National forest (Brazil)

A national forest (Portuguese: Floresta Nacional, FLONA) in Brazil is a type of sustainable use protected area.

Forests along waterways and around springs, on topographical heights, on slopes of more than 45 degrees, in salt marshes, on the edge of plateaus and above 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) may not be touched.

However, enforcement has been hampered by lack of personnel, there is pressure from poor people who need the resources for survival, and tropical plants and animals fetch high prices in the international market.

According to Paulo Benincá of IBAMA the chosen areas had high potential for logging and were close to major rivers to transport.

The goal was to create 40,000,000 hectares (99,000,000 acres) of national forest, which would be sufficient to meet domestic and foreign demand for wood products.