FOREST MANAGEMENT PATTERNS IN THE FLOODPLAIN OF THE AMAZON ESTUARY

In the Amazon basin, few studies have focused on environmentally sound land-use alternatives that are linked to markets. This paper analyzes land uses carried out by traditional inhabitants (ribeirinhos) on thr ee islands in the Amazon estuary. Management of the native floodplain forest is the most extensive form of land use on these islands. Such m anagement varies in response to local economic and ecological conditio ns but invariably targets key nontimber forest resources destined for local markets, requires minimal input of labor and capital, and mainta ins a considerable stock of biotic resources. While restricted to a sp ecific forest type, this form of land use is associated with relativel y high population densities and, if supported by appropriate developme nt policies, could provide an environmentally sound land-use alternati ve for hundreds of thousands of rural inhabitants of Amazonia.