Income generation and forest management in settlements in Pernambuco

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the economic and financial impact of forest management on the other agriculture and livestock activities in seven agrarian reform settlements located in the municipality of Serra Talhada, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The study consisted of monthly monitoring of families through a questionnaire from May 2011 to April 2012. All the items of costs and revenue from productive activities in the settlement projects of Poldrinhos, Laginha, Batalha, Paulista, Três Irmãos, Bela Vista and Gilvan Santos were recorded. This study included families practicing and families not practicing forest management. The financial balances obtained in the households indicated that agriculture and livestock are typically subsistence activities and are not able to pay for the dedicated manpower. Forest management, however, showed a positive balance at all times of the year, demonstrating that sustainable forestry plays a key role to complement family income of the settlers.