managing forests for food security
DESCRIPTION
The management of acai (Euterpe oleraceae) forests in the estuary of the Amazon River in Brazil provides an important example of locally-developed forest management systems that preserve many ecosystem services (including biodiversity conservation) while also contributing food and other economic products to households. Production of acai fruit has recently expanded greatly as use of the fruit has moved beyond the borders of Amazonia. Local smallholder farmers have responded to the new opportunities by expanding and intensifying cultivation and management of the palm. Such smallholder-developed forest management systems have yet to be recognised by either the conservation or development communities. CIFOR scientist Christine Padoch gave this presentation on 8 September 2012 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, during a session co-hosted by CIFOR titled ‘Managing wild species and systems for food security’.TRANSCRIPT
Managing Forests for Food SecurityIUCNWorldConservationCongressSaturday,8September2012Jeju,Korea
• Formillenniaforestsandothernon‐agriculturalecosystemshavebeenmanagedtobettersatisfyavarietyofhumanandsocietalneeds,includingtheneedforfood
• However,thesetraditionalformsofmanagementhaveremainedmostlyinvisibletoresearchers
• Weneedtofocusonidentifying,understandingandevaluatingtheirrealities,potentials,andthetrade‐offstheydemand.
Smallholder management of forestshas been “invisible”
THINKING beyond the canopy
chacra
chacranueva
platanoplatanoyucalyplatanal
frutal
chacraenproduccion
frutal
purmavieja
chacraenproduccion
platano
huerta
purmavieja
purma
THINKING beyond the canopy
Managed Forests in Amazonia
THINKING beyond the canopy
Expansionofmunicipalitiesproducingacaifruit,1985‐2004accordingtoIBGE
2004~1985*
Brondizio, E. S. 2008. The Amazonian Caboclo and the Acai Palm: Forest farmers in the Global Market. New York:New York Botanical Garden Press.
fruit
leaves
leaflets
trunk
roots
raquilesbroom
fruit
juice
smokerubber(coagulate)
fertilizerroofcover
“poguega”shrimpbaitwrap“peconha”climbingbelt
generalcoversleaves/crownshaft heartofpalm
hat
trunk
paperpulp
constructionbeams
floorboards
fences
walls
bridges
“cacuri”fixedfishingtrap
ConstructionofraisedplantbedMedicineforstomachproblems
dye
domesticanimalfodder
foundationforgeneralconstruction
Acai palm (Euterpe oleracea)
FigurecourtesyofE.Brondizio
BananaAcai
Pineapple
Lemon grass
Papaya
Unmanaged forest
Thinning & Sowing
Pruning acai clumps
Acai agroforestry
Selective clearing
Inter-cropping
Acai over bananas
Acai agroforestry
Unm
anaged Intensive M
anaged
Crops: A
nnuals bi-annuals
Perennials
Terrain preparation
A
cai plantation
Clearing & leveling
Transplanting in rows
Acai monocultureFigurecourtesyofE.Brondizio
Averagenosacksofaçai(~48kgfruit/sack)producedpermonthby36samplehouseholdsinMazagao(2000–2011)
!
"!
#!
$!
%!
&!
'!
#!!!
#!!"
#!!#
#!!$
#!!%
#!!&
#!!'
#!!(
#!!)
#!!*
#!"!
#!""
+,-./0/
+122,3/
4,5/.671-8.9
Management for Multiple Products
• Isworkingwithsmallholderforestmanagement(ratherthanteachingfarmersconventionalforestrypractices)apromisingwayforassuringfood,incomes,andsustainablelandscapes?
Smallholder management of forestshas been “invisible”
Please visit us at www.cifor.org