Forest activity was studied in Viçosa-MG, through a questionnaire applied to farmers who planted forests. A total of 63 farms were sampled, comprising an area of 2,096.95 ha. The natural and planted forest areas sampled were of 372.00 ha and 260.17 ha, corresponding to 17.74% and 12.41%, respectively. The predominant natural forest was the secondary forest (capoeira) (67.55%), and the species chosen for reforestation was eucalypt (92.68%). Average labor use in the phases of implementation, maintenance and harvest of the forest plantations was estimated at 30.21, 13.64 and 61.25 days-man/hectare, respectively, totalling 105.10 days-man/hectare, with family labor participation of 25.24%. Forest activity costs (R$/ha) were estimated at R$419.30 for implementation; R$146.49 and R$80.34 for first and second year maintenance, respectively, and R$2.11/m³ for wood harvesting cost. The forest plantations are concentrated at the hillside areas and the average number of jobs generated by reforestation (eucalypt) was 0.042 jobs/hectare. It was concluded that, overall, reforestation was considered a rather unattractive activity, with typical forest properties remaining unidentified. Thus, it is recommended the elaboration of public policies to encourage reforestation.
Reforestation; eucalypt; farm
