Ecological Effects of Non-Timber Forest Products Harvest and Trade: a Systematic Review

Trade of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is a strategy that combines socioeconomic development with activities of low environmental impact. However, evidence suggests that harvesting these resources can produce negative ecological effects. This article identified the most common effects through a systematic literature review of empirical studies. Articles were previously evaluated against four criteria of inclusion, and were then classified according to the plant part harvested and the effects on 15 parameters at different levels of the biological organization. The results indicated that negative ecological effects are common, especially when harvesting barks and leaves in large volumes, although null and positive effects may also be observed. The parameters most frequently affected were population size; modifications in plant parts; age structure; probability of survival, and species richness. The evidence that NTFP harvest can cause significant ecological impacts calls for a need of monitoring and management systems.A comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNM) é considerada estratégia que combina o desenvolvimento socioeconômico com baixo impacto ambiental. Porém, evidências demonstram que a exploração desses recursos pode provocar efeitos ecológicos negativos. Este estudo identificou os efeitos mais frequentes por meio de revisão sistemática de estudos empíricos, previamente submetidos a quatro critériosde inclusão e depois classificados conforme o tipo de PFNM explorado e os efeitos da exploração sobre 15 parâmetros em diferentes escalas biológicas. Os resultados indicaram que efeitos ecológicos negativos são frequentes, especialmente para a extração de cascas e folhas em grandes volumes, embora no curto prazo os efeitos possam ser nulos ou positivos. Os parâmetros mais frequentemente afetados foram: tamanho populacional; alterações nas partes vegetais; distribuição de classes de tamanho; probabilidade média de sobrevivência e riqueza de espécies. A constatação de que a atividade pode provocar efeitos ecológicos significativos evidencia a necessidade de sistemas de monitoramento e manejo

The Effects of Processing Non-Timber Forest Products and Trade Partnerships on People's Well-Being and Forest Conservation in Amazonian Societies

This study evaluated whether processing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and establishing trade partnerships between forest communities and companies enhance the outcomes of NTFP commercialization. In particular, we evaluated whether product processing, partnerships, or their combination was associated with a number of outcomes related to the well-being of forest inhabitants and forest conservation. We based our analyses on ethnographic and quantitative data (i.e., survey and systematic observations) gathered at seven communities from five societies of the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon. Our results indicated that product processing and partnerships do not represent a silver bullet able to improve the results of NTFP commercialization in terms of well-being and conservation indicators. Compared with cases without interventions, households adopting partnerships but not product processing were most often associated with improved economic proxies of well-being (total income, NTFP income, food consumption and gender equality in income). In comparison, the combination of product processing and partnerships was associated with similar outcomes. Unexpectedly, product processing alone was associated with negative outcomes in the economic indicators of well-being. All of the investigated strategies were associated with less time spent in social and cultural activities. With respect to forest conservation, the strategies that included a partnership with or without processing produced similar results: while household deforestation tended to decrease, the hunting impact increased. Processing alone was also associated with higher levels of hunting, though it did not reduce deforestation. Our results indicate that establishing partnerships may enhance the outcomes of NTFP trade in terms of the financial outcomes of local communities, but practitioners need to use caution when adopting the processing strategy and they need to evaluate potential negative results for indicators of social and cultural activities. With respect to conservation, the three strategies are promising for reducing deforestation, but more pervasive impacts, such as hunting, might increase.Rainforest Alliance (USA)Rainforest Alliance (USA)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil) [Fapesp 2005/01288-1, 2007/06844]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Brazil)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Brazil) [CAPES AUX-PE-DGU 744/2010]National Science FoundationAnthropology (USA)National Science Foundation-Anthropology (USA)Direccion General das Universidades Espanholas (Spain)Direccion General das Universidades Espanholas (Spain) [HBP2009-0014

Towards an applied metaecology

The complexity of ecological systems is a major challenge for practitioners and decision-makers who work to avoid, mitigate and manage environmental change. Here, we illustrate how metaecology – the study of spatial interdependencies among ecological systems through fluxes of organisms, energy, and matter – can enhance understanding and improve managing environmental change at multiple spatial scales. We present several case studies illustrating how the framework has leveraged decision-making in conservation, restoration and risk management. Nevertheless, an explicit incorporation of metaecology is still uncommon in the applied ecology literature, and in action guidelines addressing environmental change. This is unfortunate because the many facets of environmental change can be framed as modifying spatial context, connectedness and dominant regulating processes - the defining features of metaecological systems. Narrowing the gap between theory and practice will require incorporating system-specific realism in otherwise predominantly conceptual studies, as well as deliberately studying scenarios of environmental change.We thank FAPESP (grants 2014/10470-7 to AM, 2013/04585-3 to DL, 2013/50424-1 to TS and 2015/18790-3to LS), CNPq (Productivity Fellowships 301656/2011-8 to JAFDF,308205/2014-6 to RP, 306183/2014-5 to PIP and 307689/2014-0 to VDP), the National Science Foundation (DEB 1645137 toJGH), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (SJL,PPN), and the Academy of Finland (grants 257686 and 292765 toMC) for support. This work contributes to the Labex OT-Med (no.ANR-11-LABX-0061), funded by the French government throughthe A*MIDEX project (no. ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02)

Towards an applied metaecology

The complexity of ecological systems is a major challenge for practitioners and decision-makers who work to avoid, mitigate and manage environmental change. Here, we illustrate how metaecology - the study of spatial interdependencies among ecological systems through fluxes of organisms, energy, and matter - can enhance understanding and improve managing environmental change at multiple spatial scales. We present several case studies illustrating how the framework has leveraged decision-making in conservation, restoration and risk management. Nevertheless, an explicit incorporation of metaecology is still uncommon in the applied ecology literature, and in action guidelines addressing environmental change. This is unfortunate because the many facets of environmental change can be framed as modifying spatial context, connectedness and dominant regulating processes - the defining features of metaecological systems. Narrowing the gap between theory and practice will require incorporating system-specific realism in otherwise predominantly conceptual studies, as well as deliberately studying scenarios of environmental change. (C) 2019 Associacao Brasileira de Ciencia Ecologica e Conservacao. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.Peer reviewe

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable Amazon Network

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazonia Sustentavel, RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far.Keywords: Social–ecological systems, Tropical forests, Land use, Interdisciplinary research, Sustainability, Trade-off

Market integration and sustainability in Amazonian indigenous livelihoods The case of the Kayapo

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DXN054557 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Impacts of Trade in Non-timber Forest Products on Cooperation among Caboclo Households of the Brazilian Amazon

Trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has been touted as promoting forest conservation and enhancing the well-being of local residents through increased cash income, which is considered a positive outcome. However, research on cooperation has demonstrated that increased market access and income may strengthen or weaken cooperation. Because cooperation is essential for community resilience in small-scale societies, negative effects on people's well-being can be expected if increased NTFP trade reduces cooperation. To evaluate whether NTFP trade affected cooperation, we used household data (survey and systematic observations) to compare the frequency of cooperation in two communities of Brazilian Amazon Caboclos, one of which engaged in NTFP trade, while the other did not. Cooperation was less frequent in the community trading NTFPs, but neither household cash income nor household participation in NTFP exploitation was associated with cooperative behavior. Decreased frequency most likely derived from indirect effects of NTFP trade, such as less time to fish or socialize, or other outcomes observable only at the community level, such as income inequality, the influx of new residents and consequent population growth. Our results indicate that conservation and development projects based on NTFP trade may negatively impact social and economic well-being of local communities