The extraction and commercialization of jaborandi leaves is the main activity of Coex Carajás (Extractive Cooperative of the Carajás National Forest). Originally created in 2006 under the name Cooperativa Jaborandi, Coex Carajás changed its name in 2011, and today is the only extractive cooperative based on environmental conservation in the region.
Medicines for glaucoma and cancer are produced from jaborandi leaves. The cooperative sells the raw material, as well as seeds of other species, which are widely used for reforestation.
The work contributes to the preservation of Amazonian forest areas in the Carajás National Forest (Flona), generates income for local communities and reduces rates of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Despite generating income for its members through a sustainable activity, the seasonality of the jaborandi leaves and the gathering of seeds leads them to work on other activities, such as land clearing and general services. Coex Carajás is made up of 39 families whose main income comes from the harvest of jaborandi. On average, extractivists earn monthly revenue that varies between BRL 2 thousand and BRL 2.5 thousand.
Ana Paula Ferreira Nascimento is the only woman in the cooperative and works with the 38 members. She explains that the collection of the jaborandi leaves is seasonal, and the species is spread over several parts of the Carajás Flona. The activity requires collectors to stay in the forest for 30 to 40 days, in addition to long walks. For this reason, not many women have adopted this activity. “My role is to contribute in the best possible way to the full development and recognition of the activity and appreciation of the products supplied by the cooperative”, she evaluates. In 2019, Coex Carajás harvested and marketed 30,000 kilos of dried jaborandi leaves, targeted at a single customer.
Seed collection is a more recent activity compared to the collection of jaborandi leaves, but it is growing in the cooperative, gaining space and market. The collection is supported by research and guidance from ICMBio. More than 350 species of seed have already been commercialized. In early 2020, they traded more than 600 kilos of seeds of various species, supplied to some customers.
Coex Carajás intends to invest in the training of cooperative members and in the mapping of matrices, in the acquisition of equipment for collection, with the objective of expanding its operations, currently only local, to other regions of the country.
“I see Coex Carajás in the future as a reference for an extractive cooperative in the Amazon. Extractivism is one of the viable sources for making and maintaining the Amazon standing. It is proof that the Amazon preserved has value, contrary to what many people think. This is a reality that must be multiplied and disseminated to the planet”, she evaluates.
What was said about the business
STAGE OF BUSINESS
ORGANIZATION OF THE BUSINESS
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS?
Sustainable extraction of Jaborandi leaves – used to produce medicines for glaucoma and cancer – and commercialization of seeds of other species for reforestation.
WHAT DOES IT SOLVE?
It minimizes degraded areas in the Amazon, collaborates with the treatment of glaucoma and provides income generation for the local community with sustainable activities.
POSITIVE SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Plant extraction contributes to the preservation of forest areas in the Amazon, reducing deforestation rates and generating income for families.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL
DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Forest seeds supplied to companies and contractors and jaborandi leaves supplied to a company that produces botanical extracts, oils and isolated active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry.
Sale of 30 dried leaves of native jaborandi in 2019 and approximately 145.41 hectares reforested with the seeds provided by the cooperative.
DOES IT MAKE ITS PURPOSE CLEAR?
DOES IT MONITOR ITS IMPACT?
WAS IT ACCELERATED?
DID IT RECEIVE?
ANA PAULA FERREIRA NASCIMENTO, EDILSON PEREIRA DA COSTA E GILBERTO GONZAGA ARAUJO