Linking sustainable use of a threatened species to its conservation status: A policy perspective for the palm Euterpe edulis in the Atlantic Forest Hotspot

Throughout Southern Brazil, conservation practitioners and non-governmental organizations are encouraging the use of the fruits of the endangered palm Euterpe edulis to produce a juice similar to that of açaí (Euterpe oleracea) as a more sustainable income source than heart of palm extraction. Projects that address both conservation and development objectives present opportunities for more socially just conservation but face complexities beyond those of development and conservation alone.

This article examines fruit pulp development projects in São Paulo State to assess the potential to increase conservation of E. edulis through management on smallholder properties. Research relied on qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document review. We did not observe a direct relationship between conservation and management, but engagement with pulp production and E. edulis restoration projects links farmers with sustainable agricultural concepts and with networks, changing their perceptions of conservation and enhancing ability to benefit from improved policy.