Life strategies in a mega diverse forest landscape: case of the Kichwa community of San José de Payamino, Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine the life strategies of the population in the Kichwa San José de Payamino community based on forest resources and socioeconomic factors. For this, 62 surveys were carried out at the community household level. The survey developed by CIFOR-PEN, which collects data to assess rural living conditions and dependencies on environmental resources, was adapted. The results determined that on average the size of the farm per home is 50 ha, the main results show that for land use 76 % corresponds to primary forest, 9% belongs to secondary forest, 7 % concerns different agricultural crops, and 9 % correspond to the farm. The income they receive is given more frequently by hunting wild animals (60 %) that serves for food and exchange with other populations; Fishing constitutes another important item representing 56 %, in the same way it is evident that other agricultural crops, forests, seeds and businesses represent in a lower proportion income to families 32, 23, 17 and 4 % respectively. The economic activities are for domestic use and for sale; hunting of wild animals and fishing are destined for subsistence (family self-consumption) and only a small percentage is for sale or exchange. As for the life strategy that they have in the community, they have a greater diversity of activities that support families, such as fishing and hunting wild animals, raising domestic animals, producing agricultural crops and the human development bonus. (state bonus).