Wood exploitation and cocoa cultivation in the Atlantic Forest of Ilhéus (BA), 1862-1879

Abstract

This article analyzes wood exploitation and cocoa cultivation in Ilhéus, southern Bahia, between 1862 and 1879. The primary sources are tax collection books, post-mortem inventories, and reports from foreign travelers. We aim to evaluate the presence of wood in the domestic market and the export economy, as well as the relationship between this trade and the development of crops. During this period, cocoa plantations spread throughout the interior of the Atlantic Forest, and many trees were felled. Wood emerged as one of the primary taxed products in the domestic market, similar to cocoa in exports, generating substantial revenue for the municipality. The expansion of the agricultural frontier in Ilhéus involved the participation of various social groups, in a process characterized by social inequality and slavery.