The Political Ecology of Amazonian The Political Ecology of Amazonian Deforestation –

Independence Struggles of Rubber Tappers

Madagascar:

Deforested D for st

by 80%

Medicinal discoveries discoveries perceived as

Success storyy

Conservation for Cultural Survival

Rainforest- dependent culture

groups:p

(1) Indigenous

(2) Peasants

(3) Caboclos

Examining the Political Economic Causes of DeforestationDeforestation

(1) Rapid Population Growth…(Neo-Malthusian argument)argument)

(2) Commercial (2) Commercial logging and the global demand for hardwoods and pulp hardwoods and pulp (paper)

Example:

• Tropical Timbers and the Home Depot Controversy p y

• Certified Forest Products CouncilProducts Council

(3) Brazilian government’s colonization schemes( ) g

(4) Rainforest clearing for agriculture (4) Rainforest clearing for agriculture

Slash and Burn:

Fires in Mexico 1998

Deforestation, siltation M th f A RiMouth of Amazon River

(5) R i f t l i f ttl hi(5) Rainforest clearing for cattle ranching

Jungleburgers?

R i f R h d h H b Rainforests, Ranches, and the Hamburger Connection

(6) Commercial Logging and Related Road Building

Rhondonia Brazil (1975)

Rhondonia, Brazil (1986)

Rh d i B il (1992)Rhondonia, Brazil (1992)

(7) Perception of Brazilian rainforest as savage and wild - parallels to American frontierand wild parallels to American frontier

Local Response to Large Scale Deforestation/Ranching

Extractive reserves

- led by Chico Mendez- led by Chico Mendez

- organized empates

•Extraction of B il tBrazil nuts

•$30 million in exportsexports

Extraction of Rubber (photo: rubber tapper settlements)

Rubber tappers in Acre Rubber tappers in Acre scoring and flagging rubber trees

Latex balls sold to market afterLatex balls sold to market after

being smoked

Rubber tappers engage in what is called “Income diversification” – or multiple jobsdiversification or multiple jobs...

Objectives of Rubber tappers:

-(1) protect forest

-(2) secure land

1986 road project proposed that would 1986 - road project proposed that would endanger rubber tapper settlements

U.S. – rubber tapper alliances were f d t t t formed to protect forest and livelihoods

C tl U S Consequently, U.S. congress pressures IDB (International Development Bank) to halt Development Bank) to halt paving

Protests against ranching and development continue; Chico Mendez diescontinue; Chico Mendez dies

Map of “Extractive” reserves as of 1999:

“P t t d f t t b d b “Protected forest areas to be managed by local communities”