Compiled and Editing by Sahar Yaghoubi
Through arduous collection from the Bolivian Amazon floor, Jorge Lengua and his fellow Indigenous nut harvesters utilize an export staple as livelihood, while guarding vast tracts of rainforest.
Representing over 80,000 families, their seasonal gatherings leverage a globally important non-timber crop dependent on standing forest. Though perilous amid hazards like serpents and stings, harvesters persevere in rain or wind, slashing shells alongside their families.
Significantly contributing to GDP and employment, Brazil’s nut trade plays an outsized conservation role, incentivizing the protection of Bertholletia trees through sustainable yields. These efforts safeguard vulnerable populations and diverse habitats.
Yet prevailing macro challenges have buffeted harvest volumes and wages, as pandemic-induced demand declines compound inflationary strains. Risks also emerge from climatic disturbances imperiling harvesters’ customary routines.
Bolivia’s status as a top exporter signifies sustainable extraction’s importance for livelihood security linked to intact ecosystems. Mitigating barriers like market fluctuations will bolster the resilience of Amazon people reliant on standing forest treasures beneath the canopy.
With appropriate support, smallholder Brazil nut collection can strengthen customary forest stewardship amid global change, benefitting communities, biodiversity, and climate for generations to come.
Livelihoods and Forests Entwined: Bolivia’s Brazil Nut Harvesters Safeguard Rainforests Through Challenging Times
