Managing forests for food security

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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’.

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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)

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Management for Multiple Products

• Isworkingwithsmallholderforestmanagement(ratherthanteachingfarmersconventionalforestrypractices)apromisingwayforassuringfood,incomes,andsustainablelandscapes?

Smallholder management of forestshas been “invisible”

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