THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF MANAGING THE ACAI PALM (EUTERPE OLERACEA MART) IN THE FLOODPLAINS OF THE AMAZON ESTUARY, PARA, BRAZIL

Extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) can provide important income for the inhabitants of tropical developing countries, The pres ent research focuses on NTFP extraction in the Amazon estuary by evalu ating the economics of managing acai (Euterpe oleracea), a predominant palm species of the Amazon floodplains. The productivity, revenues an d costs associated with traditional household management of acai were examined in secondary forests and in homegardens. The present value of the net revenue (NPV) of lands managed for fruit and palm-heart was c alculated at different distances from the central market of Belem, Par a, Brazil. Intensity of acai management was dependent on distance from the market and household resources, ranging from simple collection in natural forest to intense cultivation, All calculations of revenues a ccounted for variation in prices due to seasonality of production. Aca i was found to be a highly valuable production system even at high rat es of interest. At a 15% interest rate, the net present values were US $ 1337-2693 ha(-1) in managed secondary forests and US$ 4266-6930 ha(- 1) in homegardens.