The collection of non-timber forest products by rural women in southern Chile: reshaping the tension between local and global

Abstract

The collection of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is an ancient activity, whereby rural communities obtain resources for different uses, mainly food and medicines. One of the main NTFP collected is wild mushrooms. Today in Chile NTFP collection is re-emerging, linked mainly to small farmers. However, it faces important limitations as changes in habitat, the aging of the rural population and the diversion of resources to other activities as the forestry industry. In this context, this article focuses on the analysis of the case of a group of mushroom pickers called Domo Peuma, located in the commune of Paillaco, Los Rios Region. These women try to give continuity to the traditional methods of collecting and processing NTFP, especially wild mushrooms, thereby generating income that impact the development of their families. In addition, their activity reconfigures the global-local tension resulting from the expansion of the forest industry in the territory.