. Commercialization of non-timber forest products. Factors influencing success. Lessons learned from Mexico and Bolivia and policy implications for decision- makers. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series Case studies: Natural rubber quantity of work has diminished substantially over the last 10 years. Now only seven Tomachi families are involved in collection. PRODUCT AND MARKET DESCRIPTION Three distinct products are marl<eted: liquid latex, locally processed artisan goods and goods processed in a semi- industrial manner (Figure ]. The rubber from Tomachi is commercialized as liquid latex
. Commercialization of non-timber forest products. Factors influencing success. Lessons learned from Mexico and Bolivia and policy implications for decision- makers. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series Case studies: Natural rubber quantity of work has diminished substantially over the last 10 years. Now only seven Tomachi families are involved in collection. PRODUCT AND MARKET DESCRIPTION Three distinct products are marl<eted: liquid latex, locally processed artisan goods and goods processed in a semi- industrial manner (Figure ]. The rubber from Tomachi is commercialized as liquid latex in 200-litre drums. This is possible because of the availability of good transport links: in addition to daily vehicle access to and from the community. Tomachi is also located next to a large river. Traditionally, people have both used the river to transport rubber, and used rubber to transport precious goods down the river, including placing small children inside rubber sacks and floating them across! Concessionaires in Tomachi control commercialization from collection to wholesale. Barrels of latex are sold to intermediaries working for the concessionaires, who then transport it to La Paz and El Alto, where it is sold to craftsmen and women working in small-scale industry. Two of the concessionaires themselves own workshops in La Paz, where products such as football bladders are made. By contrast, Santa Rosa is limited to a seasonal road with twice-weekly vehicle access. Poor infrastructure coupled with a low density of rubber trees in Santa Rosa make selling the raw rubber latex unviable, whether Tapping rubber trees: grooves are cut in the bark and the latex is collected in recycled individually or communally. Families process the relatively small volumes of latex, adding value locally and increasing the sold value per unit weight. Final goods include rubber ponchos and raincoats destined for miners, and bags farmers use to transport their rice downriver. Individual
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