E D I T I O N N O . 15 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8

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THE PHILIPPINES reviving the More than a basket, the tingkep is a reflection of the life and culture of the tingkep Pala’wan, an indigenous community of the Philippines. This handicraft combines the artwork of humans and their forest. Now that there are threats to the forests of Palawan island, the Pala’wan people are also threatened by the potential loss of their homes and their traditions.See a short news bit on the launching of The Tingkep and other Crafts of Palawan on page 3. {This photo is among those taken in the documentation published through the NTFP-Task Force. For details on ordering a copy, please visit the publications section of www.ntfp.org}

ALSO INSIDE: thrOugh honey bee management, we save our forest ... 2 EXCHANGE NEWS ... 3 HONEY, IT’S A CELEBRATION ... 6 EXPOSING INDIGENOUS CRAFTS ENTERPRISE DEVelopment in the philippines ... 8 NTFP POLICY PERILS WEAKEN RATTAN VALUE CHAIN... 10 NTFP LIvelihoods in aravali hills, India ... 11 MEdicinal plants in cambodia ... 12 amway visits danau sentarum ... 13 TOILET BOTANY ... 14

Non-timber Forest Products Exchange Programme for SOuth & Southeast Asia COVER PHOTO: JINKY ALSA / NATRIPAL ALSA JINKY COVER PHOTO:

voices from the forest no. 15 Valentinus (JMHI), Johnny Utama (Dian Niaga), Suwignyo (the Head of Danau Sentarum National Park) and Surianto (a honey collector Through honey bee from Danau Sentarum). Following the statement of Heri Valentinus, Pak Surianto, a management, we save member of Apis dorsata honey collectors group in Sentarum, said they harvested honey from the forest from October and March while our forest relying on freshwater fishing to make a living the rest of the year. Previously the tribe had cut trees down to harvest the honey. LAUNCHING OF DORSATA BRAND HONEY “Local environmental group Riak Bumi taught us how to take honey without destroying the ecosystem ... We rely too much on the By RIDZKI SIGIT, Gekko Studio-Telapak forest for our livelihood, so we are keeping it safe,” Surianto said. In response, Pak Suwignyo said the 132,000-hectare forest is the biggest wetland ecosystem in Kalimantan and home to the aturday, 12 April in the afternoon. The indigenous Iban and Malay tribes. lovely Bogor Botanical Garden became “We support the environmentalists in training residents on the Switness of the big day to promote best way to harvest honey and how to make and install beehives in Dorsata Brand, a new innovative honey tree tops ... they have an approach of ‘saving the forest through honey product. Organized by Telapak, the Jaringan production,” Pak Suwignyo said. Madu Hutan Indonesia (JMHI) and NTFP-EP, Riak Bumi and the NTFP Exchange Programme initiated the this coalition has been working to save the formation of the network which has currently expanded to work with Indonesia forest by promoting the use of honey collectors, cooperatives, local non-governmental organizations non-timber forest products. and the regional administrations in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra Although the rains fell in Bogor, it did islands and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, Valentinus said. not dampen the spirits of the children who During the discussion, a short video clip was shown to demonstrate prepared their special dance for this event. the real condition of the national park and the honey farmer This group of International Elementary School students activities. This video was produced by Gekko Studio, a filmmaker turned out to be the stars of the show, in their bee costumes, shaking group based in Bogor, and is used by JMHI/Dian Niaga as a promotion their heads and their hips to the rhythm of music to the delight of tool for scaling-up their marketing, through the AMWAY network. about 50 people who attended the reception. Pak Johnny Utama of Dian Niaga then explained why this coalition Honey tasting has been working for a couple years to establish the honey business After discussions, the time line. “We are not only looking for profits from the nature.W e for honey tasting came. All established this business to protect the natural forest by developing participants were enjoined to an incentive scheme for the people. This business is very unique, taste the various honey from because the profits from honey selling are being shared – one-third Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi for the community, one-third for assisting NGO and one-third for and Sumbawa. Which is the marketing (Dian Niaga).” One for all, and all for one! best one? Depending on your The packaging of Dorsata brand has a professional touch, with its preference, according to one attractive logo and the background story of the honey – the honey guest that I interviewed, she is from the forests, harvested by forest-dependent people, and is of said that “All honey has its the best quality. Dorsata honey also has an edge, having received characteristic, and I want organic certification from BioCert, a National Food Certification body. to buy all the bottles!” For Moreover, unlike honey from ‘bee plantations,’ the taste of forest those of you who stay in honey is unique and depends on the flower and other forest species Bogor, the Dorsata brand consumed by the bees. So honey from Danau Sentarum differs from is already being sold at Sumbawa honey, as well as Sulawesi honey. Telapak Café, Jl. Pajajaran All of the Dorsata brand honey is produced by the indigenous no. 54. people of the preserved forest, including Sentarum Lake To close the event, Jenne National Park in West Kalimantan and other places in de Beer, Executive Director Indonesia. For four tons in each harvest, PT Dian Niaga of NTFP-EP said, “This – sole distributor – sells a 300 gram bottle of honey for initiative is a good model Rp 75,000 (US$7.89). “We focus on selling to the national for gaining public attention. market, but we have started to receive orders from Korea We can use what the forest and Japan,” said Johnny Utama. has to offer but we should take care of it. We need to give incentives The launching of the Dorsata brand in Bogor to the community people to start a business model without Botanical Garden has opened up promotion channels in forgetting the very heart of the business - the forests.” Bogor areas for JMHI. With a population of nearly one It’s five o’clock in the afternoon and we must close the celebration million residents, Bogor is a good distribution point with a new spirit in the heart; the starting point is already there, and for the brand. “This is the big chance to open people’s we will continue to make it bigger and bigger. Congratulations to minds that honey is a health food with no chemical NTFP-EP, JMHI and its members! Let’s keep this spirit. ingredients,” said Heri Valentinus, the coordinator of JMHI. Ridzki Sigit, Gekko Studio Jl. Palem Putri 3 No. 1, Taman Yasmin 5 A honey talk show Bogor, West Java, Indonesia 16112 Hosted by Ms. Riyanni Djangkaru, a Tel. +62 251 843151 Email: [email protected] popular Indonesian television artist, [With some citation from the article titled ‘The Sweetest Way to Save Forests’ the discussion welcomed speakers written by Theresia Sufa/the Jakarta Post. All photos for this article by Wahyu from different stakeholder groups: Heri Widhi.] voices from the forest no. 15 ’

Many thanks to everyone’s enthusiasm in contributing to Voices! Our most recent issues, including this one, have grown to 16 pages ... and it looks like it will continue to be so! Our cover photo highlights the tingkep, a traditional basket which is also a disappearing craft of the Pala’wan tribe in the Philippines. A study by the NTFP Task Force, please support this book as all proceeds will go directly to Pala’wan communities. Meanwhile, to learn more about the Philippine experience in working with crafts communities, Cambodian partners visited the Philippine CustomMade Crafts Center and its community NTFP-EP opens office partners in Mindoro (p. 8). in Phnom Penh! More honey-related work has taken place in the Sam Ly and Phan Channa join Femy Pinto past months. A honey festival in Sirsi, Karnataka, India as NTFP-EP’s country programme support through our partner Prakruti (p. 6) took place with team, opening a project and network office in learning amidst honey tasting. Similarly in Indonesia, Phnom Penh last June. This coincides with the another festival promoted Dorsata honey in the project partnership implementation of NTFP-EP, Botanical Gardens of Bogor through a mock talk WWF & Community Forestry International on show, song-and-dance, and more honey tasting (p. 2). sustainable honey harvesting and marketing Meanwhile, nothing is more convincing than seeing in Cambodia supported by the Netherlands where honey comes from - Amway is now stepping NTFP-EP staff and Committee IUCN. partners pose in up its marketing of Dorsata honey (p. 13), a result of the new Cambodia Femy Pinto, NTFP-EP Cambodia Facilitator, shares “While our space is a visit of Amway representatives to Danau Sentarum, office. L-R: Sam Ly, limited, we hope that the office can serve many functions – a meeting and the source of the wild forest honey. Chhay Songleang work area especially for our province-based network partners while they Meanwhile, let us welcome new people on board. (CEDAC), Dr. Phung are in Phnom Penh, a display and consignment area for our partners’ NTFPs Huu Chinh (BRDC, In the secretariat in Manila, welcome to Arnie Vietnam), Femy like honey and indigenous crafts, and a place to stop by for information Ocampo, our Administrative Assistant (see her article Pinto, and Phan and resource materials on NTFP livelihood development. This can only on p. 9) and in Cambodia, Sam Ly and Phan Channa Channa.. boost our networking and cooperation further.” (see newsbit, left). Welcome to the Cambodia NTFP-EP team and congratulations! Find out more on medicinal plants in Cambodia3 (p. 12), the role of NTFPs in livelihoods in Rajasthan, NTFP-EP holds Stategic planning & Gender workshop India (p. 11), and a revisiting of Brad Pitt’s bed (p. 10). NTFP-EP jumpstarted 2008 by revisiting the last five years of EP’s work and planning for the On the lighter side, please read up on “toilet botany!” upcoming years in its 2nd Strategic Planning Meeting held end-March in Cavite, Philippines. It (p. 14) brought together the Secretariat, key partners from the six countries, selected Virtual Academy Please keep the information coming! With the and the Board of Trustees. The workshop resulted in a reflection of international and regional growth of interest in the field of NTFP management, events that shaped EP’s work, looked into significant accomplishments and strengths of the we look forward to new faces, new collaborations network, allowing for priority setting and planning for the next years. and new initiatives which hopefully will find its way To look into how to integrate gender concerns into the EP’s work, staff of both the NTFP-EP into these pages. - Aloisa Zamora-Santos and the Philippine NTFP Task Force took part in a Gender Awareness Workshop last 10-11 April. This was facilitated by Ma. Teresa Guia Padilla, NTFP-EP Board Member and Executive Director The NTFP-EP Secretariat: Jenne de Beer, Executive Director of Anthrowatch. Basic gender concepts such as differences between male and femal, gender Maria Cristina S. Guerrero, Deputy Director Caroline Ongleo- roles, gender equality, gender bias and gender needs were tackled through creative exercises. Magbanua, Programme Manager Aloisa Zamora-Santos, Information Management Officer Vince Michael Docta, Resource Mobilisation Officer Sharon Padilla, Finance Officer New book on Pala’wan handicrafts! Annielyn Paleracio, Administrative Officer Arnie C. Ocampo, After four years, the NTFP-Task Force finally launched the Tingkep book Administrative Assistant Field Staff: Madhu Ramnath, through the support of Doen Foundation. At a Crafts and Coffee featuring Facilitator for India Joanna de Rozario, Facilitator for Pala’wan Crafts last 31 July, authors Norli Colili and Nola Andaya presented the Malaysia Dominic Langat, Sarawak Community Development book to the public and to the Pala’wan People through Lito Lingaw, one of the Organizer Panthom Priyandoko, Kalimantan Facilitator resource people for the book. The book highlights the strong link between the Margaretha Seting Beraan, Kalimantan Field Assistant Femy community and their forest which is reflected in this traditional craft. Featured Pinto, Facilitator for BENG CAMBA in the book are tingkep makers, Nolita and Sumbia. Cambodia Sam Ly, During the launch, Lito Lingaw and Norli Colili shared stories about Project Coordinator Phan Channa, the culture of the Pala’wan to the people who came to join the Administrative celebration. Lito also shared his talent in playing the kusyapi. Assistant/ The book and the tingkep baskets are now being sold at the Bookkeeper CustomMade Crafts Center. Proceeds from the sales of the tingkep book will support the tingkep makers of Amas and Ransang, Palawan as well as fund other initiatives to document The T’boli traditional crafts of other weavers of indigenous communities. To LASSIWAI, in order a copy of the book, email Lake Sebu, Philippines [email protected]. {Nola Andaya} with the last issue of Voices. voices from the forest no. 15 HEANG SARI M

Cambodian indigenous crafts shop soon to open Ratanakiri community Watch out for the opening of the CANDO Crafts Center (CCC) in Ratanakiri members come province! Built by indigenous people in the area, the shop aims to support together to build the hundreds of indigenous crafts producers in the province. Based on Fair Trade crafts shop Principles, the shop will promote the indigenous crafts products through sales and a gallery. CANDO hopes that the shop will also Making the law work for indigenous peoples rights help communities learn new value added designs of Atty. Harrison Ngau Laing, IP advocate and a Goldman Awardee their traditional crafts with contemporary modern styles. {Heang Sarim} from Sarawak, Malaysia shared his experiences on “Indigenous Peoples Rights: Struggles in Malaysia and prospects in a changing government landscape” before a group of IP advocates and lawyers in the Philippines last 1 April in Quezon City, Philippines. Working together towards strong enterprises There was a rich exchange of information with reactors from the The NTFP-EP with Riak-Bumi conducted a training-workshop on Katutubong Samahan sa Pilipinas, Lumad Mindanao, Environmental enterprise development last 24-28 May at the Sungai Pelaik Long Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Representative Risa Hontiveros of House in Danau Sentarum, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It was Akbayan Party List, and former Congressman Greg Andolana. participated in by EP and Riak Bumi staff and partner-communities The important role alternative lawyers play in the plight of the engaged in crafts enterprises in Kalimantan – including weavers from IPs struggles for land rights both in Malaysia and the Philippines Pengerak and crafts producers from Kedang Pahu. was heightened in the discussions. Some of the commonalities The training aimed to equip the participants with basic knowledge highlighted were the importance of historical dimensions in learning and skills on the four aspects of entrepreneurship (marketing, about the struggles of the IPs over their land rights, the conflict production, finance and organizational development & management). between customary law/native court and the federal law, and land It focused on providing simple enterprise development tools to rights case becoming political rather enable the participants to organize and strengthen community-based than a legal case. It is hoped that Asia enterprises in their respective areas. IP lawyers can have a directory and get The main learning methodology was “learning-by-doing,” inspired together for more exchanges on the topic. by Competency-based Economies through Formation of Enterprise The forum was jointly organized by (CEFE), an entrepreneurship training concept developed & promoted the NTFP-EP and by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation. Simulation games combined with processing and inputs discussion on entrepreneurial Atty. Harrison Ngau the Legal Rights and Laing addressing a Natural Resources theories were used so participants could discover their potentials, group of IP lawyers Center, Inc., Kasama understand their strengths, think creatively, solve problems, get and supporters in sa Kalikasan/Friends business ideas and know how business works. {Beng Camba} the Philippines of the Earth- Philippines.

International field course on conservation, livelihood & enterprise held in India An international field course on interdisciplinary approaches and methods for ecological monitoring of natural resources and livelihoods was held last 5-15 May in Kotagiri, Nilgiris, India. The course aimed to equip different stakeholders with tools, insights, experiences & learning to make a change in their respective spheres of conservation, utilization and trade. Some 15 representatives of NGOs, academic institutions and the forest department participated in the course. They came from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Mahrashtra & Orissa as well as the distant provinces of the Northeast namely Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The course made use of the wisdom and experience of local resource persons from Keystone, Prof. K.C. Malhotra, Mr. P.N. Unnikrishnan (IFS) and Madhu Ramnath. Also invited were international resource persons Tony Cunningham (PPI), Janet Seeley (University of East Anglia) and Crissy Guerrero (NTFP-EP). At the end of the course, the students were asked to develop projects that coherently linked aspects of conservation, livelihood and enterprise in their own contexts. The five best projects were awarded 1500 Euros to implement the projects, namely: 1) Prasad Dash ofW asundhara: exploring the handloom sector & the dyes used in Phulbani district; 2) Hema of Kovel Foundation: developing a harvesting protocol for Tinospora cordifolia; 3) Anuja of Econet: conducting an ecological monitoring project of Terminalia chebula; 4) Sivan of MSSRF: documenting Traditional Ecological Knowledge of the adivasis in Wyanad; 5) Sangma of Samrakshan: working on a landuse plan in one of the Akings of Meghalaya. The aspiration of the organizers is that this course be officially integrated into the education and training of all individuals in the Indian Forest Service. This would result in the institutionalization of holistic forestry programs. Congratulations to Keystone on a brilliant idea and exemplary execution! {Crissy Guerrero} voices from the forest no. 15 Celebrating a decade of friendships for forest peoples The NTFP-EP 10th Year Anniversary gathered colleagues and friends, and old and new supporters for an evening of celebration last 1 April at Conspiracy Garden Café, Quezon City,

Philippines. The event was made colorful by a video message from Dr. Mary Stockdale and ANNIE PALERACIO family from Canada, inspirational messages from Dr. Phung Huu Chinh of the Bee Research and Development Center, Vietnam and Dr. Patricia Shanley of the Center for International Research in Forestry, Indonesia; as well as special numbers by John Arcilla (CMCC celebrity endorser) and music and dances from partners and friends of the network. {Peachy Ongleo-Magbanua}

A special number by (L-R) Joanna de Rozario, Snehlata Nath, NABAGHAN OHJA Madhu Ramnath, India’s Forest Rights Act Conservation forum Jenne de Beer and for whom? held in Vietnam Pandurang Hegde A workshop on The Forest Rights The Forum on Biodiversity Conservation in Act (2006) for Scheduled Tribes and the South of Vietnam took place on 2 August in Saigon. The forum, Traditional Forest Dwellers meeting was hosted by CBD, for the first time brought together representatives held in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh last 28-29 from 15 protected areas in the South, as well as other biodiversity July. In attendance were NGOs working supporters, including Amy Maling of WWF Mondulkiri (Cambodia) among tribal people in the Eastern and Western Ghats of India. Some local and Jenne de Beer of NTFP-EP. A fruitful sharing of experiences took government officials from the Forest place, which towards the end of the day focused on the role of NTFPs Deseeding of amla fruit, an and eco-tourism in biodiversity conservation. important NTFP for adivasis Department also participated. The workshop focused on the Prominent member of the Council of the Vietnam Association for elucidation of the FRA – as some of the Conservation and Environment, Professor Doanh Canh, concluded the issues concerning zones within National Parks, the required period of discussion by saying that the link between NTFP development and residency to make a land claim, and the roles of the various peoples the involvement of local communities in the conservation effort is institutions – remain unclear. The participants also shared how the very direct. However, the speaker added, in order to further motivate Act was already being implemented in their states without much those communities, there should be much more attention on their concern that the local adivasi communities understand their rights. long-term security of access to NTFP resources. {Jenne de Beer, Luu The workshop aimed to clarify the doubts of the partners working Hong Truong} with tribal communities, and to help them strengthen local peoples participation in the implementation of the Act. As a future strategy, the focus of the EP partners in India include: Taking up one or two model villages in First enterprise training for our areas of work to see how the FRA is being partners held understood and implemented. This would With the relative success of NTFP-based enable the NGOs to document how this is enterprises of NTFP-EP partners such being done as well as to suggest ways of Keystone in India, the CustomMade Crafts better peoples participation Center in the Philippines and the JMHI View the various Acts (PESA, FRA) notified honey network in Indonesia, there are many until now with regard to the tribal peoples models of community-based enterprises to rights over forests and especially NTFPs ARNIE OCAMPO draw lessons from. With requests for partners for training, With the increasing global focus on A workshop during the biofuels to develop EP-India’s stance over the bio-fuel issue, especially recently-concluded strategy support, mentoring and coaching a) the impact on land use, b) nutrition and c) the need to keep enterprise training in for enterprise initiatives, the NTFP-EP held abreast with the news on biofuel programmes among the partners the Philippines its first enterprise training for partners last To arrive at a common policy agenda (from individual agendas) 4-8 August in Rizal, Philippines. with regard to the FRA The entire training was hands-on and let the participants assess To publish simplified versions of the various laws and acts their own enterprises, prepare broad strategic intervention strategies, dealing with forests and tribal people as simplified articles that would and prepare a simple business plan. be accessible to a wider audience. {Madhu Ramnath} Resource persons included Arlynn Aquino, Rene Guarin of UMFI, Mathew John of Keystone and Irfansyah of Swiss Contact. In the long-term, NTFP-EP hopes to provide primary enterprise mentoring to NGOs and community Participatory Guarantee Systems hold promise for small-holders & NTFP collectors partners through this In a forum last 6 August at the NTFP-EP Manila office, Mathew John of Keystone Foundation shared Keystone’s start-up group. experiences on developing Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in India to an audience of Philippine NGOs. PGS is a way bringing in a large number of farmers and NTFP collectors into the organic fold who have not been able to access the third party systems of being certified organic. It is a response to the bureaucratic and expensive systems that exist. Today, thousands of farmers around the world have devised systems that are simple, transparent and adhere to the basic principles of organic agriculture Mathew John has been working on the marketing of green products from rural and indigenous producers for over 15 years, and is part of the International Task Force of IFOAM on PGS.

voices from the forest no. 15 Honey

By PANDURANG HEGDE, Appiko/Prakruti It’s a Celebration! PRAKRUTI BY ARTICLE THIS FOR PHOTOS ALL

n the month of May, two unique festivals were different kinds of honey bees like rock bees (Apis celebrated under the canopy of green trees in the dorsata), thudavi (Apis cerana) and stingless bees Icoconut and mango orchards of Tyagali and Golikai (Apis floraea). The festival that kick started with villages near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district. These questions and discussions was followed up by practical festivals were none other than Jenu Habba or the work with honey bees and bee boxes. Festival of Honey. After the initial introduction to honey bees, the Jyothi, a young girl who participated in the festival participants were taken to the bee box. Deepak, a said, “I never knew that it would be such fun. It has young bee keeper, explained about helped me learn a lot about honey bees and it has also bee keeping and how the bees are MAIN PHOTO: Children get a taste of fresh removed the fear of bees in me.” kept in the bee box. The box was honeycomb! Like Jyothi, many children and adults enjoyed the opened and the participants were taste of fresh honey and the honey comb. shown the way bee colonies work. BELOW: Further discussions on honey This festival was part of the activities of Prakruti They were shown the worker bees, and bees were an (an offshoot of Appiko or Chipko movement), a eyeopener for many. non-governmental organisation based in the tropical forests of Western Ghats in Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, to propagate bee keeping and create awareness about the importance of honey bees. In the true spirit of the festival, the entire village and people from the surrounding villages participated in the festival. The festival was launched with a discussion on the importance of honey bees for nature. Who does the pollination without payment? How important is pollination? Can it be done manually as it is done for vanilla beans? These were some of the queries that were answered in the festival. The invaluable service provided by the honeybees was brought to the notice of the participants, especially children and youth. The participants discussed the voices from the forest no. 15 Rajesh Huggekoppa holds up a honeycomb, explaining the complex process of honeymaking. CORDAID

The Dutch Catholic Development Organization Cordaid (Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid) serves all aspects of development cooperation: emergency aid, structural poverty alleviation and health care, working closely together with local organisations. Cordaid is one of the biggest international development organisations with an annual budget of approximately 160 million Euros. It supports 2,300 programmes through a network of almost a thousand partner organisations in over 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America. The Cordaid organisation is structured around those who go and collect the pollen and honey, and how they keep the these programme sectors: Participation, Emergency entire box clean, dividing work among them. They were also shown the Aid and Reconstruction, Health and Well-being and drones which just eat and do no work! Eventually, they were shown the Entrepreneurship. queen bee, the central figure in the bee box, which lays eggs to develop the Each of the programme sectors provide strategic bee colony. financing, as well as lobby the so-called linking and How do queen bees survive for two to three years laying eggs and oozing learning, which entails the carrying out of best practices. pheromone to attract the other bees? The entire life of bees was explained Under the Entrepreneurship Sector, Cordaid provides to all the participants who were even allowed to handle both the bees and the needed inputs (land, equipment, knowledge, energy the honeycomb. and cheap loans as well as investments in the local and regional markets) in order to develop the small producers’ Though bees do sting when they are hurt, fortunately during the festival, industries. With this, Cordaid encourages increasing the they were very cooperative and did not sting at all! The participants also sustainability (social, financial and ecological) of well- got an opportunity to see honeycomb in the upper chamber of the bee box organised chains, building on experiences of the organic called super. The sealed honey comb was cut and honey was extracted by and fair trade chains. the hand machine. The fresh honey thus collected was distributed to all the More specifically under the Small Producers program, participants along with honeycomb. For first time tasters of finger-licking Cordaid has provided and continues to provide a good fresh honey and the honeycomb, it was indeed a moment of ecstasy. significant portion to the funding of the NTFP-EP’s core The participants were also shown products made from bee wax. There programme, the Philippine Non-timber Forest Products were candles that were naturally made from wax paper or foundation sheet. Task Force, the Custom Made Crafts Center (CMCC), the The difference between the candles made of petroleum product that are EP India Network, and bilaterally, among selected EP available in the market and the candles made from bee wax was discussed. partners, on a diverse range of programmes from the basic value-chain analyses all the way up to influencing There were also products like the bee wax balm and cream for cracked lips. policies and institutions. The high potential of bee wax as a source of alternative livelihood was also Moreover, Cordaid is also working its way, through discussed. small steps, with the EP to help link organisations in Dr. S. T. Prabhu, an Entomologist from the Forestry College, Sirsi South and Southeast Asia and Europe by learning from requested the participants to take up bee keeping. According to him, each each other and lobbying together to work towards an farmer should keep a bee box to produce honey as this not only provides enabling environment for vulnerable groups and NTFP fresh honey to the family, but also increases his crop yield by pollination. producers. {Vince Docta} The youngest participant was two-and-a-half-year-old Govardhan, son www.cordaid.nl of Dharmendra, a bee keeper, who handled the bees without any fear or hesitation! He was the centre of attraction in the festival of bees. After the taste of fresh honey, participants were keen to know how honey The NTFP-EP family bees could be propagated, how bee colonies in the wild could be located, conveys its best wishes how diseases that affect the bees could be tackled and how they could to Roos Cieremans become bee keepers. As questions kept mounting, the organisers felt the (now Mrs. Nijpels) purpose of the festival was achieved! for her wedding last Bee keepers Deepak and Ganesh were honoured for their silent service to 22 August 2008! propagate bee keeping in the region. Congratulations, Roos The villagers of Tyagali, thrilled by the positive response the festival and Guido! received, said, “We want to make this festival an annual event and next Roos is a dear friend year we are planning to celebrate it on a grand scale.” and staunch supporter of NTFP development Pandurang Hegde ... to the extent of even Appiko/Prakruti, Hulemalgi Building establishing her own Chowkinath, Sirsi 581401 “NTFP corner” within Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, India, the halls of Cordaid HQ Tel: 08384-225139 at the Hague! Email: [email protected]

voices from the forest no. 15 Exposing Indigenous Crafts Enterprise Development By Heang Sarim, CANDO, Cambodia in the Philippines ARNIE C. OCAMPO BY ARTICLE THIS FOR PHOTOS ALL

great opportunity was given to nine NGO staff and community provide services in accordance with the real Kamplor Sapok of people from Cambodia to learn from the experiences of the need, capacity and growth of the community Ratanakiri gets a lesson in buri weaving from A Custom Made Crafts Center (CMCC) in the Philippines. The enterprises. So their methodologies are a Sakahama member. learning visit on crafts enterprise development took place last 9-13 flexible. Buri is made into small June. We ended the day watching the sunset coin purses, the cover of Three staff members of the Cambodian NTFP Development from a boat cruising on the Manila bay, and which Sapok is holding Organization (CANDO), two from Village Focus International (VFI), continued discussions with Jenne de Beer, and four Kreung indigenous people were eager to find out how CMCC NTFP-EP director, and Arnie. helps their community people and how well the community people themselves manage their crafts enterprise. Day Two: 10 June With a willingness to learn from the crafts enterprise development It was a long trip from Manila to Mindoro province to visit two experiences, we all had a lot of questions to ask our colleagues. community-based crafts enterprises. It took a day-long travel starting And fortunately, we got valuable information and knowledge from from early morning to evening, and we all experienced traveling by their presentations, clarification and discussion. After returning van, ship and motorbike. We first visited Bait Community in Mansalay. from the learning visit, we now have a Road Map on Community As soon as we arrived in the community, we saw some people waiting Crafts Enterprise development in which staff know what and how to for us at their community entrance, and they gave us such a warm fulfill the needs of their community enterprises, while community welcome that we felt like we were old friends. Before taking a rest, we people got ideas on how to improve their crafts enterprise. The had a short meeting with community members in order to introduce fruitful five-day learning visit was done with effective activities and one another, and expressed our expectations of our visit. During dinner methodologies including lecture, presentation, group discussion, field that night, we shared our stories and traditional songs. visits, and community exchanges. Day Three: 11 June Day One: 9 June The next morning, we met with the enterprise group called Sakahama That first morning, we received a friendly welcome from our led by Mr. Gerry Tupaz of KPLN, a partner organisation of NTFP-EP. colleagues Crissy Guerrero (NTFP-EP), Nola Andaya and Beng Camba We learned that Sakahama has grown from 11 members to 48 (CMCC/NTFP-Task Force) and Arnie Ocampo (NTFP-EP). As soon as we members. Sakahama is the common enterprise that emerged from entered the NTFP-EP office, we were so interested in CMCC’s Crafts three crafts groups from Bait, Mansalay and Bante. Representatives and Coffee shop. We all looked carefully at the crafts products, organic of Sakahama coffee and honey for sale. And we appreciate the designs of their crafts presented their which integrate both traditional and modern styles. organizational After self introductions and explanation of our expectations, structures, our CMCC colleagues made a presentation on the CMCC’s Crafts production Enterprise Development Program. CMCC is the marketing arm of management and NTFP-Task Force that provides enterprise development services to indigenous community-based crafts enterprises in different parts of Roeun Heng of Mondulkiri tries the Philippines. CMCC not only provides trainings, but importantly her hand at carving mentoring, technical assistance and market access support to Mangyan script on community enterprises. More importantly, we learnt that while CMCC bamboo with Ason provides the same things to all community crafts enterprises, they Antaw looking on. voices from the forest no. 15 Meeting the Mangyan CANDO Study Visit to Mindoro quality control, sale and marketing, and key points of regulation of the community enterprise. Sakahama has a lot of experience in production, marketing and enterprise management. By Arnie C. Ocampo, NTFP-EP They have good systems in production, selling, and enterprise management. For instance, they have a clear organizational structure comprised of three main committees: finance, production, ast 10 June was the first day of the Cambodian NTFP and marketing and sales. Development Organization (CANDO) study visit to They have also developed numerous products combining traditional designs with modern LMindoro. We started the day at exactly 5:00 am; our styles. However, they still face problems in product quality and late delivery. They have also trip from Manila to Batangas took about 4 hours. encountered difficulties in sourcing local raw materials such as buri and thread and have thus As our feet first stepped on the pier of the City of resorted to buying those materials from the market. Batangas, we all felt the excitement of a new experience There was also a presentation on Value Chain Analysis for community crafts enterprises in – especially for those from CANDO because it was their order to set appropriate and fair values for local community enterprise members and ensure first time to travel by boat! Our travel to Calapan City of environment and socio-cultural welfare. We also had a lot of discussions on community crafts an hour and a half hour was most enjoyable. We took a lot enterprise management, production management, and sales and marketing. of photos especially of the small mountains and islands “They are also indigenous people like us, but they have done well for their enterprise amidst chit-chat and getting to know each other. From management, and good system in quality control. They produce any product in accordance with Calapan City to Roxas City, it took us another 3 hours. order from buyer,” Mr. Ghiv Mao, Village NTFP Enterprise Facilitator, said. Rex dela Pena, NTFP-TF Enterprise Development Officer, “We should learn from their experiences in order to improve our product quality and our accompanied us on our one-hour trip to Mansalay. Once enterprise performance,” Mao added. there, we got on to “Habal-habal” (motorcycles) and took the 45-minute ride to Bait. Day Four: 12 June Finally at about 4 pm, we arrived in Bait where we On the fourth day, we had a chance to meet were warmly approached and greeted by the Mangyan Maat Crafts Enterprise members. After a community. We had a short orientation and introduced friendly welcome, representatives of the ourselves, including me! We capped the night with dinner enterprise presented their enterprise prepared by the community in the light of lamps as there background, organizational structure, is no electricity as the area is very remote. production management, sales and The next day, we had further sharing with the marketing, and problems they have been community. The community shared their history, origins, encountering. Maat Enterprise’s products are policies and their organizational structure. They also mostly traditional baskets made of rattan, demonstrated how some of their products were made. and bamboo furniture such as chairs. Some CANDO also tried out their own skills by trying to make members showed us how they weave their the crafts of this Mangyan community. Value Chain traditional Tabud basket. While most of the Analysis and some marketing strategies were discussed enterprise members are men, the leader is a by the head member of the community. There were a lot woman. Maat was established in 2006 with support by KPLN and NTFP-EP. of questions and discussions around community crafts Edie of SANAMA and We noticed that Maat is not yet a strong enterprise. They used to have enterprise management, production management, sales Kamplor Sapok of a problem in managing their money and their current major problems are and marketing. Ratanakiri work on a product quality and late delivery. They need more support for equipment On the third day, Rex guided us to Paitan to visit rattan bag together to produce better bamboo furniture. In addition, they do not have another group called Maat. They started the presentation permission from the government to harvest rattan from their forest. on their enterprise background, organizational structure, production management, sale and marketing, and Day Five: 13 June problems they have been encountering. Products are On the last day, we had a meeting with bamboo expert, Ms. Carmelita Bersalona from the mostly traditional baskets made of rattan, and bamboo International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and NTFP-EP colleagues at the NTFP-EP furniture such as chairs. Some members showed us how office.W e learned a lot from her presentation on bamboo biology, bamboo trends, bamboo they weave their traditional Tabud basket. I noticed that potential, bamboo products, bamboo’s market share in the world, and product development for most of the enterprise members are men, but the leader the 21st century. We were surprised to hear that bamboo can also be used to produce is a woman! oil and T-shirts. In particular, we had a good discussion on bamboo development and We barely made it back biology, especially on bamboo nursery and plantation. to Calapan before 5 pm We also had a chance to visit her Bamboo Show Room where there were many because of the availability excellent bamboo product designs such as chairs, desk and bamboo flooring. Ms. of the “Roro.” On our Bersalona was very friendly and even welcomed our questions at lunch time. journey back to Batangas, we were all fascinated This is a very good study visit that we have ever had before. We have learnt much and amazed to see some from these five days, from both the indigenous community people who are the dolphins jumping and playing around our boat. crafts enterprise producers and staff who provide support to community enterprises. REX DELA PENA We have learnt from community enterprise people how they organize and manage We also enjoyed seeing the their enterprise operation including organizational management, product quality control and beautiful sunset in the horizon. sales and marketing. We have also learnt a lot from CMCC’s experiences on how to support Arnie, fourth from I must admit the excitement the right, with the development of community-based crafts enterprises, especially from their experiences the ladies from and fear I felt before our travel to in product design and development, and market access support for community enterprise’ Sakahama Mindoro. Excitement because it will products. be an extremely new experience and We are starting our indigenous crafts enterprise development in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri fear because I was accountable for anything that could or so these experiences and lessons will serve as a Road Map for us to move forward in the next might happen. I now realize that though it was very tiring, three years and beyond. We all would like to appreciate and thank the efforts of NTFP-EP it was indeed a fulfilling experience where I have learned colleagues and community enterprises members for this fruitful study visit. a lot and has left in me a strong admiration towards the communities we work with. Heang Sarim, Executive Director, Cambodia NTFP Development Organization [email protected] Village Three, Labanseak, Banlung, Ratanakiri province, Cambodia Tel: 855-75-974 819, Email: [email protected]

voices from the forest no. 15 Crissy Guerrero, Deputy Director of the NTFP-EP made a presentation on Philippine rattan policies and NTFP Policy Perils the impact on the industry and producers. She stressed the irony that though the furniture industry of the Weaken the Rattan Philippines is well-known and world-class, government policies often make the utilization and trade of rattan a Value Chain difficult and circuitous process for local communities. She also emphasized that though rattan is still abundant TRANSLINKS: A WINDOW FOR COLLABORATION & ADVOCACY in several Philippine provinces, local manufacturers FOR NTFPS IN THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY often opt for importing raw rattan poles because they are having difficulty sourcing locally. By ABIGAIL LOIS P. AGUILAR, NTFP-Task Force Crissy also presented some policy recommendations such as reducing, simplifying and streamlining he Translinks project (short for Promoting licensing requirements, accepting community Transformation: Linking Natural Resources, resource management plans as permits for resource TEconomic Growth, and Good Governance), hosted utilization, clarifying and harmonizing policies a workshop called “Improving Value Chain Dynamics between government agencies, and supporting more for Natural Products in the Furniture, Gifts & Home participatory resource monitoring protocols for NTFP Decor and Fashion Accessories Industry” last July 2-3, sustainability. 2008 in Cebu City. It was organized by The Enterprise Other presentations focused on the biological Works/VITA (EWV), a partner of the NTFP-Task Force base of forest-based raw materials, forest gatherers’ (NTFP-TF) in the Philippines. perspectives, market trends, NGOs as market The objectives of the workshop include the review facilitators, supply chain strengthening programs, of the value chain and nature, wealth and power and post-harvesting and quality control technologies. studies completed by EWV on rattan. This aimed at Funding agencies like GTZ and the Philippine Tropical fostering a better understanding of the constraints and Forests Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PTFCF) also opportunities facing major groupings of the actors presented different opportunities for collaboration. (gatherers, traders, and manufacturers) in the furniture The two-day activity was capped with a visit to the value chain. furniture companies, including Kenneth Cobonpue’s The workshop also facilitated information exchange showroom which showcased Brad Pitt’s famous rattan and coordination among all stakeholders and aimed bed. The visit to the manufacturers’ facilities educated that lessons from the the value chain actors on the end markets’ needs and rattan value chain would changing trends in design and markets. This is one NTFP-TF be expanded to other activity that further inspired the community members NTFPs used in the to work harder in improving their raw material supply furniture value chain. and their management system in order to cope with the Participants to the demand. workshop included The workshop was generally an event for all the the Cebu Furniture stakeholders to come together and come up with Industries Foundation, solutions. Action items were identified for a pilot community-based forest “value chain actors” coordination activity that will be management (CBFM) designed to address the identified opportunities and federations, government constraints. Most importantly, the event facilitated agencies, donor agencies, information exchange and coordination among the NTFP-TF staff and NGOs, local government actors in the supply chain and focused on gaining profit other Translinks units, forest products industry without sacrificing sustainable forest management and participants on representatives, legal and academic conservation. Cobonpue’s rattan bed - the same design institutions, and representatives from owned by Brad Pitt! People’s Organizations (POs). Abi Aguilar, Email: [email protected]

are you an NTFP gamer?

Watch out for this fun game called “Lost & Found in the Rainforest!” This boardgame popularizes the various issues surrounding NTFP management in an easily accessible form for youth and adults alike. It is hoped that while playing the game, this will initiate deeper discussions on the issues and threats related to NTFPs and managing forests. Many thanks to Zul M.S. of Riak Bumi in Pontianak, Indonesia for his illustrations and the playing pieces made by communities of Lake Sebu and Palawan, Philippines. For inquiries, email us at [email protected] voices from the forest no. 15 NTFPs support livelihoods in Aravali Hills of Rajasthan, India By PRADEEP CHAUDHRY and RAMESHWAR L. SRIVASTAVA

LAKHPAT SINGH ajasthan is the largest state of India with less than ten percent of the state’s Rarea covered with forests. More than fifty percent of the state’s forest area lies in the Aravali hills. The state has about 5% of the country’s human population, but its cattle and livestock population is the highest in comparison to other states of the country. There is tremendous pressure on the state’s forests as far as fodder for livestock/cattle and fuel wood, small timber and various NTFPs for human population are concerned. A research study was carried out, at the request of Rajasthan Forest Department, in Pratapgarh, Udaipur (Central) and Banswara Forest Divisions, covering about 4,000 square kms of area and more than 1,200 villages. The main objective was to make an assessment of the availability/ potential of NTFPs in the Aravali hills and the value of these products so as to make a sound and ecologically viable policy for the subsistence of forest dwellers and for the overall conservation and development of the forest resources of the region. The Aravali hills of the region covering tropical dry of NTFP deciduous forests are the storehouses of a variety of collected, NTFP-yielding species. season and Important tree species known for their edible fruits or market flowers near habitation areas include Mango, Tamarind, situation. Aonla (Emblica officinalis), Bahera (Terminalia There is CHAUDHRY PRADEEP bellirica), Mahua (Madhuca indica), Zizyphus species a serious Community meetings and Phoenix sylvestris. Other commonly collected depletion of many of these NTFP underway for primary NTFPs are Tendu leaves (Diospyrus melanoxylon) used species in the region compared data collection in bidi cigarettes, Puwar seed (Cassia tora), honey and to some 15-20 years ago. As per the policy of the gum, among others. government to provide livelihood support to the The main bamboo species of these forests is local communities in a welfare state like India, local Dendrocalamus strictus. Fodder grass species communities living near forest areas in Rajasthan state include Dichanthium annulatum, Aristida depressa, are allowed free access and collection of NTFPs from Heteropogon contortus, Schima nervosum and forests by the forest department. Themeda quadrivalvis. Based upon findings of the study, efforts are to be It was found that significant quantities of NTFPs are made by the Rajasthan forest department to undertake gathered by the rural people in three forest divisions plantation activities of above mentioned NTFPs and of the Aravali region of Rajasthan and the annual medicinal plant species in the Aravali hills in order to estimated values of NTFPs realized per household are sustain rural livelihoods. Rs. 5965, Rs. 4994 and Rs. 3678 in Udaipur (central), The authors are thankful to the Forest Department, Pratapgarh and Banswara forest divisions respectively, Rajasthan for providing necessary financial support for taking fuelwood and fodder grass collection in to carrying out the study. account (US$1 = approx. Rs. 40). NTFP income generated from a hectare area of tropical dry deciduous forest of Aravali region was estimated around Rs. Pradeep Chaudhry and Rameshwar L. Srivastava 3000. Villagers in the Aravali region collect NTFPs Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road throughout the year and their average income varies Jodhpur 342005, India from Rs.20 to Rs.100/day, depending on the kind E-mail: [email protected]

voices from the forest no. 15 management, people access areas and harvest MAP products as much as they want, ignoring sustainable practices. In other words, since The Challenge for MAP products are considered a type of non-timber forest product (NTFP), less care is usually taken in their harvest and management. Sustainable Wild Local communities that are the natural resource owners do not have enough capacity and time to manage their resources. Medicinal & Aromatic MAP harvesters do not respect common property and are unaware of the consequences of biodiversity loss and its livelihood Plant Collection in impacts. Many collectors usually have the misconception that these resources are inexhaustible. Cambodia Lack of market incentives and value added. Many harvesters sell their MAP products as raw materials at cheap prices. In order to earn more income from this activity, they have to collect as much as they can in a short collection period. By KHOU EANG HOURT, TRAFFIC, Cambodia Saving medicinal plants species

ALL PHOTOS FOR THIS ARTICLE BY THE AUTHOR. More MAP species are expected to face atural resources are recognized threats in future if there is high market demand, as invaluable property for rural and especially since a strategy to deal with this NCambodian people especially has not been sufficiently identified. forest dwellers. Specifically, these Concerning the continuous loss of resources resources play a significant role in and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, rural health care. A recent study on a number of government technical institutions medicinal plants documented 824 and non-government organizations have medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) taken measures to reduce these threats. species that Cambodian people A number of these actions include law use across the country (Naomi, W. enforcement, community-based natural & David, A. 2008). However, some resource management, home garden- commercial species for export to based medicinal plant international markets have been Fruit of Amomum domestication, and facing severe threats. A number of elephantorum at initiation of sustainable species like Aquilaria crassna (Chan Prek Tnoat CPA wild product harvest. Krassna), Cinnamomum parthenoxylon The project Saving (Mreah Prov Phnom) and Coscinium Plants that Save Lives and Livelihoods has usitatum (Voir Romiet) are introduced the International Standard for prohibited from exploitation by the Wild Sustainable Collection of Medicinal Cambodian government. More species and Aromatic Plant (ISSC-MAP) guideline like Cinnamomum cambodianum, into Cambodia, aiming to sustain wild MAP Cinnamomum cassia, Cassia sp., and species and livelihood of forest dependents. Smilex glabra, among others, are This guideline will focus on not only the currently reported to have become very use of sustainable collection technique, but rare due to unsustainable practices and also work with trade of MAP, benefit sharing, may become endangered species in the awareness raising and policy support. Based near future. on a national consultation on MAP species The direct threats causing selection, and followed by field visit, the population decline of MAP species in project has decided to select two species Cambodia are: consisting of Amomum elephantorum (Krakoa) Bad collection practices: Either Workshop and Cinnamomum cambodianum (Tepirou) on ISSC-MAP at Sunway trees or lianas which are valuable hotel, Phnom Penh last 30 at Prek Tnoat Community Protected Area for piloting this guideline. for commercial trade are felled for May 2008 The experience resulting from this implementation will be applied the collection of roots, woods, barks to other areas, and more subsequent MAP species will be selected and fruits. This does not allow for the for the implementation of ISSC-MAP guideline. The project is under regeneration of plants and results in population decline, adversely TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network thats focuses on the impacting local livelihoods. In other words, all MAP-producing trees trade of endangered wild animals and plants. are slow growth species, which take many years to mature and In the initial effort of this implementation, the project plans to become trees. establish a community-based MAP management team comprised Overcollection: Certain MAP species which are highly demanded of community members of Prek Tnoat CPA to implement a number in the market are over collected, thus leading to abrupt declines in of activities like resource assessment, management plan and their population. establishment of sustainable technique of MAP collection. For the Forest land conversion: Recent development of infrastructure has national level, the project will also review existing national laws, encouraged people to penetrate forest areas and claim forest land as policies and regulations relating to MAP. The project will try to work new settlement areas and for farming. Areas rich in MAP species have in collaboration with relevant government institutions, NGOs, trades been cleared and replaced with domestic crops or introduced tree and community to achieve its goal. The outputs of this project will be species. obtained early 2009.

A number of factors behind these threats are: Khou Eang Hourt. Project coordinator for Saving Plants that Save Lack of government officers and poor law enforcement to Lives and Livelihoods, TRAFFIC, and member of the Cambodia NTFP manage these areas. With poor enforcement and inadequate forest Working Group. Email: [email protected] voices from the forest no. 15 Once back in Pulau Majang, it was Amway Indonesia visits time to filter the honey. APDS uses Danau Sentarum the slicing method rather than the squeezing method By WAHYU WIDHI, Dian Niaga Jakarta – this results in more hygienic honey. After cleaning The first time I watched the filmProfiting from Honey Bees (by the honeycomb Telapak & Riak Bumi 2004), where the long boat passes through of contaminants, “the lake, I knew that some day I would go there,” Mr. Koen the wax cover is explained how the Amway Indonesia team – Mr. Koen Verheyen, Mr. opened and sliced Looe Chee Seng and Mr. Charles Suhada, and a delegation of PT UKMI, horizontally to Mr. Poriaman Sitanggang – spent four (15-18 June) days away from open the honey tubes. It the overcrowded city of Jakarta to visit Danau Sentarum National is then placed in a nylon Park. The Amway Indonesia team was accompanied by Mr. Valentinus filter and the honey is left Heri (Riak Bumi) and myself. to drip into a container. Not As a member of Jaringan Madu Hutan Indonesia (JMHI), the only is this a more hygenic Asosiasi Periau Danau Sentarum (APDS), which practices sustainable method of extracting honey, harvesting and hygienic production process, has become a standard fermentation is prevented for of high quality honey in Indonesia. With assistance and support of much longer. The slicing method is now the Swiss Contact and PT UKMI, Dian Niaga Jakarta as marketing arm standard method for JMHI members. for the national market of JMHI, supplies forest honey from APDS to AMWAY Indonesia. Since February 2008, Amway Indonesia launched In the evening we moved to Tekenang and rested in the motor its Organic Forest Honey with UKMAY under the MADU HUTAN bandung, the houseboat where we stayed while in Danau Sentarum. KALIMANTAN brand. The morning after, we moved to Semangit to meet with the board of Semangit Periau. Semangit is the secretariat of APDS. The president After almost 9 hours by car from Pontianak to Sintang and 4 hours of APDS is Mr. Suryanto and discussions were attended by almost all by speed boat, we finally arrived in Pulau Majang. Here we had a board members of APDS. APDS now covers 8 periau and has about chance to meet members of the Periau of Pulau Majang, the newest 157 individual members. The discussion highlighted the benefits of member of APDS. joining the APDS, namely: 1)Training for hygienic honey processing, We discussed the harvesting season in Danau Sentarum. Those 2) Marketing of honey from members, 3) Quality control, and 4) Price from the periau said that this year was a difficult time for almost all assurance. periau in Danau Sentarum because the big floods eliminated their Another important issue discussed was climate change, an issue hopes for about 8 tons of honey harvest. By March to June, the water strongly felt as almost all periau members in Danau Sentarum and levels in Danau Sentarum were expected to decrease and the dry many JMHI members, had a bad harvest this year. season to set in. However, it is now still raining and blossoming of Mr. Suryanto asked Mr. Koen about AMWAY’s commitment to help flowers was not occurring all at the the same time. The nectar that communities. Mr. Koen promised to help communities in Danau the honey bees collected is just sufficient to feed the larva but not Sentarum if their supply of forest honey sufficient and AMWAY can enough to allow honey harvesting. For example, in a recent harvest, market the honey successfully. they got only about 1 kg honey/nest, leading to the decision not to Almost 3 hours later, it was time to ALL PHOTOS FOR THIS ARTICLE BY THE AUTHOR harvest honey this season. move to our next destination, Danau Fortunately, they still have tikung near their place so that we could Bekuan. Mr. Koen shared how glad look at how they harvested the honey, a rare experience especially for he was to visit Danau Sentarum and town people like us. Mr. Poriaman joined the harvester team in the how he is now more certain about the long boat and the rest of us followed by speedboat. Our speedboat future of forest honey from Danau came alongside a hive about 3 meters above the water level so we Sentarum. This reminded me of our could see it clearly; the nest is not too big, less than 1 meter, and responsibility: to do what we can to hung from the tikung. While the harvesters in the longboat prepared ensure that the next harvest is good; their equipment, we busily photographed the hive and got ready for and to protect these forests from the harvesting. deforestation, illegal logging, forest A branch used for smoker was ignited and the long boat slowly fires and the expansion of oil palm approached the hive. Our speedboat was trying to find a good spot to plantations, and to take steps to capture the harvesting moment and also having direct access to the further improve the quality of forest lake, in case something dangerous happens. When smoke was slowly honey. covering the area, we heard the drone of a thousand buzzing bees This trip was short yet fruitful. closing in on our boat. We did not wait for long, we escaped at high We started out as strangers and we speed ... run for your life! became friends and it is our hope Just a few minutes later, the harvesters showed us the pure honey on the next visit we all will become they had just harvested. Mr. Poriaman showed us close-up photos of a big family of Danau Sentarum the harvesting process. He said that while he was taking a picture, communities. a honey bee landed on his hand. Remembering the advice to avoid killing bees or the pheromone from the dead bee will invite other Email: [email protected] bees to become aggressive and attack – he just let the bee stay on URL: www.maduhutan.com his hand – hoping that it would not sting. But the bee did sting him, three times!

voices from the forest no. 15 Terminalia tomentosa Wt. & Arn./Combretaceae Toilet Botany: Local names: Merdengi/Saaj/Saja This is a large tree easy to identify by its distinctively appreciating the cracked bark. The larger leaves of shrubs are villous which some experts in this field claim to be better flora from crouched than most commercial equivalents. However, the mature leaves prove a little crumbly after a certain age perspectives but usually bear the responsibility well. By MADHU RAMNATH, NTFP-EP

he subject of terminating solitary meditative sessions in the forest has received scant notice, both from ethnobotanists Terminalia chebula Retz./Combretaceae Tdealing specifically with plant use as well as from the lay traveler. Local names: Karka/Irla/Harra Somehow, the matter has been considered unimportant or mundane for serious discussion; however, to the discerning few, it has always This is a common enough tree been an issue worthy enough to transform a simple daily chore into a usually found in the vicinity kind of sacred ritual, connecting the person to Mother Earth. of villages and surrounding This piece suggests ways in which morning meditations in the forests. The leaves, especially dry deciduous forests of central India may come to a close, with a the young ones, are silky in few words about the different possibilities. It is hoped that the field texture and as good as those researcher and the forest traveler will put some of these suggestions of T. tomentosa (some say to use in their search for their personal brand of comfort! better!). The author suspects that this species is favoured I have wrought my simple plan over T. tomentosa essentially If I give one hour of joy because the mature leaves do not crumble To the boy who’s half a man with age. The leaves have proven very suitable also for children and Or the man who’s half a boy. people with tender bottoms. - Owen Dudley Edwards in The Quest for Sherlock Holmes

Bauhinia vahlii Wt. & Arn./Caesalpiniaceae A PRELIMINARY LISTING: Local names: Admuki/Siyadi/Mahuli/Adda

Shorea robusta Gaertn. /Dipterocarpaceae The plant is a giant climber of primary forests, which when young Local names: Sal/Sala/Sargi/Sarangi bears rather large two-lobed leaves. The size and shape of In the forested regions of central the leaves are very convenient India this would be most common for our purpose; though the and, due to the coppicing habit texture is not as luxurious as of this plant, within reach from that of the Terminalias. The ground-level. The mature leaves are leaves are suitable in most suitable in size and quite glabrous, other respects, especially in which is a welcome quality for case of repeated sessions the purpose. However, the tender through the day, and for leaves of late summer, which are of babies. a lighter hue, are thinner in texture and may prove disappointing.

Sterculia urens Roxb./Sterculiaceae Local names: Bitangi/Kullu/Karaya Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall. /Apocynaceae Local names: Pela/Kurchi/Kudai This is a tree of rocky open areas and degraded soils where the traveler may have few choices. The young leaves are extremely soft These are large shrubs or small trees, often with a pale streaked bark, common and temptingly large but caution has to be the guiding principle in in secondary forest patches. The leaves are useful when alternatives are scant, its use: experience and reports have confirmed that but the white latex that oozes from the thinness of the leaves most parts of the plant can be a sticky prove to be a let down. bother. If cornered with only this It is wise to go for the species it is recommended that the user older and mature leaves not fold the leaf. For the choosy this is a little higher up on the definitely not the first choice but may tree: though a little rough, prove unavoidable during some of the these are able to serve the summer spells. required purpose better.

voices from the forest no. 15 Resin poster (in Khmer). This Buchanania lanzan Spreng. /Anacardiaceae community information poster is Local names: Chiri/Char/Chironji another collaborative effort of the Cambodia NTFP Working Group members – particularly Community A common enough tree found in open secondary or primary Forestry International, WWF and NTFP forest landscapes. The leaf of this plant is deceptively plain EP with funding support from their and requires a discerning eye to realize the hidden luxury, a donors. The community poster provides wonderful blend of information based on local knowledge suppleness, crispness and scientific research on better resin and softness: the use collection practices. Better practices of this leaf leaves for five key activities are outlined with one with a feeling of photos and illustrations: size of trees tapped, depth of cut, achievement. An added number of holes, length of time fire is used and a cover over the hole. factor with the char Contact: WWF Greater Mekong Cambodia Country leaf is the possibility of Programme, #54 Street 352, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang using both sides, each I, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, P.O. Box 2467, Ph +855 23 218 side with its own distinctive charm. 034, Website: www.panda.org

The Importance of Community: Issues and Perceptions of Land CONCLUDING NOTES: Ownership and Future Options in 5 As in most other fields, a deeper understanding of the subject Communes in Mondulkiri Province, is dependent on a long and suitable combination of practical Cambodia. The study focuses on the situation of indigenous peoples in five experience with serious study. Unfortunately, literature on the communes, Bu Chrey, Krang Teh, Sokh present subject has been scarce for a variety of reasons, the Sant, O Buon Leu and Nang Khi Loek. It most notable being the persecution of the founder of this found that while a basic legal and policy peculiar science, in the 7th C; likewise, empirical recordings of framework exists for the protection of observations have been seldom undertaken and one has had to IP rights in Cambodia, enforcement of lean heavily on oral accounts. laws remains weak. Continuing loss of Areas of vegetation around a village, where most of the indigenous lands has led to loss of livelihood and increasing meditative moments occur, will gradually reveal their specific poverty for indigenous communities. potential that concerns the “termination” of the session. It is By Maia Diokno. May 2008. Published by the NTFP-EP soon realized that one does not walk into the forest at random and NGO Forum on Cambodia. To download the full PDF report, visit the “Proceedings & Reports” section at www. and seek solitude but consciously chooses a spot that provides ntfp.org the kind of terminal comfort most preferred. For the initiated few the suggestions made below may prove useful: Colugo: The Flying Lemur of During the summer months the dry deciduous forests Southeast Asia is the first book ever are usually bare; it is prudent to choose and pluck the available about the best gliding animal in the leaves before settling down to meditate. world, colugos, which are members Many species of Araceae have attractive soft and large of the Dermoptera order of mammals. leaves but it is wise to leave them alone: most of them contain There are two species living in the sap with irritant crystals. In case of an emergency they may be rainforests of Malaysia, Singapore, used, taking care that the leaves are not crushed. Thailand, Indonesia and parts of the Philippines and Indochina. This book During the monsoon months several plants from the reveals everything currently known families Dioscoreaceae, Convolvulaceae, Asclepiadaceae and about these secretive, nocturnal, and Apocynaceae are easily available. Care should be taken to check charismatic animals. whether the plant chosen is armed, produces latex, etc. As most By Norman Lim. Illustrated in stunning new colour of these species have small leaves it may help to use them in photographs. Book with a bonus DVD showing the Colugo in conjunction with a larger leaf of other species. action. For more information, please email nniche@singnet. During the monsoon, and occasionally in winter, some com.sg or visit http://www.naturesniche.com species of insects inhabit the underside of leaves. It is prudent to examine the leaves before putting them to use. Community Management of It would be fruitful to make a special note of a regions’ flora NTFPs in the Brazilian Amazon looks into how communities are involved in from this unexplored branch of ethnobotany. Though at present the day-to-day management of NTFPs. only a budding science, as quantum physics was less than There is yet no manner to describe or a century ago, this field too has immense potential and will adequately characterize the conduct of continue to grow as long as mankind chooses to retreat to the community management of NTFPs. This forest for solitary (or communal) meditation. written work does not treat procedures definitively, making the management Madhu Ramnath, email: [email protected] system a science to be discovered and re-discovered. It is drawn from the harmonious interaction {For the full version of this article, please visit www.ntfp.org. All photos for between traditional knowledge of the species, biological and this article are taken by the author.} ecological, and scientific research of particular cases. By Frederico Soares Machado. 2008. Downloadable in Please visit our NTFP Database on www.ntfp.org to find the original Portuguese at: www.pesacre.org.br. For queries, more NTFPs and their uses. please email the author at [email protected]

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voices from the forest no. 15 Environmental ‘tourism of doom’ on the rise From Seeds See the Artic before it melts. Visit a to Beads. rainforest before it’s cut down. “Doom tourism has been Tales, Tips with us for a long time indeed,” Jonathan Raban, a travel writer, and Tools for said. “It’s about the world being spoiled, and the impulse of the Building a tourist industry to sell us on getting there before it is too late, Community- before other people spoil it.” Based NTFP [Source, including photo: International Herald Tribune 16 Dec 2007] Enterprise. From the Blue Mountains of India to the islands of Indonesia, the experiences of local communities that depend on Village Justice: Stories Proceedings of non-timber resources from forests for from Adivasi Bastar, the Madhu Duniya their livelihood come alive. Part manual Chhattisgarh. This bilingual Workshop held last and part storybook, this publication booklet (English and Halbi) 26-29 November aims to share insights as well as documents legal cases across 2007 in Araku lessons learned by the partners of the adivasi (or tribal) Bastar, Valley, India are now Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange many of which demonstrate available! Limited Programme that are engaged in NTFP how traditionally the Gram copies are available enterprise development. Panchayat, a council of village with the NTFP-EP for This compilation of stories from elders, is suited to deal with partners. To request the range of problems within hard copies, email kf@ NTFP-EP partners reflects their journey the village. Where the adivasi keystone-foundation.org in pursuing strategies for building and person’s crime involves the state or any maintaining sustainable livelihood literate “outsider,” the adivasi has no Indigenous enterprises. Furthermore, the most option but to hire a lawyer to plead his Peoples’ helpful and commonly used tools case, often unaware of the intricacies Community by NTFP-EP partners are presented. of the legal world. It is hoped that this Organizing. These practical methods aim to enable publication encourages more village- The Mangyan local partners to systematically and level institutions to overcome their Experience. professionally design and implement problems without recourse to “outside” As far back as NTFP development strategies using agencies. they can remember, By Arjun Nag and Madhu Ramnath. Mangyan tribes in available resources. 55 pages, paperbound, with full Mindoro have It is hoped that more forest-based color photos. For your copy or more undertaken community organizing communities across Asia will find information, contact: Madhu Ramnath, by themselves. Common sense and the inspiration in this publication to 104 Ganga Compound Kodaikanal – 624 judgement, wisdom and respect for the embark on innovative enterprises using 101 Tamil Nadu, India; Email: madelly@ earth are a few of their principles of the resources sustainably within their gmail.com. Or Arjun Nag, Gandhi Nagar their community organizing – are are locality. Ward Jagdalpur 494001 Bastar District highlighted in the stories of the individual Published by the NTFP-EP. 2008. Chattisgarh, India, Tel: 07782-223541 Mangyan tribes – Tau Buid, Iraya, For queries, please email us at Tadyawan, Bangon, Buhid, Hanunuo, [email protected] Alangan. By the Mangyans of Mindoro with the assistance of Mangyan Mission and COMultiversity. 2007. Email: [email protected] for a copy. threatens to devastate the embattled Sarawak forested landscape. NTFP-EP and partners join Directed by Chi Too & Hilary Chiew, Ketapang Pictures. Released 2008. EDITORIAL BOARD Malaysia Freedom Film Festival Duration: 36m. Aloisa Zamora-Santos, Jenne de Beer, Ma. Cristina Guerrero NTFP-EP’s film “Voices from the Forest For inquiries, please contact: India” along with Gekko Studio’s “The [email protected]. Read more A huge thank you to our CONTRIBUTORS for this issue: Indigenous People of Knasaimos” and about this issue and the campaign to Khou Eang Hourt, TRAFFIC; Heang Sarim, CAN-DO (Cambodia) “What Rainforest?” by Ketapang Pictures Pandurang Hegde, Appiko/Prakruti; Pradeep Chaudhry & restore indigenous rights in Sarawak at Rameshwar Srivastava, Arid Forest Research Institute (India) joined Malaysia’s Freedom Film Festival www.whatrainforest.com Ridzki Sigit, Gekko Studio-Telapak; Wahyu Widhi, Dian Niaga (FFF) in screenings across Malaysia this Jakarta (Indonesia) September. Films were shown under The Indigenous Beng Camba, Nola Andaya, Abi Aguilar, NTFP-TF (Philippines) the theme “Nature, Land Rights and People of Arnie Ocampo, Madhu Ramnath (NTFP-EP) Conservation.” Read on. Knasaimos. DESIGN: Aloisa Zamora-Santos Across Indonesia, What indigenous Your queries, comments and contributions are most welcome! Rainforest? peoples see their Please CONTACT US at: When bulldozers forests converted Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) mowed over into large-scale 92-A Masikap Extension, Barangay Central Diliman, Quezon City 1100 The Philippines the ancestral plantations, or exploited through forest TELEFAX: +63 2 4262757 farmlands of concessions or mining. The Knasaimos EMAIL: [email protected] Kampung Lebor tribe in South Sorong, Papua find URL: www.ntfp.org in Sarawak, Malaysia, Segan Anak strength in their traditional leadership Degon stood his ground and defended and wisdom to defend and protect their The NTFP-EP is a collaborative network of about 40 non- his land. Now, he is the only person out ancestral forests. governmental organisations and community-based organisations in South and Southeast Asia. We work with forest-based of 101 families whose land is left intact Produced by Gekko Studio/Telapak, communities to strengthen their capacity in sustainable and unaffected by the oil palm plantation. 2008. Duration: 16 minutes. management of natural resources. However, Segan is among the rare For inquiries, please email info@ few who managed to halt the feverish gekkovoices.com. Or view this film, Our thank to HIVOS for supporting the publication of Voices. voices from the forest no. 15 onslaught of oil palm advancement that among others at www.gekkovoices.com