Anatomical and Physical Variability of Cedrela sp. Wood in Northeastern Peru

Tropical forests in the Amazon are vital for climate mitigation, yet detailed data on high-value timber genera such as Cedrela remain scarce, hindering sustainable management. To address this gap, this study evaluated the anatomical structure and key physical properties of Cedrela sp. wood from the Omia and San Carlos districts in Amazonas, northeastern Peru. Macroscopic and microscopic features, basic density, moisture content, and volumetric shrinkage were assessed using non-destructive sampling. The results indicated that Cedrela sp. wood exhibits medium basic density (averaging 0.50–0.52 g/cm3) and relatively high volumetric shrinkage (averaging 21.46%), suggesting limitations for applications requiring high dimensional stability. However, its favorable properties make it suitable for furniture manufacturing in stable humidity environments. Comparative analysis revealed that the wood properties differed between locations, with Omia showing lower density (0.50 g/cm3) compared to San Carlos, likely reflecting phenotypic plasticity in response to contrasting local environmental conditions. These baseline structural tendencies underscore the value of regional assessments to inform sustainable forest management and optimize the industrial utilization of tropical timber resources. The findings suggest that site-specific environmental conditions significantly influence wood property variations and must be factored into local forestry planning.