There have recently been several news reports about the increase in Amazonian deforestation. This deforestation is most acute in Bolivia. My research shows that many indigenous communities are using sustainable forestry to improve their land tenure status i.e. the legal control of their territories. Lowland indigenous communities marched from the lowlands (where much of the deforestation is happening today) to the capital city of La Paz in 1990 to demand the right to use and control their territories. Reasons for the increase in deforestation is that indigenous communities are less likely to be able to use forestry to secure their territories–the major goal for the lowland communities. There are many reasons for this but include: national governmental policy, international non-governmental organizations focus on issues other than forestry, and a lack of local options to improve community well-being. See Chapters 5 & 6 of my dissertation for more insight into the meanings of sustainable forest management for lowland indigenous communities. Also, here are links to the recent newspaper reports:

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/amazon-forest-threat-is-greater-outside-brazil/2012/08/30/2d47c4b0-ee08-11e1-b624-99dee49d8d67_story.html

National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/06/160171565/guess-whos-chopping-down-the-amazon-now

 


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