The Politics of Amazonian Conservation: The Struggles of Rubber Tappers

Abstract

The social movement of the Amazonian rubber tappers started as a marginal group which initially claimed land rights, and ultimately succeeded in establishing extractive reserves, territories designed for the sustainable use of traditional populations under rhe Brazilian system of nature conservation. In short, they became exemplary of grassroots participation in sustainable development. I try to show in this article how this transition was possible by narrating a series of political actions taking place at the local and national levels, as well as at the regional setting which links both. With these narratives I will try account for the way local action and beliefs interact with wider powers and worldviews, in a "combined and uneven development."