Extração de recursos florestais por agricultores na Amazônia Oriental

Abstract

The Amazon is recognized as synonymous with biological and social diversity. It shelters several social groups with direct or indirect relationships with forest resources. However, little is known about how these relationships occur in different landscapes, as well as their main predictors. In this study, we sought to characterize the extraction of timber (TFP) and non-timber (NTFP) forest products from 460 landowners (with representation of small, medium and large farmers) from two distinct regions of the Eastern Amazon. In this research, information about the socioeconomic characteristics, environmental aspects of the property and information on TFP and NTFP extraction was compiled through questionnaires. In addition, the relationships of TFP extraction, and extraction, collection intensity, and NTFP extraction richness were modeled with forest cover, region of location, property size, type of agricultural land use, number of people in the household. and annual income. The results obtained indicate a low extraction of TFP, mainly from wood, to the detriment of charcoal production. Most of the NTFPs presented extractions below 50% and low intensity of collection between regions, especially among small producers, which shows a tendency of lower dependence on forest resources by families.A higher percentage of extraction of forest products was observed in medium and large properties, which may be related to the presence of larger legal reserves in these areas. The positive relationship of forest cover and property size with the extraction of most TFP and NTFP reinforces this argument. The richness of extraction and intensity was higher in the Santarém region, which may be related to the greater cultural diversity in the use of forest products in this region. Given the above, it is possible to conclude that medium and large producers in the Eastern Amazon also have ties to the forests, and the exploitation of NTFPs in small properties in the region can be intensified according to market demand. Finally, it is understood that the strong relationship between the extraction of NTFPs and the increase in the size of the property can be configured as a barrier to better opportunities for poor farmers, thus harming sustainable development from a perspective of sustainable exploitation of the non-timber forest products.