Conservation through trade in eco products in Boca do Acre, Brazil
Case Study C0032
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| Date | 2002 |
| Agency | AmazonLife Company |
| Donor/support agency | Company Couro Vegetal da Amazonia S.A. Nawa Institute for Development of Sustainable Extractivism |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Community conserved area |
| Geographic coverage | Brazil |
| Locality | Boca de Acre region/ state of Amazonas |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/Landscape |
| Development focus | Forest communities of region of Boca do Acre |
| Conservation goals | Conservation of Amazonian forests |
| Poverty reduction goals | To make rubber tapper's traditional handicraft competitive in international market |
Summary
In the region of Boca de Acre in the state of Amazonas, forest communities depend on rubber tapping as their main source of income. But due to an increased use of plantation rubber, demand for natural rubber has gone down affecting the livelihoods of the local people. As a result people started clearing the forest and raising cattle herds. However this did not solve their problems. In the 1990s, some rubber tappers of the community contacted the shop Eco Mercado, which specialised in sale of eco products. They showed them saco encauchado, a waterproof bag traditionally used by tappers for carrying latex and their personal belongings. This product became an instant hit and 500 bags were sold at earth summit in Rio in 1992. But soon it was realised that to compete in the market, an upgrade in the technology was required. In the year 1994, with the development of a new production technology, AmazonLife Company was started. With the help of producers associations a new product of international standard, Treetap, was developed which could be used to make bags, brief cases and other products. In order to invest in the product technology and in the infrastructure of the production areas, company obtained a loan from the Brazilian National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES). A production centre was established in the Amazon, where families from villages were trained and provided start up material by the producers associations. Producers, associations and the company worked together to produce Treetap and promot it in the market. Amazonlife made consumers aware of the importance of products from sustainable resources. Now, this product is supplied to many European countries. Around 200 households work in 32 production units with in Amazon, produce 40000 sheets of rubber laminates every year and sell it at ten times the previous price. Everyone involved in the production is offered a decent wage and tappers are co-owners of the patented process. This has resulted in an economic uplift of these households with an improved access to citizenship and credit. Unsustainable practices of forest use have been checked, which has led to the conservation of 900,000 hectares of wild forest.
Conservation impact
Unsustainable practices of forest use have been checked, which has led to the conservation of 900,000 hectares of wild forest.
Poverty reduction impact
Around 200 households are involved in production and everyone involved in production is offered a decent wage and tappers are co-owners of the patented process. This has resulted in an economic uplift of these households with an improved access to citizenship and credit.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Local conservation enterprise opportunities
Local employment/job creation
Partnership with private sector
Reference 1
http://www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/secondary/equator_prize2002.htm#brazil3
Reference 2
http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1349
More information
Maria Beatriz Saldanha, Rua General Almério de Moura 200 – São Cristóvão – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil - Cep 20921-060, Phone/Fax – 552138782131, saldanha@amazonlife.com