Caroline A. Sullivan and Dermot P. O'regan CEH Wallingford
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Winners and losers in forest product commercialisation Final Report R7795 (May 2003) Volume 1 Overview Caroline A. Sullivan and Dermot P. O’Regan CEH Wallingford Maclean Building Crowmarsh Gifford Oxfordshire United Kingdom OX10 8BB Tel: +44(0) 1491 692417 Fax: +44(0) 1491 692338 [email protected] & [email protected] This report is an official document prepared under contract between the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the Natural Environment Research Council. It should not be quoted without the permission of both the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Department for International Development. Winners and Losers, Final Technical Report, 2003 FRP R7795 Winners and losers in forest product commercialisation Final Report R7795 May 2003 Volume 1 Overview Caroline A. Sullivan1 and Dermot P. O’Regan1 with contributions from other project team members: Sheona Shackleton2, Sharon Ousman3, Charlie Shackleton2, Myles Mander4, Rachel Wynberg5, Saskia den Adel6, Roger Leakey7, Tony Cunningham8, Andy Botelle6, Adrian Combrinck10, Vijay Datadin3, Janette Forte3, David Hammond3, Sarah Laird9, Cyril Lombard6, Twydale Martinborough3, Tania McHardy4, Jillian Muller10, Thiambi Netshiluvhi10, Katharine Payne3, Pierre du Plessis6, Uffe Poulsen1 and Vanda Radzik3. and: Jenny Botha2, Jill Cribbins4, Philippa Emmanuel2, Joselyn Grimmond3, Ivan Joseph3, Risto Laamanen6, Fonda Lewis4, Sibongile Ndlovu2, Kris Pate6, Joel Strong3 and Raquel Thomas (Guyana Forestry Commission). 1. CEH Wallingford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom. 2. Environmental Science Programme, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. 3. Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, Georgetown, Guyana. 4. Institute of Natural Resources, Private Bag X01, Scotsville, 3209, South Africa. 5. Graduate School of Environmental Studies, University of Strathclyde, c/o PO Box 69, St James, 7946, South Africa. 6. CRIAA SA-DC, PO Box 23778, Windhoek, Namibia. 7. Agroforestry and Novel Crop Unit, School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. 8. Ethnoecology Services, 84 Watkins St, White Gum Valley, Fremantle, 6162, Australia. 9. Department of Anthropology, University College, London. 10. CSIR Environmentek, Pretoria, South Africa. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, U.K. ii Winners and Losers, Final Technical Report, 2003 FRP R7795 Executive Summary The Winners and Losers in Forest Product Commercialisation project brings together the work of 24 researchers, investigating two different species (Sclerocarya birrea and Carapa guianensis) in South Africa, Namibia and Guyana. The research was carried out largely by local researchers in the study countries, and the findings provide some generic insights into NTFP market chains. Topics covered during this study range from an evaluation of basic ecological requirements for the two species, and how this knowledge can be used to increase yields, right through to a consideration of the intellectual property rights associated with their use, and the economic potential of income generation and benefit sharing. During the project, households in over 30 communities in three countries were involved in participatory assessment of the resource itself, and in identifying how much of it is used for domestic and commercial purposes. The data generated from this household assessment was strengthened by additional information collected through group meetings at each site. Further information was collected about commercial activities from different sources, reflecting the situation in a number of different commercial chains. With a view to addressing poverty, we have examined how different types of livelihood capital entitlements are likely to be influenced by the commercialisation process. As a result of this work, we have been able to address five research hypotheses, and, in answering these, we are able to conclude that in NTFP market chains, like many others, the major share of financial benefits from commercialisation is often captured by wholesalers, retailers and middlemen. Financial capital is an essential component in the chain, if human and social capital is to be integrated with natural capital to generate productive outputs. Failure to achieve this is often the result of inefficiencies in marketing chains, where the full value of all of the types of capital involved are not recognised or rewarded. In this study, we have also shown that it is possible for these difficulties to be overcome, if there is a cooperative spirit in the community, shared knowledge of resources, and adequate institutional strengths which can be mobilised for an equitable outcome for the community. For this to be realised, efforts would need to be made to ensure that the resource base, on which the commercial chain is built, is maintained and nurtured, and where necessary, appropriate tenure arrangements are put in place and enforced. At present, in the examples included here, there is no absolute threat to resources of marula and crabwood. It does seem likely, however, in some areas, that current depletion trends will need to be addressed by better management, and possibly domestication, if stocks of marula and crabwood resources are going to be available on a sustainable basis for future generations. Overall, our work has led to the conclusion that both winners and losers do exist in NTFP marketing chains, but higher levels of pareto optimality/equity can be generated if communities work together and use their own strengths to manage and use their resources effectively. Specific characteristics have been identified which give rise to wining outcomes, and recommendations on how to achieve these have been disseminated through many different media. As a result, it is hoped that this work can contribute to a better understanding of how the benefits from NTFPs can be realised for poor people, on an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable basis. From these findings, we have also highlighted some issues relating to NTFP use which can contribute to more effective realisation of some of the Millennium Development Goals. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, U.K. iii Winners and Losers, Final Technical Report, 2003 FRP R7795 Project Team Dr Caroline Sullivana CEH Wallingford, United Kingdom Dermot O'Reganb CEH Wallingford, United Kingdom Uffe Poulsen CEH Wallingford, United Kingdom Sheona Shackletonc Rhodes University, Republic of South Africa Dr Charlie Shackleton Rhodes University, Republic of South Africa Sharon Ousmand Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Janette Forte Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Dr David Hammond Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Vijay Datadin Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Twydale Martinborough Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Katharine Payne Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Vanda Radzik Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Myles Mander Institute of Natural Resources, Republic of South Africa Tania McHardy Institute of Natural Resources, Republic of South Africa Rachel Wynberg University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom Saskia den Adel CRIAA SA-DC, Windhoek, Namibia Andy Botelle CRIAA SA-DC, Windhoek, Namibia Pierre du Plessis CRIAA SA-DC, Windhoek, Namibia Cyril Lombard CRIAA SA-DC, Windhoek, Namibia Dr Roger Leakey CEH Edinburgh/James Cook University, Australia Dr Tony Cunningham Ethnoecology Services, Freemantle, Australia Adrian Combrinck CSIR Environmentek, Republic of South Africa Jillian Muller CSIR Environmentek, Republic of South Africa Thiambi Netshiluvhi CSIR Environmentek, Republic of South Africa Sarah Laird Independent Consusltant, United States of America a Project Manager b Project Coordinator - UK c Project Coordinator - Southern Africa d Project Coordinator - Guyana Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, U.K. iv Winners and Losers, Final Technical Report, 2003 FRP R7795 Acknowledgements This publication is an output from the research project R7795, Forestry Research Programme, funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID. We are grateful to the many people who assisted during the course of the project. We especially thank the hundreds of participants who helped with the many surveys carried out and, in particular, we would like to thank the following who contributed their time, thoughts and knowledge to the project: In South Africa and Namibia: Bertrand Dayot and family, Busi Matukane, Eudafano members, Felicia Chiloane, Fonda Lewis, Girlie Njoni, Ina Lessing, Induna Mabaso, Jamie Pote, Jasmin Zitha, Jenny Botha, Jill Cribbins, Kas Holtzhausen, Kris Pate, Mabaso, Induna Makhatini, Magdalena and Sylvia Samuel, Matthew Gibb, Ncedile Zengethwa, Nomsa Nkuna, Nozipho Hoohlo, Philippa Emmanuel, Risto Laamanen, Sam Moropane, Sibongile Ndlovu, Sue Barton, Sylvia ‘the lily’, Thys Slabbert, Wessel de Wet and Zabeth Botha. In Guyana: Sydney Allicock (Director of the Bina Hill Institute, Region 9), Paulette Allicock (Surama), Lloyd Andrews (Ministry of Amerindian Affairs), Lawrence Anselmo (Captain-General of the Upper Mazaruni Sub-Region), Bowhan Balkaran (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock), Maurice Bennett, Cecilene Cambridge (Kwataman), Hazel Collins (Coomaka), Mr Deonarine (Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Region 2), Jocelyn Dow (Liana Cane Interiors), Brian Fox (Georgetown),