Production of nuts obtained through extractivism in Brazil can generate R$ 130 million per year. An Embrapa study pointed out that Brazil nuts are driving sustainable development in the Northern Region through payments for environmental services. According to the survey, the nut, also known as Amazon nut, is helping to generate income in extractive communities while boosting sustainable development in Brazil. The survey by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) was signed by researchers based in São Paulo, Amapá, and Roraima.
“Scientists analyzed payments for environmental services (PSA) and payments for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in the Amazon. Both mechanisms stand out for their potential to add value to forests where chestnut trees occur, by bringing additional benefits such as carbon storage, climate regulation, and the fulfillment of goals established in government programs and international agreements,” detailed Embrapa. The state-owned company also highlighted that nuts are among the country's main agro-extractive products, as its chain involves tens of thousands of families and is generating millions of dollars annually. It was also estimated that the production of nuts obtained through extractivism in Brazil generates at least R$130 million per year.
Furthermore, because it contains several nutrients, chestnuts are considered a superfood that contains lipid, protein, and antioxidant compounds, such as selenium, which is associated with protection against neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. According to researcher Marcelino Guedes, areas with chestnut trees represent forests of high value for the bioeconomy, for the preservation of agroextractive communities and for ecological stability.
“It is essential to recognize the importance of agro-extractivism and the environmental services provided by families that depend on nuts for the conservation of this invaluable forest,” pointed out the researcher. Embrapa claimed that the chestnut tree also plays a crucial role in the conservation of the Amazon, as it is present in around 32% of the biome. The study also shows that although they represent 3% of individuals in a chestnut forest in the Northern Amazon, they contribute approximately 40% of the living biomass above ground, of which around 50% is carbon.
“The species is found in dryland forests throughout the Pan-Amazon region, which includes Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. In addition to its ecological value, the nut tree contributes significantly to ecosystem processes, such as carbon storage, the hydrological cycle, nutrient cycling, and the maintenance of biodiversity,” said Embrapa.
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