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Farmer to farmer exchanges strengthen conservation in Amazonia

Community members of Baiao, Brazil, participating in a “Local Knowledge of the Forest” workshop conducted by CIFOR researcher Flavio Contente. Photo by Flavio Contente

In eastern Amazonia, along the Capim River, João felt he’d made a good deal when he accepted a company’s offer of an outdoor stove in exchange for logging 25 hectares of his pristine forest. Not far away, Pedro traded five 35 meter trees of excellent timber so his sick son could get an injection. In Curumi’s village, a logger offered about US$2 a tree for six month’s of timber extraction. They logged the forest, but neglected to pay Curumi’s village.

Forests throughout the Amazon basin continue to fall and the causes are many and varied. One significant cause is the lack of information people have about the market value of their forest products. Cash poor, and unaware of their trees’ commercial value, residents are not always able to hold out for the long-term value of their forest resources.

Unjust deals have not only local but regional consequences. One third of the Brazilian Amazon is managed by indigenous groups and small holders. Their knowledge – or lack of it – about the true value of their landscape is a powerful determinant in whether forests stand or fall.

However, information can help to transform people and the world they live in. For example, not far from where João, Pedro and Curumi live along the Capim River, Mangueira’s family calculated that the sums the loggers offered could not possibly compensate for the fruits, fibers,medicinal plants and game animals they gleaned from their forest. Working with CIFOR researchers, Mangueira’s family and neighboring communities collected long term data on the “invisible income” offered by forests. Rather than sell their forest, some decided to say “no” to the loggers and have guarded their woods. Today, many of Mangueira’s neighbors are without forest. However,when in need of fruit or construction material, some visit Mangueira’s family reserve.

In addition to generating data regarding the consequences of logging on livelihoods, CIFOR synthesized ecological data and market studies regarding some of the most economically valuable forest fruit, medicinal oil and timber species in the Brazilian Amazon. Data reveals that a tree sold as timber for US$1, can yield US$30 worth of fruit in one season. Oil from medicinal trees sold for US$2can yield soap, an insect repellent, and a valuable remedy for rheumatism. Case studies also indicate that some smallholders negotiate far better deals than Curumi and Pedro received.

But how can useful information reach small holders living in remote areas? How can forest farmers become empowered to negotiate fair trade deals? Social movements in Brazil have extensive networks throughout rural areas. At the request of the National Council of Rubber Tappers, the National Rural Literacy Training Program and the Institute Agroecological of Amazonia, CIFOR is now training trainers within these networks to empower communities to weigh the trade-offs involved in different land uses. Workshops include participatory forest inventories in which women, children and the elders participate. Activities include role playing, negotiation support, and methods to estimate and compare the market value of timber and non-timber forest products.

Over the last few years, workshops have trained 2,590 people directly and 31 ,728 indirectly. CIFOR is planning to monitor the influence of the workshops through return visits and collaboration with local partners. Preliminary results suggest that farmer to farmer exchanges are one of the most effective means to convey information. Curumi and Mangueira have visited other communities and described the impact of logging on livelihoods and the benefits of conserving valuable species. Workshops have attracted interest from an expanding range of stakeholders, including universities, forestry trainingcourses, forest industries and botanical gardens.

Mangueira’s achievement has not gone unnoticed. Despite continual requests to sell his trees, his family’s sixty hectares of mature forest remain an island of green against a stark background of logged over, burnt, secondary vegetation. In 2006, the prestigious Amazonian research center, the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, selected him to receive an award for his efforts to preserve his forest and to promote its biodiversity value. The Director of the Museum’s Research, Dr. Ima Viera, gave Mangueira aplaque and carved canoe oar to celebrate his conservation achievement. During the award ceremony children danced, sang and celebrated the fruits and medicinal plants that survive along the Capim River.