Este artigo analisa a concepção de extrativismo e as visões de sustentabilidade e a relação entre estas e visões ambientalistas dos atores da cadeia produtiva dos produtos do extrativismo florestal não-madeirável no estado de Rondônia (Brasil). Na base teórica do trabalho, são discutidas as vertentes ambientalistas, as visões e dimensões de sustentabilidade. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas. Foram consultados cento e quarenta e cinco atores da cadeia dos produtos florestais não-madeiráveis (PFNM). Esta pesquisa adotou a abordagem qualitativa e o principal método utilizado foi a análise de conteúdo. As mensagens contidas nas entrevistas foram confrontadas com as categorias das vertentes ambientalistas e as visões de sustentabilidade. Constatou-se que a concepção de extrativismo tradicional não é mais predominante. Na perspectiva institucional, predomina a visão de sustentabilidade na concepção empresarial; na perspectiva econômica prevalece a visão de sustentabilidade que representa os pressupostos defendidos pela economia ambiental. Em termos de vertentes ambientalistas, predomina a concepção sustentabilista. Concluiu-se que o baixo valor agregado dos produtos e a precárias condições de vida têm influenciado os atores da cadeia do PFNM a enunciar perspectivas conservadoras, com pouca preocupação ambiental.
The economy of the state of Rondônia has been supported by timber and mineral extraction. Agribusiness, especially in cattle, is their main economic activity. A considerable part of its territory is protected area, among which are the extractive reserves, where an extractive economy remains, whose products are sold without any added value and low use of technologies. This article examines the concept of extractivism and visions of sustainability and the relationship between these and environmentalists’ visions of the actors of the supply chain of non-timber forest products in the state of Rondônia (Brazil). On the basis of theoretical work, this paper discusses the environmentalists’ slopes and the views and dimensions of sustainability. The research adopted a qualitative approach and the main method used was content analysis. Data collection was conducted through interviews and we consulted one hundred forty-five actors in the chain of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) of native forest. The messages contained in the interviews were compared with the representative categories of environmental and sustainability visions. It was found that the traditional concept of extraction is no longer dominant. The vision of sustainability in the conception business dominates in the institutional perspective. In the economic perspective, the vision of sustainability representing assumptions defended by environmental economics prevails. In terms of environmentalists’ slopes, the predominant conception is sustainabilist. It was concluded that the low value-added products and poor living conditions have influenced the actors in the chain of NTFPs to articulate conservative outlook, with little environmental concern.
