What is rubber tappers motivation for the rainforest

The tapping of rubber from rubber trees growing wild in the Amazon rainforest is still an important economic activity in the region. It is a vital part of the livelihood for many families living in the rainforest, often in very remote areas, especially in the Brazilian state of Acre, and in parts of Bolivia and Peru.

In order to boost the sustainable production of wild rubber from the Amazon, WWF staff from Brazil, Peru and Bolivia jointly organized an exchange of experiences between rubber tappers from the three countries at the end of May. We believe this is the first time that rubber tappers from different parts of the Amazon have been able to come together to share their knowledge and discuss the future of their trade. 

WWF is supporting the production of wild rubber, as it is one of the rainforest products that help underpin forest conservation, by providing a natural, sustainable harvest that can benefit local people. 

The exchange looked at how wild rubber is tapped, processed and marketed by the different participants. The challenges and the opportunities of wild rubber production were also explored.