The effects of Amazon deforestation on non-timber forest products

The relationships between deforestation and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) supply chains are investigated in 532 municipalities throughout the Brazilian Amazon. The NTFP production of acai berry (Euterpe spp.), andiroba (Carapa spp.), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.), and tonka bean (Dipteryx spp.) has reduced with increasing deforestation rates (p < 0.02). Correlations between the presence of NTFP extractivism and agroforestry systems and increased deforestation ranged between - 22 and - 38%. Forests suffering extractivism activities have decreased mainly in municipalities located in the southern and eastern Brazilian Amazon areas. These decreases are discussed as being associated to forest biomass, fragmentation, edge effect, wildfire, and climate change attributed to deforestation. However, increasing deforestation rates did not influence either cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K. Schum.) production (p = 0.26) or the presence of raw material processing businesses until 2017 (p = 0.09). The lack of observed associations between deforestation and cupuassu production is linked to NTFP management in agroforestry systems. NTFP flows from less deforested regions to municipalities that house factories for the production of oils, fats, pulp and dehydrated seeds. The productive andiroba and tonka bean chains are highly threatened by deforestation. Without the presence of forest restoration efforts employing agroforestry systems, the social and economic activities of both people and businesses are at risk, and NTFP production and diversity are increasingly reduced by Amazon deforestation.

Automated summary

The study investigated the relationships between deforestation and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) supply chains in the Brazilian Amazon, finding that increasing deforestation rates reduce the production of certain NTFPs. However, there was a lack of clear association between deforestation and cupuassu production. NTFPs flow from less deforested regions to municipalities with production factories, while andiroba and tonka bean production chains are highly threatened by deforestation.