Valuation of agroextractive work on sociobiodiversity products in the Amazon: Brazil nut collection activity in the Chico Mendes extractive reserve, Acre, Brazil

Abstract

This article aimed to evaluate the collection stage of Brazil nut seed (Bertolletia escelsa Bonpl.) through the use of geotechnologies, using the variables relief and hydrography, integrated through network analysis (network Analysis). The study area refers to the Encontro I placement, at Resex Chico Mendes (Epitaciolândia – Acre). Thus, from the generation of cost surfaces (time) optimized trails were generated for access to 115 productive Brazil nut trees. In addition, the times for visiting the chestnut trees and for the stages of “gathering” (collecting and heaping) and breaking the hedgehogs were calculated, as well as for the transport of the chestnuts in natura to warehouses strategically positioned in the chestnut grove. As a result, a total calculated time of 33 days/man was obtained, which, converted to the local daily rate, resulted in a labor cost of approximately R$ 1,650.00. This value does not, however, consider the costs of materials for collecting, feeding and extracting the total production from the chestnut grove to the agroextractivist's warehouse. Fair remuneration for agroextractivists is essential for maintaining the collection activity. The study demonstrated that it is possible to value the collection stage, based on the methodology used, requiring validations with the collectors.