multivariate analysis techniques and field observations. Employing the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the degree of correlation between the topoclimatic variables was evaluated selecting the representative variables in percentage of the data variance. Resources of map algebra were applied for the integration of the variables in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The topothermic and water deficit layers were decisive in the indication of potential zones for paricá plantation. The results indicate that 54% of Pará is in an area with high potential, 39% in a medium potential zone and 7% in a low potential zone. It was also observed that paricá can be used to restore landscapes mainly in areas in the east of the state, in which there is high deforestation and anthropization. Approximately 66 million hectares occur in the high potential zone. It was then concluded that topoclimatic zoning can support strategies of forest plantation, providing support to public sustainability policies in the Amazon.