Socioproductive diversity conciliated with sustainable forest management with sustainability alternatives for extractive communities, Santarém/PA

Abstract

The family farming socio-productive diversity is extremely important for both sustainability and social reproduction of Amazon’s communities. This study thus aimed to analyze the community’s productive practices seeking to identify species, products and/or byproducts, which may generate either income or food, or both, for extractive families of Gleba Nova Olinda I, Santarém-PA. Both semi-structured interviews and Participatory Rural Diagnosis’ (DRP) productive calendar were used as survey methodology. The surveyed communities develop socio-productive activities such as exploitation of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), crop cultivation, animal husbandry, hunting and fishing. Among the NTFPs, Brazil nuts, copaíba and pitch are highlighted. Additionally, other products are also extracted from the forest, such as bacaba, patauá, buriti, uxi and pequiá. Cassava for flour production is the main raw material, as it can be used not only for family consumption but also for sale. Likewise, other feedstocks are also produced, such as corn, rice, beans, squash and watermelon. Chicken is the main animal raised, which serves as either for food or for sale, depending on family needs. Hunting and fishing are very important activities to ensure food for families. They consume more than 12 different species of fish and more than 19 different species of animals. The local governance process becomes essential so that communities can have greater autonomy from traditional agricultural economic and productive practices, rather than from the PMFS, as they are vulnerable to the involvement and mastery of forest activity.