The Importance of Forest Extractive Resources for Income Generation and Subsistence among Caboclos and Colonists in the Brazilian Amazon

Author(s)

Camilotti, Vagner Luis ^[1] ; Pinho, Patricia ^[2] ; Brondizio, Eduardo S. ^{[3, 4]} ; Sobral Escada, Maria Isabel ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] INPE, Ctr Ciencia Sistema Terrestre, Av Astronautas, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Astron Geofis & Ciencias Atmosfer, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Indiana Univ, Dept Anthropol, Bloomington, IN 47405 - USA

^[4] Indiana Univ, CASEL, Bloomington, IN 47405 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Human Ecology; v. 48, n. 1 FEB 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

We investigated the importance assigned to forest extractive resources (FR) for subsistence and income generation by colonist and Caboclos populations in the Brazilian Amazon. Key informants in 114 settlements (82 Caboclos and 32 colonists) in the southwest region of Para classified on a four-level ordinal scale the importance of fruits, medicinal plants, hunting, fishing, and wood for both subsistence (FRI-s) and income generation (FRI-i). FRI-s was higher than FRI-i, which had a lower importance overall, except for fishing among Caboclos. The differences and similarities found both within and between the social groups refuted this social dichotomy as a major factor mediating the relationship with FR. We discuss possible socioeconomic factors as probable causes to explain the importance values found. The low importance for income generation may reveal the constraints on FR extraction in the Amazon, which can jeopardize the role of forest extractive reserves for economic development in the region. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/58112-0 - Land use change in Amazonia: institutional analysis and modeling at multiple temporal and spatial scales
• Grantee: Maria Isabel Sobral Escada
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants