Copaiba

Meet the Copaiba tree (Copaifera langsdorffii), a remarkable species native to South America, thriving across Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. Known for its versatile applications and medicinal resin, this evergreen rainforest tree reaches up to 35 meters in height, though it is often smaller, between 6 to 18 meters.

A key feature of this tree is its production of Copaiba balsam, a resin harvested sustainably without harming the tree. Each tree can yield 40–55 liters annually, making it a renewable rainforest resource. The resin, stored in trunk cavities, is tapped much like maple syrup. The resin’s applications are vast: it serves as a biodiesel, a lacquer ingredient, and a natural remedy with a history stretching back to pre-Columbian times. The Copaiba tree supports industries like apiculture, attracting European honeybees with its pollen, and carpentry, thanks to its durable wood.

Widely distributed and not currently threatened, Copaiba remains a resilient and valuable asset to the biodiversity and economies of South America. Its sustainable harvesting practices ensure that this rainforest resource can continue supporting both ecosystems and industries for generations to come.