Forest Dependency in the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon

Forest Dependency in the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon Amy Duchelle 1, 2 and Karen Kainer 1, 3 1 School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, USA 2 Universidade Federal do Acre, Brazil 3 Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, USA World Forestry Congress, PEN Side Event, October 19, 2009

Objectives 1) Compare the role of forest-based income in livelihood systems of extractive communities in Acre, Brazil and Pando, Bolivia 2) Evaluate income contribution of principal nontimber forest products (NTFPs) 3) Explore policy and market-based tools for increasing income from NTFPs

Context – Acre, Brazil and Pando, Bolivia • Humid, moist tropical forest (heavily forested ~90%) • Dry season (May-Sept); Annual precipitation: ~2100 mm • Acre: 10, 000 km 2; Pando: 15, 000 km 2 • Communities (n=12); HH range: – Acre: 16 to 28 (avg. = 24) – Pando: 14 to 80 (avg. = 31) • Households (n=189) • Avg. hhd size 5. 4 Acre; 6. 0 Pando • Variability: – Access (road vs. river) and distance to markets – Protected area status – Origin of settlers

Household income sources Brazil BRAZIL Avg. income Cash Subsistence US$1319 $815 $504 Bolivia BOLIVIA Avg. income Cash Subsistence US$1095 $805 $289

Relative importance of main NTFPs 70 63. 9 60 50 48. 8 40 43. 2 30 Forest share 20 10 8. 6 Brazil nut share Rubber share 14. 5 0 Brazil Bolivia

Household income sources High relative forest income in all wealth classes – everyone is out there! Bolivia Brazil

Income sources and seasonality • Seasonal collection of forest products. • Q 3 - Brazil nut harvest; Q 4 – rubber harvest Brazil Bolivia • Q 3 and Q 4 represent Brazil nut harvest

Policy and market-based tools for NTFPs Government subsidies - Brazil • 1999: Chico Mendes Law in Acre – rubber price supports (150% price increase by 2002, Kainer et al. 2003) • 2006: Rubber factory in Xapuri, Acre for “green” condoms (+90 -215% price increase from 2002 price) • 2009: Brazilian National Plan for NTFP minimum prices

Policy and market-based tools for NTFPs Certification of Brazil nuts 1) Organic - product quality through “best management practices” 2) Fair Trade - affiliation with cooperatives 3) Forest Management - environmental, economic and social standards

Benefits of Organic + Fair Trade Brazil nut Certification Income Benefits (2007): 1. 20 Pando, Bolivia (n=257) US $ / Kg raw nuts 1. 20 1. 00 0. 80 0. 60 0. 40 0. 20 Acre, Brazil (n=98) 1. 00 0. 80 0. 60 0. 40 0. 20 0. 00 Sold to middleman Sold to certified cooperative Certified producers in Pando 2. 5 times less likely to have Brazil nut debt (p=0. 037) and in Acre 1. 2 times less likely (p=0. 034) Also, significant associations between harvest and post-harvest practices and certification.

Conclusions 1) Extremely high levels of forest dependency in Acre, Brazil and Pando, Bolivia 2) NTFPs comprise a large portion of forest income, especially Brazil nuts in Pando 3) Government subsidies for NTFPs and certification schemes through affiliation with cooperatives can bolster forest-based income (Brazil vs. Bolivia)

Acknowledgements • Field assistance Gladys Guanacoma (Universidad Amazonica del Pando) Marciane d’Araujo and Juceli da Souza (Escola da Floresta, Acre) Peter Groenendjik (University of Utrecht), and others… • Regional partners Embrapa-Acre, Herencia-Pando, ACCA-Madre de Dios, MAP Initiative • Funding sources • Brazil nut producers in the MAP region Contact: Amy Duchelle duchelle@ufl. edu