Amazon Forest Citizens: Work, Life, and Hope in Rio Branco, Acre, 1989-2004

1. Amazon Forest Citizens:  Work, Life, and Hope in Rio Branco, Acre, 1989-2004 • Marianne Schmink, University of Florida • Mâncio Lima Cordeiro, UFAC/Governo do Acre Presented at the conference on “Environmental Policy, Social Movements, and Science for the Brazilian Amazon,” University of Chicago, November 5-6, 2009.

2. Introduction • “Florestania” is a term invented in Acre to capture the notion of “citizenship with a forest basis” • The term makes reference to the still-strong memory of the rubber tappers social movement of the 1970s and 1980s, led by Chico Mendes

3. Introduction • In the 20 years since Chico Mendes’ murder, a new era of “socio-environmental” institutions and policies has swept Brazil • The state of Acre, governed by the PT since 1999, has become a laboratory for experimentation with new approaches to development

4. Introduction From rubber tappers to urban workers: • Abrupt evolution of political, civil, and social rights in Acre • Revitalized “locality” in a global world • How are life conditions and perspectives changing?

5. Introduction Overview of this presentation: • Urbanization in Amazonia: Rio Branco • Florestania policies • Migration and transformations in labor relations • Quality of life and urban Florestania • Challenges for sustainable development and Florestaniain Acre

6. History of Acre Origins in the economic and social organization of the rubber economy at the turn of the century: for the new automotive industry Migrants from arid Northeastern Brazil recruited to tap rubber

7. History of Acre • Territory of Acre taken from Bolivia by armed militia, followed by Treaty of Petropolis in 1903 • “Total institution” of the seringal emerges in rubber fields and rubber tapper identity formed

8. History of Acre • Cultivated rubber in Malaysia takes over market in 1911 • Weakening of seringal leads to beginnings of autonomous peasantry • First of many phases of rural to urban migration • Repeat rubber boom in 1942-1945 financed by US: “rubber soldiers”

9. Rural exodus, 1970-1985 1971-1976: historical turning point, linked to military government Expansion of cattle and migration to Rio Branco and out of Acre

10. Expansion of Rio Branco, 1948-2005

11. Rubber Tappers Social Movement: 1970s & 1980s Rubber tapper leader Chico Mendes murdered in December 1988

12. Rubber Tappers Social Movement • Initially focused on civil rights: literacy, labor rights • With expulsions, shifted to land rights • Evolved into “environmental citizenship” movement: forest stewards

13. International Alliances Strategic alliances with indigenous peoples and environmentalists transformed a local problem into an international cause

14. New Proposals, 1985-2008 • Rubber tappers propose Extractive Reserves; Sustainable Development Reserves • PT Forest Government in Acre: Florestania • Environmental Assets Photo: Karen A. Kainer

15. Political mainstream support Anthropologist Mary Allegretti, Secretary for Amazon Coordination, 1999-2003 Labor leader Luís (Lula) Inácio da Silva President of Brazil, 2002-present Marina Silva, Environment Minister, 2002-2008

16. The Forest Government • Florestania encapsulates the vision of Acre’s forest government, of sustainable development that combines forest conservation and social justice, built on local cultural history and ecology • The concept has been one of the calling cards of recent socio-environmental policy coalitions in Brazil (Becker 2004)

17. The Forest Government Initial Florestania policies: • Recuperate and expand infrastructure to support state policies and stimulate economy • Reduce dependency on federal transfers by increasing tax collection and stimulating private sector enterprises (85 to 70%) • Support development of forest-based enterprises Photo: Karen A. Kainer

18. Acre: Forest-based Development • Participatory Ecological-Economic Zoning • Forestry institutions: SEFE; COOPERACRE • Certified timber management • NTFP processing • Wood processing in urban industrial poles Photo: Karen A. Kainer Photo: Karen A. Kainer

19. Rural-Urban Interface • Emptying out of interior (“center”) • Clustering on riverbanks (“margin”) and along roads • Expansion of agriculture and cattle • Rural to urban migration, 1920s, 1940s, 1970s

20. Urban Florestania Large majority of Acre’s population live in cities Florestania policies sought to improve their socio-economic conditions, while demonstrating strong connections to forest-based development and Acre’s unique cultural history

21. Rio Branco • Revitalization of palaces, museums, parks, riverside, market: memory of “Autonomistas” and seringueiros • Construction, widening and paving of principal streets • Industrial District focused on wood processing and furniture • “Command center” for sustainable development proposals (Becker 1995)

22. Stable Population Years Residing in Rio Branco, Household Heads (1989 – 2004) Mean: almost 20 years

23. Population of Rio Branco • Only 20% born outside Acre • Over half had lived in the seringal; over 90% had lived in another city • Personal relationships very important in migration

24. Proletarianization • Jobs in Rio Branco were more likely to be salaried than those in previous places of residence, especially for wealthier heads of household • Most people in Rio Branco had previously lived in another city or town, where it was likely that the shift to salaried employment already had taken place

25. Improved Living Standards, 1989-2004 • More durable houses (cement walls with composite roofs and tile or wood floors) • Expanded electricity and water systems, schools, health posts, garbage collection (but not sanitation and paving) • Majority access to refrigerators, televisions, pressure cookers, fans, CD players, access to radios, telephones, bicycles

26. Consumer Goods ownership, 1989-2004

27. Neighborhood businesses, 1989-2004

28. Persistent inequalities • Significant differences between richest 10% and poorest 40% in housing quality, access to consumer goods, neighborhood businesses and services • Linked to income differences and ability to pay for luxury goods and private health services

29. Future Perspectives • Do you intend to stay in Rio Branco? 87% yes in all survey years (including migrants from all regions and all economic sectors except construction – 75%) • Most important reasons given: -- proximity to family (30% or more) -- employment (17-22%) -- no other option (11-13%)

30. The urban face of Florestania • Improvements in infrastructure, housing quality, and access to most goods and services (but persistent inequality) • Strong social capital: family, and pride in the memory of Acre history • Increased attention to administration and politicians, and hope for future

31. Few Links with Rural Areas • People had returned an average of 1-2 times; half never • Only 6% sent money to rural areas • Of those who had lived in the seringal, 80% would not return Photo: Karen A. Kainer

32. New Urban Acrianos • The previous generation was born in the Northeast, but Rio Branco household heads are increasingly Acriano • The population of Rio Branco is stable, and has few active links with rural areas • A small but growing proportion would consider returning to rural areas if they received land there

33. Challenges for the Forest Government • Weakened social movement • Rapidly changing land uses • Weak federal institutions • Uncertain technical basis for development alternatives • Changing and diverse social identities Photo: Karen A. Kainer

34. Articulating urban and green complexes in Amazonia (Becker) • Cities provide basic and value-added • services (environmental, institutional) • Insertion in global and local networks to • add value to “bioproducts” and timber • Border city networks: MAP

35. Florestania • Environmental citizenship is fluid, encompassing contradictory elements Rural/urban; traditional/modern; collective/individual; inter-generational • Florestania banks on creating an articulated, integrated development model to bridge tensions and extend citizenship

36. Thank you! schmink@ufl.edu