Forest Resource-based Household Economy in the Communities of the Nanay River Basin, Peruvian Amazonia

Resource use in rural communities is an important factor affecting local livelihoods and forest conservation in Amazonia. In this paper, we estimate the income obtained from roundwood and irapay palm (Lepidocaryum tenue Mart.) fronds by 79 households living in three Amazonian rural communities where harvest and trade of forest products is the main economic activity. These communities are found in the upper, mid-upper and mid-lower Nanay River Basin (northeastern Peru). We analyze data from a survey of these households conducted in 2009–2010. Results show that both work time and forest income are the highest in the upper Basin, the area furthest from the main urban market in the region, Iquitos. The highest forest income per hour worked, however, is found in the mid-upper Basin. The estimated incomes are equivalent to a low-to-mid level salary in Iquitos, suggesting that the economic incentive is not high enough for these rural households to move to an urban area. Our findings also indicate that the most remote community may be more vulnerable to resource access regulation changes.