Association of Machadinho Rubber Tappers

The Association of Machadinho Rubber Tappers (Associação dos Seringueiros de Machadinho) operates fifteen small extractive reserves in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. They were formerly part of private rubber extraction concessions, and continue to be used by the descendants of the original rubber tappers to extract rubber and other forest products. Recently the reserves have been threatened by violence and illegal logging.

General
The Association of Machadinho Rubber Tappers administers 15 small extractive reserves in the municipalities of Machadinho d'Oeste, Cujubim and Vale do Anari in the state of Rondônia. They are remnants of the former Seringal Santo Antônio, Seringal São Paulo and Seringal São Gonçalo rubber extraction concessions. The main resource extracted from the forest is rubber, as well as nuts and copaiba oil. The reserves are Angelim, Aquariquara, Castanheira, Freijó, Garrote, Ipê, Itaúba, Jatobá, Maracatiara, Massaranduba, Mogno, Piquiá, Roxinho, Seringueira and Sucupira.

Many of the residents were born in the region, descendants of the "rubber soldiers" who came to extract rubber for the foreign market in the 1940s. They have adapted their way of life to the environment. Only a few of the reserves have electricity. Latex extraction provides the main source of income. Other activities are growing cassava and making flour, production of bio-jewels, extraction and sale of copaiba and other oils. Some are trying to take advantage of license for sustainable timber harvesting. Production of eco-leather from plant fibre and oils is a promising source of income.

In April 2015 members of the association met with the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development of the state legislature. The committee was told that the members lived in a climate of terrorism in Machadinho, and had been receiving death threats. 16 homicides had been recorded in the past ten years. The protected areas were being laid waste with no effort being made by the state government to protect them.

Angelim
Angelim Extractive Reserve has an area of 8923 ha. It was created by decree 7.095 of 4 September 1995. It is divided between the municipalities of Cujubim (22.12%) and Machadinho d'Oeste (77.88%).

Aquariquara
Aquariquara Extractive Reserve has an area of 18100 ha. It was created by decree 7.106 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Vale do Anari. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 181 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were 91 residents in 27 placements. There is considerable and diversified agricultural production, especially coffee, in Aquariquara. A project to manufacture and market babaçu (Attalea speciosa) flour was started in 1998, with considerable success. The output is sold to schools and stores in Machadinho.

Castanheira
Castanheira Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Castanheira) has an area of 10200 ha. It was created by decree 7.105 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 27 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were 25 residents in ten placements. One incident of logging was recorded in 2001–04, and there was irregular sale of placements and clearing above the established limits.

Freijó
Freijó Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Freijó) has an area of 600 ha It was created by decree 7.097 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were four residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were five two residents in one placement. According to the survey 99.48% of the original vegetation cover remains.

Garrote
Garrote Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Garrote) has an area of 803 ha It was created by decree 7.109 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were nine residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were eleven residents in two placements.

Ipê
Ipê Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Ipê) has an area of 815 ha. It was created by decree 7.101 of 4 September 1995. It is divided between the municipalities of Cujubim (21.07%) and Machadinho d'Oeste (78.93%). In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 28 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT that number had dropped to two residents in two placements. According to the survey 99.48% of the original vegetation cover remains.

Itaúba
Itaúba Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Itaúba) has an area of 1758 ha. It was created by decree 7.100 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 3 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT that number had risen to 7 residents in three placements.

Jatobá
Jatobá Extractive Reserve (Reserva ExtrativistaJatobá) has an area of 1135 ha It was created by decree 7.102 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 3 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were 7 residents in 3 placements. Original forest covers 89.5% of the reserve, and the remainder is used for agriculture.

Maracatiara
Maracatiara Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Maracatiara) has an area of 9503 ha. It was created by decree 7.096 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 66 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were 51 residents in 21 placements. A 2005 report noted irregular sale of placements and clearing above the allowed limits.

Massaranduba
Massaranduba Extractive Reserve is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste, Rondônia. It has an area of 5566 ha. According to an NGO in 1994 there were only five inhabitants and 99.48% of the original vegetation coverage remained. The main threat was illegal removal of timber.

Mogno
Mogno Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Mogno) has an area of 2450 ha. It was created by decree 7.099 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 13 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there was only one resident.

Piquiá
Piquiá Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Piquiá) has an area of 1449 ha. It was created by decree 7.098 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 16 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were five residents in one placement.

Roxinho
Roxinho Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Roxinho) has an area of 882 ha It was created by decree 7.107 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. In 1994, according to the ÍNDIA NGO, there were 13 residents. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were 5 residents in two placements. Factors that threaten the reserve are the removal of wood and hunting.

Seringueira
The Seringueira Extractive Reserve is in the municipality of Vale do Anari, Rondônia, to the south of Machadinho d'Oeste, surrounded by land that has been largely deforested. It has an area of 537 ha. The Machadinho River runs along the west of the reserve.

Sucupira
Sucupira Extractive Reserve (Reserva Extrativista Sucupira) has an area of 3.188 ha (Decreto - It was created by decree 7.104 of 4 September 1995. It is in the municipality of Machadinho d'Oeste. According to the 2000 survey by ASM / ASRMT there were no residents.