Os folheiros do jaborandi: organização, parcerias e seu lugar no extrativismo amazônico

Abstract

The jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Wardl ex Stapf) is a shrubby included in the family Rutaceae. Its use is contemplated in the ophthalmology due to the presence of pilocarpine, a substance used in the production of eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma. In addition, jaborandi is widely used in cosmetics, in xampus and hair creams against hair loss. In the Carajas National Forest there are native populations of jaborandi managed by local people called “folheiros”, organized in a cooperative. In order to investigate how this has happened to the plant extractivism in Carajás and the outlook for activity, we left from a guiding question for the job: Why, despite all the difficulties in its organizational base, low bargaining power in with pharmaceutical companies, the process of criminalization that were targeted, and weaknesses of the plant extractivism as an economic activity, the “folheiros” jaborandi persist in the extractive activity after 25 years? Through four hypotheses outline a scenario for the extractivism of jaborandi Carajas in dialogue with the literature that addresses the management of natural resources in tropical forests, particularly on the extractivism. We conclude that the extractivism of jaborandi, after several legal problems for their organization evolves from a condition of great state repression to a process of agreement for its sustainable management. Despite predictions about the economic viability of extractivism, we believe that the extractivism of jaborandi may be an exception to the patterns previously observed. This is because the native plant has the qualitative advantages over jaborandi grown on large scale. Currently, pharmaceutical companies have sought to acquire sheets of extractive jaborandi also by market benefits associated with positive image of partnerships with local communities and traditional populations. Nevertheless, the extraction is in serious danger of collapse because the fragile social organization of “folheiros” or because its management inviability caused by the advance of mining in the area.