COUNTRY COMPASS 41

NWFPs: present and future activities

Potential Ongoing activities of government Activities needed NWFPs and non-government agencies Fruit and The World Bank’s Poverty and Health Production of quality fruit and timber Development Profile (PHDP) and the Ministry timber seedlings for better trees of Agriculture, United States Agency for utilization as food, fuelwood, International Development (USAID), German fodder, wood, etc. for local Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Bangladesh consumption and to reduce Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) are forest depletion implementing a project for quality seedling production with community people, local entrepreneurs and farmers’ associations Medicinal No detailed information on medicinal plants Explore medicinal plant plants was found but rural people are using herbal potential throughout the country medicines at large and vendors of herbal as the rural population is medicines exist throughout the country dependent on herbal medicines AFGHANISTAN % Dried Local entrepreneurs produce export quality dried Best-quality fruit fruits figs, black and green raisins, dried apricots production and processing A land of non-wood forest products and nuts and pistachios in different parts of the country of dried fruits and nuts Afghanistan is an exquisitely beautiful for local consumption and export to the Islamic could constitute important country comprised of mountains, scattered Republic of Iran and neighbouring countries export-oriented NWFPs forests and lakes, located in the Hindu Saffron Local entrepreneurs produce saffron in some Best-quality saffron production Kush mountain range and over 500 km parts of the country. Major growing areas are the could become an alternative from the nearest ocean. It has a Islamic Republic of Iran and Kashmir; current livelihood approach to continental climate: summers are warm price/kg of good-quality saffron is US$200 opium cultivation everywhere except on the highest peaks, Apiculture FAO has conducted several exploratory Develop apiculture through while winters can be extremely cold with assessments for apiculture as a means of research and support of the considerable snowfall at high altitudes; at potential income-generating activities (IGAs) Ministry of Agriculture and donor lower elevations, winters are milder and for the landless, disadvantaged and rural poor and development agencies the climate is that of the desert or semi- Sericulture The Ministry of Agriculture has conducted Sericulture could be a major desert. several initiatives to establish this potential income generation for rural The country is divided into 34 provinces, industry through research and assessments populations since mulberry in coordination with FAO trees are largely available with Kabul as the largest city and throughout the country administrative capital. Agriculture has Mushrooms USAID-funded projects have initially been carried Mushrooms could be an traditionally been the basis of the out in the eastern part of the country, involving export-oriented industry in economy, the main crops being wheat, fruit the rural population as a potential IGA activity rural areas and vegetables, maize, barley, cotton, Oil crops The Ministry of Agriculture and FAO have Oil crop production, processing sugar beet and sugar cane. The rearing of (olives, conducted experiments and projects for the to oil and preparation for local livestock, mainly sheep, cattle and goats, is almonds, production of oil crop development; local consumption and export also important, and is the principal activity sunflowers, entrepreneurs and farmers cultivate these throughout the desert and semi-desert cotton, crops but most of the production goes to areas. The little industrial activity mustard, etc.) neighbouring countries for processing concentrates on food processing, textiles, Juices and Local entrepreneurs process juice for local Quality juice production from leather goods and furniture. Since 1979, preserves markets. Export to international markets could abundant fruits and its processing most sectors of the economy have been from orchard be organized since quality fruits are available could be of high demand on local badly affected by almost continuous civil fruits throughout the country and international markets warfare. Eighty percent of the country’s Karakul USAID-funded programme includes research Improved production level and population relies directly on the natural to improve the sector; 75 000 lamb pelts are quality of Karakul sheep are resources to meet their daily needs. Out of exported per year from Afghanistan at varying needed, with an increase in prices – a very good-quality lamb pelt costs Karakul sheep herders and also its total land area, only 12 percent (7.9 US$45 on the EU market in export volume million ha) is arable and 4 percent irrigated. An additional 46 percent is under Wool USAID-funded programme includes research Improved production level and to improve the sector; at present wool is sent quality improvement of Afghan permanent pastures and 3 percent under to Pakistan where carpets are prepared and wool are needed, with an forest cover. The remaining percentage is exported as Pakistani carpets. Yearly turnover increase in sheep herders and mountainous. of Afghan carpet industry is estimated to be also in export volume Afghanistan has a multitude of NWFPs, US$290–325 million which could contribute substantially to the Tourism National entrepreneurs are eager to vitalize Exploration of tourism industry, national economy. The country can be tourism. Afghan Logistics and Tours have already assessment of national divided into five geographic regions begun and, if the security situation economic development from according to their NWFP suitability, as improves, this sector could be of major tourism sector shown in the Table on p. 42. earning importance to the national economy

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 42 COUNTRY COMPASS

NWFP potential in different regions of Afghanistan such as an infusion of plantain leaves and roots, considered cold, are prescribed to Region Province covered Potential NWFPs heal sickness caused by cold influences, East Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman Oil crops e.g. respiratory diseases and summer Apiculture and sericulture headaches. Skins/hides/leather Herbs highly popular among Afghan Dried fruits and nuts healers include the daraona (eye Wool and carpets inflammation), water lily and Zizyphus West Hirat, Farah, Badghis, Ghor Saffron vulgaris fruits (heart arrhythmia), Cashmere Dried fruits and nuts Plantago ovata (headaches), Capparis spinosa, Condonopsis clematidea and Central Kabul, Kapisa, Parwan, Logar, Skin/hides/leather Bamyan, Daykundi Juices and preserves Rumex nepalensis (indigestion), Cannabis Orchard fruit (juicing) indica, aloe and Citrullus colocynthis Dried fruits and nuts (laxative). An infusion of Rubia tinctorum North Balkh, Faryab, Saripul, Jawzjan, Samangan, Orchard fruit (juicing) leaves is used to increase female fertility. and northeast Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan, Kunduz Weaving and embroidery Berberis lycium and mirhinz (Hippophae Karakul rhamnoides) are renowned panaceas. The Wool and cashmere latter is traded and exported, since it is Tourism highly sought after by traditional healers Dried fruits and nuts and the drug industry, especially in China. South Kandahar, Paktika, Paktya, Ghazni, Khost, Orchard fruits/dried fruits (Source: a translated extract from and southwest Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz Forestry Red meat/casing Brandolini, G.V. 2005. Medicine Skins/hides/leather tradizionali. Bergamo, Italy, CRF Press.) Carpets (Contributed by: G.V. Brandolini, Orizzonte Terra, via Mazzini 30, I-24 128 Bergamo, Italy. Tel./fax (+39) 035 21 91 42; e-mail: Years ago, Afghan NWFPs – especially Fax: 00 93 798 125 100; e-mail: [email protected]) fruits and nuts – were world famous; [email protected]; www.bracafg.org) however, because of the country’s situation of unrest over the last 25 years, this trade Medicinal herbs, an asset for local has been mostly abolished. In addition, medicine and the export trade during this long period the growing Herbs are a key resource for most grounds of these products have been Afghans, both as domestic drugs and as destroyed. The remaining resources are traditional healers’ remedies. Medicinal used by local people who rely on their plants are also harvested, dried and traditional knowledge in the collection, exported. A flourishing trade exists processing and consumption of their towards Tibet and India. Herb shops are Capparis spinosa valuable NWFPs. often run by herbalists of Hindu or Sikh NWFPs, which could play a vital role in descent, called pansar. the economy of Afghanistan, need to In Afghanistan, Ayurveda conceptions % ARMENIA receive intensive attention and increased are combined with Arabic influences. Thus, importance from the Government and the diagnosis and therapeutic principles of Armenia Tree Project receives US$100 000 development agencies working in the Afghan herbalists are often ascribed to the grant to partner with Yale University country. A multitude of NWFPs could be four elements: heat, cold, moisture and A new partnership between the Armenia exported. The successful development of dryness (air, earth, fire and water). Tree Project (ATP), Yale University’s Global these products could have a profound Home care is the first resort in illness. Institute of Sustainable Forestry and impact on Afghan farmers, the economy Where this fails, the family of the patient Conservation International will bring and their international marketability. By asks for the advice and help of a spiritual international “best practices” of sustainable being involved in NWFP cultivation and leader (mullah) or exorcist (jenkash). An forestry to Armenia. The joint venture, management, Afghan farmers could find aromatic seed called asfand (Peganum “Evaluation and Implementation of an alternative livelihood to divert them harmala) can be burned, in order to purify Sustainable Forestry Models in Northern eventually from illegal opium cultivation. homes and persons from the evil eye. Armenia,” involves conducting a state-of- In order to achieve national economic Afterwards, or as an alternative to this the-art analysis of the forest ecosystems in objectives the potential NWFP sector must spiritual intervention, a healer (hakim in the Lori region with the aim of producing be transformed in the best way as soon as Dari or tabib in Arabic) prescribes the the first sustainable forestry training possible. (Contributed by: Mohammad appropriate drugs and gives dietetic manual tailored to the specific needs of Muktadir Hossain, Sector Specialist advice. Armenia. (Forestry), Agriculture Development Food and drugs with opposite humours The goals of the project are to evaluate Programme, BRAC Afghanistan, House 45, such as cold and hot, are used to re- the condition of the forests in northern Lane 4, Baharistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. establish body balance. Bitter concoctions Armenia, paying particular attention to the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 43

factors that are limiting the ability for TFS sandalwood Tropical Forestry Services Limited, PO Box regeneration. An assessment will be made Tropical Forestry Services (TFS) is the 3068, East St George’s Terrace, Perth WA of plants, herbs and other NTFPs that may world’s leading sustainable and socially 6832, Australia. Fax: +61 8 9221 9477; e- be sustainably harvested for generating responsible producer and manager of Indian mail: [email protected]; alternative income for residents living in sandalwood (Santalum album) with over www.tfsltd.com.au) close proximity to the forests. Training on 1 100 ha established in Kununurra, Western rotational grazing will be held with Australia’s tropical Kimberley region. livestock owners to prevent soil erosion Since 1999 TFS has planted, and %BANGLADESH and further degradation of forests. continues to plant, the prized Indian This two-year $100 000 project is being sandalwood using seeds originally sourced Hogla (Typha elephantina Roxb.): funded by the Critical Ecosystem from India. Expert foresters have concluded a potential NTFP for socio-economic Partnership Fund. that these trees will be suitable for upliftment in rural Bangladesh harvesting at age 13 to 15 years based on Hogla, the local name for a bush-like small FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: current rates of heartwood formation. TFS plant, Typha elephantina Roxb. of the family Armenia Tree Project, 65 Main Street, plans to become vertically integrated, Typhaceae, looks like a grass and may Watertown, MA 02472, United States of consistently to supply large quantities of attain heights of 2–5 m. The species shows America. E-mail: [email protected]; high-quality plantation-grown Indian an encouraging growth performance in www.armeniatree.org sandalwood oil, cultivated and produced in waterlogged, swamp and even under poor an environmentally friendly and ethical way. soil nutrition conditions in Bangladesh. It also provides a satisfactory yield in rural % AUSTRALIA areas when incorporated with other agrocrops, without hampering the main Double gain for tea tree oil industry crops. The species could, therefore, be an A nine-year breeding programme has economically viable associate crop in rural resulted in a new “breed” of tea tree that areas since it does not require extra care, could increase the Australian industry’s fertilizers or other costs involved in the competitiveness by dramatically collection and planting of seeds. The plant increasing production volumes of high- can survive even after a heavy flood. quality tea tree oil. Dried grasses of the species are Tea tree oil is a significant part of extensively used to make prayer mats, and Australia’s essential oil industry – it is other types of mats, baskets, ropes and incorporated into many personal care and various handicrafts. The residual matter

household products and is also used in a Sandalwood (i.e. defective leaves, petiole, roots) of the variety of agriculture and veterinary plant is also extensively used as fuel and applications. The Australian industry is The latest Baz Luhrmann film Australia, for partitioning and thatching purposes slowly recovering from several years of starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, among rural farm holders. Moreover, the decline when the prices of this oil fell below is currently being filmed on the beautiful plant produces a huge quantity of pollen, the cost of production for many producers. Kingston Rest property purchased by TFS which is used to prepare a delicious Recent increases in demand and higher late last year. TFS believes that this uniquely traditional food in rural areas. prices have seen renewed interest in beautiful property represents the future of A recent study of southwestern flood growing the tea tree. Other challenges face Indian sandalwood, allowing the company to plain areas of Bangladesh reveals that rural the industry, however, such as the threat of expand on its existing 1 100 ha. As part of women, old people and even children are increasing overseas competition. this acquisition, TFS has committed to involved in preparing secondary products The breeding programme forms part of expanding its existing training and from hogla leaves, while men are mainly an industry strategy developed by Ensis employment opportunities for indigenous engaged in the planting, collection, sorting scientist, Dr John Doran. He says that if Australians. About half of the Kimberley and marketing of the leaves. Women usually Australian producers are to maintain their population is of Aboriginal descent. TFS is utilize their leisure time to produce commercial viability, they need to give committed to providing employment secondary products. The study also serious consideration to replanting with the opportunities to ensure that at least half of suggests that planting of hogla just once can best material the breeding programme can its Kingston Rest staff is indigenous by 2016. secure the sustainability of planting provide. “The improved seed will be able to By working with the Kimberley community materials on the same field for at least ten produce plants that are capable of and environment we believe we can help to years. It was also evident that farmers can producing 270 kg of oil/ha from paddocks ensure shared long-term benefits for the earn an additional US$5 from a decimal part that would otherwise yield 148 kg/ha, if community, the environment and TFS. of their land just from selling hogla leaves. established with unimproved seed,” he says. TFS has donated the profits from filming In Bangladesh – a country with a huge The principal source of oil is Melaleuca to the Clontarf Foundation, a programme population growth, shrinking income and alternifolia, a medium-sized tree from the aimed at encouraging education, good per capita agricultural land, low coastal plains of New South Wales. health and relationship-building among the agricultural productivity, acute shortage of (Source: North Queensland Register region’s indigenous children. (Contributed fuel in rural areas, and where sudden [Australia], 10 July 2007.) by: Danae Christensen, Research Officer, floods become serious threats –

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 44 COUNTRY COMPASS

incorporating hogla with other profitable height and a diameter of 2 cm. Local names manufacture articles according to seasonal agricultural crops can be an advantageous for this NWFP differ throughout requirements and local market demand. solution. The massive introduction of the Bangladesh, e.g. patipata and pati-jung in The murta-based cottage industry, species in rural areas will also empower the Chittagong region, mostak in Noakhali, therefore, can improve rural livelihoods, women and old people to contribute pat-bat and murta in the Sylhet and Tangail help to generate additional employment increasingly to their family income and thus regions and paitrabon in Barisal. and income, contribute to foreign currency to improve their living standards. The The species is generally grown in low- and support biodiversity conservation. residual products obtained from the lying marshy areas of greater Sylhet, Murta can play a vital role in the economy species can be used to minimize the Mymensingh, Barisal, Noakhali, Chittagong and environment of the country. It is domestic fuel shortfall in rural areas. and Pabna districts and covers sizeable possible to develop the cottage industry to However, the marketing system, both for areas in the forest of Sylhet division. It is a profitable international standard through primary and secondary products, needs to sporadically planted along roadsides and the scientific cultivation of murta on private be improved to maximize the profit of around ponds and, formerly, fallow and and government forest lands. It is growers and producers. (Contributed by: unproductive paddy fields were used for its necessary to look not at the product or Sharif Ahmed Mukul, Department of large-scale cultivation. commodity in isolation, but at a wide range Forestry and Environmental Science, Murta is extensively used as a raw of factors that would enable it to be School of Agriculture and Mineral material in cottage industries, especially for exploited, managed for sustainability and Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science floor mats, prayer mats and woven utensils, marketed for profit. The government and and Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh. and is adopted by both the rich and the poor. other national and international agencies E-mail: [email protected]) A recent valuation study revealed that the should come forward to motivate and assist stem (culm) harvested from 100 ha of land, interested farmers through technical worth 65 lakh taka (US$108 300) can support and financial assistance to help the produce products (such as shitalpati prayer industry flourish. If managed properly, it mats) worth 1 crore 80 lakh taka will not only attract foreign currency but (approximately US$300 000). Thus, it plays a also create employment opportunities for significant role in generating income and thousands of unemployed villagers in providing employment opportunities, as Bangladesh. (Contributed by: Romel well as improving the socio-economic Ahmed, Mostafizur Rahman, A.N.M. status of the rural people. Fakhrul Islam and Mohammad Redowan, A large number of local people Department of Forestry, Shahjalal handicrafts in Latin America” throughout the country have adopted the University of Science and Technology,

“Riches of the forest: fruits, remedies and murta-based cottage industry as either Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh. their part-time or full-time profession and E-mail: [email protected]) Murta (Schumannianthus dichotoma) have earned a substantial income. Various cottage industry in socio-economic novelty items produced from it are very development of rural people in the popular with both the people of Bangladesh %BHUTAN northeastern region of Bangladesh and also abroad, where it is in great demand A recent study has attempted to generate and earns foreign currency. But, this is all Grow bamboo, save trees information on the status of the about to be ruined since more and more In Bhutan, bamboo is seen as a possible Schumannianthus dichotoma (murta) fallow land is now being converted for alternative to wood to reduce the pressure cottage industry and its contribution to the agricultural production, considerably on forests. The Forestry Development income and employment of rural areas in reducing murta production. The productivity Corporation Limited (FDCL) office in the northeastern region of Bangladesh with and sustainability of the industry are, Phuentsholing distributed 10 000 seedlings the aim of improving the database therefore, becoming uncertain because of on 2 June 2007 to government agencies necessary for any socio-economic this shortage and artisans are consequently and interested private individuals in development programme. This survey was suffering the curse of poverty. If this process Samtse and Chukha dzongkhags (districts) carried out at Gowainghat thana continues, production of the popular to start large-scale cultivation of bamboo. (subdistricts) in Sylhet district. shitalpati prayer mat will decrease and The bamboo seedlings were raised last The forest-based cottage industry is one ultimately be lost forever, making year mainly in Samtse. of the major sources of off-farm income for thousands of people jobless. More than 866 acres (approximately the rural population of Bangladesh. NWFPs Our study revealed that 77 percent of the 350.5 ha) of degraded land under Samtse could generate potential income for the total population are directly involved in this and Chukha dzongkhags were identified last local people and provide employment for cottage industry and that each article year for plantation of various bamboo about 229 000 of them, which would fetches a different price, depending on total species and other valuable tree species that continue throughout the year, or at least requirements for murta and other were of commercial value according to the during the agriculture off-season. materials, market demand and workdays divisional manager of FDCL, Tashi Peljore. Murta, an important NWFP belonging to required to produce an article. The net Bamboo helped to conserve soil and water the family Marantaceae, is a clump-forming average profit/workday on various articles in catchment areas such as Balujora in shrubby plant, dichotomously branched, varies from Tk16 to 51, with net profit/article Pasakha and Dam Dum in Samtse by with green cylindrical stems of 3.7–4.6 m in varying from Tk25 to127. Entrepreneurs minimizing the downstream flow of silt.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 45

Bamboo products such as flag posts %BRAZIL manager of Miragina, said that “the fair is with reti and khorlo supplied by FDCL have an excellent way of bringing our products been extremely effective as a substitute for Top-selling products at Mercadão Floresta and making them known”. The company wood. Since the establishment of bamboo One of the main purposes of Mercadão from Acre, founded in the 1960s, makes plantations in mid-2006, 1 500 flag posts Floresta (Forest Market), organized by the Brazil nut-based products. Generating have been supplied to the public at NGO Amigos da Terra–Amazônia Brasileira income for traditional populations, delicious reasonable rates, said Tashi Peljore. and held from 25 May to 3 June at the biscuits are made from Brazil nuts. These Bamboo is now also used by architects and Municipal Market of São Paulo, was to were one of the top sellers at the fair, with designers in the construction of airy present the enormous range of products four extra shipments being brought in to summer houses as well as for furniture. based on Brazilian biodiversity and the supply the demand generated by the event. Gardeners in the southern region grow importance of protecting Brazilian biomes The same happened with frozen açaí bamboo for screening and greening, and to for residents of São Paulo. For the first (Euterpe oleracea) from Fruitamazon, a be used as flagpoles and scaffolding. time, these products were made available company from Pará, which transferred its Phuentsholing is the second highest for retail and, simultaneously, renowned activities to the neighbouring state of consumer of timber after Thimphu chefs took turns in providing taste tests and Amapá and is known for offering the best according to FDCL officials. (Source: talks in a gastronomical venue established açaí pulp available on the Brazilian market. Kuensel [Bhutan], 28 June 2007.) at the market. The company has 30 ha planted and also One of the highlights of the fair, for buys from riverbank communities in places example, was a sweet made from umbú such as Calçoene, Porto Grande, Serra do %BOLIVIA (Spondias tuberosa) and organic sugar Navio, Ferreira Gomes and Mazagão in produced by the Canudos, Uauá and Curaçá Amapá. Açaí has been arousing interest Caiman (Caiman yacare) in Bolivia: a Family-Based Agricultural Cooperative, around the world because of its nutritional CITES success which works in the semi-arid Brazilian value. In addition to having become a fad After a long period of overexploitation of northeast. among youths throughout the country, caiman (Caiman yacare) for its leather in Another top seller was organic powdered several products that include açaí are Bolivia, the Government installed a general cocoa from the Atlantic rain forest, beginning to appear abroad. prohibition against hunting of the animal in produced by the Cabruca Cooperative of Besides açaí, names such as cupuaçu 1990 – having signed the Convention on Organic Farmers in southern Bahia in (Theobroma grandiflorum), pequi (Caryocar International Trade in Endangered Species partnership with the Belgian firm, Barry brasiliense), taperebá (Spondias mombin of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1987 – Callebaut, a worldwide leader in the Jacq.), buriti (Mauritia vinifera and M. and this resulted in the population’s production of cocoa and chocolate goods. flexuosa), tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) recovery. It has now grown strong and Certified by the Biodynamics Institute (IBD), and bacuri (Platonia insignis) have now hunting is again possible, although it is the product is obtained by processing 100 entered the vocabulary of Brazilian regulated by quotas that assure it cannot percent organic cocoa seeds, without the products. Chocolate sweets with fruit be overexploited once again. use of any pesticides. fillings from Amazonia, chocolate pralines CITES set a quota of 50 000 caiman Baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) nuts were also with forest fruits prepared by chef Daniel leathers that can be exported per year, much sought after among the Briand and native fruit hand soaps from which until now has been respected and agroecological products. Produced at the Atelier Especiarias also were part of the mix gave estimated returns to the local people Cerrado (savannah) Center for Studies and of top-selling products at the fair. of around US$0.38 for 40 062 skins in 2003, Sustainable Use, their sustainable Setting records in terms of public and and US$0.44 for 46 720 skins in 2004. economic use helps preserve the species sales, the fair demonstrates the huge The preliminary results of an evaluation and aids local communities directly involved potential of forest products and how undertaken by the National Programme of in production. production and sales of these products are Caiman Management in 2005 indicate that One of the market niches offered was an the means to keep the forest standing. around 1 750 people are employed in the extra virgin, cold-pressed Brazil nut oil. (Source: Amazonia.org.br, 4 June 2007.) commercialization of caiman leathers. Produced by Ouro Verde, it is perfect for (Source: Trade measures – tools to salads, risottos, fish and complex recipes. promote the sustainable use of NWFPs? Rich in omega 6, omega 9 and vitamin E and %BULGARIA FAO Non-Wood Forest Products Working with no cholesterol, it helps to prevent heart Document 6.) disease, stimulates the immunological President affirms Bulgaria’s forests system and increases longevity. as national symbol Another hot item was honey vinegar, Bulgaria’s forests should be regarded as a from the Fernão Velho bee farm. A natural national symbol, President Georgi product, it is made from water and Purvanov said, during a regional fermented hydromel (mead) acetic acid, and conference about forest preservation and does not contain preservatives or artificial restoration issues in the southeastern aromas. Bulgarian town of Yambol. Purvanov added The event was an important opportunity that the Bulgarian forestry sector needs a for companies from northern Brazil to clear strategy and also a real governing market their products. José Luiz Felício, policy that could yield visible results.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 46 COUNTRY COMPASS

He called for reforms that would combine time, the seedlings will be planted in aims to revive and preserve the skills needed experience and tradition. “I hope the specific areas in the forest and once the to create traditional arts and crafts among establishment of the State Agency for plantation is established the nursery will the indigenous Kreung people, while also Forestry will revive the love of forest and sell its seedlings to other villages. (Source: providing training in forest conservation and care of its fate,” Purvanov said. He also WWF Cambodia, 28 June 2007.) business skills. CAN-DO executive director expressed his hope that next year’s budget Sarim Heang reports that the organization is would allow this agency to be financially supporting two village NTFP enterprises independent. (Source: Sofia Echo [Bulgaria], (VNEs), set up in late 2006, where members 24 August 2007.) participate in workshops, demonstrations and informal discussions to learn how to harvest bamboo and rattan in a sustainable %CAMBODIA manner. At the NTFP workshop in December 2006 Searching for the secret of sustainable attended by CAN-DO and others, techniques rattan use were shared for sustainable harvesting and NTFPs are important resources for local cultivation of bamboo and rattan. Mark Cambodian communities, since they Flourishing trade in Cambodian cane Poffenberger, director of Community provide people with many necessities such Home to a number of indigenous tribes, Forestry International (CFI) – another as food, income, medicine and shelter. Ratanakiri Province lies nestled in the lush member of the National NTFP Working Rattan is one of the most important NTFPs; upland forests of northeast Cambodia. Group – emphasized that regular trimming in some communities selling rattan is the Communities eke out a living by growing rice of bamboo is necessary to maintain high second major source of a family’s income. for half of the year, but food shortages levels of plant productivity. Poffenberger Unfortunately, an increasingly high demand caused by low yields and increasing family added that the practice of culturing rattan for rattan and other NTFPs threatens forest size are common. One source of income is and bamboo is also growing in Cambodia. resources and local livelihoods. cashews, grown in fields created out of the For example, training is given on how to Under sound management, rattan can forest through the slash-and-burn separate and prepare bamboo seedlings for provide a sustainable income for many technique. However, this practice is planting, when to plant and how to plant communities. The WWF Greater Mekong’s threatening forest biodiversity as well as three bamboos in a triangle to improve wind Cambodia Country Programme is working limiting availability of other NTFPs on which resistance. Amanda Bradley of CFI reports with the Preak Thnot commune, located villagers depend for nutrition, building that community forestry groups are also around Bokor National Park in eastern materials, medicines and money to buy food protecting the bamboo and rattan habitat by Cambodia, to develop a suitable rattan and other household essentials. organizing patrols to prevent burning and management model. The aim of the project Cambodians have traditionally harvested logging. is to develop economic incentives for local a wide variety of NTFPs, including numerous To enhance development of bamboo and people to manage rattan sustainably inside species of wild fruits and nuts, resin, honey, rattan handicrafts each VNE, supported by the forest or Community Protected Areas. mushrooms, medicinal plants, bamboo and CAN-DO, holds regular gatherings to A rattan management group, composed rattan. But untapped potential exists for discuss methods for improving quality, of two subgroups – the handicraft group and increasing the value of many of these colouring, patterns, product size and the nursery group – has been established. It products for rural communities. Bamboo delivery. More formal monthly meetings are is estimated that through value-added and rattan, in particular, have a range of held where producers review their processing and market linkages, group different uses – as raw materials for building achievements and develop action plans for members could generate an additional houses and for household furniture. the following month. US$600–800 per year. Part of this extra In addition, bamboo and rattan are often Heang notes that VNE members are income could be used to administer the fashioned by villagers into baskets, boxes, beginning to understand that customer group and also fund the cost of establishing musical instruments and other handicrafts preferences must be taken seriously to rattan plantations inside the forest, which and sold on a limited basis. However, by improve profitability. In addition to customer provide local people with a renewable learning the technical skills needed to feedback, producers receive support and source of rattan. manufacture high-quality goods, gaining regular field visits from CAN-DO. These To support plantation activities, WWF has direct access to markets and learning strategies are also endorsed by established Cambodia’s first rattan nursery. sustainable cultivation and harvesting Poffenberger who believes “improved Covering an area of more than 200 m2, the practices, villagers could achieve consistent processing can substantially enhance NTFP nursery can produce around 20 000–30 000 profits while maintaining the forest habitat in values, often raising the gate price of a rattan seedlings per year. Under the which rattan and bamboo flourish. product by 300–1 000 percent”. management of the rattan group, local In order to provide support to forest Creating direct market access is also villagers have received training on the day- communities in Ratanakiri, several NGOs in supported by CAN-DO, particularly with to-day management of the nursery, Cambodia have formed the National NTFP rattan back-baskets sold in Banlung town. collection of seeds and transplantation Working Group. For example, the Producers are now transporting their goods techniques. The villagers are collecting Community Handicraft Initiative Project directly to two retailers, cutting out seeds and seedlings from areas of the forest (CHIP), recently launched by the Cambodian intermediaries and thus increasing profits. with high densities of rattan. In six months NTFP Development Organization (CAN-DO), In addition, with partners such as the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 47

Artisans’ Association of Cambodia, CAN-DO the market dealers covering a period of five Fon Nsoh, President of NESA, told is assisting producers to design more value- years. Costs and profit margins were participants at the exhibition about the need added products, including musical analysed. Irrespective of type of honey, the to encourage the consumption, promotion, instruments and home accessories. During marketing organizations were judged to be cultivation and preservation of indigenous the last six months, Heang reports that VNE more efficient dealing with comb honey than food crops. Fon Nsoh revealed that about members have begun to realize that bamboo partially drained honey when used as raw 100 million Africans suffer from food and rattan will provide significant income for material. Furthermore, the honey marketing insecurity which exposes them to serious their families, but only if they continue to organizations are profitable with a net health risks and famine. He blamed it on the protect the forest, adopt sustainable margin of at least 18 percent, the minimum underuse or misuse of existing food methods of cultivation and harvesting, and interest rate charged by microfinance resources and expressed the conviction that work continually to improve product quality. institutions across the Northwest Province. the base of Africa’s food supply could be CAN-DO is part of a collaborative network Results of the study suggest that profit broadened by growing its almost forgotten of NGOs and community-based margins of the product marketed could be indigenous food crops and also by the organizations. It works closely with the Non- increased if market dealers interact and sustainable exploitation of NTFPs. It was Timber Forest Products Exchange share experiences. While there is an obvious evident during the exhibition that Africa’s Programme for South and Southeast Asia, need for improving the technical capacities indigenous knowledge base for food the National NTFP Working Group, and of actors of the subsector, more specific production and especially traditional food some handicrafts-based NGOs and information on the cost structure of the crops is being lost and that is why most of enterprises in Cambodia to enable the CHIP entire value chain would shed more light on the major foods cultivated and consumed endeavour to move forward. (Source: Treena the potential and actual contributions of bee have their origins elsewhere. Hein, New Agriculturist Web site, viewed 8 farming to emerging regional and national The exhibition also offered a rare moment October 2007.) economies. for lessons on the advantages of indigenous crops over exotic ones as many were FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT encouraged to consume, to give farmers a % CAMEROON THE AUTHORS: Dorothy Kenyi Malaa, Agricultural chance to improve their standard of living. Economist, Institute of Agricultural Research for The NESA exhibition was organized under Bee farming and honey marketing Development (IRAD), PO Box 44, Dschang, the combined theme “Valuing organizations in the Northwest Province Cameroon; e-mail: [email protected] or local/indigenous food as a right for people Two types of honey are extracted from the Michael Boboh Vabi, Socio-economist, living in poverty, rural women as agents of Kilum-Ijim forest of the Northwest Province: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture change, producing and providing”. The light brown and cream white honey. The (IITA), PO Box 2008, Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon. exhibition was organized on the heels of the light brown honey is more popular in the E-mail: [email protected], 2007 Rural Women’s Day, World Food Day Northwest Province and other parts of [email protected] and the International Day for the Eradication Cameroon. The cream white honey, of Poverty. (Source: Cameroon Tribune, 29 principally extracted from the highest peaks October 2007.) of the Kilum-Ijim forest, is less popular and therefore scarcer in the province. Indeed, this honey, which looks like cream butter, is % CANADA unknown not only to many consumers in the province but also to many Cameroonians. Forestry funding coming to Chapleau, As quality is a key element in product Ontario marketing, honey is no exception. Each of A northeastern Ontario mill town will be the the marketing organizations assesses the epicentre of a movement to harvest the humidity level of their honey using wealth of northern Ontario’s alternative appropriate instruments. In addition to bioproducts commercially on a regional determining humidity levels, the different Exhibition of local indigenous crops scale. With $1.6 million in seed funding from honey types are sold in measurements impresses population Ottawa, the town of Chapleau has been ranging from 100 g to 30 kg. While dealers in It was a day for local/indigenous crops and chosen to make it happen. cream white honey present it in open- NTFPs recently in Bamenda with an The forestry town of 2 300 people was mouthed containers, those of light brown exhibition to raise awareness about their selected in July as one of 11 sites across honey do not have any standard measures. value and importance. The welcome Canada for Natural Resources Canada’s A recent paper assessed the efficiency of initiative by the Network for Sustainable (NRCan) new Forest Communities Program honey marketing organizations in the Agriculture (NESA) and the Western (FCP). The potential in developing NTFPs Northwest Province, while raising Highlands Nature Conservation Network caught the attention of NRCan officials. The awareness on the economic and ecological (WHINCONET) assembled rare local and 11 communities and their yet-to-be created potentials of bee farming. Data were indigenous food crops from the Western regional organizations will be able to tap into collected on the type and form of honey Highlands: pumpkins, bambara groundnuts, a $25 million fund dispensed over five years. marketed, as well as the costs and prices cowpeas, garden eggs, cashew nuts, The idea behind these organizations is to using a structured questionnaire. Secondary monkey cola, Bali guava, passion (Adam) develop and share knowledge, tools and data were obtained from the sales records of fruit, ancop, tree trunk mushrooms, etc. strategies to help hard-hit forestry towns

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 48 COUNTRY COMPASS

make a transition into value-added and distribución va desde Nicaragua, Costa emerging new forest-based opportunities. Rica, Panamá, Trinidad, Venezuela, The programme, to be known as the Colombia, Ecuador, hasta Perú y Brasil. Northeast Superior Forest Community Una investigación realizada por el partnership, may be headquartered in Centro Agronómico Tropical de Chapleau but project manager Sylvie Albert Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) wants to cast a wide regional net and build determinó su presencia en los bosques as much collaboration as possible. Armed húmedos de Costa Rica. El estudio with $325 000 for each of the next five years, etnobotánico realizado en 1989 mostró el Albert says that the programme emphasis uso tradicional por parte de un grupo is beyond just building bricks and mortar nativo de la etnia Bribri, establecido en and making inventories of what is available Maple syrup harvest bittersweet Talamanca, Costa Rica, quienes emplean la in the bush. She wants to see a new wave of Despite a disastrous maple syrup crop in madera en la construcción de viviendas por innovative forest projects come through to the lower St Lawrence region this year, the su resistencia al comején, lo que determina production. For some small producers, the product’s provincial marketing board su empleo milenario por parte de las money will be a final incentive to take their predicts the overall 2007 harvest will still comunidades nativas de América. fledgling enterprises to the next step. yield a record $200 million plus in sales. La presencia de ingredientes químicos, Besides Chapleau, five other Charles Felix Ross, Secretary-General of tipo alcaloide en la madera y hojas cuyos communities of Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles principales componentes son ryanodina

White River, Manitouwadge and the du Québec said it will mark the second (C25H35NO9); 9, 21-didehydroryanodina, township of Michipicoten will be involved in consecutive year that a below normal size contribuyó a que se emplee desde el siglo the partnership, which includes involvement crop sets a new sales mark after the 2006 pasado en Europa y Estados Unidos para el with three area First Nation communities. harvest sold for the previous high of $180 control de plagas en la agricultura. They will have at their disposal university million. Dada su importancia económica en el academics and community development Even though a recent survey of the control de plagas en la agricultura y el personnel as well as government, business federation’s 7 300 maple production farm aprovechamiento comercial de su madera, and industry experts in value-added operators calculated a yield of 61.7 million condujo al CATIE a realizar investigaciones forestry. lbs (1 lb = 0.45 kg), a 10 percent drop from enfocadas a su manejo sostenible dentro Combined with the NRCan money, Albert last year, there is an equal percentage del Proyecto de Conservación y Desarrollo has raised a total of $2.3 million with increase in sales and exports. Ross credits Sustentable para América Central. additional community contributions and she stronger promotions domestically and Los resultados de la ejecución de is looking for more. Other players such as growing interest in the health benefits of estudios ecológicos condujo a determinar the Northern Ontario School of Medicine maple syrup south of the border for the que R. speciosa es una especie esciófita (NOSM) and Laurentian University’s School product’s increasing popularity. por su característica de crecer y of Management, where Albert teaches, are An average crop is 78 to 80 million pounds, desarrollarse a la sombra del dosel del coming on board as collaborative partners. while a bumper crop is 100 million pounds, bosque y presentar madera dura. La NOSM is interested in using plants in the so Ross called this year’s yield very small. distribución de las poblaciones silvestres boreal forest for medicinal and nutraceutical Quebec accounts for 93 percent of presenta un patrón espacial agregado (natural health products) uses. Canada’s maple syrup and produces 80 únicamente para los brinzales, siendo para Albert says that one of the most percent of the world’s supply, 60 percent of los latizales el patrón al azar y para la advanced projects is the newly created Non- which is consumed in the United States of población total un patrón agregado en el Timber Forest Products Corporation. High America. About 2 000 maple farm bosque húmedo tropical de Costa Rica, con on its agenda is finding new and promising operators produce 80 percent of Quebec’s una densidad de poblaciones silvestres de NTFPs to commercialize, such as maple syrup. (Source: Montreal Gazette, 17 hasta 874 ind/ha y capacidad de rebrote blueberries. Quebec, Nova Scotia and New July 2007.) posterior a su cosecha. Brunswick have already done so with great El auge de la agricultura orgánica ha success, she says. conducido a un mayor aprovechamiento de There are other promising natural crops %COSTA RICA los PFNM como sucede con Quassia amara such as Canada yew (an ingredient used to (Familia Simaroubaceae), R. speciosa, fight cancer) and fireweed (a skin care Manejo y conservación de Ryania speciosa situación que está provocando nutraceutical). en el trópico húmedo de Costa Rica vulnerabilidad en poblaciones silvestres, “If you have pockets of producers across Ryania speciosa Vahl, es un arbusto de la como respuesta se han implementado the north, it would certainly support what Familia Flacourtiaceae; constituye uno de investigaciones para el manejo de other provinces are trying to do on a los muchos productos forestales no poblaciones silvestres y acciones de worldwide scale,” says Albert. “There are madereros (PFNM) de América tropical que domesticación en Costa Rica. many things the forest has to offer beyond es objeto de comercio en el mercado En la actualidad, el abastecimiento de la just cutting lumber that could be utilized to internacional. materia prima (madera) de Ryania para el start up cottage industries.” (Source: Es propio de los bosques tropicales en mercado internacional proviene de Trinidad Northern Ontario Business, 6 September América, generalmente se encuentra a y Tabago. El principal importador es Italia y 2007.) orilla de ríos en bosques primarios y la Estados Unidos de América. En América

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 49

existen productos comerciales en Estados % CZECH REPUBLIC aromatic and medicinal plants to attend a Unidos y Argentina. stakeholders’ workshop in early September Por esta razón Bougainvillea Extractos A new season begins for Czech mushroom 2007 to discuss the wild aromatic, culinary Naturales, empresa establecida en Costa pickers and medicinal plants of Egypt. Rica realiza acciones de manejo de Twenty-six million kilograms of The specific objectives of the workshop poblaciones naturales y domesticación con la mushrooms – that’s how much Czechs were to gain a better insight into the participación de agricultores dueños de picked in the forests across the country in present resource situation and utilization bosques para su comercialización como 2006. According to a survey carried out by status of medicinal, culinary and aromatic biopesticida en forma de extracto the University of Agriculture, an average plants in Egypt, their potential, and the estandarizado en el control de mariposas. Czech family collected about 8 kg of problems and issues to be addressed for (Aportación hecha por: Rafael A Ocampo S., mushrooms last year. It seems that their sustainable development; and identify Jardín Agroecológico Bougainvillea. mushroom-picking remains one of the and propose priorities for action at various Apartado Postal 764-3100. Santo Domingo, most popular Czech pastimes. levels and programmes and projects to Heredía, Costa Rica. Correo electrónico: One proof of the continuing popularity of support national/regional efforts for [email protected]; www.bioextractos.com) mushroom-picking is the number of resource conservation and sustainable mushroom-devoted Web pages providing development of these products in the Costa Rica and the United States of detailed information about the current country. America swap debt for nature situation in different areas of the Czech The focus of the workshop was on Costa Rica and the United States have Republic. You can even download a so- aromatic and medicinal plants gathered signed an agreement to swap US$26 called “myco-map” – a map indicating the from wild sources (such as on forest and/or million of Costa Rican debt for funds to occurrence of individual mushroom species rangelands) in the Egyptian desert, so as to protect more than 1 000 acres in different regions. (Source: Radio Prague differentiate these products from those (approximately 404.7 ha) of tropical forest. [Czech Republic], 17 August 2007.) obtained as agriculture cash crops (on The move will protect biodiversity in the irrigated lands). region and help thousands of indigenous The workshop provided a useful people to maintain sustainable livelihoods. overview of the specific characteristics of The two countries made the agreement medicinal, culinary and aromatic plants this month (October), with Costa Rica and their resource/utilization status in agreeing to spend the swapped amount on Egypt. The outcome of the workshop was forest conservation over the next 16 years. presented and discussed in plenary until an The United States of America will contribute agreement by consensus was reached on $12.6 million, with the environment all recommendations. At the closing protection organizations The Nature session, a proposed project with the key Conservancy and Conservation recommendations (“Survey, sustainability International each providing $1.26 million. and conservation of the wild aromatic and Six areas have been designated for medicinal plants in Egypt: protecting their protection, based on a scientific analysis to % EGYPT genetic resources and evaluating their determine gaps in forest protection, says economic values”) was introduced by the Zdenka Piskulich, director of The Nature Wild aromatic, culinary and medicinal chairman of the workshop Prof. Dr Inas Conservancy in Costa Rica. The swap will plants of Egypt Abd El Moati Tolba, Professor of Ecology target forest protection in some of Costa Egypt is characterized by a variety of and Phytochemistry, Head of the Aromatic Rica’s best known biodiversity hotspots, climatic and environmental conditions that and Medicinal Plants Department, DRC. such as Tortuguero, a system of natural have helped in the distribution of numerous waterways near the Caribbean Sea. The area wild aromatic and medicinal plants around FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: surrounding the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, the country. These plants have been used Prof. Dr Inas A. Tolba, Head of the Aromatic and home to over 300 species of birds, and the for various therapeutic and economic Medicinal Plants Department, Desert Research Osa Peninsula, home to 2.5 percent of the purposes throughout history and are now Center, PO Box 11753, Cairo, Egypt. Fax: 02 world’s animal and plant species, will also receiving increased interest in Egypt and 26357858; 02 2 6370788; benefit, together with ecosystems in the elsewhere. e-mail: [email protected] Amistad region, which contains 90 percent of Great efforts are being made to increase Costa Rica’s known plant species. awareness of aromatic and medicinal plant Piskulich said in a press release that the products in Egypt and to strengthen % FINLAND funding will also allow indigenous national collaboration between the regional communities, many of whom live in the desert areas. Accordingly, the Aromatic Reindeer ecotourism Amistad region, “to pursue sustainable and and Medicinal Plants Department, Desert Half of our income comes from reindeer economically viable livelihoods, thus Research Center (DRC), in collaboration husbandry, half from reindeer tourism, improving their lives and sustaining the with FAO, invited local communities, private says reindeer herder and entrepreneur diverse biological resources on which they enterprises and other socio-economic Anssi Kiiskinen. “The ultimate reason to depend”. (Source: SciDev.Net, 24 October actors involved in collecting, processing, branch into tourism was to increase our 2007.) trading, marketing and sustaining of wild income from reindeer, so they would

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 50 COUNTRY COMPASS

% INDIA vegetables and seeds as cattle feed have been pushing up the raw material cost for Tackling poverty through international the CT-gum industry. The total installed trade of forest products: a case study of capacity in the country is 0.2 million tonnes Cassia tora for splits and 59 000 for powder based on Cassia tora, commonly known as tora, Cassia tora seeds. The capacity utilization sickle senna, sickle pod, coffee pod, tovara, in the industry has been around 70 percent chakvad and foetid cassia, is a wild weed for the last three years. crop growing luxuriously in some parts of Apart from domestic consumption, there India, including Madhya Pradesh, during are now significant exports of cassia the period October to February. powder of international standard to various A natural gelling agent that has countries, such as the United States of industrial and food applications is made America, Australia, Germany, France, from the seed. The primary chemical Spain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, constituents of the seed include Belgium, New Zealand, the United provide for us.” Kiiskinen says that the cinnamaldehyde, gum, tannins, mannitol, Kingdom, Singapore and Japan. The export income from reindeer meat is not enough coumarins and essential oils (aldehydes, value of Cassia tora has been gradually to offset the costs of the increasingly eugenol and pinene); it also contains increasing over the last five years. Detailed mechanized reindeer husbandry. That is sugars, resins and mucilage, among other export data revealed that Japan and the why he and his uncle set up a joint reindeer constituents. United Kingdom receive a regular supply, tourism enterprise, the Kopara reindeer Cassia tora has many uses. It is used as while the United States market fluctuates. farm, on the flanks of the Pyhätunturi Fell a natural pesticide in organic farms; However, the export growth rate of Cassia in Lapland. roasted seeds are substituted for coffee; its tora clearly shows the difference between In the Kiiskinens’ business, reindeer powder is most popularly used in the pet quantity and value, which leads to a low herding and reindeer tourism complement food industry; it is mixed with guar gum for price per unit price. (Contributed by: Dr one another. In reindeer herding, the use in mining and other industrial Parag Dubey, Faculty of Forest Product busiest seasons are spring and autumn, applications; its seeds and leaves are used Marketing, Indian Institute of Forest and in tourism summer and winter. The to treat skin disease; and its seeds act as a Management, PO Box 357, Nehru Nagar, meat from the herd of reindeer is served as laxative. This weed could also become a Bhopal 462003, Madhya Pradesh, India. appetizing dishes in the farm restaurant. reliable cheap supply of nutritious fodder E-mail: [email protected]) During winter the customers are offered for Ctenopharyngodon idella, a fast- reindeer safaris, usually consisting of a few growing exotic carp. Jharkhand: rich in NWFPs yet not fully hours’ ride across the snowy wilderness in Cassia tora tea is a herbal, pure, natural, tapped a reindeer-drawn sleigh. Kiiskinen has 40 non-polluted green health beverage. In the Jharkhand state was formed on 15 reindeer trained for the purpose. In Republic of Korea, it is believed to refresh November 2000 after its separation from summertime, visitors can walk the human vision. Moreover, the tea has Bihar state. Jharkhand literally means “reindeer trail” which provides information created a new term “coffee-tea”, because forest and plateau. Its total geographic about reindeer and reindeer husbandry – of its mysterious but very rich taste and its area is 79 714 km2, 22 716 km2 of which is and feed the reindeer themselves. coffee aroma. It is made from 100 percent forest. It has 18 districts, eight of which are The last five years have been a time of Cassia tora, with no artificial colouring and tribal. Tribals are an inseparable part of investments in the enterprise. Each year, no caffeine, and could be a great substitute forests so they are given special rights and the turnover has grown by 20 percent. for coffee and sodas. privileges. The assets of Kiiskinen’s firm consist of The edible part of the plant varies from Previously this area was very rich in reindeer, ideas, enthusiasm, labour and 30 to 40 percent. Because of its external forests, but over time this has changed and customer contacts. But not the land. The germicide and antiparasitic character, it now most of the natural forest is in a buildings and the reindeer enclosures are has been used for treating skin diseases degraded state and reduced (however, built on land rented from the state-owned such as leprosy, ringworm, itching and Asia’s famous Saranda Sal forest belongs to forestry enterprise Metsähallitus. The psoriasis and also for snakebites. this state). State population has increased routes of the reindeer safaris run in Galactomannans from Cassia tora (CT- (18.82 percent from 1991 to 2001) and commercial forests managed by gum), after proper processing and average population growth rate is more Metsähallitus. This is frequently the case in chemical derivatization, could function as a than the national average. This is an northern Finland. According to Pertti better and more economical thickener than important factor that has contributed Sarajärvi, Land Use and Environment locust bean gum for textiles, because of the significantly to the conversion of forest land. Manager for Metsähallitus in eastern latter’s current high price ($18/kg) and In spite of this, Jharkhand is rich in Lapland, tourism supports Metsähallitus’s limited availability. natural resources. Its main NWFPs operations. “Tourism helps to keep the Most of the CT-gum processing plants in resources can be categorized as: area inhabited and so ensures potential India are located in Gujarat state because • kendu leaf (Diospyros melanoxylon), employees for us.” (Source: Krista Kimmo, of the availability of Cassia tora beans in used as a smoking stick, locally called Pelkosenniemi, Finnish Forest Association the neighbouring states, but the bidi; Web site, 4 October 2007.) widespread use of these beans as • sal seed, from which oil is extracted;

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 51

• Terminalia bellerica, locally called practices, it has been felt that there should and acceptable to the diverse MAP sectors harnat, used in medicine; and be national-level guidelines for wild in India. (Contributed by: Dr Prodyut • Madhuca indica: its seed is used for collection of medicinal plants. These Bhattacharya, International Centre for extraction of oil, its flower in the guidelines should be in parity with Community Forestry (ICCF), Indian Institute preparation of local wine and its leaf in international norms and regulations as of Forest Management (IIFM), PO Box 357, the preparation of a dish locally called well as satisfying Indian demands. Nehru Nagar, Bhopal 462003, Madhya donna patta. In view of these increasing demands, the Pradesh, India. Fax: +91-755-2772878; Realizing the importance and potential of International Centre for Community e-mail: [email protected]) NWFPs, in February 2002 Jharkhand’s Forestry (ICCF) at the Indian Institute of Ministry of Environment formed JSVVN Forest Management (IIFM) has started a Limited, which is the sole agency for the MAP certification project sponsored by the authorized collection and marketing of National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB). NWFPs. JSVVN manages its NWFP This project is designed to: collection work through two circles, six • evaluate the potential for MAP divisions and 45 regional offices. In certification in an Indian context; 2002/2003, the net profit earned by JSVVN • create awareness among gatherers, was Rs773.345 lakhs, with Rs2 051.196 foresters and other stakeholders being shared among the people engaged in about MAP certification and its NWFP collection, and it was able to implication for sustainable generate 31.56 lakh/workdays. management of wild MAP resources; The collection of NWFPs is time - • document and analyse current consuming work and delays in collection and practices in the MAP sector in the light marketing cause losses. Kendu leaf and sal of certification requirements; seed collection starts in May and continues • develop national-level generic Medicinal plants of the Kashmir up to the first week of June. During this standards for MAP certification, with Himalayas period poor rural and tribal people do not special emphasis on raw material Medicinal plants have assumed a have any work in their agriculture fields or collection to marketing; and significant importance in the recent past elsewhere and so JSVVN provides them with • establish demonstration plots to test owing to the growing appreciation of employment. In this way, they earn money the sustainable collection concepts human health care through herbal (kendu leaf collection generates 31–32 through a participatory approach and medicines. The Kashmir Himalayas house lakh/workdays) and also eliminate the information dissemination. a diverse variety of plants of medicinal intermediaries. Therefore, NWFPs can have Four states were selected for the pilot value. A recent paper (Traditional enormous scope in the state and are both a study (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa medicine: some plants of the Kashmir good source of revenue for the state and Uttarakhand) based on their MAP Himalayas) by Gulzar Ahmad Sheergojri, government and a source of income for rural resource richness, livelihood dependence Nelofar Lolapuri and Efath Shahnaz and tribal people. and available institutional framework. presents the results of a survey carried out The state has another opportunity to Important steps have already been taken for in 2006 and discusses some of the strengthen the NWFP area by raising the implementation of the project, e.g. field medicinal plants identified and their bamboo and medicinal plants, both of which surveys, interviews with multiple importance in traditional medicine. could generate income and employment for stakeholders and local- and regional-level The Kashmir Himalayas – the the state. (Contributed by: S.K. Singh, consultations/meetings with social northwestern region of the Himalayas – Forest Survey of India, Kaulagarh Road, PO- organizations. A draft standard has been represent a rich repository of diverse plant IPE, Dehra Dun 248195, Uttaranchal, India. prepared in the light of current internationally species that have been used by the locals to E-mail: [email protected]) available standards, as well as socio- treat their ailments since time immemorial. economic parameters relevant to the Indian They have also served as an important Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) scenario. The parameters/ statements of the source of raw material for various certification – its importance and draft standard are under evaluation with state pharmaceutical units. About 28 percent of relevance in an Indian background existing practices. Thrust areas of the study all the plants on Earth have been used for The importance of good collection include legal and policy framework, wild area curing various human ailments. Nearly 40 practices, storage and maintenance in conservation and sustainable management, percent of the known medicinal plants of the medicinal plants has been felt from time responsible collection practices, economic Kashmir Himalayas are used in the Indian immemorial. The rich traditional Ayurvedic development and benefit sharing. pharmaceutical industry alone. Global heritage and folklore practices in India A comparative analysis of the available imports of medicinal plants increased from reflect the understanding of the ancients information based on the above-mentioned US$335 million in 1976 to $551 million in regarding the sustainable utilization of issues reflects prominent differences in 1980. However, non-judicious exploitation, natural resources. However, with the policy-level interventions and social habitat destruction and the absence of massive expansion of the medicinal plant understanding of MAP resource cultivation programmes have put a business as well as changing socio- management, as well as conservation tremendous pressure on these green economic conditions, rapid depletion of measures. Further study and research are dispensaries, especially in developing and natural resources and diverse sociocultural taking place to make the draft more flexible underdeveloped countries. Furthermore,

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 52 COUNTRY COMPASS

poor infrastructure and scarcity of funds in had rejuvenated into extensive bamboo wears a belt made of baobab bark. developing states such as Jammu and forest cover. To mitigate against possible However, Mohamed Ali Baddi, who heads a Kashmir have made these plants vulnerable overexploitation, KEFRI is teaching farmers local development organization, says to biopiracy. how to propagate the plant in central “Hunting is a way of life. For them, it is not Consequently, the authors carried out a Kenya, with financing from the United poaching. But for the KWS, they are survey to underline the importance of some Nations Development Programme. poachers.” of the plants of the Kashmir Himalayas in A bamboo tree takes an average of three Some of the Boni’s other traditional traditional medicine so that adequate years to mature and is a good protector of practices are a far cry from modern life, for measures may be taken to save them. water catchment areas. To increase the better or worse. “We know the herbs to Information was collected on many commercial value of the tree, KEFRI is treat malaria, stomach aches and medicinal plants and their traditional uses training artisans on the use of bamboo in snakebites. But some of the herbs are too were documented. The study revealed that the making of furniture and office fittings. strong for children. Sometimes they die,” these herbal medicines provide remedies Locally, the tree does well in the Mohamed says. The nearest hospital to his for a significant number of ailments, Aberdares, Olengurueni, Molo, Western village of Kiangwe is several hours’ walk especially in remote areas where health Province and parts of the coast. away. care facilities are meagre. A comprehensive Despite the promising prospects, While they are keen to preserve their strategy for the conservation and exploitation of bamboo still faces a number ancestral way of life, the Boni feel ignored development of these medicines would not of hurdles, including lack of awareness of by the Kenyan Government, as do other only widen the forest-based economy, but its potential among local communities. tribes of honey hunters across the country. also provide important raw materials for (Source: Business Daily Africa [Kenya], 26 Kiangwe is a small village of 360 immunomodulation. (Contributed by: July 2007.) inhabitants living in mud huts with no Gulzar Ahmad Sheergojri, M.Sc. dispensary, no road, no running water and (Agriculture), Sheri Kashmir University of Tribe of honey hunters fights extinction no shops. Residents say travelling vendors Agriculture Sciences and Technology, R/O Kiangwe. The marginalization of Kenya’s pass through on average twice yearly. Inder Pulwama, J & K, India 192301. E-mail: Boni tribe, known for their unique tradition “Maybe the government should come up [email protected]) of whistling to birds that guide them to with a policy for a Boni reserve so that they honey, has raised fears that their can preserve their culture,” said Omar mellifluous song will soon be silenced. Aliyoo, one of two Boni tribesmen to sit on With little or no access to health care and the local municipal council. “Our way of life other resources, the Boni’s ranks have is disappearing. There is a danger that the steadily dwindled and the tribe is now on Boni people will disappear.” (Source: the verge of extinction. Independent Online [South Africa], 10 July The semi-nomadic Hamitic tribe nestled 2007.) between the Indian Ocean and the Somali border in northeastern Kenya’s Lamu district numbers barely 4 000, compared % LEBANON with 25 000 half a century ago, according to the Organization for the Development of Illegal imports undercut local pine nuts Lamu Communities (ODLC). Chouf. Lebanon’s pine nut cultivators “We depend entirely on nature for food denounced the government’s lack of and medicine," said Nur Mohamed, a Boni. interest in putting an end to the illegal % KENYA The central ingredient in the Boni’s diet is importing of pine nuts, saying they face honey, which they track down with the help threats to their businesses as a result of KEFRI wants ban on bamboo lifted of birds – known by locals as mirsi and the invasion of Turkish and Chinese pine The Kenya Forestry Research Institute commonly described as honey guides – seeds into the local market. Consequently, (KEFRI) wants a ban on bamboo harvesting who feed on wax and bee larvae. The the problems of cultivators eased over the lifted to enable farmers to enter the peculiar species has been scientifically last three years following the government’s multibillion Kenyan shilling global bamboo proven to lead animals and humans to bee decision to halt imports in an attempt to trade currently dominated by China, Japan nests. On a good day, the mirsi will noisily cultivate the local market. The Syndicate of and Thailand. Samson Mogire, a bamboo alert the Boni by landing on a tree Pine Nut Cultivators, however, recently product expert at KEFRI, said they had sent concealing honey. The Boni then hack at discovered that several dealers have been fact finding missions to the Asian nations to the tree trunk and smoke it up to numb the illegally given licences to import the nuts. learn methods of sustainable exploitation bees before retrieving the bounty. Cultivators in the Chouf, Jezzine, Metn and of the forests. Members of the hunter/gatherer tribe Aley are therefore facing a problem thought The ban on bamboo harvesting was also eat wild fruits, roots and a variety of solved just a few years back. imposed in 1989 by former President Moi game – which they say has put them at “The cultivation of pine trees is a really and its use later restricted to select public odds with wildlife officials. “Nowadays, I costly business,” said cultivator Abdullah institutions. KEFRI said the fear of hunt secretly and I eat secretly. Otherwise, Hassan. “The cost of the harvest is very overexploitation that led to the imposition the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will beat high and therefore the price of pine seeds of the ban no longer held, since the plant us and arrest us," said Sadi Jumaa, who is relatively high. However, with the market

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 53

flooded with imported pine seeds, our surface area) are forest and 350 000 ha are people. Women must walk further and business might collapse at any moment.” Eucalyptus species and pine plantations. spend more time searching for firewood. Pine trees are abundant across Lebanon However, loss of species, including the Households have to buy wood for and have also long been considered as a decrease of honey bee populations on the construction, and as a substitute for tree tourist attraction and an economic island, is closely related to the loss of forests. fibres they must buy sisal or use the wire resource. However, cultivators fear pine In September 2003, President Marc from old car tyres. Without the forest, they trees will not be cared for as much as Ravalomanana committed to increasing must also go without wild game, before because of the smuggling, protected areas in Madagascar from caterpillars, medicinal plants, fruits and endangering pine tree woods in the country. 1.7 million to 6 million ha by 2008. Now many other things. “We need to find a solution to the current Madagascar is attempting to reduce Lowore stresses that it is impossible to situation by forbidding the illegal import of poverty and increase the areas under come up with a simple blueprint of pine seeds, especially since pine seeds are a conservation. Beekeeping has the potential recommendations for improving dry-forest basic ingredient of Arab sweets,” said to play an important role in these management. However, her study confirms Ahmad Awar, a cultivator. “But unfortunately processes, both for poverty alleviation and that Malawi’s miombo woodlands are vitally the owners of such sweet shops do not care the conservation of natural environments. important, both as a resource that satisfies about quality and prefer using the cheaper The remaining natural resources and the the subsistence needs of the rural poor, imported seeds instead of the finely willingness of beekeepers to improve their and for the many environmental benefits harvested Lebanese pine seeds.” (Source: activities make beekeeping possible on a that they provide. (Source: Building on Daily Star [Lebanon], 5 July 2007.) large scale in Ambositra. However, success. Center for International Forestry Imadiala, which is the most advantaged Research (CIFOR) Annual Report 2006. beekeeping area in the whole region, has http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf % LIBERIA suffered serious deforestation by felling _files/AReports/AR2006.pdf) trees to make planks, charcoal and Promoting ecotourism sculptures or to make space for cultivation, Conservation International (CI), an NGO causing severe negative effects for % MALAYSIA working in Liberia since 2002, has beekeeping. This process is ongoing and developed a scheme to bring tourists into forest degradation remains one of the Malaysia is taking steps to ensure that the country. Russell A. Mittermeier, major problems for beekeeping, honey trade in gaharu is sustainable President of CI, has been discussing with hunting and swarm catching in Imadiala. Gaharu, the aromatic resin from Aquilaria top government officials on how the forests (Source: Bees for Development Journal, trees, was previously regarded as worthless of Liberia can be conserved and used to Issue 84, September 2007.) woodchips but authorities are fast realizing make a profit for the country. Mr its value and are tightening the relevant Mittermeier said that Liberia’s forests are regulations. States in Peninsular Malaysia in a “hotspot”, i.e. “an area where most of have been told to keep a close eye on the animal species that live there cannot be extraction of the heartwood by emphasizing found anywhere in the world. This means it enforcement of Section 15 of the National is the most important spot in the West Forestry Act 1984, which requires any African region”. removal of the valuable product to be He said an ecotourist would be willing to accompanied by a removal pass. pay up to US$500 to visit Liberia’s natural The latest move by Peninsular Malaysia wildlife and see at first hand how these Forestry Department is to develop a animals live in the wild. (Source: The uniform grading system for the fragrant Inquirer [Monrovia], 23 August 2007.) resin. Deputy director-general (planning and development) Datuk Dahlan Taha says the absence of a standardized grade has % MADAGASCAR % MALAWI hampered administration and regulation of this NTFP. “The 10 percent royalty payment Beekeeping, poverty alleviation and forest Miombo woodlands is currently based on weight and not on conservation in Imadiala In her recent short essay, Miombo quality. The government is losing out on Beekeeping is an important source of woodlands and rural livelihoods in Malawi, revenue collection. Hence, we organized a livelihood in Imadiala, an eastern Janet Lowore cites a study of 36 farming workshop in June and produced a grading subdistrict of Ambositra. However, in spite households which revealed that during a system. We are recommending four of the efforts made by beekeepers and period of 25 months, local people collected grades: A Super, A, B and C,” says Dahlan. numerous organizations to improve 37 different species of leaf vegetables, two He is also encouraging all states to pay beekeeping in the region, the negative species of root vegetables, 21 of fruit, 23 of attention to this NWFP, which is coveted by effect of deforestation on beekeepers’ mushroom and 14 of caterpillar. both local and foreign poachers. He claims activities is increasing. Between 1946 and 1996, Malawi lost 2.5 that greater awareness has led to better Approximately 90 percent of Madagascar’s million ha of woodland, most of which was protection of the heartwood against illegal flora and fauna is endemic. Eleven million converted into farmland. The loss of collection, as indicated by zero arrests in hectares (20 percent of Madagascar’s woodland means many things for local the last two years.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 54 COUNTRY COMPASS

The department is also directing graines et les feuilles d’Adansonia digitata. replanting of gaharu species in logged Fourrage: les plantes fourragères production forests. So far, 215 ha have importantes sont Acacia albida, Acacia been planted. The oldest is a four-year-old raddiana, Acacia nilotica, Acacia senegal, plot in Kelantan. The lure of the highly Acacia seyal, Boscia senegalensis, Balanites priced resin has also promoted commercial aegyptiaca et Prosopis juliflora. Ces plantes planting of the species as well as research fournissent des feuilles, de jeunes rameaux, into artificial inoculation of the stem. In the des gousses et l’écorce qui constituent des wild, a gaharu tree produces the resin as a fourrages pour les moutons, les chèvres, les biological response to contain infection dromadaires et les chameaux. from bacteria, fungi and pathogens. The Médecine: les écorces, les graines, les resin covers wounded areas and blackens feuilles, les racines, les fruits et les branches the whitish heartwood to produce gaharu. d’Adansonia digitata, Acacia albida, Acacia Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, gaharu is % MAURITANIE nilotica, Boscia senegalensis, Balanites being introduced as a potential income- aegyptiaca, Anogeissus leiocarpus, generating crop to be planted alongside Les PFNL en Mauritanie Salvadora persica, Commiphora africana, vegetable farms in agroforestry La Mauritanie pays désertique membre du Prosopis juliflora et de Sclerocarya birrea programmes. Meanwhile, the government is Sahel et Maghreb dispose d’une couverture sont utilisés pour le traitement des maladies capping export of gaharu, internationally végétale non négligeable sous forme de variées telles que le rhume, la grippe, les known as agarwood, at 200 tonnes this year. savanes arbustives ou de savanes maux de dents, les hémorroïdes, les In 2004, all eight Aquilaria species and a herbeuses. douleurs rhumatismales, l’impuissance species of Gyrinops that also produces Les principaux produits forestiers non sexuelle, le diabète, l’asthme et autres aromatic resins were included in Appendix ligneux (PFNL) de la Mauritanie sont les complications respiratoires, la fièvre, la II of the Convention on International Trade plantes alimentaires (par exemple Adansonia diarrhée, la fatigue générale, etc. in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and digitata et Zyzyphus mauritiana), les plantes Parfums et cosmétiques: les racines de Flora (CITES) to ensure survival of the fourragères (Acacia spp.), les gommes Balanites aegyptiaca rentrent dans la species in the wild. A listing in Appendix II (Acacia senegal) et les plantes médicinales fabrication du savon. subjects trade in the species to the CITES (par exemple Acacia albida, Balanites Colorants et tannins: les fruits d’Acacia permit system that covers export, import aegyptiaca et Salvadora persica). Les PFNL nilotica constituent le principal produit de and re-export. However, oil products from de moindre importance au niveau tannage chez les cordonniers. L’écorce gaharu still escape CITES scrutiny because socioéconomique sont les colorants (Acacia d’Acacia seyal fournit une teinture rouge qui of its exclusion from the Customs export seyal, Anogeissus leiocarpus), les tannins sert à teindre les vêtements. Les feuilles et prohibition order. The Customs and Excise (Acacia nilotica), les produits cosmétiques, l’écorce d’Anogeissus leiocarpus fournissent Department is in the final stage of les outils et les résines. une teinture jaune pour les peaux et les amending the order to control the export of Les PFNL ont une importance particulière tissus. processed gaharu in oil form. en Mauritanie dans la mesure où ils Ustensiles, artisanat et matériaux de As high-grade agarwood becomes contribuent à la nourriture humaine et au construction: l’écorce du tronc d’Adansonia scarce, local collectors are resorting to fourrage pour les animaux. Ils sont digitata fournit également des fibres utilisées processing lower-grade woodchips into oil également utilisés pour des soins par les pour tisser les nattes et confectionner les to increase their profit margins. Gaharu tradipraticiens, dans la cosmétologie, dans la cordes. Le tégument d’Acacia senegal est distillation plants have sprouted in several construction et chez les artisans mais utilisé pour la fabrication des cordes. Le parts of the country. Although states in the également comme boisson. Parmi les PFNL macéré du fruit de Balanites aegyptiaca est peninsula are trying to monitor the amount en Mauritanie, seule la gomme arabique fait ichtyotoxique (poison à poisson). of extraction through its licensing scheme, l’objet d’importantes activités commerciales Exsudats: la gomme, exsudant du tronc it is believed that various amounts are structurées. d’Acacia nilotica, sert à fabriquer une slipping through the cracks and these Nourriture: Les arbres produisant des fruits boisson rafraîchissante. La gomme arabique unspecified volumes are turned into oil comestibles incluent Boscia senegalensis, est fournie par l’Acacia senegal. L’exsudation products that elude the CITES permit and Balanites aegyptiaca, Adansonia digitata, est causée par des fentes dues à la the government taxation system. Hence, Zizyphus mauritiana et Sclerocarya birrea. sécheresse et des blessures. Quatre-vingt- accuracy of the official extraction volume is Les fruits de Sclerocarya birrea font l’objet dix pour cent de la production de la gomme doubtful. d’un commerce local. La pulpe des fruits, arabique est commercialisée. L’Acacia seyal While the export loophole is likely to be riche en alcool, est fermentée et transformée est une gomme arabique de qualité plugged soon, a similar effort was not en bière. Du fruit, on peut faire des jus et des inférieure. La résine de Commiphora made simultaneously to address the issue confitures. L’amande du noyau de africana est utilisée comme encens, parfum of import. The Customs import prohibition Sclerocarya birrea contient des matières et insecticide. order does not cover gaharu oil products. grasses et beaucoup de vitamine C. Elle Malgré le rôle important que jouent les Therefore, the Malaysian Timber Industry donne aussi une huile comestible. Les PFNL en Mauritanie, la filière économique Board (MTIB) has not issued any CITES graines de Boscia senegalensis donnent une des PFNL généralement très confinée dans import or re-export permits to date. excellente farine pour la fabrication des l’informel demeure peu développée. La filière (Source: Malaysia Star, 31 July 2007.) repas. En outre, on consomme l’albumen des économique des PFNL nécessite une

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 55

valorisation et un développement. L’Etat doit, communal land with free access. However, number of community suppliers. The en collaboration avec la FAO et les autres over the last ten years, distances to harvest viability of this commercial activity and the partenaires de développement, sensibiliser sites have increased to three hours’ walk ability to obtain significant profits are a les populations sur l’importance des produits because of land conversion for maize and result of traders sourcing from numerous et surtout des coopératives féminines en coffee, and as a result of overexploitation of producer communities. In Chinantla, as in milieu rural. the palm. other regions of Mexico, six different actors En effet la promotion, la gestion et le The species reproduces easily via seed, are involved in the commercialization of développement des PFNL pourraient requiring little light and possessing a high palm leaves. Men collect the foliage and permettre de réaliser une importante activité tolerance for humidity. For these reasons, women grade it, preparing bushels of 140 génératrice de revenus pour les femmes several communities in the study area and leaves that sell for up to US$1.30 to a local rurales. Cela pourrait aider à la réalisation other regions – Veracruz, Chiapas and San stockist. A second actor transports the de certains objectifs clés des OMD: réduire Luis Potosí – have begun to domesticate via product to a regional wholesaler, who l’extrême pauvreté et la faim, promouvoir le understorey cultivation. When leaf fertilizer manages a centre where he accumulates, genre et le développement et protéger is applied in plantations, each plant can be grades, packs and sells the product to l’environnement. (Source: Gestion harvested every three months. In the wild, wholesalers in Mexico City. Leaves are sold participative et développement des produits peak harvesting, between April and to the Mexican consumer at 12 forestiers non ligneux comme moyen de October, follows the rains, when the quality leaves/US$1, and sold on to a foreign réduction de la pauvreté des femmes and quantity are most readily available for buyer, who retails them to the United rurales: cas du Maghreb et du Sahel par two to three cuts. Some camedora palm States consumer at six leaves/US$1. Mme Hawa War, Volontaire, FAO, Le Caire.) species are on the Mexican protected There are very few companies dedicated species list and thus require an extraction to the export of palm in Mexico, owing to POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: permit. However, because of the cost the existence of a monopoly; the national Pape Djiby Koné, Forestier principal, Bureau involved in acquiring a permit, some market is concentrated in the hands of a régional de la FAO pour le Proche-Orient, communities cut leaves illegally and many single successful entrepreneur who had PO Box 2223, le Caire, Egypte. Courriel: have established small plantations. sufficient capital to invest in refrigerated [email protected] The palm leaves are used fresh in transport and storage facilities. This floristry and have been exported from the individual is the sole representative of the humid tropical regions of Mexico and North American company that imports Central America since the 1940s. Mexico is camedora. The existence of a single the leading world exporter of the leaves company buying leaves makes and seeds of different species of camedora communities somewhat vulnerable. This palm, predominantly to the United States. It single buyer supplies half of the product is estimated that the global production of from his own plantation. While this is this foliage currently meets only one-third important to maintain the value chain of the international demand. throughout the year, it can also pose a In Mexico, the leaves are used in threat to wild palm collectors who are floristry, wreaths and bouquets; as restricted mostly to cutting only a few handicrafts in Latin America” traditional adornments for Easter and months in the year. Even though there is

“Riches of the forest: fruits, remedies and Palm Sunday; as a fresh base for exhibiting small-scale domestication of camedora produce in supermarkets; and as garden palm in southern Mexico, these poorly % MEXICO plants. The leaves are highly sought after organized communities are finding it because once cut, they remain green for up difficult to compete with the industrial- Mexican palm fronds for the United States to three weeks. scale plantations being established floral industry: opportunities and threats Market access for communities depends in the United States – with seed exported A recent study on the camedora palm largely on production capacity: commercial from the Chinantla region. (Source: (Chamaedorea elegans, C. concolor, C. intermediaries are attracted to areas extracted from Marshall, E., oblongata) was undertaken in two where there is sufficient volume to make Schreckenberg, K. & Newton, A.C., eds. indigenous Chinantec communities located trade worthwhile. Many families have to 2006. Commercialization of non-timber in the river basin of Papaloapan, on the overcome several obstacles to access forest products: factors influencing Atlantic slope of the Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, regional trade centres, including low- success. Lessons learned from Mexico and situated some 300 km from the city of quality roads and lack of access for Bolivia and policy implications for decision- Oaxaca. Both communities are situated in vehicles. Monte Tinta overcame this barrier makers. Cambridge, United Kingdom, isolated mountainous locations, with by designating one community member to UNEP World Conservation Monitoring limited access to the nearest road. pool together the leaves and transport Centre.) The camedora palm, also known as xate, them, by donkey, to the road on the trader’s represents a set of species that belongs to route. In return the trader pays on time and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the genus Chamaedorea and dominates compensates for the costs of accidents Elaine Marshall, Independent Consultant, the herbaceous field layer of montane during collection. Heywood House, Crawley End, Chrishall, forests. Access to the resource is relatively Because of the market demand for palm Royston, Herts SG8 8QN, United Kingdom. equitable, since it is largely collected from leaves, retailers need to work with a large E-mail: [email protected]

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 56 COUNTRY COMPASS

%MOROCCO de río San Juan, Jinotega y las Regiones voluntario de bosques bajo manejo, a la Autónomas del Atlántico. certificación forestal para garantizar un 300 ha of argan trees to be reforested in the No se cuenta con suficiente información manejo eficiente del mismo» (Art. 4). south of Morocco sobre volúmenes y valor comercializado de (Aportación hecha por Francesca Felicani Essaouira (south). Some 300 ha of argan estos productos; se conoce su uso a nivel Robles, Consultora legal, FAO, Via delle trees will be reforested in the south of artesanal, en comunidades cercanas a los Terme di Caracalla, Roma 00153, Italia. Morocco, under a cooperation agreement bosques o en zonas urbanas, y en general son Correo electrónico: signed in 2002 between Midi Pyrenees comercializados de manera informal. La [email protected]) regions and the region of Marrakech-Tensift- actividad productiva de estos productos ha El Haouz, revealed the Mohammed V sido de carácter extractiva y los volúmenes Foundation for Research and Argan Tree comerciales no han representado un flujo %PAKISTAN Preservation. The foundation, which held its comercial de importancia. En relación con su third general assembly, underlined aprovechamiento, la Ley General del Medio Indigenous use of non-timber forest achievements, mainly those pertaining to the Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales N° products in the Kalash valley, Chitral notion of the geographic indication, which 217/1996 establece que «para el uso y The Kalash valley is located in the remote represents an important step in the process aprovechamiento de las áreas de producción southwestern part of Chitral, an area of of the protection of the argan tree. forestal de productos maderables y no unique cultural and biological diversity. The The foundation’s director-general, Ms maderables, éstas deberán ser sometidas a natural forest of the area mainly consists of Katim Alaoui, noted that the agreement also manejo forestal con base sostenible, con la provides for the upgrading and marketing of aplicación de métodos y tecnologías argan oil by women’s cooperatives. apropiadas que garanticen un rendimiento This project aims at saving firewood óptimo» (Art. 100). A variety of through the use of solar energy, with project Por otro lado, a través del Acuerdo IRENA mushrooms/morels are officials estimating that the setting up of 500 (Instituto Nicaragüense de Recursos found in the Kalash solar ovens will result in avoiding a loss of 50 Naturales y del Ambiente) del 1990, se creó valley, including to 100 ha of argan trees per year. el Centro de mejoramiento genético y banco Morchella esculenta, M. Set up in May 2004, the foundation aims at de semillas forestales cuyo objetivos vulgaris, M. deliciosa and other morels guaranteeing a legal protection from argan principales son: la protección de áreas such as oyster. Their local names are tree exploitation, promoting and protecting forestales de interés científico, el quchi, brangalu and shunti. Local people natural equilibrium, improving the standard mejoramiento genético de especies de often hide the place where they pick of living of the population working on argan importancia económica y científica a través mushrooms. The Kalash community have trees and guaranteeing the quality of its de la instalación de viveros, huertos their own indigenous knowledge for products. semilleros o clónales, tanto de latifoliados mushroom collection; for example, it is A forest, fruit and fodder tree, the argan como de coníferas, la recolección de semillas believed that mushrooms often appear tree covers currently some 870 000 ha, which para suministrar material genético óptimo under various trees such as Juglans regia is around 10 percent of Morocco’s forest para los proyectos de reforestación, así como and Pinus wallichiana. Morels are areas. (Source: Maghreb Arabe Presse para el manejo sostenido de los bosques. collected mostly for marketing purposes, [Morocco], 11 June 2007.) El Centro será el responsable de but are sometimes also used as a garantizar la calidad y pureza de las semillas traditional medicine or flavouring agent. forestales exportadas e importadas a Morel collectors are usually poor Nicaragua a través de controles fitosanitarios villagers who collect morels as their part- (Art. 1). time activity besides farming and El Centro que goza de autonomía livestock keeping. The collectors – 27 financiera, estará sujeto al control de una percent women, 33 percent men and 40 auditoría externa nombrada por el IRENA percent children – collect morels during (Art. 5) quien nombra también a su director spring and early summer, from March to (Art. 2). July, and sell them in the local market to En fin, el Decreto 50/2001 sobre la política earn a livelihood. Morel collection is a de desarrollo forestal de Nicaragua, hectic job and requires a lot of physical actualmente modificado y en fase de exertion, devotion and passion. aprobación por parte de la Comisión Sometimes the collectors spend days in %NICARAGUA Nacional Forestal (CONAFOR), puntualiza the forest collecting morels. In most cases, que «se promoverá la diversificación de they sell the morels in fresh form to the Elementos de la legislación nacional sobre mercados y productos, incluyendo mercados local Pathan dealers or in the markets of Productos Forestales no Madereros a futuro, para mayor número de bienes y Chitral after drying the morels. En Nicaragua, no está muy difundido el servicios provenientes del bosque y el apoyo Morchella fetch high prices and thus manejo y aprovechamiento de los productos en la inserción en los mercados play an important role in the economy of forestales no madereros (PFNM). Sin internacionales. Además para ampliar y the Kalash valley. embargo, existe el aprovechamiento de estos fortalecer los mercados, se promoverá a recursos en algunos departamentos como el través de incentivos el sometimiento

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 57

pine (Pinus wallichiana), chlghoza (Pinus unveiled plans to make a stevia-based %PERU gerardiana), deodar (Cedrus deodara) and sweetener under the trade name Rebiana. broadleaf species such as oak (Quercus And even though the herb is not yet Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) benefits incana). authorized for consumption in the United United States consumers and Peruvian The forest of the whole Chitral district States and has only a limited use in the economy (including the Kalash valley) is estimated to European Union, it is already popular in Nine years after medicine hunter Chris be 41 949 ha and is mainly used for timber Asia where China has planted thousands of Kilham took an exploratory trek to the extraction. The natural forest is under the hectares of rural land with the shrub. Peruvian highlands, a treasured traditional control of the Chitral Forest Department but “World demand is enormous,” said superfood called maca has entered the villagers have certain rights. Up to 25 000 Nelson Gonzalez, head of the Stevia United States consumer mass market. Now tonnes of forest wood are used annually as Chamber of Commerce, a trade group of Wal-Mart has placed Medicine Hunter Maca fuelwood. Almost 13 percent of the producers under the aegis of Paraguay’s Stimulant® on the shelves of 3 480 stores, population use the forest for generating their Ministry of Industry. “But the sugar lobby coast to coast. first cash. Additionally 80 percent of local wants to stop the importation of this According to ethnobotanist Kilham, who is people are, in one way or the other, natural, safe, revolutionary product.” Explorer in Residence at the University of dependent on NTFPs. Studies at the medical school at the Massachusetts, “Maca is one of the greatest Some of the important NTFPs in the University of Asunción found that stevia superfoods of all time and makes people feel Kalash valley are wild mushrooms had a long list of beneficial properties, very good very quickly.” (Morchella esculenta, M. vulgaris, M. being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory Two thousand years ago, the legendary deliciosa), honey (Apis cerana), medicinal and an antibacterial agent useful in the maca root was valued as gold and traded as plants (Ferula narthex, Paeonia emodi, Inula battle against diabetes, high blood currency in the ancient Incan culture. History recemosa), pine nuts (Pinus gerardiana) and pressure and tooth decay. But it is finding it books record Incan warriors eating it to attain silk cocoons. hard to shake off fears over carcinogens fearsome prowess in battle. The people of this remote area rely on which have dogged its sister, chemically A member of the mustard family, the plant their indigenous knowledge to collect, pack manufactured sweeteners, saccharin and grows under the most inhospitable and dry these NTFPs and most of the local aspartame. conditions, in poor “moonscape” soil where people are dependent on the products for In ten years, plantations of stevia, which the air is thin and the sunlight and wind are income generation. is native to northwest Paraguay, have extremely harsh. Local harvesters today A recent research paper by Ajaz Ahmed grown from 350 to 1 500 ha. Officials hope grow maca for its medicinal root, which they investigated the situation of NWFPs and to increase this figure tenfold over the next use as a staple in their diet and export suggested future guidelines for proper five years through cloning, which is more worldwide as a mega-energy food and potent planning and management. effective than planting the seeds. However, sex booster for both men and women. the largest producer of stevia is not In addition to the United States consumer, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Paraguay, but China, which has 20 000 ha the beneficiaries of Kilham’s work are the Ajaz Ahmed, Directorate of Non-Timber Forest under cultivation. Peruvian harvesters who can now earn a Produce, Forest Department, NWF Province, Paraguay’s stevia pioneer, the company decent wage from cultivating maca, which is Peshawar, Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] Emporio Guarani, grows the plant and a better option than the gruelling, dangerous extracts the sweetener in its plant in and low-paying toil of mining, their only other Luque, 10 km outside Asunción, and is not source of income. (Source: ENN News, 27 % PARAGUAY worried by China’s influence on the September 2007.) market. “The land of stevia is right here,” Sweet herb may be said manager Maria Teresa Aguilera, green gold for whose phone has not stopped ringing with % PHILIPPINES Paraguay calls from companies around the globe, Paraguay is hoping a following Coca-Cola’s announcement. Establishment of a rattan plantation small herb that is not “Thanks to our climate, we can raise three A Japan-based international agency has trafficked, addictive, crops while China grows one,” she said. provided a financial grant to help or even fattening, Besides its claims to safety, stevia has underwrite the establishment of a rattan could prove to be the real thing that the another advantage over aspartame: it is plantation in Mindanao. The plantation will food industry has been waiting for. stable to 200°C so it can be baked. be set up at a government experimental Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana bertoni) has A kilogram of stevia crystals, extracted forest in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, been used for centuries by the Guarani from 12 kg of leaf, is worth US$40 to $100, with the support of the International native people to sweeten their drinks, since depending on its purity. Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The it is 300 times sweeter than sugar with Knowing that Paraguay, half of whose grant was provided by ITTO to the none of the calories. Now the 60-cm high six million inhabitants live in poverty, may Department of Environment and Natural shrub has caught the eye of Coca-Cola, and be sitting on a gold mine, authorities are Resources-Ecosystem Research and its small Latin American home is hoping now launching a bid to win international Development Services (DENR-ERDS) in the cash tills will soon start ringing. recognition as the stevia plant’s country of Region 12 (central Mindanao). Coca-Cola and Cargill, one of the top origin. (Source: Independent Online [South Dr Bighani Manipula, acting regional United States food companies, recently Africa], 18 July 2007.) technical director for research of DENR-

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 58 COUNTRY COMPASS

Region 12, said that the project will showcase %REPUBLIC OF KOREA • Remove the seeds by squeezing the the rattan seedling technology developed by juice from them. the research sector and will employ the Korean ginseng products receive • Leave the juice in the bucket left for community-based approach in managing the recognition as distinct food about four days to ferment. plantation. Immediate stakeholders will be The Republic of Korea’s ginseng-derived • Before drinking marula beer, the thick tapped as partners in developing, managing products have received initial recognition as dangwa layer on the top must be and protecting the plantation instead of just distinct foods by an international standard- removed although some people drink treating them as “resource users and setting commission, the Government said on with it to clean their digestive system. beneficiaries”, Manipula said. Sunday. • Sometimes the beer is preserved for As an initial activity, the project The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry several months in a big clay pot called management team recently met the local said that the Codex Alimentarius mvuvelo and then drunk as a fully community to brief them on the project. Commission (Codex) had approved food matured beer – lutanda. The stakeholders will also be taught about standards forwarded by the country on dried (Contributed by: Rudzani Makhado, PO Box rattan production – from seed harvesting to and liquid extracts of ginseng. The ministry 395, Council for Scientific and Industrial nursery management and plantation said that the decision made by a gathering of Research (CSIR), Pretoria 0001, South development. The project is expected to food experts in Rome to pass the food Africa. Fax: 012 841 2689 or 0866179355; enhance and rehabilitate the 30-ha teak standards for ginseng is positive for exports. e-mail: [email protected]) and rubber plantation that DENR-ERDS set The Republic of Korea considers the root a up in 1985. (Source: The Philippine Star, 5 health food but some countries classify it as Traditional medicine for HIV to go on trial October 2007.) a medicinal substance. Medicinal Clinical trials to test a traditional substances operate under different import medicine’s effectiveness in delaying the rules from ordinary food, which makes onset of AIDS in HIV-positive patients will trading them more difficult. begin in South Africa within weeks, The latest decision by Codex will be according to researchers. forwarded to member countries of the Approximately 125 HIV-positive patients organization for feedback. That feedback at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg in and the initial review will then be examined KwaZulu-Natal Province will take part in in detail by a subcommittee board before an trials of the herb Sutherlandia frutescens, international standard is established. a well-known South African traditional (Source: Yonhap News [Seoul], 15 July 2007.) medicine. The purpose of the trial will be to handicrafts in Latin America” test the safety and effectiveness of

“Riches of the forest: fruits, remedies and capsules of Sutherlandia in patients newly The Bulacan Province aggressively %SOUTH AFRICA diagnosed with HIV. Results are expected promotes bamboo farming by August 2009. The research will be The Bulacan government has launched an Recipe for making traditional “mukumbi” conducted by the South African universities aggressive campaign to boost the bamboo marula beer of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, industry, especially targeting regions along Marula beer is brewed from the fruits of along with the Traditional Healers’ the rivers. Sclerocarya birrea. Drinking marula beer Association of South Africa and the Global demand for bamboo has suddenly is a social and cultural event in South University of Missouri in the United States surged as its fibres can now be transformed African rural areas, and people gather of America. into cloth. Cultivating bamboo in test tubes every year to drink it. Traditional healers use Sutherlandia not only yields large amounts but has also Currently, commercialization of marula frutescens, sometimes known as “cancer been perceived as an easier method. beer is growing in most urban areas. bush”, to treat a host of ailments from Researchers have developed innovative People, especially women, sell the beer for weight loss to aches and pains. means of cultivation that result in swift income generation. A litre costs R2 on the Sutherlandia has several active production of the plant. Bamboo has urban market. ingredients, said Quinton Johnson, one of generated curiosity in the textile industry; its Making the beer is a skill, but that skill the study researchers and director of the fibre has been recognized as both durable can be transferred to others. The International Centre for Indigenous and soft and can also be produced at low cost. followings are simple steps on how to make Phytotherapy Studies at the University of Not only this, bamboo is one of the most marula beer. the Western Cape. The plant contains environmentally friendly products. Experts • Collect fallen Sclerocarya birrea fruits pinitol (a compound with antidiabetic say that bamboo releases almost 35 percent and allow them to ripen fully at home. properties), canavine (used by traditional oxygen and helps purify the air. Plantations They will change their colour to yellow. healers to treat wasting diseases such as on riverbanks also help control floods. • Use a fork to remove the outer layer tuberculosis) and the amino acid GABA, Recognizing all the benefits, the and squeeze it from side to side. which produces a feeling of well-being. government is encouraging local people to • Put only the juice and seeds in a 20- Nceba Gqaleni, Deputy Dean of the indulge in bamboo farming. This will also litre bucket, until it is about 15 litres. University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. provide livelihoods in the domestic • Add 5 litres of water to the bucket and Mandela School of Medicine, said this was handicraft industry. (Source: press down to mix with a wooden the first collaboration between scientists Fibre2fashion.com [India], 29 August 2007.) spoon. and traditional healers to assess the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 59

effectiveness of indigenous practices in soon will result in the country being de- indigenous forest. One tree in treating such a serious health issue. listed. If this happens, it will not only ruin particular, impembati (Polyscias fulva), According to Sazi Mhlongo, Chairman of the country’s reputation and lose trust in is frequently used and even planted the Traditional Healers’ Association of the EU market, which is still Uganda’s because of its branching habit and thus South Africa, the plant is “the most largest single exporting destination, but is its suitability for the placement of powerful of our herbs, which we mix with also frustrating in the efforts to eradicate hives. other herbs to treat a lot of different poverty. Beehives are traditionally constructed problems”. Mhlongo, who has practised as Stakeholders are blaming the from iliogoti (Hagenia abyssinica) and a traditional healer in KwaZulu-Natal for 34 government’s failure to help local farmers Ilangali (Euphorbia nyikae). Now they are years, said traditional healers have become to access facilities that could help them usually made from Euphorbia nyikae and increasingly aware of the herb’s success in harvest and produce the honey in a manner Cupressus lusitanica. treating HIV-positive patients. Patients who that is recommended by EU certification The hives are approximately 1 m long took it “felt better”, he said. (Source: standards. For commercial purposes, a and divided into two halves. These are SciDev.Net, 4 September 2007.) single farmer may require up to USh4 bound together with a cord made from million to produce high-quality honey. isintu (Ipomoea involucrata) or other The trend in world supply has continued creepers. Hives are always placed in trees, %UGANDA to rise, but earnings have declined by about mainly to keep flying bees above people US$20 million (USh35 billion). (Source: The living nearby or cultivating surrounding Uganda’s “sex tree” under threat Monitor [Kampala], 3 October 2007.) crops; to catch the warmth of the early sun, The soaring demand for a tree which some particularly during the dry season when it Ugandans believe can boost a man’s libido can be cold at over 2 000 m; and to provide and virility, may lead to its extinction, some protection from pests. The two halves researchers warn. The most popular part of the hive are hauled up and assembled of the slow growing Citropsis articulata high in the tree and then covered over with tree, locally known as omuboro, is its roots. bamboo sheaths, supported and held down Ugandan lecturer Maude Mugisha says this with sticks. The hive is baited with means the whole tree is uprooted to satisfy beeswax, which is normally effective in consumer needs. attracting a colony to enter. Found mainly in forest reserves, the When harvesting honey, the beekeeper tree’s aphrodisiac qualities are yet to be uses lit pieces of bamboo of ipekeso scientifically proven. (Conyza bonariensis) stalks surrounded by The experts’ concern was revealed igawo (Ensete ventricosum) wild banana during a symposium in the Ugandan leaves to produce smoke, but he can capital, Kampala, on conserving and nevertheless get badly stung. Sometimes improving the use of endemic plant UNITED REPUBLIC he will lower the hive to the ground where species. A by-product of the tree was % OF TANZANIA two forked sticks are used to support the actually on sale outside the conference hive. Harvesting can then be carried out venue. The vendor said he had been Beekeeping in Umalila more easily as most of the flying bees will growing the tree himself and extracts a Beekeeping is an important secondary return to the original hive site in the tree. powder that is steeped in hot water and industry in Umalila. Many of the Not all combs are taken during harvest. drunk as a beverage. beekeepers are elderly, however, and Some of the honey is left, together with It is said that the tree’s stimulating beekeeping does not appear to be brood combs. effects are only evident in men. (Source: attractive to most young people. In addition, There is normally a small harvest at the BBC News [United Kingdom], 25 July 2007.) much of the original forest is in a degraded end of June (up to 10 litres) but the main state and is being gradually lost to logging harvest takes place in November and Uganda risks losing EU honey deal and cultivation. December when between 18 and 25 litres It has been two and half years since the As the forest has traditionally produced can be collected. European Union listed Uganda among the bulk of the honey, the future for Honey has a ready local market, mainly those countries entitled to export honey but beekeeping is uncertain. This is more than eaten in the comb. Wax is sold separately not one single consignment has ever been unfortunate for three reasons. from the honey and is used by local sent. After listing, Uganda was given an • Beekeeping could provide a useful carpenters and for shoe repairs. (Source: opportunity to export 200 tonnes of honey income, particularly for young people, extracted from Latham, P. 2007. Plants annually but this volume has never been many of whom do not have access to visited by bees and other useful plants of realized, despite the good quality of the land unless they hire it. Umalila, Southern Tanzania.) honey present in the numerous tests and • Bees are important for the adequate certification procedures undertaken pollination of crops such as passion FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: countrywide and verified in Germany. fruit. Paul Latham, Croft Cottage, Forneth, The President of the Uganda National • It is traditional to site hives in areas of Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6SW, Apiculture Development Organization forest thus affording some protection Scotland, United Kingdom. E-mail: (Tunado) is worried that failure to comply for the remaining patches of [email protected]

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 60 COUNTRY COMPASS

%UNITED STATES Income from forests in Uzbekistan, 2004 Rach Moc, a protected forest, is considered OF AMERICA the best place to dig for Dia Sam. More and Product or service Income US$1 000 % more people are visiting the area to dig for Ginseng labelling act introduced the worm illegally. “It is difficult to arrest Industrial roundwood 184.8 58.8 in Congress people because they go further and further Legislation was introduced in both the United Woodfuel 49.3 15.7 inside the forest and use sophisticated States Senate and House of Representatives Medicinal plants 27.02 8.6 camouflage to hide in the bushes and trees,” yesterday that would require that ginseng Aromatic plants 0.94 0.3 said the leader of Thanh Nien Guard. (Panax spp.), when sold in its whole form, is Raw material for Because of lack of knowledge about forest labelled to identify its country of harvest. colourants and dyes 1.29 0.4 protection, most diggers just think of their Senate Bill 1953, the Ginseng Harvest Hunting 38.43 12.3 own immediate benefits. They do not realize Labeling Act of 2007, was sponsored by Sen. Fishing 12.31 3.9 that digging Dia Sam damages forest land Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Sen. Herb Kohl TOTAL 314.09 100 and tree development or that their activities (D-WI), while the companion bill, House have a destructive effect on the whole Resolution 3340, was introduced by Rep. ecological system. Once the Dia Sam are Dave Obey (D-WI). In his floor statement, caught, many old mature forests are Sen. Feingold noted that the bill has long- shrubs for fuel. This is mainly recorded in destroyed. The forestry situation is getting standing support from ginseng farmers and remote saxual forests in deserts far from worse without the Dia Sam to help improve the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin as well as forestry enterprises and forest guards. the quality of the soil. Can Gio is crying out the support of the American Herbal (Source: United Nations Economic for help to stop widespread hunting of Dia Products Association (AHPA) and the United Commission for Europe (UNECE)/FAO. Sam. (Source: Vietnam News, 28 July 2007.) Natural Products Alliance. 2006. Forest and forest products country Feingold stated that ginseng grown in profile. Uzbekistan. Geneva Timber and Handicraft exporters target key markets Wisconsin – where 90 percent of United Forest Discussion Paper 45. The handicraft industry has increased export States ginseng is cultivated – “is of the EC/TIM/DP/45.) value by nearly 30 percent in the last three highest quality”, but that “smugglers will go years but needs to reform to compete with to great lengths to label ginseng grown in other regional exporters, according to Canada or Asia as Wisconsin-grown”. He industry insiders. In 2004 the industry earned also stated that this legislation is intended to US$450 million and $630.4 million in 2006, correct the problem and is “a simple but which accounted for 3 percent of the country’s effective way to enable consumers to make total exports. Since 2000, the industry has an informed decision”. focused efforts to expand exports to potential “This bill will ensure that buyers of whole markets, including the United States of ginseng root are given truthful information America, the European Union, Japan, the as to its source, without creating % VIET NAM Russian Federation and the Association of unnecessary labelling requirements for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. other herbal ingredients or for finished Salt-marsh forests threatened by illegal Of these, the EU accounts for 50 percent of herbal products,” said Michael McGuffin, digging for impotence-curing worms Viet Nam’s total handicraft exports, followed AHPA’s president. (Source: American Herbal Increasing numbers of people are visiting by Japan and the United States. Products Association, 5 August 2007.) the Can Gio salt-marsh forest to dig for Dia The handicraft industry has created jobs for Sam (Sipunculus). According to Tran Minh more than 1.35 million workers, 60 percent of Long, the leader of Loi forest guards at An whom are women. Most women make rattan % UZBEKISTAN Binh Hamlet, An Thoi Dong Commune in Ho and bamboo articles, weave carpets and Chi Minh City, this activity seriously sleeping mats and make embroidered products. Sale of NWFPs damages the forest’s ecological system. Nguyen Van Sanh, deputy director of the The sale of wood and non-wood forest Dia Sam is a type of worm that plays an Mekong Delta Development Research products by forestry enterprises generates important part in enriching the ground and Institute, said that despite the industry’s 300–350 million Uzbek sum in annual income helping forest trees to grow better. contributions to increase export revenue and (see Table). Currently, more than 500 tonnes “Recently, Dia Sam has become a hasten rural economic restructuring, the of food and medicinal plants (about 35 plant special dish in Ho Chi Minh City and is also handicraft and arts industry still faces species) are harvested from the forests. exported to China. That’s why digging for challenges. The industry is plagued with NWFPs include plants such as worms in the forest has become so outdated designs and high delivery and coriander, basil, fennel, onion anzur, dog popular,” said resident Sau Xe. Dia Sam transport fees that make it less competitive rose and raspberries. In addition, saplings often hide on wet land under bushes. than China, Thailand and other ASEAN and seeds of various woody and bush People can dig them up easily and only countries, particularly in the United States and species are exported. For example, in 2004 need to use a hoe. A regular digger can the EU. According to Sanh, the industry needs seedlings of woody and bush species were collect 3 kg of Dia Sam per day. As 1 kg of to expand planting areas for materials and donated to Afghanistan for gardening. the worms fetches VND12 000, a digger can reform production and processing methods. A big threat to the sustainability of forest earn a generous income that pays much (Source: Vietnam Economic Times, 11 resources is the illegal logging of trees and more than other jobs. September 2007.)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 61

Businesswoman brings Sa Pa medicinal In September 2007, Bridging the Gap was The impact of exploitation of wild plants to the world filmed for a BBC television programme. medicinal plant species is less well A 31-year-old woman, Do Thi Thu Ha, has (Sources: Vietnam net, 3 July 2007 and documented, but may be equally severe, helped change the lives of ethnic minorities Sacred Earth, 27 August 2207.) especially as over 90 percent of the 3 900 in Sa Pa with her company, trading plant species used in traditional medicine medicinal plants after many years of living are wild harvested. The uncontrolled harvest in the mountainous area. In 2002, she was of wild medicinal plants in Viet Nam, assigned as coordinate officer to a project particularly on a commercial scale for on developing medicinal plants in Sa Pa processing and export by the pharmaceutical sponsored by the New Zealand Agency for industry, along with habitat loss and International Development and the EU. The degradation, are considered to be the project aimed to encourage the primary causes for the decline of 136 conservation of endangered medicinal species, 18 of them classified as Critically herbs and improve the livelihoods of ethnic Endangered by IUCN. Several other species minorities in the Sa Pa district of Lao Cai have declined so much in the wild in Viet Province. Nam that they now have to be imported by After three years’ implementation, the the major pharmaceutical companies. project saw some fruitful results. Some Regulation and testing (quality control) of overexploited and endangered plants that the trade in medicinal plants and animals used to be seen as weeds had become Traditional medicine in Viet Nam: an are poor. Current legislation is old and has medicinal plants with high prices. The most overview many gaps, and only applies to state-run successful thing, according to scientific Viet Nam has a long history of traditional companies and institutions. Within private researchers, is that these plants could help medicine (TM) practices spanning industry there is no official regulation (either cure common diseases of a developing thousands of years. Two, often interlinked, administration or enforcement) of activities. society such as depression or Alzheimer’s. forms exist within the country: thuoc bac, With such a complex structure, some of it The project also discovered a kind of root or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is “underground”, planning to regulate this containing an anticancer active element, the dominant system in the north and uses large private industry will be a huge which could lead to a turning-point for the materials native to China; and thuoc nam, challenge in the coming years. (Source: inhabitants of Sa Pa, once verified by or traditional Vietnamese medicine (TVM), Traffic Dispatches, 26, November 2007; researchers. Later, intellectual property which predominates in the south and uses http://www.traffic.org/content/1036.pdf) rights for the project’s products will be Vietnamese materials. granted for the benefits of the Sa Pa ethnic Traditional medicines in Viet Nam are community. made from animal, plant and mineral % ZAMBIA In 2005, Ha established a company to products. Plants are used in far more sell the products. The company is now busy remedies (over 90 percent) than animals, Beekeeping has a long and old record in seeking partners to sell medicinal plants to and most animal-based medicines also Zambian culture and there are few Zambians Australia and New Zealand. Some foreign include plants to neutralize unpleasant who do not understand about bees being pharmaceutical firms have asked to buy the odours and increase their overall effect. All helpful to humans. Most of the beekeeping company’s registered patent for mass parts of a plant can be used. Similarly, methods used are of local origin, and most production. many different animal parts are used, from commonly used is the bark hive. Ha’s company’s medicinal plants whole bodies to specific organs. A tree is chosen with the desirable preservation project was awarded one of Of the more than 80 million people in Viet diameter and is then utilized to its fullest to five 2007 Global Supporting Entrepreneurs Nam, over 75 percent are estimated to use avoid deforestation. One fully grown tree can for Environment and Development (SEED) TVM as their primary source of treatment for produce about ten hives each measuring up Awards. “Bridging the Gap”, as the project common health problems. This is perhaps to 1.2 m in length. This measurement is used is called, uses sustainable cultivation of unsurprising considering the prohibitive to allow the beekeeper easy access to the traditional medicinal plants to develop high expense of western medicines, combined combs from both ends. value-added products, the manufacturing with poor access to hospitals or community When the site for the apiary has been and proceeds of which improve the health centres. Together with increasing chosen, the hive is hung high in the tree to livelihoods of ethnic minority communities, demand from urban areas, exploitation of secure it from attack by honey badgers. according to the United Nations. medicinal plants and animals has risen to (Source: Bees for Development Journal, 83, Over the next 12 months, each of the five pose a serious threat to some species in Viet June 2007.) p SEED award recipients will receive targeted Nam – around 70 species are listed as support services designed to expand their threatened on the World Conservation Union initial ideas and projects into a socially, (IUCN) Red List. The current Viet Nam Red economically and environmentally Data Book lists 359 animals of conservation If you can walk you can dance. If you sustainable enterprise. With SEED support, concern, many of them traded and used for can talk you can sing. exports of medicinal plants in Sa Pa into medicinal purposes, including tigers Proverb, Zimbabwe foreign markets are quite likely in the near (Panthera tigris), rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae future. spp.) and bears (Ursus spp.).

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 16 January 2008