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.