Component 5

Conservation-oriented incomes for local inhabitants established.

The Project has sought to increase income prospects for indigenous communities by increasing their opportunities for sale of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as Brazil nuts and traditional handicrafts. A pilot project for Brazil nut harvesting and marketing has been developed for the village of Alalapadu, with the hopes that if succesful similar programs could be applied for other indigenous communities. Since January 2006, the Alalapadu community has developed several marketable Brazil nut products, including peeled nuts, roasted nuts, and salted nuts.  These products have been delivered to shops in Paramaribo through charter flights booked by the project to assess consumer interest and preferences (). 

In Suriname, the project has worked with 10 women handicrafts producers in Kwamalasamutu to design and select necklaces for the local markets in Paramaribo.  Training courses in administration and financial aspects were conducted for the women, and they had several meetings with store owners to discuss marketing the products (). 

The potential for other NTFPs development for marketing is being explored as well, including palm products and tropical fruits.

The main challenges in the commercial development of NTFPs are logistical, related to the remoteness of the Trio/Wayana areas and the high costs of transportation of products to market. A sustainable solution to the issue is being sought, but will potentially involve either air transportation subsidies (currently sustained by the project) and/or an increase in scale of NTFP production, allowing for absorption of transportation costs.

 

  

Documents and Pictures

 

Brazil nut processing tests  in Alalapadu, Suriname (February 8, 2006) 

 

Meeting on Trio Handicraft Development Plan  

 Edible Fruits Non-Timber Forest Products Workshop (September 14-15, 2004)    - Task 5.1 

 Men's Craft and Carving Workshop (August 5-6, 2004)    - Task 5.1 

 Women’s Non-Timber Forest Products Workshop 2 (May 17, 2004)    - Task 5.1

 Women’s Non-Timber Forest Products Focus Group (June 2004)    Photos - Task 5.1

 Non-Timber Forest Products Progress Report (June 2004) - Task 5.1

 Maramara Non-Timber Forest Products Workshop (July 2004) Photos - Task 5.1

 Brazil Nut Report (Aug. 2004)  - Task 5.1

 Handicrafts Marketing Proposal - Kwamalasamutu, Tepu, and Apetina  - Task 5.1

 

 

 

This page was last updated on Monday July 02, 2007.