Title
Wild rubber extraction in the Peruvian Amazon: Local perception and socioeconomic indicators as tools for decisionmaking
Date Issued
01 January 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
Abstract
Forests play an important role in the life of indigenous communities. However, making nontimber forest management a profitable economic activity is a difficult task. Factors contributing to this difficulty include the increasing pressure from the market economy, which leads communities to opt for alternative economic activities such as agroforestry, timber harvest, cacao, and aquaculture. External institutions have implemented rubber projects to reintroduce the rubber extraction activity, but the outcomes of these projects are unknown. To help address this issue, our research was conducted in the Sinchi Roca I native community in Peru. The objectives were (1) to describe the process of wild rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) extraction (2) to analyze the local perception by gender of rubber management and (3) to evaluate the outcomes of this activity using socioeconomic criteria and indicators. Data collection techniques included indepth interviews, focus group discussions, and intrahousehold surveys. First, we found that locals once extracted rubber with unsuitable techniques, which have improved with technical forest management. Second, wild extraction has a positive socioeconomic perception for the community, mainly because it provides income for basic needs. Surveyed families extract around 28,800 liters of rubber per year, averaging US$ 557.80 per family each year. Finally, we found that men and women participate in wild rubber extraction and decisionmaking. However, women prefer not to actively participate in meetings with external institutions. Despite the benefits found, current use of silviculture techniques and community empowerment should be improved to take better advantage of existing potential.
Start page
1
End page
26
Volume
9
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Forestal
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85087504004
Source
Ethnobiology and Conservation
ISSN of the container
22384782
Sponsor(s)
We would like to express our gratitude to the people of the Sinchi Roca I native community to the AIDER NGO and the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina for funding this research to the National Forestry Chamber of Peru for the support and information provided to the research team that was part of field data collection: Ray Medina, Renato Ruiz and Paola Monzón as well as to the Center for Writing (SWS) at the University of Minnesota and SERFOR and WWF-Peru for updated information on rubber management in Peru.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus