Papermaking to Save the Amazon

Although the Amazon covers some 60% of Brazil's territory, rapid settlement and forest destruction are devastating this unique ecological resource.

From large cattle farms and soybean fields to subsistence farmers felling trees to sell timber for income, the Amazon is under stress and its biodiversity is disappearing.

"Cutting timber for small farmers is a quick money-making solution, but it's not a sustainable activity," says Kei Otsuki of the Action Nucleus for Sustainable Development (POEMAR), a local non-governmental organization that works to regenerate forest areas. It is also committed to helping inhabitants find sources of income that use local natural resources without exploiting them.

In 2002, POEMAR, which has started several successful initiatives that create livelihoods for poor local farmers in degraded forest areas where the soil is poor and trees destroyed, looked into making paper.

By combining Japanese papermaking techniques with local fibers traditionally used for rope, POEMAR helps local communities create "made in Amazon" paper products that are now finding a market niche.

"We're selling the story, the history of the Amazon with this product," says Otsuki.

Soon after it initiated the project, POEMAR realized that it needed to increase production and applied for seed money to the Development Marketplace 2003.

"Nobody was making paper, so we had to explain everything to people," says Otsuki.

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POEMAR currently is developing a line of paper products, including notebook, calligraphy and watercolor paper, diplomas, book covers, decorations, lampshades.

Everything is done locally. Since most of the production is manual, many people have an opportunity to get involved -- from tree planting, pre-processing and papermaking to designing, creating and selling the products. The initiative also links Amazon's rural and urban communities, adds Otsuki.

The ultimate goal for the papermaking enterprise is to be a self-sufficient, income-generating venture.

POEMAR's approach of creating economic opportunities for poor communities while helping to conserve the Amazon forest has caught the attention of several donors, such as Brazil Bank Foundation, IFC's GBO Initiatives, JICA and Novib-Oxfam Netherlands, who collectively have provided some $500,000 in additional support.