ISSN 1020-3435 Annon-woodnon-wood information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products JANUARY 2009 18

EDITORIAL

The editorial for this issue of Non-Wood News has been written by Dr Maxim Lobovikov, Chief of the Forest Products Service.

The current global financial crisis aggravates food security problems and draws more attention to non-wood forest products (NWFPs), particularly as an alternative source of food. Forests rarely provide the bulk of the human diet, but their role in food security is often critical. Forests and trees are significant sources CONTENTS of food such as fruits, berries, leaves, honey, mushrooms and bushmeat. Rural livestock often depends on fodder from forests. Wildlife in the forest environment 3 Guest article provides an essential part of animal protein for the rural poor. A recent study % Including non-wood forest products undertaken in three communities in southern Cameroon revealed that, while in ecological restoration agriculture provided 80 percent of the carbohydrate intake, rural Cameroonians received 90 percent of their protein from bushmeat. Forest fruits and herbs are 5 Special Features excellent sources of vitamins and nutrients for rural dwellers. Millions of Asians % Boreal forests depend largely on fish supplies from mangrove forests. According to the 2005 • Supporting the development of FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), the reported value of forest non-timber forest products: food removals exceeds US$1.3 billion, of which about US$820 billion are lessons from the boreal forest of attributed to Asia. the Russian Federation • The Siberian Bikin watershed The role of forestry and NWFPs increases in crisis situations after wars and • Ontario to preserve half of its boreal during natural, economic and social disasters when nutrition, fuel for cooking forest and heating, and timber for the reconstruction of homes and animal shelters • The Northern Forest Diversification become critical. Forest seasonal and emergency food is often a question of Centre: an exercise in NTFP-based people’s survival. In areas of frequent crop failures, food from forests is known community development in as emergency or “famine” food. Trees and forests indirectly support food supply Canada’s boreal forest by providing fodder for livestock, which supply milk and meat, or for draught • Boreal forest bounty animals in farm production. As an example, trees provide about 50 percent of • Lichen from the north of Finland animal fodder in Nepal and some parts of India. Food insecurity in forest % Wildlife communities is not only a problem in developing countries, but also an issue in • 2009 Year of the Gorilla developed countries, especially when filling the gaps after closure of local • Two African nations team up to industries and during economic crises and recessions. protect world’s rarest ape • Orangutans concoct plant-based Food consumption implies not only physical but also economic access to food soothing balm through job and income generation. Forests generate a tremendous income for • Bushmeat a threat to the United forest communities, allowing them to purchase food rather than produce it. It is Kingdom estimated that about 80 percent of total employment in forestry is in the • Viet Nam illegal wildlife trade developing world, which is a major contribution to job and food security. eating away at biodiversity • Social and cultural values of hunting NON-WOOD NEWS • Responsible hunting in Germany is compiled and coordinated by Tina Etherington, Forest Products Service of the FAO Forest Products and Industries • The African grey parrot trade in Division. For this issue, editing support was provided by Rebecca Rutt; language editing by Roberta Mitchell, Cameroon Josiane Bonomi and Deliana Fanego; design, graphics and desktop publishing by Claudia Tonini. Non-Wood News is open to contributions by readers. Contributions are welcomed in English, French and Spanish and may be edited to fit the appropriate size and focus of the bulletin. 13 News and Notes If you have any material that could be included in the next issue of Non-Wood News for the benefit of other % A Brazilian’s shrine to bromeliads readers, kindly send it, before 15 May 2009, to: NON-WOOD NEWS – FOIP may one day save the plants FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/nonwood.htm FAO home page: www.fao.org All Internet links cited were checked on 4 February 2009. Articles express the views of their authors, not necessarily those of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Access to forest resources is of primary importance for food security. Food security can be threatened if policies restrict indigenous access to the needed food resources. On the other hand, unrestricted access may cause forest degradation and destruction and jeopardize food security in the longer term. Thus, careful planning is needed, followed by strong law enforcement measures. Women traditionally play a critical role in food security issues. Consequently, forest food policies must address gender issues effectively.

Although not very apparent, “forestry” issues are increasingly “food” issues and vice versa. Forests contribute to food security and sustainable livelihoods in numerous ways, both directly and indirectly, through the support of agricultural systems, rural development, environmental integrity and income generation, climate change mitigation, etc. Governments should consider this contribution in their food security goals by integrating forestry in policy and planning mechanisms.

% A questionable role: NTFP collection % Recreational use of European forests Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, in sustainable development % The African Heartland Trust Fund Solomon Islands, Sudan, Suriname, % Biodiversity Conservation through a % Threatened plants emit “aspirin” Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Viet Community-based Enterprise % Traditional ecological knowledge and Nam Approach certification processes % Bioprospecting/benefit-sharing or % Wild NWFPs of the western Himalayas 56 Econook biopiracy? – new CD-ROM % African “wall of trees” gets under way • Laws to protect native knowledge “are % Congo Basin passes 1 million ha failing” 22 Products and Markets milestone in swing to sustainable • Bioprospecting plant genetic % Amaranthus, Argan (Argania spinosa), forestry resources in Qatar Bamboo, Baobab, Bee products, % Ecuador’s Constitutional Assembly • Bugs lead drug hunters to medicinal Berries, Cinnamon, Cork, Essential votes to approve rights of nature in treasure oils, Fungi, Ginseng, Lac, Lianas, Nuts, new constitution • World’s first biodiversity law centre in Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), % Forest hot spots pinpointed for Malaysia Shea butter, Snakeroot (Rauvolfia climate, animals % Cosmetic giants run into a Himalayan serpentina), Stevia, Truffles % Forestry takes on the climate change challenge challenge % Crops for the Future – a new 37 Country Compass % Nature loss “dwarfs bank crisis” international organization % Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, % Rain forest conversion to oil-palm % Ecofriendly preservative: lantana – Bhutan, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, causes 83 percent of wildlife to an obnoxious weed with a useful China, Colombia, Costa Rica, disappear purpose Democratic Republic of the Congo, % El manejo de productos forestales no Finland, India, Indonesia, México, 58 International Action madereros in Amazonía Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, % FAO, The XIII World Forestry % Global Forest Plan could boost fight Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Congress, International Year of against poverty and climate change Natural Fibres 2009 % “Green” jewellery % How butterflies save forests 61 Recent and Forthcoming Events % La medicina occidental «puede convivir con el saber local» 63 Publications of Interest % Natural relief from osteoarthritis • Extracts from NWFPs provide relief 66 Web Sites from osteoarthritis • Devil’s claw – a promising remedy 67 Readers’ Response for pain • Pine bark reduces knee Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are goods osteoarthritis of biological origin other than wood, derived % New agreement to promote from forests, other wooded land and trees sustainable collection of wild plants outside forests. Non-timber forest products % Non-profit organizations and NGOs (NTFPs), another term frequently used to • American Botanical Council cover this vast array of animal and plant • Centre de Recherche pour la products, also includes small wood and Gestion de la Biodiversité et du fuelwood. However, these two terms are used Terroir (CERGET) synonymously throughout this bulletin. Other • El Puente/The Bridge terms, such as “minor”, “secondary” or % NTFP curriculum “speciality” forest products, are sometimes % Preventing gum disease with camu used to keep original names and/or titles. camu

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 GUEST ARTICLE 3

INCLUDING NON-WOOD %FOREST PRODUCTS IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

For thousands of years, wet prairie, upland prairie and oak savannah were the dominant ecosystems of the Willamette Valley, a 14 000 km2 area in the state of Oregon, United States of America. This mix of habitats produced a wide diversity of NWFPs such as acorns (Quercus garryana), hazelnuts (Corylus cornuta), cedar bark (Thuja plicata), salal (Gaultheria shallon), ferns (Pteridium aquilinum), wild onions (Allium cernuum), camas bulbs (Camassia quamash), huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum), juncus production that otherwise would not have (Juncus effuses) and tarweed (Madia thrived, thus having the effect of a sativa) for the Kalapuya and other regional keystone species. American Indians. As a result of urban A recent initiative of the West Eugene development, large-scale agriculture and Wetlands Partnership, the Ethnobotany hydrologic alteration, less than 1 percent Resource Area Project, is now entering its of wet prairie, less than one-tenth of third year and is an effort to reincorporate upland prairie and less than 7 percent of indigenous practices into the ecosystem. oak savannah remain in the Willamette This is synergistic with recent efforts of Valley. In the West Eugene Wetlands the Kalapuya and other local American (WEW), 1 200 ha of these remaining Indians who are attempting to rebuild historic Willamette Valley habitat types are cultural practices and knowledge systems being protected and restored by the West oak savannah and associated prairie that have been severely impacted over the Eugene Wetlands Partnership, a unique habitats in the valley. last 170 years. The local American Indian collaboration of non-governmental Of all the historical indigenous cultural tribes are an integral part of this project, organizations (NGOs), government practices, the large-scale use of fire to working with the partnership to plan and agencies and citizens that began in 1993. burn forests and prairies clearly had one implement activities, which include The Partnership is not attempting to of the greatest impacts on the landscape. making it financially feasible for the bring the ecosystems back to the The habitat of the Willamette Valley is Kalapuya and other local Indians to ecological state that existed prior to the mixed coniferous and deciduous forest participate by compensating them for the westward United States expansion 170 dominated by Douglas fir and big leaf time and expenses associated with years ago, which displaced American maple, but the spread of these species planning and implementing project Indians from their homelands. Instead, it was stymied by the regular presence of activities. is attempting to “mimic” the historic fire. Given the low incidence of lightning in To date, there have been a number of ecological conditions and processes of the the valley, fires were almost entirely accomplishments that are helping to pre-contact period. However, until anthropogenic, which meant that the reinforce the positive attitudes, recently, restoration planning had not resulting habitat types were also collaboration and momentum of the considered the anthropogenic influences anthropogenic. Burning resulted in an project. For example, a strategic plan has on the regional ecology prior to this abundance of desirable NWFPs. been written that provides short- and period, which is problematic because the In order to understand better the role of long-term goals for the project. Dozens of Kalapuya, the indigenous inhabitants of indigenous cultural practices in the activities have taken place, including a the area, were not simply passive Willamette Valley it helps to think of the workshop on indigenous approaches to residents. They were active managers of Kalapuya people’s relationship to their oak management; four basketry the landscape, engaging regularly in local environment as akin to a keystone workshops for the public; an inventory of burning fields and forests, pruning, species. Keystone species are recognized culturally important species; the weeding, tilling and in many more as having a disproportionate influence on development of a curriculum for area activities that made the environment more their environment relative to their students, focusing on local ethnobotany; favourable for their livelihoods. Some collective biomass. When keystone species and the development and implementation researchers, such as Dennis Martinez and are removed from an ecosystem or habitat of an annual festival featuring stories, Robert Boyd, see the influence of – like an arch without a keystone – the traditional songs and drumming, canoe indigenous cultural practices as so habitat or ecosystem collapses. The building presentations and the creation of significant that they can be credited as the Kalapuya people maintained and a traditional camas baking oven. These main causes for the perpetuation of the perpetuated ecosystems for NWFP activities will be expanded and refined to

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 4 GUEST ARTICLE

thus their interests fit in with those of cases such as this, populations of wetland scientists and managers. threatened species simply cannot be Given the contemporary fragmentation of sustained if ecological restoration projects indigenous practices and knowledge do not take into account historical systems and the gaps in understanding anthropogenic ecological relationships. As about historical ecology, we would suggest in this example of the WEW, it may be that two developments should take place as discovered that, by engaging in constructive the Ethnobotany Resource Area Project dialogues and building diverse working moves forward. One development would be relationships, the goals of ecological to design and implement experiments on restoration planners are compatible with the historical indigenous ecological goals and needs of the local indigenous relationships in a collaborative manner, in people. order to help guide long-term planning and (Contributed by: Adam DeHeer and Dr Eric restoration of the wetlands. For example, T. Jones, Institute for Culture and Ecology, preliminary assessments indicate a cattle PO Box 6688, Portland, Oregon 97228, pasture that now lies fallow in the wetlands United States of America. E-mail: is within a human habitation zone that had [email protected]; www.ifcae.org) become regular events, some or all of which extensive camas production over thousands will be repeated every year. They are of years. Here, an opportunity exists to move Dr Eric T. Jones is an ecological creating a greater awareness of indigenous beyond the model of using community anthropologist at the Institute for Culture practices and needs for managers and volunteers and private contractors to restore and Ecology. He has researched and scientists involved with the WEW. Moreover, native plants and instead move towards a published on a range of non-wood forest they bring indigenous people back to the collaborative approach with the local product topics, including sustainable land and they, in turn, are learning more indigenous people. Indians could walk the management, land tenure, stewardship about the needs and constraints of land with scientists, help write the long- practices, harvester culture and political scientists and managers. For example, the term site plans and create opportunities for ecology. He is also the founder of the wetlands are home to multiple species (e.g. tribal members to visit the site regularly to NWFP-Digest produced by FAO’s NWFP Fender’s blue butterfly and Kincaid’s Lupine) implement the traditional camas production Programme. listed under the United States Endangered techniques that have evolved over Species Act, a law that has to be factored generations of practitioners. Indian people Adam DeHeer is the Ethnobotany Resource into every planning decision. do not want to be involved in such a project if Area Project activities coordinator at the As indigenous people become more it means going back to the past. Rather, they Institute for Culture and Ecology. He is an involved in the management, science and want to be involved in going forwards, to environmental educator with an interest in restoration activities of the wetlands, the establish a place where Indian children can natural resource management and the possibility of a number of mutually reconnect with their traditional indigenous restoration of cultural and ecological beneficial activities can be seen. For lands in a way that heals the environment systems. example, some burning already occurs in and restores important culture practices for the wetlands to help maintain and produce a future generations. habitat for endangered species. Given the A second development would be to growing awareness of the importance of promote participatory research approaches historical anthropogenic influences, it is to bridge indigenous and scientific methods logical to work with tribes to use fire and knowledge. For example, as required by regimes to promote culturally important law, wetland scientists and managers must NWFP species that are similar in many ways monitor the ecological health of the to the traditional Kalapuya approach. Also wetlands, but they have limited financial important is the restoration of camas bulbs, resources to do so comprehensively. A which are an important Kalapuya participatory research approach would look subsistence food together with acorns and for opportunities to work with Indian people hazelnuts. Camas is already being planted who are out in the wetlands regularly and widely throughout the wetlands, but making observations about ecological restoration planning has not considered how changes. this activity interfaces with indigenous In conclusion, the West Eugene Wetlands needs or traditional practices. Oral histories Ethnobotany Resource Area Project serves with tribal elders and archaeological as an example of how ecological restoration evidence have shown that the wetlands were projects can be guided by a critical a major camas-producing area and the appreciation of the long-standing and bulbs had many uses, such as being dried continued presence of indigenous cultures, and traded to neighbouring tribes. The particularly how cultural practices have people of the area are very interested in contributed to the creation and maintenance seeing camas harvest areas restored and of ecosystems over time. It may be that in

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% BOREAL FORESTS colours of the region on packaging and The results indicate that “made in Ugra” labelling) for value-added products that products have definite potential in the Supporting the development of non-timber reflect the interest of local consumers in regional market. All respondents asked forest products: lessons from the boreal purchasing products from the region; whether they could buy the products and forest of the Russian Federation • marketing research with consumers in where they were available. Several Over the past eight years, the International Khanty-Mansiysk, tourists and trade respondents (business people) showed an Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organizations to assess the demand for interest in selling the proposed products in Russia and the Centre for Non-Timber NTFP products, pricing and other their shops, including those located in other Resources at Royal Roads University in requirements of the market; and regions of the Russian Federation. The Canada have been involved in developing • development of business plans and Yugratorg company, which owns a chain of practical approaches for supporting non- investment proposals for specific supermarkets across the Ugra, has also timber forest resource development in a NTFPs. indicated a strong interest in selling the number of communities across the boreal products. forest of the Russian Federation. Through As the project draws to a close, initial funding from the Canadian International results indicate that NTFP development in Development Agency, the DOEN Foundation, the participating communities appears to the Ford Foundation and the Ministry of be viable. A new community enterprise has Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the commenced operations with confirmed Netherlands, project partners have orders for the 2009 production season. developed an approach to supporting NTFP Obviously, many challenges remain and development that may hold promise for only time will tell whether these remote other areas of the country as well as other communities will participate successfully in parts of the world. the market for NTFPs. What does seem In many regions of the Russian clear is that addressing the long-term Federation, the authorities are exploring the Market research determined that a interests of communities where the re-establishment of NTFP industries that significant market for NTFPs exists within greatest value possible is captured at the last functioned during the Soviet era. In the region – both among the resident local level implies the development of general, this recognition of the potential of population (1.5 million based on 2007 community-based businesses with active the NTFP sector to contribute to local figures) and visitors (estimated at close to involvement of the local population in NTFP development is to be welcomed. However, 1 million annually). Surprisingly – harvesting, processing and marketing the majority of the models being proposed considering the local abundant resources – activities. appear to give little consideration to there are almost no locally produced NTFPs (Contributed by: Tim Brigham, Nikolay community-based processing and there is a (except for souvenirs) on the shelves of Shmatkov and Anna Belyakova.) risk that the role of the local population will stores in Khanty-Mansiysk. Instead there be limited to harvesting, with the financial are products from the Komi Republic FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR WORK IN returns to community members being (frozen mushrooms and berries), THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, PLEASE CONTACT relatively low. Our projects have pursued a Novosibirsk (Siberian pine nuts), the Altai THE AUTHORS: different approach: the creation of small- region (honey) and even Tadzhikistan (dried Tim Brigham, Coordinator, Education and scale, community-based businesses wild rose hips). In contrast, there appears Capacity Building, Centre for Non-Timber focused on the production of high value- to be a strong interest and pride in Resources, Royal Roads University, added products. supporting “made in Ugra” products. 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria BC, Canada V9B 5Y2. A recently completed project in Khanty- Almost 60 percent of the over 200 Fax: +1(250) 391-2563; Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra (funded consumers surveyed said they were e-mail: [email protected]; through the Canada-Russia Northern attracted by the indication on the packages www.royalroads.ca/cntr; or Nikolay Shmatkov Development Partnership Program – that the products were locally produced. and Anna Belyakova, Nikoloyamskaja St, NORDEP) in western Siberia illustrates this The NTFPs of most interest included: 19, bld. 3, Moscow 109240, Russian Federation. approach. Among the activities included in • shelled Siberian pine nuts – 27.5 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] this year-long project are the following: percent; • raising awareness and involvement of • natural cosmetics (soap and fir oil in a The Siberian Bikin watershed local communities in NTFP production birch bark box) – 38 percent; The Siberian Bikin watershed represents a through events such as a regional NTFP • jam and herbal tea in a birch bark box – series of well-preserved, native forest Festival, stands at local fairs and 19 percent; ecosystem types and is the habitat of more consultations with new and experienced • Siberian pine nuts packaged with cones than 60 endemic, rare and endangered entrepreneurs; in a birch bark box – 20 percent plant and animal species. It is home to the • assistance in the production and (respondents stressed the uniqueness reindeer herding Bikin Udege people. marketing of value-added NTFP of this product and that it can be This indigenous group continues its products; considered an authentic souvenir from traditional way of life in a contemporary • assistance in the development of the north); context, relying upon the region’s natural unique souvenir packaging (i.e. made • dried mushrooms (in different types of resources for its survival. (Source: GIAHS from birch bark or including the packaging) – 33.5 percent. Web site: www.fao.org/sd/giahs/)

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BOREAL FOREST FOODS AND DRINKS commercially used in such diverse fruit when ripe. Cranberries are famous products as jams, juices, syrups, baked as snacks and as additives to a large Indigenous Canadian boreal wild foods goods, liqueurs and beer. Blueberries are variety of foods when dried and are plentiful and delicious but in many also useful as a dye, and many sweetened. They also contribute flavour cases they remain unknown. However, indigenous tribes of Canada use the and nutrition to juices, chutneys, the products that can be made from berry to decorate the skin and for sauces, wine and cider. Indigenous these foods can rival those made in any household items. These groups also groups in the boreal forests of Canada other part of the world. made tea from the stems to treat used cranberries in various ways, Balsam** (Abies spp.) diarrhoea and prevent pregnancy and including whipping the fruit into a type Balsam needles from balsam fir trees can from the roots to ease headaches. There of icecream. Some tribes also boiled the be simmered and made into jelly. The is even a patent on the species for use as bark to relieve menstrual cramps and jelly has a very fresh, distinctive and an oral antibacterial agent in Canada. soothe sore throats. Cranberries can be unique flavour that goes well with Cattail** (Typha latifolia) frozen or dried in the sun for long-term freshwater fish and various cheeses. Cattail plants are abundant across most storage. Campers will also remember the taste of of North America, and many other parts Hazelnut* (Corylus cornuta) balsam on their meat or fish from the of the world. Numerous parts of the Hazelnuts are extremely popular for use spluttering bursts of flame and smell as cattail make delicious foods, from fresh in sweets, baked goods and icecream as balsam branches ignite in a campfire. spring greens to flours made from the well as eaten raw or toasted. The plants Barberry** (Berberis spp.) pollen or the roots. Cattail hearts can be are hardy and tolerant and grow easily. Barberries, the beautiful bright red fruits harvested in the late spring when they Gathered in autumn, tribes in Canada of the barberry bush, have a sharp are still very tender. They are similar to used to bury the nuts for around ten original flavour. The berries are palm hearts but are smaller and a lot days to allow the husks to rot away. traditionally harvested after the first tastier and harvesting cattail hearts does They were then eaten as a trail snack or hard frost and fruit clusters can be seen not kill the plant. Wild food recipe sometimes ground into flour. The roots well into midwinter when various winter books recommend them in a curry soup, and inner bark create a blue dye, and birds finish them off. The unique thorns in a sauce or bundled in a roll of ham the wood was often shaped into eating on barberry bushes are particularly sharp and cheese and toasted. utensils because of its mild flavour. The and painful so that harvesters have to Chokecherry** (Prunus virginiana) milk of the nut was considered to cure wear gloves to harvest the berries. The Chokecherry jelly was a common coughs and colds. berries may be slowly simmered and condiment on farms generations ago. Juniper* (Juniperus communis) strained into a jelly. They are The berries are tart and flavoursome. Juniper fruit is quite often used widespread in some boreal forests and While related to black cherries, medicinally and as a flavouring in were often used as a pectin in other chokecherries have a taste that is various foods and drinks, although large fruit preserves. Barberry jelly can be completely unique. Chokecherry bushes doses of the extract can prove fatal. This eaten on toast, but is usually served as are often laden with fruit in August evergreen shrub is often harvested for an accompaniment to game or fowl. and September, but it takes a lot of decorative purposes such as Bearberry* (Arctostaphylos spp.) chokecherries to make a jelly because centrepieces, bird houses and Christmas Easily found on rocky slopes, exposed the cherry is mainly stone with a thin ornaments. It can season tea and coffee areas or in dry forests and clearings, the skin of strong-flavoured cherry flesh. and is used commercially to flavour gin. bearberry may be cooked or boiled for Chokecherry jelly is added to barbecue The oil of the flower and incense made tea. More popular uses involve the sauces, used as a glaze on meats or of the juniper wood and needles are leaves of the plant, including as a spread on toast. found in aromatherapy. Indigenous urinary antiseptic, in tinctures and for Cloudberry** (Rubus chamaemorus) peoples rarely ate juniper berries but other medicinal purposes. First Nations The vast bogs of the north from burned the plant for fragrance, to in Canada used dried bearberry leaves in Labrador to the Yukon are covered deodorize and to purify the home – smoking mixtures, the roots as pipes and with cloudberry plants. These berries often to ward off evil spirits. Tea made the dried berries as jewellery when are highly regarded by the Cree from juniper was used for medicinal strung as a necklace. They also cooked indigenous groups. Cloudberries are purposes, for example to treat swollen the berry fruits in lard and then mixed related to the raspberry but the fruit is limbs and ankles. them with other foods. bigger and tastes like a cross between Labrador tea* (Ledum glandulosum) Blueberry* (Vaccinium spp.) passionfruit and apricot. Cloudberries Found in bogs, swamps and moist boreal The velvet leafed or dwarf blueberry pair well with strong cheeses, mixed in woods, this dominant, fragrant shrub is (also known as huckleberry) is a popular desserts and with chocolate. famous as an excellent tea despite the boreal berry thanks to its typically sweet Cranberry* (Viburnum trilobum) fact that it contains a narcotic toxin flavour and ease of collection. High in The high bush cranberry, found in called Ledel (or Ledol). The tea, high in vitamins A and C, berries are moist boreal woods, has a tart, soft vitamin C, can be brewed to varying

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strengths for different purposes. In its like flavour and are not spicy like the weak form it is best for drinking, and European caper berry. The small flower was used by different indigenous buds are hand picked in late spring. They Canadian groups for both stimulation are used as capers with fish or stuffed in and relaxation. When brewed for long chicken breasts. periods, it is useful for medicinal Sage* (Salvia officinalis) purposes with external application, Also called pasture, sage is an extremely mainly to treat various skin conditions aromatic plant, commonly used by First and as a wash for lice. The Labrador tea Nation tribes as a seasoning for rice or in plant is also utilized as a food flavouring stuffing for fish, game and poultry. It is and as an essential oil in aromatherapy. popular as incense and can be used as an example. The berries are also harvested The leaves can be crushed and then insect repellent and as an addition to for dyeing baskets and other items. blended with alcohol and glycerine to be fragrance sachets. Indigenous groups Syrups** used as an effective insect repellent. The even use sage as a moccasin deodorizer Many varieties of syrups can be made leaves can also be used to create a and as toilet paper. It can also be used as from boreal products. The intense “head” on beer. a dye. Sage is found in sandy or gravelly flavour of birch syrup lends itself best to Milkweed** (Asclepias syriaca) soil and in dry rocky slopes and marinades and dressings. Black locust The milkweed plant has often been grasslands. flower syrup has a delicate aromatic cursed by farmers for its ability to Salal berry** (Gaultheria shallon) taste. Maple syrup is the ever-popular colonize pastures where they are ignored Salal berries were once one of the most sweet topping, originally received from by sheep and cattle. However, these important crops for the Aboriginal the Ojibwe and Six Nations peoples. amazing plants are essential for the life inhabitants of coastal British Columbia. Wild rose petal syrup is a full rose- of our monarch butterflies. Milkweed Although the leaves are a common flavoured treat that can be used in shoots were an important early sight in florist shops, the berries are baked products. vegetable for many Canadian Aboriginal largely unknown outside the region. Wild mint* (Mentha arvensis) communities. Called little pigs in parts of Their rich complex flavour has a wine- An aromatic perennial, wild mint is Quebec, Canada, these fat little like sweetness to it and can be used in located along stream banks, lake shores, vegetables are picked midsummer before meat sauces and gravies. wet meadows and in clearings. they get too big. Milkweed pods may be Saskatoon berry* (Amelanchier Widespread in boreal forests, it is edible pickled in cider vinegar and spices. They alnifolia) and commercially available as a make a unique and tasty appetizer. They Also known as Juneberries, the seasoning and as tea, its most common are also used as capers and in risottos. Saskatoon berries can be found in both usage. Mint brew is used to cleanse Mustard** (Brassica campestris) moist and dry boreal environments. morning breath and as a soothing tonic There are a number of mustards growing These wild berries have a unique taste for upset stomachs and headaches. It is in boreal forests, several of which were similar to almonds and are used in also typically found in fragrance sachets. introduced from Europe or Asia, and baking for pies, jellies and jams as well (Sources: Boreal Centre for Conservation several that are indigenous to North as in wine making. Most native groups Enterprise* and Forbes Wild Foods**.) America. Mustard sauce is a traditional in Canada harvest the berries and dry condiment of white wine and grain them, then eat them as a snack. Thanks For more information, please contact: mustard. It is used on sandwiches, in to their natural sweetness they have *Reg Whiten, Boreal Centre for salad dressings, in barbecue and other often been mixed with other less Conservation Enterprise, Box 285, Moberly meat sauces and as a basting or rub. palatable foods. The hard stems have Lake, British Columbia V0C 1X0, Canada. Ox-eye daisy capers** (Chrysanthemum been used as arrows, canes, for pipes, to E-mail: [email protected]; leucanthemum) dig, as rims in baskets and as parts of **Jonathan Forbes, Forbes Wild Foods, Ox-eye daisy capers are the flower buds canoe frames. The plant is useful as fuel R.R.4, Creemore, ON L0M 1G0, Canada; of ox-eye daisies, which grow across because it is considered to burn clean e-mail: [email protected]; much of Canada. They have a fresh herb- and not taint the flavour of fish, for www.wildfoods.ca./

Ontario to preserve half of its boreal McGuinty’s science-based leadership, we confront the challenges of global forest calling it “a conservation milestone”. warming,” said Dr Terry Root of Stanford Seattle, Washington. As news spreads of Ontario’s plan to protect 50 percent of its University, who is a lead author for the Ontario’s commitment to protect over 55 boreal forest is considered a conservation United Nations International Panel on million acres of Canada’s boreal forest, science first and the size of this commitment Climate Change. leading international scientists and is unprecedented in North American history. The announcement widely cited the conservationists are expressing their “This is the kind of bold leadership and recommendations made by 1 500 scientists strong support for Premier Dalton large-scale thinking that the world needs as to the Canadian Government last May to set

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aside at least half of Canada’s boreal forest grass (largely for the Aboriginal and non- in large, interconnected protected areas to Aboriginal ceremonial market), sweet flag guard against climate change and protect root and bearberry leaf (for the medicinal internationally significant wildlife herb market), twig and balsam wreaths, populations. These concerned scientists, led diamond willow products and antler in part by Dr Root, include some of the jewellery. It also handled bulk shipments of world’s most notable ecologists, medicinal botanicals such as dried senega climatologists and conservation biologists. root, black poplar buds, and high-bush Scientists identify the 1.4 billion-acre cranberry bark for sale to brokers in the Canadian boreal forest as one of the world’s United State of America. In addition to most significant and largest intact forest and providing marketing services, NFDC wetland ecosystems. assisted emerging community-based The boreal forest: entrepreneurs in the development of new • is the world’s single-largest terrestrial products and with packaging, labelling and carbon storehouse and alone stores 186 pricing. Over the six years NFDC was active billion tonnes of carbon – equivalent to interventions, especially in Canada’s boreal in the marketplace, hundreds of thousands 27 years of the world’s carbon dioxide forest region, has been the work of the of dollars from NTFP sales were distributed fossil fuel emissions; Northern Forest Diversification Centre to communities across the north. For some • contains the majority of North America’s (NFDC) located in The Pas, Manitoba, products, such as sweet grass and senega fresh, unfrozen water; operating as an arm of The University root that had pre-existing markets, the entry • hosts some of the planet’s largest College of the North. Beginning in the year of NFDC as a broker helped put upward populations of wolves, grizzly bears and 2000, NFDC developed as a training, pressure on prices, directly benefiting the woodland caribou; research, marketing and service centre for dozens of harvesters who depended on • provides nesting grounds and nursery the development of the NTFP sector in these products for part of their income. for billions of migratory songbirds and northern Manitoba. Over the next six years, As with any new venture, NFDC faced its waterfowl; half of North America’s birds the programme reached out to dozens of share of challenges, among them the are dependent on the forest for their communities and hundreds of harvesters, struggle to provide support services to far- survival. creating an industry from overlooked flung entrepreneurs in remote communities, Dr David Schindler, winner of the 1991 resources where little or nothing (in terms maintaining the support of decision-makers Stockholm Water Prize, added, “Premier of NTFP sales) existed before. who did not necessarily understand the McGuinty has long-term vision, recognizing From a Manitoba perspective, those sector or the function of a natural resource- that storing carbon, protecting biodiversity interested in and benefiting from the NTFP based social enterprise, and creating new and traditional lifestyles, and maintaining industry tend to be those people who are markets or penetrating existing ones to freshwater supplies are more important than standing on the sidelines of society for a maintain sales and retain harvester interest. immediate profits. Now the rest of Canada range of reasons – usually because of a lack NFDC ceased operations after funding for must set aside equivalent areas”. of formal education or the lack of the programme ended in late 2006. To its Scientists worldwide recommend that a employment opportunities in their credit, NFDC spawned a number of small, target of 50 percent protection of an communities. For these people, even the community-based businesses that continue ecosystem is necessary to sustain it over the opportunity to earn relatively small amounts to develop even without the ongoing support long term. Overall, only 10 percent of of additional cash income (in the few of the centre. However, the significant Canada’s boreal forest is currently protected. hundreds to few thousands of dollars) can downturn in NTFP-related activity since For the past decade, the Pew Environment mean the difference in terms of being able formal operations ceased suggests that Group, through its Canadian Boreal Initiative to pay their bills or purchase goods that NFDC played an essential role in developing Project, has been working with First Nations, many in other areas of Canada take for opportunities for NTFP harvesters and industry, government and conservationists to granted. entrepreneurs in communities where few preserve Canada’s boreal forest, an Over the course of its existence, NFDC other economic opportunities exist. Interest internationally significant ecosystem for the has trained harvesters across northern has been expressed in resurrecting some of world’s climate and biodiversity. (Source: Manitoba in good harvesting practices, bush the services provided by NFDC, and a private Patricia S. De Angelis, United States Fish and safety, post-harvest handling, basic value- sector partner has taken on part of the role Wildlife Service, United States of America, added opportunities and a range of other of developing the market for northern July 2008.) topics. Although training was only delivered NTFPs. The hope remains that this ground- to approximately 100 harvesters in eight breaking programme that saw many The Northern Forest Diversification Centre: communities, the centre ended up successes will re-emerge in a new form an exercise in NTFP-based community purchasing products from over 400 once again to create much needed development in Canada’s boreal forest harvesters in 25 communities, an indication opportunities for the residents of Manitoba’s Over the past ten to 15 years, recognition of of the reach and attraction of the boreal forest. the potential role of the NTFP sector in programme and the opportunities it (Contributed by: Dave Buck [retired creating economic opportunities for rural provided. At the height of the programme, Manager, Northern Forest Diversification communities has continued to grow in NFDC was marketing over 100 products, Centre, Manitoba] and Tim Brigham [Royal Canada. One of the best known including wild tea blends, skin salves, sweet Roads University, Victoria].)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 SPECIAL FEATURES 9

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Lichen from the north of Finland decorating material in graveyards, because Tim Brigham, Coordinator, Education and The lichen-covered heath on Hailuoto it keeps its light colour even when wet, and Capacity Building, Centre for Non-Timber island in the northern part of the Gulf of thus stands out from the dark gravestones. Resources, Royal Roads University, Bothnia is a friendly place. Pines of In addition to this, it withstands frost. This 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria BC, Canada V9B 5Y2. moderate height stand here and there, is why the best season for lichen is around Fax: (250) 391-2563; letting the sun’s rays reach the ground, the Western Christian All Saints’ Day (1 e-mail: [email protected]; which is covered with grey star-tipped November) in the autumn. The main area www.royalroads.ca/cntr; or Dave Buck, 22 reindeer lichen, or just star reindeer lichen for the company’s exports is German- Cornwallis Bay, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada (Cladonia stellaris). speaking Central Europe. R7A 6Y2; e-mail: [email protected]./ Pickers are employed by the lichen- Lichen is gathered not only in Hailuoto, exporting company Polar-Moos. They deftly but also elsewhere in northern Finnish gather the best balls of lichen, taking care Ostrobothnia. Suitable places for lichen to not to pick everything. Lichen grows to a grow are the sandy heaths and eskers suitable size for picking in five to eight formed by the continental ice moving north years, which is the time the pickers have to at the end of the Ice Age. wait before returning to the same area. Collecting lichen is not everybody’s right, Fascinating in appearance, star reindeer and compensation must be paid to lichen resembles a mushroom covered with landowners for each package of lichen. lace, and it is actually classified as a Among the landowners, the most important mushroom. However, to be exact, lichen partner of Polar-Moos is the forest industry consists of two species, a fungus and an company UPM. alga, which grow in a symbiosis that A quarter of the lichen sold by Polar- benefits both. Moos comes from the Russian Federation. Polar-Moos is the largest supplier of Gaining a livelihood from lichen is, decorative lichen and other lichen products however, becoming increasingly difficult, in Europe, with an annual turnover of €1.5 because Swedish producers sell it at 40 Boreal forest bounty million. It has a regular staff of nine, but percent lower prices. The Finnish Boreal forest bounty (ISBN 1-4251-1426-1) each year from May to October the company producers suspect that the Swedes may not is a compendium of market information on also employs some 20 seasonal workers. be taking care of all required employment selected species of botanicals that grow in With no rain the dry lichen easily breaks expenses, which is why the association of the boreal forest region of British Columbia into small pieces, so the forest needs to be lichen exporters in Finland has appealed to and across Canada. It is a resource guide watered. After a quarter of an hour of the EU Commissioner responsible for fair for enabling development of conservation- watering, it is possible to start picking the competition. based enterprise in the northern/rural lichen. Some of the pickers collect lichen “But this is a dying tradition,” says agricultural, First Nation and resource and different kinds of mosses, while the Executive Director and owner of Polar- communities with particular emphasis on rest make arrangements of the lichen Moos, Markku Sipola, with regret. The top the emerging agroforestry and non-timber picked. year of lichen exports was 1972, when half forest products sector. The largest clients are florists’ supplies a million cartons were exported – with The guide features profiles on 30 plant wholesalers. Florists transform the grey 3.5 kg lichen in each. Now the amount is species known to have market potential balls into decorations. It is during autumn some 100 000 boxes. (Source: Forest.fi Web through value-added processing in various and winter that lichen makes a very popular site, www.forest.fi) parts of Canada. Each profile includes botanical descriptions, information on commercial applications, First Nations uses, accessibility for harvest, LICHEN IS ALSO DYED AND SEWN environmental sensitivity, market locations, harvesting specifications, The tiny trees and shrubs beside the customer requirements, prices, cultivation tracks of miniature railways are made of potential, processing technology, star reindeer lichen as are the parks in government regulations and transportation the scale models constructed by costs. Additional resources in the guide architects to illustrate their plans for include an overview on the boreal forest, housing estates. and various resources for developing The best lichen goes to export as it is, order to keep it supple and make it fire- conservation-based enterprise. but the lower grades are dyed green, resistant. The work is difficult, because it red or yellow. This is why Polar-Moos is not easy to dye the lichen evenly. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: also has a dyeing shop in Hailuoto. In The dyeing shop also houses a Reg Whiten, Boreal Centre for Conservation the shop the lichen is first immersed in machine for sewing lichen, which is used Enterprise, Box 285, Moberly Lake, the liquid dye, after which it is salted in to make ornamental ribbons of lichen. British Columbia V0C 1X0, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 10 SPECIAL FEATURES

%WILDLIFE in areas where there is competition for Orangutans concoct plant-based soothing diminishing natural resources with potential balm 2009 Year of the Gorilla for violence, programmes of this kind add to Indonesian wild orangutans have Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, Ph.D., the security of the region.” (Source: demonstrated a certain degree of will serve as the official patron of the 2009 Press@PMDFEXT, 5 December 2008.) medicinal savvy by deploying naturally Year of the Gorilla (YoG), a 12-month occurring anti-inflammatory drugs to campaign aimed at improving conservation of “treat aches and pains”, as the New humankind’s closest relatives and their Scientist puts it. habitats by bettering the livelihoods and Four of the Bornean orangutans (Pongo incomes of local people. His Serene Highness pygmaeus) were spotted by Cambridge Prince Albert II of Monaco launched the YoG University primatologist Helen Morrogh- initiative on 1 December 2008 at the opening Bernard in the Sabangau Peat Swamp of a United Nations wildlife conference in Forest in central Kalimantan, preparing a Rome, Italy. “soothing balm”. The YoG campaign seeks to improve the Back in 2005, Morrogh-Bernard watched management of national and cross-border as an adult female picked a handful of primate populations, as well as those living in leaves from a plant, chewed them and used national parks, by strengthening cooperation saliva to produce a green-white lather. She between range states and providing improved then “scooped up some of the lather with support for rangers and other key personnel. her right hand and applied it up and down YoG is a joint initiative of the United Two African nations team up to protect the back of her left arm, from the base of Nations Environment Programme’s world’s rarest ape the shoulder to the wrist, just as a person Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP- Just 300 Cross River gorillas remain in the would apply sunscreen”. Morrogh-Bernard CMS); the UNEP-United Nations Educational, wild, making them the world’s most noted: “She was concentrating on her arm Scientific and Cultural Organization endangered apes, if not the world’s most only and was methodical in the way she (UNESCO) Great Ape Survival Partnership endangered primates. was applying the soapy foam. I knew this (GRASP); and the World Association of Zoos The Governments of Nigeria and must be some form of self-medication.” and Aquariums (WAZA). Cameroon have now agreed to work The orangutan finally ditched the leaves, “People living in and around the last together to help save the Cross River which allowed Morrogh-Bernard to identify forested areas are struggling to survive,” said gorilla, which only exists within their them as belonging to the genus Dr Goodall. “If we can’t help these people find borders. At a meeting held last week, the Commelina. Significantly, orangutans do ways of living that do not involve continual two nations agreed to “improve not eat these plants as part of their normal destruction of the forest, we shall fail in our transboundary cooperation to protect the diet, and local indigenous people are also efforts to protect these wonderful great apes critically endangered species, as well as aware of their anti-inflammatory – our closest living relatives.” other endangered wildlife”, according to a properties. Dr Goodall also underlined the importance report from the Environment News Service. Morrogh-Bernard has since clocked of community-centred conservation efforts Participating in the agreement were three other orangutans using their home- such as those detailed in the YoG action plan representatives of state parks from each brew balm, saying it “links apes and and those currently managed by the Jane country, who will now work to “reduce the humans directly”. While she said the Goodall Institute (JGI) in the United Republic bushmeat trade and illegal logging, former “may not have learned how to apply of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of strengthen field monitoring, increase the anti-inflammatory ointment from local the Congo. JGI’s Lake Tanganyika Catchment community involvement and conservation people”, the opposite may be true. Reforestation and Education (TACARE) education, and improve law enforcement (Morrogh-Bernard’s findings are published programme, which is active in 24 Tanzanian within the parks”. in the International Journal of villages around Gombe National Park, The meeting to hammer out this Primatology.) (Source: Register [United involves health care projects, forestry agreement was made possible through the Kingdom], 28 July 2008.) protection, training in sustainable farming financial support of the World Wide Fund methods, forest regeneration, water and for Nature (WWF), the Wildlife Bushmeat a threat to the United Kingdom sanitation projects, women’s initiatives, Conservation Society and the United States The illegal trafficking of West African microcredit programmes and education. As a Fish and Wildlife Service Great Apes bushmeat is posing a serious threat to the result of the programme, local people have Conservation Fund. United Kingdom, claims a Conservative partnered with JGI to put aside land for forest The critically endangered Cross River (Tory) Member of Parliament. Jim Paice, restoration and to protect the remaining gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is a Tory spokesman for agriculture and rural forest, which is home to many species, subspecies of the western gorilla (Gorilla affairs, says that the recent cutting back of including endangered chimpanzees. gorilla). The Cross River gorilla’s Customs officials, who patrol the United “These initiatives benefit more than the population is extremely fragmented, with Kingdom borders, is to blame for the high great apes,” said Dr Goodall. “They help eight to 11 groups separated by extensive volumes of illegal meat being smuggled prevent the spread of contagious disease. local farmlands. (Source: Plenty Magazine, into the country. “Bushmeat from West They reduce poverty and protect forests. And New York [United States of America], 9 Africa has the huge potential for tropical they help slow global climate change. Finally, September 2008.) diseases, such as the Ebola virus, to come

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 SPECIAL FEATURES 11

BUSHMEAT: THE OTHER FOOD CRISIS Bushmeat is an important source of regime: if local people are guaranteed the protein and fats in rural diets – up to 80 benefits of sustainable land use and Conservationists have long argued that the percent in Central Africa – as well as an hunting practices, they will be willing to hunting of terrestrial wildlife for food – important seasonal safety net. And in invest in sound management and including mammals, birds, reptiles and many countries there is no clear substitute negotiate selective hunting regimes. amphibians – poses a threat to the survival available if wild meat sources were to be Sustainable management of bushmeat of many tropical forest species and depleted or off-take reduced to resources requires bringing the sector out ecosystems. A new study suggests we sustainable levels. into the open, removing the stigma of should be equally concerned that the so- Bushmeat’s importance to rural illegality and including wild meat called “bushmeat crisis” is also a food livelihoods is not restricted to its direct consumption in national statistics and security crisis for many forest-dependent consumption. Research suggests that the planning. people. poorest households are more dependent Reframing the bushmeat problem from “Conservation and use of wildlife-based than the rich on bushmeat sales to local one of international animal welfare to one resources: the bushmeat crisis”, a technical and urban markets. Thus, the conventional of sustainable livelihoods – and part of the paper published by the Secretariat of the wisdom that commercial trade can be global food crisis – might be a good place Convention on Biological Diversity and the banned without harming the subsistence to start. Center for International Forestry Research needs of the poor is misguided. The study is available in both English (CIFOR), summarizes the state of The report suggests that sustainable and French. (Source: CIFOR POLEX, 17 July knowledge on this controversial topic. management of bushmeat resources 2008.) According to Nasi et al., the bushmeat requires different approaches for different trade constitutes a significant, if largely species and circumstances. For example, For more information, please contact: hidden, component of the economies of species with low intrinsic population Tim Christophersen, Environmental tropical forest countries, with estimates growth rates and high dependence on Affairs Officer for Forest Biodiversity, ranging from US$42–205 million per year undisturbed habitat – such as gorillas – are Secretariat of the Convention for countries in West and Central Africa. particularly vulnerable to overhunting. By on Biological Diversity, United Nations However, “voluminous and varied” contrast, fast reproducing generalist Environment Programme, 413 St-Jacques O., empirical evidence suggests that current species that thrive in agricultural mosaics – Suite 800, Montreal, QC, H2Y 1N9, Canada. rates of bushmeat extraction are such as duikers or rodents – may be very Fax: +1-514-288-6588; unsustainable, and are leading to wildlife resilient to hunting pressure. Blanket bans e-mail: [email protected] or depletion in many areas. Large mammal on hunting and trade that do not [email protected]; species are particularly vulnerable and discriminate between these extremes are www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-33- many are already locally extinct. bound to fail. en.pdf (English); The “empty forest syndrome” is not The authors argue that the solution to www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-33- just of interest to conservationists. the bushmeat crisis is a more secure rights fr.pdf (French).

in, which could pose a serious public health Two new reports reveal that despite Viet issue,” said Paice. Nam’s international commitments to combat New figures in a government report have the trade, the smuggling of tigers, monkeys, shown that there have been no prosecutions snakes, pangolins and other animals to and for illegal meat smuggling this year. However, through the country are booming. between 2006 and 2007, when there were One study estimated that up to 4 000 increased patrols to tackle the threat of bird tonnes of live animals or meat, skins, ground flu, more than 35 000 seizures were made. bones and other illegal products are The Conservative Party is now proposing trafficked into and out of Viet Nam per year, plans for tackling illegal meat imports, which Viet Nam illegal wildlife trade eating away generating more than US$67 million in would include an X-ray system to scan all at biodiversity revenues. bags coming into the United Kingdom. Over Hanoi. Viet Nam’s appetite for illegal wildlife Species are mostly sourced from Viet the past 12 months, both the Department for meat and demand for traditional medicine Nam’s national parks and the neighbouring Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are devastating animal and plant species Lao People’s Democratic Republic and and the Customs have been running within and beyond its borders, experts warn Cambodia, as well as Malaysia, to be awareness-raising campaigns. Last week in two new reports. Viet Nam is one of consumed in Viet Nam, China, the Republic Defra launched a short film, “Don’t Bring Me Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse countries, of Korea, Taiwan Province of China and Back”, to spread the message about the but some species may be lost even before Japan, according to the study based on serious effects that importing meat illegally they become known to science as a result of hundreds of interviews. could bring. (Source: The Voice, [United an illegal global trade believed to be trailing The largest volume of illegal wildlife goods Kingdom], 18 August 2008.) only drugs and gun running. is smuggled across the Viet Nam-China

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 12 SPECIAL FEATURES

border, with an estimated 2 500–3 500 kg wildlife-based resources: the bushmeat flowing daily through the two major border crisis. Technical Series 33. Montreal, gates. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological There have been high-profile crackdowns. Diversity and Bogor, Center for International In a recent case, Vietnamese police seized Forestry Research [CIFOR].) over 2 tonnes of live snakes and 770 kg of tortoises from the Lao People’s Democratic Responsible hunting in Germany Republic en route to China. Hunters in Germany bear the responsibility But one report estimated that the total of protecting and sustaining over 100 species value of confiscated wildlife accounts for only under the Federal Hunting Act and many of 3 percent of the illegal trade and that the the 348 347 licensed hunters in the country authorities are at a disadvantage as individual voluntarily perform conservation and forest rangers police an average of 1 400 ha of landscape administration work. Activities Cameroon started to export African grey forest at a monthly wage of about US$50. range from assisting in the mapping of parrots to South Africa in 1993, with a Hanoi is Viet Nam’s largest market for habitat corridors to managing protected reported 2 095 birds. Most of the African grey illegal wildlife meat, with revenues of over areas. Hunters also commonly support parrots from Cameroon are exported to the US$12 000/day, the report said. The most specific species. For example, between 2004 United States of America and the European popular species served in Hanoi were and 2006, the hunting community supplied Union countries, with France as transit point. snakes, palm civets, monitor lizards, €400 000 for otter and hare population Poaching of African grey parrots is porcupines, leopards, pangolins, monkeys, protection, as well as €272 000 towards rampant in Cameroon because the forest pigs, hard-shell turtles, soft-shell habitat maintenance for the black grouse. Government has done very little to enforce turtles, civets, boas and birds. In 2000, the German Hunting Association antipoaching laws. People who succeed in The other market fuelling the trade is (Deutscher Jagdschutzverband, or DJV), having official capture permits have many traditional Vietnamese and Chinese which is made up of various Lander ways of forging and multiplying them for their medicine, said a report by the wildlife association members and accounts for close associates, who also become permit monitoring network TRAFFIC. nearly 85 percent of all licensed hunters in owners. Worse still, quotas for live capture The shop owners who offered the illicit the country, launched a national wildlife are never adhered to. Government officials goods, the TRAFFIC report found, were “well information system (WILD). WILD is a long- are accused of conniving with trappers and organized, each claiming that they were term project to provide consistent data on licencees to exceed official quotas. Law shielded from investigations through population densities, trends and impacts of enforcement officers at border posts are protection by enforcement personnel”. environmental factors such as weather and bribed by smugglers to allow parrots across (Source: AFP [Hanoi], 3 August 2008.) predation to monitor selected wildlife borders to neighbouring countries. species. The information (available online at However, severe law enforcement may not Social and cultural values of hunting www.jagdnetz.de) also helps in the suffice to curb unsustainable exploitation Wildlife and hunting are intimately linked to development of protection and sustainable because poachers are poor and the income many cultures throughout the world’s use strategies. (Source: BfN, 2008. Nature from such activities is very important for tropical forests, even if in some cases the Data 2008. Bonn, Germany, Federal Agency many impoverished families. Therefore, the meat is only of minor nutritional importance. for Nature Conservation (BfN), pp. 81–83. best approach to stop poaching is to educate Important social and cultural values are ISBN 978-3-7843-3859-0.) local people, provide alternative sources of linked to foods and medicines derived from income and show the local people how to wild resources. Therefore, while hunting The African grey parrot trade in Cameroon take care of the resources themselves. provides meat and income it also remains an The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus (Source: Case study on African grey parrots important social and cultural tradition for erithacu) is the most hunted bird in in Cameroon. In Trade measures – tools to many peoples (both in developed and in Cameroon. Thousands of grey parrots are promote the sustainable use of NWFP? FAO developing countries). captured each year for local consumption and Non-Wood Forest Products Working Acquisition of animal parts as cultural export. Document 6; www.fao.org/docrep/ artefacts, for personal adornment or for Cameroon accounted for 50 percent of the 010/k0457e/k0457e25.htm#TopOfPage) p hunting trophies, is still a widespread total specimens exported from all countries in practice throughout tropical forest regions 1995 and is still one of the highest exporters and the rest of the world. In many cultures, to of African grey parrots today. Prior to 1993, be a hunter is essential in gaining respect, when restrictions on export quotas were achieving manhood or winning a bride. decided by the Convention on International Hence peoples hunt even when they have Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna alternative sources of nutrition or income. and Flora (CITES) at 12 000 birds, a yearly These links between hunting, wildlife, average of 14 000 parrots were exported from Until the lions have their historians, religion, mythology and sociology of forest- Cameroon. Official figures do not account for tales of the hunt shall always glorify dwelling peoples have to be considered in parrots that are smuggled across borders into the hunter. conjunction with sound conservation and neighbouring countries, those that are African proverb management plans. (Source: extracted from: consumed and those that die in the process of R. Nasi et al. 2008. Conservation and use of trapping, transportation and domestication.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 NEWS AND NOTES 13

species of bromeliad. In the Atlantic products solve livelihood problems? A Forest, a diverse stretch of Brazil’s wooded case study from Periyar Tiger Reserve, “Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) coastline that forms a natural habitat for India. In Oryx, 42: 222–228. Cambridge, consist of goods of biological origin many bromeliads, the devastation is acute United Kingdom, Cambridge University other than wood, derived from forests, – only 7 percent of the original forest Press.) other wooded land and trees outside survives. (Source: Amazon News, 14 forests.” August 2008.) FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: «Les produits forestiers non ligneux Sanjay Gubbi. Wildlife Conservation Society- sont des biens d’origine biologique India Programme, Centre for Wildlife Studies, autres que le bois, dérivés des forêts, A QUESTIONABLE ROLE: 1669, 31st Cross, 16th Main, Banashankari 2nd des autres terres boisées, et des arbres %NTFP COLLECTION IN Stage, Bengalooru 560 082, India. E-mail: hors forêts.» SUSTAINABLE [email protected] or Douglas C. MacMillan, «Productos forestales no madereros DEVELOPMENT Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, son los bienes de origen biológico University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, Kent, distintos de la madera derivados de los Collection of NTFPs has been promoted in United Kingdom. bosques, de otras tierras boscosas y de India as a strategy to aid wildlife los árboles fuera de los bosques.» conservation while simultaneously (FAO’s working definition) alleviating poverty and recent legislation now gives communities living within protected areas the legal right to collect NTFPs. However, research on the financial rewards from NTFP collection and its A BRAZILIAN’S SHRINE contribution to sustainable development is %TO BROMELIADS MAY ONE equivocal. DAY SAVE THE PLANTS In a case study in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, India, the question of whether Teresópolis, Brazil. Elton Leme’s garden is NTFP collection can solve livelihood a living shrine to bromeliads. There are problems by analysing revenues obtained plants in the soil, plants peeping from from various NTFP species was examined. between rocks, plants hanging from the The economic returns to collectors from roof of Mr Leme’s home-built greenhouse. various social backgrounds were There are even plants planted on plants. estimated and the attitudes of collectors BIODIVERSITY Leme has discovered more than 300 towards their profession were explored. CONSERVATION species of bromeliad, the largest family of It was found that black damar resin %THROUGH A COMMUNITY- flowering plants endemic to the western from the tree Canarium strictum (61.3 BASED ENTERPRISE hemisphere – including pineapple. He has percent) and mace from Myristica spp. APPROACH even identified new species in books, (35.5 percent) were the most commonly erroneously labelled as existing ones. No collected NTFPs. The most valuable Plans to control access to the Amazon man alive has discovered as many. NTFPs were honey from Apis cerana indica ANSAB (Asia Network for Sustainable With flora disappearing at an increasing (US$4.12/kg), Cardamom elettaria Agriculture and Bioresources) has been rate, Leme is rushing to find and catalogue cardamomum (US$3.67/kg) and Myristica chosen, with two other finalists, for the as many new species as possible in order spp. (US$2.77/kg). Mean daily revenue from Most Innovative Development Project to share them with botanists all over the NTFP collection was US$3.15 ± 4.19/day. (MIDP) award through a global competition world as an insurance policy against future The lowest daily revenues were earned by organized by the Global Development destruction. part-time collectors with low socio- Network (GDN) in 2008. After a rigorous From the 2 000-odd plants he has economic status, such as migrants, forest evaluation, ANSAB’s “Biodiversity gathered during his 35-year career, Leme dwellers or those without access to Conservation through a Community-based has already given duplicate flowers to agricultural land. Enterprise Approach” surpassed proposals research institutes and botanical gardens Most collectors (82 percent) did not from around the world. and he aims to grow more so his legacy wish to continue harvesting NTFPs if This new enterprise approach aims to will outlive him. “Today we don’t just talk alternative livelihoods from agriculture improve the resource management skills of about extinction of species but of could be provided and none wanted their local communities, integrate villagers’ ecosystems,” he says. “It’s a race against children to be NTFP collectors. subsistence and commercial needs with time to discover species before they are The findings suggest that, with respect biodiversity conservation, assess policy lost forever.” to social justice, poverty alleviation and reforms, pilot forest management That hunger to find new species is environmental sustainability, the role of certification and implement economic becoming increasingly important, given NTFP collection in sustainable interventions through value chain analysis the environmental destruction in Brazil, a development is questionable. (Source: in rural areas of Nepal. (Source: ANSAB continent-sized nation that is home to an abstract from S. Gubbi and D.C. press release: www.ansab.org/ estimated 2 000 of the world’s 3 000 known MacMillan. 2008. Can non-timber forest press_release.php?id=46)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 14 NEWS AND NOTES

The report also considers case studies Many tropical insects carry toxins to from Kenya and northern Canada. protect themselves from predators. In fact, “Most striking is that no matter where in the early days of drug discovery, we looked, the lack of trust played a vital researchers tried collecting insects in role in blocking negotiations that could order to extract their active compounds. have benefited both sides, as well as the “Good luck collecting 100 kg of insects,” larger public,” says Richard Gold, chair of says Capson. However, the insects often do the group from McGill University, Canada. not synthesize toxins themselves. Instead, (Source: SciDev.Net, 29 November 2008.) many eat toxic plants and concentrate the poisons. As a result, the search for new Bioprospecting plant genetic resources in drugs inspired by natural compounds now Qatar focuses on plants rather than insects. BIOPROSPECTING/ A study – Bioprospecting plant genetic Bioprospectors searching for %BENEFIT-SHARING resources in Qatar – will “bioprospect” medicinally active plants in a rain forest OR BIOPIRACY? Qatar’s indigenous plant and fungal face a problem of needle in the haystack biodiversity to explore the potential of its proportions. Plants do not advertise the Laws to protect native knowledge plant genetic resources (PGRs) to address fact that they contain potential medicines. “are failing” two contemporary issues facing Qatar, The insects that feed on them, on the other Global moves to improve the rights of namely: hand, do. Insects ingest bioactive indigenous communities over their local • the increase in incidence of “diseases chemicals from the plants and advertise knowledge have largely failed, say experts. of affluence” and the fact that this makes them poisonous to This has resulted in intellectual property • the desertification of Qatar’s arid predators with flashy colours. rights (IPRs) claims by indigenous people lands. Capson’s team decided to test their dropping to “barely a trickle”, according to This research will assemble the results theory in the forests of Panama. They chose the Montreal-based International Expert of the latest studies in disparate fields, ten plants that they knew contained Group on Biotechnology in their report such as pharmacognosy, epidemiology, medicinal compounds, and ten non- launched on 13 November. microbiology, ethnology and restoration medicinal plants that looked very similar to In Brazil, for example, only seven ecology, to yield a document that identifies them. In four national parks, they searched phytotherapeutic items have been and evaluates top PGR candidates that for the plants in their natural environment developed with local resources compared could contribute to the improvement of and recorded the number of bright insects with 700 patents on similar items filed Qatar’s public and ecosystem health. In on their leaves. almost entirely by foreigners worldwide. addition, a presentation and extension The team regularly found brightly The authors say attempts to ensure education booklet will be produced to coloured bugs on nine of the ten active benefit-sharing with numerous indigenous apprise relevant stakeholders of PGR- plants, but on just four of the ten inactive communities have been hindered by an related opportunities. plants. On average, each poisonous plant overemphasis on the ownership of IPRs, Plant species involved include: Aizoon had 1.9 bright bugs on its leaves, while which has proved to be a roadblock to spp., Anastatica hierochuntica, Terfezia innocuous plants had just 0.5. progress. claveryi, Tirmania nivalis and Ziziphus spp. Using brightly coloured insects as flags They highlight Brazil’s case, where (Source: update of the month from the does not mean that every plant collected by legislation was passed in 2001 with the aim Global Facilitation Unit [GFU], July 2008.) scientists contain a new medicine. Once a of protecting indigenous rights. “Use of potentially medicinal plant has been traditional knowledge and local, natural Bugs lead drug hunters to medicinal identified, it can take years to extract the products depends on the consent of several treasure active compound and turn it into a useful indigenous groups that – theoretically or If you are looking for medicinal plants in drug. Nevertheless, it could focus actually – ‘own’ them, and these groups do the jungle, let the insects guide you. A pharmaceutical searches. not always agree on these questions,” says study has shown for the first time that Edson Beas Rodrigues, coauthor of the brightly coloured bugs like to sit on report and a researcher at the Institute of medicinally active plants. Law on International Trade and Todd Capson, an entomologist at the Development, Brazil. “Research institutes Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in and industries cannot access the Panama, hopes the findings will accelerate knowledge and indigenous groups do not drug discovery efforts and improve benefit from any research that could have measures to safeguard rain forests. been done.” A popular way of finding new drugs “We try to protect indigenous rights so based on natural compounds is to study the hard that our laws are in fact preventing the plants used in traditional medicines. use of traditional knowledge,” said Capson and his colleagues thought that Rodrigues. “We have to find a balance there might be a way of accelerating the between assuring intellectual property and search, by also looking for plants that seem promoting access to traditional knowledge.” to be valued by non-human species.

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“One could go into the field and scan Rs85–90/kg, more than 50 percent higher CROPS FOR THE FUTURE – wild insect populations,” says team than before, according to Mohammed %A NEW INTERNATIONAL member Julie Helson of the University of Zaffar, President of NCS, which has 40 ORGANIZATION Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. members. In addition, the hill people of “This would still be labour-intensive, but India are coming together to take on A new international organization dedicated would hopefully increase your hit rate in foreign Fast Moving Consumer Goods to neglected and underutilized crops was to comparison to randomly collecting plants.” (FMCG) big companies, such as Amway, K- be announced on Sunday, 30 November For Capson, there is another advantage Link, DXN and Tenzxi – that have been 2008, at the Annual General Meeting of the to the method – that of saving the insect dominating the Indian cosmetics market – Consultative Group on International sentinels from extinction. by launching a large number of herbal Agricultural Research in Maputo, Capson himself is not planning on testing cosmetic products. Mozambique. his method further by collecting unknown The 6 000-member-strong AIAPGA will “Crops for the Future” has evolved from plants that have bright bugs on them and launch herbal products under its common a union of the International Centre for testing their toxicity. That, he says, is what brand across the country by next week Underutilised Crops (ICUC) and the Global he hopes his colleagues who are searching through self-marketing. And it is confident Facilitation Unit (GFU) for Underutilized for new drugs will do. The baton is ready to of outdoing the foreign competition. “Our Species. It will be hosted in Malaysia by be passed. (Journal reference: Frontiers in prices are quite nominal than these biggies Bioversity International in a joint venture Ecology and the Environment, DOI: and our products are high in quality,” says with the University of Nottingham, Malaysia 10.1890/070189.) (Source: New Scientist the AIAPGA President and Kangra Herb Campus. [United Kingdom], 12 August 2008.) Society Director Randhir Singh Guleria. Over half of humanity’s food comes from only three crops – rice, wheat and maize. World’s first biodiversity law centre in Thousands of others are also important, Malaysia but overlooked, as sources of nutrition, Malaysia on Wednesday opened the world’s food, animal feed, medicines and other first centre for legal advice on biodiversity resources. Hannah Jaenicke, Interim development and marketing, for both Global Coordinator of Crops for the Future, government and international institutions. said: “In times of changing climates, and Increasing the country’s capacity on the economic and social upheavals, it is legal aspects of biosecurity and biotechnology essential that we promote diversity. These are among the main objectives of the Centre underutilized or orphan crops are vital to of Excellence for Biodiversity Law (CEBLAW), support poor peoples’ coping strategies based at the University of Malaya. and to encourage sustainability.” Natural Resources and Environment A large number of growers come from Crops for the Future will support, collect, Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said the regions such as Leh, Kargil, Himachal synthesize and promote knowledge on centre will also give the Government legal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and areas covered neglected and underutilized species for the advice on issues included in international under the Himalayan range. They are benefit of the poor and the environment. It environmental agreements and the World expected to obtain more than 40 percent will do so by complementing and Trade Organization, among others. margins on their produce once the strengthening the efforts of other players CEBLAW emerged from a joint initiative mechanism falls into place. AIAPGA has active in international agricultural research by the Natural Resources and Environment received patent approval for launching 35 and development. Ministry and the University of Malaya to products initially, and a few more will join The new organization is expected to start support the Executive in legal affairs after approval. What is more, the Rs300 operating early in 2009. (Source: benefiting exchange, traditional thinking and crore industry is confident of touching the Innovations Report, 1 December 2008.) copyrighting, the official explained. (Source: Rs1 000 crore mark in the next five years Prensa Latina [Cuba], 24 September 2008.) with their inhouse business model. From planting to packaging, branding and ECOFRIENDLY marketing of the final product, AIAPGA has PRESERVATIVE: LANTANA COSMETIC GIANTS RUN strategically built an inhouse model for its % – AN OBNOXIOUS WEED %INTO A HIMALAYAN members that, it claims, will be more cost WITH A USEFUL PURPOSE CHALLENGE effective than the one followed by the large foreign companies. Interestingly, the Lantana camara Linn. A member of the Ahmedabad. A dozen women are busy growers will get returns as per their Verbinacea family, lantana is found in plucking sea buckthorn berries in Leh- subscription period with AIAPGA. That abundance in India, in Deccan, Nilgiris, Ladakh and Kargil to supply them to their means the longer the period, the higher the Uttar Pradesh, the Shivalik range, the local Nundum Cooperative Society (NCS). margins. “Our 40 ha land was a complete Western Ghats, Bihar, Chhotanagpur and The society will further their produce to the wastage as we didn’t know how to utilize it. the northeastern regions. It seems to have All-India Aromatic Plants Growers Now, we have decided to supply medicinal overrun some areas such as most of the Association (AIAPGA). plants for two years,” says Dharamshala- state capital of Uttranchal, Dehra Dun. By supplying such special fruits with based grower Manish Mahajan. (Source: Introduced in India as a hedge by the medicinal values, these women will earn Economic Times [India], 1 August 2008.) British in 1941, today the plant has taken

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EL MANEJO DE tres etapas: la previa a la recolección, la % PRODUCTOS FORESTALES recolección y la posterior a la recolección. NO MADEREROS EN En la fase previa a la recolección se AMAZONÍA evalúa como adecuado el establecimiento de un orden de actividades que deben Considerando su importancia y la presión pasar por: i) inserción de la comunidad en sufrida, la Amazonía necesita modelos de el trabajo, incluyendo discusiones sobre el desarrollo con actividades económicas que interés comunitario, cuestiones de no comporten la deforestación exagerada. propiedad de la tierra, diagnósticos del En ese contexto, el manejo de productos mercado consumidor y definición de forestales no madereros (PFNM) merece grupos de trabajo; ii) ordenamiento y especial atención, ya que si es conducido planificación de actividades a partir de un de manera sostenible puede, al mismo cronograma de trabajo comunitario; iii) tiempo, convertir en rentables los bosques conformación de un conjunto de y mantener su estructura y biodiversidad instituciones colaboradoras; iv) realización prácticamente inalteradas. de capacitaciones; v) formulación de un Los PFNM son productos provenientes sistema de gestión del manejo en la de los bosques que no son madera, como comunidad; vi) estudio del potencial por ejemplo hojas, frutos, flores, semillas, productivo forestal, a partir de nueces, palmitos, raíces y bulbos, ramas, informaciones tradicionales y de cáscaras, fibras, aceites esenciales, aceites levantamientos técnicos; vii) mapeo del Lantana camara fijos, resinas, lianas, hierbas, bambú, área de colecta y de los individuos plantas ornamentales, hongos y productos productivos y viii) legalización de la over almost 1 lakh ha of land. Considered de origen animal. Pensando en la actividad de acuerdo a los marcos legales to be among the ten “worst” weeds in the importancia de esos productos, se observa estaduales y nacionales. world, once it is established it becomes que son cruciales para la subsistencia de La siguiente fase, la recolección, debe almost impossible to eradicate, even with muchas personas en el mundo, también ser dividida en distintos the help of machines. Lantana may be especialmente para las que viven en los momentos y actividades, siendo: i) manually removed but regenerates again bosques o en sus cercanías. Los PFNM se establecimiento de principios de very easily. It survives in all weather utilizan para la alimentación, producción conservación de los recursos naturales conditions. The toxic effects of the plant de medicamentos, usos cosméticos, aprovechados; ii) definición de los also prevent the growth of other plants construcción de viviendas, tecnologías procedimientos de colecta, involucrando la through the process of allelopathy. tradicionales, producción de utensilios y seguridad de las personas, la selección Efforts are now under way to utilize this otros usos. De acuerdo a estimaciones de adecuada de material colectado y la weed for various purposes because of its la FAO aproximadamente el 80 por ciento adopción de prácticas de máxima abundance and accessibility. Recent studies de la población de los países en desarrollo productividad sostenible; iii) definición de reveal that it can be used for wood utilizan los PFNM para suplir algunas de equipamientos y materiales de colecta; iv) protection of non-durable timbers. The sus necesidades de vida. evaluación de la producción anual; v) Forest Research Institute in Dehra Dun A pesar del gran potencial de la foresta establecimiento de ciclos/períodos de reported that the whole plant of Lantana Amazónica para el manejo de PFNM, son extracción; vi) definición de procedimientos camara, when extracted in ethanol, aún escasas las informaciones que de control de la colecta y vii) adopción de exhibited highly protective properties for suministran bases para la conducción de medidas mitigadoras de impactos. non-durable timber even at very low levels trabajos sostenibles junto a las La última fase, la posterior a la of concentration (i.e. 0.01 percent). No comunidades. Generalmente, se considera recolección debe considerar aspectos protection could be achieved when water que las comunidades que participan en relacionados con: i) beneficios de la was used to extract the plant material; iniciativas de manejo de los PFNM suelen producción; ii) métodos de transporte; iii) rather, a promontory effect on the growth of tener más conocimientos sobre los maneras de almacenaje; iv) prácticas de fungus was observed. The properties recursos que los técnicos que acompañan achieved by ethanol extract are attributed to los trabajos. Se evalúa que todavía no the presence of phenolics, alkaloids and existe un camino o conjunto de actividades appreciable amounts of terpenoids. que indiquen cómo realizar de manera This use of the invasive weed may be adecuada el manejo comunitario de los tapped for the development of ecofriendly PFNM. preservatives for wood and non-wood Un reciente trabajo (Manejo comunitario products such as bamboo. (Contributed by: de productos forestales no maderables: un Dr Sadhna Tripathi, Scientist, Wood manual con sugerencias para el manejo Preservation, Forest Products Division, participativo en comunidades de Amazonía) Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. trata la cuestión a partir de una óptica E-mail: [email protected] or holística, y propone la división del trabajo [email protected]) en distintas etapas. Se sugieren para ello

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monitoreo participativo del manejo, uso de A majority agreed a new partnership % “GREEN” JEWELLERY herramientas para el monitoreo ambiental, was needed to protect forests and forest- sociocultural y económico y v) definición de based livelihoods, but pointed out ways it Ecofriendly jewellery made from tagua nuts estrategias de comercialización, con la should diverge from the Bank’s initial idea and pumpkin seeds have proved to be a elección de los productos para ser if it really is to serve local needs on an successful artistic venture for Lina comercializados, cálculo de los costos de equitable basis within the rapidly changing O’Connor, a Colombian woman living in producción, precio de venta y definiciones global forestry agenda. IIED also reviewed California, United States of America. Tagua de las formas de inserción del producto more than 50 existing initiatives to identify is also known as natural ivory, vegetable comunitario en el mercado y la the proposed alliance’s potential partners ivory or ivory nut but, whatever the title, it is organización de los procedimientos de and the gaps it could fill. an ecofriendly, renewable resource. comercialización. Key features to make a global The palm trees producing these nuts Por último, un trabajo que considere las partnership truly progressive for grow in the rain forests of Colombia, Peru, etapas expuestas tiene mayores international forestry include a focus on Ecuador, Panama and the Bolivarian posibilidades de alcanzar resultados empowering primary “stakeholders” such Republic of Venezuela. The nut is hard and positivos en el manejo de los PFNM, as forest dwellers so that their rights, durable, its colour resists fading and it is aunque no trate cuestiones o knowledge and needs are centre-stage. not allergenic. O’Connor said that the nut procedimientos definitivos, siendo el The partnership should improve flows of clusters, which can be as big as 25 pounds manejo una ciencia para ser descubierta y finance to activities that support local (11.3 kg) each, fall off and natives harvest redescubierta a partir de la interacción needs alongside global public goods such them. She notes that “the trees don’t need armónica entre conocimientos as carbon storage. It should interact them anymore”. tradicionales, la biología y la ecología de effectively with other sectors such as water Tagua has been used to make buttons las especies, y la investigación científica de and agriculture, where the underlying and chess pieces for years, but its use in casos particulares. causes of forest problems – and the seeds jewellery (and even in bagpipes) is a more of sustainable solutions – are often lodged. recent development. The seeds are dyed PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN DIRIGIRSE AL AUTOR: “Without these building blocks, the after they are polished, so they are colour- Frederico Soares Machado, calle Carneiro Leão, ambitious partnership idea is unlikely to ready when O’Connor starts designing. 120, Conj. Bela Vista, Floresta. Código Postal succeed,” says IIED’s Steve Bass. “This is a After the designing process, most pieces (CEP): 69.906-425. Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil. new opportunity to develop an take three to four hours to create. O’Connor Correo electrónico: [email protected]; empowering, stakeholder-focused believes the market for this kind of green [email protected] partnership that can attract real jewellery is growing. (Source: Eagle & investment to manage forests sustainably. Times, 28 November 2008.) It has potential to harness an enormous GLOBAL FOREST PLAN groundswell of energy to manage forests. COULD BOOST FIGHT Right now, Western governments are %AGAINST POVERTY AND planning large climate and forest funds – CLIMATE CHANGE the partnership could identify the best ways to invest those funds for long-term An emerging initiative could pave the way good.” for fundamental change in forest The report urges the formation of a management, boosting efforts to fight both “development group” of forest, poverty and climate change, says new environment and development leaders research by the International Institute for mainly from the south alongside Environment and Development (IIED). governments, civil society and the private The World Bank-nurtured idea is a global sector, to develop the initiative forest partnership linking local and global cooperatively with support from processes and promoting decision-making progressive international institutions. HOW BUTTERFLIES on the international stage to reflect the view Welcoming the report, the World Bank’s % SAVE FORESTS and needs of local stakeholders, including Forest Advisor, Gerhard Dieterle said: “We forest dwellers. The study’s authors warn have listened to the advice of the hundreds The Bombay Natural History Society that the World Bank will have to heed the of people consulted and will be following (BNHS) has a prized collection of advice of the hundreds of experts they IIED’s recommendation that the World butterflies collected over 125 years. Some consulted if it is to make a real Bank support an independent process of a of the species even help in conservation. In breakthrough in tackling the weaknesses of global partnership growing from the addition, some can fetch between Rs23 169 past international forest programmes. ‘bottom up’. We are convinced that this is a and 27 803 each. IIED consulted widely on the Bank’s idea. lasting way to have forests contribute to Issac Kehimkar of BNHS tells about a More than 600 forest experts responded to economic growth, to the livelihoods of path-breaking project involving such IIED’s survey or participated in focus groups forest-dependent people and poverty butterflies that has preserved the forests of in Brazil, China, Ghana, Guyana, India, the reduction as a whole, as well as preserving Kenya. Russian Federation and Mozambique, as the global services forests deliver.” “There is a huge demand for butterflies well as at international meetings. (Source: IIED press release, 9 July 2008.) in the United States of America, the United

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Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan Para las autoras del estudio, esto es Province of China. These countries have posible pese a ciertas particularidades del huge butterfly parks which attract lots of acervo cultural local que hace que no tourists. Because the life of a butterfly is existan nombres de las enfermedades about a couple of weeks, the supply has to sino meramente síntomas, que la be replenished continuously. Farmers in creencia en la brujería como factor causal Kenya breed and export them for Rs46–278 de males está muy extendida y que se each to these countries. Butterflies always piense en ambos tipos de «medicinas» lay eggs on forest plants and thus the como sistemas independientes de conservation of forest automatically conocimiento. becomes mandatory. Today the forest has La investigación, según el cardiólogo become the livelihood of these farmers.” argentino Daniel Flichtentrei, jefe de When asked why such an arrangement contenidos médicos de IntraMed, afirmó a does not exist in India, he said that the SciDev.Net: «esto pone en evidencia que export of biodiversity-related items is las personas encargadas de paliar los illegal. Therefore poor farmers find ways of sufrimientos no tienen prejuicios earning money by helping poachers. If such académicos ni culturales a la hora de projects are encouraged, poaching will be reunir esfuerzos en esa dirección». eradicated. (Source: Daily News & Analysis Y agregó que «los pueblos originarios Harpagophytum procumbens [India], 18 September 2008.) no emplean remedios diferentes para tratar las mismas enfermedades que los These, among other NWFPs, offer much médicos occidentales sino que la distancia hope for sufferers of osteoarthritis. LA MEDICINA es mucho más compleja: entre ambas However, more research, investment and % OCCIDENTAL «PUEDE culturas las categorías de salud y human trials of the extracts of the CONVIVIR CON enfermedad suelen ser completamente products, which appear to be safe, are EL SABER LOCAL» distintas». required. Most important, rain forests must Por lo tanto, abogó en ese sentido por be preserved for further research, so that Buenos Aires. Un estudio realizado sobre un tipo de «medicina sincrética en la que these plants will not disappear before their los hábitos de un grupo indígena en la enseñen y aprendan mutuamente los potential is discovered. (Source: extracted Amazonía boliviana demuestra que es ‘médicos’ de una y otra cultura». (Fuente: from: J. Schwarcz, 2008. The right posible la convivencia entre la medicina SciDev.Net Weekly Update (1-7 de chemistry – beware of the blood therapy. científica y las prácticas ancestrales. septiembre 2008). Montreal [Canada], Canada Gazette.) El estudio, realizado por científicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona Devil’s claw – a promising remedy for pain (España) y de la Universidad de Georgia %NATURAL RELIEF FROM Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) (Estados Unidos) y publicado en el Journal OSTEOARTHRITIS is a ground-trailing plant that gets its name of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine el 18 from its strange-looking fruit. After the de agosto pasado, evaluó el modo en que Extracts from NWFPs provide relief from flowers die, they leave a woody fruit with los Tsimane, en la selva boliviana, actúan osteoarthritis long, barbed spines. ante la enfermedad. Osteoarthritis is the condition The plant is native to many parts of Detectó que en primer término los characterized by degeneration of the southern Africa, where it is also called the indígenas acuden a los tradicionales protective cartilage that prevents bone grapple plant or wood spider. The part used curanderos locales y sólo en segundo from rubbing on bone. Frustratingly, the medicinally, however, is underground. The término, o ante casos de particular latest research shows that most over the roots grow tubers that look like sweet gravedad, recurren a la medicina counter medications are all but ineffective. potatoes and have been used traditionally to occidental, sobre todo si se trata de Yet extracts of various NWFPs are showing relieve inflammation, pain and stomach afecciones gastrointestinales. remarkable results. problems. Según distintas encuestas y entrevistas One of these is a South African herb The herbal remedy was studied realizadas por las investigadoras, existe known as devil’s claw (Harpagophytum extensively in Germany at the beginning of entre los pobladores locales, que suman procumbens), which contains the anti- the twentieth century. Recent interest has unos 8 000, la voluntad de sumar lo mejor inflammatory compound harpagoside that focused on its potential to relieve pain and de ambas formas de curar la enfermedad in a few controlled trials has allowed inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. y llegar a una especie de «sinergia» entre subjects to reduce other pain medications While many dietary supplements and herbal ambas. Según lograron determinar los (see following article). Cat’s claw (Uncaria remedies are now being marketed for médicos y los curanderos locales están de tomentosa), a vine growing in the Peruvian osteoarthritis, few have been tested acuerdo en que la tuberculosis debe ser jungle, also has anti-inflammatory rigorously or extensively. tratada con medicinas occidentales, properties. There is further evidence of the Devil’s claw is a herbal remedy that shows mientras que otros males, como la helpful properties of extracts of the promise in this area. While very few clinical diarrea, pueden ser resueltos con Boswellia serrata plant, commonly known trials have been conducted, it has been remedios basados en la vegetación local. as frankincense. shown to be as effective as some other

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conventional medications used for being. Industry adoption of the standard will FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: osteoarthritis. ensure sustainable use and equitable Richard Thomas, TRAFFIC International, 219a However, since the symptoms of sharing of the world’s wild plant resources, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United osteoarthritis vary a great deal, it will be reinforcing the healthy environments, Kingdom. Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277237; important to test devil’s claw in larger and healthy people theme running throughout e-mail: [email protected] or longer-lasting studies and to continue the World Conservation Congress,” said [email protected]; www.floraweb.de/MAP-pro/ investigating any adverse effects. (Source: IUCN Director-General Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Irish Times [Ireland], 2 December 2008.) signing the agreement on behalf of IUCN. “A successful wild plant collection NON-PROFIT Pine bark reduces knee osteoarthritis standard is essential to ensure sustainable %ORGANIZATIONS Bratislava. A third clinical trial in Slovakia use of medicinal plants not only for purposes AND NGOS confirms evidence that the antioxidant of nature conservation but also in a social pycnogenol lowers joint pain, researchers and economic context. Germany, as one of American Botanical Council said. the major medicinal plant importers Established in 1988, the American A study, published in the August Journal worldwide, has a special responsibility of Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading non- of Phytotherapy Research, said pycnogenol – acting upon such principles,” said Professor profit, member-based international a bark extract from the French maritime pine Beate Jessel, President of BfN. organization working to educate tree – reduced overall knee osteoarthritis More than 400 000 tonnes of medicinal consumers, health care professionals, symptoms by 20.9 percent and lowered pain and aromatic plants are traded annually, with researchers, educators, industry and the by 40.3 percent. (Source: United Press around 80 percent of the species harvested media on the safe and effective use of International [United States of America], 4 from the wild. Almost 3 000 species are herbs and medicinal plant products. September 2008.) traded, many of them overexploited and in ABC is located in Austin, Texas (United danger of extinction through overcollection States of America), where it publishes and habitat loss. Implementation of the HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed quarterly NEW AGREEMENT TO standard will stop more plants being journal, HerbClip, a twice-monthly % PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE overexploited and becoming threatened with scientific literature review service; and COLLECTION OF WILD extinction under IUCN’s Red List criteria. HerbalEGram, a monthly electronic PLANTS “Worldwide, people depend on medicinal newsletter. plants and profit from the unique therapeutic ABC is also the publisher of The ABC Barcelona. An important agreement was effects of medicine from nature’s pharmacy,” clinical guide to herbs, a continuing signed today between the four founding said Guillermo Castilleja, Executive Director education and reference book, which institutions of the International Standard for of Conservation, WWF. “This new agreement contains extensive monographs on the safety Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and is a significant step forward in ensuring the and efficacy of 29 popular herbs, and the Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) to endorse long-term sustainability and supply of these recent The identification of medicinal plants: global implementation of the standard invaluable natural products.” a handbook of morphology of botanicals in through the FairWild Foundation. “Overharvesting of wild plants is a commerce, a guide to the macroscopic ISSC-MAP is a standard that promotes serious, yet often neglected issue. This identification of botanical materials for appropriate management of wild plant timely agreement is a milestone on the industry quality control laboratories that populations used in medicines and road to seeing sustainability become the ABC has published in cooperation with the cosmetics to ensure they are not norm throughout the herbal products Missouri Botanical Garden. overexploited. Under the new agreement, the industry,” said Steven Broad, Executive FairWild Foundation will help develop an Director of TRAFFIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: industry labelling system so products American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, harvested using the sustainable ISSC-MAP Austin, Texas 78723, United States criteria can be readily recognized and of America. Fax: 512-926-2345; e-mail: certified. Use of the standard will be [email protected]; www.herbalgram.org/ promoted throughout the herbal products industry. Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la ISSC-MAP was developed by a partnership Biodiversité et du Terroir (CERGET) including the German Federal Agency for Le Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de Nature Conservation (BfN), the IUCN SSC la Biodiversité et du Terroir s’occupe de la Medicinal Plant Specialist Group (MPSG), conservation et de la gestion durable des WWF-Germany and TRAFFIC, plus industry ressources naturelles. A savoir: associations, companies, certifiers and • Gestion et conservation durable des community-based NGOs. The announcement ressources naturelles was made at the World Conservation • Inventaire de la faune mammalienne, Congress in October 2008. entomologie de la faune et des forêts “This new agreement marks a significant • Protection durable des plantes step forward in the sustainable use of wild • Bonnes pratiques agricoles et plants important to human health and well- phytosanitaires

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 20 NEWS AND NOTES

• Conservation durable du singe à ventre %NTFP CURRICULUM Studies show that a low immune system roux «Zin Kaka», espèce menacée is one of the main reasons for unhealthy • Valorisation des écosystèmes naturels At long last the Nontimber Forest Product gums ... and camu camu boosts the par le tourisme et l’écotourisme Curriculum Workbook written by Dr immune system like no other food. • Accueil de stagiaires dans différents Kathryn Lynch is available through the (Source: Natural News.com [United States domaines. Institute for Culture and Ecology Web site. of America], 1 December 2008.) Le Centre recherche des partenaires Despite enthusiastic interest from two (Please see page 50 for information on pour une collaboration durable et publishers, the book got halted in their camu camu in Peru.) d’échanges. marketing departments because it is so big and expensive to produce that they POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS, CONTACTER: were concerned they might lose money. We RECREATIONAL USE M. Sévérin Tchibozo, Centre de Recherche decided to offer it directly through our Web %OF EUROPEAN FORESTS pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité et du site as an electronic download and let Terroir (CERGET), 04 B.P. 0385 Cotonou, people make a donation after deciding According to nationwide recreation Bénin. Télécopie: (+229) 21303084; what it is worth to them. This approach demand surveys, 40–96 percent of the Courriel: [email protected]; also has the advantage of letting us view populations in different European Site web: http://www.cerget.org/ the curriculum as a work in progress and countries visit forest areas for recreation update and expand it into the future. purposes annually. For example, each year The workbook was funded by the some 40 percent of all Italians walk or hike National Commission on Science for in forests and 56 percent of all Danes study Sustainable Forestry and has been and enjoy forest nature. In areas with high extensively peer-reviewed. We welcome population densities and low forest cover, feedback from users. forests represent one of the main Last, NTFPs are such a big and diverse accessible land uses for recreational concept that this curriculum still just purposes. (Source: Making European scratches the surface, even for the United forests work for people and nature. EFI States of America, our geographic focus. Is Policy Brief 1, 2007.) El Puente/The Bridge there a need and a path forward to create El Puente/The Bridge is a non-profit, an international repository for curriculum human services organization based in the materials? It seems there would need to Costa Rican rain forest, working with the be a Web site where lesson plans, indigenous Bribri. It provides educational syllabuses and handouts could be shared. assistance, food assistance and microloans Royal Roads has the online bibliographic mainly to indigenous people in the database but would that work? Could it southeastern part of Costa Rica. Its goal is accommodate any language? Who would to help people help themselves to self- edit and maintain it? sufficiency. Along the way, the Bridge has run into a FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: local curandero with a passion for applying Eric T. Jones, Ph.D., Environmental his knowledge of medicinal plants and for Anthropologist, Institute for Culture and preservation of his culture. We are already Ecology (501c3), PO Box 6688, Portland, THE AFRICAN in the planning stages of a workshop, in Oregon 97228-6688, United States of America. % HEARTLAND TRUST which the curandero will work with doctors E-mail: [email protected]; www.ifcae.org; FUND and other medical personnel to share this Nontimber Forest Products Curriculum vital knowledge from the rain forest. Workbook Web site: The upcoming African Heartland Trust We have also learned about Guadua www.ifcae.org/projects/ncssf2 Fund (AHTF), administered by the Africa bamboo, which is more efficient than (Eric Jones has coauthored the guest article of Region of the World Bank with a US$5.5 “normal plants” at carbon sequestration this issue of Non-Wood News.) million trust fund programme for and oxygen production, can create revenue supporting forest sector reforms in Congo for the indigenous people by selling it as Basin countries, will involve work under food, furniture and, ultimately, as PREVENTING GUM three pillars. construction material – and collect revenue %DISEASE WITH CAMU 1. Strategic outreach to civil society and from the international community as CAMU decision-makers so that they are better “carbon credits”. informed, committed and actively engaged Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is one of the as agents of change in implementing FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: best super foods for preventing gum forest sector reforms. Rural communities, Barry Stevens, Co-Founder, disease, as well as providing our bodies technical ministries, civil society, El Puente/The Bridge, Costa Rica. with endless benefits: it has the highest parliamentarians and decision-makers in E-mail: [email protected]; amount of vitamin C in the world and also developing and industrialized countries http://www.elpuente-thebridge.org contains bioflavonoids. will take part in coordinated activities.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 NEWS AND NOTES 21

The chemical can be sensed by other WILD NWFPS OF THE plants and may be a means of % WESTERN HIMALAYAS – communication. Previous studies have NEW CD-ROM shown that plants being eaten by animals produce chemicals that are sensed by other A new CD-ROM, entitled “Some wild plants nearby. (Source: Times Online growing fruits, nuts and edible plants of [United Kingdom], 19 September 2008.) the western Himalayas”, provides information on 30 wild growing fruits, 11 wild growing nuts and ten wild growing TRADITIONAL edible plants in this unique region. ECOLOGICAL Complete with detailed information and %KNOWLEDGE AND over 150 photographs, the new CD-ROM is CERTIFICATION a follow-up to and continuation of the book PROCESSES Wild fruits of the sub-Himalayan region, published in 1982. The information on the Evaluations of initial attempts at NTFP CD-ROM is available in both PDF and 2. Making reforms work for the poor, certification reveal substantial ecological, PowerPoint® format. providing local communities with the tools socio-economic and administrative and third-party support they need to secure obstacles for forest product collectors. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the benefits stemming from new forest However, the problem of lack of sufficient Dr Chiranjit Parmar, 186/3 Jail Road, policies. Structured partnerships between scientific understanding of the ecology of Mandi HP 175001, India. local communities and qualified NGOs will NTFP species can sometimes be addressed E-mail: [email protected]; help review the status of implementation of by recognition and documentation of www.fruitipedia.com p social responsibility contracts signed with the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). private sector and other frameworks Increasing local input regarding NTFP expected to yield benefits to local resource inventories, production/yield, communities. development of criteria and indicators, and 3. Increased finance for non-consumptive monitoring sustainable management can use of forests by engaging a debate with offer valuable contributions to the corporations on environmental services and certification process. non-consumptive use of forests. Besides benefiting efforts at certification, (Source: E-mail announcement, International such attention can foster needed Institute for Sustainable Development, New appreciation and local documentation of York, United States of America.) TEK. Cases from Namibia, the Philippines and Brazil are used to demonstrate how FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: local initiatives in sustainable resource Mr Giuseppe Topa, Lead Forests Specialist for management strengthened communities’ Africa, [email protected]; Mr Sarwat understanding of their resource base. The Hussain, Senior Communication Officer, process of sharing ecological knowledge [email protected]; Ms Ernestine Njoke, locally can catalyse broader objectives of Team Assistant, [email protected] community empowerment and sustainable management – with or without a seal. (Source: P. Shanley and M. Stockdale. 2008. % THREATENED PLANTS Traditional knowledge, forest management EMIT “ASPIRIN” and certification: a reality check. In M. Philip (ed). Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, Forest plants subjected to stresses, such 18(1). United Kingdom, AB Academic as drought, emit an aspirin-like chemical Publishers. ISSN 1472-8028.) that can be detected in the air above them, American scientists have discovered. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Thomas Karl, the lead researcher at Patricia Shanley, Center for International the United States National Centre for Forestry Research (CIFOR), PO Box 6596, Atmospheric Research, believes that the JKPWB, Jakarta, Indonesia 10065. chemical, methyl salicylate, may be a sort E-mail: [email protected] of immune system response. “Plants can or Mary Stockdale, Community Culture, Choose a job you love, and you will produce their own mix of aspirin-like and Global Studies, The University of British never have to work a day in your life. chemicals, triggering the formation of Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, proteins that boost their biochemical Kelowna BC V1V 1V7, Canada. Confucius defences and reduce injury,” he says in the Fax: +1 (250) 807-8001; journal Biogeosciences. e-mail: [email protected]

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 22 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

%AMARANTHUS % ARGAN (ARGANIA SPINOSA) répertoriée au Codex alimentarius, il existe aujourd’hui une norme marocaine sur l’huile La gestion et le développement de d’argan et ce produit a fait l’objet en 2002 l’arganier au Maroc d’une note de l’Agence française de sécurité L’arganier est une essence spécifiquement sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA) validant son marocaine, à affinités tropicales, unique utilisation comme huile alimentaire. Des espèce dans son genre. L’arganier se travaux sont en cours au Maroc pour mettre contente d’une tranche pluviométrique qui en place un label de qualité de type peut baisser jusqu’à 120 mm par an, et Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC). supporte des températures élevées pouvant atteindre 50 °C. L’isotherme 3°8 limite son La production de l’huile et de ses dérivés extension en altitude. Cette espèce couvre L’huile extraite de l’amande (fruit de actuellement plus de 700.000 ha et l’arganier) est non seulement comestible et représente environ 17 pour cent de la d’un goût agréable, mais elle possède des superficie forestière nationale. L’espace à propriétés diététiques très intéressantes arganier s’étale essentiellement sur le étant constituée à 80 pour cent d’acides gras territoire des provinces d’Essaouira. insaturés (dont une bonne proportion L’arganeraie constitue un véritable pôle d’acide linoléique). d’attraction, la population de la région est Ces qualités diététiques en font une huile passée de près d’un million d’habitants en très recherchée, vendue nettement plus 1960 à plus de 2,5 millions d’habitants en chère que l’huile d’olive, en raison 2004 dont 55 pour cent en milieu rural, soit notamment de sa rareté et des nombreuses un taux d’accroissement de 2,2 pour cent. heures de travail nécessaires à sa Amaranthus spp. L’initiation de vastes programmes de production. En effet, celle-ci est régénération de l’arganier pourrait être un entièrement manuelle depuis le concassage The many uses of Amaranthus spp. important moyen de stabilisation de la des fruits, le grillage et le broyage des High in protein and calcium, Amaranthus is population et de lutte contre l’exode rural. amandes, jusqu’au malaxage de la pâte used as a food crop by the Aztec Indians of pour en extraire l’huile. Mexico, as a spinach substitute in Australia L’importance de l’arganier aux niveaux La production fruitière (noix d’argan) and as a vegetable in China. The seeds can national et international varie en fonction de l’âge et de la densité (20 be boiled into a hot cereal. The young shoots L’arganier constitue la troisième ressource à 100 kg par arbre) avec une moyenne de 40 make a very tasty pot herb or in salads. forestière marocaine, après l’alfa et le chêne kg/arbre/an. Other uses include the ash of the whole vert, sensiblement à égalité avec le thuya. Sur la base de la densité moyenne des plant used as snuff, sometimes alone and L’arganier est, en effet «un arbre à multi- peuplements d’arganier, qui est de l’ordre sometimes with tobacco (in Swaziland). A usages», chaque partie ou produit de l’arbre de 50 arbres par hectare et du rendement red dye made from the plant – whose name est utilisable et représente une source de en huile d’argan (3 litres pour 100 kg de noix comes from the Greek “amarantos”, which revenus et de nourriture. Cet arbre a des sèches), la production potentielle est means “unfading”, a reference to the propriétés écologiques et physiologiques; il estimée à 32 000 tonnes d’huile d’argan par persisting colour of certain amaranth est très rustique et résistant à l’aridité, mais an. (Source: La gestion participative et le flowers – is used to colour food and il est également doté d’une grande développement des produits forestiers non medicine. A green and yellow dye can be variabilité génétique telle qu’il est ligneux comme moyen de réduction de la made from the whole plant. pratiquement le seul adapté aux régions pauvreté féminine en zones rurales: cas du Found in abundance across parts of the arides et semi-arides où il pousse. Dans ces Maghreb et du Sahel par Mme Hawa War, Americas, Africa, the Pacific Islands and zones, l’arganier est pratiquement Volontaire, FAO, Le Caire.) Asia, Amaranthus spp. has anti- irremplaçable dans la conservation des sols inflammatory, astringent, blood purifying, et des pâturages et pour la lutte contre FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: laxative and diuretic qualities. Amaranthus l’érosion et la désertification. L’arganier joue Pape Djiby Koné, Forestier principal, Bureau is also known to improve digestion and un important rôle dans la fertilisation des régional de la FAO pour le Proche-Orient, promote appetite. However, it is most sols et fournit l’essentiel de l’agriculture El Eslah El Zerai Street, 11 Dokki, B.P.2223, famous as a herb that stops bleeding. d’exportation marocaine dans sa zone. Le Caire, Egypte. Courriel: [email protected]; (Source: D.B. Leonard. 2008. Special report: En quelques années, on a assisté à une Site web: www.fao.org/forestry/ Amaranth) mutation complète de la filière production- webview/media?mediaId=13331&langId=1 commercialisation de l’huile d’argan. Ce FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: produit traditionnel, naguère peu connu en L’arganier et l’olivier au cœur du Sahara David Bruce Leonard, Medicine at your Feet, dehors du Maroc, est aujourd’hui reconnu La wilaya de Tindouf, en Algérie, a connu, au 7921 Sterling Creek Road, Jacksonville, en Amérique du Nord, en Europe et jusqu’au cours des quatre dernières années, la Oregon 97530-8930, United States of America. Japon où il et considéré comme une huile de concrétisation de plusieurs projets inscrits E-mail: [email protected]; luxe. Alors que cette huile ne faisait pas au titre de la politique nationale forestière www.medicineatyourfeet.com/ or partie de la nomenclature des douanes (ni qui vise le développement des zones www.davidbruceleonard.com marocaines ni étrangères) n’étant pas sahariennes a indiqué à l’Aide publique au

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS 23

développement (APS) le Conservateur des % BAMBOO be processed into products that successfully forêts de cette collectivité locale. Des projets compete with conventional wood products in de développement, programmés pour Bamboo is the latest natural material to be price and performance. Engineered bamboo l’année 2008 ou à brève échéance, used in ecofriendly building may even replace wood, steel and concrete in permettront d’améliorer le couvert végétal A London architect has completed a bamboo many uses. et le patrimoine sylvicole, et de développer townhouse in the middle of an urban area in Now a demonstrated and commercialized les zones pastorales qui ont subi un lourd Asia that is being hailed as an innovation in technology, bamboo-based ply is competitive préjudice en raison de la sécheresse. terms of sustainable house building in the in pricing. Removal of bottlenecks on the Parmi les projets à concrétiser, region. supply side should create further downward l’extension de la ceinture verte de la wilaya Bamboo reduces the need for air pressure on prices. There has also been a de Tindouf qui s’étend sur une superficie de conditioning as it allows the property to be demand for commercialization of bamboo as 30 ha, dont 20 ha plantés d’oliviers et 10 ventilated naturally while remaining secure an enterprise at the farmer level. autres de variétés d’arbres sylvicoles à and private. Company ROEWU’s architecture Bamboo should be promoted on the l’image de l’arganier (Argania spinosa). Ce believes designs like this could help reduce industrial scene through appropriate tie-up projet, qui vise à augmenter la superficie de the cost of air conditioning in parts of the arrangements with bamboo-based la ceinture verte de 20 ha, vise également à world where bamboo is the main source of industries such as paper, handicrafts and développer les capacités de production de la energy consumption. the new emerging areas of ecofriendly pépinière sylvicole de l’oued Djezz, qui avait The house in Yi-Lan, Taiwan Province of products such as housing tiles, flooring and produit, au cours de l’exercice 2007-2008, China, built as a holiday home, was a bamboo shoots. (Source: Business Line près de 400 000 plants. Les résultats challenge as the site is narrow with blank [India], 13 July 2008.) encourageants réalisés dans la culture de party walls on both sides. By introducing l’arganier, à titre expérimental, ont poussé several double- and triple-height void spaces, Bamboo fibres fortify plant-based car les services concernés à envisager la the whole house is naturally ventilated materials poursuite d’expériences de mise en terre de despite the fact that the sides are enclosed. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has plants de cette variété d’arbre dans la région The bamboo screen wrapped around the developed resin composite materials that de l’oued El-Ma. house shields the house’s occupants from are reinforced by bamboo fibres and can be L’arganier est en effet un arbre qui résiste the view of passers-by on the street, while used in car interiors. aux rudes conditions climatiques et à la allowing sunlight and air to filter into the This is the first time that bamboo fibres sécheresse. Si la culture de ce dernier s’avère building through the bamboo poles. have been used in this way. Mitsubishi possible, toute la région en tirera le plus gros The interior is intended to be like an Motors aims to reduce CO2 emissions by bénéfice surtout lorsque l’on sait que c’est de organic forest. Sunlight and air filter in using the plant-based materials. It has l’arganier qu’est extraite l’huile d’argan, through the bamboo poles, changing the been considering mass-producing the produit qui fait fureur aujourd’hui sur les character and use of the space over the materials and “intends to reduce the cost marchés européen et américain. Tous les course of the day and the different seasons. to a level 1.5 times higher than existing produits cosmétiques sont faits à base d’huile ROEWU describes its bamboo screen materials”, according to the company. d’argan. Notre voisin de l’ouest, le Maroc, en concept as “a radical updating of the The material is intended for use as door est parmi les plus grands producteurs dans le conventional Taiwanese window screen”. The trim base material, seatback board and monde. L’huile d’argan est utilisée depuis des approach also provides a new use for highly ceiling board. (Source: Tech-On English siècles par les femmes berbères du sud du sustainable, fast-growing, locally sourced [Japan], 1 December 2008.) Maroc tant pour la cuisine que pour les bamboo, which has fallen out of use in local produits de beauté. (Source: Le Maghreb, construction. (Source: Property Wire [United Bamboo laptopto debut Alger, 11 Septembre 2008.) Kingdom], 1 August 2008.) Asustek Computer plans to debut a nature- friendly laptop PC with a casing made of Building on bamboo bamboo on Saturday at Taiwan Province of The decline in timber availability and the China’s IT Month exhibition. The laptop, emergence of new technologies have spurred first announced last year, is part of interest in bamboo and coir-based Asustek’s efforts to use renewable composites as wood substitutes for the materials in products. building industry, particularly as demand The company will launch the bamboo swells in Asia and the Pacific. Bamboo-based laptops in the United States of America and panels and boards are hard, durable and may Europe at a later date, but has not decided successfully substitute hard wood products. exactly when, an Asustek representative In a paper presented at the India seminar said. (Source: PC World [United States of on the National Building Code of India, Mr M. America], 26 November 2008.) R. Anil Kumar, Managing Director, Kerala State Bamboo Corporation, said that bamboo Bamboo can play a major role in saving is quickly transforming its image from a the globe “poor man’s tree” to a high-technology Chennai. “Everybody is talking about the industrial raw material. Bamboo, now a problem of global warming, but I have a globally recognized substitute for wood, can solution for it,” says N. Barathi and

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 24 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

displays a bamboo sapling wrapped like a water and used as a drink. The seeds also worthwhile. Honey hunting is therefore a bouquet. “Bamboo acts as a carbon sink: it yield an edible oil and can be eaten raw or dangerous, although worthwhile, activity in

absorbs excess CO2 in the air with three to roasted. The fruit, bark and leaves of the many regions of Asia. Local customs and four times more efficiency than any other tree are used to treat medical problems, traditions have become associated with tree, which means the more bamboos we including fevers and kidney disease. honey hunting, and have been studied by

plant, the more CO2 is absorbed and thus However, EU customers will not be able anthropologists and social scientists: this we can stop contributing to global to try out the many traditional uses of the means that traditional honey hunting and warming.” tree and its fruit, which is 15–20 cm long. cultural associations have been well According to Mr Barathi, an agricultural The fruit will be removed from its nut and documented in some areas. Indeed, in scientist, bamboo can effectively clean the pulp, which is white, powdery and has a Nepal and Malaysia, tourism based on water pollution from septic tanks and cheese-like texture, will be used as an viewing traditional honey hunting has now factory effluents as it has a natural affinity ingredient in products such as cereal bars. taken off. for nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals. The non-profit trade association that has Barathi has developed a variety of been lobbying for EU approval, PhytoTrade bamboo called “beema bamboo”, which is Africa, hopes the demand for the fruit will sterile, therefore does not produce seeds mean employment for millions of African and can live up to 200 years, provided it people. gets regular water, sunlight and nutrients Gus Le Breton, the association’s chief from the soil. Planting this in gardens will executive, said: “The EU decision is a crucial benefit generations to come, he says. step to developing the global market which He has even calculated that Chennai could be worth up to £500 m a year. Dozens needs around 13 million bamboo plants to of companies have shown interest in baobab become carbon neutral, i.e. to absorb the since we submitted the application and many

excess CO2 in the air generated by the city’s have already conducted initial research. Now population. (Source: The Hindu [India], 4 that approval has been given, they can August 2008.) progress to full-scale product development.” The baobab tree can live for hundreds of years. Its trunk can grow up to 15 m in %BAOBAB circumference and reach a height of 30 m. Some baobab trees, which are 80 percent New exotic fruit to hit United Kingdom water, are hollow and have been used as shops bars in shops and even prisons. (Source: An unusual fruit from a native African tree, BBC News, 15 July 2008.) the baobab, is to be available in the United Kingdom after it has been approved by the THE AFRICAN HONEY GUIDE European Union (EU). The fruit, contained %BEE PRODUCTS in a hard nut, has six times more vitamin C Honey guides are African woodland than oranges and twice as much calcium as Honey hunting birds belonging to the genus Indicator. milk. Africans have eaten the fruit for Honey hunting in Asia They are remarkable for apparently thousands of years, but Europeans will In Asia, large volumes of honey are still leading honey hunters (as well as honey consume its pulp as an ingredient in obtained by plundering wild colonies of badgers and other bee predators) smoothies and cereal bars. Since 1997, honeybees. This is because some of the towards bee nests. There are several foods not commonly consumed in the EU Asian honeybee species exist only in the different species of honey guide, the have had to be formally approved before wild, and cannot be kept inside hives made most common being the greater honey going on sale. by humans. Honey hunting of Apis guide Indicator indicator, and the lesser The baobab tree grows throughout laboriosa, a honeybee species that nests at honey guide Indicator minor. certain parts of Africa and has many high altitudes, is practised in the Hindu Honey hunters whistle to locate the different uses. The leaves can be eaten as Kush Himalaya region. Honey hunting of honey guides. The birds then chatter relish and the fruit dissolved in milk or Apis dorsata is practised throughout its continuously and flutter conspicuously, distribution range, from Pakistan in the gradually leading the honey hunters west to the Philippines in the east. Honey towards the vicinity of a bees’ nest, hunting of cavity-nesting A. cerana, A. when they become quiet. When the koschevnikovii, A. nuluensis and A. honey hunters plunder the nest, the nigrocincta, and the “little” honeybee honey guides are rewarded with species A. florea and A. andreniformis is feeding from the bees’ nest: brood, practised wherever the bees occur. pollen and honey. Another unusual The large Asian honeybee species, A. feature of these birds is their apparent laboriosa and A. dorsata often nest high on ability to digest beeswax. cliffs or in high trees. However, the combs are very large and yields of honey are

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Honey hunting outside Asia Manuka honey is made by bees from the prize for the “Best honey in the world” at Honey hunting of indigenous Apis mellifera nectar of the flower of the manuka bush, the 2005 World Honey Show in Dublin, colonies is commonly practised in Africa, which is indigenous to New Zealand. Ireland, which included 400 entries and of feral A. mellifera colonies in Central Manuka honey-based MRSA treatments are representing 21 different countries. and South America, wherever colonies are becoming available to hospitals and (Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner abundant – most often in forested areas. individuals worldwide as word of its [United States of America], 16 July 2008.) (Source: Bees and their role in forest effectiveness becomes mainstreamed. With livelihoods, FAO Non-Wood Forest Products reports of manuka honey acting as a natural Beeswax in cosmetics, soap and series 19 [in press].) cure for MRSA, antibiotics will certainly be ointments used less, especially since MRSA drugs Top-quality, pure beeswax can be used to Prevention and treatment of MRSA with usually prove to be useless. (Sources: PR- make fine soap, shampoos, skin ointments manuka honey Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) [Austria], 30 and cosmetics. If used this way, it is If gone untreated, methicillin-resistant June and 5 September 2008.) possible for beeswax from just one bee staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a mutated colony to generate more income than from form of bacteria that has developed a Distinctive flavours inhabit honey all the honey harvested from the same hive. resistance to antibiotics, can be fatal. Amid Tupelo, lavender, sourwood, linden tree, Scrupulous cleanliness, careful working much hysteria, scientists are beginning to sage, buckwheat, eucalyptus and Bradford and attractive packaging are essential for recognize that a particular type of honey pear are mere sweet drops in the honey success with these value-added products. known as manuka is actually effective pot. More than 300 distinctive types of (Source: Bees and their role in forest against this notoriously resilient superbug. honey are produced in the United States of livelihoods, FAO Non-Wood Forest Products Researchers have determined that MRSA America. series 19 [in press].) cannot survive in the healing environment “Each region of America grows different created by manuka honey. MRSA is a plants and therefore has different honey,” Bee checklist buzzes online bacterium that divides into two similar cells explains Mark Brady, President of the Biologists have recently completed an online every half hour. Studies have shown that American Honey Producers Association. effort to compile a world checklist of bees. manuka honey interferes with the cell cycle “Texas, for example, produces honey from They have identified nearly 19 500 bee of MRSA by affecting the separation of new white brush, cat claw and mesquite plants; species worldwide, about 2 000 more than cells, so that those unable to complete Nebraska is famed for its clover and alfalfa previously estimated. There is a current division become disabled. honey; South Carolina and Florida for crisis known as “colony collapse disorder”, All types of honey contain hydrogen tupelo.” an unexplained phenomenon that is wiping peroxide, a known antiseptic and “You can even get honey from cactus,” out colonies of honeybees throughout the disinfectant. Yet an additional antibacterial explain Erika Wain and Klaus Koepfli, of United States of America. This crisis has component in manuka honey, known as California’s Klausesbees honey company, highlighted the need for more information UMF, is unaffected by enzymes that dilute who sell a thick cactus honey from the about bee species and their interactions the effectiveness of regular honey. UMF Mojave Desert of California. with the plants they pollinate. remains active when used as a wound Despite this wide range of choices, most The bee checklist includes currently dressing and diffuses more deeply into skin Americans have only tasted honey blends. accepted scientific names, synonyms and tissues. “Companies that supply supermarkets mix common names. A current, complete and In addition to its unparalleled honey from many different beekeepers,” authoritative taxonomic checklist is key to antibacterial properties, manuka honey is explains Troy Fore, Executive Director of linking all information about species. also considered to be antimicrobial and, the American Beekeeping Federation. Compiling the checklist has taken more therefore, capable of treating both bacterial “Supermarket honey is just as good and than five years and the efforts of leading and fungal infections. Manuka honey also nutritious as any honey. However, unique bee taxonomists on six continents. The has anti-inflammatory properties, which and unusual flavours may be lost in the checklist, coordinated by the staff of the reduce pain in damaged tissue. intermingling of many flavours.” Integrated Taxonomic Information System, Bruce Wolk, Director of Marketing for a public-private partnership hosted at the the National Honey Board, recommends National Museum of Natural History, is logging on to the board’s Web site, available at www.itis.gov. (Source: BCN www.honeylocator.com, to discover honey’s 284, August 2008.) varied flavours. The site lists hundreds of types of unique honeys as well as where to buy them. %BERRIES Pure Mountain Honey (www.MtnHoney.com), is just one of the The amazing benefits of the açaí berry artisanal producers featured on the The many health benefits of the açaí fruit, National Honey Board’s site. Owners Carl which is rapidly growing in popularity and Virginia Webb, who humorously say worldwide, have been long known by they employ 7 million workers, make indigenous Central and South Americans sourwood honey from sourwood trees where the fruit grows on the açaí palm in indigenous to Georgia. Their honey won top swamplands.

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The berry is a small fruit, the size of a other diseases associated with chronic The Department for Environment, Food grape. It is dark purple in colour with a inflammation. and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a large seed. The açaí palm bears fruit twice Amazingly, this antioxidant appears to warning to commercial growers, garden a year. When consumed, the berry leaves a fool cancer cells into believing the DNA has centres and gardeners, while the National slight hint of bitter aftertaste, which already been damaged and so possibly help Farmers’ Union has warned that disease resembles that of chocolate. It can be prevent the spreading of the disease. It is carried by the bright red berries could be prepared in many ways. Mostly, the berry is early days but scientists at Harvard “devastating”. prepared as a drink. University are excited about another insight The goji berry, also known as Lycium When consumed on a regular basis, the into how cancer may be tackled. barbarum, contains up to 500 times more açaí berry offers many health benefits. The And mulberries can help to keep you vitamin C than an orange, and is native to fruit is good for the body mainly because of fighting fit throughout the winter too – a the Tibetan Himalayas. It has been used for its antioxidant properties: it is able to rid the recent report in the Journal of Infectious medicinal purposes in China for centuries. body rapidly of harmful toxins. As a result, Diseases states that resveratrol decreased The Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate shortly after consumption of açaí berries, the reproduction of the influenza virus; in warned there is a “substantial trade” in an individual may feel a boost in energy other words, it may be useful in preventing or prohibited goji plants in the United levels. Açaí improves mental clarity and treating flu. (Source: Easier (press release) Kingdom. Seeds and berries can be promotes sound sleep. It even helps with [United Kingdom], 25 September 2008.) imported from anywhere in the world, but digestive functions. only plants grown within the European Perhaps the greatest benefit that has Heatwave spells Swedish berry shortage Union are permitted to be imported to the been given the most attention is that the The recent dry spell has led to an acute United Kingdom, because they are certified açaí berry helps in the weight loss process. shortage of berries in Swedish woodlands. to be free of disease. (Source: The Blood circulation is improved when toxins Mainly affected are the woodlands south of Independent [United Kingdom], 20 July are removed. Improved blood circulation upper Norrland in northern Sweden. 2008.) eventually leads to slowing down of the According to Marogan Tjernberg, ageing process. Skin will look healthier and spokesman for the Swedish Forestberry Synsepalum dulcificum: miracle fruit turns cholesterol levels will be regulated. The Association, the situation is really dire in sour into sweet heart also strengthens. If the body is southern areas. Summer’s popular Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A Florida grower currently suffering from any physical blueberries and cloudberries have simply said demand is rising for a red berry injuries, the improved blood circulation and shrivelled up in the dry heat and nicknamed “miracle fruit” that can make the strong heart will help speed up the disappeared. Southern counties such as sour things taste sweet. Curtis Mozie said healing process. (Source: American Värmland are worst affected, but it remains the berries, which are native to West Africa, Chronicle [United States of America], 25 to be seen if other areas recover, as it is change taste for more than two hours, November 2008.) still early in the season. making sour things such as limes taste like As well as mushroom picking, berry candy, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel picking is a popular Swedish pastime. It is reported on Monday. also a source of economic income. In 2000, Scientists said the berry, Synsepalum according to the Swedish Forestberry dulcificum, contains a glycoprotein called Association, 14 000 tonnes of berries were miraculin that changes taste. collected for retail purposes, of which 70 Mozie, who has more than a thousand percent were blueberries. Commercial “miracle fruit” trees in his orchard, charges berry pickers are almost always non- US$3 a berry and ships 3 000 berries a Swedes. (Source: The Local [Sweden], 3 week. Cancer treatment centres have August 2008.) contacted him to see if the fruit will boost the appetite of chemotherapy patients, the Goji berry poses risk to the United newspaper said. (Source: The Money Times Kingdom’s tomato and potato crops [India], 1 July 2008.) Goji berries might look innocuous, but the Mulberries hailed as new superfruit current craze for this “superfood” – fuelled The mulberry, which resembles a by the endorsement of celebrities – could %CINNAMON raspberry, boasts an impressive nutritional devastate the United Kingdom’s CV, outperforming cranberries, multimillion-pound tomato and potato crops. Cinnamon, not just a culinary spice blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. The Government has alerted farmers to Cinnamon (Cinnamomun verum) has The mulberry’s levels of antioxidants are 79 the threat after it revealed last week that played an important role in medicinal percent higher than blueberries and 24 nearly 90 000 goji berry plants, which can healing and as a culinary spice. percent more than those found in carry diseases that are lethal to other Cinnamon was used in Egypt as an cranberries. It is packed full of vitamins crops, have been illegally imported from embalming agent, a product that was and fibre and contains high levels of East Asia in the past year. Some of the considered more precious than gold. Its resveratrol, the antioxidant superhero, plants have been destroyed but it is feared warming qualities made cinnamon which helps combat heart disease and that most are already in the gardens of essential to traditional Chinese medicine cancer and helps lower cholesterol and goji-berry enthusiasts. and its energy-based medical systems.

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As its popularity grew, mediaeval Europe Cinnamon is also known for aiding term economic strategy to capture heavily relied on cinnamon. It was a clotting of blood platelets through lucrative export markets for indigenous product in great demand and became one cinnamaldehyde. This product helps to subsidiary food crops. Under the “Api of the first commodities traded regularly prevent unwanted clumping of blood Wawamu-Rata Nagamu” concept, the between the Near East and Europe. platelets, important in emergency injuries Ministry expects to increase cinnamon Studies are currently under way by the when bleeding should stop. Cinnamaldehyde exports up to 3 000 tonnes by 2010. The United States Agricultural Research works by inhibiting the release of an anti- Ministry has allocated Rs7 million for the Service to demonstrate that less than half a inflammatory fatty acid called arachidonic Export Agriculture Department to expand teaspoon per day of cinnamon reduces acid from platelet membranes. This process cinnamon cultivation, which could blood-sugar levels in persons with Type 2 is also anti-inflammatory, which renders potentially attract more export markets. diabetes. Some question the toxicity of the cinnamon an anti-inflammatory food. Ministry Advisor A.H.L. Somathilaka told regular use of cinnamon. However, results Cinnamon is a powerful, natural The Island financial review that Sri Lankan of a study published in the December 2003 antioxidant when compared with other cinnamon had been rated as the best- issue of Diabetes Research and Clinical antioxidant spices such as anise, ginger, quality cinnamon in the world market as Practice reported that cinnamon enhanced liquorice, mint, nutmeg and vanilla. When the country had been able to supply 90 muscle cells for better insulin utility. compared with chemical food preservatives percent of cinnamon requirements. In the (BHA, BHT and propyl gallate), cinnamon world market, the supply of quality was found to prevent oxidation more cinnamon was about 15 percent and the effectively than other spices, except mint and supply of cassia cinnamon, a lower-quality CINNAMON: THE CEYLON, CHINA chemical antioxidants. substitute, was around 85 percent. CONNECTION There is much to say about the odour of He said that Sri Lanka had been this spice in boosting brain activity. Research supplying quality cinnamon to the world The fragrant, sweet, warm taste of has shown that chewing cinnamon-flavoured market while China, Indonesia and Viet cinnamon that people have come to gum or just smelling cinnamon-enhanced Nam had been exporting cassia cinnamon. love so much comes from the brown products improved brain functioning, The Ministry was positive that Sri Lanka bark of the cinnamon tree. It is attention span, visual-motor speed and would be able to increase cinnamon produced in a dried, tubular form memory. exports by 5 percent in 2010. known as quill (cinnamon sticks) or is Iron, calcium and the trace mineral Somathilaka explained that cinnamon readily available as ground powder. manganese are also found in cinnamon. had been cultivated on 25 413 ha, with each The main varieties are Ceylon and Moreover, it is a good source of dietary fibre. hectare yielding around 500 kg of cinnamon Chinese; Ceylon is slightly sweeter, more When calcium and fibre combine, they bind annually. Of this amount, around 5 350 refined and difficult to find in local bile salts and remove them from the body. tonnes were being exported and Sri Lanka markets. Ceylon cinnamon is produced Bile salts, if not removed from the body, can had been earning Rs2 229.2 million from in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Brazil and the damage colon cells, increasing the risk of cinnamon exports annually. Future plans Caribbean. The Chinese variety, more colon cancer. Fibre in cinnamon may provide for cinnamon cultivation would include popular in North America, is known as relief from constipation or diarrhoea exports of 3 000 tonnes by 2010, quality cassia and is less expensive than the experienced by sufferers of irritable bowel enhancement and increases in revenue, Ceylon variety. The Chinese variety is syndrome. production and profits. (Source: The Island produced mainly in China, Viet Nam and As a culinary treat, cinnamon can provide (subscription) [Sri Lanka], 22 September Indonesia. a quick, healthy twist to snacks such as 2008.) It is the essential oils of the bark of cinnamon toast or honey and cinnamon on the cinnamon tree that give cinnamon wholewheat toast. A deliciously warming its unique healing abilities. The oils beverage is cinnamon sticks simmered in %CORK contain active compounds such as soy milk. Adding cinnamon to dishes such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate and lamb for a Middle Eastern-inspired meal is a Portugal fighting screw-cap trend to save cinnamyl alcohol, among other volatile memorable departure from regular recipes. cork forests substances. Adding cinnamon to curries gives them a It has recently emerged that falling These oils qualify the spice as an further kick. demand for authentic cork stoppers is antimicrobial food. Research has shown Cinnamon is an excellent spice with great gradually forcing farmers to replace cork that it has the ability to stop the growth healing properties, widely used in Eastern trees with alternative crops, such as of bacteria and fungi, including the and Western herbalism. It is equally eucalyptus trees. problematic yeast, candida. The important in culinary creations across most At present, according to the World Wild International Journal of Food cultures. Cinnamon is a spice that should be Fund for Nature (WWF) Web site, Portugal Microbiology (August 2003) reported truly treasured! (Source: Heather Little- is the world’s largest cork producer, that the antimicrobial properties of White, Jamaica Gleaner [Jamaica], 6 followed by Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, cinnamon are so effective that it has September 2008.) Tunisia and France. been used as an alternative to The majority of cork harvested in the traditional food preservatives. Expanding Sri Lanka’s cinnamon trade Iberian Peninsula is used to produce bottle The Agriculture and Agrarian Services stoppers, which represents an estimated Ministry of Sri Lanka has devised a long- 70 percent of the income from harvest.

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However, traditional cork stoppers are being The felling of 66 ha of cork forest for the the early days, but appears to have been replaced with synthetic closures or screw controversial Alqueva dam project, in largely rectified through more appropriate caps, which now account for around 20 northern Alentejo, also highlighted threats winemaking. (Source: New Zealand Herald percent of the market. posed by development projects to existing [New Zealand], 7 September 2008.) It is said that problems with bottles of oak woodland. (Source: Portugal News, wine becoming “corked” (in layperson Algarve [Portugal], 6 December 2008.) terms, where the wine develops a musty %ESSENTIAL OILS smell and becomes undrinkable because of contamination with a chemical known as The role of essential oils in combating trichloroanisol), have led many wine mosquito-borne diseases connoisseurs to opt for bottles with synthetic Despite rapid advances in medical science cork or screw tops instead. during the past decades, mosquito-borne In a nutshell, this shift in traditional bottle diseases such as dengue, Japanese stopping to using modern-day products is encephalitis (JE), filiarisis, malaria and threatening to wipe out cork forests, along chikungunya continue to torment human with the species that reside therein. beings. This is because mosquito vectors as Cork oak forests in Portugal cover an well as causative agents such as bacteria estimated 33 percent of land mass and are and fungi have developed resistance against home to a number of rare and endangered pesticides and antimicrobial drugs. species, particularly in southern Portugal. According to Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, These include black storks and booted senior researcher at the Forest Research eagles, which are already disappearing in Cork comes unscrewed Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), the best move some areas, and the Iberian lynx, which over Is the corkscrew destined to join the garter, to curb the breeding of the mosquito is to the past few years has been the subject of snuff box and cassette tape in that dusty destroy its larva or through the use of insect extensive reporting and campaigning. drawer of obsolete accessories? Given that repellents. “At the moment, the control of A study by WWF, which was recently about 90 percent of New Zealand wines are the mosquito vectors depends on the reported in The Telegraph newspaper, now under screw cap and even the French chemical-based and synthetic repellents estimated that up to three-quarters of the are starting to convert, it certainly looks like dimethyl phthalate, malathion and Mediterranean’s cork forests could be lost likely that in the future far fewer corks will dimethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). Even though within ten years. Over the past ten years in be pulled. the chemicals are effective, some could be the Algarve, cork forests have declined by 28 Cork has been used as a stopper since hazardous in addition to being ozone- percent. the 1600s, when it was adopted by Dom depleting, and continuous use could make In an attempt to boost productivity, Perignon to replace the cloth-wrapped the mosquito vectors resistant to Portuguese cork producers have introduced wooden plugs that kept popping out of his insecticides.” new sterilization and purification methods to champagne containers. Dr Nor Azah suggested the possibility of ensure corks are not contaminated with However, as a natural product, cork has using herbs and spices, whose essential trichloroanisol. an inherent variability, with some corks oils are able to repel insects, as Over the years, Portugal’s cork industry providing the tight seal required, while insecticides. The presence of has not been without turmoil. In August others allow some oxygen to sneak past. monoterpenoids such as limonene, 2008, environment protection agency Even more of a concern has been a nasty citronellol, geraniol and citronellal have Quercus considered the felling of 1 200 cork mould called trichloroanisol (TCA) that been reported as having insect-repellent trees in Vale da Rosa a “glaring disregard” of imparts musty aromas and flavours. But properties. “As aromas play an important the law. The trees were felled to make space cork’s monopoly created complacency and role in controlling the insects’ behaviour, for a mega residential development. Legal producers were seen to be doing little to essential oils can be used as insect action was instigated by Quercus to stop the sort out this issue. repellents,” she said. felling, alleging that the trees are of a That was until new closures, such as From FRIM’s research, a number of species protected by Portuguese law. synthetic corks and screw caps, came on to essential oils such as Cymbopogon nardus, Back in 2001, there were political moves the scene and were embraced by Litsea eliptica, Melaleuca cajuputi and to defend Portugal’s cork oaks when winemakers, frustrated that up to 10 Cinnamomum spp. demonstrate repellent delegates from the Socialist Party-run percent of their products could be spoiled properties against the Aedes aegyptii Council of Montijo met with officials by their packaging. Of these it is the screw mosquito. She said essential oils from other representing the then President Jorge cap that has really taken off. The plants reported to be able to repel insects Sampaio, with the initiation of a national practicality of the cap and reassurance that are those from geranium (Pelargonium petition to be presented to Parliament. the wine will be taint-free, has meant that citrosum), sandalwood (Aquilaria Motivated by the perceived weakening of drinkers are now sending back wines if malaccensis) and sweet basil (Ocimum legal protection for cork and holm oak trees, they are not under screw caps! spp.). environmental groups such as Quercus Caps have not been without their critics, FRIM’s research also showed that the voiced their concern over the proposed some blaming their near-hermetic seal for essential oil product “Deesrept” is able to changes to the law since it was first drafted the creation of eggy-smelling hydrogen repel the mosquito to the extent of killing it, in the year 2000. sulphides in wine. This was a problem in said Dr Nor Azah.

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The discovery of “Deesrept”, which The team is working on a project to give Scientists already knew that contains one or a blend of essential oils from rural communities the means to generate Mediterranean oregano oil was a powerful the citrus family, is among the successes income from sustainable collection of antimicrobial, because of an essential chalked up by FRIM from its research on NTFPs in the Kullu district of Himachal compound called carvacol. But nobody had essential oils. “This essential oil can be Pradesh. Earlier this year, the United tested the Himalayan oregano oil before, included in creams and lotions,” Dr Nor Azah Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said Heron, so they teamed up with SGS said. Products could also be used as body gave the project the SEED award. SEED is who run a laboratory in Delhi and found it sprays or air fresheners, she said, adding an international programme with UN contained as much carvacol as that a Bumiputera firm is working on backing that supports entrepreneurial Mediterranean oregano. commercializing the product. partnerships that develop creative, locally At SGS they ran further tests and found In studies held at FRIM, it was found that led solutions to the global challenges of that Himalayan oregano oil was more aroma-producing plants such as citrus, sustainable development. effective at killing MRSA than 18 antibiotics. selasih (Ocimum), serai (Cymbopogon) and The creative and innovative part of the The microbiologists at UWE are now medang (Cinnamomum) exhibited potential carrying out further tests, and hope to in repelling mosquito when tested on Aedes publish the results in a scientific journal. aegyptii via the American Society Testing and (Source: Medical News Today [United Materials (ASTM) standard E951-85. Dr Nor Kingdom], 24 November 2008.) Azah said the most effective essential oils discovered so far are those from citrus plants. % FUNGI Further research is needed to ensure non- toxicity and optimum efficiency of the A rain forest fungus may be the future of essential oils. Moreover, public awareness biofuel on alternative products for repelling A recent discovery in the Patagonian rain mosquito is high, but there are only a few of forest has revealed a most extraordinary such products on the market because of fungus that produces gas nearly identical to limited resources of raw materials. The use diesel fuel. Gliocladium roseum, living of natural herbs as raw products has pushed inside the ulmo tree in the rain forest, not up the processing costs. only produces diesel-like fumes but also FRIM has begun the cultivation of feeds off cellulose; hence its potential as a medicinal herbs such as serai wangi for fuel supplier is magnified by the fact that it research and commercial purposes. It is also would not be disruptive to food chains. More taking proactive measures in maintaining research is soon to follow. (Source: natural resources. “Our jungles contain Origanum vulgare Mongabay.com, 4 November 2008.) numerous herbal treasures that have potential, but if we acquire any species for project is that it potentially gives a Antibiotic-producing mushroom discovered research, then we will plant it back.” (Source: sustainable source of income to the people The Philippines. A group of government Bernama [Malaysia], 24 September 2008.) of the Himalayas while at the same time scientists recently discovered an antibiotic- providing United Kingdom hospitals with an producing micro-organism from a type of Himalayan oregano effective against MRSA environmentally friendly way of preventing mushroom that has been found to be A team comprising researchers from a the spread of MRSA. The Himalayan effective in treating diseases of livestock, United Kingdom university, members of local Oregano Project was one of five SEED 2008 particularly swine, the Department of businesses and an NGO in India has winners that were selected this year from Science and Technology (DOST) reported discovered that the essential oil of Himalayan over 400 entries worldwide. yesterday. oregano has strong antibacterial properties Himalayan oregano is just common The scientists from DOST’s National and even kills the hospital superbug Origanum vulgare that grows in the Research Council of the Philippines, led by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus Himalayas. In fact, the local people in Kullu Dr Asuncion Raymundo, a plant pathologist, (MRSA). They hope these findings will lead to do not regard it as having any culinary or found that the mushroom species Clitopilus the development of hand soaps and surface medicinal value and treat it as a weed: they passeckerianus produces the antibiotic disinfectants in hospitals and other health call it “bekaar gahaas” or “useless grass” called pleuromutilin. care settings. because even cows and goats will not eat it. Data from DOST’s Philippine Council for The United Kingdom researchers are from Ben Heron from Biolaya Organics said Agriculture, Forestry and Natural the University of the West of England (UWE), they started working with oregano because Resources Research and Development Bristol, who teamed up with, among others, it is a plant that can be gathered year after (PCARRD) showed that the Philippines was India-based Biolaya Organics, a company year without depleting the population in the among the leading hog raisers in the Asia- that develops projects aimed at conserving wild. He said the project aims to pay local Pacific Region in 2001. However, the report endangered medicinal herbs, for example by herb collectors the same amount they also stated that Luzon’s production rate, cultivating them using sustainable methods would receive if they collected endangered compared with that of Mindanao and and providing alternatives such as more herbs, so they become less dependent on Visayas, has plummeted in 2001 compared common species. the latter. with earlier years, attributing this to the

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high mortality rate among swine on account of disease. “The NRCP antibiotic derived from the mushroom has the clear potential CHARACTERISTICS OF GINSENG to solve this problem,” DOST said. For thousands of years, humans have Ginseng is one of the adaptogens, a recognized the varied uses of mushrooms. group of non-toxic, non-habit forming In addition to being an effective fermenting substances that normalize body agent, they are also considered an efficient chemistry and functioning. Adaptogens waste disposer and major manufacturer of increase the body’s ability to cope with organic fertilizer, DOST said. Mushrooms physical, emotional and environmental can grow anywhere from farm animal stress. They work in a synergistic Ginseng manure, from spoiled food in the kitchen, to manner, increasing the body’s own the dead barks and leaves in the deepest ability to fight off disease. The greater When the wild stock was exhausted, reaches of foliage. (Source: FreshPlaza the body’s need for an adaptogen, the commercial cultivation began. Wild [Netherlands], 18 July 2008.) increasingly active the substance ginseng is believed to have a greater becomes. medicinal value than the cultivated Nature’s “medicine chest” discovered Ginseng is a plant with many variety. Over 25 percent of all contemporary different components. It is used in its Ginseng is used fresh or dried. medications originate from moulds, entirety in the preparation of teas and Sometimes plant leaves are added with mushrooms and other fungi, including the root is used in powders and the root, but the root is the highly penicillin and cyclosporine, an capsules. The term ginseng is used to prized part of the plant. Cultivated immunosuppressant that improves the refer to Panax ginseng and P. ginseng is available as red ginseng and acceptance rate following an organ quinquefolius, first cousins in the white ginseng. The difference lies in the transplant operation. Araliaceae family. Each contains a way the root is processed. The different A ridge in the highest cloud forest of different balance of the ginsenosides, geographic names before the word Belize, at an altitude of over 3 500 feet giving it a unique character. “ginseng” indicate where the plant was (1 067 m), has been found to be a “mushroom Ginseng was first found in Manchuria grown. Subtle variations exist between heaven”. In 2007, fungus scientist Timothy J. and was referred to by the ancient the varieties. Baroni from the State University of New York Chinese as “Ren Shen”, meaning “Man Ginseng contains a number of at Cortland and others discovered over 40 root”. They believed that regular compounds that are unique. Many of new species on the ridge in under two weeks. consumption of ginseng led to a long these elements have an effect on the “We have a medicine cabinet at our disposal, and happy life. Ginseng became so adrenal glands, increasing the amount and the medicines don’t have labels yet,” valuable that it was prized beyond gold. of hormone secretion to ward off both says Baroni, who is funded by the National It was so popular that the supply of physical and emotional stress. Scientists Geographic Society’s Committee for ginseng from the Chinese mainland believe that it is this effect that is Research and Exploration. could not meet the demand, and responsible for the stress-fighting power The great potential of new fungus imports were brought from Korea. of ginseng. remains to be explored. (Source: National Geographic, 26 November 2008.)

The Phytotherapy Research Journal production and reduces cell death in %GINSENG (PANAX spp.) reports that ginsenoside Rg3, a red ginseng pancreatic beta-cells. Studies have also constituent, can effectively inhibit cells in revealed American ginseng’s ability to Ginseng found highly effective for weight the fat storage process. New research in decrease blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes loss and diabetes control the Journal of the American College of patients as well as in diabetes induced Ginseng has long been one of the Nutrition reveals the efficacy and safety in animals. foundations of healing in Chinese medicine, the use of ginseng for diabetes, with Ginseng lives up to its name as a cure- and is probably one of the world’s best mounting evidence to support the claim all. Russian research showed that ginseng known herbs. The botanical name Panax that American ginseng is useful in stimulated physical and mental activities in means “all curing” in Greek. This 5 000- improving diabetes control, reducing tired and weak individuals and increased year-old healer has traditionally been used associated risk factors such as energy and physical endurance. Asian as a restorative tonic to increase energy, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension, and researchers have documented ginseng’s stamina and well-being. Western scientists ameliorating insulin resistance. The ability to reduce fatigue and increase have confirmed the efficacy of ginseng for Journal of Ethnopharmacology reports a stamina and found that ginseng aids in the many of the traditional uses. Now study acknowledging ginseng’s long history formation of red blood cells, helping to researchers are adding to the traditional as a herbal remedy for diabetes. As eliminate anaemia. Ginseng strengthens list, documenting ginseng as highly reported in the Journal of Evidence Based the gastrointestinal system, facilitates liver effective in weight loss and diabetes control. Complementary and Alternative Medicine, regeneration, and helps detoxify poisons. In New research documents ginseng’s initiating studies have shown that addition, ginseng is one of the few herbs effectiveness against obesity and diabetes. American ginseng increases insulin showing promise in the treatment of

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chronic fatigue syndrome. (Source: Natural now, the produce of the state was being from the forest floor up trunks is perfectly News.com [United States of America], 1 used mainly to manufacture electrical suited for binding joints, as well as for December 2008.) insulators and dye fixtures. wicker-like weaving. The fibre of the ite Lac is a natural polymer derived from palm, tibisiri (Mauritia flexuosa), makes a Wet weather forcing early ginseng harvest insects and it has great adhesive strength. cord-like material that is woven into fabric in Canada It has high electrical insulation, is for seats and chair backs. Wet weather this summer has forced many waterproof and resistant to moisture and The use of NTFPs presents an option for ginseng farmers into an early harvest. corrosion. It is also highly plastic. indigenous people to create sustainable Growers are racing to salvage what they economic alternatives to plundering the can now that root rot and berry blight have timber of their lands. As liana can only become a problem. Shade and straw on grow in the forest, finding a use for these third- and fourth-year fields have been vines gives purpose to maintaining the removed on some farms in preparation for health of that forest. (Source: extracted an early harvest. Under normal conditions, from: W. Gordon. 2008. One factory, one the mature root is dug in October and then forest: design, ecology and microeconomic only in its fourth year. development in Guyana. New York, United Phytophthora root rot is the major States of America, Core 77.) threat because the fungus spreads rapidly in saturated soil. Ginseng root should have FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the consistency and colour of fresh Jocelyn, Compton or Sharla, Liana Cane, 173 parsnips when it comes out of the ground. The institute has been conducting Charlotte Street, Georgetown, Guyana. Root rot moves quickly once it is research on lac since 1930 and has earned Fax: (592) 2274232; established and turns ginseng root to a worldwide reputation on the subject. “We e-mail : [email protected] and mush. Red berries at the top of the ginseng have found that the shelf-life of certain [email protected] plant develop purple discolourations in the fruits and vegetables could be increased by presence of botrytis head blight. The three months using a thin coating of lac Una Liana de los bosques tropicales de berries, which are harvested for seed, wax,” said Sharma. América, es al presente vulnerable a develop a grey, fuzzy appearance as the Research on fruits such as apples and causa del comercio fungus matures. Sean Westerveld, a oranges, and vegetables such as pointed La Liana robusta es un producto forestal no ginseng and medicinal herb specialist with gourd and capsicum, have given maderero (PFNM) de importancia the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, says it encouraging results. “The lac wax coating económica y se encuentra en los bosques is difficult to fight root rot when the soil is allows the oxygen to pass but prevents tropicales de América. Pertenece a la continuously saturated. water and moisture permeability to keep familia Bignoniaceae (Arrabidaea chica Under ideal conditions, ginseng will the fruits fresh,” said Sharma, adding that [Humb. y Bonpl] Verl.), supera los 20 m de receive light rain or dew over night and dry, a thick coating of lac wax could result in longitud y apoya su estructura en el dosel warm conditions by day with low humidity. fermentation. superior de las copas de los árboles en los Most of the Ontario ginseng crop is sold To develop a flawless technology of wax bosques tropicales de América. in Asia, where it is used in tea and food and coating, the institute has recently tied up Su mayor empleo y uso tradicional es la as a traditional folk medicine. (Source: with the Central Institute of Post-Harvest utilización de sus hojas como colorante Tillsonburg News, Ontario [Canada], 15 Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana. natural para dar tonalidades marrones a August 2008.) (Source: Calcutta Telegraph [India], 25 utensilios artesanales. September 2008.) Recibe diversos nombres comunes: en Costa Rica bejuco de fierro, carajirú en % LAC %LIANAS Lac technology to increase the shelf-life of fruits Lianas in Guyana Ranchi, Scientists in the state have Liana is the common name for woody vines discovered an ecofriendly and economic that depend upon the old-growth tree preservative – lac wax coating – to use for canopies in rain forests. Liana is useful for commercial purposes. “We were aware of furniture production, as shown by the the fact that lac wax coating on fruits could successful business venture at the Liana help preserve them for long, but now we Cane sustainable furniture factory in are planning to use the technology for Guyana. commercial purpose,” said K.K. Sharma, Kufu (Clusia spp.), a material similar to principal scientist at the Indian Institute of rattan and bamboo, is one such liana that Natural Resins and Gums. grows from the canopy down to the forest Annual lac production in India is around floor. Kufu is used to make furniture 25 000 tonnes, of which the state’s share is frames and cladding. Nibbi (Heteropis about 40 percent, Sharma added. Until flexousa), a small vine that winds its way Arrabidaea chica

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Brasil, puca panga en Perú, chica en diámetro mayor número de raíces, sin influir %NUTS Colombia, witts en Nicaragua, nea curi en la presencia de hojas y el tipo de sustrato Ecuador. (arena y suelo); siendo entonces los factores Brazil nuts in Peru: a lot of nuts, En forma complementaria el tallo se ha más relevantes el número de nudos por a lot of noise empleado para la obtención de fibras que se estaca y la madurez fisiológica del tallo. The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), despite utilizan para la confección de cestos. Para En los ensayos realizados en el Jardín its name, is not exclusive to that country and, ello la planta es cosechada en poblaciones Bougainvillea, se determinó que de la contrary to common sense, the main silvestres. utilización de estacas leñosas de entre 1 y 2 producer is Bolivia. The nut grows naturally in Se distribuye en bosques desde el sur de cm de diámetro, se logra obtener entre un the humid forests of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru México hasta el norte de Argentina, se 85 y un 92 por ciento de éxito en el and comes from one of the highest trees in encuentra en altitudes de 0 a 1000 m sobre enraizamiento de estacas. the tropical Amazon region. Curiously, the el nivel del mar. Sobre todo en las partes Manejo agroecológico: Sistema locally named Brazil nut is known in this húmedas de bosques tropicales y muy agroecológico, es el manejo de A. chica, country under the name of “castaña de para” húmedos. sobre soportes vivos, que se basa en while in Bolivia is identified as “castaña del Propiedades: En Perú, Duke y Vásquez criterios agroecológicos de manejo de beni”. (1994) hacen referencia a que este colorante luminosidad (sistema de barbacoa), su The Brazil nut has a very dynamic demand es también usado para el tratamiento de manejo es favorecido al tener un globally, which has risen with the increased afecciones de la piel y herpes; y sus hojas comportamiento de especie heliófita, la consumption of healthy products. Also, son usadas como anatiinflamatorio. En capacidad de adaptación silvestre a suelos considering that this product is an excellent Costa Rica, Ocampo y Valverde (1987) hacen con bajo pH (3,5-5), y a la capacidad de source of selenium, magnesium and referencia a que los aborígenes Guaymi, responder a prácticas silviculturales (poda). thiamine and is full of proteins and emplean las hojas hervidas para los dolores En 2002, Medrano determinó que entre carbohydrates, it constitutes an ideal diuretic menstruales y también como colorante para tres coberturas de vegetación, el bosque food and a medicinal option for ear infections. teñir fibras. secundario bajo presenta una mayor Taking advantage of this trend, Peruvian Comercio: El comercio es regional en producción de peso seco de hojas. exports of Brazil nuts are expanding to new Amazonas, Brasil. La situación del comercio Por lo tanto, el adecuado manejo de la markets, such as Hong Kong and Viet Nam, de las hojas se ha ampliado al mercado iluminación y de los soportes son los in addition to the traditional list of countries internacional para su empleo en la industria principales elementos a considerar para such as the United States of America, the de cosméticos. obtener los mejores rendimientos de hojas United Kingdom and Canada, which together Procedencia de la materia prima: La al implementar acciones de cultivo account for almost 92 percent of Peru’s materia prima son las hojas, que se agroecológico. current exports. cosechan en poblaciones silvestres. Manejo diversificado del bosque: Dentro de Between January and September 2007, Exigencias ambientales: A. chica presenta, la iniciativa del manejo diversificado del the volume of exported Brazil nuts grew by a priori, condiciones para su domesticación bosque, el hecho de que la especie 4.7 percent, overcoming the barrier of US$10 por medio del manejo agroecológico. Esta responda a claros y/o aperturas del dosel, a million. Even though the United States of especie, considerada una heliófita, se sucesiones secundarias tempranas, donde America is already the main market for this presenta en bosques primarios con porte de existe disponibilidad de luz, hace que la product, it is important to notice that because liana de gran tamaño, con su follaje en el misma sea ideal para el manejo en áreas de of the preferences of the Peru Trade dosel superior, en cambio en bosques de producción con especies arbóreas. Promotion Agreement (PTPA) that will enter regeneración y bosques secundarios, es de Cosecha y recolección: La primera cosecha into force in January 2009, Peru faces the menor tamaño, debido a la mayor se realiza cuando el individuo ha alcanzado opportunity of increasing its sales to this luminosidad. un diámetro (d0.5) de 1,5 cm (diámetro market, using the preferential access. Acciones de domesticación: El Jardín mínimo de cosecha), ya que son plantas On the other hand, given the fact that Peru Agroecológico Bougainvillea, ubicado en el productivas que pueden ser manejadas en exports Brazil nuts in a primary state, The Caribe de Costa Rica inició en el año 1998 un forma sostenible. country also faces the challenge of selling proyecto con financiación de la OEA/AICD, La hoja deshidratada presenta una these products with greater transformation. implementando acciones dirigidas a la de coloración marrón. So, Peru could sell nuts without shells and domesticación y conservación in situ de Conclusión: El Jardín Agroecológico este importante producto forestal no Bougainvillea ha dado importantes aportes maderero. para su conservación in situ, en los bosques A continuación se detallan las tropicales y en acciones de manejo actividades. agroecológico para la cosecha de hojas para Propagación sexual: La propagación sexual la industria de extractos naturales y para de A. chica ha sido poco estudiada ya que disminuir la cosecha de poblaciones por tener el hábito de liana y silvestres. (Aportación hecha por Rafael A. fructificaciones escasas, no se ha logrado Ocampo S., Jardín agroecológico de plantas evaluar la germinación de las semillas. medicinales, Bougainvillea S.A., Apartado Propagación asexual: En el ensayo de Aéreo. 764-3100, Santo Domingo, Heredia, reproducción asexual realizado por Groome Costa Rica. Correo electrónico: (1998), los resultados indicaron que a mayor [email protected]; www.bioextractos.com) Bertholletia excelsa

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toasted, packed for snacks or to be used in processing and packaging. Invisible earnings focuses on women as the caretakers of the chocolates, sweets and bakery products in include a sustainable industry to assist the family and the environment, and addresses general. Additionally, it is possible to explore survival of smallholding communities in key factors for sustainable livelihoods – the hidden potential of this product for the danger of losing their livelihoods, in addition sociocultural, environmental and economic – cosmetic industry as an input for oils, make- to fine harvests of forest fungi, and the top by creating leadership, educational and up and beauty products. value chestnut honey. (Source: Bees and their economic opportunities for women and girls. It is evident, therefore, that not only does role in forest livelihoods, FAO Non-Wood Our newest programme, “Healthy kids, Peru have a wide potential to expand its sales Forest Products series 19 [in press].) healthy forests” (Bosques sanos, niños to this market, but it also has the opportunity sanos) aims to provide Maya nut-based to increase the value of exported products school lunches to rural children. Starting in and obtain greater profits that may give an Guatemala in 2008, we are feeding 8 124 extra impulse to the generation of more and children from 46 communities in the Petén better jobs for Peruvians. (Source: Living in region of Guatemala. These communities are Peru [Peru], 15 July 2008.) planting more than 300 000 new Maya nut trees as “food forests” to sustain the Europe’s chestnut Castanea sativa forests programme in the future. (Source: Rainforest In past centuries, for people living in Europe’s Alliance. 2008. Project profile: Maya nut forested areas, which then included much of (Brosimum alicastrum): an ancient food for a the Mediterranean’s shoreline, forests of the healthy future. New York, United States of chestnut Castanea sativa were very America. important. These sweet chestnut forests extended from the mountainous uplands of FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Portugal and Spain, through France and into Erika Vohman, Project Director, Equilibrium Fund, northern Germany, the west coast of Italy, PO Box 2371, Crested Butte, and throughout central Europe as far as Colorado 81224, United States of America. Turkey, and provided an important source of Castanea sativa E-mail: [email protected]; livelihood. In previous times, chestnuts were Maya nut http://theequilibriumfund.org/ or http://eco- harvested and dried, milled into flour, or used Maya nut (Brosimum alicastrum) or Ramon, index.org/search/results.cfm? projectID=1181 whole with other foods, providing an excellent Ojoche, Masica, Ujuxte, Ojushte, Ojite, Ash, (Please see page 35 of Non-Wood News 16 for source of protein and carbohydrate-rich Ox, Capomo, Mojo, and Breadnut is a more information.) nutrition. When chestnut trees flowered delicious, nutritious, abundant nut from between June and July, they provided neotropical rain forest trees that provided a abundant nectar and pollen forage for bees, staple food for pre-Columbian hunter SACHA INCHI from which a valuable chestnut honey is gatherers. Maya nuts are exceptionally %(PLUKENETIA harvested with a dark colour, a fruity scent nutritious, providing high-quality protein, VOLUBILIS L.) like over-ripe apples and a strong, slightly calcium, iron, folate, fibre and vitamins A, E, C tannic flavour. and B. Sacha Inchi: the largest vegetable source of The chestnut forests provided a labour- Unfortunately, knowledge about Maya nuts Omega and antioxidants in the Peruvian intensive, slow-maturing harvest – the trees has decreased as globalization, export crops Amazon take 20 years to bear chestnuts, but then and deforestation negatively impact Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), remain productive for a hundred years or indigenous cultures and the forests that commonly known as peanut mount, Sacha more. Quick-growing staples such as sustain them. As a result of this loss of peanut or peanut of the Inca, is a native plant potatoes, maize and beans eventually indigenous knowledge, people cut Maya nut of the Peruvian Amazon. Utilized by replaced the chestnut crop. This left the trees for firewood and burn forests to plant indigenous peoples for centuries, Sacha Inchi forests, where chestnuts remained untended maize, beans and other crops. The Maya nut was also cultivated on the Peruvian coast in and vulnerable, no longer valued as providers tree is in danger of extinction throughout its pre-Hispanic times. A shrub climber that of food and income. Equally at risk were the range, a situation that threatens the food prefers warm climates and adapts to clay and additional crops the forest supported, security of both human and animal acidic soils, Sacha Inchi is originally from including the honey produced by the forest’s populations. Central America but is also currently found in indigenous Apis mellifera honeybees, as well The Equilibrium Fund’s Maya Nut Program the departments of San Martin, Ucayali, as valuable fungi such as chanterelles and is working to rescue lost traditional Huanuco, Amazonas, Loreto and Madre de truffles. knowledge about the tree for food, fodder, Dios in Peru. In the wild, Sacha Inchi grows at In recent years, new harvesters have and ecosystem services. Since its inception in the edge of secondary forests, in sugar-cane arrived in some of these forests, often 2001, more than 8 000 women have been fields and on fences and is even found in escapees from urban life, who are trained from 450 communities in Honduras, platanales and perennial crops. commercially educated and aware of the Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and In rural areas of San Martin, Peru, need for the forests to create a livelihood. Mexico. The programme has resulted in the residents appreciate the nutritional value of New industries have developed, using local conservation of more than 400 000 ha of Maya Sacha Inchi seeds. Boiled or roasted, these labour and expertise to harvest the chestnuts nut forests and the planting of more than seeds are used in the preparation of various and market them with modern methods of 800 000 new seedlings. The programme traditional dishes including inchicapi,

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pepper sacha inchi, cutacho, butter sacha agroindustry, so that improved varieties may reste pas moins un produit 100 pour cent inchi, inchi cucho, tamales and nougats. be obtained to compete better in both the végétal, naturel et bio. Avec l’engouement du Indigenous women from the Mayorunas, domestic and international oil industry commerce équitable, il est en passe de Chayuhuitas, Campas, Huitotos Shipibos, markets. (Contributed by: Joe Sixto Saldaña devenir le produit de soin incontournable à Boras and Yaguas ethnic groups mix flour Rojas, Cooperación para el Desarrollo avoir dans sa salle de bain. Utilisé à tout âge, with the oil of the Sacha Inchi to create a de la Amazonía (CODEA), Calle César il demeure le meilleur allié des peaux sèches revitalizing and rejuvenating skin cream. Calvo de Araujo 2035, Iquitos, Peru. pour ses vertus hautement hydratantes et Native Secoyas, Handosas, Amueshas, E-mail: [email protected] or régénérantes. Adieu, les sensations de Cashibos, Dapanahuas and Boras eat [email protected]) tiraillement pendant les frimas car il procure toasted Sacha Inchi to regain strength confort et bien-être et laisse une peau douce during labour-intensive work. Rubbing the et satinée. oil on to their bodies also helps to relieve %SHEA BUTTER Fort de ses vitamines A (anti-âge et anti- their rheumatic and muscle pain. inflammatoire), D (calmante), E (antioxydante Le karité, l’or des femmes et nutritive) et F (hydratante), le karité Beurre aux nombreuses vertus, surnommé renferme de nombreuses propriétés qui «l’or des femmes», le karité est un secret de apportent souplesse et élasticité à la peau: beauté que les femmes africaines se adoucissantes et protectrices notamment transmettent depuis des millénaires. pour les cheveux, antidesséchantes et Aujourd’hui, avec le développement du hydratantes en prévention de la sécheresse commerce équitable et du bio, il est devenu cutanée, réparatrices et cicatrisantes et, la nouvelle coqueluche de l’industrie enfin apaisantes en cas d’allergies telles que cosmétique. les rhumes de foin. Le karité favorise Grand héritage de l’Afrique, l’arbre à karité également le renouvellement cellulaire. pousse à l’état sauvage essentiellement dans (Source: Sud Quotidien, Sénégal, 16 juillet Many believe that Sacha Inchi oil is les régions boisées d’Afrique de l’Ouest et 2008.) superior to olive, sunflower, soybean, corn, Centrale. Sa longévité qui peut atteindre 300 palm and groundnut oils for domestic, ans et sa taille de plus de 15 mètres en font Ghana’s local shea butter industry to be industrial, cosmetic and medicinal uses. un arbre majestueusement prolifique. enhanced Sacha Inchi, a major source of Omega, a fatty La fabrication artisanale du beurre de The United Nations Development acid essential for human life, contains karité est une affaire de femmes avant tout; Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with Omega 3 (48 percent), Omega 6 (36 percent), elles se regroupent pour les récoltes de la Africa 2000 Network held a stakeholders’ Omega 9 (9 percent), protein (33 percent) and mi-juin à la mi-septembre. Il faut savoir que workshop to empower rural women in antioxidants (50 percent). Sacha Inchi is pour obtenir 20 kg de beurre de karité100 kg northern Ghana to boost the local shea believed to boost energy, clear the d’amandes sont nécessaires. De cette butter industry. The project beneficiaries bloodstream and help to transport nutrients récolte naît un échange commercial entre les would be trained under the Local Level to cells. femmes des groupements et certaines Integrated Information System (LIIS), a Production begins after 6.5 months of marques de cosmétiques. component of the Sustainable Rural transplantation, with first-year yields Chaque opération est réalisée avec soin Livelihoods Project (SRLP) of UNDP. averaging from 0.7 to 2.0 tonnes/ha. Sacha en respectant la qualité et la nature du Mr Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Deputy Inchi can be cultivated with cover crops, produit; de ce fait, chaque principe actif reste Resident Representative in Ghana, said the reaching ages of up to ten years. For intact. On prend l’amande qui se trouve à LIIS model provides critical information example, Puerto Inca had an increase in l’intérieur de la noix que l’on fait sécher, services to local shea butter producers production from 1 200kg/ha/year to 5 000kg/ concasser, torréfier et enfin moudre. La through the development of an exchange ha/year with a value of US$10 062.50 ha/year. poudre est ensuite pilée et l’on obtient alors platform, using the Development Information Sacha Inchi oil has won the Seed Oils of une pâte que l’on mélange à de l’eau Portal. “The portal is expected to provide a the World contest held in Paris in both 2004 bouillante. Il en ressort à la surface toute one-stop shop for obtaining development and 2006 along with two other awards for l’huile et les impuretés sont déposées au technological innovation in its extraction. It fond de la cuve. On retire cette huile que l’on also shows great potential for the production fait cuire. Une fois solidifiée, elle deviendra le of biodiesel. fameux beurre de karité que l’on vénère tant. SHEA 2009: OPTIMIZING Sacha Inchi oil is used widely in the Adulé pour ses vertus protectrices et THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN countries to which it has been exported, and adoucissantes, le beurre de karité est le is becoming better known and appreciated in remède à toute peau en mal d’hydratation et An international meeting on shea butter Peru. Now it is found in major supermarket de luminosité. Les cosmétologues l’ont bien Shea 2009: Optimizing the Global Value chains and other shops in Lima in addition to compris en le déclinant à la perfection en Chain will take place in Ouagadougou, clinics and homeopathic stores. crème pour le corps, shampoing, baume Burkina Faso from 25 to 27 March 2009. Given the importance of this crop, it is vital pour les lèvres, etc. (Please see page 62 for more to conduct further research in agricultural Bien qu’il soit utilisé pour la peau, les information.) management, genetic improvement, cheveux ou dans l’alimentation en tant que integrated pest management, disease and substitut du beurre de cacao, le karité n’en

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information packaged to enhance rural of illegal trading is occurring, especially as a approved it. Stevia sweeteners are still development implementation of Community result of the long borders the country shares banned in much of Europe. Action Plans (CAPs)”, said Mr Komatsubara. with China and India. As a sweetener, stevia developed an Mrs Christy Ahenkora-Banya, head of the Despite apparent efforts to cultivate R. unpleasant liquorice taste that researchers SRLP unit of UNDP, Ghana, said the project serpentina commercially in India and Nepal, have had trouble erasing, the Chicago would identify the marketable quality of shea little evidence proves that this cultivation is Tribune said. (Source: United Press butter and set up the ideal production satisfying a significant portion of internal and International [United States of America], 30 environment for local women’s producer international demand for the species. As the November 2008.) groups. It would explore new markets for status of R. serpentina remains in question, shea butter sales promotion, provide urgent action is required to clarify the source Finlays Kenya in stevia venture business management skills for local and quantity of traded specimens at all levels Outgrowers are set to benefit from a move by women’s producer groups and transmit and to develop and enforce measures to private agricultural firm Finlays Kenya to production skills among local women ensure that wild harvests and trade are grow 5 000 ha of stevia whose sap is used for processors. maintained within sustainable levels. medicinal and food flavouring. The ultimate goal is to empower women in (Source: T. Mulliken & P. Crofton. 2008. Finlays is embarking on the project in northern Ghana and alleviate their acute Review of the status, harvest, trade and partnership with PureCircle – a Malaysian poverty through enhancing the viability of the management of seven Asian CITES-listed sweeteners production firm – which will inject local shea butter industry as sustainable medicinal and aromatic plant species. Bonn, KSh1.2 billion (US$20 million) into the joint business. Germany, Bundesamt für Naturschutz.) venture. Finlays will also be refining the The Africa 2000 Network, the extract derived from stevia and has plans to implementing partner, would be responsible put up an extraction plant. The project for the transmission of skills and knowledge provides a diversification opportunity for in shea butter production among local Kenyan farmers reeling from declining yields processors when the project is implemented. and earnings under monoculture cash crop (Source: Modern Ghana [Ghana], 16 August systems and rising costs of inputs such as 2008.) fertilizers. The company intends to grow stevia within its own estates first and then roll it out to the SNAKEROOT (RAUVOLFIA smallholder sector, once it has the technical % SERPENTINA) expertise. Finlays expects the project to “create several hundred high-end jobs”. Snakeroot endangered across Asia The joint venture with PureCircle – which Like other wild plant species, snakeroot or Rauvolfia serpentina has most of its production activities in China Rauvolfia serpentina, is an important and Malaysia but incorporated in Bermuda – medicinal tool for many people in the Asia % STEVIA goes by the name JVCo. It will be majority- region. In India, R. serpentina has been used owned by PureCircle but the local firm has for centuries to treat anxiety, psychosis, FDA may approve stevia-based sweeteners the option to hold the majority of 51 percent in schizophrenia, insomnia and epilepsy. In Chicago. The United States Food and Drug the coming years. Nepal, R. serpentina is valued for its curative Administration (FDA) may approve zero- PureCircle’s main concern is stevia, a non- powers against hypertension, depression, calorie sweeteners derived from a shrub caloric herb native to Paraguay that has been memory loss and other mental and physical called stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), analysts say. used as a sweetener and flavour enhancer for disorders. R. serpentina is also used as a Major beverage companies – PepsiCo Inc. centuries. Demand for the commodity is traditional medicine in China, Bangladesh, and Coca-Cola Co. – want to market stevia- rising because of its natural sweetener Myanmar and Thailand. sweetened products once the sweetener gets qualities as opposed to its synthetic rivals. An Various publications and reports approval, the Chicago Tribune said. extract from the stevia leaf, using a patent- contradict one another regarding the Agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. already has a protected process, is over 100 times sweeter harvesting quantities and market sizes of R. stevia-based sweetener in grocery stores than sugar. serpentina, yet its use in pharmaceuticals, and Chicago-based Merisant Co., maker of Of the US$20 million that PureCircle is largely in the Chinese medicine sector, has the popular sweetener Equal, will soon do putting in Kenya, an estimated US$15 million considerably increased since the 1950s. R. the same, the newspaper said. has been allocated to the crude stevia serpentina is now recognized as endangered But some public watchdogs, including the extraction plant, and the balance to the in several countries across the region such Center for Science in the Public Interest, are plantations and associated working capital. as India, Bangladesh and Viet Nam. Yet little raising concerns about potential cancer- The joint venture will own both the stevia information is available regarding its status causing properties of stevia. The centre is plantations and the extraction plant. in range countries, most crucially those urging the FDA to do more testing before PureCircle will have exclusive rights to believed to be involved in the international granting approval, the Chicago Tribune stated. acquire all stevia extracts and, or, dry stevia trade of the species, including Thailand and Native to South America and already leaves produced by JVCo for a period of seven Myanmar where R. serpentina is considered used as a sweetener there, Japan years with renewable options thereafter. “vulnerable”. Furthermore, CITES authorities developed stevia-based sweeteners several (Source: Business Daily Africa [Kenya], 23 in Myanmar believe that a significant amount decades ago and Australia has recently July 2008.)

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%TRUFFLES very nearly time to harvest our native British Truffles have a highly nutritional value summer truffle. The ones we have seen so thanks to their minerals, notably iron, Endangered truffles set to be reared in test far this year bubbling to the surface are proteins, and amino acids, minerals that the tubes looking bigger and they are in greater body needs and cannot generate. In addition to French scientists will try to create black number. We harvested 77–88 lbs in 2005, this, truffles are easily digested. truffles in test tubes in an attempt to revive 176 lbs in 2006 and an amazing 396 lbs in The Libyan truffle, found in deserts, is one an increasingly endangered industry. The 2007 but we expect to exceed that this year.” of the best known worldwide. The Al-Hamada French region of Corrèze is to sign an accord Truffles can command prices of up to Al-Hamra region is considered to be one of the with key organizations in the industry to £2 500/kg for the most highly prized largest regions producing this truffle. unlock the secrets of the Périgourd truffle. specimens. (Source: Daily Mail [United Truffles have been known in the Libyan Known to connoisseurs as “black Kingdom], 10 September 2008.) Arab Jamahiriya since the Roman era, as they diamonds”, truffles, which are usually found were the favourite food of the upper class. growing on the roots of trees, can sell for up Italian truffle fetches US$200 000 at Macau Unlike most city people, desert inhabitants to £860/kg. France produced 1 000 tonnes of auction know all about truffles and how to extract Périgourd truffles a year at the start of the Rome. Defying the economic downturn, an them from the soil. last century, but production has fallen to Italian white truffle weighing just over 1 kg Truffles have a lot of benefits: according to 40–50 tonnes a year. sold at an international auction on Saturday medical researchers they are used in treating In the three-year project, scientists will for US$200 000. The prized tuber went for trachoma, a disease infecting the eye, and can culture cloned truffles with baby trees in test the second year running to Hong Kong-born also increase fecundity in both men and tubes. Once established, tree and truffle will casino mogul Stanley Ho after an auction women. Because of these benefits, the best be planted and allowed to mature naturally. held simultaneously in Rome, London, Abu varieties of truffle are expensive. The price of The researchers hope to establish which Dhabi and Macau. Last December, Ho some varieties may reach €2 500/kg or more aspects of the environment are linked to bought a 1.5-kg specimen – one of the on the market. truffle growth. (Source: The Times Online, biggest truffles unearthed in half a century – The customary variety of this fungus is sold [United Kingdom], 4 December 2008.) for a record US$330 000. in domestic markets, whereas the average The 1.08-kg truffle – the biggest found in and excellent varieties are exported to the Gulf Australian truffle industry set for rapid growth Italy this year – was picked in November in and to European countries. Australian truffle production could grow to the central Molise region. Some attempts to cultivate the desert ten times its current level by 2013, but Output of white truffles – which are not truffle, which grows abundantly in North market development and further research cultivated and only grow naturally in forests – Africa, have been made recently in Finland by will be needed to ensure the industry has a has fallen in Italy over the past few years, the Libyan doctor and specialist, Salem El long-term future. These are some of the largely because climate change has brought Shamkh. He succeeded in producing high- conclusions of a stocktake of the industry a damaging mix of drought and torrential quality truffles in a short period of time. presented by the Rural Industries Research rains. Scarce supply has pushed prices for The experiment concludes that and Development Corporation (RIRDC) at a normal-sized truffles above €4 000/kg. establishing truffle farms in North Africa is meeting of the Australian Truffle Growers (Source: Reuters [United States of America], possible provided that there is a correct Association in Victoria. 29 November 2008.) scientific basis. Accordingly, a good and Research established that production is abundant production can be obtained with a likely to grow from 800 kg in 2007 (currently The Libyan truffle, fruit of the desert production of approximately 200 worth A$1.6 million) to between five and ten In some Arab countries, the truffle is known as tonnes/ha/year. The strange fungus might tonnes in 2013 from existing truffières alone. the earth tree or the earth egg. It is also known have a high economic value in the near future The size of mature truffière land is as the thunder daughter. Truffle fungus grows and could, one day, become a source of expected to increase from 250 to 600 ha in the in lime land near some desert plants forming a revenue. (Source: Alarab online [United same time frame at an average growth rate of symbiotic association, i.e. a mutually beneficial Kingdom], 31 July 2008.) p over 20 percent/year. (Source: Australian relationship between them. It grows by itself Food, Melbourne [Australia], 28 July 2008.) with no interference, whenever the conditions are suitable for its growth. These conditions Soggy summer yields bumper British truffle consist of a sufficient humidity and a union harvest between the air and lightning; these elements Our long lamented soggy summer is cause for fall down with raindrops and penetrate the soil celebration in some circles. Those in the truffle to make truffles grow. business cannot believe their luck. This year’s Truffles grow in spring when the soil is wet weather has produced a bumper crop. saturated with water. There are several types Truffle harvests have doubled year by year of truffles, e.g. the desert truffle and the since 2005 thanks to our rainy summers and European truffle. However, the desert truffle Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the experts believe this year’s harvest will be has a highly nutritional value and grows only in world. It beats money, power and even bigger. Nigel Hadden-Paton, who runs arid regions; it differs from the type that grows influence. Truffle UK Ltd, Britain’s first commercial in European forests. There are many varieties Henry Chester truffle-growing company, said: “The wet of desert truffles, including Zobeidi, Khalasi, weather has been a godsend for us, and it’s Jobi and Hober.

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%AFGHANISTAN %AUSTRALIA

Traditional Afghan silk: an alternative use of Himalayan tree offers fuel crop hope NWFPs to eradicate the opium cultivation A tree from the foothills of the Himalayas trend in Afghanistan has emerged as a potential biodiesel crop Using the ancient and once famous Silk for Western Australia (WA). Trial plantings Route, early traders passed through present- of the tree in the Gascoyne have shown day Afghanistan on their way to the major promising initial results. trading markets in Damascus to ship their The tree, Moringa oleifera, is capable of goods across the Mediterranean Sea. The producing up to 2 000 litres of oil per traders brought with them not only goods but hectare, about four times the amount also new skills and crafts that have been available from annual crops such as canola, disseminated in Afghanistan over time. which can be used for food or biodiesel. These include the art of sericulture - the State Agriculture Minister Kim Chance, commercial breeding of silkworms for the then has to be treated, refined and further who is taking to Cabinet a proposal for 5 production of silk in particular. In the past, processed to make by-products. At present, percent of all transport fuel used in WA to Afghan silk became the symbol of pride and artificial dyed silk from a neighbouring be sourced from biofuels by 2011, believes prestige in this region. country costs US$20/0.25 kg, but for Afghan the crop could become a major biodiesel But the art of traditional Afghan silk has silk, only 4 kg of undyed silk costs US$160. source for the region. been mostly destroyed as a result of the The silk is processed into hats, chapans (the While the criticism of biofuels as a major nearly two and a half decades of unrest, and traditional male overcoats of Afghanistan) cause of world food price inflation because the security situation of the country. Most of and other embroidery products. Silk shawls food crops were diverted to fuels had been the craftsworkers have left their traditional (a plain garment of 3-4 m2 used by both men dramatically exaggerated, it was undeniable business, their living places and the small and women) are prized in the region. The that having another buyer in the market industries. At the same time, the agriculture price of one shawl varies from US$40 to would increase prices, he said. “We know sector has gradually been taken over by illicit US$100, or more depending on the quality. that we can grow (moringa) in areas which opium cultivation since the majority of People can make one such shawl in a day are not currently used for food production,” Afghan farmers have fallen into poverty and using the traditional looming machines and he said. “When we get access to seed that is there is a lack of viable alternative incomes thread. more suited to more temperate because of the unrest. Since traditional agricultural practices environments it could be that it becomes a According to a 2008 estimation, a total of have a poor cash return and yield compared significant crop in those environments, in 157 000 ha of land has been cultivated under with opium, several alternative sources which case it will be competing with food.” opium, which is the total cultivated area might be suggested: agriculture, horticulture Department of Agriculture and Food reduced from previous years. The present and livestock sector-based small - and project manager Henry Brockman said trials farmgate price of 1 kg of dry opium is US$95 medium-scale enterprise development with of the tree were in place from Kununurra to and an opium yield of 48.8 kg can be expected high production and prices could replace the Albany, but the best results were coming from 1 ha of land. But following recent drives country’s opium trend. In addition, silk from an irrigated site near Carnarvon. by the Government and international security production could be an effective way to Pods are harvested from the tree and forces, as well as international development involve small farmers, landless workers and seeds, the size of a small coin, are taken organizations involvement in an opium vulnerable groups, including women, into an out and crushed for oil, leaving the tree to eradication programme, the trend in opium alternative and sustainable source of income grow for an estimated 15 years. The cultivation is gradually declining. Agriculture and livelihood. residue left after the oil is extracted can be farmers and traders of this illicit practice are Very few people are still engaged in silk used as stock feed. searching and diverting into alternative production, but there is hope to explore and In Carnarvon, one-year-old plantings sources of income. rejuvenate the sector in the future. Initiatives were yielding 350 litres of oil per hectare In Afghanistan, the delicate work of should be taken immediately by the but output was expected to increase producing silk is still done manually because Government of Afghanistan and development dramatically in coming years as the trees there is no money to bring in modern organizations to engage and direct the opium reached their peak production capacity. machines. It takes between 45 and 50 days farmers into alternative sources of income, The seed pods are now picked by hand for an average family of five people to raise especially silk production. Patronizing the but researchers are working on a 40 kg of cocoons. Boxes are imported from silk production sector would restore this mechanical harvester. China containing the leaves of the mulberry ancient art and provide a viable income for Dr Brockman said the tree’s ability to grow tree to feed the eggs that will gradually the present opium growers in Afghanistan. on marginal and salt-affected country meant develop into the cocoons. In unravelling the (Contributed by: Mohammad Muktadir it could be used in parts of the wheat belt. cocoon, care has to be taken to avoid Hossain, Sector Specialist (Forestry), The department is expected to enter an breaking the fine thread, which can be Agriculture Development Programme, BRAC agreement with an Indian university next between 300 and 1 500 m. Generally, a Afghanistan, House 45, Lane 4, Baharistan, week to breed new varieties with higher oil small-scale enterprise with a dozen Kabul, Afghanistan. Fax: 00 93 798 125 100; yield and the ability to grow in different employees can produce 40 kg of rough silk e-mail: [email protected]; regions in WA. (Source: The West that can be sold for US$40/kg. This thread www.bracafg.org) Australian [Australia], 7 July 2008.)

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Wattle seeds and bush tomatoes percent increase in net profits to A$27.6 %BANGLADESH are hot stuff million, which the firm attributed to a Aborigines have been called upon to impart substantial increase in sales of its Utilization of medicinal and aromatic knowledge that will boost and provide managed investment schemes (MIS). TFS, plants direction to Australia’s blooming bush tucker which recorded a net profit of A$19.2 In developing countries, remedies prepared industry. million in 2006-2007, said the increased by a traditional healer from plants of the As demand locally and globally continues sales had driven revenue up 52 percent to local flora are available for the majority of to grow, the industry - estimated to be worth A$68.4 million and earnings before the people. There are millions of people in up to A$16 million a year - needs to assess interest, tax, depreciation and all walks of life in these countries who have where it is going and how it is going to get amortization by 46 percent to A$42.1 faith only in the traditional system of there, says Jenny Cleary, leader of Desert million. medicine and this trend is growing. They Knowledge CRC’s Bush Products Company chairman Frank Wilson said think that it is a safe and dependable programme. the firm’s higher MIS sales had bucked the system because it has evolved and been The industry, which includes such foods as wider trend away from the schemes, developed and perfected in their own wattle seeds and bush tomatoes, is based on thanks to higher demand for sandalwood, communities and areas, and has been tried traditional Aboriginal knowledge about the a broader distribution base and the tax over a period of a thousand years with collection, preparation and uses of desert deductibility of forestry schemes. “In uniform results, under their own climatic plants and other food. addition, we have continued to build the and living conditions. This trend also Ms Cleary says the aim is to get greater necessary infrastructure at our plantation results from the toxic and adverse Aboriginal participation in the industry, with operations in the Kununurra region of reactions of synthetic and chemical culturally appropriate considerations. There West Africa and have strengthened our medicines being observed around the are challenges that the industry needs to land bank,” he said. globe. Experts feel that there are data resolve to achieve its potential. These include “Plantings during the year doubled to available regarding the therapeutic efficacy the fragmentary nature of the industry, the approximately 600 hectares, and we are of modern drugs that are not applicable to small scale of many producers, the lack of well placed to service a further significant local conditions, especially to the South capital and highly variable wild harvesting. increase to accommodate the level of MIS Asian-Pacific regions. Also many fruits - such as the bush tomato - sales achieved in the 2008 financial year In Bangladesh, there are several have numerous varieties while the markets and those anticipated in future periods.” thousand traditional healers, many of demand consistency of size, colour and TFS announced last month that it would whom practise in rural areas, dispensing volume. acquire Albany-based essential oils mostly herbal remedies. Well over 60 Because of these factors, Ms Cleary says business Mount Romance Australia for percent of the country’s population attend the industry will develop two supply streams: A$28.6 million, in a move Mr Wilson said their clinics. commercial harvesting in areas where water would represent an accelerated realization A correct approach to the investigation of is reliable and low-volume wild harvesting. of the firm’s vertical integration such plants would therefore be for trained “Wild-harvested supply could be branded in aspirations. physicians and pharmacologists to such a way to go into the high-value, lower- The company will pursue agreements cooperate with healers. volume product at the premium end of the with international fragrance companies in The following are some of the problems market,” she says. 2008-2009, such as the oil supply regarding the development of medicinal “So far there are not many Aboriginal arrangement signed with United Kingdom- plants in Bangladesh. commercial ventures operating successfully based Lush Cosmetics, as well as • Despite the fact that a large proportion in the area. Our research aims to find out how increasing its focus on research and of the country’s population (mostly in to help them participate.” development. (Source: The West rural and remote areas) depends upon In a historic development known as Hands Australian [Australia], 14 August 2008.) the curative properties of medicinal Across the Desert, Aboriginal gatherers of the herbs, little or no attention has been Kakadu plum in Broome in Western Australia given to the development of this hosted bush tomato gatherers from Alice resource in the past. Springs. With the aim of making their product • Medicinal plants of indigenous origin, more saleable, they discussed issues such as as well as imported species, are now fruit handling, storage, pest management, increasingly being used in both raw and quality control and traceability. semi-processed forms as medicines in This was an acknowledgement that global the Greco-Arab (Unani) system. Herbal demand was rising for bush and desert foods. wings of multinational and national ‘’The outlook for the industry is pretty good,’‘ pharmaceuticals are also contributing Ms Cleary says. (Source: Courier Mail at large in the utilization of indigenous [Australia], 16 November 2008.) herbal wealth. • Although there are different areas of TFS reports higher profit on increased vegetation in Bangladesh with their sales of sandalwood distinctive agricultural products (rice, Perth-based Indian sandalwood grower sugar cane, jute, leguminous plants, TFS Corporation has announced a 44 etc.) and commercially valuable trees,

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populations given the limitations that exist. %BRAZIL (Source: extracted from: M. Atiqul Azam. 2006. Spotted deer census – 2006 at the Brazil becomes world’s fifth largest honey Nijhum Diwp National Park: a man-made exporter mangrove forest of Bangladesh. Forest Honey exports from Brazil totalled US$18.2 Department, Government of Bangladesh.) million in the first half of 2008, representing a growth of 70 percent over the same period FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: last year, and placing Brazil in fifth position M. Atiqul Azam, Team Leader, Deer Census in the world exports ranking. The figures Team 2006, Nijhum Diwp Islands, Conservator were disclosed by the Sectoral Chamber for of Forests, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka, the Honey Production Chain. Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected] According to the organization’s President, José Gomercindo da Cunha, the main reason for the expansion of sales was the %BHUTAN resumption of exports to the European Union. In the last two years, Brazil exported there is no proper methodology adopted as Generating Cordyceps sinensis in the only to the United States of America. Now the yet regarding dissemination of existing laboratory aim of the Sectoral Chamber is to maintain knowledge on the state of the natural Highlanders in Bhutan need not set out on its sales to Europe and, at the same time, occurrence of medicinal plants. There is no wild cordyceps expeditions if the research seek new markets such as Japan and the organized body to disseminate on domesticating Cordyceps sinensis, Arab countries. ethnobotanical and scientific information in locally known as Yartsa Goenbub, proves Brazil is the world’s 11th honey producer, the country. successful, say researchers. with an annual output of 36 100 tonnes. • The scope of cultivation of medicinal At the Renewable Natural Resources Domestic honey consumption is expected plants has not been clearly defined to Research Centre (RNR-RC) in Bumthang to rise in Brazil in 2009. “To that extent, we the farmers. Therefore they lack researchers are trying to see whether are working with the Brazilian Micro and awareness of the economic benefits. cordyceps can be cultivated in laboratories. Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), • No attention has so far been paid to the The principal research officer, Dorji and 25 states are already willing to propagation and harvesting of Wangchuk, said that he was expecting a contribute to nationwide promotional work”, medicinal plants in the management promising output as mycelium in two of the stated Gomercindo da Cunha. “The proposal plans prepared by forest departments 38 test tubes on trial in the laboratory had is to raise per capita consumption from 100 of the different zones. No proper already started showing positive results. to 120 g.” emphasis has been given to cultivation “I’m waiting for the other 36 cultures to Another goal of the sector is to reduce of medicinal plants in areas that are come up,” he said. “The mycelium could be non-conformities with the regulation for vulnerable to droughts or to heavy mass propagated for domesticating industrial inspection of the product, so as to floods. This has led to the fear of cordyceps using potential host insects.” conquer a larger share of the foreign market. extinction regarding several species. In the wild, cordyceps are found in Production of honey and its derivatives, such (Source: The New Nation [Bangladesh], 14 different locations in Haa, Lingshi, Laya, as propolis, wax and jelly, is a source of September 2008.) Lunana, Bumdeling and Bumthang. An family income in several regions of Brazil, average dried cordyceps weighs 0.19 g and including the semi-arid area. Spotted deer census in a mangrove forest 0.47 g when fresh. Currently, 350 000 beekeepers in Brazil established by workers According to a veteran collector in answer to 16 000 direct jobs in the industrial A spotted deer census report conducted in Bumthang, about 1 350 collectors were out sector, as well as 450 000 direct jobs on 2006 in an artificial mangrove forest of the for a month collecting cordyceps from farms. (Source: Brazzil Magazine, Los Nijhum Diwp National Park Islands at the Chhokhor geog alone during the harvest Angeles [United States of America], 15 Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, reveals a deer season. They collect the expensive fungus September 2008.) population of about 14 400 and highlights from Diruphu, Ganchu, Sejeyphu, Chachen, the importance of these forest mangroves Namtatheng, Kingkhorphu, Djegarphu and Brazil launches rain forest fund in the country. Yangdrok. Cordyceps grow at altitudes of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Understanding the abundance, 3 900-5 004 m above sea level at Kerab and Silva has launched an international fund to distribution and movement patterns of Phugonma in Chhokhor. protect the Amazon rain forest and help animals is a very important aspect of Dubbed the world’s most expensive combat climate change. The fund will wildlife management. The deer population mushroom, Cordyceps sinensis was sold promote alternatives to forest-clearing for in the Nijhum Diwp has become a crucial for between US$6 126 and 10 450/kg in people living in the Amazon, and support issue in recent years. Areas such as these 2007 from Dodena, Thimphu. After its conservation and sustainable development. appear to be extremely overpopulated as collection was legalized in 2004, the Officials will seek donations abroad and compared with their estimated carrying highest production was recorded at aim to raise US$21 billion by 2021. capacity. The purpose of this census was to 423.88 kg in 2006 and the lowest was Speaking at the launch in Rio de Janeiro, observe how well the Forest Department at 128.16 kg in 2007. (Source: Kuensel online, President Lula said Brazil was aware of Noakhali could manage these large deer 18 July 2008.) how much the Amazon meant to the wider

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world. “It’s better for the country’s image to value to the product,” said the do things right, so we can walk in superintendent of Sebrae in Rondônia state, international forums with our heads high,” Pedro Teixeira. he added, while insisting that the Amazon’s Amazontech has also stimulated preservation was Brazil’s responsibility and universities in the Amazon region to broaden that Brazil will not accept foreign their course options to include those interference in its Amazon policy. Roberto working with local potential, in such fields Mangabeira Unger, Minister for Atrategic as forestry engineering, biotechnology, Affairs, clarified, “The fund is a vehicle by geology, veterinary medicine and biology. which foreign governments can help (Source: Brazzil Magazine [United States of support our initiatives without exerting any America], 25 November 2008.) influence over our national policy. We are not going to trade sovereignty for money.” Sergio Leitao, Director of Public Policies %CAMEROON for environmental group Greenpeace Brazil, noted: “For a long time, Brazil was violently Brazil’s Amazontech debates Amazon’s Bee farmers trained in profitable honey opposed to this, insisting fossil fuel was to self-sustainability farming blame. That’s true, historically speaking, Technological innovation, science and Some bee farmers in the Southwest but today forests play an important role.” entrepreneurial initiatives in the Amazon Province were recently trained on how to Brazilian Environment Minister Carlos region were to be highlighted at Amazontech make their venture profitable by processing Minc called for a radical change in 2008, in São Luís, Maranhão state in both honey and its by-products. The two- environmental attitudes: “We are November. day training took place at the Women committed to reducing the destruction of The sixth edition of this event opened Empowerment Centre, Kumba. The the rain forest, to eliminating illegal burning space for the generation of sustainable participants received fresh knowledge on and to guaranteeing a better quality of life business, exchange of scientific and honey quality; good harvesting and for all. Our war is not won by simply technical knowledge and diffusion of smoking; pollen, propolis and royal jelly reducing illegal burning in one month, it will information that may guarantee self- production; bee venom extraction and be won once this environmental model that sustainability of the region. queen rearing; honey wine and mead; is destroying our communities and Around 100 Amazonian companies beekeeping equipment; honey marketing; biodiversity is history.” (Source: BBC News offered herbal medication, handicrafts, and access to finances. [United Kingdom], 1 August 2008.) textiles, honey and honey products and According to the Southwest technical wooden products from sustainably managed advisor of FAO, Irene Manyi Ako, the Norway joins fight to save Amazon areas. Eight companies interested in the training is part of mobilization and capacity Norway has pledged US$1 billion to a new purchase of these products arrived from building for small- and medium-size international fund to help Brazil protect the Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, enterprises involved in the value chains of Amazon rain forest. The money will be Uruguay and Spain. non-wood forest products in Central Africa. released over seven years to promote The project round tables included (Source: The Post [Buea], 6 October 2008.) alternatives to forest-clearing for people institutions to finance social or living in the Amazon, and support entrepreneurial projects capable of creating New village tree planting project conservation and sustainable development. work positions and generating income for Can we start from our own small Norwegian Prime Minister Jens the community in the Amazon. The communities to plant trees so as to have Stoltenberg said: “Efforts against expectation was that up to 50 projects will be global benefit? This is the question behind a deforestation may give us the largest, financed. new project in Cameroon: tree planting in quickest and cheapest reductions in Business project round tables included 13 village communities of Ngoketunjia greenhouse gas emissions.” “Brazilian six institutions to finance social or division, as a means to fight climate change efforts against deforestation are therefore of entrepreneurial projects capable of creating in Cameroon and the world at large. vital importance if we shall succeed in our work positions and generating income for The objective of the project is to plant 65 000 campaign against global warming,” he the community in the Amazon. Bank trees on 26 ha of land within the 13 village added. participation was vital, enabling the communities in Ngoketunjia division, which Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da business sector to invest in the preservation is one of the seven divisions that make up Silva welcomed Norway’s pledge: “The day without leaving trade aside. As before, the the Northwest Province of Cameroon. In the that every developed country has the same expectation was that up to 50 projects will be division are lowland plains linking most of attitude as Norway, we’ll certainly begin to financed. the villages, and there is a population of trust that global warming can be Amazontech presented sustainable about 2 000. Seventy percent of the total diminished.” solutions particularly for communities in land surface is in the plains and the main Japan, Sweden, Germany, the Republic of forest and non-wood management, which activity is farming, with swamp rice, maize Korea and Switzerland are said to be expand opportunities in sectors such as and groundnuts being the main crops considering donating to the fund. (Source: pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food. cultivated. Other activities include fishing, BBC News [United Kingdom], 17 September “Standing, a tree is more profitable than hunting for wildlife, woodwork in craft 2008.) lying down. With a tree standing, we can add industries, etc.

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There are problem areas: an increased unusual mosses to sell to Christmas timberlands are mainly private, in the rest population that depends on agriculture for crafters and decorators. But connecting of the province, about 70 percent is Crown survival and the limited farmlands, which with people who desire these activities and land, she says. have led farmers to destroy patches of products has been an obstacle for woodlot Currently, the best source of information forest for farmlands; unsustainable owners. on where and how to forage is district exploitation of tree barks, roots and leaves To help, more than a dozen forestry and forest offices. “You need to contact them to for traditional medicines by traditional agriculture organizations in the region and let them know of your intentions. People doctors; high demand for timber for in Maine have come together to create also have to be aware of First Nations construction of houses and furniture, which “From Our Atlantic Woods”, a printed colour cultural use of medicinal plants. A has led to continued cutting down of trees catalogue and Web site that will list NTFPs harvesting area might have been used for without replacement; wood is the main raw grown or produced in New Brunswick, Nova centuries and they have cultural and material for the craft industries and the Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland heritage rights to that area.” many industries use a lot of wood; the and Labrador, and Maine. On Vancouver Island, she says, construction of the Bamenjim dam has led INFOR is heading up the “From Our “everybody knows how wonderful and to the destruction of many hectares of Atlantic Woods” project. There is no charge nutritional our native plants are. Our lowland forest; and there is a high demand to producers to list in the directory. blueberries are amazingly nutritious with for fuelwood for domestic and industry use. (Source: Atlantic Farm Focus [Canada], 31 phytonutrients.” Caine has a weak spot for Project activities will start in January July 2008.) wild berry jams. “Thimbleberry jam. Rose 2009 in the village communities with petal jam. I buy them already prepared. And sensitization workshops on the importance FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SIGN UP, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, you of tree planting and management. Each PLEASE VISIT: can find high bush cranberries at higher village community will plant 2 ha each, www.ntfp.infor.ca altitudes. They make the most amazing which will be managed by the village after jelly.” (Source: Vancouver Sun [Canada], 15 the project. Expected outputs of the project August 2008.) include: village communities will increase their knowledge on the importance of tree planting; 26 ha of land will have been % CHINA planted with different species of trees; vegetation cover will be increased; and Asian Development Bank helps China global warming reduced. improve Baiyangdian ecosystem The pilot phase of this project will last 12 To help counter the environmental damage months and has a budget of ¤30 800. to Baiyangdian Lake in north China, the (Source: Natural Resource Monitoring Asian Development Bank is providing a loan Items of Interest [NRMI], 26 October 2008.) of US$100 million for the US$273 million Food products foraged from British Integrated Ecosystem and Water FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PROVIDE Columbia’s forests need to be showcased Resources Management in the Baiyangdian ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT: Foraging in the forests of British Columbia is Basin Project, which will focus on the Jaff Francis Agiamntebom, Project coordinator, suddenly something to be reckoned with. It critical actions to conserve Baiyangdian Forest and Agroforestry Promoters (FAP) has graduated to the post-secondary level. Lake - one of the most important and Cameroon, PO Box 21, Ndop Ngoketunjia One of the projects undertaken by the vulnerable ecosystems in China. division, Northwest Province, Cameroon. Centre for Non-Timber Resources at Royal Through a range of interventions, the E-mail: [email protected]; www.fap- Roads University in Victoria is “Buy BC project will help alleviate ecosystem cameroon.page.tl Wild”, which has sponsorship from the constraints in the basin by improving water Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Thrifty quality and quantity. Additionally, the Foods, VanCity and Service Canada. project will include training for ecosystem % CANADA “We realized there were a lot of wild management and ecotourism. products coming out of our forests and Development of NTFPs will also be Making money from more than trees there was a need for wildcrafters and encouraged. (Source: China CSR [China], Money may not grow on trees but burls do businesses to have a collective voice to 25 July 2008.) and those misshapen growths may be just showcase their wonderful products and what a wood carver needs to make a services,” says Holly Caine, coordinator of beautiful bowl. How about shitake Buy BC Wild. A Web site directory listing %COLOMBIA mushrooms growing on a water-soaked 150 purveyors of wild food, herbs and craft log? A city chef may be willing to pay for a material from BC’s forests showcases the Colombia’s Cofan still fighting for survival local supply. non-logging side of our forests (see Bogota. Although he is only 21, Camilo Yoge In the wake of mill shutdowns, woodlot www.buybcwild.com). has seen his indigenous tribe lose its owners across Atlantic Canada are looking “What we’re trying to promote are the culture, territory and traditions. Yoge, a at all ways of making money from their people who access the resources in our member of the Cofan tribe, has seen woods, from providing hiking and skiing communities and provide local products,” farmers, ranchers and oilmen invade his trails to harvesting colourful berries and says Caine. While Vancouver Island’s ancestral lands to plant illegal coca crops,

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raise cattle and search for oil. “We’re losing traditional rites, which has become popular han identificado cuatro con un importante our traditional dress, our environment,” with outsiders who often harvest the plant potencial de domesticación. lamented Yoge, who is studying to become a for sale. Other plants are used to treat Milagro Mata, directora de la Unidad de taita, or shaman. “We are no longer free in inflammations, kidney ailments and Hongos del INBio, explicó que se trata de our own territory.” rheumatism. variedades conocidas científicamente como To help the Cofan – who number only Indigenous Colombians, who belong to «Pycnoporus sanguineus», «Ganoderma about 2 600 people between Colombia and dozens of different ethnic groups, make up australe», «Lectinum monticola» y Ecuador – preserve their traditions, the about 2 percent of the nation’s population of «Lentinula aciculospora». Colombian Government last month created 45 million. Like the Cofan, many have Dos de las especies son setas y otras dos the Orito Ingi-Ande Medicinal Plants suffered the impact of disease, deforestation “orejas de palo”, como se conocen Sanctuary to protect the plants that the and violence from the nation’s more than popularmente, las cuales reúnen Cofan depend on for medicinal and spiritual four-decades-old civil war. particulares beneficios alimenticios, como purposes. Officials in Colombia say the Lilliana Madrigal, Vice President of un alto porcentaje de proteína, fibra y reserve is the only national park in the world programmes for the Amazon Conservation aminoácidos entre sus componentes. created for that reason. “Sustainable use will Team, based in Virginia, which helped plan Tras la identificación de estas especies, el permit us to preserve the natural the new park, predicts that the reserve will INBio concentrará ahora sus esfuerzos en la resources,” said National Parks Director inspire the creation of protected areas in construcción de un laboratorio para la Julia Miranda Londoño. other nations. In fact, Colombian park reproducción experimental de los hongos, a The idea for the reserve came after Cofan officials say they are already planning to fin de establecer los métodos más leaders met in 2003 with the national convert a 2.9 million-acre (1.2 million ha) apropiados para su producción comercial, organization of indigenous shaman to search indigenous reserve into a national park to dijo Mata. for an unpopulated region they could use to protect areas important to the several La investigación forma parte de un preserve their medicinal plants. They took indigenous groups living there. Luciano proyecto financiado por la entidad the proposal to national park authorities, Mutumbajoy, a member of the nearby Inga internacional Fundecooperación, en el cual who spent several years mapping out a indigenous people and a leader of participan también Bután (Asia) y Benin 25 000-acre (10 117 ha) reserve. Colombia’s traditional medical practitioners, (Africa), el cual está dotado con un The Orito Ingi-Ande Medicinal Plants helped create the yet-to-be named park. “If presupuesto de un millón de dólares. Sanctuary, whose name means “our our medicine is finished, the life and Según Mata, el consumo de hongos ha territory” in the Cofan language, ranges in existence of the indigenous people will end,” crecido aceleradamente en el mundo en los elevation from 2 300 to nearly 10 000 feet he said. (Source: Traditional Knowledge últimos años y Costa Rica podría sacar (701-3 048 m) above sea level in the Bulletin, 22 July 2008.) provecho económico de su potencial. southwestern departments of Nariño and También explicó que el INBio espera Putumayo - about a two-hour drive from poder capacitar y eventualmente financiar el Cofan territory, where much of the %COSTA RICA inicio de operaciones a agricultores que vegetation has been destroyed by farmers, quieran explotar comercialmente este ranchers and oilmen. producto. With few options available for earning (Fuente: Univisión, EE.UU., 5 de agosto 2008.) money, park officials say that many Cofan have resorted to harvesting coca leaf, the base ingredient for cocaine, further eroding their DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC traditions. Even traditional palm fronds, which %OF THE CONGO are now hard to find, have been replaced by tin when building roofs for their homes. The valorization of NTFPs from Batéké “We live from nature, that’s where our Científicos «domestican» hongos Plateau in the periphery of Kinshasa energy comes from,” said Louis Octavio silvestres en Costa Rica The main objective of this study was to make Criollo, 39, a Cofan who is also training to Científicos costarricenses trabajan en la an ethnoecological analysis of the become a taita. “But when (the forest) is cut «domesticación» de varias especies de management systems of NTFPs in the down, all of that is lost.” hongos silvestres comestibles para que periphery of Kinshasa. It considers an Aside from spiritual value, the new park’s puedan ser producidos comercialmente y operating mode that guarantees their elevation range has abundant biodiversity, se aproveche su potencial alimenticio y conservation and sustainable use and to parks officials say, including about 400 bird medicinal. bring elements that are indispensable to varieties, numerous reptiles and such rare El proyecto está a cargo de un grupo de improving their valorization. species as chameleons, jaguars and Andean biólogos del Instituto Nacional de The study aims to understand the spectacled bears. Cofan elders have also Biodiversidad (INBio), una entidad privada explanatory factors of the exploitation and identified nearly 100 plant species used for sin fines de lucro que se dedica al estudio de valorization of NTFPs; to examine the effects medicinal and religious purposes. las especies vegetales y animales de Costa of their intensification in the survey zone; Two of the most important plants are yoco Rica y que promueve su uso sostenible. and to undertake some actions in the short, (Paullinia yoco), a vine used against fatigue, Los investigadores han estudiado parte de medium and long term to deepen knowledge as a laxative and to prevent malaria, and las 125 especies de hongos silvestres on the endogenous associative networks, yagé, a mildly hallucinogenic vine used in clasificadas en el país y hasta el momento ethnoecological expertise and power

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relations concerning access to NTFPs, and themselves but, if the catch is big enough, the implementation of the policies that drive they end up selling some of it. a participative management of the natural af Ursin is known in Finland for his resources in the periphery of Kinshasa. cooperation with the Italian entrepreneur Field surveys took place in the eight Lorenzo Dalla Valle, who exports ceps villages of the Batéké Plateau and for the (Boletus edulis) from Finland to Italy. It is af station of Bombo-Lumene, “a protected Ursin’s job to get the pickers out as soon as area”. The five most exploited non-ligneous the first ceps are sighted each autumn. forest products of the survey area were One person can pick enough mushrooms chosen in order to analyse the determining for the needs of a single restaurant, but factors in NTFP exploitation. The survey of when the main crop of ceps emerges in the 280 households was complemented by 22 Finnish forests, a veritable army of pickers focus group interviews, direct field is needed. The method of alerting the observations, socio-economic surveys and pickers varies in different parts of the ethnoecological surveys on the exploitation country and includes placing strategies of NTFPs. The NTFP chain at advertisements in newspapers and sending Batéké Plateau and its impact were studied text messages. between June 2005 and November 2006. af Ursin has toured all of Finland, The analysis of NTFP use in the periphery Dioscorea praehensilis speaking to about 7 000 people about of Kinshasa reveals 169 species of NTFPs mushrooms and how to organize the belonging to 65 families: • US$0.20 for rattan, with an average daily picking. He has the contact information of • 66 species of herbaceous plants (39 profit of close to US$4. some 1 500 mushroom pickers. After percent); Apart from the socio-economic value of hearing about the first sighting of ceps, af • 46 species of ligneous plants, including harvesting NTFPs, there are also some Ursin forwards the information to Dalla the coins bushes (27 percent); negative effects to the ecosystem, which Valle. Dalla Valle organizes trucks that run • 27 species of bushes (16 percent); are mainly caused by unsustainable on set routes according to a set timetable • 22 lianas species (13 percent); and methods used for harvesting, such as the to buy the mushrooms, and af Ursin • 8 species of coins bushes, which are systematic and regular harvest of fruits, informs the pickers about the routes and poorly exploited (5 percent). roots and leaves; the systematic felling or timetables by SMS. These NTFPs are essentially used for food extraction of plants; the removal of the Buying ceps is a whirlwind business and, (68 species, 40 percent); herbal medicine (59 complete bark; cutting off of the terminal because of the efficiency of the pickers, species, 5 percent), and handicraft domestic bud; and repeated fires. All have caused an daily amounts can reach 5 tonnes. A cep of and cultural uses (41 species, 25 percent). enormous toll on the natural environment. the best quality is hard and firm, the gills The households surveyed have extensive Finally, this study shows that there are are white and the mushroom is clean and environmental endogenous knowledge of the biocultural interactions that apply to both whole. The main part of the cep crop is ecological factors. They know 12 plant the natural environment (ecosystems) and exported. “In 2003, for example, some species used as an additive for fermentation to the strategies of NTFP utilization by 1 100 tonnes of ceps were picked in to local wines. They respect the téké custom farming families. The definition of a Finland. The domestic use was about 40 of dedicating one day of the week to their reasonable valorization policy of NTFPs tonnes,” says af Ursin forebears. The shepherds do not cut down integrated in an interdisciplinary approach In Finland, 22 mushroom species can be the trees along riverbanks. They succeed in of sustainable development remains sold as foodstuffs. In practice, only seven popularizing the cooking techniques of unavoidable for the area under study. are picked for sale: cep, false morel Pteridium sp. (fern) and of Talinum (Contributed by: Apollinaire Biloso Moyene, (Gyromitra esculenta), funnel chanterelle triangulare (waterleaf), eliminating toxic Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, (Chantarellus tubaeformis), chanterelle substances such as ptaquilosides and Université de Kinshasa, Plateau des (Chantarellus cibarius), black chanterelle oxalates from these NTFPs. Professeurs, Résidence THELEM, App. 18 (Craterellus cornucopioides), northern The NTFPs exploited in forests, gallery Campus, BP 117 Kin 11, Kinshasa, milk-cap (Lactarius trivialis) and rufus forests and savannahs are sold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. E-mail: candy milk-cap (Lactarius rufus). “Ceps markets and selling points at Batéké plateau. [email protected]) make up about 70 percent of both the The average price that villagers sell 1 kg of volume and value of the catch,” af Ursin these NTFPs is estimated to be: estimates. • US$0.08 for Pteridium sp., with an % FINLAND But how does one know if a good average daily profit of almost US$2; mushroom crop can be expected? There is • US$0.05 for indigenous wine, with an Finnish mushroom pickers love the forest no sure way of predicting it, af Ursin says. average daily profit of US$9; “About 5 percent of Finns like to spend all “There are too many variables in the • US$0.05 for Dioscorea praehensilis their available time in forests,” Mr Kimmo af environment, every moment is unique. The (bitter thread), with an average daily Ursin estimates on the basis of his 13 years only source of information about the crop profit of US$1; as a mushroom entrepreneur. In fact, the are people who regularly move about in • US$0.05 for Talinum triangulare with an majority of people who pick mushrooms for Finnish forests.” (Source: Forest-fi, 1 average daily profit of US$0.26; and sale are really out to get some for December 2008.)

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%INDIA used against snake bites: the young and tender P. nepalensis leaves are tied or Improved cooperation key to saving warped at the location of the snake bite and biodiverse forests in northeastern India help to reduce pain, also acting as an While the tropical forests of northeastern antidote to snake venom. The leaves of the India have the lowest population density in plant act as a mouth freshener when the country, a population growth rate of chewed and the fresh leaves are used as a 3 percent per year has put pressure on cockroach repellent. Reports also indicate community-owned forest reserves for food, that the leaves act as an aphrodisiac and a timber and NTFPs. However, this cure against headache and general dependence - combined with improved weakness, and that the juice of the crushed relations between the Forest Department plant taken with milk will induce abortion. and the Nishi, a local tribe - may help The fruits that ripen during the winters are facilitate more effective conservation action in Nepali), which is considered to be a much eaten by human beings, monkeys and rats. in and around the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, neglected local floral element and whose In Sikkim Himalaya, although growing say researchers Aparajita Datta and G.S. potentiality as non-timber forest resource within a limited vertical limit (300-1 200 m), Rawat in a recent report. has so far never been realized. the species has a wide horizontal Past conflicts between the subsistence On a global scale, the genus Pandanus is distribution within the Tista river basin (the agriculture-dependent Nishi and the Forest made up of about 700 species. In general, biggest in Sikkim). Considering the Department have eased since 2002, when these screw-pines are tree-like and grow abundance and accessibility of the screw- the department and national conservation up to 20 m, but small shrub-like specimens pine all over the region, it is intriguing that organizations began to address the of about 1 m high are also common and very little is known about it and still less challenges confronting local communities. distinguished for having broad canopies and literature is found on it. Now, “hunting of wildlife such as hornbills, a moderate growth pattern. The long linear In the past the screw-pine was used for primates and ungulates in the park leaves originating at the stem appear making various items, such as hand-woven appears to have declined due to better screw-like and the edible fruits, to a great mats, carry bags, fish snares, thatching protection by park authorities and greater extent, resemble pine cones, hence the materials, etc. but these uses are now awareness and enforcement of hunting name “screw-pine”. The leaves, which have dying out. Reviewing the literature on the bans by the Nishi community”, note the stout curving spines at the edges, are often region’s NTFPs, it is noteworthy that little authors. traditionally used for their fibre content and resource prospecting has been done on Datta and Rawat conclude that efforts to are known for their distinct aroma. The these fibre-yielding plants. Although the protect forest resources and biodiversity species of Pandanus are widely used for region has well-documented information will be in the best interest of local many purposes: preparation of jam, on wild edibles and herbals, it is poorly communities. housing materials, in textiles, food, documented on fibre-yielding plants. This (Citation: Aparajita Datta and G.S. 2008. medication (antiviral, anti-allergen), making aspect, the reasons behind it and its effect, Rawat. Dispersal modes and spatial mats, etc. need closer examination in relation to the patterns of tree species in a tropical forest Pandanus nepalensis is a medium-sized sociocultural-economic fabric of the tribal in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. dioeciously branched tree up to 5-6 m in people of Sikkim. Tropical Conservation Science, 1(3): 163- height, typically having a broad canopy and In view of the various attributes of 185, September.) stout trunk, ringed with many leaf scars. Pandanus, there are great possibilities for (Source: mongabay.com, 15 September Spines are also found on the individual using this NTFP species (in addition to 2008.) fruits (obconical, 5-6 angled), which are making jam, jelly, juice, textile, etc.) as an borne as a composite fleshy pseudo-drupe aid to the socio-economic development of Sikkim Himalayan screw-pine, Pandanus (15-25 cm long, globose) on a common native communities through innovative nepalensis: a much neglected and fruiting axis. These are evenly covered by a entrepreneurships, both by using wild underexplored NTFP shining cuticle, each bearing yellow resources sustainably as well as planting The Indian state of Sikkim, in the northeast outwardly curving forked stout spines. the species in wastelands and other Himalayas, is known to have over 4 500 These spines provide a natural protection underutilized lands through the plants within a geographic area of 7 096 from damage by wildlife until the fruit is development of propagation and mass km2, making the region part of one of the ripe. (This should be considered as a multiplication protocols. From the habitat world’s richest biodiversity hot spots. A strategy by the species in seed conservation and management point of substantial part of the state is covered by dissemination.) The fully mature composite view, the species could also offer a great forests (about 36 percent of total land area), fruit turns bright red. boost to wildlife and thus a rich a majority of which are of the temperate The use of P. nepalensis as medicine is biodiversity, in addition to conserving the semi-deciduous forest type. This article inadequately documented, although it has soil. As the Sikkim Himalayan region is of concerns one screw-pine of the region, important properties. In the Dzongu valley recent origin with a high rainfall and Pandanus nepalensis H. St John (= in the northern district of Sikkim the sloping terrain the P. nepalensis Pandanus furcatus), of the Pandanaceae indigenous Lepcha tribe use Pandanus in populations provide a much-needed family (in Hindi, the plant is called several ways. According to the Maon-Doak support towards maintaining the fragile Ambemohor pat, Rampe and named Tarika (the Lepcha medicine man), the leaves are ecosystem balance in the region.

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(Contributed by: Dr Hemant K. Badola, Mr to promote market-driven cultivation with a play a crucial role in the livelihood of these B.K. Pradhan, Ms Sanjyoti Subba, Mr L.K. Rai focus on the development of selected people, but form a key incentive to conserving and Dr Y.K. Rai, G.B. Pant Institute of clusters with potential for inclusive growth in the forests of India. Moreover, NTFPs are Himalayan Environment and Development, agribusiness through medicinal plants. The woven in with the social and cultural fabric of Sikkim Unit, Gangtok-Sikkim, India.) goal is to improve market access of farmers the communities living in India. to better prices for their produce and better Women from a self-help group in India FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: quality of raw material for the Ayurvedic, sort through dried amla fruit. Traditionally, Dr Hemant K. Badola, Scientist In-Charge Siddha and Unani industries. (Source: amla is made into chutneys and pickles. Here and Scientist - Conservation of Biodiversity, G.B. Commodity Online, Kerala [India], 15 it is processed into sweets and a breath Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and September 2008.) freshener. Development, Sikkim Unit, PO Box 24, Gangtok Through the assistance of the Keystone (Campus: Pangthang), Low prices strain Mahua flower-dependent Foundation, productivity has increased Sikkim 737 101, India. Fax: (03592) 237415; villagers in Orissa threefold with the adoption of new technology e-mail: [email protected]; Villagers across Orissa are under strain as for processing. This story, and many others, [email protected]/ the Panchayat Samiti has fixed what most are featured in a new 30-minute film - Voices consider to be a low rate for the Mahua’ from the Forest, India - made by the Non- How medicinal plants promote agribusiness flowers they depend upon for their livelihood. Timber Forest Products Exchange The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Mahua, the raw material used for making Programme, through Gekko Studio/Telapak established in 2000, is responsible for country spirit, is a major source of revenue and Dusty Food Productions. supporting initiatives for the conservation for the state government. and cultivation of medicinal plants, both in The subcollector of Bargarh district said situ and ex situ in India. In the latest 11th that this year the rate for the sale of Mahua Plan, the outlay of Rs990 crores to the NMPB flowers is fixed at Rs1 500 per quintal, and represents a sevenfold increase in financing Panchayat Samitees have been entrusted to from the previous plan. ensure that villagers get minimum support A study of demand and supply of medicinal prices for their produce. plants in India carried out by the Board “For the last two years, the Mahua yield during 2007-2008 highlighted alarming has not been sufficient. We collect Mahua shortages of some of the plants used by the flowers every day with the hope that we will Ayurvedic industry. earn something, but unfortunately we have to Of particular interest were tree species sell the flowers at a throwaway price,” said such as Sita Ashok (Saraca asoca), the main Kanak Pradhan, a villager. ingredient of Ashokaristha, a key Ayurvedic “This is a season of Mahua flowers and the formulation for gynaecological disorders; government of Orissa has made adequate Guggal (Commiphora wightii), a thorny bush provisions for the sale of these flowers by the that yields gum resin used in more than 100 villagers wherever Mahua is produced. It Ayurvedic preparations; and the Dashmools, comes under non-timber forest products. used in the popular Ayurvedic preparation, The rate for such products, including Mahua Dashmoolarishta. The estimated demand of flowers, is fixed by the Panchayat Samitee Sita Ashoka bark is in excess of 2 000 tonnes, concerned. The Gram Panchayats are given but availability in the wild is extremely rare. the responsibility to see … that the poor Likewise, although more than 1 000 tonnes of people get a minimum fixed support price by FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST the gum resin from Guggal is used by the the Panchayat Samitee,” said Bishnu Prasad A COPY OF THIS FILM, PLEASE CONTACT: Ayurvedic industry, over 90 percent of this is Mishra, subcollector, Bargarh district. Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange imported. Almost all villagers, especially women, Programme, 92 Masikap Extension, Barangay The Board has sanctioned the gather Mahua flowers from early morning Central, Diliman, Quezon City 1100, Philippines. conservation and plantation of some of the until sunset. The flowers are then dried and Fax: +63 2 4262757, 9293665; e-mail: rare and endangered species in high demand sold to entrepreneurs, leaving most villagers [email protected] or [email protected] on thousands of hectares across multiple largely unaware of the fixed prices. Most (Manila); www.ntfp.org/ states. tribals along the forested area of Orissa Special Board initiatives include the depend on such NWFPs for sustaining East India leather is now an exclusive conservation and propagation of high altitude themselves for around six to seven months in geoproduct plants such as Atees, Kuth and Kutki, led by a year. (Source: DailyIndia.com, Florida East India (EI) Leather, a vegetable tanned the Task Force on High Altitude Medicinal [United States of America], 7 June 2008.) leather that has been a specialty of Plants. The School and Home Herbal tanneries in Trichy and Dindigul for the last Gardens programme in over 1 000 schools Voices from the Forest, India - new film 160 years, has now been approved and across the country has driven awareness All across India, NTFPs are a critical source registered as an exclusive geographic about the healthy role of India’s biodiversity. of income for indigenous people and forest- product by the Geographic Indications A new Government-approved initiative, the dwelling communities, who are among the Registry of the Union Ministry of National Mission on Medicinal Plants, seeks poorest of the poor. Not only do the NTFPs Commerce.

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Registration under the geographic NTFPs does not have farmer-friendly Tiene tallos ramificados con gran cantidad indications of goods (Registrations and regulations. Farmers are now hoping to de hojas, que constituyen su parte Protection Act, 1999) will give the product legalize their engagement in forest aprovechable. Éstas, son de forma ovalada an exclusive brand image similar to management. con bordes dentados y una textura rugosa Darjeeling tea, Kanchipuram silk saris or “A permit for forest management would con muchas vellosidades, el tamaño es Coorg coffee. The characteristic quality and allow us to become wholeheartedly involved muy variable, desde 5 hasta 10 cm de largo reputation unique to the geographic in developing forest areas and prevent us dependiendo de la disponibilidad de agua. location are indicative behind the logo and from violating the law. It would also clarify Sus flores son pequeñas, de color blanco; EI technology is a British legacy in the farmers’ rights and responsibilities,” said los frutos son cápsulas y en ellas se country. Artim, a member of a local farmers’ encuentran almacenadas las semillas, Evidence is available that the exclusive cooperative unit. éstas son de color café, no mayores de 25 tannery process utilizes cassia species, The only legal standpoint farmers have mm. Las plantas de orégano presentan pungum oil and wattle bark extract as for their involvement in the programme is flores y frutos todo el año, no obstante, en utilized in 1805 at a tannery near Chennai. the 1999 Forestry Law. The problem Yucatán, la mayor abundancia de flores y It was in 1856 that a tannery unit was remains, however, that regulations related frutos se da entre noviembre y abril. established using the so-called EI to this law tend to be counterproductive, if El aceite esencial de orégano mexicano, technique. not contradictory. The farmer group has con el agradable olor de sus hojas, se EI leather is very popular in Italy, France therefore requested the local Forestry and encuentra en glándulas localizadas en las and other Western countries since it is the Plantation Office, legislative council vellosidades o tricomas foliares. Este best sort of leather to manufacture members and NGOs to get together to aceite tiene diversas propiedades garments, fancy handbags and suede produce a regulation on community forestry antioxidantes, antibacterianas, leather shoes. The uniqueness of EI leather for the benefit of forest farmers. (Source: antifúngicas e insecticidas, por lo cual includes its special feel, the gloss and The Jakarta Post [Indonesia], 16 September además de ser muy atractivo como polish it accrues with use, its distinctive 2008 in Community Forestry E-News, saborizante, también presenta importantes smell and the noise it makes when tapped. September 2008.) usos para la industria farmaceútica, (Source: Business Standard [India], 23 July alimenticia y cosmetológica. 2008.) En lengua maya el orégano se conoce (Please see page 20 of Non-Wood News 17 con el nombre de akil ché, y es considerado for more information.) un recurso natural con historia ancestral. En el pasado, el orégano mexicano se utilizó principalmente con fines %INDONESIA medicinales para el alivio de enfermedades relacionadas con las vías respiratorias y Fighting to keep islands above water padecimientos estomacales. For more than a decade, Defitri Akbar has Debido a la abundancia de esta especie spearheaded a drive to involve local people en el noroeste de Yucatán, y a la in mangrove conservation in Riau Province. importancia de esta planta en la economía He and some colleagues have founded an de las familias rurales, se realizó una NGO, Bahtera Melayu, which drew up two % MÉXICO investigación con el propósito de conocer basic targets: (i) guided participation of las implicaciones ecológicas y coastal communities in a programme to Mujeres mayas y orégano mexicano: socioeconómicas que conlleva la cosecha, save mangrove ecosystems; and (ii) the del monte a la cocina comercialización y uso de este recurso development of alternative incomes to El orégano, esa planta olorosa, que forestal no maderero. La investigación fue reduce pressure on natural resources and utilizamos en muchas de nuestras recetas financiada por el Centro de Investigación surrounding environments. de cocina, está representado generalmente Científica de Yucatán (CICY) y la Comisión The NGO has been successful in getting por dos especies de plantas distintas. La Nacional Forestal (CONAFOR). community groups to take the lead in primera se conoce como orégano europeo En las comunidades estudiadas, la managing 230 ha of local mangrove and to (Origanum vulgare) y pertenece a la familia cosecha de orégano de monte es realizada develop a honey production industry. It has botánica Labiatae. Esta especie crece en principalmente por las mujeres mayas y also started a green generation education zonas mediterráneas del sur de Europa, sus hijos. La temporada inicia en la época programme involving local youth. (Source: Grecia y Turquía. La otra especie es el de lluvias y dura aproximadamente de julio The Jakarta Post [Indonesia], 2 September orégano medicano (Lippia graveolens), a octubre. Para que la cosecha inicie es 2008 in Community Forestry E-News, perteneciente a la familia Verbenaceae, es necesario que el comprador llame y avise September 2008.) una especie resistente a la sequía que se que está interesado en adquirir el encuentra distribuida en los climas producto. La confirmación del comprador Rinjani community push for forestry semiáridos de México y de América Central. resulta ser el detonador para que las regulations Lippia graveolens es una especie mujeres de la comunidad salgan al campo A community forestry programme in arbustiva perenne de entre 1 y 3,5 m de e inicien la cosecha. Lombok that allows farmers to take part in altura, con un crecimiento relativamente El proceso de cosecha es sencillo y no developing forest areas and in harvesting rápido y un ciclo de vida corto (5-10 años). requiere herramientas. Se elije la planta,

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después se toma una de sus ramas y las sereno de la noche, y al día siguiente de hojas de ésta se tiran del centro de la planta nuevo se extiende exponiéndolo al sol. Una hacia fuera, a esta actividad se le conoce vez seco se coloca de nuevo en costales y con el nombre de “raspar o bajar el se coloca dentro de las casas o en algún orégano”. Una vez que las hojas han sido lugar bajo techo, para evitar que absorba desprendidas se prosigue a guardarlas en humedad. un costal. Sucesivamente, se sigue La cosecha finaliza cuando se cubre la raspando rama por rama hasta que se logra demanda del comprador (tres o cuatro retirar entre el 75 y el 100 por ciento de las meses después) y avisa que no irá más a la hojas. La técnica de cosecha no siempre es comunidad esa temporada, es entonces que la misma, sino que varía de acuerdo a las las cosechadoras quedan a la espera de su costumbres de las mujeres. Algunas de las llamada para el próximo año. variaciones son por ejemplo no cosechar El manejo del orégano en las plantas con flor, no dejar hojas en la planta, comunidades visitadas, tiene un importante cortar o quebrar las ramas, especialmente impacto en la economía de las region. The project also strives towards the en individuos muy altos, encimar las ramas cosechadoras, ya que representa un conservation and restoration of degraded cortadas a un lado del camino y después porcentaje considerable del ingreso areas. retirar las hojas. monetario mensual que obtienen las The project is being implemented by La jornada de trabajo en temporada de familias. No obstante, este ingreso es Reforestamos México A.C. (a local Mexican cosecha dura entre 4 y 12 horas aunque temporal, solamente se obtiene durante la NGO based in Mexico City), with financing depende de la lejanía del sitio y del medio temporada de cosecha de la especie. Una by the private sector. de transporte del que se disponga (a pie, familia, durante la temporada, puede Reforestamos México, in collaboration bicicleta, triciclo o camión fletado). Dado cosechar y vender hasta una tonelada de with regional NGOs, has been able to que la mayoría de las personas van a pie, en orégano seco. En términos económicos, el coordinate social and corporate support to cuanto llenan un costal emprenden el orégano de monte es un producto que se the region since 2005. This model has camino de regreso, pues el peso de éste no puede incorporar a la cadena de mercado successfully been replicated in the debe sobrepasar la cantidad que una con un mínimo de inversión de capital. neighbouring communities of Huichol and mujer o un niño pueden transportar Además, la producción, cosecha y Tarahumara. The model’s success is based cargando en la espalda. procesado no requiere de muchas on its ability to foster community En un viaje de cosecha el peso promedio habilidades o de tecnologías sofisticadas. participation in the creation of Community de hojas frescas es de aproximadamente A partir de la información generada en el Forest Enterprises (CFEs), which in turn 9,6 kg, dependiendo de la edad, sexo y proyecto se observa que el aprovechamiento have empowered the community and led to habilidades de la cosechadora o del orégano en las comunidades estudiadas, the sustainable management of forest cosechador. Si se cuenta con un triciclo y y en general en el estado de Yucatán, tiene resources. caminos para transportar la carga es un gran potencial. posible que cada recolectora lleve más de (Aportación hecha por: Dra. Luz María Calvo FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: un costal de hojas. Irabién, Centro de Investigación Científica de María Ana de Rijk, Coordinadora de Planeación En el monte, el orégano crece en lugares Yucatan, Calle 43 #130 Chuburná de Estratégica y Política Ambiental, Reforestamos pedregosos, pero no se desarrolla en Hidalgo, Mérida, 97200 Yucatán, México. México A.C., Calle Tabasco #189, int. 203, suelos inundados. Se encuentra también Fax: 999 981 3900; Correo electrónico: Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México, DF, 06700, en solares y en terrenos de cultivo [email protected]) Mexico. E-mail [email protected]; asociados a huertos de cítricos y de www.reforestamosmexico.org/ pitahaya. En estos lugares no se siembra, Community forestry development in Mexico más bien se tolera y cuida ya que crece de The Tepehuano Forestry Development manera natural. project is based on a participatory model % NAMIBIA Una vez cosechado el orégano, el único that aims to increase the livelihoods of the proceso poscosecha es el secado al sol. Tepehuano community by strengthening San devil’s claw is an international hit Para realizar esto las hojas del orégano se human development and promoting the San communities from the Nyae Nyae and extienden sobre un plástico, sobre los sustainable management of forest Na-Jaqna conservancies generated more mismos costales, o directamente, ya sea en resources. The Tepehuano community of than RN$400 000 during 2007 from the el solar o techo de las casas, incluso en Santa María de Ocotán covers an area of harvesting and sale of plant products. aceras o calles. Cada media hora, 400 000 ha and has one of the highest levels Similar or even better results are expected aproximadamente, el orégano es removido of poverty in the country. for 2008, as more than 1 000 harvesters are con un rastrillo o una vara, con el objetivo de The project’s mission is to promote registered in both conservancies, conseguir un secado parejo. Si el día es community forestry development in the researcher Dave Cole said recently. In a soleado, al cabo de 3 ó 4 horas el orégano Nayar region by providing capacity building paper entitled Botanical resources está listo. Por el contrario si el día resulta for the community to enhance increasingly contributing to income nublado, el orégano puede tardar en secar entrepreneurial skills based on a generation for conservancies and their hasta dos días. En estos casos es necesario sustainable forest model to supply timber members issued last month, Cole indicated recogerlo antes de que llueva o caiga el and non-timber products for the whole that, to date, conservancies had collected

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an income of RN$288 561, with several organized harvesting and sale of devil’s more months of harvesting to go. claw in these conservancies also contribute The Nyae Nyae Conservancy was formed to empowering people to develop a sense of in 1998, and the Na-Jaqna Conservancy in ownership and to take responsibility for the 2003. management of their resources. Clearly, The medicinal value of devil’s claw however, given the extent of poverty in (Harpagophytum) for the treatment of rural areas, the challenge is to identify rheumatism, arthritis and other ailments additional products that can also contribute of this type has been recognized by to income generation in these “Western medicine” only in the last 50 conservancies.” (Source: The Namibian years. The first major exports from [Windhoek], 10 September 2008.) Namibia started in the early 1960s, and Growing in popularity in the international today the country is the largest exporter in Devil’s claw fruit for forest community market as beautiful natural stationery, the the world, accounting for about 95 percent livelihoods paper has a long history of use. In Nepal, of the trade. Namibia currently exports on Four community forests in the Caprivi have all legal and legislative documents were average about 400 tonnes of dried devil’s earned more than RN$200 000 from devil’s printed on the paper thanks to its claw per year, which represents a claw (Harpagophytum) sales. Devil’s claw, a durability. It can be preserved for a long significant income for the country. plant that grows mainly in the Kalahari period of time, is non-perishable in water, According to Cole, up until recently, sands of Namibia, Botswana, South Africa is free from germs and is highly resistant to devil’s claw was harvested and traded but and Angola and, to a lesser extent, in insects such as silverfish and paper was characterized by unsustainable Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, has crawlers. Lokta paper is also excellent for harvesting practices, exploitive prices paid medicinal properties for the treatment of wrapping precious stones since its soft to harvesters and inferior quality. However, rheumatism, arthritis and other ailments, fibres do not scratch stone surfaces. in the last two years, funding from the and was recognized by “western medicine” The paper has a beautiful natural tan Integrated Community-Based Ecosystem only in the last 50 years. shade but can easily be dyed in water with Management Project and the United States Devil’s claw needs to be harvested with other colours. It is ideal for production Agency for International Development, as special techniques to conserve the plant for without machines and scraps of the paper well as the Life for Relief and Development future use. These techniques were taught in can also be recycled simply. (Source: programmes, have enabled the Working workshops organized by the community extracted from: About lokta paper. Group on Indigenous Minorities in Southern forestry committees, which also organized Kathmandu, Nepal. Available at: Africa and the Nyae Nyae Development the Ministry of Environment and Tourism www.nepalipaper.com/1000883.html) Foundation Namibia to implement a permit necessary for harvesting. sustainable harvesting programme, Only community members who benefiting both the conservancies and participated in the training were registered %NEW ZEALAND individual harvesters. Harvesters are now for harvesting and were given the necessary organized into groups and receive training permit to ensure that the harvesting takes Indigenous tribes transform historic on sustainable harvesting and processing. place under controlled conditions. In addition, grievances into a bright future Organic certification allows for the the four community forestry committees A landmark agreement has been signed product to be traced back to the area in carried out an effective law enforcement into legislation in the New Zealand House which it was harvested, and by whom. exercise to stop illegal harvesting and sales to of Parliament as of September 2008. The Provision for the costs of covering the illegal buyers. As with the harvesters, the arrangement transfers around 10 percent expenses related to organic certification buyers also need to be registered with the of the country’s intensively managed have also been made, and the Ministry. (Source: All Africa.com [Namibia], planted forest to a collective of indigenous conservancies will be able to cover these 30 October 2008.) Maori people. This largest-ever settlement costs themselves in the future. of grievances, which is valued at around Added Cole: “Not only do harvesters NZ$450 million and includes licence benefit from cash income, but the %NEPAL rentals accumulated since 1989, arose from nineteenth-century seizures of land Lokta paper and forests during European settlement of Lokta, also known as Daphne bhoula or D. the country. The Maori have been engaged papyracea, is an indigenous plant of Nepal. in grievance claims since the 1970s. As Found at altitudes of 6 500 to 9 500 feet they are among the nation’s poorest (1 981-2 896 m), its bark is traditionally citizens, the economic benefits for those used in the production of paper. Lokta within the collective will be significant. plants are harvested by cutting the stem at ground level, while leaving the main root FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: intact. Lokta regenerates naturally in two George Asher, Lead Negotiator, Central North to three years. Using it as a source of raw Island Iwi Collective, 189 Tautahanga Rd, material for paper has no adverse effects Turangi, New Zealand. Fax: +64-(07)386 0747; Harpagophytum on the forest ecology of Nepal. e-mail: [email protected]/

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%NIGERIA cases. Several medicinal plant parts were collection and farming. Forty percent of the used in herbal preparations, such as collectors are children, 27 percent women Study unveils medicinal plants for skin leaves, stem and bark, fruits, seeds and and 33 percent men. Morel collection is a problems roots; of all these, leaves were found to be labour-intensive activity requiring a great Medicinal plants in Nigeria were used in 70-75 percent of the cases. deal of devotion. Sometimes the collectors considered by several researchers to form (Source: Nigerian Tribune [Nigeria], 25 have to spend days in the forest. an important component of the natural September 2008.) wealth of the country, considering that the Medicinal plants of Chitral to be conserved Nigerian tropical rain forest is a reservoir under an in situ approach of chemical substances that can be used %PAKISTAN The dry temperate zones of Chitral offer a for therapeutic purposes. wide range of valuable medicinal and Some of their ancient indigenous uses Mushrooms and medicinal plants in Chitral aromatic plants and the local communities were discovered by “trial and error”, which Mushroom collection in the dry temperate living in the surrounding forests depend on could not be proved by scientific theories forest of Kalash Valley, Chitral the area resources for their rural health although the results have been beneficial The Kalash Valley is located in the remote care as well as for their livelihood. As a and efficient compared with conventional southern part of Chitral, an area of unique result of deforestation, overgrazing and modern medicines. However, these ancient cultural and biological diversity. Natural unsustainable harvesting, medicinal plants indigenous uses of the plants vary from one forests in the area mainly consist of Pinus in the area are declining. community to another. To improve wallichiana, P. gerardiana, Cedrus deodara In order to conserve the medicinal plants communication, therefore, such plants and broadleaf species such as Quercus in their natural environment, the need to be identified and documented incana. Medicinal plants, honey, pine nuts, Directorate of Non-Timber Forest Products according to the ailments cured, the wild vegetables and morel mushrooms are (NWFP Forest Department, Peshawar, preparations and administration of the the most important NTFPs found in the Pakistan) will introduce in situ conservation herbs, as well as local and common valley and used by the local community to approaches in different parts of Chitral. Mr names. support their livelihood. A study was Iftikhar Ahmed, Assistant Director NTFP One such effort was carried out by recently carried out to investigate the Office, Peshawar, has clarified that the researchers from the University of Benin collection status of mushrooms in this main objective of this approach is to who studied the medicinal plants used in location. conserve the available medicinal plant treating skin diseases by healers in the resources and communicate the idea of Ovia northeast local government area of sustainability in their use. Mr Ajaz Ahmed Edo state. The study, entitled: of the NTFP Office, Chitral stated that this “Ethnomedicinal uses of plants in the intervention in the conservation of treatment of various skin diseases in Ovia medicinal plants will be the first of its kind northeast, Edo state, Nigeria” was carried and will improve nature conservation and out by Dr R.K.A. Egharevba of the help to reduce poverty. The Directorate of Department of Crop Science and Dr M.I. NTFP is working in NWFP Pakistan for the Ikhatua in the Department of Forestry and promotion of NTFPs for community Wildlife. It was published in the latest A variety of mushrooms grow in the dry development and poverty reduction. edition of the Research Journal of temperate forest of the valley, including The study suggested future guidelines Agriculture and Biological Sciences. Morchella esculenta, M. vulgaris, M. for proper planning and management of The investigation included names and deliciosa and others such as oyster the dry, temperate forest of the valley for plant parts used, ailments cured, mushrooms. Their local names are Quchi, livelihood support of the poor local preparations and administrations of these Brangalu and Shunthi. Often keeping their community. The Directorate of Non-Timber herbs through the use of questionnaires harvesting locations a secret, local people Forest Produce is facilitating the local and interviews of old and experienced rural rely upon traditional knowledge to locate community in the sustainable utilization of people as well as herbalists. the mushrooms. For example, it is believed these resources. In the survey, 41 plant species from 29 that mushrooms often appear under families were identified. These plants specific trees, including Juglans regia and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: include some wild and uncultivated ones: Pinus wallichiana. Morels are collected Ajaz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed, Directorate of Xylopia aethopica (Guinea pepper), primarily for sale but are also occasionally Non-Timber Forest Products, NWFP Forest Plukenetia conophorum (African walnut), used in traditional medicine. Harvested Department, Shami Road, Peshawar, Pakistan. Monodora myristica (African nutmeg), throughout spring and early summer (from E-mail: [email protected] Afromomium melequenta (alligator March to July) the mushrooms are sold in pepper) and some semi-wild plants such as the local market, often to intermediaries. Dacryodis edulis. They also include Morchella fetch particularly high prices and ornamental plants such as Lawsonia thus play an important role in the economy inermis (Dye) and herbs. of the community. The morel collectors are A total of 57 commonly used mostly poor villagers who practise prescriptions for skin diseases were noted. mushroom harvesting on a part-time basis Mixtures of plants were used in some in addition to livestock keeping, firewood

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% PERU aguajales and calls for increased efforts Moringa (Moringa oleifera) or malunggay for their improved management, as well as (kalamungan in the Visayans, kalamunge The camu camu value chain in the for linking these ecosystems to to Pampangueños, marunggay to Ilocanos Peruvian Amazon environmental services payment schemes. and kalunggay to Bicolanos), is considered Camu camu, found growing along the The fruits from the aguajales, the one of the world’s most nutritious plants riverbanks and lake shores of the Amazon aguaje, are in great demand by the with versatile uses in agriculture, medicine Basin, contains the highest concentration inhabitants of Iquitos. Fruits are consumed and industry. of natural vitamin C in the world. A recent directly, or processed as refreshments, the Food analysis shows that malunggay study (Promoting forestry-product value aguajina, or as icecreams and popsicles. leaves contain 26 percent crude protein chains in the Peruvian Amazon: the case of The demand generated by that way of and are rich in vitamins A and C, iron and camu camu) examined how the link consumption is satisfied by approximately potassium. They also have medicinal value between the various actors in the value 20 tonnes of fruits per day. to treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, cramp, chain, including collectors, processors, The marketing of the fruits generates a boils and sexually transmitted diseases. traders and buyers, remains weak. The value chain that creates employment in Mature seeds also produce high-value camu camu chain is currently in the initial both rural and urban areas. In Iquitos oil, called oleic acid, widely used in the food stages of development and a general lack alone, close to 5 000 jobs are generated by industry. The edible oil can lower of trust exists in the area among many of the selling of aguaje fruits. Most of those cholesterol levels in the blood, improve the actors. employed are women, who generate their lipid profiles and modify harmful The study revealed that local and own employment. inflammation. It also serves as a lubricant regional government must become active The benefits that can be obtained by for fine machinery and its antioxidant as promoters and stimulators to improve harvesting aguajales are much more properties are useful in the manufacture of relationships between those involved. diverse than those traditionally obtained. perfumes, personal care and therapeutic Policies in the camu camu producing and These are the so-called strategic products products and cosmetics. processing regions must be created to - those obtained by providing added value Aguilar urged residents to plant improve knowledge and functions within to the aguaje pulp - that include malunggay to tap its nutritional potential, the value chain. Finally, barriers to entry antioxidants, solar protectors and high- especially for children, encouraging them into the markets are in great need of quality oils for the cosmetics industry. An to nurture trees amid the threat of global attention, with a simplification of additional benefit that could be obtained is warming. (Source: Manila Standard Today paperwork and a reduction in transaction the added value of the ecosystem through [Philippines], 2 September 2008.) costs highly recommended. the possibility of obtaining payments for the environmental services that aguajales NegOcc farmers urged to go into cocoon FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT provide. (Source: Ecosystem Marketplace, production THE AUTHORS: August 2008.) While sugar-cane workers in Negros Rafael Meza Castro, Portafolio Amazonía, the Occidental (NegOcc) may dread the start of Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) the off-milling season, another sector is Peru or John Belt, SNV Peru, Iquitos, actually in need of more workers. Thelma c/o (Central Office Lima) Alberto del Campo Watanabe, training coordinator of the 411, Magdalena del Mar, Lima 17, Peru. Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Fax: + 51-1-2644722; Cultural Advancement (Oisca) - Bago e-mail: [email protected]; Training Centre (OBTC), said that more [email protected]; [email protected] farmers must be encouraged to go into or Marly Cristina López Rengifo de Sarmiento, cocoon production to meet the increasing Ministry of Agriculture, Jr. Yauyos N 258, Lima, local and international demand for silk. Peru. Fax: +51-1-315-5090; “The fact that Negros silk is of very high e-mail: [email protected] %PHILIPPINES quality makes this industry a very promising one for farmers in … the entire Environmental services of the aguajales Aguilar leads moringa drive archipelago,” she added. and the opportunities for a global Las Piñas City is embarking on a massive Since the start of the Oisca sericulture business for the Loreto region, Peru planting of malunggay trees to boost the project in 1989, the Oisca Negros silk Angel Salazar of the Peruvian Amazon source of nutritional food and medicine for industry has come far. “From a handful of Research Institute (Iquitos) has written an residents while protecting the 50 farmers cultivating an area of about 20 article on aguajales, palm tree forests that environment. Mayor Vergel Aguilar said ha of mulberry plantation, the number has occupy 5.3 million ha in the Peruvian that, as more people experience hunger increased to about 260 farmers now actively Amazon and sequester large amounts of and poverty because of the high cost of engaged in quality cocoon production in an carbon. They play a role in the local food and health care, the local government area of not less than 170 ha fully planted to economy by providing employment must provide economic relief. Mobilized in mulberry trees,” she said. opportunities for local communities and by the city-wide campaign are officials down Approval from the Cocoon Testing Centre satisfying the high consumer demand for to the 20 barangays and various urban poor in Japan paved the way for the their fruit. Salazar’s article describes the groups that serve as partners in the local establishment of a silk reeling plant at the potential benefits offered by harvesting ecological programme. Oisca Compound in Bago City, which has

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the capacity to process 100 tonnes of fresh of furniture export, the share of rattan in financing and marketing for small- and cocoons per year. Yet, “Oisca’s actual furniture export diminished from 33 medium-scale enterprises, B&R. production now of three tonnes silk yarn percent in 2001 to 23 percent in 2006, with Overall, a comprehensive and strategic from approximately 30 tonnes of fresh the latter period dominated by wood course of action in order to remain cocoons per year is not even enough to furniture. Basket and wickerwork have competitive requires the following: effective supply the local market”, said Watanabe. likewise steadily decreased from US$78 raw material supply management; “Silk has always enjoyed excellent million in 2001 to US$52 million in 2006. continuing R&D for product, process and market value. Today, people hear of Nevertheless, export destinations have market development; and favourable Philippine silk and the prospect of job remained focused on the medium- and support systems (policy, institutions and generation it can bring to the Filipinos: from high-end segments of the market. infrastructure) in the entire value chain the cocoon-producing farmers to the silk As a result of the above unfavourable from government and private sectors. reeling workers, the weavers, dyers, development in the Philippine B&R (Contributed by: Isabelita M. Pabuayon, embroiderers, handicraft makers and industries, the country faces the challenge Ph.D., Professor, Department of garment manufacturers,” she stressed. of ensuring that these industries continue Agricultural Economics, College “Oisca International has always been to provide an important source of income of Economics and Management, concerned with how to help marginal and livelihood for the dependent sectors. University of the Philippines Los Banos, farmers in rural areas … Thus, the idea of These include the upland and forest College, Laguna 4031, Philippines. starting an Oisca silkworm rearing project communities that provide the raw E-mail: [email protected]) for silk yarn production in Negros materials and the rural and urban workers Occidental was conceptualized,” said engaged in the production and marketing Watanabe. The project has been supported of NWFPs in small home-based and by government and non-government medium- to large-scale factories. Towards agencies. (Source: Sun. Star [Philippines], this end, these industries must take 25 July 2008.) advantage of the available opportunities and face the challenges on both the Challenges and opportunities for the domestic and global fronts and the supply Philippine bamboo and rattan industries and demand sides. On the demand side, the Bamboo and rattan (B&R) are the most opportunities relate to the still growing important NWFPs in the Philippines and B&R global market estimated at US$11 other Asian countries. Many upland billion. Demand for high-quality products in communities are dependent on the developed countries is expected to remain gathering of these products in both the strong. The Philippines is in a good position natural forests and private bamboo farms to supply this market thanks to its for their livelihood. Similarly, employment competitive edge in craftsmanship for in B&R factories and home-based providing premium quality products for the Ornamental rattans industries is a major source of income for medium- and high-end market segments. In the Philippines, during garden shows numerous rural and urban workers in the Trade liberalization provides opportunities and market days in the rural and urban country. While the domestic market for for gaining greater market access not only areas, ornamental rattans, specifically these products in the Philippines is in the country’s traditional export markets Calamus discolor are usually displayed for believed to be quite large, the export but in the new markets of the Middle East sale. Along the national roads in the market has for many years been a and Eastern Europe. Because the major provinces of Laguna and Quezon, as well as significant and dependable source of supply constraint is the shortage of basic in Nueva Viscaya, Ifugao and other foreign exchange. raw materials, the Philippines needs to communities in the Cordillera Provinces, However, several problems have caused pursue concerted efforts in plantation ornamental rattans are included in their B&R exports from the Philippines to development and in managing the collections of orchids, ferns and other decline, both in absolute and relative remaining supplies in the natural forests, native ornamentals sold to tourists, terms, during the last decade. These particularly for rattan. Current supply motorists and other plant enthusiasts. problems primarily relate to the scarcity of management efforts for B&R must be Some village people from these upland locally sourced raw materials, rising labour integrated into the existing and future communities gather the rattan fruits of this costs and stiff competition in the global community-based forest management species, extract the seeds, germinate market. Rattan exports, mostly furniture, programmes. them, grow them in small poly-bags and have dropped from a year-high of US$129 Support for research and development in then sell. Others just collect the wildlings million during the period 1995-2000 to a production, processing and utilization must from the forests, pot them and sell. year-low of US$66 million during continue in key public research institutions. Other rattan species that have potential 2001-2006. During 1978-1985, when the This must be complemented by private as ornamentals include species belonging Philippines dominated the rattan furniture sector research to enhance production to the genus Korthalsia because of their export market, export revenues rose at an efficiency, product development and beautiful fishtail-like leaves. annual rate of 38 percent. By contrast, adaptation strategies in the sourcing and Income from ornamental rattans is not exports contracted at 5 percent annually use of alternative raw materials. There much, but can add to the livelihood of the from 1995 to 2006. Relative to other types should be continuing government support community. (Source: A.M. Palijon and A.B.

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Lapis. 2008. Production of rattan fruits and Conservation and Development to set up a %SUDAN their products as community enterprise. A National Committee for the Programme of paper presented during INBAR’s Global Man and the Biosphere, to undertake the Export marketing of Sudanese gum arabic Rattan Forum, Haikou, Hainan Island, preservation of biodiversity, including This policy note is a product of the Multi- China. 8-11 January 2008.). Rattan identifying locations for establishing Donor Trust Fund – National. This is one of Newsletter, ITTO, Philippines; ASEAN biosphere reserves. (Source: Arab News the two trust funds established under the Rattan Project 4, 6 June 2008.) [Saudi Arabia], 19 August 2008.) authority of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed in January 2005. The trust funds that assist the %RWANDA % SENEGAL Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan are both KIE to research bamboo as an alternative Protecting livelihoods through mangroves administered by the World Bank. energy source Mangroves, one of the world’s richest The Sudan is the world’s largest producer Kigali. The Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) ecosystems, are declining in Casamance, of gum arabic, the dried exudate produced will be jointly involved with the University of southern Senegal, and thinning forests from the trunk and branches of the Acacia Antwerp in Belgium in research on bamboo spurred the Senegal-based non-profit senegal tree, known as hashab or hard gum, as an alternative energy source. The Oceanium to plant 6 million mangrove trees and the A. seyal tree, known as talha or flaky researchers will try to ascertain whether in a bid to reverse deforestation, thereby gum. Gum arabic is one of the four bamboo could be a dependable alternative boosting fish stocks and reviving livelihoods. important agricultural export commodities source of energy to fossil fuel in order to Up to 15 000 youth from 130 villages helped from the Sudan, along with livestock, cotton reduce pollution. with the two-month replanting effort, just and sesame. Dr Geert Potters, a bioscience engineer completed, which was the first of its kind in All the gum arabic produced in the and lecturer at the Belgian University, said Africa, according to Binetou Diagne, Sudan, mostly hashab, is exported. that preliminary findings from research Oceanium’s spokesperson. (Source: However, considerable year-to-year started two years ago proved that bamboo is Ziguinchor, 14 October 2008 (IRIN).) variations and overall declining gum a potential alternative energy. “Bamboo is exports from the country – the chipped, then fermented and it produces consequences of two severe Sahelian biogas. It also reduces soil pollution,” he droughts (in the mid-1970s and mid- added. 1980s), political unrest and inadequate James Vuningoma, KIE Vice Rector said marketing arrangements – have resulted in that currently in Rwanda bamboo is used to the emergence of new gum-producing manufacture baskets and furniture, but countries, chiefly Chad and Nigeria, which research could lead to another commercial produce mostly talha. benefit to the country. (Source: The New Times [Rwanda], 28 November 2008.)

Gum arabic is a pale white to orange %SAUDI ARABIA brown solid that breaks with a glassy fracture. If stored properly, it stays Kingdom to develop biodiversity strategy %SOLOMON ISLANDS unaltered for decades. Jeddah. The Council of Ministers yesterday decided to develop a national strategy for Honey production encouraged preserving biological diversity, involving the Honey production has the potential to help protection of all kinds of species, natural the economy and rural farmers engaged in Over the last 20 years, gum arabic locations, hereditary resources and training small and medium business activities. export values amounted on average to human resources for its development. The According to officials from the Ministry of US$40 million annually. Yet, over the last existing National Committee for Biodiversity Agriculture and Livestock, honey production 15 years, the Sudan’s share in the world should develop the strategy, Culture and in the country is currently very low because markets has declined sharply and is now Information Minister Iyad Madani said in a not many farmers are involved in the below 50 percent. World exports of talha statement to the Saudi Press Agency. industry. They said more farmers must are almost on a par with exports of Custodian of the two holy mosques King engage in honey production because the hashab. While there has been government Abdullah, who chaired the council meeting, honey of the Solomon Islands is one of the intervention in the marketing of all said that the national committee should also best and there are also many honeybees. agricultural exports in the past, gum prepare a database on the kingdom’s “There is no need to import honey for sale arabic is the only one for which biodiversity and classify all known types of in the shops if more farmers are engaged in government controls remain. environments, their geographic locations, the production of honey within their their history and the changes that they have communities and homes,” one officer said. Importance of gum Arabic production to undergone or that may take place. “By producing and selling honey, people can Sudanese rural people The Council of Ministers ordered the earn their living.” (Source: Solomon Star The livelihoods of up to six million National Commission for Wildlife [Solomon Islands], 15 July 2008.) Sudanese people, who live in traditional

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rainfed farming areas, where rural poverty better prices paid to farmers as well as empower small-scale producers and is in the range of 65 to 90 percent, depend more value-added captured in the Sudan. address climate change. At stake are the on gum arabic. Primarily produced by This positive development comes at a livelihoods of millions of rural poor. small-scale farmers (who give priority to propitious time as increased consumption (Source: Sudan Multi-Donor Trust Fund, food crop production, usually sorghum or of soft drinks and confectionery products, MDTF-National Sector Policy Note, 31 millet, to secure family nutritional needs), and the rapid development in health and December 2007.) gum arabic represents a crop dietetic products are boosting world diversification strategy to mitigate crop demand for gum arabic. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: failure. In addition, the acacia tree’s long Thomas Yves Couteaudier, Multi-Donor Trust lateral root system reduces soil and wind The future of the Sudanese gum arabic Fund-National or Asif Faiz, World Bank Country erosion. The tree has a regenerating industry Manager, Sudan Country Office, The World impact on the land. However, gum arabic Decontrol of the gum arabic export market Bank, Plot 39, Street 39, Khartoum East, production does compete with food and could increase export revenues for the Khartoum II, Sudan. Fax: +(249) 155155025; cash crops for labour resources and land Sudan and raise significantly the income of e-mail: [email protected] allocation. small-scale farmers. In addition to existing Agricultural operations, including gum inadequate marketing arrangements, two arabic harvesting, are primarily financed issues that will have to be addressed by % SURINAME by village traders using the sheil system. future policies and reform actions are the The traders typically provide cash, seeds, limited participation of gum producers in An innovative conservation group working tools and basic commodities (water, sugar, the development of the sector and a non- with indigenous tribes tea) for the households to get by during the conducive business environment that does Deep in the Suriname rain forest, an “hunger gap”. Farmers pay back in kind at not favour private sector expansion. innovative conservation group is working prices determined early in the season and Recent developments in the domestic gum with indigenous tribes to protect their usually integrating significant credit sector indicate the way forward: forest home and culture using traditional charges. government support to producer knowledge combined with cutting-edge associations has reaped good results and technology. could be scaled up throughout the gum The Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is belt; the expansion of domestic partnering with the Trio, an Amerindian processing, which resulted in better prices group that lives in the remote Suriname- Gum arabic is a complex polysaccharide paid to farmers, also offers good prospects Brazil border area of South America, to that has food, pharmaceutical and for reviving the sector. develop programmes to protect their forest technical applications; its known uses The implementation of appropriate home from illegal gold miners and go back about 5 000 years. It is used policies and investments to support encroachment; improve village health; and for its properties as an emulsifier, improved gum processing and marketing strengthen cultural ties between thickener, binder, stabilizer and will generate additional income for small- indigenous youth and elders at a time adhesive. It is believed that soft drinks scale producers, thus contributing when such cultures are disappearing even and confectionery represent 70 percent significantly to the Millennium faster than rain forests. of the demand for gum arabic. Development Goal that calls for halving the share of populations suffering from extreme poverty and hunger. Such measures would also help increase the level of domestic value added, which would THE TRIO INDIGENOUS GROUP National policies and structures have a positive effect on the country’s The current gum arabic marketing policy overall economic growth. The Trio (or Tiriyó) are a Carib- has not been beneficial to the majority of In addition to the necessary policy and speaking indigenous group that lives in rural poor producers. This has led to institutional changes, the future of gum the forests of southern Suriname and reduced production and consequently arabic is also tied to better management of bordering areas of Brazil, primarily in exports, declining for the past 40 years at natural resources. Innovations in carbon small- to medium-sized villages headed an average rate of 2.2 percent per annum. finance offer an exciting opportunity to use by a grandman or chief. One of the key commitments made forestry as a means to promote rural and The Trio rely on small-scale slash- recently by the Government of National national development. But seizing this and-burn cassava (manioc) cultivation Unity under the Joint Assessment Mission opportunity will require the political will to as their principal source of food. This (JAM) framework was to “abolish the move forward with reforms that improve starchy staple is supplemented with export monopoly” over raw gum arabic. the governance of natural resources. fish and game taken from surrounding This commitment has not been Ultimately, success in reforming the rivers and forests. The forest provides implemented. gum arabic sector will depend on them with other important resources, However, the development of the concerted action with the international notably medicinal plants, building processing industry over the last four development community. It is necessary to materials, and dyes and resins. years has resulted in increased domestic level the domestic and international trade competition for raw gum and, in turn, fields, provide improved public goods,

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%THAILAND a result, the company gained its first capital of 20 million baht, which helped it AFM scents fragrant success to start manufacturing last year. Next year, Asia Forestry Management Co. (AFM), it plans to raise an additional 50 million Thailand’s largest agarwood producer, baht for the subsequent stage. plans to build up its brand overseas, Mr Chokechai said that in natural aiming for growth at the same blistering conditions, agarwood takes from ten to 40 pace as Red Bull. AFM founder Chokechai years to be productive, and that less than 5 Lavichant aims to follow in the Red Bull percent of plants produce oil, depending founder footsteps by developing a on soil quality and humidity. But, with presence in the export rather than artificial cultivation, oil can be extracted domestic market. However, his company’s within three years, making the business production will be based in Thailand along commercially viable. with its agarwood plantations. The company has an agar oil export Overseas demand for agar oil extract is licence from the Convention on already on the rise, especially in the Middle International Trade in Endangered Species ACT is providing the Trio with equipment East, where clients will pay almost any of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which and training so that “indigenous park price for the oil, considered one of the best guarantees its production will not cause guards” can map – and thereby someday for making perfumes and fragrances in deforestation. gain title – to their lands. The Trio use cosmetics. Beyond the Middle East, South Exim Bank’s research division reported Global Positioning System (GPS) units to Asia and Japan are also prominent that the agarwood industry rose to an document geographic features as well as markets, said Mr Chokechai, who adds that export value of 20 billion baht for Thailand the location of hunting grounds, places of agarwood extract is a luxury product during 2006–07. (Source: Bangkok Post spiritual significance and sites rich with because of its limited availability. [Thailand], 16 September 2008.) medicinal plants and other important Agarwood products are widely known as resources. Key to the process is bridging oud, the term used in the Middle East, the generation gap between indigenous where agarwood has been highly prized for %TOGO elders and youths: the shaman provide the centuries. The oil is also a base for younger rangers with the historical and fragrance production in Europe and is used Promotion des plantes aromatiques et cultural information needed to add critical in Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. médicinales details to the maps. In addition to mapping, Agarwood residue is the main raw material L’OPPAM est un organisme de promotion the indigenous park guards patrol forest for scented joss sticks. des plantes aromatiques et médicinales du areas for illegal activities, including mining In the global market, premium agar oil Togo créé pour aider les communautés de and collection of wildlife for the pet trade. extract is priced between 5 000 and 8 000 base à tirer profit de leur environnement ACT is also promoting the transfer of baht per tora (12 cc) or 400 000–700 000 par une meilleure utilisation de la ethnobotanical knowledge to Trio children baht per litre. biodiversité végétale. through the “Shaman’s Apprentice AFM started to build its agarwood Programme” where schoolchildren learn plantation four years ago after gathering POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: the traditional uses of medicinal plants. financial support from private investors. It V.Y.M. Sodatonou, Secrétaire général, OPPAM, The programme is combined with an has just refined the first production of oil PK 14 route d’Anecho, ZI Baguida, B.P.107 indigenous health clinic that operates next from the first crop of its agarwood Baguida, Togo. Télécopie: +228 221 57 06 ; to a conventional health clinic. Both offer plantation early this year. Mr Chokechai Courriel: [email protected] free services to villagers. said AFM has its factory on a 500-rai (80 A critical part of these programmes are ha) agarwood plantation in Trat, which it the village shaman, medicine men and plans to expand to double capacity to 1 000 women who serve as custodians of the tora a month. immense biological knowledge of a people Commercial production of agar was who have survived in the Amazon rain prohibited in Thailand for centuries. The forest for generations. No-one understands trees that produce the valuable oil the secrets of these plants better than remained on a list of protected plants until these indigenous shaman but, like the seven years ago, when the country forests themselves, this floral genius is fast recognized the product’s economic disappearing as a result of deforestation potential. and profound cultural transformation Since then, agarwood has become an among younger generations. The combined industry. However, plantations require loss of this knowledge and these forests huge capital. ‘’We managed to raise funds irreplaceably impoverishes the world of from investors last year by offering two cultural and biological diversity. (Source: options – a return of 21.4 percent for two Mongabay.com [United States of America], years’ investment and 168 percent for four 28 July 2008.) years’ investment,’‘ said Mr Chokechai. As

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 COUNTRY COMPASS 55

% TURKEY The VND11 billion (US$665 100) reserve, 12 km from the provincial capital of Thu Turkish valley to be developed as Dau Mot, opened to the public last April ecotourism area and covers nearly 10 ha. The 40 000-ha Cehennem Dere Valley (Hell The project is a collaboration between Stream Valley), which is home to rich flora the HCMC University of Natural Sciences, and fauna, has been found highly suitable the Binh Duong Province administration for a variety of ecotourism activities, such and authorities from France’s Rhone Alpes as trekking, terrain bicycling, flora region and the Pilat Natural Reserve. discoveries and observation of natural life, (Source: Thanh Nien Daily [Viet Nam], according to the study by experts from the 1 September 2008.) p Eastern Mediterranean Forestry Research the Uganda Wildlife Safaris, a tour and Institute and Istanbul University. travel agency, which would work closely As part of Turkey’s first ecotourism with district officials. project, a group of experts has examined a UWA Executive Director, Moses Mapesa, forest of cedars and spruces in the said UWA’s task would be to attract people Çaml›yayla district of the southern who are interested in vermin animals to province of Mersin to determine its fitness hunt the animals. UWA is planning to as an ecological site. extend the programme to other parts of Dr Ersin Y›lmaz, Director of the Institute, Uganda, the statement added. (Source: said that the valley has been scientifically New Vision [Kampala], 8 September 2008.) proved to be appropriate for seven types of ecotourism activities: observation of birds, flora discovery trekking, nature trekking, % VIET NAM discovery trekking for NWFPs, discovery walking, bicycle tours and observation of Bamboo reserve promotes conservation, wildlife. Of these, he said that observation relaxation of bird species has priority. The Phu An Ecological Bamboo Museum Pinus brutia (Turkish pine), Pinus and Botanical Reserve, also known as the thunbergii (black pine), the Taurus cedar Phu An Bamboo Village, is a multipurpose and the Taurus spruce are major examples centre promoting scientific research and of foliage that make the valley an attractive ecosystem conservation while educating spot for ecotourism, he added. the local community about environmental The valley is also home to various caves, protection and the value of ecotourism, cascades and geological forms. The said project head Dr Diep Thi My Hanh, a project is expected to serve as a model for lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) further projects in the field of ecological University of Natural Sciences. tourism in Turkey. (Source: Turkish Daily In addition to providing a research News (subscription) [Turkey], 25 July centre and laboratory for students and 2008.) academics, the reserve is also an ecotourism site, located in Binh Duong Province’s Ben Cat Commune, some 30 km % UGANDA from HCMC. The vast ecological reserve with its 130 Wildlife body in ecotourism venture bamboo species, including many rare The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has varieties collected from every corner of the signed an agreement worth US$3 million nation, is open for tourists. Its botanical (about USh4 billion) with a German garden is known for its gorgeous investor to manage wildlife that is not in landscaping, brought to life with lush gazetted parks. bamboo clusters and brilliantly coloured Lillian Nsubuga, UWA publicist, said in a flowers. statement that the investor, Christian The reserve also features a museum, Weth, would invest in ecotourism and which displays tools, musical instruments game farming in Luweero and Nakaseke and art made out of bamboo, as well as an Enthusiasm is the best protection in districts, which have animals such as endangered species room where rare any situation. Wholeheartedness is warthogs, leopards, bushbucks, hyenas plants and insects are kept. There is also a contagious. Give yourself, if you wish and Uganda kobs. “There is huge potential small theatre where visitors can watch to get others. for tourism, sport hunting and game documentaries about bamboo. The site David Seabury farming in this area. We will bring tourists features a bamboo maze made of rare to see the animals,” Weth said. He owns species.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 56 ECONOOK

AFRICAN “WALL OF The project will be monitored from Tripoli constitution by the people, Ecuador would %TREES” GETS UNDER WAY by CEN-SAD, and Senegal will provide “close become the first country in the world to codify technical cooperation” because of its success a new system of environmental protection Three years after it was first proposed, in fighting desertification. (Source: SciDev.Net based on rights,” stated Thomas Linzey, preparations for an African “wall of trees” to Weekly Update, 7–13 July 2008.) Executive Director of the Community slow down the southwards spread of the Environmental Legal Defense Fund. Sahara desert are finally getting under way. “Ecuador is now leading the way for The “Great Green Wall” will involve several CONGO BASIN PASSES countries around the world to make this stretches of trees from Mauritania in the west % 1 MILLION HA MILESTONE necessary and fundamental change in how to Djibouti in the east, to protect the semi- IN SWING TO SUSTAINABLE we protect nature,” added Mari Margil, arid savannah region of the Sahel – and its FORESTRY Associate Director of the Legal Defense Fund. agricultural land – from desertification. Over the past year, the Legal Defense A plan for the proposed US$3 million, two- Yaoundé, Cameroon. Over one million ha of Fund has been invited to assist delegates to year initial phase of the project – involving a Congo Basin forests have now achieved the Ecuador Constitutional Assembly to belt of trees 7 000 km long and 15 km wide – certification under the world’s leading rewrite the country’s constitution. Delegates was formally adopted at the Community of sustainable forestry scheme. requested that the Legal Defense Fund draft Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) Summit on The world’s second largest block of rain proposed Rights of Nature language for the Rural Development and Food Security in forests, the Congo Basin, is a haven for constitution, based on ordinances developed Cotonou, Benin, last month (17–18 June). indigenous peoples and endangered species. and adopted by municipalities in the United North African nations have been It is also important in sequestering carbon States of America. promoting the idea of a green belt since 2005. and safeguarding water supply and quality These local laws recognize that natural The project has been scaled down to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) communities and ecosystems possess an reinforce and then expand on existing efforts, certification has been granted for forestry inalienable and fundamental right to exist and will not be a continent-wide wall of trees, operations on 1.2 million ha, a significant step and flourish, and that residents of these despite the name of the project. towards the World Wide Fund for Nature’s communities possess the legal authority to The Great Green Wall will involve two (WWF’s) Green Heart of Africa network enforce their rights on behalf of these planting projects on the east and west sides initiative goal of certifying 50 percent of ecosystems. In addition, these laws require of Africa. The Permanent Interstate production forest in the Congo Basin. The local governments to remedy violations of Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel certification involves logging companies such ecosystem rights. (CILSS) is working with scientific consultants SEFAC, Transformation Reef Cameroon (TRC) In essence, these laws represent changes and representatives from the arid nations of and WIJMA in Cameroon and CIB in the to the status of property law, eliminating the Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Republic of the Congo.To promote authority of a property owner to interfere with Nigeria and Senegal to launch pilot planting responsible forest management and trade in the functioning of ecosystems and natural projects planned for September 2008. the Congo Basin, WWF-Central Africa communities that exist and depend upon that Another planting programme, including Regional Programme Office (CARPO) has set property for their existence and for Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the up the Central Africa Forest and Trade flourishing. The local laws allow certain types Sudan, should be finalized within two months Network (CAFTN), a part of WWF’s Global of development that do not interfere with the under the auspices of six states in the Horn of Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), which rights of ecosystems to exist and flourish. Africa, linked through the Intergovernmental provides support and guidance to logging (Source: The Community Environmental Authority on Development (IGAD). companies to help them understand better Legal Defense Fund via the Community Mariam Aladji Boni Diallo, the Benin- how good logging practices can contribute to Forestry Resource Center (CFRC) Weekly based president of the CEN-SAD summit the conservation of biodiversity, improve local Summary, 17 July 2008.) organizing committee, says she hopes the livelihoods and lead to a market advantage. Great Green Wall will consist of more than By 2012, WWF expects that 7 million ha of just trees. Diallo told SciDev.Net that forest in the Congo Basin will be under FOREST HOT SPOTS “reforestation, restoration of natural certification while another 5 million ha will be % PINPOINTED FOR CLIMATE, resources and the eventual development of progressing towards credible certification. ANIMALS fishing and livestock breeding” were (Source: ENN News, 4 August 2008.) priorities for the project. However, she said Poznán. A UN atlas pinpointed on Friday that funding for the project was still parts of forests from the Amazon to tentative. ECUADOR’S CONSTITUTIONAL Madagascar where better protection could The United Nations Educational, Scientific ASSEMBLY VOTES give the twin benefits of slowing global and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-linked % TO APPROVE RIGHTS warming and preserving rare wildlife. non-profit Observatory of the Sahara and the OF NATURE IN NEW The atlas, issued at the 1-12 December UN Sahel has prepared a report on the project, CONSTITUTION climate talks in Poznán, Poland, identified hot saying the labour-intensive project should be spots with a high diversity of animals and used to create employment but advising that On 7 July 2008, the Ecuador Constitutional plants in forests that were also big stores of payments be partly withheld for two years Assembly voted to approve articles for the carbon dioxide – the main greenhouse gas – until the trees are established, and that new constitution recognizing rights for nature in trees and soils. (Source: Reuters in ENN payment be based on plant growth. and ecosystems. “If adopted in the final Daily Newsletter, 5 December 2008.)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 ECONOOK 57

FORESTRY TAKES ON NATURE LOSS “DWARFS The greatest cost to Western nations would % THE CLIMATE CHANGE %BANK CRISIS” initially come through losing a natural CHALLENGE absorber of the most important greenhouse Barcelona. The global economy is losing more gas. (Source: BBC News, 10 October 2008.) Poznán. To ensure that sustainably money from the disappearance of forests than managed forests play a key role in through the current banking crisis, according mitigating the negative effects of climate to an EU-commissioned study. RAIN FOREST CONVERSION change, a new strategic framework is being It puts the annual cost of forest loss at %TO OIL-PALM CAUSES launched by 14 international organizations between US$2 trillion and US$5 trillion. The 83 PERCENT OF WILDLIFE known as the Collaborative Partnership on figure comes from adding the value of the TO DISAPPEAR Forests. various services that forests perform, such as Aimed at policy-makers and those providing clean water and absorbing carbon Conversion of primary rain forest to oil-palm involved in the global forest sector, the dioxide. plantations results in a loss of over 80 strategic framework will assist countries to The study, headed by a Deutsche Bank percent of species, reports a new review of take up climate change mitigation and economist, parallels the Stern Review into the the impacts of oil-palm production. adaptation measures. These measures economics of climate change. It has been “By compiling scientific studies of birds, include the conservation of genetic discussed during many sessions here at the bats, ants and other species, we were able to variation, reduced impact logging and World Conservation Congress. show that on average, fewer than one-sixth policies that ensure effective management Some conservationists see it as a new way of the species recorded in primary forest responses to ecological change. The new of persuading policy-makers to fund nature were found in oil-palm,” said lead author framework supports the United Nations protection rather than allowing the decline in Emily Fitzherbert from the Zoological Society Framework Convention on Climate Change ecosystems and species, highlighted in the of London and University of East Anglia in the (UNFCCC). release on Monday of the Red List of United Kingdom. “Degraded forest, and even Forests cover nearly one-third of the Threatened Species, to continue. alternative crops such as rubber and cocoa, earth’s land surface and account for almost Speaking to BBC News, study leader Pavan supported higher numbers of species than half of its terrestrial carbon pool. Total Sukhdev emphasized that the cost of natural oil-palm plantations.” carbon in forests was estimated at 633 giga decline dwarfs losses on the financial The results confirm that oil-palm tonnes in 2005 – equivalent to 160 tonnes of markets. “It’s not only greater but it’s also plantations are a poor substitute for natural carbon per hectare, according to the FAO continuous, it’s been happening every year, forests when it comes to conservation of Global Forest Resources Assessment. year after year,” he said. “So whereas Wall biological diversity. Deforestation (primarily caused by Street by various calculations has to date lost, Despite the availability of large tracts of agricultural expansion and urban and within the financial sector, US$1–1.5 trillion, degraded and abandoned land, Fitzherbert infrastructure development), forest the reality is that at today’s rate we are losing notes that problems of “political inertia, degradation and other changes in forests natural capital at least between US$2–5 competing priorities and lack of capacity and contribute 17.4 percent to global trillion every year.” understanding, not to mention high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly in The review that Mr Sukhdev leads, The demand for timber and oil-palm from tropical developing countries. Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity wealthy consumers” make forest clearance “Sustainable forest management has a (Teeb), was initiated by Germany under its cheaper and easier. “Unless these conditions significant strategic role in achieving long- recent EU presidency, with the European change quickly, the impacts of oil-palm term climate change mitigation and it Commission providing funding. expansion on biodiversity will be provides a robust framework for effective The first phase concluded in May when the substantial,” the authors conclude. adaptation. This goes far beyond traditional team released its finding that forest decline (Citation: Emily B. Fitzherbert, Matthew management and includes conservation of could be costing about 7 percent of global J. Struebig, Alexandra More, Finn Danielsen, biodiversity, support to livelihoods, GDP. The second phase will expand the scope Carsten A. Brühl, Paul F. Donald and Ben provision of a range of forest goods and to other natural systems. Phalan. How will oil-palm expansion affect services, and issues related to governance Key to understanding his conclusions is biodiversity? Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and financing,” says Jan Heino, that, as forests decline, nature stops providing 23(10): 538–545. October 2008.) Chairperson of the Collaborative services that it used to provide essentially for (Source: mongabay.com, 15 September 2008.) p Partnership on Forests and FAO Assistant free. So the human economy either has to Director-General for Forestry. provide them instead, perhaps through The strategic framework of the building reservoirs, building facilities to Collaborative Partnership on Forests lays sequester carbon dioxide, or farming foods the groundwork for a coordinated forest that were once naturally available. Or we have sector response to the global climate to do without them; either way, there is a change agenda and offers guidelines to all financial cost. forest-related policy-makers and The Teeb calculations show that the cost Who is so deaf or so blind as he that practitioners. Its strength comes from its falls disproportionately on the poor, because a willfully will neither hear nor see? cooperative formation by the world’s major greater part of their livelihood depends English proverb forest organizations. (Source: FAO directly on the forest, especially in tropical Newsroom, 5 December 2008.) regions.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 58 INTERNATIONAL ACTION

% FAO Fire Management Actions Alliance and International Liaison Committee; UNFF Ad Hoc Expert Group on Finance; FRA Advisory FORESTRY DEPARTMENT Group; World Forestry Congress External Advisory Group; and Advancing SFM – a COFO 2009/World Forest Week: review of project experience. “Forests in a changing world” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mr Doug Kneeland, Secretary, COFO 2009, Forestry Department, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy. Fax +39 06 570 52151; e-mail [email protected]; • a global framework and common www.fao.org/forestry/53382/en/ methodology for monitoring forest change; The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is the Spotlight on forest monitoring – remote • an information gateway providing easy highest FAO forestry statutory body. The sensing and field inventories to monitor access to remote sensing imagery; biennial sessions of COFO (held at FAO forests worldwide • enhanced capacity in all countries for headquarters in Rome, Italy) bring together With global concern growing over monitoring, assessing and reporting on heads of forest services and other senior deforestation, loss of carbon stored in forests and land use changes. government officials to identify emerging forests and the role of forests in climate “The need to improve national forest policy and technical issues, to seek change, forest monitoring has grown in monitoring is overwhelming as the demand solutions and to advise FAO and others on importance in a bid to safeguard forests for information has never been greater,” appropriate action. Other international and monitor emissions from deforestation. noted Jan Heino, FAO Assistant Director- organizations and, increasingly, non- During last year’s G-8 Summit, world General for Forestry: “National policy governmental groups participate in COFO. leaders “encouraged actions for Reducing processes are striving to address cross- Participation in COFO is open to all FAO Emissions from Deforestation and Forest cutting issues such as poverty alleviation member countries. Degradation in Developing Countries and food security related to forests.” The two main themes of COFO (REDD) including the development of an FRA 2010 will improve the capacity of all 2009/World Forest Week are: international forest monitoring network countries to self-monitor. Both FRA and • Sustainable forest management and building on existing initiatives”. The links FAO’s national forest monitoring and climate change between forests and climate change was assessment (NFMA) programmes - Keynote: Gro Harlem Brundtland, also discussed at the climate change strengthen the ability of developing Nobel Laureate meetings in Poznán, Poland in December countries to manage their information base - Presentations by heads of the 2008. (Please also see page xxx.) to improve knowledge on social, economic Collaborative Partnership on Forests In 2008, countries and FAO reconfirmed and environmental aspects of forests. A on the CPF Strategic Framework for their commitment to prepare jointly the global network of forest monitoring Forests and Climate Change next Global Forest Resources Assessment specialists in 176 countries shares - Financing sustainable forest (FRA), a comprehensive data collection on information and experiences. National management (SFM) and Reducing the state of the world’s forests, scheduled experts lead the assessments. Field teams Emissions from Deforestation and for release in 2010. carry out all fieldwork and national experts Forest Degradation in Developing As part of FRA 2010, FAO, its member interpret remote sensing imagery. Countries (REDD) countries and partner organizations will “Deforestation continues at an alarming - Local forest management: the key to undertake a global remote sensing survey rate of about 13 million ha annually at the REDD success of forests. The assessment will cover the global level. By combining remote sensing - Ecosystem-based adaptation to whole land surface of the Earth, with over technology with field data collection, we climate change 10 000 samples. The FRA 2010 survey will improve the quality of both methods. This - Fire and climate change generate: provides more accurate information on • Institutional change in a dynamic world • baseline information at the global and forest trends and new information on the - Heads of Forestry dialogue: managing regional level on trends in rates of drivers of deforestation and forest change deforestation, afforestation and natural degradation,” concludes Jan Heino. - Who are our customers, and what are expansion of forests over the past 30 their needs? years; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: - The future of forestry research and Adam Gerrand, Forestry Officer (Remote education sensing), Global Forest Resources Assessment, - Impacts of economic turbulence on FAO Forestry Department, Viale delle Terme the forest sector di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy. There will also be sessions covering Fax: +3906 5705 5137; policy and information issues, including: www.fao.org/forestry/fra2010- Collaborative Partnership on Forests remotesensing/en/; Regional Forestry Commission bureaux; www.fao.org/forestry/nfma/en/

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 INTERNATIONAL ACTION 59

FAO IN THE FIELD naturelles impliquées et l’inorganisation des filières PFNL, souvent faite dans un Formulation d’une stratégie nationale de cadre informel ou peu structuré. Quant aux promotion et de valorisation des Produits technologies de collecte et de Forestiers Non Ligneux (projet transformation, elles restent artisanales et TCP/BKF/3201) souvent laborieuses pour les producteurs Au Burkina Faso, pays Sahélien, ce sont et productrices, et la sous-évaluation de la les produits forestier non ligneux (PFNL) contribution des PFNL dans l’économie qui constituent une importance capitale nationale a eu comme résultat immédiat dans la vie quotidienne des populations, un manque d’appui politique au secteur, d’abord dans sa valeur primaire comme un manque de textes législatifs aliment très nutritif ou remède contre les spécifiques aux PFNL et une faible commercial exploitation of several NWFPs maladies, mais aussi sur le plan approche multidisciplinaire. in the region is not only threatening the économique car ils contribuent entre 16 et Pour toutes ces raisons, le survival of many species but also the 27 pour cent du revenu des femmes Gouvernement du Burkina Faso a présenté livelihoods of the poorest of society. rurales, fait encore plus important car ces une requête auprès de la FAO pour A key to improve the food security for femmes utilisent ces revenues pour appuyer le développement et la mis en forest-dependent people in Central Africa fournir une meilleur alimentation et œuvre d’une stratégie nationale pour les is to have appropriate and socially scolarité à leurs enfants. (A noter que les PFNL et adapter le cadre national equitable legislation elaborated, tested amandes de karité (un PFNL) représentent juridique correspondant, en vue de and implemented. An example of such a le troisième produit d’exportation du coordonner les initiatives, d’harmoniser set of legislation (called “subregional Burkina Faso.) les interventions des différents acteurs et directives”) has been developed through Récemment, plusieurs organismes de d’offrir un cadre approprié de promotion et the German funded project “Enhancing coopération technique présents au de valorisation des PFNL pour le bénéfice food security through sustainable use of Burkina Faso ont inscrit la promotion des direct des populations les plus pauvres. non-wood forest products in Central PFNL dans leurs priorités. La FAO se réjouit de voir l’intérêt sincère Africa” (GCP/RAF/398/GER), which was La FAO, en 2004-2006, a appuyé le projet démontré par les différentes parties operational from 2005 to 2008. pilote Analyse et développement des prenantes. La réussite de ce projet The Central African Forests Commission marchés (ADM) de micro-entreprises de ambitieux dépend largement de leurs (COMIFAC) Executive Secretariat and its promotion des PFNL, un partenariat entre disponibilités et de leur enthousiasme de member countries have officially endorsed le Ministère de l’environnement, l’ONG porter à terme les objectifs établis. these subregional directives and requested Tree Aid et elle-même. C’est, par ailleurs, support from FAO for their implementation cette expérience qui a révélé la nécessité POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: in all Congo Basin countries. de disposer d’une stratégie nationale en Sophie Grouwels, Lead Technical Officer The Government of Germany has matière de PFNL, et qui à déclanché la TCP/BKF/3201, Forestry Officer, Community- recently pledged additional support of requête du Gouvernement burkinabé based Enterprise Development (CBED), Service US$3.8 million for a new three-year FAO- auprès de la FAO pour ce projet qui des politiques forestières, Département des implemented regional forestry project commence aujourd’hui. En 2007, une autre forêts de la FAO, viale delle Terme di Caracalla, “Enhancing the contribution of non-wood initiative FAO dénommée Forest Connecta 00153 Rome, Italie. Télécopie: (39) 06 570 forest products to poverty alleviation and Burkina Faso a été mise à l’ordre du jour, 55514 ; Courriel: [email protected] food security in Central African countries” dans le but d’appuyer les petites (GCP/RAF/441/GER), which will help entreprises basées sur les produits Enhancing the contribution of non-wood COMIFAC and the Governments of Gabon, forestier non ligneux. Forest Connecta a forest products to poverty alleviation and the Central African Republic and the l’intention de servir de réseau national de food security in Central African countries Republic of the Congo to implement communication et s’adresse surtout au (project GCP/RAF/441/GER) national level policies and legislation problème d’isolement des petits The Congo Basin is among the world’s aiming at improving the food security and entrepreneurs forestiers, isolement qui major reservoirs of biological diversity and livelihoods of forest-dependent people fait qu’ils ne se connaissent pas entre eux is the home of some 60 million people. The through a more sustainable and socially et n’ont aucune influence sur les politiques agricultural resource base is poorly equitable use of forest-gathered NWFPs. forestières, qu’ils ont des difficultés à developed and insufficient to feed the fast At pilot sites, the project will strengthen accéder aux marchés, et que les expanding population. The forest sector NWFP-based small- and medium-scale prestataires de services s’intéressent peu plays an essential socio-economic role in enterprises to benefit poor, local à eux. the Congo Basin countries and provides a communities by promoting more value- Malgré l’intérêt actuel porté aux PFNL significant direct contribution to the food added processing, marketing and by au Burkina Faso, il subsiste un certain and income-generation needs of the rural capacitating producers’ support networks. nombre de contraintes d’ordre social, people. Poor people, and particularly The project will also better integrate légal, politique et scientifique. A savoir: les women, gather edible plants, bushmeat, NWFPs into national level socio-economic possibilités économiques ont entraîné des insects, rattan and other non-wood planning processes and strategies for interventions disparates avec le risque de resources for their subsistence and for poverty alleviation, food security and the destruction de la base des ressources income. However, the fast increasing right to food.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 60 INTERNATIONAL ACTION

The Governments of Cameroon and the event, which will be held in its capital city of Democratic Republic of the Congo already Buenos Aires from 18 to 25 October 2009. The receive FAO support for their theme of this XIII Congress, Forests in implementation at the national level development: a vital balance, will be tackled (through the ongoing project from the social, environmental and economic GCP/RAF/408/EC\/), while assistance to perspectives, thus providing an opportunity to the other COMIFAC member countries is analyse the various functions of the natural envisaged with the support of the Congo resources in local, regional and global Basin Forest Fund. contexts. In particular, this event constitutes a FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: forum for sharing knowledge and experience Mr Paul Vantomme, Senior Forestry Officer from developed and developing countries, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: (NWFP), Forest Products and Industries Division, regarding the conservation, management Mr Olman Serrano (Associate Secretary General) Forestry Department, FAO, Rome, Italy. and use of the world’s forests, and covers or Francesca Felicani Robles (Legal E-mail: [email protected]; issues such as the international dialogue, Consultant-Assistant), XIII World Forestry www.fao.org/forestry/50255/en/(GCP/RAF socio-economic and institutional aspects, Congress, FAO Forestry Department, Viale delle /398/GER); www.fao.org/forestry/43055/en/ and forest policies. Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. (GCP/RAF/408/EC). Fax: +39-0657055137; www.wfc2009.org/

%THE XIII WORLD FORESTRY A DVD showing Argentina and its %INTERNATIONAL YEAR CONGRESS forests has been produced by the OF NATURAL FIBRES 2009 Congress organizers and is available in The first World Forestry Congress was held eight languages (English, French, The International Year of Natural Fibres in Rome in 1926 and since then has Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, (IYNF) will be officially launched at FAO in generally taken place every six years under Arabic and Chinese). Copies are Rome on 22 January 2009. the auspices of FAO and organized by the available from the address below. The objectives of this special initiative government of the host country. are to: The previous XII World Forestry • raise awareness and stimulate demand Congress, held from 21 to 28 September for natural fibres; 2003 in Quebec, Canada, attracted 4 061 Internationally, renewed speakers will • promote the efficiency and sustainability participants from more than 140 countries. be called upon, representing academic and of the natural fibre industries; The main output of the congress, the Final scientific organizations, the private sector, • encourage appropriate policy responses Statement, identified areas of priority civil society, indigenous and rural from governments to the problems faced concern to encourage decisions and communities, and public institutions by natural fibre industries; actions by those involved in various aspects connected with the forest sector, with the • foster an effective and enduring of forests and forestry, and in other related aim of offering a comprehensive, global international partnership among the sectors, including NWFPs. In eastern view of forests. various natural fibre industries. Canada, for example, not only are the Prominent guest speakers will treat A newsletter is being produced by IYNF. forests a source of materials for fuel and conceptual aspects in plenary sessions To subscribe, please send an e-mail to shelter, but also of food and medicine with concerning the seven thematic areas of the [email protected], leave the more than 170 plant species documented Congress and, in high-level round tables, subject line blank, and put the text as food sources. covering issues of particular concern today, subscribe IYNF-2009-L in the body of the For the XIII World Forestry Congress, such as “forests and energy” and “forests message. Argentina has been selected to host the and climate change” will be discussed. Experts from every part of the world will FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: have an opportunity to present voluntary Brian Moir, FAO, Trade and Markets Division papers also directly related to NWFPs, in (EST), Room D860, Viale delle Terme di the context of biodiversity conservation, Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. E-mail: IYNF- small-scale forest enterprises, community [email protected]; www.naturalfibres2009.org/ p forestry or trade and discuss them in simultaneous technical sessions under the various thematic areas of the programme. Thus, the XIII Congress provides a When planning for a year, plant corn. unique and timely opportunity to examine When planning for a decade, plant the subject of trees and forests, with their trees. When planning for life, train and multiple functions and role as suppliers of educate people. NWFPs and their social, economic and Chinese proverb cultural contributions to sustainable development.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 RECENT AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS 61

% EUROPEAN FOREST seminar and plantation field trip were Climate Change and Sustainable WEEK conducted to provide in-depth information Livelihoods included a success story of an EUROPEAN COUNTRIES on the latest results and trends in cultivated integrated bamboo development programme 20–24 OCTOBER 2008 agarwood development. to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural poor of India. The core activity The European Forest Week was marked by FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: was the cultivation of bamboo under events in Brussels, Rome and throughout [email protected]/ plantation conditions and the complete Europe. The week highlighted the contribution (For additional information on international utilization of bamboo, using both traditional of European forests in mitigating the effects of cultivated agarwood development, please see CA methods and high technology processes. climate change, providing wood and Companies updated Web site at: The design and implementation of the renewable energy, promoting freshwater http://cultivatedagarwood.com/) programme focused on the support needed supply and protecting the environment. for the beneficiaries to achieve their livelihood The European Forest Week, declared by goals, within an overall framework of ministers responsible for forests in 46 IUFRO CONFERENCE environmental and economic sustainability. European countries, is jointly organized by ON GENDER AND Lionel Jayanetti, speaker at the event, the European Commission, FAO, the FORESTRY. GENDER has been working mainly on the use of Ministerial Conference on the Protection of ISSUES IN NATURAL renewable building materials, specializing Forests in Europe and the United Nations % RESOURCES in bamboo development as a sustainable Economic Commission for Europe, in close MANAGEMENT – livelihood for the poorest of the poor in the collaboration with the Presidency of the PERCEPTION AND developing world. Council of the European Union (EU) at the EXPERIENCES IN time of the event, France. DIFFERENT PARTS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Rome events (21–24 October) featured OF THE WORLD Lionel Jayanetti, TRADA, Stocking Lane, discussions on forests and climate change, DEHRA DUN, INDIA Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe HP14 4ND, energy, water and “working together for 16–19 NOVEMBER 2008 United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected] forests”. Brussels events included a high- profile EU Presidency event (20 October), On behalf of the International Union of programmes by other European Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) stakeholders and the European Economic units Gender Research in Forestry and and Social Committee (23 October). Education, and Gender and Forestry, the Incountry activities held simultaneously in Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehra Dun, participating countries throughout the India, hosted this conference. region highlighted the means of fully The conference explored experiences utilizing the potential of European forests. with gender sensitivity and gender analysis in forest management and organizations in FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the forestry sector as well as challenges to [email protected]; www.europeanforestweek.org/ the sustainable livelihoods of forest dwellers and users all over the world. 9TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CULTIVATED AGARWOOD IN FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: SCIENCE, POLICY AND VIET NAM: A GUIDED FIELD www.iufrogenderindia.info %THE ENVIRONMENT: % TOUR OF SUCCESSFUL BIODIVERSITY IN A RAPIDLY AGARWOOD PRODUCTION CHANGING WORLD IN THE MEKONG DELTA CLIMATE CHANGE WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES VIET NAM %AND SUSTAINABLE OF AMERICA 1–4 NOVEMBER 2008 LIVELIHOODS 8–10 DECEMBER 2008 GUILDFORD, UNITED KINGDOM Organized by Seven Mountains Co. Ltd, Viet 20 NOVEMBER 2008 There is an urgent need for scientists, Nam, this field trip and seminar in An Giang conservationists and policy-makers to re- Province focused on agarwood inducement The diminishing wood resource and examine the biodiversity issue. We must technology, plantation management, restrictions imposed on felling in natural look both retrospectively at a quarter processing, markets, yields and products. forests have focused world attention on the century of “modern” conservation efforts – For over 14 years, the Seven Mountains need to identify a substitute material that what has worked well and what has not, but Region in An Giang Province has been the should be renewable, environmentally also prospectively at the greater challenges research site for cultivated agarwood friendly and widely available. In view of its of the next quarter century. We need to look development. Seven Mountains Co. Ltd has rapid growth, a ready adaptability to most broadly at the many scientific discoveries now started cultivated agarwood climatic and soil conditions and properties and the many issues involving the use, commercial operations in the area. It was at comparable with many fast growing woods, abuse and conservation of biodiversity, this rural location in the heart of the bamboo emerges as a very suitable including cultivated as well as wild species Aquilaria plantations that this agarwood alternative. and ecosystems.

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This National Council for Science and the HONEY – THE SWEET because of reduced habitat and possible Environment (NCSE) conference brought STUFF BECOMING A SOUR overharvesting. Today, forest farming is together some 1 000 scientists, %ISSUE – INTERNATIONAL promoted and recommended for ecological conservationists and policy-makers to CONFERENCE and economic reasons, to provide alternative develop a strategy to guide a new United GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM income sources while conserving forested States administration and others working to 26–27 MARCH 2009 landscapes. conserve biodiversity around the world. There will be a special session topic at the It developed an approach for biodiversity Honeybee numbers in the world are dropping Second World Congress of Agroforestry management and conservation in a twenty- for understandable reasons: habitat loss and focusing on NTFPs, namely: Forest Farming first century context, including: strategies for fragmentation, infestation of apiaries by in Temperate Climates with Non-Timber biodiversity, conservation and sustainable parasites and widespread use of agricultural Forest Products: Opportunities, Challenges, utilization; scientific needs for understanding chemicals, including industrial pollution. and Solutions. This session will explore biodiversity values, losses and consequences; Being animal keepers and food producers, research and extension activities that and expanding understanding: information, beekeepers have to follow the legal promote opportunities and address education and communication. prescriptions. challenges in producing NTFPs through This conference will not only cover forest farming in temperate climates. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: honeybee reductions around the world, Dr David Blockstein, National Council for pesticide and antibiotics excessive usage FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Science and the Environment (NCSE), 1101 17th issue, guidelines and regulations updates, Jim Chamberlain, Ph.D., CF, Research Scientist, Street NW, Suite 250, Washington DC, 20036, authenticity and adulteration problems, but it Non-Timber Forest Products, United States of America. Fax: 202-628-4311; will also educate and create awareness of US Forest Service, SRS-4352, National e-mail: [email protected]/; practices in different countries, new Agroforestry Center, 1650 Ramble Road, http://ncseonline.org/conference/biodiversity/ developments on the markets, clean labels Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States of America. and sugar substitution, food safety aspects Fax: +1-540-231-1383; e-mail: [email protected] and many more. or [email protected]; ww.sfp.forprod.vt.edu COFO 2009/WORLD Our speakers will cover different areas or www.srs4702.forprod.vt.edu/ % FOREST WEEK of concern and approaches from ROME, ITALY beekeeping farms, factories, processing INTERNATIONAL 16–20 MARCH 2009 plants, manufacturing processes, retailers’ TRADITIONAL AND perception, legal labelling issues, %DESIGNER BASKETRY (Please see page 58 for full information on consumer analysis, laboratories and bee COMPETITION this event.) inspectors’ view. TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS The conference will be filled with real life 4–6 SEPTEMBER 2009 case studies and guidelines on food safety, SHEA 2009: OPTIMIZING sustainability and global sourcing. %THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: www.pinolere.org 25–27 MARCH 2009 Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire Between 2004 and 2008 the shea industry has GL55 6LD, United Kingdom. Fax: +44 (0) 1386 XIII WORLD FORESTRY effectively doubled. How will we continue that 842100; e-mail: [email protected] %CONGRESS growth while addressing key challenges? BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA Firms from more than 12 African 18–25 OCTOBER 2009 countries will join experts, international SECOND WORLD buyers and regional service providers to CONGRESS OF (Please see page 60 for full information on explore fundamental and cutting-edge %AGROFORESTRY this event.) p issues in the shea industry. Topics to be (INCLUDING SPECIAL discussed include: environmental and social SESSION ON NTFPS) issues; production sales; product quality and NAIROBI, KENYA management of shea parklands; impact of 23–28 AUGUST 2009 cultivation of biofuel crops; consumer trends; quality standards and regulation; NTFPs have long been collected for food, and value of an industry alliance. medicine, income and pleasure, and play an important role in rural households. Some FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: have well-established domestic and Vanessa Adams (Director) or Dr Peter international markets. Peoples from around Lovett (Shea Butter Technical Advisor), the world have been nurturing native plants West Africa Trade Hub, 4th Street, Kuku Hill, Osu, found in their forest lands for these products. Accra, Ghana. E-mail: [email protected]; In recent years, concerns have been raised www.watradehub.com; www.globalshea.org/ about the sustainability of these resources

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BfN. 2008. Nature Data 2008. Bonn, Colfer, C.J.P., Dahal, G.R. & Capistrano, D. Germany, Federal Agency for Nature (eds). 2008. Lessons from forest Conservation (BfN). ISBN 978-3-7843-3859-0. decentralization: money, justice and the (Please see page 12 for an extract from this quest for good governance in Asia-Pacific. publication.) London, United Kingdom, Earthscan.

COMFORPTS INDIA. 2008. Committed to development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs)-oriented need based sustainable forest management. International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 9(1). January–June. Dehra Dun, India, Centre of Minor Forest Products (COMFORPTS).

Donovan, J. (ed). 2008. Small and medium forest enterprise development for poverty Akhter, T. 2008. The role of social forestry reduction: opportunities and challenges in in poverty alleviation of rural women: a globalizing markets. Technical Series sociological study. Dhaka, Bangladesh, Technical Meetings 12. Turrialba, Costa Rica, Academic Press and Publishers Library. Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher ISBN 984-08-0235-6 Bhagwat, S.A., Willis, K.J., Birks, H.J.B. & Education Center (CATIE). Whittaker, R.J. 2008. Agroforestry: a refuge Akinnifesi, F.K., Leakey, R.R.B., Ajayi, O.C., for tropical biodiversity? Trends Ecol. Evol., FAO & ESSC. 2008. Forest faces: hopes and Sileshi, G., Tchoundjeu, Z., Matakala, P. & 23(5): 261–267. regrets in Philippine forestry. RAP Kwesiga, F.R. (eds). 2008. Indigenous fruit Publication, 2008/06. Rome, Italy, trees in the tropics: domestication, Bikram Singh, Pushpinder Kaur, FAO/Philippines, Environmental Science for utilization and commercialization. Gopichand, Singh, R.D. & Ahuja, P.S. 2008. Social Change. Wallingford, United Kingdom, CAB Biology and chemistry of Ginkgo biloba. In International. 438 pp. Fitoterapia, 79(6): 401–418. Amsterdam, Fisher, R., Stewart, M., William, J., Edmund, B. Netherlands, Elsevier. & Jeanrenaud, S. 2008. Linking conservation Andersen, U.S., Córdova, J.P.P., Nielsen, and poverty reduction landscapes, people and U.B., Olsen, C.S., Nielsen, C., Sørensen, M. Brockerhoff, E.G., Jactel, H., Parrotta, J.A., power. London, United Kingdom, Earthscan. & Kollmann, J. 2008. Conservation through Quine, C.P. & Sayer, J. 2008. Plantation forests ISBN 9781844076369. utilization: a case study of the vulnerable and biodiversity: oxymoron or opportunity? Abies guatemalensis in Guatemala. Oryx, Biodivers. Conserv., 17(5): 925–951. Fuentes, M. 2008. Biological conservation and 42(2): 206–213. global poverty. Biotropica, 40(2): 139–140. Bunt, C. & Leakey, R.R.B. 2008. Arquiza, Yasmin (ed). 2008. From seeds to Domestication potential and marketing of Gratwicke, B., Bennett, E.L., Broad, S., beads. tales, tips and tools for building a Canarium indicum nuts in the Pacific: Christie, S., Dutton, A., Gabriel, G., community-based NTFP enterprise. Commercialization and market Kirkpatrick, C. & Nowell, K. 2008. The world Quezon City, the Philippines, Non-Timber development. Forests, Trees and can’t have wild tigers and eat them, too. Forest Products Exchange Programme Livelihoods, 18: 271–289. Conserv. Biol., 22(1): 222–223. (NTFP-EP). From the Blue Mountains of India to the Buscardo, E. et al. 2008. The early effects Gubbi, S. & MacMillan, D.C. 2008. Can non- islands of Indonesia, the experiences of of afforestation on biodiversity of timber forest products solve livelihood local communities that depend on non- grasslands in Ireland. Biodivers. Conserv., problems? A case study from Periyar Tiger timber resources from forests for their 17(5): 1057–1072. Reserve, India. Oryx, 42(2): 222–228. livelihood come alive. Part manual and part (Please see page 13 for more information.) storybook, this publication aims to share Chazdon, R.L. 2008. Beyond deforestation: insights as well as lessons learned by the restoring forests and ecosystem services Hamilton, A.C. (ed). 2008. Medicinal plants in partners of the Non-Timber Forest on degraded lands. Science, 320(5882): conservation and development: case studies Products Exchange Programme that are 1458–1460. and lessons learnt. Salisbury, United engaged in NTFP enterprise development. Kingdom, Plantlife International. It is hoped that more forest-based Clason, A.J., Lindgren, P.M.F. & Sullivan, communities across Asia will find the T.P. 2008. Comparison of potential non- Herbst, P., Mekic, F., Avdibegovic, M. & inspiration in this publication to embark on timber forest products in intensively Schmithüsen, F. (eds). 2008. innovative enterprises using the resources managed young stands and mature/old- Forstwirtschaft und Forstrecht in den sustainably within their locality. growth forests in south-central British Reformstaaten Mittel- und Osteuropas To obtain a copy, please e-mail Columbia. Forest ecology and 1990–2007. (Forestry and forest legal [email protected] management, 256(11): 1897–1909. issues in the Central and Eastern European

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countries with economies in transition para el manejo participativo en Murat, C., Zampieri, E., Vizzini, A. & 1990–2007.) ISBN 978-9958-616-07-5. comunidades de Amazonía. ISBN Bonfante, P. 2008. Is the Perigord black Printed copies may be requested from the 978–85–908217–0–0. truffle threatened by an invasive species? University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Forestry, We dreaded it and it has happened! New Prof. Dr Mersudin Avdibegovic at Mathew, P.J. & Thomas, M.T. 2008. Medicinal Phytol., 178(4): 699–702. [email protected] plant resources of Kerala: towards harnessing its potential. Part I – Introduction. Murugesan, S., Sundararaj, R., Jacob, J.P.; Herrera, M. & Hennessey, B. 2007. Kerala, India, Tropical Botanical Garden and Anitha, J. & Karthick, S. 2008. Quantifying the illegal parrot trade in Santa Research Institute. Biopesticidal potential of neem against Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with emphasis on forest insect pests. Hexapoda, 15(1): threatened species. Bird Conserv. Int., McLain, R.J., Alexander, S.J., Jones, E.T. 56–20. Chennai, India, Indian Academy of 17(4): 295–300. 2008. Incorporating understanding of Entomology. informal economic activity in natural Jensen, A. & Meilby, H. 2008. Does resource and economic development policy. Nevenimo, T., Johnston, M., Binifa, J., commercialization of a non-timber forest Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-755. Portland, Gwabu, C., Anjen, J. & Leakey, R.R.B. 2008. product reduce ecological impact? A case Oregon, US Department of Agriculture, Domestication potential and marketing of study of the critically endangered Aquilaria Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Canarium indicum nuts in the Pacific: crassna in Lao PDR. Oryx, 42(2): 214–221. Station. 53 pp. producer and consumer surveys in Papua This report synthesizes the literature on the New Guinea (East New Britain). Forests, Kim, S., Sasaki, N. & Koike. 2008. role of informal economic activity in the Trees and Livelihoods, 18: 253–269. Assessment of non-timber forest products United States of America’s post-industrial in Phnom Kok community forest, economy. The NTFP sector serves as a case Nevenimo, T., Moxon, J., Wemin, J., Cambodia. Asia Europe Journal. Springer study of why it is important to consider Johnston, M., Bunt, C. & Leakey, R.R.B. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany. informal economic activity when developing 2007. Domestication potential and To request a copy, please use this link: natural resource and economic development marketing of Canarium indicum nuts in the www.kimsas.com => click on “Contact Us” policy. We recommend steps policy-makers Pacific: 1. A literature review. Agroforestry can take to identify and encourage positive Systems, 69: 117–134 Kunte, K. 2008. The Wildlife (Protection) Act aspects of the informal economic activity. We and conservation prioritization of butterflies of also highlight several areas of research to Ninan, K.N. 2008. Conserving and valuing the Western Ghats, southwestern India. Curr. improve understanding of the role of informal ecosystem services and biodiversity Sci., 94(6): 729–735. economic activity in post-industrial societies. economic, institutional and social To request a free printed version, please visit: challenges. London, United Kingdom, Leakey, R.R.B., Fuller, S., Treloar, T., www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/ Earthscan. ISBN 9781844076512. Stevenson, L., Hunter, D., Nevenimo, T., order.shtml. Binifa, J. & Moxon, J. 2008. Characterization of Download a digital version (PDF): Ohl-Schacherer, J., Mannigel, E., Kirkby, tree-to-tree variation in morphological, www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/30182. C., Shepard, G.H. & Yu, D.W. 2008. nutritional and chemical properties of Direct download link: Indigenous ecotourism in the Amazon: a Canarium indicum nuts. Agroforestry www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr680.pdf case study of “Casa Matsiguenka” in Manu Systems, 73: 77–87. National Park, Peru. Environ. Conserv., Mulliken, T. & Crofton, P. 2008. Review of the 35(1): 14–25. Leonard, D.B. 2008. Medicine at your feet: status, harvest, trade and management of healing plants of the Hawaiian Kingdom. seven Asian CITES-listed Medicinal and Oudhia, P. 2008. International and national www.medicineatyourfeet.com/buythebook.html Aromatic Plant Species. Bonn, Germany, queries related to medicinal herbs, insects Bundesamt für Naturschutz. and related products. Lovejoy Tembo, Chiteka, Z.A., Irene Kadzere, (Please see page 35 for an extract from this www.pankajoudhia.com/newwork2.html Festus K. Akinnifes & F. Tagwira. 2008. publication.) Ripening stage and drying method affecting Oudhia, P. 2008. Ethnobotanical survey in colour and quality attributes of Ziziphus Ghata Rani Forest region of Indian state mauritiana fruits in Zimbabwe. African Journal Chhattisgarh during July. Parts 1–4. of Biotechnology, 7(14): 2509–2513. July. http://www.Ecoport.org

Lynch, K.A. 2006. Nontimber Forest Products Prasad, P.R.C., Reddy, C.S., Raza, S.H. & Curriculum Workbook. Portland, Oregon, Dutt, C. B.S. 2008. Folklore medicinal United States of America, Institute for Culture plants of North Andaman Islands, India. In and Ecology. 451 pp. Fitoterapia, 79(6): 458–464. Amsterdam, Download: www.ifcae.org/projects/ncssf2 Netherlands, Elsevier.

Machado Soares, F. 2008. Manejo Sodhi, N.S. 2008. Tropical biodiversity loss Comunitario de Productos Forestales No and people – a brief review. Basic Appl. Maderables: un manual con sugerencias Ecol., 9(2): 93–99

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Spenceley, A. 2008. Responsible tourism: Minnesota. Society & natural resources, 9: Natural dyes: sources, tradition, technology and critical issues for conservation and 812–827. ISSN 0894-1920. science development. London, United Kingdom, At a time when more and more plants and Earthscan. ISBN 9781844076390. Yan Xiao. 2008. Modern bamboo structures. animals are threatened with extinction by Proceedings of the First International humanity’s ever-increasing pressure on the Suich, H. & Child, B. 2008. Evolution and Conference (hardcover). Taylor and Francis. land and oceans of the planet, this book sets innovation in wildlife conservation parks and ISBN 10 041547597X. out to record sources of colourants game ranches to transfrontier conservation discovered and used on all the continents areas. London, United Kingdom, Earthscan. Zé, Armand Asseng. 2008. Gestion durable from antiquity until the present day. Some 300 ISBN 9781844076345. des produits forestiers non ligneux dans la plants and 30 animals (marine molluscs and concession forestière de Pallisco. Étude scale insects) are illustrated and discussed by Tieguhong, J.C. & Ndoye, O. 2007. The impact pilote sur les techniques d’exploitation the author, whose passion for natural dyes, of timber harvesting on the availability of non- forestière 24. Rome, FAO. with their colours of unequalled richness and wood forest products in the Congo Basin. FAO subtlety, has taken her across the globe in Forest Harvesting Case Study 23. Rome, FAO. Zhang, L., Hua, N. & Sun, S. 2008. Wildlife search of dye sources and dyers. www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1105e/a1105e00.htm trade, consumption and conservation Botanical/zoological details are given for each awareness in southwest China. Biodivers. source and the chemical structures shown for UNEP. 2008. Africa – Atlas of our Changing Conserv., 17(6): 1493–1516 each dye. Dyes employed by different Environment. Nairobi, Kenya, UN (Please see below for more information.) civilizations, identified by dye analyses, are Environmental Programme. (Available in illustrated and relevant historical recipes and both English and French.) OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS detailed descriptions of dyeing processes by Download: www.na.unep.net/AfricaAtlas/ traditional dyers are quoted and explained in To purchase a hard copy: the light of modern science. Other current www.earthprint.com/ uses of such colourants, e.g. in medicine and for food and cosmetics, are also noted. Wilsey, D.S. & Nelson, K.C. 2008. Although natural dyes have been replaced Conceptualizing multiple nontimber forest largely by synthetic dyes, increasing product harvest and harvesting motivations worldwide awareness of the harmful among balsam bough pickers in northern consequences of the pollution resulting from the production and use of some synthetic PIPELINE PUBLICATIONS colourants has led to a significant revival and renewed interest in natural colourants. As NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS potential renewable resources, natural dyes OUTLOOK STUDY FOR ASIA AND THE are an integral part of the major issue of our PACIFIC: TOWARDS 2020. time – sustainable development. The aim of this book is to provide a scientific background The growing importance of NWFPs in Gestion durable des produits forestiers non for such an important debate. Asia and the Pacific is due not just to ligneux dans la concession forestière de (Source: synopsis from Dominique Cardon. the potential role they can play in Pallisco. Étude pilote sur les techniques 2008. Natural dyes: sources, tradition, reducing poverty, but also to the d’exploitation forestière 24. FAO, Rome, Italie. technology and science. Bois et Forêts des possibility that through proper Cette publication réunit et synthétise deux Tropiques, 295 : 70.p management and development models, études plus détaillées commanditées par la NWFPs can meaningfully contribute to FAO entre juin 2007 et avril 2008 et publiées the future of the natural and economic sous la forme de document de travail. Il s’agit assets of countries in the region. de l’Evaluation quantitative de la disponibilité A new working paper on the Asia- des PFNL dans deux unités forestières Pacific forestry sector, The Outlook for d’aménagement (UFA) de la concession Non-wood Forest Products in Asia and forestière de Pallisco et ses partenaires et the Pacific, authored by Regina Hansda, l’Evaluation qualitative des PFNL Le projet, will be available soon from the FAO dans le cadre duquel ont été effectuées les Forest Policy Division, Rome. deux études, a été réalisé avec l’aide financière du Fonds mondial pour la nature For more information, please contact: (WWF), de la société Pallisco Sarl et de la FAO. Patrick B. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: The pleasure of reading is doubled Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok, Simmone A. Rose, Forestier, Division des when one lives with another who Thailand 10200. Fax: (66-2) 697-4445; produits forestiers et des industries shares the same books. e-mail: [email protected] forestières, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Katherine Mansfield Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italie. Courriel: [email protected]

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Mountain centre launches traditional Species grids resources portal NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications FAO’S NWFP HOME PAGE The International Centre for Integrated Center (SEDAC), based at the Center for Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has International Earth Science Information Our Web site is gradually being launched a Web portal on “Access and Network (CIESIN), has gridded nearly 12 000 updated and new features and Benefit Sharing from Genetic Resources species distribution maps which were documents are being regularly added. and Associated Traditional Knowledge”. originally in vector format (ESRI shapefile). We invite you to visit. The portal contains information about The original data were developed by a Please help us make this a rich access and benefit sharing (ABS) consortium of conservation organizations resource by continuing to send us (non- mechanisms and processes being carried including NatureServe, the International [email protected]) your NWFP Web out, as well as the development and Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sites and citations of any publications implementation of ABS regimes in Conservation International and the World that we are missing, as well as any countries of the Himalayan region. In Wide Fund for Nature-United States of research that you would like to share. addition, it provides links related to the America. To make these data more useful for www.fao.org/forestry/site/6367/en subject and aims to serve as a regional modelling and for integration with socio- clearinghouse mechanism on ABS. economic and other data, SEDAC converted Through this facility, ICIMOD hopes to the entire collection of shapefiles to raster encourage, enable and support learning format. Agroforestería ecológica and foster multistakeholder discussions This newly released Web site provides a La agroforestería ecológica es la agricultura and sharing of the ongoing debates and search facility for quickly locating and del siglo XXI. Se basa en los sistemas de vida, dialogues at international, regional and downloading 1-km (30 arc-second) resolution conservación y producción de las culturas national levels on the subject.. grids of selected species maps in GeoTIFF ancestrales tropicales, en especial, de las ICIMOD, a regional intergovernmental format. Data are available for global culturas milenarias del neotrópico, con los organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal, amphibian distributions and for birds and aportes de la moderna agroecología. launched the portal as part of a project to mammals in the Americas. The Web site www.agroforesteriaecologica.com promote ABS in the eastern Himalayan provides access to individual species countries. The Centre has been working distribution grids, along with family grids that ECOPORT since 2005 with 13 partners in four eastern show the density and distribution of species ECOPORT is a composite acronym derived Himalayan countries – Nepal, India, within a given family. from the words Ecology and Portal. Bangladesh, and Bhutan – in seven project http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/species/ http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=display sites, to promote the ABS process. Plans HelpInfo&type=I&id=101008 are under way to expand the project’s Traditional Knowledge Bulletin coverage over the long term to the entire Subscribe: http://tkbulletin.wordpress.com/ Forestry in Nepal Himalayan region, which covers Forestry Nepal. Contains information on forest Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and non-wood forest resources of Nepal. India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan – www.forestrynepal.org ICIMOD’s regional member countries. ICIMOD believes that local communities NWFP-DIGEST-L Nepal Foresters’ Association. and stakeholders can protect and manage www.nfa.org.np/ their genetic resources and biological The Digest is a free monthly e-bulletin diversity. This will only be possible if the produced by FAO’s NWFP Programme Fruitipedia people who take care of the resources also and covers all aspects of non-wood Fruitipedia is an online encyclopaedia on receive benefits from them, as well as full forest products. Past issues can be edible fruits. It contains information on 200 support from the local and national found on FAO’s NWFP home page at fruits. Contribute articles to Fruitipedia and governments, civil society organizations www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en let your knowledge benefit others. and the international community. You can take part in contributing to www.fruitipedia.com www.icimod.org/abs/ the continued success of this newsletter by sharing with the NWFP community Livelihoods connect Rural associations and rural development any news that you may have regarding The purpose of this Web site is to facilitate in Georgia research, events, publications and the practical implementation of sustainable The objective of this Web site is to projects. Kindly send such information livelihoods approaches. popularize and encourage activities of rural to [email protected]. To subscribe: send a blank e-mail message associations by publishing information To subscribe: send an e-mail to: with the words “subscribe livelihoods- about their work, initiatives and projects. [email protected], with the update” in the subject field to: The site was created in 2007 within the message: subscribe NWFP-Digest-L; or [email protected] project “Strengthening the Role of Rural through the NWFP Programme’s home or subscribe online at Associations in Georgia” (STAGE). page at http://www.livelihoods.org/emailupdate/e The site is available in Georgian and www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en p mailupdate.html#2 English. www.livelihoods.org/index.html www.ruralassociation.ge

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 READERS’ RESPONSE 67

Reader from Afghanistan We want to make an investment in I am working and trying my best to explore essential oil manufacturing and are, CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-WOOD NEWS other potential areas of NWFPs in therefore, interested in learning more about Afghanistan and wish to contribute that the essential oil markets. For example, we A strong characteristic of Non-Wood only for Non-Wood News in future. need more information on: which essential News is that it is open to contributions (Mohammad Muktadir Hossain, Sector oils have the highest demand; commodity from readers. Should you have any Specialist [Forestry], Afghanistan) prices; market structures; production interesting material on any aspect of process of essential oils; commercialization NWFPs that could be of benefit to all Requests received of essential oils, etc. our readers, please do not hesitate to Request for information: curana fibre In addition, could any reader recommend submit it. Articles are welcomed in I’m looking for information on curana fibre. reports, statistics, publications, Web sites on English, French and Spanish and should Do you have any contact information? I the market analysis of essential oils? be between 200–500 words. know it grows in Brazil but I haven’t been The deadline for contributions for able to contact any processing mill. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT: Non-Wood News 19 is 15 May 2009. Engin CAGLAR, Çavuflpafla Caddesi, Sezer Sok, IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT: Pekmezci Apt. No:2/13, Bahçelievler, Istanbul, For more information, please contact: Aj Balthes, [email protected] Turkey. GSM: +90 532 3522911; e-mail: Tina Etherington at the address on the [email protected] front page or by e-mail to non-wood- [email protected] Request for collaboration: edible insects I would like to develop a project on edible insects of francophone West and Central Africa. The project would cover ten countries, Readers of Non-Wood News – a survey namely: Benin, Togo, the Niger, Burkina- Findings from a survey completed in mid- Faso, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, 2008 by three young volunteers in our Centrafrique Republic, Congo Démocratique NWFP Programme revealed that out of a and Congo. total of nearly 4 000 subscribers to the Would any readers be in a position to suggest Non-Wood News database (which does not a suitable contact person who would like to represent our total readership), Asia is the Recherche de financement pour le collaborate in setting up this initiative? region with the highest number of développement des PFNL au Canada subscribers. India came out on top, with Des fonds seraient-ils disponibles pour des FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 477, or just over 12 percent of the global projets locaux? Je travaille auprès d’un M. Sévérin Tchibozo, Centre de Recherche pour subscriber total. centre de recherche et de développement en la Gestion de la Biodiversité et du Terroir See the table below for more details on Outaouais (Canada) et ce centre se consacre (CERGET), 04 BP 0385 Cotonou, Benin. our regional breakdown. énormément à la valorisation des PFNL sur Fax (+229) 21303084; e-mail: [email protected]; notre territoire. Nous sommes aussi sur le http://www.cerget.org/ p Region No. of % of point de développer un projet de régénération readers total des bleuets sauvages en forêt et donc à la Africa 922 24 recherche de financement. Nous sommes un Asia 1125 29 organisme sans but lucratif (OSBL). Pouvez- Europe 827 21 vous nous aider? Merci! Latin America and the Caribbean 368 10 DANS LE CAS D’UNE RÉPONSE POSITIVE, Near East 66 2 VEUILLEZ CONTACTER: North America 425 11 Ann Lévesque, Adjointe scientifique, Centre de South West Pacific 107 3 recherche et de développement technologique Total 3 840 100 agricole de l’Outaouais, 188, rue Jeanne d’Arc, suite 200, Papineauville (Québec) J0V 1R0, Reader from Canada Canada. Télécopie: (819) 427-9115 Got a look at Non-Wood News last week Courriel: [email protected] and I was delighted that there is someone, Site web: www.agro-outaouais.com FAO actually, that is documenting our resources. I started my business 11 years Request for information: essential oils ago because I was finding that few people Our country (Turkey) has plenty of endemic have any knowledge of the natural plants. Essential oils obtained from these environment any more. Most people are plants are used in cosmetics, food and many totally unaware of all the great foods that other sectors. We want to get essential oils exist outside of farms and cities. (Jonathan from these plants and export them to other Forbes, Forbes Wild Foods, Canada) countries.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 18 January 2009 Boreal forests and their NWFPs © Tim Brigham © Tim Brigham © Alessandro Toffoli © Alessandro © Alexey Grigoriev© Alexey Grechenin © Pavel Local people are taking advantage of the rich diversity of boreal forest NWFPs, both as opportunities to provide value-added products and as sources of food, adornment and medicine. Left to right: birch bark is woven to make attractive boxes in which natural cosmetics (soap and fir oil) and jams and herbal teas can be sold; women in Kamchatka, Russian Federation, are eating Heracleum lanatum Michx. (local name: “bears’ pipes”); a young boy uses animal skins to keep warm; mushrooms are collected from the forest floor and sold, either dried or bottled.

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