To log or not to log: local perceptions of timber management and its implications for well-being within a sustainable-use protected area

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Our research explores local perspectives of a recent and controversial shift in conservation and development strategies in the Brazilian Amazon whereby legal timber commercialization is being pioneered in select extractive reserves, which are a type of comanaged sustainable-use protected area. To understand how this initiative might affect well-being, we documented perceptions of reserve residents about a legal logging project and factors that influenced their decision to participate or not participate. Semistructured interviews (N = 64) were conducted with both male and female heads of household from June to August 2014. We tested the effect of household-level livelihood assets associated with material and relational well-being on project participation. Participating households were significantly less economically well-off and were more educated than nonparticipating households. Individual perceptions indicated that project supporters were motivated by income, whereas nonsupporters most frequently criticized the low price of timber. Both groups expressed concern about the potential environmental impacts of logging. By gender, supportive men were more motivated by financial aspects, whereas supportive women pointed to improved physical assets. Men opposed to the logging project highlighted governance issues, whereas nonsupportive women tended to express environmental concerns. Our study corroborates previously documented interests (and needs) of residents to develop alternative income-generating livelihood opportunities. Further, most interviewed residents expressed support for a more locally customized logging project, indicating that a lack of resident inclusion in project development generated much of the project controversy. Our study highlights both economic development and comanagement governance challenges of sustainable-use protected areas and how project interventions relate to well-being of forest residents.

Determinants of Nonindustrial Private Forest Owners’ Willingness to Harvest Timber in Norway

“…The decision of forest owners to harvest/not harvest timber is guided by many factors [12,[30][31][32]. Among many variables, timber price, forest size, distance to property, ownership objectives, policy awareness, membership in a forest organization, and socio-economic factors such as age, gender, education, income, and net wealth have been emphasized in the following studies [22,31,[33][34][35]. However, their reported magnitude and statistical significance on timber harvesting intentions and intensities are not consistent across studies [30,36].…”

A brave new world: integrating well-being and conservation

“…Gross-Camp (2017) found that community forestry in Tanzania had limited impact on household wealth, but that community members still supported the initiative because of greater governance over and pride in their natural resources. In Brazilian extractive reserves, communities sold the rights to extract their timber, engaging in very little of the actual activity (Cooper and Kainer 2018). The authors found both positive (social and financial) and negative (environmental and governance) impacts of these projects, with variations in perceptions of these across gender.…”

The Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve: trajectories of agro-extractive development in Amazonia

“…However, the timber management carried out in CMER-Xapuri had little local participation in operations, and even generated controversy, perhaps suggesting premature implementation (ICMBio-MMA, 2016). Similarly, in CMER-Brasiléia/Epitaciolândia, participation in pre-harvest activities was generally limited to attending a handful of meetings, and many residents expressed frustration with government (vs. resident) control to authorize timber management, harvest, and commercialization, with little local input in these decisions (Cooper & Kainer, 2018).…”

“…Participants were primarily motivated by the additional income, and indeed, these households showed greater financial need compared to non-participating households. Meanwhile, non-participants argued that the quoted price of timber (R$60/m 3 ) was unacceptably low (Cooper & Kainer, 2018). In terms of addressing clandestine logging in the CMER, the legalization of low-intensity logging was perceived as important among several project supporters; legalization would grant secure and legal access to needs-based timber income that may otherwise be sought reluctantly through informal means (Cooper & Kainer, 2018).…”

“…Thirty years after the death of Chico Mendes and the establishment of the CMER, much has changed in terms of livelihood strategies and development initiatives. Although a focus on NTFP extraction continues, it is one of multiple and intertwined socio-economic activities practiced by CMER residents (Wallace, 2004;Gomes, 2009;Gomes et al, 2012a;Cooper & Kainer, 2018). These changes have been largely driven by forces external to the CMER: policies promoted by the Acre state Workers' Party (PT) self-named "Forest Government" that was elected in 1999, as well as widespread sociocultural changes in the state and household decisions to engage diversification.…”