COUNTRY COMPASS 41

% AFGHANISTAN % ARGENTINA

Saffron being promoted as alternative Productos forestales no madereros: to poppy in Afghanistan su potencialidad en el Chaco Semiárido “When we look at the farmers who make a Los ecosistemas forestales continúan siendo living from growing poppy, we don’t support degradados a causa de la incorrecta the active eradication because when you intervención del ser humano en la eradicate their fields they don’t have an explotación de sus recursos. Durante income any more,” the commander of muchas décadas, el sector forestal industrial Netherlands forces in Uruzgan province, ha llevado adelante una explotación selectiva, Brigadier General Marc van Uhm, told AFP. modalidad que, además del casi extermino “If they can’t feed their families, then what we de la especie explotada, impulsó la do is alienate them from us, they blame us.” degradación de la mayoría de los The Netherlands is the lead nation for componentes naturales del sistema. Esta Son numerosos los PFNM que se pueden NATO’s coalition troops in southern Uruzgan desnaturalización del medio ha llevado a la extraer de este ecosistema forestal. Alguno province, one of the poorest in Afghanistan – desvalorización relativa de la actividad de ellos, pocos, se producen y comercializan, and the fourth largest producer of poppy. forestal frente a otras actividades productivas incluso a nivel internacional. Otros, más Wiping out the crop has been part of efforts como la agricultura y la ganadería. Así es numerosos, se producen y consumen en el to stabilize Afghanistan. But Afghanistan still como actualmente, profundizando la mercado nacional, y especialmente en la produces more than 90 percent of the opium irracionalidad, las actividades agropecuarias región. Una cantidad muy importante de los base used to manufacture heroin worldwide – están terminando de arrasar los ecosistemas PFNM están en fase de investigación y worth some USD2.8 billion in 2009, according forestales, y con ello también la degradación desarrollo. Hasta ahora su aprovechamiento, to United Nations figures. de las clases campesinas y de los pueblos salvo excepciones, no se ha realizado dentro The poppies, which provide rich pickings in originarios. de un sistema de aprovechamiento múltiple. one of the world’s poorest countries, also play Este problema es grave y complejo por lo En un reciente trabajo se ha recopilado e a large part in the corruption that plagues que su solución requiere de cambios en el ilustrado una cantidad importante de PFNM Afghan life at every level, from district to campo técnico, económico y sobre todo presentes en la Región Chaqueña national government. With so many people modificaciones estructurales del modelo Semiárida argentina, así como sus usos. profiting from poppies on both sides of the global de desarrollo. Entre los más usados de origen vegetal se war, efforts to wean farmers off a crop that Este artículo pretende resaltar la pueden nombrar a los obtenidos del provides them with an income several times importancia del aprovechamiento integral y algarrobo blanco (Prosopis alba), árbol de higher than they could earn from wheat or múltiple como medio para revertir, en parte, cuyas flores se produce un tipo de miel other mainstream produce is not easy. la degradación de los ecosistemas y monofloral y de sus vainas ricas en The chief civil representative on Task Force contribuir a la sostenibilidad económica, azúcares, proteínas, sales minerales que se Uruzgan, Michel Rentenaar, says the social y ecológica de un ambiente natural. consume en estado natural (crudo) también Netherlands aim to encourage farmers to Los productos forestales no madereros se elaboran bebidas refrescantes como la turn to alternative crops, such as saffron and (PFNM) son fundamentales a la hora de «añapa» y la «aloja», esta última se obtiene fruit and nut trees. “Our effort is to supply an proponer modelos de desarrollo sostenibles de la fermentación de las mismas en agua. alternative livelihood. We have had success ya que: a) la mayoría de ellos están Con la fruta del vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia) y with introducing saffron in the province; the arraigados en la cultura local, por lo que del algarrobo negro (Prosopis nigra H.) al harvest has increased every year for the past cuentan con el conocimiento, reconocimiento igual que del algarrobo blanco se preparan three years.” y aceptación de la población; b) un alto harinas. Los frutos del chañar (Geoffroea “Saffron is incredibly expensive and its porcentaje de los PFNM satisfacen decorticans) poseen propiedades yield is about two to three times higher than inmediatamente necesidades primarias de alimenticias, medicinales, melíferas, poppy. But it is slow to convince farmers to los pobladores, como la alimentación y la tintóreas y forrajeras. change.” salud; c) la producción de los mismos Otro PFNM es el mistol (Ziziphus mistol) The 2008/2009 harvest was 50 kg, while contribuyen al resguardo de valores y hábitos cuya madera tiene poco valor comercial this year’s is expected to be almost double propios de una cultura; d) en muchos casos, pero sus raíces se usan como jabón y con la that, and of better quality. While the figures se rescatan conocimientos ancestrales; y e) corteza se colorea la lana de color marrón. are small, saffron has long been the su consumo es más bien regional y no global, Su floración es abundante e importante world’s most expensive spice by weight and es decir más compatible con la productividad para la elaboración de miel. Su fruto es a total of some 500 farmers are now de un ecosistema rico en biodiversidad. alimento para personas y forraje para los growing it in Uruzgan, with a Netherlands En el Parque Chaqueño Semiárido animales, también las hojas y frutos de la firm buying a large chunk of the harvest. In argentino no existen actualmente áreas tusca (Acacia aroma) y del guayacán comparison, however, 1.6 million people vírgenes; sus bienes se encuentran (Caesalpinea paraguarienses) se usan were involved in producing 6 900 tonnes of degradados en diferentes intensidades. como alimentos y medicinas. La corteza de opium in 2009, the UN Office on Drugs and Frente a esta realidad es necesario, de la brea (Cercidium australe) exuda una Crime says – mostly in the southern manera urgente, plantear y aplicar sólo goma-resina de valor comercial. La provinces worst hit by the insurgency. modelos de aprovechamiento basados en el jatropha (Jatropha macrocarpa) provee de (Source: AFP, 1 February 2010.) desarrollo sostenible. un aceite, posible sucedáneo del aceite de

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 42 COUNTRY COMPASS

The Armenia Tree Project has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site raising and planting trees throughout the in 1997 and were declared as the first country for almost 16 years. Last year, one Ramsar site in Bangladesh on 21 May 1992. million trees were planted, a record that The Sundarbans consist of two brings the total of trees planted over the life ecoregions: freshwater swamp forests and of the project to about 3.5 million. All this is mangrove forests. Very rich in floral diversity done by individuals determined that their with about 334 plant species, they are also trees will become forests to sustain known for faunal diversity (375 animals, of livelihoods and restore a vibrant which 35 reptiles, 41 mammals, 210 fish, 14 environment to Armenia. crab and 43 mollusc species). The Bengal What happened to Armenia and its trees, tiger (Panthera tigris) and the Sundari tree Stetsonia coryne and what is being done to reverse the (Heritiera fomes) are among the most devastation of its forests? Jason Sohigian, significant species. ricino. El cardón (Stetsonia coryne), el Deputy Director of the Armenia Tree Project, Meanwhile, about a million people are quimil (Opuntia quimilo), el ucle (Cereus says the lack of alternative fuel sources dependent on the Sundarbans’ resources. forbesii), el quishcaloro (Opuntia caused the loss of Armenia’s forests, The forest people include mawali (honey anacantha var retrorsa) poseen frutos que especially during the years after collectors), bawali (leaf collectors), jeley sirven para la alimentación humana. independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, (fishers) and crab collectors, as well as the Entre los PFNM de origen animal más when people had no other way to keep indigenous Munda, Mahato and Bagdi people. comercializados y que se usan como mascota warm than to cut down trees for fuel. The Bangladesh Resource Centre for son el loro hablador (Amazona festiva), el suri Ideally, forests should cover 25 percent of Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) started to o ñandú (Rhea americana) que proveer de Armenia, Sohigian said. But now, even after work in the area in 2001. From its inception, carne, huevos, cuero y plumas. Así también la a big replanting effort, the country’s tree BARCIK has strived to understand the state iguana (Tupinambis rufescens, Tupinambis cover is in the range of only 7 or 8 percent. of biodiversity, local knowledge and marinae, Tupinambis teguixin), especies Where the trees have been cut, the land is practices, as well as how local people cope cazadas para la explotación del cuero, carne often degraded and desertification has set with natural calamities or developmental para alimentación y la grasa para fines in as topsoil washes away. destruction by their own methods and medicinales. To make matters worse, the changing resources. One key area here is that of El trabajo delinea un modelo de global climate threatens the last fragments livelihood rights. aprovechamiento múltiple a partir del uso of forest, especially if rainfall declines. BARCIK has taken an important step simultáneo de madera y de los PFNM. Se The Armenia Tree Project works to through a new project “Advocacy on explica como este modelo sirve para la afforest Armenia with natural forests, Sustainable Resource Management and valorización relativa de la actividad forestal planting a mixture of native trees that Livelihood Improvement of Mawalis in the industrial frente a modelos agropecuarios should in time expand and regenerate Sundarbans”. The project started in y para contribuir al desarrollo sostenible forests naturally. “We are really trying to en términos ambientales. recreate natural forests, rather than plantations for harvesting,” Sohigian said. PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: Fruit and nut trees are also provided by Dr. Juan Carlos Medina, Docente, the Armenia Tree Project to people in urban SUPPRESSED WOMEN’S VOICES, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, UNSE, areas, so that individuals may plant trees on NOW UNITED Santiago del Estero, Argentina. the streets or in their yards. This provides Correo electrónico: [email protected]; food to eat and trade as well as a more In the Sundarbans, women collect [email protected] pleasant, landscaped environment. various forest resources for their family’s The massive tree planting programme daily needs. Women also face many has also stimulated employment for threats every day: wild animals such as % ARMENIA Armenians, from the cultivation of seedlings tigers, crocodiles and snakes; robbers; to planting and protection of the nascent unjust forest rules; and the male- How trees are restoring hope forests. (Source: National Geographic dominant system. Until today, women’s Armenia has learned the hard way what it Online, 13 March 2010.) forest resource rights in the Sundarban means for a country to lose its forests – areas have remained largely and the huge backbreaking effort required unrecognized. Through BARCIK, the to replant them. But in its struggle and %BANGLADESH women have organized themselves and determination to restore its trees, Armenia formed a group named Sundarban is an inspiration for the rest of the planet. Sundarban honey wisdom Mahila Samiti. Women are now trying The endeavour to bring trees back to The Sundarbans are the largest single to develop NTFP-based cottage Armenia is thanks mostly to an initiative block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in industries, including pickled kewra fruit called the “Armenia Tree Project”, a the world. and golpata handicrafts, as well as soap programme supported by the international Local people call the forest badaban. It and candles made of wax. conservation charity WWF and BMU/KfW, spans 10 000 km², about 6 000 km² of which the German Development Bank. are in Bangladesh. The Sundarbans were

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 43

September 2008. Funded by the International only during the honey season, but also with different interested parties, following Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during bargaining in the market, assessment current guidance and models and take Netherlands (NL), it considers the local of the honey market, and ecological appropriate legal and technical advice. context and aims at a comprehensive education activities in schools. Even family “Saving plants that save lives and community-led programme, focusing on: (i) and social problems are being managed and livelihoods” is a project undertaken by ecology and biodiversity conservation; (ii) solved jointly. TRAFFIC, WWF and IUCN, financed by BMZ NTFP-dependent livelihoods; and (iii) This process has mobilized and and implemented in Brazil by the IUCN ecological markets in the Sundarbans region. empowered the people to claim access to Regional Office for South America and Traditionally, a mawali group – composed permitted forest resources. (Source: Voices AVIVE. One specific recommendation from of seven to nine persons – is formed during from the Forest, Edition No.18, April 2010.) the project has been for AVIVE to develop the honey collection season. The group its own policy to deal with these issues leader, called sajuni, coordinates and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: and to protect its TK. The same operates the whole process. After the Pavel Parth and Rumaisa Samad, BARCIK recommendations are applicable for other harvest, the people no longer work together (Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous parties involved. (Source: TRAFFIC in the same group or in any activities Knowledge), H.N-50, R.N-16 (new), Bulletin, 22: 3, 2010). requiring teamwork. However, through Dhanmondi, Dhaka, 1209, Bangladesh. BARCIK, NTFP collectors formed nine groups E-mail: [email protected]; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: from 81 families. [email protected]; www.barcik-bd.org Ximena Buitrón, Senior Program Officer, Surprisingly, these groups continue to Innovation, Sustainable Business and work together and even formed the Biodiversity, IUCN Regional Office for South Sundarban Sustainable Comanagement %BRAZIL America, Calle Quite Libre E15-12 y La Cumbre, Committee, which functions as a Sector Bellavista, Casilla Postal 17-17-626 comanagement system. This committee Saving plants that save lives and Quito, Ecuador. Fax. +593 2 2261075. involves not only mawali but forest dwellers, livelihoods women, members of local government, AVIVE (Associação Vida Verde da teachers, journalists, members of the local Amazônia) is a women’s association that market committee and the Forest was established in Silves, Brazil, in 1999, Department. The committee functions not with the aim of developing natural products from the sustainable wild collection of native medicinal and aromatic plants. The group subsequently set up a cooperative, COPRONAT, to sell the NINE MAWALI GROUPS BREAK finished products, which are mainly THE SILENCE obtained from collectors and producers from different communities. In some Nine mawali groups have collected cases, traditional knowledge (TK) is about 5 600 kg of honey and 280 kg of associated with the access and use of such %BRUNEI DARUSSALAM wax in an ecologically friendly process. species. AVIVE has established a Women are also involved in forest relationship with the government, NGOs, Sultanate must guard against illegal honey processing. Both female and academic and private sectors for different wildlife trafficking male forest dwellers assess the honey activities related to their work. Brunei has not been spared from the market from local to national levels and Although there is a lack of clarity illegal wildlife trade, which is rampant in sell their own collection at a fair price, regarding the scope of Access and Benefit- Southeast Asia, said the training and which they decided for themselves for sharing (ABS) regulations in relation to the capacity building coordinator of TRAFFIC the first time. use of biological resources, good ABS Southeast Asia. Claire Beastall, speaker at A decade ago, no one would believe practices – as well as those relating to the Borneo Customs Workshop on Wildlife that the mawali would have their own protection, recognition and compensation Crime, said that Brunei is one of the most bank account and savings. Forest people of TK – are key for the commercialization biodiverse places in the world, but there used to depend on loans from the of medicinal and aromatic plants and to are people who are exploiting the mahajan (traditional moneylender) and avoid misperceptions of biopiracy or Sultanate’s animals and plants. Even microcredit-based NGOs. Today, the misappropriation of activities towards though it is difficult to determine the group members have their own bank promoting their sustainable use and trade. seriousness of the illegal wildlife trade in accounts and have saved a total of more Different sectors need to increase their Brunei compared with other countries in than one lac taka (USD1 500). Although knowledge of these issues and their the region, illegal wildlife trade happens on a small scale, it is proof that the importance. Experts recommend that each throughout Southeast Asia. previously marginalized mawali have user obtain clear information from each The two-day workshop (18–19 April), been able to break the unjust social institute before beginning access, use and coorganized by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia power structure for their survival. trade activities. But it is not that simple. and Brunei’s Forestry Department, AVIVE as collector, producer, supplier and focused on issues such as the Heart of trader will have to learn how to negotiate Borneo Network Initiative, wildlife trade in

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 44 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

Borneo and commonly traded species in our business is to train villagers who live (NTFP-EP) are working together with Southeast Asia. near the conservation area in the provision Bunong communities with the aim of The workshop also touched on of ecotourism services. The result is that sustaining community benefits from the identifying commonly traded wildlife villagers are able to make an income by forest. One of their outputs is Mondulkiri species such as green turtles and their providing accommodation, food and wild: protecting people and biodiversity, a eggs, orangutans, pangolins (anteaters) guiding services for visitors. In return, they DVD (PAL) produced by NTFP-EP, WWF and the gaharu tree – best known as the sign agreements not to hunt animals, not and the Gekko Studio. It is available in main source of agarwood (fragrant wood). to cut down the forest and not to harm English and Khmer and runs for 27 “All of these are either traded in Borneo or their environment.” minutes. they leave the island. This is an illegal and As part of its effort to help maintain unsustainable trade,” she said. “Some of biodiversity in Cambodia, SVC has FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the commodities that you find in trade developed a flagship project in Tmatboey Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange reach quite high prices, which is an village in Preah Vihear province, where the Programme (NTFP-EP), 92-A Masikap incentive for smugglers.” signing of successful no-hunting and land Extension, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon Beastall said that TRAFFIC monitors conservation agreements between WCS City 1100, Philippines. Fax: +63 2 426.2757; wildlife trade throughout the region and and the village committee has made it a e-mail: [email protected]; www.ntfp.org works closely with the Asean Wildlife model of community-based ecotourism. Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen) for Butler said the main objective of the countries of the Association of Southeast project was to conserve critically %CAMEROON Asian Nations. Asean-Wen coordinates the endangered bird species breeding in the regional response to illegal trade in area. Stratégies de commercialisation protected species, which threatens Another WCS conservation site where des PFNL à l’échelle communale: biodiversity, endangers public health and SVC manages ecotourism services is the cas de la région de l’Est undermines economic well-being. (Source: Prek Toal core area of the Tonle Sap La question de la commercialisation de www.bruneidirect.com, 19 April 2010.) Biosphere Reserve in Battambang l’ebaie, de la mangue sauvage ou du province. Seven water bird species of ndjansang (Pentaclethra macrophylla, “global significance” have been found Irvingia gabonensis et Ricinodendron %CAMBODIA breeding in the area. (Source: Phnom heudelotii) ne se posait pas à priori Penh Post, 22 March 2010.) lorsque, dans les années 1990, le Cambodian villagers turn from hunting législateur camerounais définissait le to ecotourism régime de commercialisation des produits Biodiversity in Southeast Asia suffers from forestiers issus de l’espace national (loi an onslaught of habitat loss, climate n°94/01 du 20 janvier portant régime des change and overexploitation. A few forêts, de la faune et de la pêche au organizations are determined to develop Cameroun; décret n°95/531/PM du 23 août strategies aimed at helping people to live 1995 fixant les modalités d’application du in better harmony with nature. régime des forêts). Pourtant, la demande One of these groups is the Siem Reap- de produits forestiers non ligneux (PFNL) based Sam Veasna Centre (SVC), which comme ceux-ci reste importante sur le manages bird-watching day trips and marché national et sous-régional. Leur itineraries to eight Wildlife Conservation valorisation par les communautés locales Society (WCS) conservation projects across est devenue l’un des champs de bataille Cambodia. Nick Butler, the coordinator of des Organisations non gouvernementales the centre, said one of their main Mondulkiri wild: protecting people (ONG) camerounaises et des organismes strategies for saving Cambodia’s and biodiversity de développement internationaux. Cet wilderness areas is promoting ecotourism. Mondulkiri in northeast Cambodia is rich article revient sur des réflexions issues “Ecotourism works by providing local in forest and natural resources. It is also d’expériences de terrain réalisées dans le communities with alternative and home to the Bunong indigenous cadre du ProPSFE (Programme d’appui de sustainable livelihoods, linking education, communities. l’Office allemand de la coopération as well as no-hunting and land use NTFPs are viewed as a key means to technique [GTZ] au Programme sectoriel agreements, with the conservation of their improve the livelihood of the Bunong but forêts-environnement) et du Centre local environment,” he said. also to ensure their direct participation in technique de la forêt communale (CTFC). Butler said the involvement of local the conservation of the province’s Le Système d’information des marchés communities at a very early stage in remaining forests of about 1.2 million ha. (SIM) des PFNL a été développé dans la developing ecotourism projects was However, the Bunong currently face région de l’Est par le CTFC, sur la base crucial. “We do two things. The first is that challenges to their way of life and their des expériences de divers partenaires au we manage the ecotourism business by efforts at protecting their forest, culture développement tels que la FAO. Des trying to get international bird-watchers to and livelihoods. stratégies de commercialisation des PFNL visit the WCS project sites across WWF Cambodia and the Non-Timber végétaux à l’échelle communale ont été Cambodia,” he said. “The second part of Forest Products Exchange Programme identifiées pour mieux agencer l’action du

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 45

CTFC dans le domaine, afin d’ajuster Eru market chain baseline (Gnetum spp.) l’activité du SIM PFNL de la région à la in the Southwest and Littoral regions législation. Ces stratégies illustrent des Eru (either of two species, Gnetum voies permettant aux PFNL, ramassés au africanum or G. buchholzianum) is a leafy titre du droit d’usage ou simplement vine found in the tropical humid forests of collectés, d’entrer dans un circuit légal de Central Africa, including Cameroon. The commercialisation. leaves are harvested and traded principally La première stratégie est valable pour as a vegetable, which is an important la récolte des PFNL sur l’ensemble du source of protein and nutrients, used in territoire communal, sans distinction de popular dishes in Cameroon and type de forêt. Dans cette optique, une neighbouring Nigeria. entité juridique communale est titulaire From March to October 2009, a baseline du permis d’exploitation des PFNL. Trois assessment (involving focus groups, options sont envisageables: soit la questionnaires, interviews and visits, as commune dispose d’un titre d’exploitation Penthaclethra macrophylla well as secondary data) of the Gnetum spp. et sous-traite l’activité de collecte aux market chain was conducted in the Groupements d’intérêts communs (GIC) et Traditionnellement, la connaissance de Southwest and Littoral regions of aux fédérations communales; soit elle s’en tous ces produits et de leurs vertus Cameroon, extending into the Cross River approprie; soit enfin une union/fédération permettait d’apporter des solutions à de and Akwa Ibom states of Nigeria. de GIC à l’échelle communale dispose d’un nombreuses situations. Or, on constate The Manyu, Kupe-Manengouba and titre d’exploitation. aujourd’hui une perte de connaissances à Ndian divisions in the Southwest and La deuxième stratégie est circonscrite cet égard. En même temps, certains PFNL Mungo division in the Littoral region were aux types de titres forestiers. Dans ce cas, négligés dans le contexte traditionnel selected as important production areas, les PFNL collectés et commercialisés prennent une importance considérable. Tel based on a situational analysis and rapid proviennent exclusivement des forêts est le cas du Penthaclethra macrophylla, assessment that were carried out prior to communales et des forêts communément appelé mubala. Au Nigéria, field work. communautaires. par exemple, sa valorisation par les petites The research indicates that seven main La troisième stratégie, enfin, est liée à et moyennes entreprises a permis à ce market channels exist, linking up to seven la mise en place d’une activité génératrice PFNL de devenir numéro un en une année. types of actors, from consumers to traders, de revenus (AGR) locale. Elle propose ainsi D’après les informations recueillies, il exporters and importers in major markets que les PFNL collectés au titre du droit produirait de l’huile végétale en grande in Cameroon and the high volume market in d’usage soient valorisés et transformés quantité, et ses tourteaux seraient très Nigeria, with the major production au niveau local. La valeur ajoutée du nourrissants pour les porcs. harvesters in the Southwest and Littoral produit devient de la sorte Au sein de la FOMOD, le mubala regions of Cameroon. An estimated 1 885 commercialisable, constituant une forme constitue une forte source potentielle de people work in the chain (including 759 d’exception à l’interdiction de redistribution des bénéfices, du fait de son producers, 60 traders, 138 exporters, 141 commercialiser le droit d’usage. abondance et de son mode de prélèvement importers, 267 retailers and 330 in support Une bonne organisation accessible à tous, essentiellement le services). socioéconomique et le respect des normes ramassage. Eu égard à cette position de As most harvesters and traders in d’exploitation forestière sont des force et aux impacts socioéconomiques Cameroon do not belong to an organization conditions indispensables de mise en actuels et escomptés, la FOMOD se or association, only a limited number of œuvre. L’option idéale serait certes que propose d’accorder une importance small- and medium-sized enterprises (16) toutes ces stratégies fonctionnent particulière à ce PFNL, en évaluant la appear active in the sector. In Nigeria, simultanément sur le territoire communal, possibilité de faciliter l’installation d’une strong associations and unions are more en attendant la consécration législative microentreprise forestière communautaire common, with 18 organizations noted. des différents avis sur les PFNL émis à ce de production d’huile et de tourteaux de Gnetum contributes to 25 percent of jour. (Contribution de: Fernande Abanda, mubala dans la zone. (Contribution de: producers’ NTFP-related income in the doctorante en droit forestier, Université de Patrice Pa’ah, Secrétaire exécutif, Forêt Manyu division and up to 62 percent of Yaoundé II, BP 18, Soa, Cameroun.) modèle du Dja et Mpomo, Cameroun. Dans NTFP-related income in the Mungo division. Courriel: [email protected]) NTFP Newsletter, Volume 1:4, Natural Producers, traders, exporters, Resources Canada and Royal Roads intermediaries, restaurant operators and Microentreprise forestière University, juin 2010.) processors make an average profit margin communautaire: huile de mubala of CFAF220, 495, 232, 50, 550 and 150–500 La Forêt modèle du Dja et Mpomo POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS, CONTACTER: per kg, respectively. Producers in the (FOMOD) regorge de multiples PFNL (tiges Tim Brigham, Centre for Livelihoods and Manyu division make an annual average de jeunes arbustes, écorces, racines, Ecology, Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke profit of CFAF598 729 and those in the fruits, sève, feuilles, fleurs, pollen, nectar, Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V9B 5Y2. Mungo division CFAF526 867. etc.). L’usage de certains de ces produits a Télécopie: 250-391-2500; Eru contributes to 75 percent of a parfois exigé un savoir spécifique et des courriel: [email protected]; retailer’s income, on average CFAF729 327, formes d’initiation culturelle. http://ntfpnetwork.ca/en/node/89 and 58 percent of an exporter’s income, on

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 46 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

average CFAF3 million. An exporter at on Gnetum spp. in the Southwest and The initiative is known as the Yasuni-ITT Idenau made an annual average profit Littoral regions, Cameroon. Yaoundé, project because it involves the Ishpingo, margin of CFAF357 148 750 in 2008 from Cameroon, FAO-CIFOR-SNV-World Tambococha and Tiputini oilfields, which the eru trade. Agroforestry Centre- COMIFAC: 142.) partly overlap with the untouchable zone in The eru market in Nigeria provides the southern part of the park, one of the higher returns than the Cameroonian FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: most species-rich areas in the world. market, with a Nigerian wholesaler’s Verina Ingram, Scientist, Center for The megadiverse Yasuni Park, the largest average profit margin of CFAF425/kg for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), national park in this South American fresh eru while their Cameroonian c/o IITA Humid Forest Ecoregional Centre, country, was declared a world biosphere suppliers make CFAF232 /kg. The BP 2008 Yaoundé, Cameroon. reserve by UNESCO in 1989. differences can be explained by a number E-mail: [email protected] or Pinto added that the trust fund would be of factors: actors in Cameroon are not as [email protected]; negotiated again with the United Nations organized as those in Nigeria, coupled with www.cifor.cgiar.org Development Programme (UNDP), which poor roads, high levels of corruption and the government hopes will administer the taxes that reduce their profit margins. project. Almost all Gnetum traded originated %ECUADOR Yasuni, declared a national park in 1979, from the forest, the majority (41 percent) is in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon rain from its preferred shady habitat in well- Environmental inspection in the Yasuni forest, in the eastern provinces of Orellana drained, primary and secondary forest. National Park and Pastaza. More than 1 760 species of Domestication schemes in eight villages Representatives of Ecuador’s trees and bushes have been identified on its have not yet matured to enter the markets ombudsman’s office and environmental 982 000 ha. The park is also one of the on any significant scale. Despite high groups have visited the Yasuni National areas in the world with the greatest variety demand, the quantity produced in the study Park, home to some of the world’s last of bird species, and nearly 40 percent of all area in 2008 was 336 tonnes less than in indigenous people still living in voluntary species of mammals that inhabit the 2007. isolation, in order to verify reports of Amazon jungle can be found there. (Source: While a regulatory framework for illegal activity by oil companies. Amazon News, 15 April 2010.) Gnetum does exist, as it is classed as a Ecuador’s new constitution bans oil Special Forestry Product requiring a permit drilling in the “untouchable zone” declared for trade, the majority of harvesters and by the government in the southern part of traders do not possess a permit. Increasing the park to ensure the survival of the harvests, combined with the lack of Tagaeri and Taromenane indigenous NATIONAL PARK CONTAINS regulatory or any customary control communities, who have shunned contact WORLD’S HIGHEST BIODIVERSITY coupled with no enforcement of harvest with society and are highly vulnerable to permits, a very low level of domestication introduced diseases. The untouchable zone More trees grow in a single hectare of and increasing consumer demand have led – where no logging companies or other upland rain forest in Yasuni – 655 species to a situation of long-term unsustainable extractive industries can operate – was – than in the continental United States harvest. Correspondingly, the price of eru declared in 1999, although the boundaries of America and Canada combined. In has increased with time, with an average were not fully defined until 2006. 25 ha, the number of tree species rises increase of CFAF100/kg in production zones Despite the ban on activities in the area, to 1 100. “In just one hectare in Yasuni, during the period 2007–2009. While the construction of an oil pipeline that would there are more tree, shrub, and liana Gnetum trade is essential in providing cash connect currently operating oilfields with (woody vines) species than anywhere income to harvesters and traders to meet possible deposits in the park has else in the world,” said Gorky Villa, an their basic needs in health, education and continued, said Esperanza Martínez, head Ecuadorian botanist working with both housing – helping meet Millennium of the “Amazonia por la Vida – Salvemos al the Smithsonian Institution and the Development Goals in the study area – its Yasuní” campaign carried out by Acción conservation organization with offices in exploitation is failing to contribute to meet Ecológica, a local environmental group. Maryland and Quito, Ecuador. the environmental sustainability goal. Meanwhile, Minister of Non-Renewable The same incredibly high diversity This study, taking into consideration the Natural Resources Germánico Pinto said applies to amphibians; the 150 species views of actors, concludes that a more that President Rafael Correa had approved documented to date throughout Yasuni efficient market structure of the chain in the terms of a trust fund to finance the are a world record for an area of this Cameroon could enable them to benefit decision to leave the oil underground in size. However, the numbers of insects in from higher profit margins. Domestication the Yasuni Park. Under the innovative plan, Yasuni may eclipse all of these: a single and awareness-raising programmes could the government will issue bonds in hectare of rain forest may contain as lessen the pressure on an already depleted exchange for a commitment to forego many as 100 000 unique insect species. resource base and effective regulatory and drilling in Yasuni, where there are an This estimate is the highest per unit area customary control measures – if estimated 850 million barrels of crude, in the world for any taxa, plant or implemented and enforced – could limit and to preserve the park’s rain forest, animal. (Source: Mongabay.com, overexploitation and enhance sustainable while preventing the release of some 400 19 January 2010.) trade. (Source: summary of L. Ndumbe, V. million tonnes of emissions of carbon Ingram et al. 2010. Market baseline study dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 47

% ETHIOPIA %FRANCE As beekeepers, both Nicolas Géant and Paucton are well aware of the damage France’s best honey: from the Paris caused to bees by chemical products. They rooftops? try to increase the public’s awareness of Parisians and tourists enjoying a meal at their disappearance and its consequences one of the restaurants in the famous by organizing visits to their beehives. “Fauchon” gourmet shop in central Paris Still, there is a tendency to think that the might be surprised at the freshness of the honey made in the city cannot be as good honey served with their tea and other as that harvested in the countryside. meals. Analyses made on the honey of the Grand It is fresh and delicious because it comes Palais showed that there were traces of from the roof of the nearby Paris Opera. dandelions in last year’s harvest. “There are The beehives on top of the Opéra Garnier lime trees, chestnuts, acacias in Paris. It’s a are just one of an increasing set of hives diversity you can’t find anywhere else,” sprouting on roofs around Paris in an effort Jean Paucton added. In the countryside, the to save bees, their honey and their impact honey is made of only one species because White honey grows scarce as bees on our food and environment. of single-crop farming. That is why the abandon Ethiopia’s parched peaks The Opera beehives belong to Jean honey of the Opéra is known for its flavour. The truffle of the apiary world – rare white Paucton, 77, who still likes to climb up to The price of that taste is a bit more than honey from Ethiopia’s highest peaks – is in the rooftop of the Opéra in the centre of USD18 for barely 4 ounces (113.4 g). In danger of disappearing, according to Paris to visit his bees. “Paris is perfect for other words: very expensive. (Source: beekeepers in the Tigray region. “No rain them,” Paucton explained. “The average www.globalpost.com, 28 June 2010.) for the flowers,” said Ashenaf Abera as he temperature during the year is 13° C and stood on his rocky, parched slope in the there are lots of gardens: the Tuileries, the northern Ethiopian region. “The bees need Luxembourg Gardens, La Villette basin, the % GHANA high-altitude flowers for the white honey. Bois de Boulogne …” When they cannot find them, they go to Paucton was not always a beekeeper. He Traditional plants at risk of disappearing other plants and produce yellow honey.” used to be an Opéra props man. It was then The Fante-Akan people of Ghana have a Abera is paid £65 a month to mind 270 that he bought his first beehive, and put it traditional knowledge of ritual plants used hives for the Asira Metira monastery, one of on the balcony of his Parisian apartment. to cure people of mental and physical ills, a dozen religious centres in an area whose But his neighbours were not too happy. A but these sacred plants are in danger of fourth-century rock churches are among friend of his told him to put the hive on the vanishing as their surrounding forests the wonders of the world. “We know about roof of the Opéra so that the bees would not diminish. bees,” said honey seller Sheikh Mohamed bother anyone anymore. He did so, and a “Certain important medicinal plants are Ahamedin. He grips a large screwdriver few weeks later, a friend of a friend came no longer available,” Dr Tinde van Andel, of with both hands to ladle a dollop of thick up to take a picture of the beehive. “It the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity and lumpy white honey out of a plastic turned out it was the famous French Naturalis, told MediaGlobal. As an bucket. It is snow-white and tastes sweet photographer Yann Arthus-Bertand!” The ethnobotanist, it is van Andel’s job to study and more waxy than yellow honey. photo was published in the French how cultures utilize indigenous plants and “The price is the highest it has ever been magazine Paris Match. prevent such practices from being lost. this year, because of scarcity,” said Paucton’s rooftop beekeeping idea has In June, van Andel will travel to Ghana to Ahamedin, who sells white honey for become a trend and now beehives are conduct fieldwork documenting the £7.75/kg. Last year he charged £4.50/kg. located all over Paris. They have taken up traditional knowledge of the Fante-Akan Ethiopia is Africa’s largest honey residence on the roof of the newly people. Van Andel warns of the many producer and the world’s fourth biggest renovated Grand Palais on the Champs consequences that may occur if this beeswax exporter. After coffee, gold and Elysée, the brainstorm of beekeeper traditional knowledge fails to be preserved. cowhide, bee products are major Nicolas Géant. “If people do not know their useful plants contributors to the economy, especially Géant owns a shop where he sells anymore, or if the plants are gone, people through exports to Italy, where white honey beehives to other Parisians. “Urban will lose a major source of wild food, is considered a delicacy. beekeeping is the future of apiculture,” he medicine, shelter, craft material, fodder, Bee products are the only export item said. “Most of the beekeepers have taken and cash income.” produced by Tigray’s impoverished 4.6 their hives back to the city because they Commercially valuable plants are being million people, whose region is said to be realized bees were dying 30 percent more overharvested. As a result, the Fante-Akan one of the worst-hit in the world by climate in the countryside.” people now have to walk further in order change. It may seem paradoxical but pollution in find the medicine they need, affecting both Such is Ethiopians’ love of honey that the countryside is more toxic to bees than their health and survival. Van Andel will apitherapy clinics offer treatments for many in the cities, especially in Paris. “For ten specify priority species that are critical to ailments. The national drink is tej – honey years now, the city of Paris has banned all the Fante-Akan people’s social well-being, mead. (Source: The Guardian [United chemical products from its gardens,” Géant cultural diversity and history, which will Kingdom], 18 April 2010.) explained. help in the conservation of these plants.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 48 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

Millions of Africans rely on traditional A main cornerstone of PBEEP, which herbal medicine for their primary health care biologists Marleny Rosales-Meda and Maria needs simply because they lack access to Susana Hermes carry out with Maya- forms of Western medicine. The indigenous Q´eqchi´ communities that neighbour plants used by these cultures contain a LLNP, is linking scientific and traditional myriad of natural chemicals, antibiotic or knowledge to favour the long-term antifungal properties, essential oils, and conservation and sustainable use of natural tannins, all of which are effective remedies. resources in the Ecoregión Lachua. A key Certain plants are also used in objective of this innovative programme is to centuries-old traditions and rituals. The promote the rescue and revalorization of Ashanti people of Ghana use a specific tree ancestral Q´eqchi´ knowledge that is bark to dye the clothing of someone who strongly related to the respectful and has died. “The colour of the dye depends on responsible use of nature. the age and social status of the deceased; carried out in a way that contributes to the Rosales and Hermes, coordinators of each colour comes from a different type of sustainability of these natural resources. PBEEP, proposed to elders and LLNP bark,” van Andel added. “Even Ghanaians The Maya-Q´eqchi´ cosmovision has many managers to carry out a different kind of who have migrated to the Netherlands go to traditional elements that promote and reforestation activity guided towards great lengths to obtain this dye in Europe, favour a responsible and respectful use of rescuing and transmitting traditional tree- so they can bury their relatives according to nature. planting values and wisdom to children and tradition.” In 2000, the School of Biology of the teenagers from five communities of the The protection of Africa’s biodiversity is University of San Carlos in Guatemala Ecoregión Lachua. For this purpose, park crucial to conserving the cultural heritage started a subsistence hunting rangers from LLNP constructed a plant of people that depend on plants as part of characterization project in communities nursery with 1 800 native trees that have their way of life. There are many plants that neighbouring the Laguna Lachua National important uses (wood, food, medicine) and still need to be identified, along with the Park (LLNP) to determine its local special meaning for Q´eqchi´ people. roles they play in indigenous cultures. tendencies. This study initially started with This activity is a pioneer reforestation “It is not only essential to preserve nine local hunters from five communities effort where biologists, park managers, traditional knowledge about plants and who collaborated with the project by filling elders and the youth of the Ecoregión forests, but also very important to train out forms with the biological information Lachua work hand in hand in favour of the young scientists in the taxonomy of tropical about the animals they hunted. conservation and good use of trees, plants,” van Andel said. “Too few botanists The result of analyses showed that considering ancestral respect towards or biologists are trained nowadays in subsistence hunting is a very important Mother Nature as a cross-cutting topic. collecting, identifying and describing activity for the Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities (Source: The Guatemala Times in the tropical plants.” Identifying and protecting of the study area, because it provides Traditional Knowledge Bulletin, plants that are an important part of economic and social benefits. As main 17 February 2010.) people’s traditions will take time, money products of the analysis of these hunting and cooperation between governments and tendencies, a Wildlife reproduction calendar academia, van Andel acknowledged. and a Preliminary proposal for subsistence %INDIA (Source: MediaGlobal in Traditional hunting management in local communities Knowledge Bulletin, 2 June 2010.) of the Ecoregión Lachua were formulated. Indian government to promote cultivation The research team began promoting and of medicinal plants carrying out participative efforts guided The Hill state government in India has %GUATEMALA towards establishing a communitarian decided to promote cultivation of medicinal subsistence hunting management system. plants on a commercial scale in view of the Revalorization of indigenous knowledge These efforts led to the First increasing popularity of the traditional Wildlife hunting for domestic consumption Communitarian Agreements for system of medicine. The Hill state accounts (subsistence hunting) is a very common Subsistence Hunting Management, which for over 7 percent of the nation’s activity that is part of the cultural identity were proposed and signed by biodiversity which – if harnessed – can help of many indigenous communities in leaders/authorities of 15 local communities. preserve vanishing herbs and also generate Guatemala’s rural area, yet it has been Currently, the staff are carrying out a additional income for the people. poorly studied in our country. However, long-term Participative Bilingual According to a survey by the World unmanaged subsistence hunting is a Environmental Education Programme – Health Organization, about 80 percent of serious threat for wild animal populations PBEEP – that emerged from a local the population of developing countries still and can cause drastic effects and negative initiative. PBEEP aims to give continuance rely on traditional herbs for primary health alterations in the natural dynamics of to previous research and management care needs. Keeping in view the vast ecosystem. phases through an education, awareness potential for cultivation of some rare The Ecoregión Lachua is home to 55 and dissemination phase of the efforts Himalayan herbs, the government has Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities that still have carried out until today regarding taken several initiatives. A separate Herbal agriculture and forest use practices, such conservation, communitarian management Medicine Plant Board has been set up to as wildlife hunting, which are traditionally and sustainable use of wildlife. carry forward such activities in a big way.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 49

A road map has been prepared for large- Jharkhand’s forests yield huge amounts He said that the villagers would be able scale cultivation of medicinal plants, to give of minor forest products, the prices of to earn a livelihood by using the natural thrust to herbiculture, under which 37 which run into several crores of rupees. items that otherwise went to waste. He herbal and aromatic species of medicinal But the market has so far been described the medicinal plants in the plants have been selected. Farmers will be monopolized by intermediaries who pastures and forests, honey beekeeping able to profit by cultivating these varieties purchase these products, especially from and sericulture as the potential sources, of herbs from their small landholdings. tribals, at throwaway prices. adding that forest conservation was The state horticulture, forest and Jhamfcofed has already purchased 88.2 possible only when the locals derived full Ayurveda departments will be involved in tonnes of tamarind from villagers at a rate advantage from the NTFPs. (Source: the programme to help farmers grow of Rs20/kg. The price in the open market Chitraltoday Web site, 13 June 2010.) herbs on private land and in forests and is around Rs15/kg. herbal gardens. The government is also The state body has also bought 267.24 Action to support “pro-poor” forests providing technical assistance to tonnes of mahua at a handsome rate of In Orissa, India, IUCN member Winrock individuals and cooperative societies for Rs22/kg and 30 tonnes of natural gum at International India (WII) is working with the purpose. The produce will be supplied Rs40/kg. local communities to manage forests better to pharmaceutical companies “Jharkhand has a collective minor forest within a wider agricultural landscape. In a manufacturing Ayurvedic and allopathic produce market of Rs700–800 crore. But, zone between the Simlipal Tiger Reserve medicines. so far, we have been able to tap a market and the plain areas, WII plays an active role Flora of the state consist of around of Rs1 crore. Large areas remain in the development of forest resources and 3 500 species of plants, of which about untapped,” Chaturvedi said. livelihoods of the forest-dependent people 800 species are rich in medicinal value and Tamarind, mango and chiraunji are in Orissa. Here, forests contribute about 25 165 species are collected for commercial processed into food items such as pickles. percent of the average income, mostly purposes. Besides these, forests produce millions of through NTFPs, of which the income from The total cultivable wasteland in the tonnes of amla, aloevera, karanj, saal the sale of sal leaves accounts for more state is about 123 000 ha, and growing seed, etc. than 90 percent. herbs will go a long way in further Jhamfcofed sells the same to food- WII’s work has evolved over time from strengthening the state’s economy. The processing units. Chaturvedi said that last merely promoting NTFP livelihoods and state is the largest supplier of chilgoza, year, it had earned a profit of Rs10 lakh the conservation of forests to promoting kuth, dioscoria, dhoop, picrorrhiza, after doing business worth Rs1 crore. This integrated natural resource management valeriana and ephedera in the country. year, the target is Rs30 lakh with a total in government planning and programmes. (Source: Tribune News Service [India], investment of about Rs2 crore. (Source: The With the support of the Ford Foundation, 20 June 2010.) Telegraph [Calcutta, India], 20 May 2010.) this work has been extended to assist the coordination of forest protection groups Fair price for forest yield and community-based organizations into a Tribal villagers who make a living out of federation of local NGOs, called MASS (the forest produce will no longer be at the Mayurbhanj Swechasevi Samkhya), which mercy of intermediaries. The government today covers around 800 villages in the moved to ensure a fair price for minor district. (Source: IUCN Monthly Update, forest products such as tamarind, mango 29 January 2010.) pulp, mahua (Madhuca longifolia) and chiraunji (seeds of Buchanania lanzan) this summer. % INDONESIA Jharkhand State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Development Marketing Bioprospecting: a priority for Indonesia

Federation Limited (Jhamfcofed) has Tamarind Scientists from the Indonesian Institute of already purchased numerous tonnes of Sciences (LIPI), Conservation International these products from villagers. Chitral has vast potential in NTFPs (CI) and other scientific institutions “But more remains to be done. We will Exploitation of vast resources of NTFPs in continue to find exciting new species in purchase 200 tonnes of mahua, 20 tonnes Chitral can help fight poverty and raise the both our oceans and forests. We can of natural gum, 50 tonnes of chiraunji nuts living standard of the people. The Deputy reflect on how our rich biodiversity can and 50 tonnes of half-dry mango flesh this Director of NTFPs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa benefit Indonesia after these initial summer,” said Ratnesh Chaturvedi, the Forest Department, Iftikhar Ahmed, added discoveries are made. Managing Director of Jhamfcofed. that efforts were in progress to exploit the Scientists work on two levels: those who The state marketing body was formed in resources on a sustainable basis and for catalogue the species they find and those 2007, a year after the Scheduled Tribe and this purpose a complex was being set up in who look for scientific innovations based Other Traditional Forest Dwellers the district for which land had been on the unique characteristics of the new (Recognition of Rights) Act gave villagers acquired. The active participation of the species. Biodiversity prospecting or the right to collect minor forest produce. local communities must be enlisted and a “bioprospecting” seeks to develop Jhamfcofed, however, took time to create comprehensive training on natural resource commercial uses for these unique genetic its network and began business in 2009. management must be imparted to them. characteristics. Examples include quinine

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 50 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

to treat malaria, or new drugs to fight time they are granted, researchers have to The statement said that President cancer now or in the future. return home before their research has Sirleaf is accordingly warning all those Bioprospecting is a market-based even begun. involved in the illegal exportation of approach that could support long-term Together with the governmental bushmeat and wild animals to desist with sustainable economic development in a involvement in formulating a immediate effect or face the biodiversity-rich country. It can also bioprospecting policy, Indonesia has a consequences. It said the ban is aimed at provide incentives to conserve nature. tremendous resource in its non- preserving Liberia’s wildlife since certain However, this can only be done with an governmental organizations (NGOs). There species of wildlife are under threat of honest partnership between local are well-qualified NGOs working across extinction. communities – which are the traditional Indonesia, in hundreds of distinct The government’s ban comes in the owners of these plants and animals – the indigenous communities that each possess wake of reports of an increase in cross- private sector and international their own culture, language group and border trade in wild animals and organizations involved in research and knowledge of natural resources. We are bushmeat from Liberia. (Source: African development. In many cases, traditional only just beginning to understand the value Press Agency, 29 June 2010.) knowledge includes an understanding of and varied applications of indigenous the benefits that different plants and knowledge. animals provide for humans. Indonesia has all the tools necessary to %MEXICO What is needed is a systematic make bioprospecting work. It has rich recording of their uses – and the patents biodiversity, a population both dependent Limitantes del marco normativo sobre or licensing to ensure that the local people on and traditionally knowledgeable about los productos forestales no madereros who own these resources receive a real, this biodiversity, a strong NGO community, en México long-term reward for conserving the government institutions working in En México los productos forestales no natural ecosystem that provides such different areas of the environment, and a madereros (PFNM) son fuente de ingreso valuable natural products. developed traditional medicine industry, y empleo importante para familias y If scientists have the task of finding new which puts Indonesia one step ahead of sectores marginales de la población. species and identifying their current or the rest of the world in the exploitation of Representan recursos que aportan a la future uses, the government is expected to its biological resources. It also has foreign calidad de vida y seguridad alimentaria y manage biodiversity, to ensure that arboretums and corporations willing to ayudan a reducir la vulnerabilidad. Son species do not disappear. The government cooperate to make bioprospecting work. aprovechados de forma silvestre y/o is supposed to use these resources to What it does not have is the proper semidomesticada y han contribuido a promote national welfare and prevent arrangement of these elements into one mantener masas forestales. Son la base exploitation. We need to create a efficiently functioning system. (Source: material de muchas manifestaciones harmonized clear government regulation The Jakarta Post, 16 June 2010.) culturales y forman parte de la identidad on biodiversity research, development and cultural regional y nacional. conservation. Reconociendo la importancia de contar There are two immediate priorities for con un marco normativo que fomente el this legislation. buen manejo, es necesario reconocer que First, there is a need to form an actualmente la leyes y su aplicación, en interministerial commission made up of su gran mayoría, están representando representatives from the ministries barreras y obstáculos para el manejo involved in conservation of natural sostenible y para que los beneficios del resources and trade. aprovechamiento de los PFNM beneficien Second, this commission needs to have a sus legítimos poseedores. one representative with the authority to Ante la carencia de una reglamentación negotiate terms with pharmaceutical acorde con el aprovechamiento y uso de companies and others interested in los PFNM desde la perspectiva de las bioprospecting in Indonesia. At present, comunidades, es necesaria una política there are several agencies in charge of % LIBERIA pública clara, que reconozca y proteja a conserving our biological and genetic los conocedores locales y los involucre resources, which creates opportunities for Liberian leader bans exportation centralmente a lo largo de todos los foreign parties to exploit the system for of bushmeat and wild animals procesos de aprovechamiento. access. Even a third party can approach Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Como parte del análisis realizado en el local people without asking for a permit has banned the exportation of wild simposio sobre los PFNM, en el from an authorized agency. This animals and bushmeat from Liberia. I° Congreso Latinoamericano de overlapping management and lack of a A Foreign Ministry press statement Etnobiología / VII Congreso Mexicano de legal basis is a barrier to the conservation issued in Monrovia on 28 June says the Etnobiología (realizado en Pachuca, and protection of Indonesia’s biological ban will remain in force pending the Hidalgo, del 2 al 6 de noviembre de 2009) resources. In addition, permits granted passage of a proposed legislation to be y tomando en cuenta la opinión de through the proper channels can take submitted to the national legislature for especialistas en el tema, destacamos la months to acquire and, typically, by the enactment. existencia de las siguientes fallas

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 51

relativas a la regulación actual de estos cientos de años, basados en este incidencia real sobre el recursos en su relación con las conocimiento tradicional. aprovechamiento comunitario de los comunidades y la responsabilidad social y • En la mayoría de los casos existe poca PFNM y otros aspectos. Fomentar ética de instituciones educativas- o ninguna información científica sobre también el diálogo de saberes, que académicas con las comunidades: la cual basar planes de manejo. Falta permita tomar lo mejor de cada • Existen leyes y reglas, son excesivas y apoyo para realizar la investigación sistema de conocimiento. no necesariamente garantizan básica necesaria para fundamentar • Dada la actual crisis económica y los sostenibilidad. Se ocupan más de los buenos planes de manejo. Pero para escasos recursos que se asignan a la trámites que de garantizar las buenas que sea útil, esta investigación debe ciencia y al desarrollo de tecnología en prácticas. Generan altos costos y poner en el centro a las comunidades y México, es necesario supervisar las dependencia de servicios externos. sus necesidades; es necesario realizar propuestas de investigación y • Muchas veces hay contradicción entre una investigación participativa, proyectos sobre manejo de recursos las leyes y los reglamentos, o poca involucrando a los usuarios en cada naturales, de manera que respondan a claridad. Algunas son muy generales, fase de los estudios, a partir de su las necesidades reales, sentidas y otras demasiado específicas a una diseño. expresadas por los pobladores realidad, pero no aplicables a otra • Como parte del problema, en cuanto al rurales, para mantener o recuperar (como el caso de especies que están papel de las instituciones de sus complejos sistemas productivos, en peligro de extinción en una región, investigación – que muchas veces cuya eficacia ha sido probada por pero no en otra). reciben dinero de las empresas – el generaciones y cuya afectación actual • La regulación es inaccesible y medio académico, en general, no es propiciada por una regulación excluyente. incide de manera asertiva en la excluyente o por una instrumentación • El actual esquema de los regulación de los PFNM. Llega a excluyente de la normativa actual. La «prestadores de servicios» propicia el describir fenómenos pero no pugna condición actual y el futuro de los desempeño irregular y no por operacionalizar recomendaciones PFNM está ligado directamente a las supervisado. En este marco, se ha conjuntamente con los involucrados en condiciones de vida de la población; la desmantelado la tradición del las iniciativas. Esta automarginación desigualdad social y la exclusión que extensionismo agropecuario. Se ha hace que las iniciativas locales de repercuten en la actualidad insertado en el proceso de aprovechamiento de los PFNM se directamente en la viabilidad de los aprovechamiento de los PFNM, a nutran poco de fuentes académicas. recursos naturales. través de la figura de los «prestadores Tomando en cuenta lo expuesto Aportación hecha por: María Teresa Pulido de servicios»; una instancia de interés anteriormente se proponen las siguientes [email protected]; Martha S. González privado financiado con recursos acciones: [email protected]; Paul Hersch públicos, a costa de un rubro de • Se requieren políticas públicas [email protected]; Catarina Illsley apoyo, cuya operación compete al encaminadas a fortalecer las [email protected]; Citlalli López Estado como parte de su capacidades locales y desarrollar [email protected]; Fernando Ramírez responsabilidad social. Los incentivos para comunidades que han [email protected]; María «prestadores de servicios» han mostrado que sus prácticas de Fernanda Sánchez Pardo desplazado a muchos egresados aprovechamiento tienen un impacto [email protected] universitarios de un espacio de positivo sobre la conservación, y que servicio público que debe ser esto se valore como elemento PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: técnicamente competente, éticamente determinante en la autorización de María Teresa Pulido, Centro de Investigaciones riguroso y metodológicamente permisos de aprovechamiento. Biológicas. Universidad Autónoma del Estado dialógico y participativo. • Es necesario revisar a fondo el de Hidalgo. Carretera Pachuca Tulancingo • Las leyes oficiales, en general, no esquema actual de selección y S/N. C.P. 42184. Pachuca, Hidalgo, México. reconocen ni dialogan con las reglas operación de los “prestadores de comunitarias. Las instituciones servicios” para que sean las instancias locales (asambleas, consejos de gubernamentales mismas en una ancianos, rituales, etc) son relación directa con los pobladores, fundamentales en el diseño, las que realicen labores de apoyo instrumentación y cambio de las técnico a los grupos e iniciativas reglas comunitarias. A menudo, en las locales de aprovechamiento sostenible comunidades, sobre todo cuando se de los PFNM, teniendo en cuenta la trata de recursos de importancia preeminencia de los actores y saberes cultural, existen conocimientos, locales. prácticas y reglas para manejarlos. Es • No se niega el papel del conocimiento frecuente que dichas reglas incluyan científico que permite avanzar hacia elementos éticos de equidad y cuidado respuestas técnicas puntuales, es de la Tierra. Hay varios ejemplos de decir, a un aspecto del manejo; por el especies y ecosistemas que se han contrario, se sugiere la investigación manejado de manera sostenible por científica aplicada que tenga

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 52 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

% NEPAL MAPs collection has a significant impact on food security for poor and MAP- Medicinal and aromatic plants and their BAMBOO HOUSES COULD HELP dependent people. Similarly, among ten role in attaining food security in the high ALLEVIATE options provided (improved livelihoods; hills of Nepal: an experience from Baitadi POVERTY diversified livelihoods; increase in and Darchula marketing access; increased incomes; Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are Together with increase in knowledge; food security; an integral component of the rich providing low- increase in bargaining power; improved biodiversity of Asia, especially the Hindu cost and health conditions; improved well-being; Kush-Himalayan region and the other environmentally and women’s status), respondents ranked highland systems in South Asia. MAPs are friendly houses, food security in the first four. Overall food attracting an increasing attention of both construction of security and increased incomes were development planners as well as houses made of bamboo could ranked first. environmentalists because of their potentially lead to poverty reduction and It is obvious that the collection and sale multiple functions and potential employment generation in Nepal. of MAPs has a positive impact on food contribution to improving livelihoods of The Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC), security for the people living in the high rural and marginalized communities. affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese mountain areas of Nepal. MAPs are MAPs are an integral source of income, Chambers of Commerce and Industry especially important for the poor and for medicine, dyes, nutraceuticals, food (FNCCI), has entered into an agreement those holding less land; they are one way products and cosmeceuticals, benefiting with the International Network for or the other dependent on MAPs for their the poor and landless in mountain and Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) for the daily livelihood. highland regions. The earnings from MAPs promotion of bamboo house Some of the major problems have been utilized mainly in gaining food construction in Nepal. These projects encountered by MAPs collectors were security by most of the people living in the will be undertaken with financial aid improper prices for their collected goods, high mountain areas of Nepal. from the Common Fund for lack of proper market information, Baitadi and Darchula are located in the Commodities (CFC). inadequate value addition technology, and far western part of Nepal and, according to These prefabricated bamboo houses inadequate physical infrastructures such national indicators, are the country’s least are affordable, quick to construct and as roads and warehouses. developed districts. Geographic durable. They can also provide cheap With a better management of MAPs, complexity/remoteness, poverty, food shelter for the relatively poor there would be more possibilities for scarcity, illiteracy, fewer economic population of Nepal. marginalized and poor households to opportunities, absence of land Bamboo houses require minimum attain greater food security. transportation and communication technology. Most of the bamboo (Contributed by: Ram P. Acharya, Executive facilities are the major challenges for houses are based on existing local Director and Rijan Tamrakar, Programme development in the district. technology, which does not require Officer, Practical Solution Nepal.) A study was carried out using a high-technology tools for construction. participatory, consultative and Similarly, these houses can help FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: multiperspective (polyvocal) approach, generate employment opportunities as a Ram P. Acharya, Executive Director, combining both qualitative and quantitative greater number of locals can be engaged Practical Solution Nepal (PSN), data collection methods. The primary data in their production – from the plantation Madhyapur Thimi-15, Bhaktapur, Nepal. were collected through 16 key informant of bamboo to the construction of houses. E-mail: [email protected] interviews, three focus group discussions, The promoters have also emphasized 52 household-level questionnaire surveys that these houses can decrease the (21 female and 31 male respondents) and current dependency on importing % NIGERIA direct observation. foreign raw materials used in The studies showed that the main construction. The bamboo structures use The potential of neem source of household production is local materials that do not harm human Neem is ubiquitous in northern Nigeria, and agriculture and livestock, with MAPs health and the environment, employing yet the neem tree’s medicinal and economic contributing around 12 percent in total energy-efficient designs. They also values remain underexploited. The neem household production (5 percent in Baitadi employ more people. tree (Azadirachta indica), popularly referred and 18 percent in Darchula). Most of the Since bamboo can be used as a to in the Hausa language as Dogon Yaro, is a households agreed that the contribution of substitute for timber, it will also help tree of the mahogany family with a broad MAPs to household production is high. to decrease deforestation. Moreover, dark-brown stem and widely spread Thirty-nine percent of the respondents bamboo is highly sustainable as it can branches. It grows to over 15–20 m in height agreed that it made a moderate change to be regenerated within two to three and produces evergreen leaves with white their food security, followed by significant years, while timber could take longer fragrant flowers and fruits. It is also drought change (25 percent), no change than 25 years. (Source: Himalayan News resistant. (24 percent) and minimum change Service, 18 April 2010.) Curiously, the tree is everywhere in the (12 percent), with no responses for highly northern part of the country: on streets, significant. around houses and in the forests. Dogon

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 53

Yaro does not require any special cultivation these flowers of their habitat. In El Valle, in % PARAGUAY techniques or efforts because it grows in the particular, poverty plaguing the local wild. This single quality makes it easy to population has led some to pick endangered Bamboo against deforestation cultivate and capable of multiplying without species in the woods illegally and sell them Uncontrolled expansion of cattle farming in difficulty. on the market, posing a real and imminent Paraguay has led to rampant deforestation The neem tree has both enormous threat to the orchids. and introduction of “exotic" varieties says scientific and traditional uses. Almost every Concerned about such a situation, environmentalist Guillermo Gayo. To put a part of it is useful: the seed, leaves, bark and APROVACA was created in 2001 in order to halt to this practice in the southern trunk. These parts are used in the protect the flowers from extinction and seek department of Paraguarí, the foundation he manufacture of organic fertilizers, pesticides, a more sustainable way of development. A heads has implemented what is known as pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, number of orchid conservation activities are “permaculture”. traditional herbal medicines and animal carried out to achieve this objective, A decade ago, the Takuara Renda feed. In countries such as India, neem is including reintroduction of endangered Foundation (“the bamboo place” in the used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical orchids into their original habitat, Guaraní language) settled near the town of products to fight parasitic, fungal, bacterial environmental education for the public and Sapucái, on a hilltop that forms part of a and viral infections. It has also proved reforestation. The APROVACA Web site remnant of the Atlantic Forest, which extends successful in the manufacture of drugs to reports: “We grow both the endangered through parts of Argentina, Brazil and cure diabetes, infertility and skin diseases. endemic species and non-local horticultural Paraguay, with just 7 percent of its original Dr Yusuf Lawan Idrisa of the Department ones in our nursery for different motives. We coverage remaining. The foundation chose an of Agricultural Economics and Extension try to conserve the former by reproducing area that had been severely degraded by Services at the University of Maiduguri is an them, while selling the latter to visitors to forest fires and logging. It promotes expert in technology adoption and impact raise funds for our ecofriendly activities and permaculture, which is the design and studies. He said his studies show that neem to make the very act of gathering wild maintenance of small productive ecosystems, “can also be used to control field pests on orchids for profits redundant. Overall, we aim including the harmonic integration of people farms. It only involves drying the leaves and to conserve the local biodiversity and and their homes, in order to meet their needs then grinding them into powder and mixing promote an environmentally conscious and in a sustainable way. with water,” adding that “neem-based sustainable form of tourism.” This approach utilizes materials such as pesticides can be used to reduce the Because of its unique geographic tacuara cane, a type of bamboo, and plant incidences of systemic diseases such as characteristics – the isthmus connecting fibres for bioconstruction. Gayo is not trying cancer, kidney and liver diseases that arise North and South America – Panama boasts to establish bamboo as a crop in the area, as a consequence of using chemical-based exceptional biodiversity. Indeed, Panama’s but rather is using it to help the degraded (non-decomposing) pesticides that leave estimated 1 500 species of orchids is a far forest to recover. “If you cut a branch off the behind harmful but unnoticed residues”. greater number than that of the United bamboo, another grows in its place. That is Neem-leaf based pesticides are States of America and Canada combined, how we are replacing the wood,” he said. biodegradable and have no harmful effects and many of these species are endemic to The foundation’s landholding is just 6 ha, on humans. The bitter taste can be washed Panama. but its efforts are felt far beyond. On 25 away with water. The APROVACA Web site features over 200 surrounding hectares, a process has begun However, of major importance is the seed photographs of Panamanian orchids. to expand the forest with larger tree and from which oil and organic fertilizer can be bush species, and there is an emphasis on extracted. The oil can be used in the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: preventing fires and halting extensive cattle manufacture of pesticides, pharmaceutical APROVACA, Main Street next to ANAM, El Valle de operations. products and traditional herbal medicines. Anton, Cocle Province, Panama. Tel./Fax: “I was surprised by the house made from (Source: www.allafrica.com, 6 April 2010.) +5079836472; e-mail: [email protected]; tacuara cane and its furniture,” said Myriam http://aprovaca.webs.com Ramírez, a young student from a nearby community who visited the foundation with % PANAMA classmates. Ramírez also participated in workshops about bioconstruction, where she Conserving endangered orchids learned about building structures out of APROVACA is a non-profit grassroots bamboo. (Source: Tierramerica in Inter Press organization of El Valle de Anton that is Service News Agency [IPS], 19 April 2010.) dedicated to the conservation of endangered native species of orchids, many of which are believed to be on their way to extinction. %PHILIPPINES Estimates vary, but it is generally considered that Panama is home to no less Monom: the Téduray weaving tradition than 1 500 species of orchids, making it one Daily life for the Téduray revolves around of the most orchid-rich countries in the their safad or plants, which are considered world. However, the destruction of rain the extension of the human or animal body; forests, accelerated by the recent rapid the barandiya or things crafted by the economic growth of the country, is depriving Téduray from the materials around them for

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 54 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

Programme – together with the compile and disseminate information on willingness of the tribal leaders and the quantitative and qualitative statistical weavers who shared their ideas and data on NTFPs, their socio-economic uses expertise. and ecological and environmental values.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mr Romeo C. Saliga, Executive Director, Cliff S. Dlamini, Department of Forest and Lumad Development Center, Inc. (LDCI), Wood Science, Faculty of Agrisciences, Tenorio, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao, University of Stellenbosch, P/B X1, Mindanao, Philippines. Matieland 7602, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +268 4041125; e-mail: [email protected] %SOUTH AFRICA %SUDAN various uses; and the késukat or means of The socio-economic status of the NTFP livelihood to maintain a free, peaceful and subsector in Swaziland Beekeeping and the Bongo people progressive society. A wide spectrum of NTFPs generally Beekeeping is the principal activity of the Estimates of the Téduray population makes a remarkable contribution to the Bongo people in Aguko village in Warrap vary widely, ranging from the 56 000 of a household economy in rural areas, with state, southern Sudan. Chief Sultan 2004 survey to the approximately 200 000 most communities making a living either Arkanzelo and local beekeepers showed estimated by the NGO Lumad Development from their domestic or commercial use. some of their hives and how they are Center, Inc. (LDCI). The objective of a recent study by Cliff made. One can easily recognize a Téduray S. Dlamini and Coert J. Geldenhuys of the Hives are constructed from split household in any community because of University of Stellenbosch was to review bamboo woven into a cylinder 2 m long the unfailing presence of their traditional the current status of the NTFP sector and and 30 cm wide. This is then coated with baskets. They are known as the symbol of further compile an up-to-date list of major mud mixed with the fibres of a creeper the Téduray, a lasting display of their use categories of NTFPs. called luyu (possibly a Cissus species). artistry and flair for craftsmanship. A review of past studies on NTFPs in The fibres are slippery and make the mud The general term for weaving is monom the four ecological zones of Swaziland stick to the bamboo. The hive is then and includes all kinds of woven indicates the annual economic value of covered with a layer of grass and a second handicrafts. The Téduray use the following food and drinks, household items, woven bamboo cover is constructed materials in their weaving: pawa, a type of medicinal plants and fuelwood to be at around it. This three to four layer hive bamboo used for the basket body; teel, a USD1.7, 1.7, 32.1 and 13.8 million, ensures that, even if it is put in a tree with type of rattan used for the rim of the respectively. An analysis of the study on little foliage, it will not be affected by heat basket; nito, a type of vine used to sew the natural resources accounting for the from the sun. Each end is closed with a rim to the body, and also to make the contribution of forests and woodland palm leaf circle made from Borassus strap; and buring, a dye made of ash from resources shows that the total value of aethiopum. A third entrance may be made burned tyres or soot from pots used in fuelwood, thatch, edibles, medicines, craft halfway along on larger hives. wood-fired stoves, and mixed with the sap wood, weaving and fodder stand at When the hive is complete, a hole is from plants that serves as a fixative. USD29.6, 1.33, 0.24, 0.10, 0.06, 0.50 and made in the ground and the bark of Commercial logging has denuded the 0.99 million/year, respectively. Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter tree) is remaining forest in the ancestral home of This study reviewed past national, burned and the smoke allowed to infuse the Téduray and Lambangian of Upin, regional and international studies and the hive for 24 hours. Hives will last five to resulting in displacement, conflict in the developed a new list of 18 NTFP use eight years if well made. The hive is community and a threat to the survival of categories subdivided into direct, indirect placed horizontally about 4 m high in a the indigenous peoples. and intermediate uses. Subsequently, a tree to avoid damage when the grass is LDCI has been promoting weaving as a matrix of commonly used botanical NTFPs burned. Hives are placed at any time of means to provide income for the people was designed and includes species such year and bees normally enter fairly soon. (without cutting trees), while at the same as Sclerocarya birrea, Bauhinia galpini, After about one year of being occupied, time raising awareness about the Berchemia zeyheri, Dichrostachys cinerea the first harvest can be made, with a importance of the forest and the need to and others. further two later on. Harvesting usually preserve their vanishing weaving culture. However, the study concluded that takes place in March, May and September, One of the initiatives was to produce there is still a profound lack of information with a total of about 10 litres of honey Monom, a small illustrated booklet on the status and total value of NTFPs and being obtained per year. A special grass is highlighting the skills involved in the recommended that governments, NGOs, used to produce smoke, and at each Téduray weaving tradition. This was only the private sector, communities and other harvest, combs are only taken from one possible with funding support from IUCN’s interested and affected parties (including half of the hive. A central core of comb is Ecosystems Grant Programme and the resource users) should work together to left and, as far as possible, only ripe honey Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange conduct research in order to generate, is harvested.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 55

Honey forms the main currency for the increasing animal diversity and protecting mulberry tree and fruit are associated with Bongo people, with any remaining comb the perennial medicinal and seasonal beauty: the berries are traditionally given being used for brewing. Beekeeping is plants. Medicinal plants growing in the to a couple to make their life sweeter and, done only by men, as is all the hive reserve include thyme, wild garlic, hyssop, before starting to build a new house, a construction work. Honey is sold for dandelion, narcissus, Artemisia and lilies. mulberry tree is planted. approximately SDD4 (USD1.50) per 500 ml The reserve is also a destination for During some crisis periods, such as the bottle and beekeepers have no difficulty in ecotourism. (Source: Syrian Arab News Second World War or the extended civil selling it. (Source: Bees for Development Agency, 22 June 2010.) war that afflicted the country until 1997, Journal, Issue No. 95, June 2010.) mulberry played a crucial role in providing the main nutrition for the local population. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: %TAJIKISTAN The community of mulberry producers Paul Latham, Croft Cottage, Forneth, from Khorog has been part of the Terra Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6SW, United Mulberry on the roof of the world Madre network (Slow Food) since 2004 and Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected] There still exist pristine places without is working to defend the traditional Pamir industry and pollution where people live in customs of eating mulberry, which have harmony with their environment. One of significantly decreased in recent years SYRIAN ARAB them is the autonomous province of with the spread of industrial products. % REPUBLIC Gorno-Badakhshan in Tajikistan. Although (Source: Platform for Agrobiodiversity its area (about 65 000 km²) extends over Research, 5th Newsletter, 24 March 2010.) Nature reserves maintain biodiversity, half the country, only 3 percent is activate ecotourism in Tartous habitable. Most of it is covered by the Nature reserves play an important role in Pamir Mountains, sometimes called the %THAILAND achieving sustainable development and “roof of the world”. The few villages are preserving the stability and balance of the sited in valleys beside rivers and the Poachers turn fungi farmers to save environment in the coastal Syrian province population tries to cultivate every piece of forests of Tartous. They also provide a suitable available land. Nuan Muangchan began to log rosewood environment for conducting scientific The mulberry is an important food for illegally as a teenager, creeping at night research and protecting biological these valleys. Introduced from China via into Thailand’s largest national park and diversity. the Silk Route, it is perfectly adapted to hiding from animals and rangers to Tartous province is famous for its the difficult mountain environment, where smuggle out her loot. Thailand’s lush natural and artificial forests which extend it grows between 1 100 and 2 400 m jungles are under daily attack by illegal over the western cliff of the coastal (replacing crops such as wheat and barley loggers and poachers, but conservationists mountains, since the province embraces that cannot be grown at these altitudes). in the country’s northeast are turning to an four nature reserves: East al-Shaara, al- There are now more than 60 varieties of unlikely remedy – the common mushroom. Nabi (Prophet) Matta, Qarkafti and al-Kahf mulberry in the Pamir region, the result of A project that turns former wildlife (Cave) Forest. The Director of the centuries of selection and adaptation. They criminals into fungi farmers is proving a Biological Diversity and Nature Reserve can be eaten raw or transformed into jam, surprising success, giving villagers a Department in Tartous, Hiba Salhab, said syrups or pikht – a flour – which is usually decent wage while helping to slow the the reserves were established because mixed with other seeds and cereals. destruction of forests in the Khao Yai they enjoy a rich biological diversity, The local inhabitants mainly grow National Park, a World Heritage Site. hosting various rare plants, while mulberry for family consumption: in Under the scheme, set up by Thailand’s surrounded by several archaeological summer, families put as many as 20–30 Freeland Foundation, Nuan now has her monuments. sacks of dried mulberry aside as a reserve own business as a mushroom farmer and Salhab pointed to the key role of the for the winter. In the local culture, the no longer relies on precious rosewood, reserves in activating ecotourism, while prized for its perfumed sap, as her only preserving these natural areas. She means of regular income. And she has underlined the importance of forests in the persuaded her 33-year-old nephew reserves in cleaning the air of pollutants Boonrod to join her in abandoning the and industrial gases. illegal work. Boonrod said he earns The Director of Tartous Forest USD300 a month from his mushroom farm Department, Hassan Salih, said “the – a relatively good income in this reserve of East al-Sharaa was established impoverished rural belt and enough, he to preserve oak and terebinth trees, in said, to stop logging. addition to protecting rare plant species Education levels are low in the such as maple, Syrian pear, fir trees and northeastern region of Isan and most some species of oak trees”. villagers are landless, with many relying The reserve was established with the on daily hire for farm or construction work aim of preserving the mountainous to provide for their families. As well as ecosystem and the forests in the area and giving potential mushroom farmers all the protecting endangered animals, as well as start-up tools they need, the Freeland

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 56 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

protection of drinking-water supplies. Trees %UGANDA form the foundation of many natural systems and, as such, provide a wide range Important woody species, their of products (timber, fruit, medicine, management and conservation status beverages, fodder) and services (carbon in Uganda: a case study of Balawoli sequestration, windbreaks, water quality sub-county and quantity control, coastal protection, Woody species are threatened everywhere shade, beautification, erosion control and in the world. Loss of species such as these soil fertility). The forests of Trinidad and can lead to much suffering among the Tobago are home to a wide variety of faunal people who traditionally rely on them to biodiversity, which facilitate pollination, satisfy their needs. To safeguard seed dispersal and germination. livelihoods, therefore, it is important that This internationally recognized these species are protected. environmental day is also set aside to The aim of this study was to generate promote education and awareness of the information that would contribute to the Foundation also trains park rangers, who importance of forests and the benefits of design of robust management plans for arrest an average of two poachers or planting trees. Examples of biodiverse the conservation, and increase, of woody loggers every week. But they said that forests in the country include the Matura species cover in Uganda. The study was prosecution alone has not been effective in National Park, which was declared an conducted in Balawoli sub-county, in reducing wildlife crime. “We have to use environmentally sensitive area in 2004, and eastern Uganda, between July 2009 and two strategies: push and pull. The rangers Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago, which January 2010, and addressed the following push the poachers out of the forest but we is the oldest protected watershed in the questions. (1) Which species are most need to pull the villagers into an western hemisphere, declared in 1776. preferred? (2) What is the conservation alternative occupation and convince them For these reasons, EMA embraced the status of woody species and for which to change,” said Mukda Thongnaitham opportunity to collaborate in a project with species have changes in local availability from Freeland. the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the been observed? (3) What tree management In its efforts to reduce these illegal Environment; the Forestry Division of the practices exist? (4) Which tenure rights activities, the Freeland project consulted Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine exist for trees? villagers on their skills and surveyed the Resources; the University of the West Data were generated through both local market to see what would sell, Indies; and the Institute of Marine Affairs, ethnobotanical and ecological surveys by before plumping for mushrooms as an among others. The project is called the interviewing respondents and conducting alternative income source. The organic Nariva Restoration and Carbon measurements on trees in plots selected oyster mushrooms are sold at the local Sequestration and Livelihoods Project. at random in the landscape. market and have proved so popular that This project will ultimately see the Analysis of the respondents’ responses the farmers cannot grow enough. “At this replanting of 1 300 ha of the Nariva Swamp, showed that 17 species are valued most stage we still cannot meet market demand in areas that were formerly deforested by highly within the community. The priority so we need to expand this project to other large-scale rice farmers more than a species are multipurpose and commonly villages,” said Mukda, who hopes to begin decade ago. Nariva Swamp, the country’s have more than three uses. Altogether, growing yanagi or straw mushrooms, and largest and most biodiverse wetland, was these species have 25 different values for shiitake, which can fetch a higher price. declared an environmentally sensitive area the community. The most frequently (Source: AFP, 21 January 2010.) under the Environmentally Sensitive Area harvested products from the woody Rules, 2001. It has the most varied species are edible fruits, firewood and vegetation of all wetlands in Trinidad and timber. The value of these species as a %TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Tobago, with distinct zones of tropical rain source of income appears to be low (only 4 forest, palm forests, mangroves and grass percent of the respondents mentioned it). Forests … much more than timber savannah/marsh. (Source: The Guardian Eighty-five woody species were found in In observing World Forestry Day on 21 [Trinidad and Tobago], 20 March 2010.) the ecological survey. Of these, 17 appear March, the Environmental Management to have a good conservation status Authority (EMA) encouraged the people of because they were fairly well distributed Trinidad and Tobago to take time to and relatively abundant. Only six of the appreciate the value of the country’s forest highly valued species had a good resources. Historically, forests have played conservation status. important social and cultural roles in the According to local perceptions, the lives of many people, especially those of species Milicia excelsa (uvule), Albizia indigenous communities. coriaria (musita), Combretum molle Today, many are realizing that forests (ndaha), Terminalia glaucescens (musasa), offer much more than just timber. Forests Coffea spp. (mwanyi), Combretum provide recreational opportunities and collinum (mukoolakoola) and Citrus spp. contribute to health and well-being, as well (mangada) are becoming scarce. On the as the regulation of local temperatures and Coffea spp. other hand, the species Artocarpus

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 57

Priority woody species of Balawoli sub-county In conclusion, many woody species, including the most highly valued ones, Species (and local name) Main products Other products appear to be declining in availability. Mangifera indica (muyembe) Edible fruit, firewood Medicine, shade, income, charcoal Efforts by extension workers and others Maesopsis eminii (musizi) Timber, firewood Income, poles, shade, soil fertility, interested in maintaining trees on farms medicine should focus on the 17 priority species Artocarpus heterophyllus (fene) Edible fruit Firewood, timber, shade identified in the table. Second, there is a Citrus aurantium (mucungwa) Edible fruit Firewood, income need to address the key threats identified Milicia excelsa (muvule) Timber Firewood, charcoal, construction, here, namely poor markets for tree shade, rain formation, medicine products, destructive harvesting for Ficus natalensis (mugaire) Shade Bark cloth, fodder, firewood, timber, timber, and wood for construction and edible fruit, poles, charcoal, charcoal-making. The existing windbreak. Does not out-compete crops opportunities that have led to increases in Coffea spp. (mwanyi, coffee) Income Edible fruit some woody species in the area should be Eucalyptus spp. (kalitunsi) Timber Poles, firewood, income, medicine, exploited. windbreak One specific and pragmatic action to Albizia coriaria (musita) Timber Firewood, charcoal, construction, stimulate tree planting should be to medicine increase the motivation of farmers to plant Pinus spp. (pine) Timber Income, firewood, edible fruit trees by promoting and creating markets Persea americana (ovacado) Edible fruit Firewood, medicine for tree products. Improvement of markets or creation of markets will call for Carica papaya (papali) Edible fruit investigations into value chains of selected Ficus sycomorous (mukunyu) Shade Timber, firewood, charcoal, species/products. Additionally, and intercropping, construction, windbreak following respondents’ suggestions, there Senna siamea (gassia seed) Firewood Shade, poles, timber, beautifying is a need to improve access to water, compound access to planting material, and to control Markhamia lutea (musambya) Poles Firewood, timber, shade pests. There is also a need to improve Citrus reticulata (mangada) Edible fruit Medicine understanding of the germination and Citrus limon (nimu) Edible fruit Medicine, firewood, timber, income seedling establishment behaviour of the priority species by conducting investigations both in experimental heterophyllus (fene), Mangifera indica land. The common tree husbandry gardens and on farms. (muyembe), Ficus natalensis (mugaire), practices are planting, protecting trees The collaboration of farmers in tree Citrus aurantium (mucungwa), Acacia sp. against damage and pruning to encourage planting is likely to lead to increased (miwa), Senna siamea (gassia seed), sprouting. Trees are propagated mostly availability of the priority species without Eucalyptus spp. (kalitunsi), Pinus spp. from seedlings. Some farmers are increasing the diversity of woody species. (pine), Carica papaya (papali) and Lantana constrained in planting trees by lack of The protection of this diversity, therefore, camara (kapanga) are known to be seedlings, by pests, drought and lack of remains the responsibility of the local increasing in their availability. There was land. Species are managed mostly in crop administration, which should undertake, low consensus between community fields, courtyards and home gardens. Men among other actions, the reafforestation of perceptions and the results of the own trees in the homestead, and are more its district reserves and tree planting on ecological survey about which species involved in tree management and the sale public lands such as road reserves. were declining or which were increasing in of tree products than women. Lastly, this study was conducted in availability. eastern Uganda, but the loss of species is The main factors believed to be leading occurring all over Uganda. It is necessary to the disappearance of some species, to have the study replicated in the different according to the respondents, include agro-ecological regions of Uganda in order overharvesting; destructive harvesting to to capture the entire diversity of priority produce charcoal, firewood, timber and woody species for the country. poles; attacks by pests; non-planting of The study was funded by the trees by farmers; and droughts. On the International Foundation for Science (IFS) other hand, the key factors leading to the Grant No. S/4644-1. Makerere University success of some species are that they are provided additional support. planted because they are useful; are (Contributed by: John R.S. Tabuti [Ph.D.], drought resistant; regenerate naturally; Institute of Environment and Natural are easy to manage; mature quickly; and Resources, Makerere University, their seedlings are available. PO Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. Farmers stated that they maintain many Fax: +256 (0) 414 530 134; woody species (51) that they plant or retain e-mail: [email protected]; when found growing naturally on their Carica papaya [email protected])

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 58 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

%UNITED KINGDOM place is a gash extending vertically as much as 10–12 feet (3–3.6 m) from the Bees for Development helps African base of the tree. beekeepers to trade their way out of Working turpentine required a unique poverty scarification of the tree trunks: using a First Minister, Carwyn Jones, last week combination of hacks, turpentiners visited Bees for Development’s Cameroon removed the pine bark to tap into the Honey Trade Project under way in “veins” of the tree. Once wounded, pine partnership with the Welsh company trees secrete resin on to the surface of Tropical Forest Products Ltd. Bees for the wound as a protective coat to seal the Development is an international opening, prevent sap loss, and resist development organization based in exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms. Monmouth, Wales, United Kingdom, Turpentiners wounded trees in V-shaped working to help African beekeepers trade streaks down the length of the trunks so their way out of poverty through selling as to channel resin into cups, where it honey and beeswax. UNITED STATES was collected and processed into the The Welsh Assembly Government’s %OF AMERICA spirits of turpentine. The V-shaped “Wales for Africa Grant Scheme” is streaks – called “catfaces” for their funding Bees for Development to work Totems of Georgia’s turpentiners resemblance to a cat’s whiskers – are with Tropical Forest Products Ltd in this The turpentine industry was central to life unmistakably the marks of a turpentiner. project, which aims to produce a Welsh- in south Georgia for 100 years. The work Half a century ago, most counties in the designed honeycomb separator that will and the profits are gone now, but George southern half of Georgia maintained at assist Cameroonian beekeepers to Music, Jr is determined to maintain the least 100 000 faces, and some kept over improve the quality and yield of their honey face of his occupational legacy. 500 000 in production. and beeswax. On George Music Road on the outskirts Over the last several decades, however, Michael Tchana, Director of the of Waycross, Georgia, a chute of dirt and these telltale signs have become Cameroonian organization Guiding Hope, sand leads into what feels like an infinite increasingly scarce, as the turpentine visited Wales in March to work on the pine forest. At the end of the road – and at industry has declined and timber and honeycomb separator, with the aim of the centre of this forest – sits the century- construction companies have cleared the increasing honey and beeswax exports to old home to three generations of forests. At alarming rates, catfaced trees Wales in the forthcoming months. turpentiners in the Music family. Close by have been sawn down, turned to paper, The products will be sold through Tropical is the mobile home of 50-year-old George crumpled, and tossed into garbage cans. Forest Products Ltd, Wales’ only registered Music, Jr, the only remaining member of Those that do remain are few and far fairtrade importer. The project outcomes will the Music family to have worked in the between. be shared widely with other beekeepers in turpentine woods. These woods and the Today, Music stands firm against Africa and Wales through the information old home are Music’s birthplace. pressures to surrender his vast extent of network of Bees for Development. In the 1970s, the livelihood of natural standing timber for commercial With the United Kingdom producing less turpentining, the only work many people use. than one-third of the honey it eats, the here had ever known, became unreliable, In most forests of what was once the honey trade presents a real economic then impossible, a consequence of new turpentine belt, the sounds of opportunity for people in developing technologies, alternative industrial turpentiners’ hand tools have been countries endowed with natural resources, sources of turpentine, and cheaper replaced by the racket of mechanized but with limited financial capital. Bee foreign labour. George Music and his timbering and the frenzy of industrial diseases are highly prevalent in father were forced to acknowledge that deforestation. Pine forests today crack industrialized countries and most beeswax the dwindling returns they were receiving with the force of bulldozers, the buzz of produced is contaminated with the per barrel of pine resin would not be chemical residues of bee medications. enough to sustain their family business African beekeepers have a strong much longer. comparative advantage, as they are Today, George Music’s forest stands custodians of the largest remaining wild much as it would have before turpentiners honey-bee populations in the world, ever ventured into this part of the thriving and free from introduced pests American South. The woods sit silent and and diseases. (Source: press release, 14 empty, devoid of the labour that for so April 2010, Bees for Development.) long clattered here. Yet Music’s land still bears evidence that his forest was, for FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: nearly a century, devoted to the extraction Bees for Development, PO Box 105, of crude gum for producing turpentine. Monmouth NP25 9AA, United Kingdom. Most striking about his property today is E-mail: [email protected]; that seemingly every other tree in this www.beesfordevelopment.org forest is missing much of its bark. In its

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALCOUNTRY FEATURES COMPASS 59

saws and clatter of rattling chains. But It would not have been a strange sight Alan Whittemore, a botanist at the US not on George Music’s land. Indeed, both in her native country, the Islamic Republic National Arboretum. Music himself and the thick forest that of Iran, where at this time of year entire “For many years, it was a requirement,” envelops his homestead represent an families can be seen laying out sheets and he said. “If you owned property in the unusual set of circumstances. shaking trees to collect the berries, which Virginia area, you were required to plant a When entrepreneurs dealing in naval they eat fresh, dried or blended into juice. certain number of mulberry trees each stores (turpentine and other resinous Here, she acknowledged, her foraging year.” The experiment fizzled: silk products used on wooden ships) first prompts “funny looks”. “This is production required labour that was cheap arrived along the Georgia-Florida border, Washington, DC – people aren’t going to but skilled, and tobacco proved more they ventured into old-growth pine woods go out of their way to get something if it’s profitable. much like George Music’s – forests of not in a store.” But the mulberry trees liked virgin timber that had stood for hundreds They do not know what they are Washington and, with the help of birds, of centuries, never planted by human missing, say mulberry fans, most of whom who eat the berries and expel the seeds, hands. Over time, forest after forest are immigrants. Just the sight of fruit- their population swelled. They now toppled like dominos, and naval stores laden trees can conjure up sweet number in the thousands. operations were continuously forced to memories for people who grew up in the Mulberries are not the only “secret locate new stands of timber in order to Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus harvest” known mostly to immigrants. survive. It was not until turpentiners had and the Far East. Natives of East Asia flock to ginkgo trees migrated from points north into the pine Mir Farid Hashimi, 39, a native of to harvest the seeds, said Yao Afantchao, belt of south Georgia and north Florida Afghanistan who lives in Woodbridge, said ethnic and speciality crops specialist at that forest researchers discovered how to his family makes a day of picking the the University of the District of Columbia, grow pine trees quickly enough to berries in Maryland parks. and immigrants from West Africa gather generate renewable stands of timber. Yet, despite its firm place in nursery wild amaranth to cook as greens. Most estimates suggest that a rhymes, the fruit of the mulberry bush, or In some cities, including San Francisco, sprawling 156 million acres (63 130 960 tree, has never caught on in the United New York and Portland, Oregon, the trend ha) of natural-standing pine once States of America. One reason may be has expanded beyond ethnic communities, blanketed the American South, before that its thin skin makes it hard to with urban foraging tours pointing out humans exploited the forests for industry. transport commercially: the berries taste such delicacies as mustard greens, edible In the centuries prior to European best immediately after picking. The white mushrooms and snails. (Source: settlement in south Georgia and north ones are light and subtle, almost perky, Washington Post, 7 June 2010.) Florida, Native populations of Oconee, but the black ones, the ones that stain Apalachee, Creek and Timucua found their fingers and lips, are luscious and dissolve expansive forests a source of food and on the tongue in a sweet, dusky swirl. shelter, defining wealth in terms of what Most people in the Washington area do the forests willingly bestowed rather than not know this. Nevertheless, most by what they could seize from the pines. Americans, if they think about mulberries Since at least the 1600s, however, the at all, see them as a nuisance. The soft region’s old-growth forests have fallen berries squish underfoot, splat on to cars, victim to the monetary value of their and carpet sidewalks and driveways with a resinous properties and, most sticky mash that, as summer heats up, destructively, of their own lumber. For emits a cloying scent of decay. In the centuries now, old-growth pines have District, the trees are considered a weed. been negligently sawn, chopped, hacked, They grow quickly, often sprouting in and plucked from the earth. The damage untended areas, such as between chain- %VIET NAM was such that by 1952 just 72 million link fences or along road embankments. acres (29 137 366 ha) of natural standing “I didn’t even know the fruit was edible Illegal bushmeat, wildlife trafficking timber remained on the southern to the human,” said John Thomas, at alarming levels landscape – less than half of the pine Associate Director of the District’s Urban Viet Nam’s ecosystems are being seriously cover from presettlement times. (Source: Forestry Administration. “We allow people threatened by the widespread Daily Yonder [Texas, United States of to remove mulberry trees without any consumption of wild meat and trafficking America], 10 June 2010.) permit because it’s such an invasive tree.” of wildlife, experts said at a recent The British were partly responsible for conference. Urgent action is needed on Trees offer many immigrants a taste that invasion. Although the Washington several fronts to prevent this destruction of home area has a native red mulberry tree, the of the nation’s wildlife and their habitat, The rush-hour rainstorm did not faze Sara most common ones in town are they said. They called for strengthened, Shokravi as she parked in Rosslyn, descendants of trees brought over by more effective public awareness Washington, DC. Shokravi, a 27-year-old colonists eager to compete with the silk campaigns against hunting and trafficking consultant, pulled out a plastic bag, industry of the Far East. Silkworms feed in wild animals and for the inclusion of stopped at a tree laden with red and black on the shiny, heart-shaped leaves, this subject in the school curriculum, berries, and started picking. especially those on the white trees, said especially in rural areas.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 60 COUNTRYSPECIAL FEATURESCOMPASS

%ZAMBIA importance as major household income and food security commodities. The untapped fruit potential Trade in fruits and fruit trees could, Fruit is an important food security therefore, create employment for many commodity. Not only does it provide the Zambians and offer a potential commodity necessary nutrients for both rural and that could break into international markets urban households, but it is also a source if well researched. of extra income through sales conducted Many of these are highly consumed in almost all year round. numerous rural and some urban settings Zambia is endowed with different but have not been offered for sale varieties of fruit trees, both exotic and previously because of the great abundance indigenous. The tropical climatic in past years when they could not fetch a conditions in the country provide good price. opportunities for the cultivation of various However, most fruit trees are becoming types of fruit species such as mango, significant trade commodities as many papaya, bananas, guava, passion fruit, species continue to become scarce at the loquat, pineapples, avocado, citrus fruit, local level because of deforestation apples, pears, peaches, pomegranates, brought about by the demand for woodfuel apricots, plums and grapes. and agricultural expansion. Beyond the cultivated species, there are The future is, therefore, expected to be Tom Osbon of the Viet Nam-based a large number of indigenous fruit species an upward trend in sales of many fruit Wildlife Management Office stressed the such as masuku, mabungo, monsoso, trees, both exotic and indigenous, as the need to legalize multisectoral cooperation cashew nuts, masau and mpundu which, if population increases and alternative in preventing, discovering and punishing exploited, could contribute to the economic income sources become scarce. (Source: forest violations in order to protect wild development of the country and reduce allafrica.com, 20 February 2010.) animals effectively. “It is also very poverty mainly in rural areas. important to establish special inspectors These fruits, especially indigenous in localities which record a high number species, are well adapted and can ensure of violations,” he added. household food security during periods of Dr Scott Roberton, head of the Wildlife natural disasters such as droughts. Conservation Society (WCS), said that The production and processing of fruits hunting wild animals for meat and are labour intensive and therefore provide trafficking had been happening in many employment for a large segment of the countries, especially developing ones. In population. Viet Nam, hunting and trade in wild According to the FAO paper on NWFPs animals had been alarming, he said. in Zambia, exotic fruit trees such as A WCS study conducted at 200 mango, guava, papaya, avocado and restaurants in the central region found mulberry have been a permanent feature they consumed nearly two million wild in homesteads and some even grow animals per year. Among them, stags and naturally in open areas without any human wild boars accounted for around 70 interference. These, together with a percent of the consumed meat, followed number of wild fruits, form a nutritious by turtles, snakes, foxes and porcupines. supplementary food in seasons when The study estimated the demand of wild agricultural crops become scarce. animal consumption nationwide at nearly Species such as Anisophyllea and 4 500 tonnes per year. Uapaca are common features along main The Forest Protection Department roads and at markets between October to discovered 1 042 violations of wild animal January, when they are offered for sale. protection laws last year, a decrease of The other species that are offered for sale 400 cases over 2008. Dr Nguyen Viet include Annona senegalensis, Azanza Dung, deputy head of the Centre for garckeana, Diospyros mesipiliformis, People and Nature Reconciliation, said Flacourtia indica, Strychnos cocculoides, that the real number was much higher. Strychnos spinosa, Tamarindus indica and An individual has not started living Roberton added that Viet Nam was also syzygiums. until he can rise above the narrow an important link in the international wild Almost all exotic fruits have been on the confines of his individualistic concerns animal trafficking chain. Last year, market and still continue to command a to the broader concerns of all authorities found more than six tonnes of place in almost every market countrywide. humanity. elephant tusks trafficked from Africa to With the present harsh economic Martin Luther King, Jr Hai Phong City. (Source: Viet Nam News, conditions, many more fruits are entering 22 March 2010.) into the trade market and are gaining

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010