The Valores da Amazônia (Values of the Amazon) project, financially supported by the Amazon Fund, has been working for over a decade to integrate, structure, and strengthen the value chains of non-timber forest products—Sociobiodiversity Products—including wild cacao, vegetable oils, and rubber. This initiative spans nine institutions across the states of Acre and Amazonas.
This article reflects on the efforts led by SOS Amazônia to promote and enhance the value of each of these products.
Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa)
Buriti oil is widely used in creams, soaps, and shampoos. It enhances skin elasticity, promotes cell renewal, hydrates the skin, and offers protection against UV radiation. As a food source, it is rich in beta-carotene (118 mg/100g of oil), contributing to the prevention of coronary heart disease.h
In September 2017, SOS Amazônia facilitated workshops on sustainable Buriti harvesting practices in the Maloca and Pentecoste communities of Mâncio Lima. With support from SOS Amazônia’s technicians, over 50 families participated in practical training on safety procedures, area management and cleaning, site selection, extraction techniques, and transportation.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants—who had received guidance on the importance of socio-biodiversity products and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—received three extraction and climbing kits per community and formed working groups. They also formalized delivery agreements with their cooperative.
Wild Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
Cacao beans are mainly used in chocolate production, while the oil and butter are common in perfumes, shampoos, soaps, and skincare products. The cacao pod and the cibirra (central fibrous tissue) are used in jams and sweets, and the pulp can be processed into juice, wine, and fermented liqueur.
In May 2017, SOS Amazônia published the booklet “Native Amazonian Cacao: Recommended Best Production Practices for the Juruá Valley in Acre.” This resource provides guidance on economic use, management stages, and the processing of native cacao. The native cacao featured in the publication was later added to the partner cooperative Coopercintra through the Valores project and has since generated income for local producers.
Murmuru (Astrocaryum murumuru)
Murumuru butter is rich in nutrients and known for its emollient and moisturizing properties. It restores skin hydration and elasticity and is used in a wide range of products, including shampoos, conditioners, creams, lotions, soaps, lipsticks, and deodorants.
In April 2012, SOS Amazônia held a Murmuru Management Course in Cruzeiro do Sul for family farmers from the communities of Muju, Praia da Amizade, Grajaú, Triunfo, and Besouro; Indigenous peoples from the Nukini, Poyanawa, Colônia 27, and Igarapé do Caucho territories; and technicians from SOS Amazônia and the Pro-Indian Commission (CPI/AC).
The course provided tools and strategies for individual and collective business planning using business plan methodologies, aiming to improve production for both subsistence and commercial markets through principles of quality, efficiency, sustainability, legality, and customer orientation.
Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
Wild rubber has diverse applications, from sneakers and tires to sports equipment, crafts, gloves, elastic bands, and fashion accessories.
In 2023, SOS Amazônia supported rubber tappers from Feijó in their participation in the Women of Rubber Project workshops. These workshops have reached over 900 women across extractive reserves, national forests, settlement projects, and rural communities in 14 of Acre’s 22 municipalities. With the motto “sustainable rubber is family farming,” the project underscores the vital role of women in all stages of production—from rubber tapping and latex processing to commercialization.
Patauá (Oenocarpus bataua)
Patauá oil is used in skincare and haircare products for its emollient and revitalizing effects. In gastronomy, it is appreciated for its similarity to olive oil in flavor and nutritional composition, being rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
In November 2017, as part of the Valores da Amazônia project, SOS Amazônia conducted a workshop in the PAF Havaí and Bacuri communities in Rodrigues Alves. Residents were trained in best practices for collecting and extracting oil from the patauá palm.
The sessions covered sustainable harvesting, seed handling, washing, PPE usage, and proper fruit collection techniques, including the importance of leaving part of the harvest behind for local wildlife and seed dispersal. By the end, 30 kg of fresh white patauá was collected, yielding approximately 600 ml of oil, which was distributed among participants.
Copaíba (Copaifera spp.)
Copaíba oil is a versatile ingredient in cosmetic and therapeutic products. It promotes collagen regeneration, reduces scars and stretch marks, treats scalp conditions, and enhances the softness and shine of dyed hair. In perfumery, it serves as a fixative, while in traditional medicine it is known for anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, and antiulcer properties.
In May 2017, SOS Amazônia held a Copaíba Oil Management and Extraction Workshop in the São José community along the Purus River in the Arapixi Extractive Reserve (Amazonas). Targeted at members of the Agroextractivist Cooperative of Mapiá and Médio Purus (Cooperar), the training was led by Francisco Ferreira, a seasoned extractivist from the Chico Mendes Reserve.
Participants learned proper oil extraction techniques, received kits including augers, containers, pipes, and hoses, and were encouraged to see copaíba not only as a product but as a sustainable source of income that requires environmental stewardship.
Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum)
Tucumã pulp oil hydrates the skin and revitalizes damaged hair. It offers high spreadability and acts as a natural sunscreen. Rich in omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids and beta-carotene (180–330 mg/100g), it also serves as a natural food coloring and culinary oil. Tucumã butter is used in cosmetics for its strong moisturizing effect, forming a breathable film on the skin that mimics silicone without clogging pores.
Andibora (Carapa guianensis)
Andiroba oil is an emollient used in soaps, creams, shampoos, and massage oils. Known for its moisturizing, antiseptic, and anti-cellulite effects, it is also used in traditional medicine as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, healing agent, purgative, and vermifuge.
In February 2018, SOS Amazônia and partner cooperatives supported by the Valores da Amazônia project participated in the BIOFACH International Organic Food Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, featuring products such as tucumã and andiroba.
These events help position forest-based products on the international stage and advocate for the sustainable use of natural resources. The fair attracted 2,950 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors from the global organic industry.