That way rubber bales of about half a meter of diameter were being made. Nowadays this method is hardly being used any more. Meanwhile there are other techniques for processing the latex without smoke. Being a seringueiro is still today the most common form of life among the inhabitants of the forest. They hunt and cultivate to a small extent for their own use and live in simple huts covered with palm leaves.
Many times there is no school and no medical assistance in the areas where they live.
The caring and sustainable use of the rain forest by the seringueiros is an existing, ecologically sound form of coexistence of man and rain forest.