The collection of multiple non timber forest products: the case of Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve

Abstract

This project aims to assess the feasibility and the economic potential of the exploitation of multiple non timber forest products (NTFPs) by riverine communities of the Brazilian Amazon. There are frequent claims in the scientific literature that combining the exploitation of multiple NTFPs can help to address socioeconomic aims while minimizing the ecological impacts associated with resource extraction. However, heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of species and variability in the propensity of forest dwellers to engage in NTFP gathering due to their interest or socioeconomic and labor limitations are factors that may constrain the implementation of this strategy. Despite that, it is still unclear whether the availability of NTFPs and the likelihood of people's engagement in NTFP gathering vary in different contexts and among communities, and how this variability is associated with a household viability of extracting multiple NTFPs and thus raising its income. This project therefore focuses on this question and tests the following central hypothesis: the feasibility of collecting multiple NTFPs and the potential financial return is highly variable due to the spatial heterogeneity in the presence, abundance and productivity of species of economic interest, as well as the variability in the interest of families and their workforce for gathering. To do that, data gathering will be structured in two levels: communities and households. At the community level, the availability of 7 types of NTFP of economic interest in a total of 7 communities will be compared. Data for this analysis is based on the occurrence, density and production of fruits or seeds of species of economic interest, gathered through transects. At the household level, we will evaluate families' stated interest in participating in NTFP gathering as well as other characteristics that affect their propensity to engage (e.g. demography, wealth and dependency ratio) through a household survey. Data analysis will be based on statistical procedures such as ordered logit regression (household level) and the non-parametric tests Kruskall-Wallis and Spearman rank correlation (community level). We expect that the study results will help to elucidate how variations within and among communities can influence the viability of multiple NTFP gathering and thus inform projects that aim to raise the cash income of forest dwellers. (AU)