Amazonian peasants, rain forest use, and income generation: The role of wealth and geographical factors

This article explores the role of wealth and geographical factors in shaping livelihood strategies among forest peasant households in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve area of the Peruvian Amazon. Using household survey data (n = 251), the article shows significant livelihood heterogeneity, differential specialization in resource use, and variations in wealth portfolios across and within villages. Analyses of relationships among household wealth-resource use-income reveal: (1) a positive relationship between productive capital holding and fishing activity in land-poor villages; (2) a positive relationship between land holdings and agricultural activity in land-rich villages; and (3) higher incomes and reliance on resource extraction in land-middle villages where extractive activity is found to be negatively related to land holdings. Results suggest the role of geographical factors and nonphysical assets such as extractive skills in resource extraction. The potential value of wealth-based assessment instruments for rain forest conservation-development initiatives is discussed.