March 2002 ISSN 1020-3435 9 An information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products
EDITORIAL CONTENTS
rriving at our ninth issue and looking back over a time span of nine years since 3 SPECIAL FEATURES the first issue of Non-Wood News in 1994 provides us with a unique opportunity ¥ Bushmeat A to reflect on and take stock of the “lessons learned” in preparing this newsletter. - Bushmeat Ð a resource at risk The purpose of Non-Wood News is still as valid now in 2002 as it was in 1994. - The sustainable use of wild species Quoting the Editorial of the first issue: The purpose of Non-Wood News, as an for meat information bulletin, is to provide readers with useful information and insight about the - Bushmeat Crisis Task Force promise that the future holds in the field of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) and the - Hunting in the Taï region, Côte issues to be addressed with regard to their sustainable development. d’Ivoire In view of the numerous contributions and feedback we receive from readers - The Jane Goodall Institute worldwide, we hope that we have indeed contributed to more information sharing on - Trade in bushmeat NWFPs among a wide range of people from different backgrounds and countries. With ¥ Biometrics the increased accessibility to electronic communications, the NWFP-Digest-L was - Design of techniques to assess initiated in 2000 as a monthly e-mail information bulletin to strengthen and contribute non-wood forest products in ACP further to easier information exchange among African countries (EC-FAO project, people interested in the development component 4) of NWFPs. In addition, Non-Wood - Resource assessment of non-wood News also became available online forest products. Experience and through our NWFP Web site, which biometric principles Ð new contains all previous issues of both publication in FAO’s NWFP series Non-Wood News and the NWFP- Digest-L, in order to facilitate 11 NEWS AND NOTES access to the wealth of ¥ Anticonvulsant activity of Indian herb information which has been ¥ Asociación para la conservación de accumulating over these nine years. la cuenca amazónica Regarding the second point of the ¥ Ayurveda purpose of the newsletter, i.e. “... about ¥ Bioprospecting or biopiracy? NON-WOOD NEWS the promise that the future holds in the - Biopirates raid trees field of NWFPs”, there indeed we still - From the jungle to the clinic is compiled by Tina Etherington, Wood and Non-Wood Products Utilization Branch need to work hard to make this “promise” - Brazil sees promise in jungle (FOPW) of the FAO Forest Products Division. a reality for the millions of households plants, but tribes see peril Technical support for this issue was provided worldwide who depend heavily on NWFPs ¥ Ecoport Ð access portal to ecology by Paul Vantomme, Sven Walter and François for their subsistence needs and income. knowledge for natural resource Ndeckere-Ziangba; design, graphics and In response to this challenge, FAO’s managers desktop publishing were coordinated by Tina Etherington. NWFP Programme, which in its early ¥ Equator Initiative seeks nominations stages gave strong emphasis to activities for tropical biodiversity awards Non-Wood News is open to contributions by on raising awareness of the role and ¥ FAOTERM readers. Contributions may be edited to fit the contribution of NWFPs to rural ¥ Field courses in rain forest and appropriate size and focus of the bulletin. development and poverty alleviation, is marine ecology If you have any material that could be included in the next issue of Non-Wood News now giving greater importance to the ¥ Fingerprinting bamboo for the benefit of other readers, kindly send it, activities which contribute directly to the ¥ Fruits for the future before 15 January 2003, to: development of the NWFP sector. Key ¥ Journals and newsletters NON-WOOD NEWS – FOPW actions include the elaboration of - Conservation and Society FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla methodologies for assessing resources - Forest certification newsletter 00100 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] providing NWFPs, statistical data at the - Forest Integrity Network (FIN) www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/nonwood.htm national level for the production and trade newsletter FAO home page: www.fao.org of NWFPs, or further clarification of the - Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants contribution of certification and benefit- - Natural Product Radiance The designations employed and the presentation sharing arrangements to the sustainable - Revista Forestal Centroamericana of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part management of NWFPs, as well as the - Voices from the Forest of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the promotion of selected NWFPs of key ¥ International Doctoral Program for United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal status importance, such as rattan, edible forest Development Studies of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its plants or mushrooms, by identifying major ¥ International Year of Mountains frontiers or boundaries. constraints and actions and projects ¥ Los bosques pueden contribuir al required for enhancing their sustainable alivio de la pobreza and equitable development. ¥ New Forests Project ➧ ➧ 2
EDITORIAL CONTENTS
In the meantime, there have been some ¥ Plant Resources of South-East Asia 58 ECONOOK changes in the staffing of FAO’s NWFP (PROSEA) ¥ Danish ecolabelling campaign forges Programme. Ms Laura Russo has taken ¥ Plant Resources of Tropical Africa ahead up new responsibilities within FAO and is (PROTA) ¥ Se creó la primera área de now dealing with the assessment of the ¥ Potential oilseed trees of Africa conservación privada environmental impact of forest harvesting. ¥ Potential role of non-timber forest ¥ Gorilla-based tourism: a realistic Laura has been with the NWFP group, products in the coping strategies of source of community income in and particularly with Non-Wood News, rural HIV/AIDS-affected households Cameroon? almost since its conception. We want to in sub-Saharan Africa ¥ Kumrose Community Forest, Nepal thank her for her tremendous and much ¥ Scientific Boards Society of ¥ Nature Reserve in Viet Nam: Na appreciated contribution and wish her Research Institute of Forests & Hang dam threatens forests, people every success in her new assignment. At Rangelands and wildlife the same time, we welcome Mr François ¥ Sustainable for Whom? ¥ Forests and conflict Ndeckere-Ziangba who has joined us. ¥ Training programme on leadership François has considerable experience and adaptive management in forest 62 INTERNATIONAL ACTION with a wide range of forestry issues and environments ¥ FAO, Center for Tropical Forest knowledge of NWFPs of Central Africa to ¥ TREES international training courses Science, Convention on Biodiversity, share with us. ¥ Using local knowledge in NWFP IUCN/SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist I would like to take this opportunity to inventory Group, Overseas Development give special thanks to the person who Institute, TRAFFIC, Tropenbos actually makes it all happen, Ms Tina 25 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS International Etherington. Without her dedication and ¥ Agarwood, Bamboo charcoal and many long hours of work in compiling vinegar, Edible insects, Honey, 75 RECENT EVENTS Non-Wood News and the NWFP-Digest, Mushrooms, Rattan we would not even be able to produce 83 FORTHCOMING EVENTS them. 34 COUNTRY COMPASS And, last but not least, all of this would ¥ Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, 88 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST not have been possible if it were not for Canada, Chile, Honduras, India, the many reactions and text contributions Jordan, Kenya, Lao People’s 95 WEB SITES we receive from you, the readers. After all, Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Non-Wood News is made by its readers Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, 98 READERS’ RESPONSE for its readers. Again our sincere thanks Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, go to all of you. Russian Federation, Somalia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Paul Vantomme United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe
Non-wood forest products (NWFP) are goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests. Non-timber forest products (NTFP), another term frequently used to cover this vast array of animal and plant products, also includes small wood and fuelwood. However, these two terms are used synonymously throughout this bulletin. Other terms, such as “minor”, “secondary” or “speciality” forest products, are sometimes used to keep original names and/or titles.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 3 SPECIAL FEATURES
growing commercial market in the cities is explains, “so nobody feels they own the BUSHMEAT driving the trade Ð and this urban fashion forest, and wildlife is considered ‘fair for bushmeat feeds off rural poverty. game’ to the person who gets there first Commercial trade in wild animals Basically, a rich man hands out guns and or can pay the biggest bribe.” threatens species and deprives poor a few pennies to the locals, and then goes communities of food. back to the city with a fortune in meat.” Hunting sustainability Other forest products and activities that Bushmeat is a huge industry, but many Bushmeat – a resource at risk generate revenue are also threatened by developing countries lack the capacity to The next time you go to a restaurant in the booming and illegal bushmeat trade. collect taxes or enforce hunting Africa and bushmeat is on the menu, These include animal parts used for regulations, and bribery of poorly paid think before you eat. The chances are medicinal and ritual purposes, local and national officials is a problem. that the animal on your plate is the victim photographic safaris and trophy hunting Ð Moreover, wildlife protection has generally of commercial hunters, whose activities the backbone of eastern and southern consisted of punitive and selective laws are robbing African communities of Africa’s multimillion dollar tourism industry. aimed at protecting a few charismatic important natural resources and the world Statistics on the bushmeat trade are animal species while ignoring the needs of irreplaceable biodiversity. hard to come by because it is usually of surrounding human populations. “Along with habitat loss, the commercial illegal, and reports are informal or Attitudes have changed in the last two bushmeat trade is probably the biggest misleading. But an FAO report written in decades, and FAO is helping to promote threat to wildlife in Africa,” says Douglas 1997 cites figures of more than 1.2 million dialogue among organizations working in Williamson, an FAO wildlife expert. tonnes of bushmeat (excluding environmental conservation, commercial Bushmeat is the meat of animals who live elephants) harvested in just one month in use of forest resources and rural in forests, from gorillas to rodents. Nigeria. And a 2001 survey of eastern development. FAO cohosted a bushmeat The devastating impact of the and southern Africa by TRAFFIC, an workshop last September in Cameroon bushmeat trade is global, but Africa’s organization that monitors the wildlife and is working with other United Nations paradox is that the continent contains trade, reveals a widespread unregulated agencies and conservation organizations both the world’s highest levels of food slaughter by commercial hunters. to implement a major project in West insecurity and some of its richest and Increasing demand and declining Africa that designates forests as World most vulnerable biodiversity. In the wildlife have given rise to unsustainable Heritage sites Ð areas of irreplaceable continent’s marginal environments, what hunting. “Peak hunting periods coincide value needing international protection Ð threatens wildlife also threatens the food with the dry season when vegetation is and encourages community management security of people. Commercial hunting less dense, which makes the hunting of wildlife. And this, according to Mr deprives local populations of crucial food. easier,” explains Mr Williamson. “In one Williamson, is the key to the bushmeat Emotive images of dead gorillas have incident in Mozambique, commercial crisis. “Without community management highlighted the situation in West Africa, hunters shot more in one night than the of forest resources, the threat to wildlife where forests already depleted by whole village ate in a year. But the will grow. If communities are the main logging contain fewer species of larger commercial hunters don’t care – they beneficiaries of the resources, they will mammals than do savannah regions. But don’t live there.” And that, he says, is the have an incentive to manage them well.” wildlife across the continent is under root cause of the rise in the bushmeat (Source: www.fao.org/news/2002/020203 threat. “The death of what trade. “Traditional community wildlife -e.htm) conservationists call ‘charismatic’ animals management mechanisms have been attracts publicity,” says Mr Williamson. replaced by state responsibility,” he For more information, please contact: “But increasing demand for bushmeat Mr Douglas Williamson, Forestry Officer and declining wildlife populations mean (Wildlife and Protected Areas), FORC, that smaller species are targeted as well.” Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle Natural fauna have important ecological Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. roles in forest ecosystems Ð some tree Fax: +39 0657055137; seeds, for example, will not germinate e-mail: [email protected] unless they pass through the digestive Species No. 34 - 2000 tract of elephants. Therefore, the extinction The sustainable use of wild species for meat of indigenous species can change The countries with the richest and most ecosystems in unpredictable ways. diverse levels of biodiversity also have the “Rural communities depend on highest levels of human poverty and food bushmeat because domestic meat is too insecurity. The utilization of wild meat is expensive,” says Mr Williamson. “But the part of this overall dilemma and solutions
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 4 SPECIAL FEATURES
to overexploitation of biodiversity will partners and stakeholders in addressing Africans are currently met by bushmeat require finding ways of addressing human the bushmeat issue; and d) promote and, if the forests are emptied of their needs and promoting a more equitable collaborative decision-making, wildlife, then what will become of the and ethical sharing of global resources. fund-raising and actions among the people?” In recognition of the need to bring members and associates of BCTF. together the conservation and According to BCTF, bushmeat has For more information, please contact: development communities as partners in become the most immediate threat to the Heather E. Eves, Director, preparing and implementing the actions future of wildlife populations in Africa. Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, needed to address the issue effectively, Animals commonly used as bushmeat 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710, and in response to the World Conservation include elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314, USA. Congress Resolution 2.64, the World and other primates, forest antelopes or Fax: +1 301 5620888; Conservation Union (IUCN), FAO and duikers, crocodiles, porcupines, bush e-mail: [email protected]; Trade Records Analysis of Flora and pigs, cane rats, pangolins, monitor lizards www.bushmeat.org; Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) and guinea fowl. Many animal species http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2001/2001 organized a workshop from 17 to 20 are being hunted at a rate that outpaces L-05-22-06.html September 2001 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. their ability to reproduce and replenish The workshop was attended by 47 their populations. participants representing 18 organizations. The primary goals identified by BCTF Participants agreed that activities are the general education of key should focus on three areas: a holistic international decision-makers about the approach including improved intersectoral problems of wildlife poaching. The group cooperation; improved management of also supports its members’ efforts in the wild meat resources; and effective areas of public education, proposal incentives for sustainable use of natural development, catalysing local action, resources. Under each of these themes, disseminating information and archiving. specific activities were defined and, where In its new plan, the group details possible, implementation plans were specific long- and short-term actions to developed. take place in both the United States and The Cameroon workshop communiqué Africa. Short-term actions include forming is available from the IUCN Web site hunter and market seller trade Hunting in the Taï region, Côte d’Ivoire (www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/wild associations; building the physical and Game is an important food resource in meat3.html). (Source: Species, No. 36.) technical capacity to control trade routes; West Africa, but in Côte d’Ivoire hunting is brokering linkages among non- forbidden. Hans Ulrich Caspary and his government organizations, governments colleagues argue that only the regulated and private industry; public outreach and reopening of hunting will reduce poaching raising awareness; and developing in protected areas. Sustainable wildlife economic and protein alternatives to management is urgently needed. wildlife hunting. Long-term actions Poaching is a typical phenomenon include new wildlife management policy throughout Côte d’Ivoire and the Taï development, sustainable financing for region, at the border with Liberia, is no Bushmeat Crisis Task Force conservation activities, public education, exception. The influx of migrants has The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force (BCTF), and protected area management and increased the pressure on land and the founded in 1999, is a consortium of monitoring. Specific steps included in the marginalized farmers need access to conservation organizations and scientists plan are assisting in the development of game resources for their animal proteins dedicated to the conservation of wildlife national wildlife policies, addressing and to supplement their income. The populations threatened by the issues related to food security and illegality of hunting means, however, that commercial hunting of wildlife for sale as poverty reduction, and strengthening the marketing of bushmeat does not meat. BCTF’s primary goals are to: existing wildlife protection measures. generate any income for the state, while a) work with the general members of Dr Michael Hutchins, chair of the BCTF the local population has no say in wildlife BCTF to focus attention on the bushmeat Steering Committee, stated that this management. These problems could be crisis in Africa; b) establish a database unmanaged and unsustainable hunting solved under a new sustainable game and mechanisms for sharing information has the potential to result in a human management strategy. To support such a regarding the bushmeat issue; tragedy of immense proportions. “Some strategy, a study was carried out under the c) facilitate the engagement of African 60 percent of the protein needs of rural Tropenbos Côte d’Ivoire Programme in
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 5 SPECIAL FEATURES
1998-1999 to shed light on different forms subsistence hunters, 2 200 semi- professional hunters. The yearly game of hunting and the various links in the professional and 220 professional takeoff by the subsistence hunters, who bushmeat supply chain in the Taï region. hunters. In the periphery of the park there operate principally in the peripheral The results showed that in the Taï are about 20 000 subsistence hunters, zones of the park, is estimated to be region there are about 73 000 600 semi-professional and 60 between 1 500 and 3 000 tonnes and is valued at US$1.5 to $3 million. The hunters’ catch, mainly rodents and other small game, reflects the impoverished RELATED LINKS: DOCUMENTS AND NEWS ARTICLES range of wildlife. The professional hunters’ takeoff, working in the park itself, Defining the way forward for more community-based management of forests is estimated at between 56 and 720 www.fao.org/waicent/ois/press_ne/english/2002/2680-en.html tonnes (valued at US$43 000 to $920 000). Monkeys and Bovidae FAO warns of “bushmeat crisis” caused by excessive hunting of wild animals dominate the hunting catch. for food Hunting in the Taï region is highly www.fao.org/waicent/ois/press_ne/presseng/2001/pren0114.htm destructive. In order to preserve the unique biodiversity of this and other International experts discuss options for combating illegal forest practices regions, sustainable wildlife management www.fao.org/waicent/ois/press_ne/english/2002/2240-en.html models need to be developed. These models should combine protection and Wildlife and food security in Africa (FAO Conservation Guide No. 33) utilization and be applied in close www.fao.org/docrep/w7540e/w7540e00.htm collaboration with all parties concerned. (Source: H.-U. Caspary, I. Koné, C. Prouot Wildlife management for rural development in sub-Saharan Africa and M. de Pauw. 2001. La chasse et la www.fao.org/docrep/t8850E/t8850e03.htm#TopOfPage filière viande de brousse dans l’espace Taï, Côte d’Ivoire. Tropenbos Côte d’Ivoire Conserving World Heritage Forests in Africa Series 2. Tropenbos International, www.unfoundation.org/grants/9_14_conserving_world_heritage_forests_in_africa.asp Wageningen, the Netherlands. ISBN 90- 5113-148-1. Price: e20.) Conservation, food security and the use of wild species for meat www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/wildmeat.html For more information, please contact: The Tropenbos Foundation, Creating a revolving fund for wildlife in Zambia PO Box 232, 6700 AE Wageningen, http://biodiversityeconomics.org/incentives/topics-303-41.htm the Netherlands. Fax: +31 317 495520; Food for thought Ð the utilization and trade of wild meat in eastern and southern e-mail: [email protected]; Africa www.tropenbos.nl www.traffic.org/bushmeat/
Hunting of wildlife in tropical forests Hunting for wild meat in tropical forests, especially with increasing commercialization, is both extirpating many species of mammals and birds and destroying a critical resource base for forest-dwelling people.This report describes the extent of the crisis, and summarizes its implications for biodiversity conservation and the well-being of tropical forest peoples. Recommendations are made on institutional ways to control the trade and economic mechanisms to reduce demand. http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/essd/essd.nsf/f308a5a687dbdec8852567eb00658cb 7/2660fd7345e87cff8525696900550ac1?OpenDocument
National Geographic story:“Bush meat” crisis needs urgent action http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0522_bushmeat.html
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 6 SPECIAL FEATURES
The Jane Goodall Institute For more information, please contact: African forests teemed with wildlife at the Christina M. Ellis, Director of Africa RELATED LINKS: WEB SITES turn of the nineteenth century. Compare Programs, The Jane Goodall Institute, that with the African forests of today. PO Box 14890, Silver Spring, FAO News & Highlights archive Recent figures indicate that fewer than MD 20911-4890, USA. www.fao.org/News/new02-e.htm 150 000 chimpanzees Ð our closest living Fax: +1 301 5653188; relatives in the animal kingdom Ð remain in e-mail: [email protected]; FAO Forestry home page the African wilderness, where one to two www.janegoodall.org www.fao.org/forestry/ million lived in the year 1900. The most recent crisis to have evolved CAMPFIRE is one that threatens not only Since 1975, Zimbabwe has allowed chimpanzees, but also other great apes private property holders to claim and species of flora and fauna in the ownership of wildlife on their land and African forests. As logging roads are cut to benefit from its use. Under into previously unreachable areas, the CAMPFIRE, people living on hunting of wildlife for bushmeat Ð once a Zimbabwe’s impoverished communal practice supporting forest peoples Ð has lands, which represent 42 percent of become commercial, catering to the the country’s land area, claim the same cultural preference of many urban dwellers rights of proprietorship. Conceptually, for the meat of wild animals and also CAMPFIRE includes all natural supplies the logging camps with food. How resources, but its focus has been on serious is the problem? The commercial wildlife management in communal hunting of bushmeat could well lead to the areas, particularly those adjacent to loss of several species, including national parks, where people and chimpanzees, gorillas and elephants. animals compete for scarce resources. Along with an array of other groups and Since its official inception in 1989, individuals around the world, the Jane CAMPFIRE has engaged more than a Goodall Institute Ð and Dr Goodall herself quarter of a million people in the Ð is addressing this crisis. Dr Goodall practice of managing wildlife and continues to educate the public in North reaping the benefits of using wild America, Europe, Africa and the Far East lands. www.campfire-zimbabwe.org/ about the horrors of the commercial bushmeat trade and its potential Convention on International Trade in consequences. Through continuing efforts, Endangered Species of Wild Fauna the institute has begun a Congo Basin “Do we really care that within 15 years and Flora (CITES) - www.cites.org Project to explore ways in which we can there may be no chimpanzees or make a difference on the ground, gorillas or elephants, or any other IUCN Ð World Conservation Union promoting alternative patterns of economic amazing beings, roaming the forests www.iucn.org development that would benefit both of the Congo Basin and other parts of people and wildlife. The Congo Basin Central and West Africa. Does it IUCN Species Survival Commission Project is striving to eliminate the illegal matter? www.iucn.org/themes/ssc commercial bushmeat trade in That is something everyone must ask endangered species, and regulate the in his or her own heart. We are not The Bushmeat project legal trade, as part of an integrated asking for charity to help save the http://bushmeat.net/ approach towards sustainable forest wildlife Ð and ultimately the people Ð resource management with the of African forests. We are asking for a TRAFFIC participation of the forestry industry, collective investment in the future, The wildlife trade arm of the World governments and local communities. Our and in a legacy that we can be proud Wide Fund for Nature and the World proposed programmes are increasingly of. We do not have much time left. We Conservation Union - www.traffic.org focusing on the role of community must act now.” stakeholders, and especially women, in World Conservation Monitoring Centre the commercial bushmeat trade, in order Dr Jane Goodall www.wcmc.org.uk to provide local populations with the opportunity and ability to live sustainably.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 7 SPECIAL FEATURES
Trade in bushmeat United Kingdom and the Bushmeat Crisis assessments at all levels of forest use for Wildlife throughout Africa, South America Task Force in the United States, have NWFPs, and to provide guidance on the and Asia is threatened not only by habitat also focused attention on this subject. design and selection of appropriate destruction, but also by hunting for the Law enforcement agencies are now methods for resource quantification in live animal trade, for food, skins, more aware of the possibility of wild meat different situations and for different medicine and other products. The focus being imported from Africa, and are faced products, a publication was prepared, on the trade in wild meat (also referred to with the challenge of trying to identify Resource assessment of non-wood forest as bushmeat) has been increasing in species offered for sale from the animal products. Experience and biometric recent years. The trade is primarily on a parts or whole animal carcasses. (Source: principles, in which a review and analysis local to national scale, with the majority of TRAFFIC Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 1 [2001].) of the wide range of approaches used meat being consumed within the country [Please see under International Action Ð and developed to date to measure NWFP of capture, although a small percentage Convention on Biodiversity Ð for more resources was made. However, the does cross national borders. By information on bushmeat.] methodology proposed still needs to be comparison, the level of wild meat trade tested and fine-tuned to specific NWFP in African species found outside Africa is types, such as for assessing fruits, barks, far less significant. However, as ethnic BIOMETRICS lianas, roots, etc. The EC-FAO project African populations outside Africa aims to produce tools for inventory of continue to grow, so too does the The last decade has witnessed a steep NWFPs. demand for wild meat and this has increase in interest and activities [Please see the following articles for more resulted in wild meat being imported into concerning NWFPs. The current interest information on the publication and the EC-FAO European countries. It has been found on in NWFPs among conservationists, project.] sale in outlets in Brussels, Paris and foresters, development workers and London, as well as at points of import in indigenous peoples’ groups has Spain and the United Kingdom. prompted numerous initiatives aimed at promoting NWFP use and commercialization as a means of On 15 June 2001, in the first conviction improving the well-being of rural in the United Kingdom for offences populations and, at the same time, relating to the smuggling of wild meat, conserving existing forests. the two proprietors of a shop in London, These initiatives are rarely linked to which offered wild meat for sale, were studies on the sustainable exploitation of each sentenced to four months’ the products that are promoted, and no imprisonment for illegally importing and accurate information is available on the Design of techniques to assess non-wood selling CITES specimens, some in the resource abundance, distribution and forest products in ACP African countries form of wild meat. All the species reproductive biology, which is necessary (EC-FAO project, component 4) involved are listed in CITES Appendix II for the determination of the biologically Non-wood forest products make important (EU Annex B) and, as such, their sustainable harvest levels of a product. contributions to livelihoods in Africa, importation into the European Union Although there is often considerable especially for people living in poor rural requires an import permit. indigenous knowledge for specific areas. These contributions encompass NWFPs, formal resource assessment of edible foods, medicines and income NWFPs, especially in tropical countries, generation. In addition, such NWFPs also As awareness of the wild meat trade is relatively new and has received little provide various food products for local has grown, governments as well as attention to date. The multitude and markets and raw material for local conservation organizations have taken up variety of NWFPs, the multiplicity of industries creating local employment. this issue. Wild meat was on the CITES interests and disciplines involved in Because of the increasing demand, these agenda at the meeting of the Conference NWFP assessment, the organizational products need to be sustainably managed of the Parties in 2000 and resulted in the and financial constraints, the lack of otherwise they will disappear. The lack of formation of the Bushmeat Working globally, or even nationally, recognized sound knowledge on the distribution in Group. This trade is a key focus of the common terminology and units of the forests, on the abundance and on the programme of Trade Records Analysis of measurement all contribute to make the yield growth dynamics of the NWFP Flora and Fauna in Commerce assessment of NWFPs, and of the resources constitutes a real uncertainty (TRAFFIC). In addition, a number of other resources providing them, a difficult task. for their wise management. These non-governmental organizations (NGOs), To raise awareness of the importance resources, therefore, are constantly under chiefly through the Ape Alliance in the of accurate and precise resource threat, preventing people from managing
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 8 SPECIAL FEATURES
them sustainably. The intention for with European Commission financial Expert Consultation, English-speaking designing component 4 of the EC-FAO support hopes to elaborate guidelines so African countries project GCP/INT/679/EC (Data that people in ACP African countries An expert consultation was held in Lusaka, Collection for Sustainable Forest henceforth benefit from the management Zambia from 15 to 17 October 2001 in Management in ACP Countries Ð Linking and utilization of the NWFP resources which 14 experts from nine countries National and International Efforts) is occurring in natural forests. participated. The meeting objectives were: specifically to provide a response to this The main project objective is to ¥ review and amendment of draft problem through the development of develop practical NWFP inventory inventory guidelines to improve the practical inventory guidelines and tools guidelines that include biometric rigour methodological approach suggested to assess NWFP resources. National and test protocols, taking into account for the final document; forest services, NGOs and local people the different specific life forms and ¥ identification of main problems in ACP African countries will also use occurrence period of the product. underpinning progress in the this to design policy and to manage The expected outputs of component 4 development of NWFP resource sustainably their forests providing of this project are to: assessment; NWFPs. Without such assistance, these ¥ hold an international expert ¥ verification through field tests of three populations are unable to benefit fully consultation on NWFP resource specific NWFP life forms of inventory from the NWFP resources in the forest assessment and produce draft NWFP protocols for the elaboration of the final areas near their homes. resource assessment guidelines; guidelines; In the project design, a two-way traffic ¥ review and evaluate at the broad level ¥ development of partnerships within the for the exchange and provision of and compile current work on NWFP region for collaboration on NWFP practical knowledge was recognized as resource assessment in African ACP issues. an important means for the identification countries; As a follow-up to the Lusaka meeting, of major problems facing the assessment ¥ test draft NWFP resource assessment the development of three case studies of NWFP resources. A lack of reliable guidelines in the ACP African subregion testing draft NWFP inventory protocols on data prevents the setting up of priorities through case studies on selected three different products was for the design of an appropriate NWFP products; recommended. National experts were resource assessment policy or NWFP ¥ produce final NWFP resource selected to carry out these case studies management device that better suits the assessment practical tools and hold a in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia and work is needs and work conditions of people in workshop to discuss the results of case already under way. The three case study ACP African countries. By the end of studies and review implementation of reports and the final report of the expert 2002, the FAO Forest Products Division newly developed guidelines. meeting will be completed by mid-2002.
CASE STUDIES forest and enumerate the size, species Case study No. 3. The aim is to develop and productivity of the collection sites. methods for estimating average The following three case studies are Case study No. 2. The purpose is to densities and fruit yields of baobab being carried out to field-test the draft compare inventory techniques for trees. An inventory will be made of protocols developed for inclusion in single product versus multiple baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) the final document of NWFP inventory products for selected NWFPs. An density and fruit yields of individual guidelines. inventory will be made for six species trees to enable resource planning of Case study No. 1. The purpose is to (Uapaca kirkiana, Anisophyllea the trees’ fruit production. Suitable and test the hypothesis that local boehmii, Parinari curatelifolia, appropriate resource inventory knowledge can be used as a basis for Strychnos cocculoides, Rhynchosia techniques for NWFPs to estimate biometric quantification of seasonal insignis and Satyria siva) in Mwekera plant densities (combination of local wild mushroom production.The site National Forest, Zambia.The first knowledge and known adaptive selected for the study is the Perekezi inventory will use systematic sampling clumped sampling as assessment Forest Reserve in the Mzimba District and enumerate all species.Then three methods) will be identified and of Malawi.The study will be closely to six other inventories will be selected. During the fieldwork, non- carried out with local mushroom undertaken depending on the conventional forestry sampling collectors.The study team will characteristics of the species found in methods will also be used for the accompany the collectors into the the study sites. quantification of fruit yield per tree.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 9 SPECIAL FEATURES
¥ contribuer à l’amélioration de l’avant- experts pour faciliter les échanges projet sur les guides d’inventaire des d’expérience et de connaissance sur PFNL en cours d’élaboration; et ce nouveau secteur émergent qui est ¥ partager des expériences personnelles celui des inventaires des produits et institutionnelles sur les inventaires forestiers non ligneux. des PFNL. La rencontre de Yaoundé a été un véritable succès au regard des objectifs Les objectifs généraux qui sont atteints, notamment la Développer des guides pratiques pour participation massive des experts dont le l’évaluation des ressources des PFNL nombre atteignait le double de ce qui afin de contribuer à une gestion soutenue était initialement prévu (30 personnes au des forêts dans les pays ACP d’Afrique. lieu de 15) et, surtout, de la médiation de l’événement par les moyens de Objectifs spécifiques communications mobilisées par les La réunion de consultation avec les autorités locales. Taiga-news - No. 36 2001 Taiga-news experts des pays ACP francophones Consultation d’experts, d’Afrique visait les objectifs spécifiques Pour plus de détails, veuillez contacter: pays francophones d’Afrique suivants: François Ndeckere-Ziangba, Une consultation d’experts de pays ACP ¥ Informer les experts sur les objectifs du Programme PFNL de la FAO. francophones d’Afrique sur l’évaluation projet GCP/RAF/354/EC et présenter Mél.: [email protected] des ressources des PFNL s’est tenue du les résultats de la revue littéraire sur les 12 au 15 février 2002 à Yaoundé, méthodes courantes ainsi que Cameroun. Les co-organisateurs de la l’approche proposée pour le réunion étaient la Division des produits développement des guides d’inventaire forestiers de la FAO, le Bureau de la des produits forestiers non ligneux y FAO au Cameroun, le Ministère de compris les documents techniques l’environnement et des forêts et le préparés à cet effet. Centre pour la recherche forestière ¥ Revoir et modifier l’ébauche des guides internationale (CIFOR). pratiques d’inventaire des produits Le but de la Composante n¡ 4 du forestiers non ligneux et améliorer si programme de l’Union européenne sur possible l’approche méthodologique les produits forestiers non-ligneux (PFNL) proposée pour la conception des est de contribuer au soutien de la gestion guides plus appropriées pour durable des forêts, dans les pays ACP l’inventaire de telles ressources. d’Afrique. Le développement des guides ¥ Identifier des problèmes se posant lors pratiques d’inventaire des PFNL ainsi que de la conception des guides le suivi du test d’expérimentation de ceux- d’inventaire des produits forestiers non ci constitueront l’essentiel de cette ligneux et suggérer des solutions contribution. potentielles pour résoudre ces Resource assessment of non-wood forest Le but de tels guides est de permettre problèmes. products. Experience and biometric aux administrations nationales des forêts ¥ Valider les résultats des travaux de principles – new publication in FAO’s et d’autres dépositaires appropriés Lusaka sur les sujets thématiques tels NWFP series d’améliorer et d’assurer un suivi régulier que les clés scientifiques, les idées A new publication in FAO’s NWFP series des ressources fournissant les PFNL, directrices pour la conduite des études is intended as reference material for ainsi qu’un développement soutenable de cas pour le test des protocoles et les practitioners considering inventory of des régimes de récoltes de ces produits, grandes lignes du format de NWFP resources. Through review and notamment en faveur des communautés présentation du document final des analysis of experience it provides an locales. guides. overview of biometric issues in the En parallèle avec d’autres projets, ¥ Identifier quatre produits dans des pays design of NWFP inventory in the deux réunions d’experts ont été différents pour le test sur les problèmes following areas: planifiées en vue de: prioritaires relatifs à l’application et la ¥ a description of the range of ¥ revoir les méthodes courantes utilisées fiabilité des protocoles d’inventaire approaches used and developed to pour l’élaboration des guides proposés par la consultante de la FAO. date and their biometric adequacy; d’inventaire; ¥ Enfin créer un partenariat entre les and
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 10 SPECIAL FEATURES
ÉTUDES DE CAS garantissant la pérennité de la ressource. Les quatre études de cas ci-dessous Étude de cas n° 3. Développement ont été proposées pour le test d’une méthode pour la récolte des souplesse et de flexibilité sur le terrain lianes (Gnetum sp.) en vue d’assurer des protocoles d’inventaire des PFNL une gestion durable de ce produit. Le avant d’être inclus dans le document consultant chargé de mener l’étude final des guides d’inventaire des veillera à développer une méthode de PFNL. Pour réaliser le programme de quantification de la ressource et la l’étude, le consultant devra se servir tester sur le terrain en vue de sa du document de protocole d’inventaire validation pour assurer une gestion élaboré dans le cadre de la préparation durable du produit dans la région du des guides d’inventaire des PFNL bassin du Congo. Cette étude sera d’une part et, d’autre part, la notice sur réalisée dans la Forêt de Ngotto en les idées suggérées par la Réunion de République centrafricaine. Combretum micranthum consultation des experts de Yaoundé. Étude de cas n° 4. Techniques de Étude de cas n° 1. Estimation de la Étude de cas n° 2. Estimation de la quantification des exsudats et plus quantité des feuilles de Combretum quantité des écorces de Pausynlara précisément de la gomme de Sterculia micranthum disponible pour le yohimbe. Ainsi l’étude visera à setigera. L’objet de l’étude sera de prélèvement. Le but de l’étude, qui développer des techniques de déterminer la production saisonnière sera réalisée au Bénin, est de quantification de l’écorce du Yohimbé en gomme dans une parcelle quantifier la masse foliaire des feuilles au niveau des tiges et des branches de inventoriée (à partir du nombre de par unité de surface et hauteur la ressource et comparer la pieds disponibles par chasse de moyenne par la méthode productivité de celles-ci avec du fût diamètre). Les conclusions de cette d’échantillonnage aléatoire à surface (tronc). Cette étude, qui sera réalisée étude, qui sera menée au Tchad, fixe carrée de 1 000 m2 (31,62x31,62 m) au Cameroun, permettra de déterminer permettront de proposer une approche sans compromettre à la survie de la la quantité optimale de produit à pour la gestion soutenable de cette ressource. prélever sur une tige tout en ressource.
¥ a suggested method for selecting (ETFRN) and FAO. The workshop For more information, please contact: appropriate biometric methods for endorsed the findings of the review and François Ndeckere-Ziangba, resource quantification in different provided the impetus for the publication FAO NWFP Programme. situations and for different products. of this paper. E-mail: [email protected] This publication will be of most interest Jennifer Wong wrote the review paper to people with some previous knowledge and the final draft of the publication was of the basics of inventory. It is based on prepared by Jennifer Wong, Kirsti the outputs of Forest Research Thornber and Nell Baker. FAO undertook Programme (FRP) pre-project ZF0077 the publishing in its Non-Wood Forest (of the United Kingdom Department for Products series, within the framework of International Development [DFID]) on the a current partnership programme with biometrics of current NWFP resource the European Commission aimed at assessment methods. This project developing methodologies for NWFP organized a workshop which brought assessment. together a range of people interested in The publication has been translated NWFP assessment to discuss the need into French and Spanish and is for quantitative assessments and to accompanied by a trilingual CD-ROM. decide on priority research themes. The Copies of all three versions can be workshop was held in Rome in May purchased from FAO’s Sales and 2000 and was hosted by the European Marketing Group (publications- Tropical Forest Research Network [email protected]).
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 11 NEWS AND NOTES
aprovechamiento de la castaña dentro ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA del bosque, así como el mejoramiento de “Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) CONSERVACIÓN DE LA los sistemas de transporte, recolección y consist of goods of biological origin CUENCA AMAZÓNICA almacenamiento destinados a minimizar other than wood, derived from los costos de producción y mejorar la forests, other wooded land and trees FLa Asociación para la Conservación de calidad del producto. outside forests.” la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA), a través de su proyecto ÇConservando Para más información, dirigirse a: "Les produits forestiers non ligneux castañales», viene trabajando desde Mónica Romo, Directora de Proyecto, sont des biens d’origine biologique 1997 en el desarrollo del manejo de Asociación para la Conservación autres que le bois, dérivés des forêts, bosques de castaña en Madre de Dios, de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA), des autres terres boisées, et des Perú, y ha generando resultados de Calle Cuzco N¡ 499, Puerto Maldonado, arbres hors forêts." investigación básica y aplicada así como Madre de Dios, Perú. políticas para promover la conservación Fax: +51 84 573227; "Productos forestales no madereros de los bosques de castaña a través del correo electrónico: son los bienes de origen biológico manejo sostenible de los mismos. [email protected] distintos de la madera derivados de [Véase mayor información en la sección los bosques, de otras tierras Publications of Interest.] boscosas y de los árboles fuera de los bosques." (FAO’s working definition) AYURVEDA
The Ayurvedic healing system has its origins in India and has been practised ANTICONVULSANT for thousands of years. The final goal is ACTIVITY OF INDIAN HERB perfect health. The system uses careful application of natural healing methods, e.g. herbs, minerals, healthy nutrition, etc. Manejando bien tu castañal Demand for Ayurvedic medicines on rise If Nepal utilizes its abundant potential in ÇManejando bien tu castañalÈ y Ayurvedic science, considerable foreign ÇMejoramiento del sistema de cosecha currency could be earned by selling de castaña (Betholletia excelsa) en Ayurvedic medicines abroad. Moreover, it Madre de Dios y sus impactos en la would also help replace the huge amount
Rubia cordifolia economía del productor castañeroÈ son of allopathic medicines the country frutos del programa ÇMejoramiento de imports each year. Scientists from Nagpur University, India, sistemas de cosecha de castaña en According to a survey conducted by have found that the compound triterpene Madre de DiosÈ, un componente del the Industrial Information Centre (ICC), extracted from Rubia cordifolia, a proyecto «Conservando castañales», Nepal imports NRs 7 billion worth of climbing herb that grows extensively in dedicado a la implementación, difusión y allopathic medicines each year. Of this, the Himalayas and the northwestern hills capacitación del manejo forestal en los up to 25 percent is spent on importing of India, possesses considerable bosques castañeros. El proyecto ha sido Ayurvedic medicines. anticonvulsant activity. The team ejecutado por ACCA en consorcio con la The people practising Ayurvedic collected dried roots and rhizomes of Asociación de Extractivistas de Castaña science see plenty of opportunities to Rubia, prepared an extract in acetone, de Madre de Dios (ASECAM) y el develop this as a major source for and fractionated triterpene crystals out Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales earning foreign currency. In view of its from it. The scientists reported the details (INRENA), y ha recibido el apoyo geography, Nepal could be a centre for of their procedures in the Indian Journal financiero de la Agencia para el unique Ayurvedic treatment, if the of Experimental Biology and said that the Desarrollo Internacional de los Estados methods of treatment are modernized. triterpene crystals produced an Unidos (USAID) a través de su Ram Narayan Shah, Managing Director antidepressant effect on the central programa de donaciones BIOFOR. at Singhadurbar Vaidya Khana, says that nervous system. (Source: MFP News, Estos manuales recogen algunas the demand for Ayurvedic medicines is on Vol. XI, No. 4 [October-December 2001].) experiencias de manejo en el the rise owing to the low risks or the
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 12 NEWS AND NOTES
absence of any side effects and their bioprospecting. Just as treasure hunters easy availability. Shah considers that the in the past panned silt on the beds of production of herbal medicines is not What is equivalent to the biodiversity streams in search of gold, so enough to fulfil internal demand. Although here, to the things that surround us, bioprospectors sift through living matter in the traditional medical practitioner or is my life. If you took these things search of equally lucrative commodities. Vaidya and Ayurvedic doctor or Kaviraj away, it would be like taking part of The most lucrative area of prescribe herbal medicines produced in my life, and then my survival would biosprospecting is in pharmaceuticals, the country, they have no other option be questionable. and it is here too that the most pointed than to sell medicines imported from (Pera, Bakalaharil tribe, Botswana) ethical questions are being raised. across the border. According to ICC, (Source: Biodiversity Ð a crucial issue To growing numbers of people, in many herbal medicines (such as Chiraito, for the world’s poor. DFID, UK. ISBN Sarawak and around the world, much of Amala, Pachaunle, Jatamashi, Harro and 1-86192-341-4.) what passes for scientific research is Pakhanbet) are exported to India and the actually an act of biological copyright finished products are re-imported into infringement perpetrated upon native Nepal. If Nepal could do the processing, it people Ð not so much bioprospecting as could boost the country’s economy. BIOPROSPECTING biopiracy. The issues are legally, ethically Shah admits that there is a need for OR BIOPIRACY? and politically complex, and in Sarawak research into the processing of they are being debated fiercely. Ayurvedic medicines. The Singhadurbar Biopirates raid trees The vast mass of the earth’s most Vaidya Khana is the biggest Ayurvedic The bintangor tree, which grows in biologically diverse material is found in manufacturer in the country and swampy ground in the Malaysian part of developing countries Ð above all in tropical produces medicines amounting to Borneo, may have its uses. But it certainly rain forests along the equatorial belt of the roughly NRs 12.5 million each year. does not look as if it is worth about Amazon, central Africa and Southeast In the Ninth Five-year Plan (2054- US$360 million. It looks like what it is Ð a Asia. But, ironically, the scientific expertise 2059), the government has accorded rubber tree that grows to a height of about necessary to exploit it is overwhelmingly due priority to promote Ayurved in the 10 m, with a diameter of 12.5 cm and long found in the developed world. country. In the upcoming Tenth Five-year waxy leaves. In the 1980s Ð when Calanolide A was Plan (2059-2063), the government is in The native Dyak people, who still live in discovered by a pharmacologist working the process of giving extra emphasis to the jungle in the Malaysian state of for the United States National Cancer the development of Ayurved. Sarawak, know that the poisonous latex Institute Ð scientists were free to come A regional summit at the South Asian that oozes from it can be used for stunning and go. Then, in 1993, the international Association for Regional Cooperation fish, and that a poultice made from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (SAARC) level on Ayurved was held in bark will ease headaches and skin rashes. came into effect. The convention, which Nepal in 1991. The summit had prepared But even after an American scientist has been adopted by 179 countries Ð the a framework to prepare a common turned up and took away samples, none of United States being the most striking non- agenda for the development of Ayurvedic the Dyaks realized what vast potential signatory Ð recognizes the sovereign right science. However, so far nothing has riches the tree contains. of each country to regulate the use of its been done. An independent survey has But, if tests carried out in the United own biological resources. It is on this basis shown that the demand for Nepalese States are to be believed, the humble that the state government of Sarawak Ayurvedic medicines in Europe and the bintangor contains buried treasure: a founded the Sarawak Biodiversity Council United States is also on the rise. treatment for HIV and AIDS. Clinical trials (SBC) to monitor and license (Source: Extracted from The Rising show that a drug called Calanolide A, bioprospectors and stamp out biopirates. Nepal, 23 December 2001, quoted in originally extracted from the tree’s latex, In the two and half years of its
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 13 NEWS AND NOTES
joint venture with the government, are promising. The drug, called Calanolide The Sarawak government’s continuing meaning that 50 percent of any future A, reduces the levels of human investment is estimated to be US$100 profits will return to Sarawak. Other finds immunodeficiency virus in the blood. It is million to $200 million by the time the may be imminent. Sarawak’s chief also simple to administer and effective drug is commercialized, and it will be minister, Taib Mahmud, recently against strains of HIV that quickly became three to eight years before Sarawak sees announced the discovery of a jungle resistant to other drugs. It even shows a return on its investment, if at all. substance that may provide a treatment signs of effectiveness against Malaysian scientists have received for prostate cancer. tuberculosis, a major killer of HIV carriers training at MediChem and some of them But not everyone is happy. “The people in the developing world. If it is proved will staff a new drug-screening and who make money out of it will be the usual successful and commercialized, the drug discovery facility that is being added to ones: politicians, rich businessmen. It could be worth US$200 million to $400 the government-funded Sarawak won’t be the local people,” says Mark million per year, in line with the sales of Biodiversity Centre in Kuching. Bujang of the Borneo Resource Institute, a comparable anti-HIV drugs. However, as Sarawak MediChem non-governmental group lobbying for the The journey of Calanolide A from the prepares for the third and final phase of Dyaks’ rights. Mr Bujang fears that rain forest to the market has been paved clinical trials, it is uncertain whether the bioprospecting will be like logging. by a pioneering partnership between an Sarawak government will be able to Although the state government promises American pharmaceutical firm and a provide all of the US$25 million needed. benefits for all, the people at the bottom Malaysian state government. It is also a To obtain more funding the company has suffer the disadvantages but not the gains. case study on how the discovery of invited other investors to come on board. Mr Bujang would like to see local people natural compounds now offers financial Additional investors would dilute the being trained to do this kind of research and technical rewards unimaginable 20 Sarawak government’s share of future themselves and to apply the research to years ago to the countries in which the royalties. But the actual and potential their own traditional knowledge. compounds were found. benefits Sarawak enjoys from this deal are But where does traditional knowledge The drug’s remarkable journey began in already a far cry from the past experience intersect with scientific knowledge? The 1987, when researchers from the of source countries. Dyaks may have used the bintangor tree University of Illinois in Chicago roamed Historically, Western plant explorers felt for their headaches, but they would never the jungles of the East Malaysian state of no obligation to compensate the countries have isolated Calanolide A. “What the Sarawak, collecting plant samples for the in which they found new drug compounds. communities want is a fair share from the United States National Cancer Institute But there has been a growing awareness benefits that arise from research,” Mr (NCI). They were hoping to find naturally by biodiversity-rich but cash-poor Bujang said. “Their land has been taken occurring compounds that could be countries of the value of their natural away, then their forest has been taken developed into anti-cancer drugs. What resources. In the mid-1980s, tropical away. Now they take away their traditional they found instead was a substance from countries began to argue for medicine.” (Source: The Independent, 2 the bintangor tree (Calophyllum compensation. This spurred the National August 2001.) lanigerum) that in NCI research showed Cancer Institute to revise its agreements promising activity against HIV. with the countries in which its scientists Since NCI only conducts initial explored. Starting in 1991, NCI required research, it regularly passes on worldwide companies taking up NCI-sponsored rights for specific compounds to private research to negotiate agreements for firms. NCI passes the rights to Calanolide benefit sharing with source countries. A to a small American company, Thus, MediChem was required to MediChem Research, which had negotiate benefit sharing with the previously worked on another compound Sarawak government. Forming a business from the institute. But MediChem lacked partnership with the Sarawak government, the funds to develop Calanolide A. So, in instead of with another pharmaceutical 1996, it formed an unprecedented company, was also a bonus: it meant just Calophyllum lanigerum, germination partnership with the state government of one set of negotiations for MediChem, Sarawak, which agreed to finance the first instead of two. From the jungle to the clinic stages of Calanolide A’s clinical If Sarawak MediChem is an innovative In a clinical trial in the United States, development. A fifty-fifty joint venture Ð model for profiting from biodiversity, it also people infected with HIV, the virus that Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals Ð offers a cautionary tale: the Calophyllum causes AIDS, are receiving an based in Illinois, United States, was born. lanigerum tree from which materials were experimental drug that has its roots in the Profits from future sales of the drug will be collected in 1987 had been chopped down rain forests of Malaysia. The results so far divided equally between the partners. by the time a second expedition was
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 14 NEWS AND NOTES
mounted in 1993. Samples taken from In a declaration after three days of international patent law. In 1992, an other trees of the same species were not meetings on the eastern edge of the International Convention on Biological as high in Calanolide A, so MediChem had Amazon in early December 2001, Diversity that granted some patent to synthesize the compound before it shamans from a tenth of Brazil’s tribes protections to “traditional knowledge” was could continue with its research. It is a called on the government to “create negotiated at a United Nations vivid lesson that the conservation of punishment mechanisms to deter the conference in Rio de Janeiro. The United biodiversity is a prerequisite for its robbery of our biodiversity”. They States, however, has yet to ratify the profitability. (Source: Far Eastern suggested that it might even be accord, in part because of lobbying in Economic Review, 14 June 2001.) necessary to impose a total “moratorium Congress by the pharmaceutical lobby. on the commercial exploitation of Over the long term, Brazil wants much traditional knowledge of genetic of the research on medicinal plants and resources” until a more equitable system the manufacture of any drugs derived could be created. “We’re not against from them to take place on its own science, but we also don’t want to be just territory. Hoping to foster that kind of suppliers of data,” said Marcos Terena, a research here, an Amazon Biotechnology member of the Terena tribe and an Center is now under construction in organizer of the conference. “We want to Manaus, in the heart of the jungle. be part of the whole process, from Scheduled to open in April 2002, the research to the economic results.” centre will have 22 laboratories, and its The system favoured by the Brazilian directors hope to attract foreign Government is that of a centralized investment and partners. databank that would store the knowledge At the same time, Brazil is pressing for accumulated by “traditional scientists”, as an overhaul of the international rules Muirapuama the shamans are sometimes called here. governing intellectual property rights so Brazil sees promise in jungle plants, Any researcher wanting to make use of that more protections can be extended to but tribes see peril that information would have to pay an its indigenous peoples. But overcoming The Brazilian Government, increasingly initial access fee, which would be the mutual mistrust between Brazilians fearful of what it regards as “biopiracy” followed by regular payments during the and foreign researchers may prove to be by foreign pharmaceutical companies, research process and royalties if the final the most difficult task of all. (Source: New universities and laboratories, is moving result were a commercially viable drug. York Times, 23 December 2001, quoted to impose stricter controls on medicinal For the most part, the promise of in the RECOFTC e-letter 2002.1.) plants in the Amazon region. The effort is miracle drugs made from jungle plants motivated largely by a desire to build remains elusive, because of the costly and profit from a domestic biotechnology and lengthy research process required. To me, biodiversity is all the beings industry instead of allowing non- But during the conference, Brazilian that are related in nature: man, Brazilians to get most of the benefits. Government officials and advocates for animals and plants, even vegetables, But the government is also facing the indigenous peoples complained of rivers, seas, animals in the jungle and growing pressure from shamans and what they described as a pattern of all the beliefs we have kept from our elders of the 230 indigenous peoples of undue appropriation of native plants and ancestors and from our dreams. Brazil, who worry that they are losing bacteria and even blood samples from Wisdom itself is also a part of control of tribal wisdom and who also indigenous peoples. biodiversity. want a share of any revenue. A Japanese pharmaceutical company, (Piedad Cabascango from Ecuador) Brazil has nearly a quarter of the for example, has sought to patent an (Source: Biodiversity Ð a crucial issue world’s plant species. Many species grow extract derived from a root called for the world’s poor. DFID, UK. ISBN only in Brazil and have yet to be tested by muirapuama, considered an aphrodisiac 1-86192-341-4.) Western science, even though they have in Brazil. In addition, an American been used for thousands of years by the businessman tried to patent ayahuasca, indigenous peoples to treat a variety of a hallucinogen that is used for religious ailments. That gives Brazil a prominence purposes by Amazon shamans but also in biotechnology regulation far beyond thought to have therapeutic effects. that of any other country in the tropics, But pharmaceutical companies and the region many scientists view as other research institutions in the United perhaps the most promising for the States and Europe say that none of their development of new drugs. activities are illegal under Brazilian or
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 15 NEWS AND NOTES
ECOPORT – ACCESS PORTAL enable the author to write information into For more information, please contact: TO ECOLOGY KNOWLEDGE the shared database, much as a group of Peter Griffee, Senior Officer, Industrial FOR NATURAL RESOURCE authors write chapters for a book, except Crops, Crop and Grassland Service, MANAGERS that the “book” we are writing is a public Plant Production and Protection database on the Internet. This process Division, FAO, Rome, Italy. In 1998, FAO created a Global Plant uses methods and tools invented by FAO, E-mail: [email protected]; Production and Protection Information which allow editors (not only webmasters) www.ecoport.org System (GPPIS) which established a to write hypertext directly. Technical network of individuals and institutions who authors, e.g. FAO staff members, publish agreed to share freely their separate their shared knowledge under a banner knowledge to create a communally that displays the logo of the sponsoring owned database on the Internet. institution. In this way, EcoPort is a Very soon we realized the limitations of collection of records, each owned, seeing the world only in terms of pests controlled and displayed by a separate and crops, and decided that we need to author or institution, but all using the practise holistic ecology and integrating tools of EcoPort and sharing interdisciplinary integration as each other’s contributions and resources, comprehensively as we preach it. such as pictures entered into the Accordingly, FAO formed a consortium communal EcoPort picture database. with the University of Florida (UF) and the Data quality is maintained by the same National Museum of Natural History of the process of peer review that has kept Smithsonian Institution (SI) in the United scientific publishing going ever since it EQUATOR INITIATIVE States to build EcoPort: a service similar started. All changes are notified to other SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR to GPPIS, but this time widened to community members. This makes all of us TROPICAL BIODIVERSITY ecology as cause to build on the pooled “quality controllers”. An automatic e-mail AWARDS information power and institutional notification system informs a network of perspectives and mandates of FAO, UF Gatekeepers and the EcoPort Supervisor The Equator Initiative, an innovative and SI as a foundation to exploit and when changes are made. Since each programme launched in January 2002 by deliver the benefits of the Internet. While contributor’s shared information is the United Nations Development EcoPort operates under the auspices of displayed under his or her own banner Programme (UNDP) and several FAO, UF and SI, it is in fact a forum and and logo, ownership and responsibility go partners, is seeking nominations for five global network of institutions (currently 90) hand in hand and the whole process is awards recognizing extraordinary and volunteer, expert authors (currently open to public scrutiny on the Internet. accomplishments in reducing poverty about 500), who actively contribute their We have clearly demonstrated that through conservation and sustainable knowledge to be shared freely through sharing and generosity does not threaten use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt. EcoPort. identity or responsibility and professional The Equator Initiative is designed to EcoPort went public on 1 January 2000 goodwill. support the upcoming World Summit on and by June 2001, 127 000 entity records As we all put sharing ahead of Sustainable Development (WSSD) in had been established, including 143 000 copyright and many other territorial Johannesburg, South Africa and the species of which 42 000 are plants. There aspects that unnecessarily increase the Convention on Biological Diversity. are more than 516 000 references, 100 transaction costs associated with using Through recognition of local slide shows, 35 000 glossary terms, data, our pooled knowledge has grown achievements, fostering South-South 19 000 pictures, 200 hypermemes, 55 very rapidly. Furthermore, since many capacity building, and contributing to taxonomic keys, 100 interactive tables, users either do not have Internet access generating and sharing of knowledge, the etc. Since going public, the database has or have slow and expensive connections, programme aims to promote a worldwide been updated at an average daily rate of we will, in future, be distributing EcoPort movement that links efforts to reduce 100 changes per day, made by the data sets on free CD-ROMs as well. poverty and conserve biodiversity across community of volunteer experts. The Web Many of these records need editors. the tropics. site serves 1 000 pages per day (about If you are interested, please send an Partnering with UNDP in the initiative 5 000 “hits” per day) and, for example, the email to: [email protected]. We will are the Government of Canada, the number of visitors from Africa amounts to explain the procedure for registering in International Development Research half of the total for Europe. order to contribute your information to Centre and the United Nations Each contributing author or editor EcoPort. (Contributed by: Peter Griffee, Foundation. BrasilConnects and the receives a username and password which FAO, Rome.) International Council for Local
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 16 NEWS AND NOTES
Environmental Initiatives supported the are currently offered in ten countries. All launch, attended by 450 development FAOTERM programmes are operated by partner and environmental leaders and organizations which have shown a ambassadors from around the world. FAOTERM is a multilingual terminology strong commitment to conservation and From Brazil to Ecuador, and Indonesia database in Arabic, Chinese, English, education. Ninety-nine percent of all to Kenya, the countries around the French and Spanish. The database has participation fees stay with our partners equator possess diverse natural been developed over many years and was to assist in local conservation and environments Ð from dry, arid deserts to launched on the Internet in January 2001. education projects. moist rain forests Ð and are home to a As at January 2002, FAOTERM Local guides and biologists are featured large percentage of the world’s poor. consisted of 54 407 records in English (as in the study of natural history, rain forest Many live on US$1 or less a day, lack the base language), 51 168 records in and coral reef ecology, medicinal uses of access to safe drinking-water and remain French, 46 261 in Spanish, 16 492 in native plants, conservation, land undernourished. Nonetheless, biological Arabic and 11 878 in Chinese. It comprises management, local cultures, archaeology riches in the tropics offer amazing technical terminology in FAO’s specialized and geology. While most of the opportunities that can create lasting subjects: agriculture, biology, forestry, programmes are customized, standard improvements in people’s lives Ð such as fisheries, economics, statistics, nutrition, field course itineraries can be found on the marketing local forest products, etc. A total of 7 615 records comprise Rainforest and Reef Web site. developing new medicines and food official titles (bodies) of organizations, crops, ecotourism and other income- institutes, programmes, slogans, expert For more information, please contact: generating endeavours. consultations, FAO structure, etc. Mike Nolan, Rainforest and Reef, 29 The deadline for nominations is 15 May There are several ongoing meetings Prospect NE Suite #8, Grand Rapids, 2002 and the awards will be presented at within FAO specifically discussing Michigan 49503, USA. the WSSD from 26 August to 4 September. forestry and wood-energy terminology Tel./fax: 1 616 7765928; Award recipients will receive US$30 000, and definitions. toll free: 1 877 7693086; a certificate of recognition and a trophy. The new five-language FAOTERM e-mail: [email protected]; The initiative will also enable them to database (http://faoterm.fao.org:8080/) www.rainforestandreef.org carry out capacity-building exchanges has been incorporated into the FAO with other organizations and Terminology site (www.fao.org/faoterm/ communities. (Source: Newsfront, 1 default.htm). A separate, newly designed February 2002.) database for Names of Countries, now incorporating all five languages and For more information, please contact: following United Nations practice, Equator Initiative, Environmentally (www.fao.org/faoterm/nocs/html/Default- Sustainable Development Group e.htm) was added to the FAO Bureau for Development Policy, Terminology site in December 2001. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), One UN Plaza, For more information, please contact: New York, NY 10017, USA. Ingrid Alldritt, Terminology Officer, Fax: +1 212 9066973; Programming, Reference and Terminology e-mail: [email protected]; Group, Meeting Programming and www.EquatorInitiative.org Documentation Service, GICM, General Affairs and Information Department, FINGERPRINTING BAMBOO FAO, Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 0657056241; Phyllostachys (Poaceae) is one of the e-mail: [email protected] largest genera of woody bamboos, with approximately 75 species. It is widely used in the temperate zone, particularly FIELD COURSES IN RAIN for construction, but also in the case of FOREST AND MARINE two species, Phyllostachys heterocycla ECOLOGY and P. rubromarginata, for edible “bamboo shoots”. In phylogenetics, the Rainforest and Reef is a non-profit bamboos have been problematic organization specializing in field courses because they exhibit extremely low in rain forest and marine ecology that levels of divergence in sequenced DNA
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 17 NEWS AND NOTES
regions, so little has been published existing research, in order to make better Fruits for the Future is a project of the about their infrageneric relationships use of existing research results and International Centre for Underutilised based on genetic studies. Scientists at identify possible gaps in the knowledge Crops and is funded by the United Kew and Trinity College, Dublin, base for further research. Kingdom Department for International however, have obtained good results by A group of species has been selected Development (DFID). applying one of the recently developed on the basis of their regional or global fingerprinting techniques, amplified importance, because there are no For more information, please contact: fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). comprehensive compilations of Angela Hughes, International Centre In addition to finding that the currently information already in existence and for Underutilised Crops, Institute of accepted taxonomic scheme for the because of their suitability for adaptation, Irrigation and Development Studies, genus was generally accurate, they income generation, nutrition and food University of Southampton, were also able to assess accurately security, diversification and use in Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. some species that had been difficult to agroforestry systems. They are: Fax: +44 (0)2380 677519; place previously, such as P. sulphurea ¥ Ziziphus mauritania (ber) e-mail: [email protected]; (which some authors thought was the ¥ Tamarindus indica (tamarind) www.soton.ac.uk/~icuc/frunut.htm same as another). AFLP, therefore, ¥ Dacryodes edulis (African pear) appears to be an ideal technique for ¥ Adansonia digitata (baobab) groups in which low levels of genetic ¥ Annona species (cherimoya, sweet JOURNALS AND divergence are a problem. (Source: Kew and sour sops, custard apples and NEWSLETTERS Scientist, issue No. 20 [October 2001].) other species) Conservation and Society For more information, please contact Conservation and Society is a new the author: Prof. Mark Chase, Royal journal dedicated to the advancement of Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Ber (Ziziphus mauritania Lam.) is the theory and practice of the Surrey TW9 3AB, UK. cultivated all over the drier parts of conservation of natural resources. It E-mail: [email protected]; the Indian subcontinent for its fresh aims to be a valuable source of www.kew.org fruits, which are rich in vitamins (C, A reference material on the problems of and B-complex) and minerals. It can conservation in the Asian geographical be successfully cultivated even in the area. The journal is peer-reviewed, with FRUITS FOR THE FUTURE most marginal ecosystems of the an interdisciplinary focus drawing on subtropics and tropics. It also exists both the natural and social sciences and Tropical fruit-trees are important in wild groves which are widespread covers basic and applied research in multipurpose species that supplement in the warmer parts of India, Pakistan, areas including, but not restricted to, and improve the quality of diets and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, central to political ecology, human-wildlife conflicts, provide fodder, fuel, timber and southern Africa and in the northern decentralized conservation, conservation medicine for smallholders. Harvesting parts of Australia. policy, ecosystem structure and these trees enables rural people, functioning, systematics, community and particularly women and children, to species ecology, animal behaviour and provide nutrition for a balanced diet, behavioural ecology, landscape ecology, supplement family incomes and restoration ecology and conservation strengthen food security. biology. The major constraints to the effective use of these crops are access to For more information, please contact: information on use, production and Kamal Bawa, Professor of Biology, processing, and ineffective marketing. University of Massachusetts, USA. Fruits for the Future is a three-year E-mail: [email protected]; or project which aims to redress this Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology balance and facilitate technology transfer and the Environment (ATREE), No. 659, to farmers through media, by distributing 5th A Main, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, extension manuals emphasizing Karnataka, India. products, marketing and processing, as Fax: +91 80 3530070; well as production. Monographs and e-mail: editor@conservationandsociety Fruits for the Future No. 2 - Ber 2001 Fruits annotated bibliographies will be .org or [email protected]; produced to collect and summarize www.conservationandsociety.org
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 18 NEWS AND NOTES
Forest certification newsletter Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants Revista Forestal Centroamericana Forest certification is an important More efforts are required to create and La Revista Forestal Centroamericana instrument to halt and reverse the loss disseminate scientific knowledge on brinda una perspectiva regional sobre la and degradation of the world’s forests tropical medicinal plants, including conservación, manejo y and the World Wide Fund for Nature research and development on aprovechamiento de los recursos (WWF) is working with governments, conservation, utilization, efficacy and naturales. Aborda diversidad de temas industry, local communities and safety of the products used, como problemas forestales y consumers to encourage sustainable commercialization, bioprospecting and ambientales de la región, silvicultura, forest management worldwide. quality control of drugs for human health plantaciones, economía, género, improvement. This journal provides an taxonomía y práctica forestal, entre To receive a copy of WWF’s certification information platform to publish the results otros. newsletter, please contact: that emerge from various fields of study Ellen von Zitzewitz, European Forest and from different parts of the world. Para más información, dirigirse a: Policy Officer, WWF-European Policy Revista Forestal Centroamericana Ð Office, Avenue de Tervuren 36, bt. 12, For more information, please contact: CATIE, 7170 Turrialba, Costa Rica. 1040 Brussels, Belgium. A.N. Rao, Editor-in-Chief. Fax: +506 556 6282/1533; Fax: +32 2 7438819; E-mail: [email protected] correo electrónico: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]; ó [email protected]; www.panda.org/resources/programmes Natural Product Radiance www.catie.ac.cr/informacion/RFCA /epo/publications/forpub.cfm The herbal world, its history and its potential value, make it fascinating to Forest Integrity Network (FIN) newsletter study and attractive to use. Tropical The Forest Integrity Network (FIN) countries such as India have a rich newsletter aims to serve the community of repository of natural resources. professionals concerned about open and Research on exploration of natural effective governance of forest resources. wealth hidden in the form of herbs, FIN grew out of a May 2000 workshop at shrubs, micro-organisms, etc, has been Harvard’s Kennedy School of attracting increasing awareness and Government cosponsored by Harvard’s attention. As a result, products (varying Center for International Development, the from food, timber and textiles to World Conservation Union (IUCN) and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) have Transparency International (TI). The starting entering the market. It is indeed workshop brought together scholars, essential to disseminate such a activists, and government officials knowledge and information explosion in concerned about forest corruption. Since a simplified, user-friendly manner to the then, FIN has remained a loose alliance of targeted groups. For this reason, the committed individuals, without formal National Institute of Science structure or funding. Communication (CSIR), New Delhi is producing Natural Product Radiance, a Voices from the Forest For more information, please contact new bimonthly periodical providing Voices from the Forest, the bulletin of the the editor: information on research papers, special NTFP Exchange Programme in E-mail: [email protected]; features, book reviews, Web sites and Southeast Asia, aims to provide a www.syenco.com/FINnews1.html seminars, etc. related to the herbal and platform for sharing forest community- animal world. based NTFP ideas and concerns, mainly through practical information and cases. For more information please contact: The bulletin is available on the Internet Dr (Mrs) Sunita Garg, Scientist, (www.NTFP.org). Wealth of India Division, National Institute of Science Communication, For more information, please contact: Dr K.S. Krishnan Marg Eric van Poederooijen, ProFound, (Near Pusa Gate), Hooghiemstraplein 128, 3514 AZ New Delhi 110012, India. Utrecht, the Netherlands. Fax: +91 11 5787062; Fax: +31 (0)30 2720878; e-mail: [email protected] www.ThisIsProFound.com
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 19 NEWS AND NOTES
Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Nepal, INTERNATIONAL Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, LOS BOSQUES PUEDEN DOCTORAL PROGRAM FOR the United Kingdom (Scotland) and the CONTRIBUIR AL ALIVIO DEVELOPMENT STUDIES United Republic of Tanzania. DE LA POBREZA Information on the International Year The Center for Development Research of Mountains activities around the world Se requiere acción para aprovechar (ZEF) in Bonn, Germany, invites highly can be found on the national Web sites: ahora las maneras en que la actividad qualified, young scientists from ¥ Australia: www.australianalps.ea.gov. forestal puede ayudar a reducir la developing countries to participate in its au/iym.html pobreza. Sin acción, es decir, sin International Doctoral Program for ¥ Bolivia: www.aim2002bolivia.org/ inversión en actividades forestales Development Studies. ZEF supports ¥ Canada: www.yearofmountains.ca/ centradas en las personas, se verán individual students with funds for field ¥ France: www.montanea.org/ minadas las otras medidas para enfrentar research. Fellowships from several ¥ Germany: www.berge2002.de la pobreza y mejorar los medios de vida national and international foundations ¥ Italy: www.montagna.org/ de los pobres. and sponsors are offered primarily to ¥ Japan: www.iym-japan.org/index.htm La comunidad internacional se ha students from the developing countries. ¥ Liechtenstein: www.berge2002.li/ comprometido en la eliminación de la intro_flashless.html pobreza. Las metas internacionales de For more information, please contact: ¥ Mexico: desarrollo para el año 2015 incluyen la Dr Gunther Manske, Coordinator, www.conafor.gob.mx/aim.htm reducción a la mitad del número de International Doctoral Program for ¥ Peru: personas afectadas por inseguridad Development Studies, Center for www.condesan.org/peruAIM2002/ alimentaria y una reducción en la Development Research (ZEF), Walter- ¥ Switzerland: www.berge2002.ch proporción de personas que viven en la Flex-Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany. (German); www.montagnes2002.ch extrema pobreza. Fax: +49 (0)228 731889; (French); www.montagna2002.ch Los bosques y los árboles pueden e-mail: [email protected]; (Italian) ayudar. Los bosques contribuyen a la www.zef.de ¥ United Kingdom: www.iym.uhi.ac.uk/ seguridad alimentaria. Pueden The International Year of Mountains’ proporcionar oportunidades comerciales coordination unit prepares an informal y empleo para los pobres. Con INTERNATIONAL YEAR newsletter that is sent out on a monthly frecuencia son aspectos importantes OF MOUNTAINS basis to a wide variety of organizations para el desarrollo de un buen gobierno and individuals interested and involved local. Un enfoque centrado en las in mountain issues and in the personas puede aumentar aún más el International Year of Mountains, in impacto de los bosques y los árboles en particular. For copies of the newsletter, la reducción de la pobreza. Lo que se which is also available in French and requiere es la remoción de las barreras Spanish, please contact: Luciana que impiden que los bosques y los Ambrosiano (luciana.ambrosiano@ árboles contribuyan a la subsistencia de The official launch of the International fao.org). los pobres además de sustentar las Year of Mountains took place at United oportunidades emergentes. Nations headquarters in New York on For more information, please contact: Una actividad forestal centrada en las 11 December 2001. FAO held its own Douglas McGuire, Senior Forest personas las coloca al centro del launch on 15 February 2002 at its Conservation Officer, Head, desarrollo y les proporciona los derechos headquarters in Rome. The event was Coordination Unit Ð International Year y los medios para manejar los recursos attended by about 500 people and of Mountains 2002, Forestry del bosque y los árboles. attracted more than 20 journalists. Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di ¿Qué obtiene la gente pobre de los The FAO event and the global launch Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. árboles y los bosques? at United Nations headquarters were Fax: +39 0657055137; Bienes de subsistencia, tales como part of a worldwide series of events that e-mail: [email protected]; leña, medicinas, madera para have ushered in the International Year of www.mountains2002.org construcción, sogas, carne de animales Mountains. Countries which have held silvestres, forraje, setas, miel, hojas ceremonies to inaugurate the comestibles, raíces y frutas. International Year include: Bolivia, China Bienes para la venta, tales como los (Hong Kong Special Administrative productos enumerados antes, artesanías, Region), France, Germany, India, Italy, madera y otros productos de la madera.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 20 NEWS AND NOTES
Beneficios indirectos, tales como tierra Dependencia de los bosques mantener una relación de 3 a 1 entre las para otros usos, sitios sociales y 60 millones de personas indígenas que tierras forestales y las agrícolas, para de espirituales, servicios ambientales, viven en los bosques húmedos de América tal manera garantizar el suministro de incluida la protección de cuencas y Latina, Asia Sudoriental y Africa Occidental forraje para el ganado y de estiércol para conservación de la biodiversidad. dependen en alto grado de los bosques. fertilizar sus cultivos. Aproximadamente 1,6 billones de 350 millones de personas que viven personas en el mundo dependen para dentro o en las cercanías de bosques su subsistencia, en gran parte, de los densos dependen de ellos para su recursos forestales. Con la creciente subsistencia o ingresos. desigualdad económica, los pobres, más 1,2 billones de personas en los países en que nunca, requieren salvaguardias y desarrollo utilizan los árboles en los crecen las demandas sobre los bosques predios agrícolas para generar alimento y y los árboles. El cambio acelerado de la dinero en efectivo. realidad mundial representa mayores retos para los pobres, pero también Beneficios para la subsistencia local puede proporcionar nuevas proporcionados por la actividad forestal oportunidades para una subsistencia centrada en las personas mejorada sobre la base de la utilización Derechos de acceso, control y utilización sostenible de los recursos naturales. Si de los recursos del bosque y los árboles. se ejecutan acciones claves, aún los Mayor participación en las decisiones productores forestales más pobres, los relativas a la utilización y manejo de los comerciantes y los trabajadores podrán recursos del bosque. participar en iniciativas locales que Menor vulnerabilidad, no sólo a través de ofrecen perspectivas comerciales. recursos forestales seguros sino también Salud, bosques y reducción de la pobreza Los recursos forestales contribuyen por el mayor peso político. Los bosques proporcionan medicinas y directamente a la subsistencia y pueden Ingresos de los bienes y servicios del suplementos alimentarios esenciales. Un complementar otros componentes bosque. billón de personas dependen de productos importantes de la reducción de la Mejor gobierno a través de instituciones farmacéuticos derivados de plantas pobreza a través de la producción de locales más eficaces. forestales para enfrentar sus necesidades alimentos, la educación y el cuidado Asociación para reforzar capacidades. medicinales. Las poblaciones que viven al primario de la salud. El desafío consiste Beneficios directos de los servicios lado de los bosques húmedos en Ghana en apoyar aquellos cambios específicos ambientales. reciben más proteína de los productos que conducirán a establecer un papel Mayor poder de negociación. forestales que de los cultivos o del más decisivo a los recursos forestales y ganado. En los ambientes áridos, los a los árboles en la subsistencia de los Puntos de acción (identificados en el Taller bosques son esenciales para la seguridad pobres. Este desafío requiere acciones de Cortevecchia, septiembre de 2001 alimentaria en las épocas y años secos. inmediatas. Fortalecimiento de los derechos, Por lo tanto, la actividad forestal debe capacidades y gobierno. captar las sinergias potenciales entre los Reducción de la vulnerabilidad. diversos sectores para maximizar el Captura de las oportunidades impacto positivo. emergentes. Trabajando en sociedad. El mensaje es claro Los bosques y los árboles tienen una Conclusión función importante en la lucha para reducir Agricultura, bosques y reducción la pobreza. Las iniciativas basadas en de la pobreza manejo forestal sostenible, como parte de Los árboles prestan numerosos tipos de las estrategias de desarrollo rural y de utilidad agrícola, tales como alimentos, subsistencia, pueden apoyar el buen combustible, forraje, fertilizante, sombra, gobierno y aumentar los beneficios para cortavientos, cercos, embalaje, los pobres. El desafío actual es el de regulación del agua y prevención de la hacer realidad este potencial. (Fuente: erosión. Los agricultores pobres en Boletín informativo de los programas Nepal, que no tienen la posibilidad para forestales nacionales, FAO 5(12), adquirir fertilizantes, se esfuerzan por Santiago, Chile, diciembre de 2001.)
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commodity groups. All taxa are treated in establish cooperation with a number of NEW FORESTS PROJECT a similar manner with details on uses, African and European institutions. distribution, botany, ecology, agronomy PROTA offices are currently being set up The New Forests Project is a people-to- or silviculture, genetic resources, in seven African and three European people, direct-action programme diseases, breeding, prospects and countries, while an international group of established in 1982 in an effort to initiate literature. editors and authors is contributing to the reforestation and reduce deforestation in first PROTA publications. PROTA’s First “developing countries”. Their informative For more information, please contact: International Workshop (September Web site is also available in Spanish. Agus Rachmat Hadi, Distribution 2002), which will be in both English and Officer, PROSEA Network Office, PO French, will be instrumental in further For more information, please contact: Box 332, Bogor 16122, Indonesia. defining the organization of the The New Forests Project, 731 Eighth E-mail: [email protected] programme, including the framework of Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA. [Please see under Publications of Interest the Web databases. In the Fax: +1 202 5464784; for more information on PROSEA.] Implementation Phase (2003-2012), e-mail: [email protected]; emphasis is on the actual compilation www.newforestsproject.com/index.htm and editing of the monographs, making PLANT RESOURCES OF them widely available in electronic and TROPICAL AFRICA (PROTA) printed forms, and also transforming the information into derived products. In tropical Africa thousands of plant species are found which provide food, For more information, please contact: fibre, pharmaceutical products, building PROTA Programme, Wageningen materials, fuel, etc. for personal use and University, PO Box 341, 6700 AH for sale on local, regional or international Wageningen, the Netherlands. markets. E-mail: [email protected]; Information on these plant resources www.prota.org is stored in an overwhelming and ever- [Please see under Forthcoming Events for growing amount of literature. For the more information on the First International user, the information has become Workshop.] PLANT RESOURCES inaccessible, partly because of its sheer OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA volume and the dispersion in time, partly (PROSEA) because it is scattered over several continents, is in several languages and PROSEA is an international programme in all kinds of publications. focused on Southeast Asia. Its purpose The PROTA programme is an initiative is to make available the wealth of of Wageningen University, the dispersed knowledge on plant resources Netherlands. In cooperation with for education, extension, research and institutes in Africa and Europe, PROTA industry through a computerized data intends to survey, compile, edit, publish bank and an illustrated multivolume and disseminate existing knowledge on handbook. A thorough knowledge of some 7 000 useful plants of tropical plant resources is essential for human Africa. It will build on the experiences life and plays a key role in ecologically gained by the twin programme Plant balanced land-use systems. Extensive Resources of South East Asia information on the plants growing in the (PROSEA), 1985-2002. In due course region is needed to enable the plant the publications will be accessible from POTENTIAL OILSEED resources of each country to be used the PROTA Web site. TREES OF AFRICA optimally. The PROTA programme has been One of the main objectives of divided into three phases. The Humankind depends on a very limited PROSEA is to publish illustrated Preliminary Phase (1998-1999) was an number of crops to meet the needs of multivolume handbooks. A large in-house exercise by Wageningen staple diets and on a few major non-food international team of experts is invited to University. The aim of the Preparatory crops to meet associated needs. Among prepare the texts on particular species or Phase (2000-2002) is to them a small portion of the world’s food genera, which are published in “internationalize” the programme and to comes from tree crops. The utilization of
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 22 NEWS AND NOTES
a large number of species for various The present status of some of the importance of forestry research in the products has not been exploited for underutilized African oil-bearing tree context of these coping strategies. sustainable livelihood. The International species, their constraints to utilization The human immunodeficiency Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC) and marketing, are highlighted in a virus/acquired immunodeficiency has initiated a series of programmes on recent paper presented at the third syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in sub- the domestication and utilization of non- International Conference of Oilseed Saharan Africa has been recognized as wood forest products, such as jackfruit, Trees by N. Haq, ICUC, University of an epidemic requiring a multisectoral mangosteen and pummelo in Asia and Southampton. It is hoped that the response. The main social cost of this Vitellaria paradoxa in Africa. existing information will provide a epidemic is not the direct costs of Africa is a rich heritage of useful consensus to develop an effective medical care and prevention, but rather indigenous multipurpose tree species. regional programme on oilseed tree the costs of lost household output owing These resources have played an species for sustainable livelihood and to the burden of caring for the sick, the important role for centuries in feeding food security. ICUC is willing to take part elderly and orphaned children. For people, keeping them healthy and giving in developing such a programme for the example, in Uganda, food insecurity and them shelter through good years and effective utilization of African resources. malnutrition are the most critical also through bad years, particularly (Source: Global Newsletter on concerns among female-headed AIDS- when drought persisted and crops failed. Underutilized Crops, June 2001.) affected households, not medical Many of these multipurpose species are treatment and drugs. oilseed-bearing trees and are part of the As a drastic reduction in the forestry ecosystems. People who live continent’s workforce is directly with this system protect and use them threatening national food securities, every day. However, population pressure agriculture, the foundation of the along with modern need is destroying region’s national economies, is currently this system. being acknowledged as a critical focal Oilseeds constitute an important point of the multisectoral response. For group of crops of the total global this reason, recent epidemiological cropped area. Vegetable oils account for studies have focused on the epidemic’s about 70 percent of the total availability effects on rural agricultural communities of all oils and fats. There are two distinct and households. These studies suggest types of vegetable oil-yielding crops: that NTFPs from natural forests and perennial and annual crops. In the past agroforestry systems may be important vegetable oils, fats and tallow have been components of the coping strategies for utilized for food (80 percent) and animal HIV/AIDS-affected households. feed (70 percent and 13 percent in the POTENTIAL ROLE OF NON- Despite documentation of household industrial sectors). TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS socio-economic conditions that suggests There is impressive growth in the IN THE COPING STRATEGIES potential intensification of NTFP consumption of oils and fats worldwide. OF RURAL HIV/AIDS- utilization (specifically, low-labour This will increase further, together with AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS supplies), current literature reveals population growth. The increased minimal reference to forest and tree IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA demand for fats and oils can be met by - resources in HIV/AIDS coping strategies, the African heritage, as has been seen The HIV/AIDS epidemic is drastically although their significant roles in with the oil-palm’s contribution to world reducing the agricultural workforce of meeting local nutritional demands have production. There are many perennial sub-Saharan Africa, threatening justified recent calls for the integration of species, similar to oil-palm and coconut, household and national food securities. forestry and nutrition in policy and which provide vegetable oil, not only for Contributing to household nutrition and planning. With more credence being use as cooking oil for the marginalized health at low labour inputs, NTFPs given to a multisectoral response to sub- women and men of the world but also should be considered in efforts to Saharan Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, for small-scale industries, to generate mitigate the socio-economic impact of governments, NGOs and international income. The uses of these trees are HIV/AIDS on rural agrarian households. institutions should make an effort to only known to those who live locally. Because there exist few references to understand the current and potential role Several organizations have started to this subject in the literature concerned of NTFPs in HIV/AIDS-affected gather information on these species for with the coping mechanisms of households. domestication and for establishing them HIV/AIDS-affected households, a recent As HIV/AIDS and strategies for in agroforestry systems. paper is drawing attention to the mitigating its impact have not been a
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 23 NEWS AND NOTES
focus of rural development workers and/or agricultural staff, the authors TRAINING PROGRAMME hope that their paper conveys the timely ON LEADERSHIP AND need for inclusion of forest and tree ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT resources in cost-effective response IN FOREST ENVIRONMENTS efforts to agrarian societies heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. (Source: Collaborative adaptive forest Extracted from a paper prepared by management (CAFM) aims at achieving Marc Barany, A.L Hammett, Abdou Sene a balance between the conservation and and Beyhan Amichev, College of Natural utilization of forest resources in the Resources, Virginia, USA.) pursuit of rural development and sustainable livelihood. Foresters who For more information, please contact: work in CAFM, therefore, need a Mr A.L Hammett, Associate Professor, balance of social and technical skills College of Natural Resources, Virginia SUSTAINABLE FOR WHOM? and insights. Tech, Department of Wood Science and In response to this need, a training Forest Products, 210 Cheatham Hall Sustainable for Whom? is a brochure programme of the International (0323), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, jointly published by the Taiga Rescue Agricultural Centre (IAC) covers the USA. Network and the Boreal Footprint Project following broad areas of interest: Fax: +1 540 2318176; summarizing a new report on Forest collaboration and decision-making e-mail: [email protected] Stewardship Council (FSC) certification between stakeholders, integrated land and community benefits. It contains use, sustainable adaptive forest exploratory case studies of four forest management, biodiversity conservation, SCIENTIFIC BOARDS communities in the boreal or near-boreal poverty reduction, equity and SOCIETY OF RESEARCH zone with experience of the FSC empowerment. The programme offers INSTITUTE OF FORESTS certification. It is hoped that the five short courses and one seminar & RANGELANDS information in the brochure and the full- addressing different aspects of CAFM. length report will contribute to increased The Scientific Boards Society of awareness of the potential benefits as For more information, please contact: Research Institute of Forests & well as the limitations of market-based IAC, PO Box 88, 6700 AB Wageningen, Rangelands (SBS-RIFR) has recently certification in relation to forest the Netherlands. been formed with some 100 expert communities and forest peoples. Fax: +31 317 495395; members. Fields covered include: The full-length report Sustainable for e-mail: [email protected]; forestry, forest management, forest Whom? is available in pdf format at: www.iac.wageningen-ur.nl harvesting, agroforestry, silviculture, www.taigarescue.org/publications/reports biotechnology, rangelands, medicinal .shtml plants, forest health and environmental pollution, genetic resources, For more information, please contact: desertification control, forest Taiga Rescue Network, Box 116, S- improvement, etc. 96223 Jokkmokk, Sweden. SBS-RIFR is ready to start joint E-mail: [email protected]; venture projects with other companies www.taigarescue.org and organizations in Iran and throughout the world.
For more information, please The Boreal Footprint Project (BFP) is contact: an American participant of the Taiga Ali Salahi, Research Institute Rescue Network. BFP aims to reduce of Forests & Rangelands, Alborz Americans’ ecological footprint on the Research Center, GPO Box 31585-343, boreal forests of Canada and Alaska Karaj, Iran. through education, advocacy and Fax: +98 261 6603482; campaigning. e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 24 NEWS AND NOTES
contact: Domingo M. Ramirez, Director, were expressed by the questionnaire TREES, College of Forestry and Natural respondents. Resources (CFNR), University of the This study demonstrates a means of Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), using local knowledge in the context of College, Laguna, Philippines. a biometrically sound sampling scheme E-mail: [email protected] that does not compromise its integrity and may offer useful lessons for the use of indigenous knowledge in tropical USING LOCAL NWFP inventory. (Source: Resource KNOWLEDGE IN NWFP assessment of non-wood forest INVENTORY products. Experience and biometric principles. FAO NWFP No. 13.) An interesting North American study that contains some lessons for tropical TREES INTERNATIONAL NWFP assessment is the work that has TRAINING COURSES been done in Canada on inventory for Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) bark With the world’s current environmental harvested to manufacture a breast issues and concerns, human resource cancer drug. As a preliminary to large- development has been considered as scale inventory, a decision needed to be one of the most important components made about which of two available that can help achieve sustainable natural forest maps (an ecosystem map and a resources development. Through the forest cover map) would provide the years, the Training Center for Tropical best stratification and whether local Resources and Ecosystems knowledge could be used to select Sustainability (TREES) maintains its which strata should be sampled for yew. commitment to upgrade the knowledge, A questionnaire was sent to local skills and attitudes of individuals involved foresters and ecologists to elicit their in tropical resources development and knowledge about the occurrence and ecosystems sustainability through its distribution of yew among the mapped continuing education and training units on each map. The questionnaire programmes. TREES continues to data were compiled and used to identify develop and conduct training courses high- and low-probability strata for yew and study tours that keep environment on each map. Field sampling was and natural resource professionals weighted so that 80 percent and 20 updated with recent developments and percent of samples were placed in high- prepared to meet the challenging and low-probability strata, respectively. demands of the future. Analysis of the data showed that For the next two years, TREES has overall estimates of yew populations designed 12 training courses and one produced using either map as a basis study tour that aims to address the for stratification were not statistically needs of forestry and natural resources different, but the standard errors for the professionals. These training courses ecosystem map were much smaller, include: indicating that it is more precise and ¥ Biodiversity monitoring and hence a more efficient stratification. The assessment validity of the high and low yew ¥ Forest products marketing occurrences strata as determined by the ¥ Agroforestry for sustainable questionnaire was not challenged or development tested in the analysis of results. The secret of happiness is to admire ¥ Sustainable forest resources Presumably this is because they were without desiring. management and project planning. confirmed as accurate. If this is the Francis H. Bradley case, then the local knowledge was British Philosopher (1846-1924) For more information and a complete reliable even though a diverse range of list of all courses available, please individual opinions on yew distribution
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 25 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
restricted owing to the nature of its A. malaccensis during the 1998-2000 AGARWOOD formation Ð agarwood is only found in a triennium. Trade Records and Analysis of small percentage of Aquilaria trees of Flora and Fauna in Commerce Agarwood, eaglewood, gaharu, those species known to produce it. (TRAFFIC) was contracted by the CITES aloeswood Ð these are just a few of the Although research into the origins of secretariat to undertake such a review in names for the resinous, fragrant and agarwood is ongoing, it appears that the 1998. TRAFFIC’s research initially highly valuable heartwood produced by fragrant resin that permeates the focused specifically on CITES and other species of the Indomalesian heartwood of some Aquilaria trees is implementation. However, as several tree genus Aquilaria. The wealth of produced as a response to wounding different Aquilaria species are in trade names for this dark and heavy wood (its and/or a fungal infection. It is this resinous and agarwood is extremely difficult to Chinese name literally means “wood that wood, or “agarwood”, that is sought, the identify to the species level, TRAFFIC’s sinks”) reflects its widespread and varied non-impregnated wood being considered research was broadened to encompass a use over thousands of years. Both too soft to be useful for construction. more general review of agarwood use agarwood oil and incense are used for Agarwood is harvested by felling and then and trade. Information was gathered their fragrant properties, notably in the splitting trees open. External signs of the through: interviews with government Near East. Agarwood incense is used in presence of agarwood are not always authorities, other agarwood researchers religious ceremonies by Buddhists, obvious. As a result, Aquilaria trees are and traders; compilation and analysis of Hindus and Muslims, while a revival of often cut down indiscriminately in the CITES and customs trade data; and a the Koh doh incense ceremony in Japan search for those containing agarwood. review of available legislation and has rekindled interest in agarwood in The high value of agarwood products is literature. Market surveys and visits to that country. In Taiwan Province of also stimulating illegal harvest and trade harvest sites and processing centres China, agarwood is an aromatic in several range countries. were undertaken in several countries. ingredient in Chu-yeh Ching and Vo Ka Populations of eight Aquilaria species The results of TRAFFIC’s research are Py wine. Although less common, have already declined to the point where reported in the TRAFFIC Network report agarwood may also be carved into they are considered threatened Heart of the matter: agarwood use and sculptures, beads and boxes, which are according to the World Conservation trade and CITES implementation for sometimes also used for religious Union (IUCN) Red List Categories. Of Aquilaria malaccensis. The full report can purposes. these, six species are considered at risk be downloaded (www.traffic.org/news/ Accounts of international trade in from overexploitation for agarwood. agarwood.pdf). (Source: Extracted from agarwood date back as early as the In view of the evidence of unsustainable the executive summary of Heart of the thirteenth century, India being one of the harvest and trade, intergovernmental matter: agarwood use and trade and earliest sources of agarwood for foreign action has been taken to bring the CITES implementation for Aquilaria markets. Agarwood is currently traded in international trade in one of these malaccensis.) large quantities: more than 700 tonnes of species, Aquilaria malaccensis, within agarwood from Aquilaria malaccensis sustainable levels. A. malaccensis was For more information, please contact: were reported in international trade in listed in Appendix II of the Convention on TRAFFIC International, 219c 1997. Available trade data report International Trade in Endangered Huntingdon Road, Cambridge approximately 20 countries as exporting Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CB3 ODL, UK. and re-exporting agarwood from 1993- with effect from February 1995. This listing Fax: +44 1223 277237; 1998, with exports from Indonesia and obliges all CITES member countries e-mail: [email protected] Malaysia taking the lead. Although overall exporting or re-exporting A. malaccensis [Please see under Country Compass Ð trade volumes may appear small in parts and derivatives (e.g. wood, chips, Papua New Guinea Ð for more information “timber trade” terms, they are not small in oil) to issue CITES documents for those on agarwood.] monetary terms. Agarwood chips and shipments exported. In the case of segments may sell for several hundred to exports from range states, the Convention several thousand US dollars per stipulates that such permits should only kilogram. The price of oil distilled from be issued once the exporting government agarwood is generally between has confirmed that the agarwood to be US$5 000 and $10 000 per kilogram, but exported was obtained both legally and in can be significantly more for agarwood oil a manner not detrimental to the survival of exceptionally high quality. of the species. Unfortunately, the demand for The CITES Plants Committee agarwood currently far exceeds the considered it a priority to review the available supply, which is naturally implementation of the CITES listing for
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 26 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
bamboo charcoal instead of the cooking method for insects varies from asbestos flakeboard and plastic species to species and place to place. Seventy-five percent of the world’s boards. Ninety-five percent of the Some insects are fried in oil, others population depends primarily on nicotine and other poisonous materials roasted directly and some are fermented traditional medicines, many of which would be absorbed if cigarette filters with whisky, while many species are are gathered from the wild. Products were made of bamboo charcoal. eaten raw. There are different stages in derived from the “sweet wormwood” ¥ Other fields. Bamboo charcoal can be insect development and each stage, plant are increasingly important in made into many kinds of compound namely egg, larva, pupa and adult, has a combating drug-resistant strains of materials in the material industry. It different method of processing. malaria, particularly in Africa. also can be made into handicrafts, Most insect consumption seems to be (Source: Biodiversity Ð a crucial issue feed additives and high-capacity limited to rural areas at the forest for the world’s poor. DFID, UK. ISBN rechargeable storage batteries, etc. fringes, where it is easy to collect the 1-86192-341-4.) Bamboo vinegar consists of 80 percent insects. In the Ngao Model Forest (NMF) water. When it is dehydrated, the vinegar area of Thailand, however, it is not only consists of about 80 to 200 components, the local people, but also the people or 32% organic acid, 40% phenolic from towns, who collect and consume compound, 3% aldehyde, 5% alkone insects. Sometimes, people from outside BAMBOO CHARCOAL compound, 5% alcohol compound, 4% the NMF come and collect insects, not AND VINEGAR ester compound and 5% others. only for their own consumption, but also Bamboo vinegar is a by-product of to sell in the market. Bamboo charcoal and vinegar production bamboo carbonization. Bamboo vinegar The extent of insect consumption is is more and more prosperous in China can be used as soil fungicide, plant root rising sharply. Earlier, the insects used to and most of the products are exported to growth promoter and deodorizer, in be collected from the wild; it was not Japan and other countries. cosmetics, health drinks, medicines, etc. necessary to rear them since Bamboo charcoal has a good market in (Contributed by: Jinhe Fu, INBAR, China.) consumption was on a small scale. Japan owing to a felling ban in natural Nowadays, some edible insects are forests and the good character of For more information, please contact: being reared for mass production and to bamboo charcoal. In addition to bamboo Dr Jinhe Fu, Program Officer, reduce collection from their natural charcoal being used for fuel, there are International Network for Bamboo and habitats. But most of the edible insects several other uses: Rattan (INBAR), Beijing 100101-80, China. such as the giant cricket, cicada and ¥ Agriculture. As a carrier of organic Fax: +86 10 64956983; bamboo worm are still collected from the manure and micro-organisms in the e-mail: [email protected]; wild, and only a few species are reared soil, bamboo charcoal can improve www.inbar.int/ or (cricket and some red ants). the vigour of the soil. www.geocities.com/zhuzi.geo/ In the NMF area, local people collect ¥ Chemicals. Bamboo charcoal can be and consume insects regularly. They used as the raw materials of bamboo have the local knowledge of where and active carbon. Bamboo charcoal when to find insects and the techniques shows strong absorption because of for searching and harvesting insects. the special structure of micro holes of They use the insects for household the bamboo stem. Tests show that the consumption, and the rest are sold in the absorption properties of bamboo market or along the roadside. Many active carbon are extremely good. edible insect species are harvested in ¥ Medicine and health care. Pillows and the NMF area, including giant cricket, mats made of bamboo charcoal can cicada, ant, mole cricket, giant water soothe the nerves, relax backaches bug, water scavenger beetle, and control snoring. Bamboo charcoal EDIBLE INSECTS grasshopper, scarab beetle, etc. Most also functions as a deodorizer, are harvested in the rainy season (early dehumidifier and fungicide. Edible insects in Ngao Model Forest, May to September). The giant cricket is ¥ Environment protection. Bamboo Thailand usually found during June to August. charcoal can be used as a water Insects have been consumed by the People usually only eat the eggs and clarifier, a shield for electromagnetic human race for a long time because of young nymphs of red ants. The ants waves and absorber of poisonous their availability and high nutritional build their nest on evergreen trees such gases. Pollution indoors would be value. It is estimated that people eat at as mango and wood apple. The peak absorbed if the panels were made of least 100 species of insects. The season for egg production is around
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 27 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
March-April. Eggs are sold in the market These edible larvae are widely Commercialization of mopane worms in for very high prices, about B 10 to 20 for harvested in the southern parts of mopane worm abundant areas of one small heap of eggs. Zimbabwe for food (subsistence) or for Zimbabwe has brought about a wide The mole cricket, giant water bug and sale by the local people. These are range of social, economic and water scavenger beetle always come out degutted, cleaned, boiled or roasted and environmental degradation problems. The during the rainy season. The mole cricket dried without any further processing taking study recommended that the biology and and water scavenger beetle are also sold place. Despite the popularity of the ecology of the mopane worm be studied in small heaps (30 to 40 individuals) and mopane worm in Zimbabwe, little is as a matter of urgency by the Forestry are priced at B 15 to 20 per heap. For known about its biology and ecology. An Commission. With sustainable utilization giant water bugs, the male has a higher interesting phenomenon, however, is that being one of the current ecological value than the female, because the male although the mopane worm’s favourite catchwords, the relevant scientific has a good odour while the female does host is mopane, it is not found throughout investigations will be necessary before not. The price for males and females in its host range in Zimbabwe: it is absent in enlightened inferences on the the market is about B 2.5 and B 1.5 per areas of a mopane veld on basalt sustainability and the impact of harvesting individual, respectively. (Source: preferring a mopane veld on granite. on natural mopane worm populations can Extracted from Model Forest Approach Mopane worms are also collected from be made. At present, the impact of News, July 2001.) miombo woodlands, although this is harvesting and utilization of mopane associated with dimorphism. Its alternative worms on the basic reproductive functions For more information, please contact hosts include Brachystegia spiciformis, of mopane woodlands is not known. the author: Julbernadia globiflora and J. paniculata. There are already fears of a decline in Mr Kobsak Wanthongchai, Forest Local residents in mopane worm areas mopane worm populations in most Research Officer, Forest Insect Pest of Zimbabwe feel that there has been a southern African countries owing to Control and Research Center, Ngao, steady decline in the insect’s populations. overutilization. These studies should not Lampang 52 110, Thailand. Mopane worms are also disappearing be carried out in isolation from mopane E-mail: [email protected] from parts of Botswana after heavy woodland ecology, as there is already a harvesting. The economic hardships and delicate balance between the insect and change in urban diets have led to the its host. The study also recommended commercialization of this resource, that mopane woodland ecology should be resulting in its use going beyond that of studied and that silvicultural management the subsistence level. It is considered as approaches incorporating mopane worm having the potential to generate income to harvesting should be developed by the the resource-poor farmers in areas of Forestry Commission. Non-wood forest mopane worm abundance. The major products (NWFP) generally play a pivotal threats to mopane worm availability now role in the sustainable management of are the effects of late-season burning on forests, thus supporting biodiversity. Their miombo woodlands, overutilization of the commercial exploitation has been found to Mopane worms caterpillars, unavailability of hosts owing be less ecologically destructive than Mopane worm, the larval stage of to deforestation and the cutting of large timber harvesting and therefore to have Imbrasia belina, has been consumed as branches to collect the resource and the greater potential for sustainable forest a delicacy in most southern African changes in climate, e.g. drought. In management. countries such as Zimbabwe, South Zimbabwe the availability, in general, of Mopane worms contribute significantly Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and edible caterpillars is reported to have to rural household economies through Namibia since time immemorial. The diminished markedly; of the 14 species nutrition and health contributions and as edible caterpillars, which are mostly commonly said to have been consumed in an important household food security found feeding on mopane trees the past, most have decreased in resource. Nutritionally, mopane worms are (Colophospermum mopane), are a larval abundance and some are very rare. comparable to and have even higher stage of the Saturniid moth. Full-grown A recent study on Zimbabwe has protein, fat, carbohydrate and calcium larvae measure 50 to 80 mm and are reported that there have been changes in contents than beef, chicken and milk. The fat, spiny, mottled black, yellowish, red- the patterns of mopane worm exploitation mopane worm’s potential in enterprise specked caterpillars. Adults are large, for income which has been driven by development is actually dependent on the brown, heavily scaled moths with availability of the resource, the need for fact that it is a high-protein food source. conspicuous eye-spots on each wing. cash and the changes in taste and market Nutritional studies of mopane worms in Adults have atrophied mouth parts, demands especially from urban dwellers local food industries have been carried out hence they do not feed. who have maintained their rural tastes. in Botswana and South Africa, but not yet
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 28 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
in Zimbabwe. These help to add value to ACP Countries Ð Linking National and immense success and proven the product and the full realization of the International Efforts. EC-FAO Partnership commercial viability, besides reaching its mopane worm potential in the sporting Programme, 1998-2001.) prime goal Ð poverty alleviation. and livestock feeding industries and in Beekeepers with two melifera colonies infant food formulation. The potential of can earn Tk 5 000 to 6 000/year with mopane worms in enterprise development HONEY only one hour per week. The total will help in employment creation, financial investment per box is Tk 1 000 especially in rural communities where Apiculture Development Programme and each box lasts about ten years. income is only limited to agriculture. Apiculture is one of the most attractive and Group members are especially Currently not much processing is done promising income-generating activities for interested as they can run the on the raw product, hence its marked PROSHIKA-facilitated group members programme at the same time as their absence on the international market. owing to high returns and low investment. other activities. Besides the Revolving There is, however, a danger of Since the inception of the Apiculture Loan fund, group members also carry overharvesting of the resource as a Development Programme in 1976, out many apiculture projects with their response to increased demand. PROSHIKA, one of the largest NGOs in savings, since the capital required in Currently the buyers determine the Bangladesh, has innovated and such projects is very low. prices because the harvesters have no introduced a number of new technologies The table below shows the success transport, storage facilities and the to modernize apiculture practices in over the last three years with the active marketing is not organized and is done Bangladesh. Through its organized group participation of group members of at the harvesting camps. members, PROSHIKA is moving towards PROSHIKA. The situation at present in Zimbabwe regarding NWFPs is marked by a serious Beekeeping and honey production dearth of information, especially for those Component 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 products that are consumed locally, e.g. Beekeepers (No.) 134 92 95 mopane worms. (Source: Pilot Studies Ð Bee colonies (No.) 808 796 388 Zimbabwe. Data Collection and Analysis Bee boxes (No.) 503 237 193 for Sustainable Forest Management in Honey production (kg) 16 586 13 562 13 727
FLOATING ON THE WINGS OF BEES
Birbal was a day-labourer in Bangshi The first year he produced 90 kg of produced 270 kg of honey worth Nagar village in the Tangail district of honey, worth almost Tk 11 000. He Tk 37 800. This time he purchased two Bangladesh. He did not have any land easily repaid all the loans from his cows, a goat and some poultry from of his own and had been living in a tiny earnings and multiplied those four the earnings of the honey and bee hut on a piece of land that belonged to boxes into ten bee colonies. This time boxes. In 1997, his family savings the government. He had to work hard he produced 200 kg of honey worth amounted to Tk 30 000. In 1998, he on other people’s farms to provide for Tk 24 000 and earned Tk 4 000 from bought 40 decimal lands from his his family of five and had nothing to selling the colonies. He soon became a earnings and planted seasonal crops to look forward to. man known in his area for selling pure earn even more money. He also The turning point came in 1994 honey. installed a sanitary latrine at his house. when, with PROSHIKA’s help, Birbal In 1996 he built a tin-shed house for Soon he owned 28 bee colonies and organized a group from his village and his family by selling eight bee boxes decided to cultivate melifera. named it Daridra (the poor). His group from his stock of 20 for Tk 8 000. That From being a day-labourer, Birbal started saving Tk 5 as required every year his income from selling 240 kg of thus became a self-reliant, well-off man month until the total savings stood at honey reached Tk 28 000. He has not and is now the leader of a PROSHIKA- Tk 12 000. During that time, he received taken any more assistance from facilitated group. His group now has training in apiculture from PROSHIKA, PROSHIKA since. Beekeeping has been savings of Tk 150 000 and has inspired after which he started his beekeeping enough to lead him to brighter days. seven other members of his group to venture. He bought four boxes with a Then Birbal invited his brother to come forward with apiculture projects. credit support of Tk 2 000 from participate in his enterprise. In 1997, (Contributed by: A.Z.M. Manzoor PROSHIKA. they had 22 bee colonies, which Rashid, Bangladesh.)
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 29 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
Besides the group-based project for countries must submit a plan, setting out uses and prospects for the conducting training and experimenting guarantees regarding the monitoring of development of wild edible fungi further for the development of bee various residues including antibiotics, worldwide. The study is being compiled rearing, PROSHIKA runs three model pyrethroids, organochlorines and heavy by CABI Bioscience on behalf of FAO. apiaries. The developed varieties of metals. (For further information, please contact melifera bees are reared in these For a country to be permitted to export Sven Walter, FAO NWFP programme; apiaries through 227 bee colonies. In honey to the EU, it must first be added e-mail: [email protected]) 2001 a total of 20 000 kg of honey was to the list of permitted countries. ¥ Compilation of a subregional study on produced in these apiaries. Zambian honey exporters recently Forest-based mushrooms in East and formed themselves into a group and, Southern Africa, which aims at overseen by their Ministry of Agriculture, documenting and assessing have successfully applied for Zambia to mushrooms and community be added to the list. (Details of EU management, harvesting and trade. decision 2001/158/EC can be found at (For further information, please contact www.forum.europa.eu.int/public/irc/sanco Michel Laverdiere, Forestry Officer, /vets/info/) FAO Subregional Office, PO Box 3730, Beekeepers working in remote areas Harare, Zimbabwe; e-mail: of poor countries have good possibilities [email protected]) to produce top-quality, non-contaminated ¥ Case study on the Assessment of wild honey and beeswax. We must ensure edible mushrooms in Malawi. This field For more information, please contact: that they also have a fair opportunity to study is being carried out in the context A.Z.M. Manzoor Rashid, Lecturer, obtain top prices for their premium of the European Commission-FAO Department of Forestry, Shahjalal products. (Source: Beekeeping and Partnership Programme in order to University of Science & Technology, Development.) support FAO’s activities in the Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh. development of generic NWFP E-mail: [email protected] or For more information, please contact: inventory guidelines. (For further [email protected]; Ms Nicola Bradbear, Bees for information, please contact François or Development, Troy, Monmouth NP25 Ndeckere-Ziangba, FAO NWFP Information and Documentation 4AB, UK. Programme; e-mail: Resource Cell, PROSHIKA, I/1-Ga, Fax: +44 (0)16007 16167; [email protected]) Section-2, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, e-mail: [email protected]; Bangladesh. www.planbee.org.uk Mushroom studies in Zimbabwe Fax: +880 2 8015811; Mushrooms in indigenous forests e-mail: [email protected]; An extensive literature review was www.proshika.org/index.htm MUSHROOMS carried out on the productivity and contribution of edible mushrooms found Honey market ecoprotectionism? in miombo woodlands to rural household Ecoprotectionism is the concern that economies. It was observed that applying environmental tests to the origin mushrooms occur in flushes during the of products will provide a new excuse for rainy period, from November to April. limiting the imports of products from poor Mushrooms have been observed to have countries. Is this happening in the case 20 to 40 percent of crude protein, 3 to of honey imports to the European Union 28 percent of carbohydrates and a wide (EU)? range of both macro- and micro- Species No. 34 - 2000 On 12 February 2001, the EU elements. Any assessment of the Commission adopted a new decision Fungi, mushrooms and FAO contribution of mushrooms to the rural (2001/158/EC) listing countries The FAO NWFP Programme is currently economy should thus consider the total authorized to import honey into the EU. involved in various activities related to the economic value (i.e. both consumed and No African nations are included in this sustainable use of fungi. These activities traded quantities). Road survey results list and from Asia, only China, India and include: indicated that on average each Viet Nam are eligible. The purpose of the ¥ Compilation of a global study on Wild household consumed approximately 20 kg legislation is to prevent honey containing edible fungi and rural livelihoods. This of fresh mushrooms per annum. It is undesirable residues from being study aims at compiling in one volume estimated that about 10 tonnes of fresh imported into Europe. To be listed, widely scattered information on the mushrooms are exported from miombo
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 30 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
woodlands annually, realizing about employment opportunities mainly to La première tentative d’inventaire a US$500 000 to corporate organizations. women (92 percent of the labour force). utilisé des méthodes empruntées aux There is an apparent dearth of Difficulty in obtaining reliable études sur la diversité des champignons information on the productivity of quantitative information on productivity dans trois forêts étudiées. Dans chaque mushrooms occurring in natural forests, stems from a significant level of illegal forêt, trois emplacements ont été choisis which makes it difficult to assess their mushroom picking in the plantation pour représenter les trois types de contribution to household incomes. forests. Further research on mushroom végétation les plus productifs de la forêt. Productivity has in the past been productivity is recommended in order to Ë chaque emplacement, trois zones estimated from the amounts collected by increase the income levels of the rural d’étude de 225x225 m (5 ha) ont été mushroom gatherers, a method that can communities engaged in the picking choisies pour représenter l’altitude, result in unreliable data because of the operation. Moreover, educational l’aspect et l’accessibilité à travers le type disparity between forest productivity and programmes aimed at identifying other de végétation, fournissant ainsi neuf amounts harvested. Since most of the edible mushrooms on exotic plantations sites d’étude dans chacune des trois mushrooms occur in ectomycorrhizal must be conducted so as to contribute to forêts étudiées. Chaque site a été associations with some specific trees, the development of the local mushroom entouré par des affichages qui en forest depletion can have significant pickers. limitaient l’accès, et dans chacun d’eux, impacts on mushroom yields. Of about 60 six échantillons en bande de 2x50 m, species of edible mushrooms used in For more information, please contact: marqués de manière permanente, ont Zimbabwe, those of the genera Amanita, Sven Walter, FAO NWFP Programme. été systématiquement placés selon une Cantharellus, Termitomyces and Lactarius E-mail: [email protected] orientation aléatoire. Les échantillons are the most preferred for collection. [Please also see under International Action ont été mis en place pendant la période Ð FAO in the field, for more information on où les champignons n’avaient pas these case studies.] fructifié, afin d’éviter de prendre conscience de leur emplacement et Développer des protocoles pour contrôler d’introduire un biais. Les champignons des populations de champignons ont été décrits en mesurant le chapeau Une équipe du Service forestier de la et les diamètres des pieds, la distance Station de recherche du Nord-ouest verticale du voile au chapeau, la Pacifique à Corvallis, au Département distance par rapport à l’arbre le plus de l’agriculture des Etats-Unis (USDA), proche et le volume récolté. Les a développé une méthodologie pour chapeaux mesurés ont été marqués inventorier, évaluer les rendements et pour éviter les répétitions. Les Pine plantation mushroom (Boletus edulis) contrôler la production de champignons échantillons ont été ré-examinés chaque Boletus edulis is an edible mushroom sauvages comestibles depuis 1993. Leur semaine pendant la période de commonly found in pine plantations expérience et le processus de fructification. Après quelques années where it grows in symbiotic association développement des idées sont très bien d’expérience, cette méthode a été en with the roots of pine trees. A case study documentés dans une série de grande partie abandonnée car elle était (survey) was carried out on three forest publications et fournissent une étude de trop chère et demandait trop de temps. Il estates in the Eastern Highlands of cas riche d’informations sur les a été également estimé que la zone Zimbabwe to assess mushroom problèmes d’inventaire des produits d’échantillonnage était bien trop petite production from the plantations, and their forestiers qui ne sont pas issus des pour être correctement représentative de contribution to household income for the arbres. chacune des espèces. Les échantillons local communities. The findings show Les problèmes principaux qui se ont également été compromis par le that pruned and thinned stands with posent à l’équipe de conception viennent prélèvement illégal et le vandalisme, slash scattered on the forest floor tend to du fait que les champignons cibles alors que les collecteurs légitimes yield higher volumes of edible (Matsutake, chanterelle et morilles) étaient quant à eux intimidés et ne mushrooms. Although mushroom apparaissent comme des colonies pouvaient pas récolter normalement les harvesting is a high foreign currency dispersées, réparties spatialement de placettes. De plus, des rapports earner business, its contribution to manière très inégale, très énigmatique météorologiques hors-site n’ont pas household income for local communities (en grande partie invisible sur le sol) et correspondu aux rendements. Après engaged in picking and processing également saisonnières. Il a été reconnu cette expérience il a été décidé de operations is only at the subsistence dès le début que la distribution inégale changer la méthodologie de level. However, the mushroom business exigerait le développement de nouveaux l’échantillonnage. L’expérience japonaise was observed to have created schémas d’échantillonnage et analyses. a suggéré que le contrôle du shiro
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 8, March 2001 31 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
(corps individuel de mycélium ou La recherche est toujours en cours «château» en japonais) serait utile pour pour trouver un protocole adapté au suivi RATTAN des champignons Matsutake. des populations de champignons. Un Cependant, cette méthodologie est très manuel décrivant l’expérience actuelle et L’Afrique sur le marché mondial de consommatrice de temps et pourrait présentant les meilleurs conseils est en produits en rotin: une place dérisoire seulement être considérée pour des cours de préparation. (Source: Extrait de Le rotin est incontestablement l’un des travaux de recherche et pas pour le la publication Évaluation des ressources plus anciens et importants PFNL qui font contrôle ordinaire. Deux faits nouveaux en produits forestiers non ligneux. l’objet d’un commerce international de dans le domaine de la méthodologie Experiénce et principes de biométrie. grande envergure. Son commerce découlent de cette première expérience. Produits Forestiers non Ligneux n¡13, mondial est évalué à près de 6,5 milliards Il est proposé que le contrôle au FAO.) $EU et implique presque tous les niveau régional devrait être réalisé par continents. Dans ce sous-secteur, comme des énumérateurs volontaires, choisis dans bien d’autres domaines enviables, parmi les cueilleurs locaux et une l’Afrique se contente des derniers rôles. proposition dans ce sens a été faite. Le MUSHROOM WEB SITES L’Asie du Sud-Est a elle seule contrôle plan consiste à utiliser des permis de plus de deux tiers environ des récolte exclusifs, attribués comme Many links to a wide variety of Web exportations des produits finis en rotin motivation aux volontaires pour qu’ils sites on mushrooms can be found at: estimées à plus de 3 milliards $EU par an fassent des relevés détaillés de la www.phone-soft.com/cyber- au cours des années 1990. Les récolte à partir de placettes world/make- principaux pays concernés sont d’échantillons marquées. frame.php3?framename=2569i.htm l’Indonésie, les Philippines, la Malaisie, la L’échantillonnage stratifié systématique Thaïlande, la Chine, le Singapour et la au niveau régional doit être mis en Fungal Jungal République démocratique populaire lao. œuvre pour choisir des sites de contrôle The Fungal Jungal is the Web site of En guise d’illustration, on peut retenir que locaux et les données utilisées pour the Western Montana Mycological les Philippines (moins de 100 000 km2 de étudier les relations entre la gestion Association (WMMA). The WMMA forêts) contribuent pour près 250 millions forestière et la productivité des mission statement is to educate $EU à ce commerce, soit environ 16 pour champignons. Le suivi des sites doit être people further about fungi, edible and cent de la valeur de leurs exportations contrôlé par le personnel du Service otherwise, encourage sustainable and globales annuelles. À côté de ces géants, forestier. Le programme est destiné à responsible mushroom harvest, and les ténors africains (le Nigéria, le être volontaire et basé sur une preserve mushroom habitat. Cameroun, le Ghana, la République collaboration flexible et décentralisée, www.fungaljungal.org démocratique du Congo, la Guinée encourageant l’appropriation volontaire équatoriale, la République-Unie de du programme. SilviShrooms Tanzanie) sont pratiquement invisibles. Le Pour le Matsutake, une approche A Web site on predicting edible Cameroun par exemple (plus de 200 000 cartographique a été adoptée avec des mushroom productivity using forest km2 de forêts) réalise des exportations champignons cartographiés en utilisant carbon allocation modelling and annuelles d’articles en rotin de moins de des arbres de référence, qui sont immunoassays of ectomycorrhizae. 50 000 $EU environ, soit largement moins localisés au moyen du GPS (Global www.fsl.orst.edu/mycology/ss/Index.htm de 0,5 pour cent de ses exportations Positioning System). Dans un groupe de totales. Au niveau des importations, les champignons, on inclut les champignons pays africains tout comme les ténors situés à une distance inférieure à 0.5 m, asiatiques suscités ne comptent presque la distance entre les groupes étant d’au pas, la consommation alimentée par les moins 2 m. Les groupes délimités ont flux internationaux étant essentiellement subi des traitements de récolte la chasse gardée des pays développés expérimentaux et ont été contrôlés par le (les importations annuelles d’articles en personnel forestier, avec la coopération rotin et matières proches au cours des des cueilleurs locaux qui ont conservé années 1990 représentaient au les zones alentours bien exploitées, de Cameroun environ 25 000 $EU contre manière à décourager d’autres cueilleurs plus de 30 millions $EU pour les Pays- opportunistes. La méthode de sélection Bas, par exemple). Compte tenu de la des arbres de référence n’est pas faiblesse des revenus en Afrique, c’est la décrite, mais cette méthode semble être quasi-absence des pays africains au un moyen efficace pour échantillonner. niveau des exportations qui suscite le plus
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 32 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
de curiosité à première vue. Ceci d’autant position plus que marginale des pays Products series as Rattan. Current plus que l’Afrique dispose de quelques africains sur le marché mondial d’articles research issues and prospects for atouts potentiels dont une importante en rotin. conservation and sustainable disponibilité de matière première, le faible Face aux pays africains noyés dans development. coût de la main-d’œuvre et la proximité ces lacunes, on retrouve des pays de Printed copies of this publication are géographique des grands marchés de l’Asie du Sud-Est qui, depuis plusieurs available through FAO’s Sales and consommation européens et nord décennies, ont mis en place un puissant Marketing Group (publications- américains. arsenal de production et de [email protected]); the electronic version is Ces avantages relatifs de l’Afrique par commercialisation dynamique et efficace available at: www.fao.org/docrep/003/ rapport à L’Asie du Sud-Est sont fait d’outils, de techniques, de mesures et y2783e/y2783e00.htm malheureusement annihilés par une foule autres stratégies efficients: de lacunes techniques, organisationnelles ¥ un dispositif apte à faire face aux fortes et commerciales. La faiblesse des demandes dans des délais courts tout facteurs de production est l’une des en offrant des articles standardisés et lacunes les plus handicapantes. Il s’agit de qualité satisfaisante; notamment des techniques et d’outillages ¥ développement de «joint ventures», rudimentaires ou archaïques, de l’effectif mise en place ou utilisation des d’intervenants réduits (deux personnes en structures de promotion efficientes moyenne par unité de transformation (ASMINDO, CITEM, l’IKEA) et création contre plusieurs dizaines aux Philippines, des circuits d’exportation contrôlés par par exemple), des fonds de roulement des professionnels; très modestes (inférieur à 50 $EU par ¥ des mesures d’appui des unité de transformation) et d’un manque gouvernements (prêts à des taux de formation technico-commerciale favorables, exemptions fiscales, aide à appropriée pour les acteurs. Cette la formation, transfert de technologies) Unasylva faiblesse est à l’origine d’une production et des rapports étroits avec des ONG Worldwide, hundreds of millions of de qualité quelconque ou médiocre et ATO du Nord qui font la promotion people trade in or use rattan for (retraits, fissures, fentes, traces de des articles asiatiques pour diverses purposes ranging from furniture Ð the brûlures, attaques biologiques, imitation raisons. best-known rattan product Ð to walking servile au niveau du dessin). La faiblesse Au regard de la situation ainsi sticks, umbrella handles, baskets, des facteurs de production entraîne aussi présentée, les pays africains doivent matting, hats, ropes, birdcages, fish la fabrication des articles en quantités nécessairement opérer une véritable traps and numerous other local uses. réduites (au Cameroun il faut en moyenne révolution dans le sous-secteur rotin pour However, rattan resources (which trois à quatre mois à une unité de espérer tirer parti de la forte demande comprise some 600 species), throughout transformation pour exécuter une mondiale de produits finis de ce PFNL. their natural range in the tropical forests commande de 500 petits paniers tandis Les partenaires des pays africains of Asia and Africa, are being depleted qu’aux Philippines ce délai ne peut en intéressés par la situation des populations through overexploitation, poor forest aucun cas excéder une semaine pour une forestières devraient les aider à management and loss of forest habitats. unité de transformation de taille moyenne) développer cette activité compte tenu des A recent issue of Unasylva spotlights et non uniformes. Ce qui est contraire aux potentialités de ce PFNL en matière this important but perhaps exigences des circuits de ravitaillement et d’emploi, de lutte contre la pauvreté et de underappreciated non-wood forest de distribution moderne débouchant sur conservation des forêts. (Contribution de: product. The articles in this issue have une consommation de masse. Louis Defo, CML, Université de Leiden all been adapted from papers presented L’absence de filière d’exportation bien (bourse WOTRO), Pays-Bas et Université at the Expert Consultation on Rattan établie constitue aussi un handicap à de Yaoundé, BP 8297, Yaoundé, Development, which was held in Rome grande portée. Les canaux de ventes à Cameroun; mél.: [email protected]) from 5 to 7 December 2000 to assess l’extérieur des pays producteurs du the current status of the resource and its continent africain sont pour la plupart très FAO and rattan utilization, identify the major issues occasionnels ou sporadiques et sont le Rattan proceedings facing the rattan industry and formulate fait des étrangers de passage, des The proceedings of the Expert recommendations for promoting organisations non gouvernementales Consultation on Rattan Development, economic and technical cooperation for (ONG) et des organisations caritatives which was held in Rome from 5 to 7 the development of rattan globally. The internationales. Enfin, le manque de December 2000, have now been complete papers have been published in marketing est aussi une des origines de la published in FAO’s Non-Wood Forest the proceedings.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 33 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
A problem underlined by the expert Development of rattan for edible shoots three years earlier. It is estimated that consultation, and voiced by many in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic more than 50 planters have planted authors in this issue, is the absence of Although globally rattan is seen areas of more than 100 ha in at least reliable statistics on rattan at all levels. principally as a cane-producing plant, in five provinces. National forest inventories, with few the Lao People’s Democratic Republic The outlook for expanding edible exceptions, do not include rattan, and (and also in northeastern Thailand) shoot production is much better than that quantitative information on the resource rattans also supply edible shoot tips. for cane production. There is a large base and volume and value of trade is These are consumed locally or exported domestic market, and the Lao People’s scarce. to Southeast Asian communities in Democratic Republic competes only with Collection of statistics and exchange France, the United States and Thailand in supplying the export market. of information on rattan are among the elsewhere. Furthermore, planting is spreading main objectives of the International The trade in edible rattan shoots from rapidly without the need of special policy Network on Bamboo and Rattan wild plants is large, unquantified and support because, unlike cane, shoots of (INBAR), established in 1997 with a essentially unregulated. Daemonorops C. tenuis offer a rapid and proven return global mandate to promote the jenkinsiana thrives in the north of the on the open market. development of bamboo and rattan for country in areas of shifting cultivation The edible shoot sector seems to be socio-economic and environmental well- and appears to be the main source of the most promising area for support of being. In addition, international agencies shoots for the markets there. Its rattan development. The Lao Forestry such as the Center for International profusely clustering clumps survive fire, Research Centre and Oxford University Forestry Research (CIFOR), the deforestation and repeated shoot and Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom International Tropical Timber removal very well. The cane of this have drawn up a programme for which Organization (ITTO), the International species is not highly sought after, so funds are currently being sought. Plant Genetic Resources Institute trade in its shoots has little effect on The shoot subsector could also offer (IPGRI) and FAO deal with rattan, either overall commercial cane production. some spin-off benefits for the cane through specific programmes or However, in some places valuable cane- sector. The plantations have little indirectly in their livelihood support producing species are targeted, and this potential for conversion to cane programmes. trade is of greater concern. production because the rattan is grown Given its economic, ecological and Rattan plantation development is in open sun with no available climbing socio-cultural importance to a large beginning to get under way in the supports. However, the abundance of number of people in the world, there is country, and plantations for edible shoot cheap seedlings and the widespread an urgent need to ensure a sustainable production are a dynamically growing expertise in growing these species will supply of rattan. Attention to property subsector. Small-scale nursery trials have make cane plantations easier to rights, quality improvement, control of been made for six or seven species with establish if economic conditions become illegal harvesting, market information, commercial potential. Only one or two attractive in the future. (Source: prevention of post-harvest losses and very small trials of plantations for cane Unasylva, No. 205.) supportive tax policies are recommended production have begun, but one species to help improve benefits to harvesters (Calamus tenuis) has already become a For more information, please contact: and producers, providing an incentive to major commercial success in plantations Mr Tom Evans, Researcher, The Darwin maintain the resource sustainably. for edible shoot production. Many fields Initiative, Lao Rattan Research Project, (Source: Unaysylva, No. 205.) begin producing saleable shoots only a Oxford Forestry Institute, Oxford, UK. year or so after planting and can then be harvested monthly for many years thereafter, offering a return that is competitive with rice production. Rattan prefers sites where regular flooding would damage most other crops. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic the techniques for rattan cultivation for edible shoot production were first developed in 1994, inspired by large-scale commercial planting in Thailand of three species (mainly Calamus viminalis with some Calamus siamensis and C. tenuis) which began
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 34 COUNTRY COMPASS
assess the potential for REGUA to BANGLADESH Plants with economic value provide local employment through the Local name Scientific name development of selected non-timber forest Rare and endangered economic plants Haritaki Terminalia chebula products (NTFP). As part of this study into of Bangladesh Bohera Terminalia belerica potential NTFPs, local interviews were Plants of economic and medicinal value Amlaki Emblica officinalis conducted with community elders during were once abundant in the forests of Arjun Terminalia arjuna the second half of 2000 to ascertain the Bangladesh. But, unfortunately, these Khair Acacia catechu level of knowledge regarding traditional important resources are getting rarer day Neem Azadirachta indica plant use and to identify species worthy of by day. Unless immediate attention is Chalmogra Hydnocarpus kurjii further study. Sadly, little ethnobotanical given, the country may lose these Bel Aegle marmelos knowledge exists to date. Although NTFP important and useful resources forever. Ashok Saraca indica studies have been conducted on the Forest land is decreasing at an Tetul Tamarindus indica Atlantic rain forest, they are few and, alarming rate and in that context the given the wide intersite variation in flora Forest Department of Bangladesh Bangladesh. (Contributed by: A.Z.M. due to differences in aspect, altitude and cannot provide land for any plants Manzoor Rashid, Lecturer, Department microclimate, of little use until an except for commercially important of Forestry, Shahjalal Science & inventory of the reserve’s flora has been timber-yielding species in normal Technology University, Sylhet-3114, conducted. It is hoped that the research plantation programmes. As a result, Bangladesh; e-mail: [email protected] team from the Jardim Botânico in Rio de other economic plants are becoming or [email protected]) Janeiro will undertake such an inventory rarer in the forest area. in the near future. Herbal medicines are still a most Identification of potential NTFPs, popular and accepted way of treatment therefore, is difficult at present, although for the vast majority of people (tribal) in exploration of the reserve has suggested rural and hilly areas across the country. several possible avenues of It is part of their belief and cultural investigation. The forest contains a rich heritage. Therefore, to meet the needs of diversity of begonias, ferns and these people in remote areas where heliconias, all with a potential market as herbal medicines are their only form of ornamental or houseplants. Owing to remedy, we cannot but emphasize their ease of cultivation, begonias would conservation and extension of cultivation seem to offer the most promise. Given of economic plants of medicinal and the reserve’s proximity to a major urban other values. In that context, the market (Rio de Janeiro), the sale of question is how can the problem be met, ornamental and houseplants cultivated as these are not priority species in the from forest species may prove to be a normal plantation programme of the valuable source of income for the Forest Department? The only way is reserve and the local population. community-based forestry programmes REGUA was established under where these important economic plants BRAZIL Brazilian legislation in 1998 and is can easily be included. If this is done, it managed in association with the local will not only serve the people but will Preliminary study into NTFPs at a new communities centred around the village also save these important resources ecological reserve in southeastern Brazil of Guapiaçu. The reserve is supported from extinction. The Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu by and is a project of the Brazilian To achieve this, some important and (REGUA) is located in the Serra do Mar Atlantic Rainforest Trust, a United widely used economic plants should be mountain range, approximately two hours Kingdom-registered charity committed to included in community-oriented forestry northeast of Rio de Janeiro by car. the preservation of this unique and programmes. A short list of threatened Encompassing 7 385 ha and an altitudinal highly threatened environment. REGUA multipurpose economic plants of socio- range of 35 to 2 100 m, this Atlantic rain publishes a quarterly newsletter which economic importance is given in the forest reserve was created to preserve includes regular articles about the table. permanently one of the biologically richest reserve’s conservation, research, It is high time that initiatives were and most important examples of this environmental education and community taken to protect our valuable economic extraordinary forest type remaining. outreach programmes. (Contributed by: plants from extinction in order to serve A preliminary study was conducted Simon Comerford, Temporary Site the ailments of the rural poor of from September 2000 to March 2001 to Manager, June 2000-March 2001.)
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 35 COUNTRY COMPASS
For further information about REGUA, A further two hotels are planned in Acre. not take over the entire mountain. By this or to subscribe to the newsletter, BNDES is investing a total of demarcation, no farms can cultivate please contact: Stephen Knapp, Project $R 1.1 million in the project. (Source: above 1 000 m on the mountain slopes. Director, REGUA Administrative Office, 1 Amazon News, 7 February 2002 The farm/forest boundary is 4 m wide and Compton Cottages, Upper Norton, [[email protected]].) a total of 40 km have so far been West Sussex PO20 9DZ, UK. demarcated. Traditional boundary markers Tel./fax: +44 (0)1243 601029; (dracaena) have already been planted on e-mail: CAMEROON 30 km of the demarcated boundary. Patrol [email protected]. co.uk; teams are being set up in areas where www.regua.org Community leaders’ forum Is playing demarcation has been accomplished to leading conservation role make sure people do not encroach on the Nyasoso-Cameroon-Mount Kupe, in conserved areas within the boundary. southwestern Cameroon, is one of the Here again, the chiefs will be on the last remaining areas of montane forest in frontline, moving around their villages, Cameroon. Extending over an area of sensitizing their people. Each chief leads about 30 km2, and rising to an altitude of his village demarcation team and is there 2 050 m, the mountain is covered in to resolve any conflicts that arise. pristine forest. It is home to many rare When demarcation is completed, the and unique species. It is also a place of conserved forest will be gazetted, maps great importance to the Bakossi people, will be produced and community for whom it provides food, water, management plans drawn up. However, medicine and building materials Ð as well WWF’s funding for the Mount Kupe as being the sacred home of their Forest Project has now run out, and more Ashaninka Indians will manage ecological ancestors. funds are being sought to help the chiefs hotel in Acre However the proximity of the mountain ensure the ongoing protection of this The Ashaninka Indians will be the first to a major highway has encouraged an important area. (Source: www.panda.org/ indigenous community in Brazil to run a ongoing influx of non-native people from news/features/story.cfm?id=2681, in small ecological hotel. The hotel, which other parts of the country into the area. RECOFTC e-letter 2002.3.) will be located in the Marechal The population around the Mount Kupe Thaumaturgo region in the extreme west conservation site is now estimated at of Acre, close to the border with Peru, will 140 000, spread over an area of begin to be constructed in the next few 350 km2. Subsistence farming is quite days on the banks of the Amonia river. intensive in the forests along the In Pará, in the Altamira region, mountain slopes, with some farms being Tataquara Hotel is already in operation. It found at an altitude of 1 000 m. is administered by the cooperative The use of the forest by this Amazoncoop, which involves the increasing population together with participation of the Arawete Indians. The attempts to derive subsistence from the cooperative was created four years ago natural resource base of the area to help develop economic activities which constitute important threats to the would guarantee the Indians’ survival. conservation of wildlife and plants in the The cooperative also manufactures forest and the mountain. Quelques plantes à fruits comestibles de copaiba oil, which it exports to the United To address some of the issues facing la Réserve Forestière des Monts Rumpi Kingdom-based Body Shop chain. the mountain and the people who live (RFMR) sud-ouest du Cameroun The Ashaninka hotel is being financed around it, the Kupe All Chiefs Meeting, Une étude des plantes à fruits by the state government of Acre with representing 19 village communities from comestibles a été menée entre juin et resources from the National Social and the area, meets regularly to discuss septembre 1997 dans la Réserve Economic Development Bank (BNDES). problems facing the natural environment forestière des Monts Rumpi (RFMR) It will accommodate up to 40 people in and to mobilize the local people to seek située dans le sud-ouest du Cameroun eight chalets. The head of the Brazilian solutions to them. qui regorge d’une grande variété de Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in the state The WWF Coastal Forest Programme ressources naturelles et plus said that the proposal is to create a has been working with the local people to particulièrement d’espèces animales et centre for the study of traditional demarcate a farm/forest boundary around végétales. Dans sept villages (Meta, knowledge. the mountain and ensure that farms do Iyombo, Madie, Dikome-Balue, Kita,
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 36 COUNTRY COMPASS
Monsongisele Ngolo et Meka), 10 à 20 utilisée comme purgatif et dans le destruction progressive de la forêt. Or pour cent des ménages ont été interrogés traitement des tumeurs) et sont aussi l’afflux des commerçants de fruits venant et un total de neuf plantes à fruits utilisées pour soigner le rhum de du Nigeria devrait faire en sorte que la comestibles ont été identifiées. L’enquête cerveau ou de poitrine et la toux. récolte de ces fruits profite à l’économie a révélé la présence de plusieurs taxons Elles sont aussi mâchées comme de ces villages. à fruits comestibles dans ce site (plus de aphrodisiaque. Cet article, une sorte d’éveil de 1 000 espèces). Cependant, ¥ Ricinodendron heudelotii (njangsa). conscience, a permis d’inventorier l’identification précise et la promotion de Les fruits écrasés sont utilisés comme quelques plantes à fruits comestibles ces plantes à fruits comestibles, qui épice pour assaisonner les soupes. rencontrées dans la Réserve forestière constituent pour les villages proches de la Le latex et les feuilles sont localement des Monts Rumpi, mais surtout de réserve la troisième source de revenu utilisés comme purgatif. mettre en avant l’importance de ces après l’agriculture et la chasse, posent ¥ Piper guineense (piment sauvage). ressources pour les régions encore quelques problèmes. Il s’agit Les fruits et les feuilles secs sont avoisinantes. (Source: Département de notamment de la crise économique que utilisés comme épices pour biologie végétale, Faculté des sciences, traverse le Cameroun, de manque de assaisonner les soupes. En médecine Université de Dschang, BP 67, Dschang, route pour l’écoulement des produits traditionnelle, les feuilles et les fruits Cameroun.) vivriers et de l’interdiction de chasse dans sont utilisés dans le traitement de la les aires protégées. toux, les graines sont utilisées dans le Les espèces suivantes ont été traitement des douleurs d’estomac et retenues sur plus de 20 fruits qui sont comme antibactérien. Les feuilles, les récoltés et consommés par les habitants racines et les graines sont de la périphérie de la RFMR: incorporées dans les préparations ¥ Irvingia gabonensis (mangue pour le traitement de diverses sauvage). Il existe deux variétés de maladies infectieuses. L’huile extraite cette espèce; I. gabonensis var. des fruits contribue à la production gabonensis et I. gabonensis var. des savons et des parfums. excelsa. La poudre des cotylédons de ¥ Afrostyrax lepidophyllus (oignon de Cola acuminata ces deux variétés est utilisée dans la pays). Le fruit est une noix sèche préparation d’une soupe gluante très indéhiscente, à graine unique, avec appréciée dans la plupart des régions un exocarpe brun et dur. Il dégage CANADA d’Afrique. Ces graines rentrent aussi une odeur caractéristique de l’oignon. dans la fabrication de divers produits Les fruits écrasés sont utilisés pour Northern Forest Diversification Centre tels que les savons et les produits assaisonner les aliments. The Northern Forest Diversification cosmétiques et pharmaceutiques. ¥ Dacryodes eludis (safou, prune, Centre (NFDC) is a subsidiary of ¥ Cola lepidota (cola du singe). Son beurre sauvage). Les fruits sont Keewatin Community College and is péricarpe blanc mou et sucré est très bouillis et le mésocarpe consommé. located in The Pas, about 600 km north consommé dans la région. L’huile ¥ Cola acuminata (noix de cola). Les of Winnipeg. It currently operates as a extraite des fruits secs est utilisée graines sont mâchées pour stimuler le demonstration project funded by dans la cuisson des aliments, dans le système nerveux. Elles sont aussi Western Economic Diversification and traitement des plaies, des brûlures, utilisées pour couper l’appétit. the Province of Manitoba. des douleurs rhumatismales et des Cependant les fruits d’Irvingia Keewatin Community College’s vers ronds. Elle est aussi utilisée gabonensis et d’Afrostyrax lepidophyllus geographic territory covers all of comme vermifuge. sont les plus récoltés par rapport aux Manitoba north of the 53rd parallel. This ¥ Tetracarpidium conophorum (acajou). Piper guineense, Dacryodes eludis et region comprises five urban centres and L’endosperme est huileux et est Cola acuminata. Ces différences au approximately 65 remote or semi-remote communément bouilli et consommé. niveau des récoltes et des ventes communities. The total population of the L’huile extraite des graines est aussi s’expliquent par l’usage de chacun des region is 79 000, of which approximately utilisée dans la cuisson des aliments. fruits. 50 percent are of aboriginal descent, ¥ Garcinia kola (cola amer). Les Le paradoxe c’est que tout le potentiel residing predominantly in the remote graines sont mâchées en dépit de de la production des fruits comestibles communities. Keewatin Community leur goût très amer. Elles sont de la RFMR n’est pas suffisamment College operates two campuses, five utilisées en médecine traditionnelle exploité. À la sous-estimation de la regional centres and training sites in dans le traitement de plusieurs diversité des fruits s’ajoutent le manque several other communities, depending maladies (l’écorce de la tige est d’informations et le risque lié à la upon demand.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 37 COUNTRY COMPASS
The programme targets unemployed founded upon conserving Ð even Medicinal Plant Project, Canada or underemployed residents of remote enhancing Ð the biodiversity of the For the past year, a variety of commercially communities in northern Manitoba. While natural environment to the greatest valuable medicinal and nutraceutical there are no population restrictions extent possible. With 51 percent of its botanicals have been cultivated on a placed on participating in the landmass covered by boreal forest, section of BC (British Colombia) Hydro’s programme, the programme’s focus on Manitoba is a veritable storehouse of right of way on the Sunshine Coast, as remote communities means that almost NTFPs. Its rich history and culture, huge part of the Medicinal Plant project. all participants are aboriginal. In addition, expanses of unspoiled wilderness and The purpose of the Medicinal Plant more than 75 percent of programme lakes and diverse ecosystems ranging project is to: participants to date have been women. from prairie to tundra provide Manitoba ¥ showcase the commercial potential of The NFDC’s conceptual base is to link with the potential to become an cultivating medicinal and nutraceutical the demand for wild, natural products ecotourist’s paradise. botanicals; and ecologically harmonious recreational Linking the supply of these natural ¥ show the compatible uses of BC experiences with the need to create resources to the growing demand that Hydro’s rights of way; sustainable and culturally appropriate exists for them, and to do so in ways ¥ encourage private sector growers, employment opportunities in remote that create sustainability and maximum small landholders and First Nations to communities. Economic forecasters benefit for those who live closest to the develop their own medicinal plant indicate that the potential of these two resource, is the vision of the NFDC. operations; emergent industries Ð the non-timber In keeping with the community college ¥ discourage unregulated commercial forest products industry and ecotourism mission, the NFDC aims to provide harvesting of wild plant species from Ð is to achieve a fourfold increase. learning that will restore the self-respect British Colombian forests, which can Non-timber forest products (NTFP) and self-sufficiency of adults who have cause significant environmental typically refer to a wide variety of been culturally and economically damage; and products derived from forests, including marginalized through inappropriate ¥ demonstrate alternative forest aromatics, cones and seeds, forest social and economic change. practice methods that can be adopted botanicals, nutriceuticals, wild flower The NFDC is an innovative community throughout the province. honey, conifer boughs, wide rice, berries, economic development model. It directly Maintaining its rights of way and maple and birch sap products, links adult learning with income promoting low-growing plant species mushrooms and medicinal herbs. While generation, while also sustaining local helps BC Hydro increase safety and the term NTFP is relatively unknown, a cultural values, enhancing individual self- reliability by reducing the number of consumer simply has to walk into any respect, re-establishing traditional power outages caused by trees and craft store, pharmacy, supermarket, harvesting practices and returning branches coming in contact with power garden centre, florist shop, gift stand, income to the community. lines. Medicinal plants demonstrate the market garden or health food store to company’s commitment to environmental see the many uses of NTFPs. For more information, please contact: sustainability and compatible uses of its Ecotourism is an economic activity at Mr Doug Lauvstad, Director, Planning rights of way. BC Hydro is contributing the heart of the “green economy”, where and External Relations, PO Box 3000, $150 000 to help fund the MP project, tourist dollars turn local people into The Pas, Manitoba R9A 1M7, Canada. which involves growing selected, entrepreneurs and partners in Fax: +1 204 6237316; commercially viable, botanical species conservation. Ecotourism depends upon e-mail: [email protected] including Echinacea, St John’s wort, local resources, wisdom and expertise, mullein and devil’s club. These species and translates these into economic are well suited to the unique combination advantage at the local level. Indeed, the of conditions found on the rights of way, definition of ecotourism is “… require minimal tending once established responsible travel to natural areas which and are in demand as cash crops. conserves the environment and Shade-tolerant medicinal plants are also improves the welfare of local people”. being grown on the periphery of the right- Both of these industries are based on of-way corridor. Both native and non- the sustainable use of local products and native plants and fungi with a variety of environments in a way that is compatible beneficial properties have been planted. with the skills, knowledge, culture and The final report of this medicinal plant aspirations of residents of remote project is available from: bryan.bodell@ communities. Furthermore, the long-term bchydro.bc.ca (Contributed by: Russel viability of these two industries is Wills; e-mail [email protected])
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 38 COUNTRY COMPASS
North Island non-timber forest products ¥ the expansion/enhancement of three materiales de construcción, tejido y projects existing enterprises; alimento. Grupos étnicos, como los The Inner Coast Natural Resource ¥ the development of an NTFP pehuenches, utilizan el pehuén o piñón Centre (ICNRC) has been at the inventory methodology. de la araucaria como su principal forefront of NTFP development on North Many of those who benefited from the alimento. Tradicionalmente también ha Island (Vancouver) since its formation in project were First Nations residents and habido un desconocimiento oficial del 1997. With the help of external partners others impacted by downturns in the aporte de los PFNM a la economía such as the University of Victoria and the traditional forestry and fishing sectors. nacional, local y especialmente rural, y a Royal Roads University, ICNRC has Perhaps most important, the la alimentación de vastos sectores de la sponsored two NTFP workshops, a demonstration project served as a población, generalmente los más regional strategy session and a major foundation for further NTFP work on pobres, y de su contribución como NTFP demonstration project. North Island, such as the current fuente de trabajo a más de 200 000 From these projects, the following Integrated Demonstration Project for personas en zonas deprimidas y en issues were identified: Non-Timber Forest Products led by Royal épocas de mayor escasez de trabajo. ¥ significant potential for NTFP-based Roads University. El presente proyecto apunta a economic development; The ICNRC hopes to provide a contribuir a la formalización y expansión ¥ concern about the possibility of repository for information gathered de la actividad económica que genera la overexploitation of yet another set of through this project (e.g. reports, maps) utilización racional de los PFNM. El natural resources; and to help communicate project results objetivo general es "perfeccionar la ¥ lack of information about, and through their Web site. gestión tecnológica y comercial de los management of, the sector; PFNM asociados a la actividad silvícola ¥ potential implications of NTFP For more information, please contact: nacional, e incrementar su productividad industry expansion for First Nations. Darcy A. Mitchell, Adjunct Professor, y rentabilidad en función de la demanda One of the strongest issues that Royal Roads University, Project Leader, de los mercados nacionales e emerged from the first NTFP workshop in Box 32, Sointula, BC, Canada. internacionales". 1998 was the conviction that in British Fax: +1 250 9736168; El proyecto contempla en su esquema Columbia there is still an opportunity to www.icnrc.org metodológico, la obtención, análisis y “get this industry right”. validación del conocimiento de los sistemas productivos derivados del bosque, a partir del actual estado de “BENEATH THE TREES” desarrollo de las diferentes cadenas productivas. Se espera obtener To receive a copy of beneath the información del conjunto de los PFNM, Trees, the North Island Non-Timber para luego focalizar las investigaciones y Forest Products Newsletter, please desarrollo hacia uno o dos productos contact: seleccionados entre los de mayor Diane Carley, Communications relevancia e importancia económica. Coordinator, NTFP Demonstration Las investigaciones pertinentes Project, Box 32, Sointula, BC, Canada. comprenden el análisis de todos los Fax: +1 250 9736168; CHILE eslabones de la cadena productiva de los e-mail: [email protected] productos seleccionados, de aspectos de Innovación tecnológica y comercial de biología y ecología de la especie, Productos Forestales No Madereros silvicultura y manejo, y de los métodos de Subsequent projects have helped lay (PFNM) en Chile recolección y cosecha, los tratamientos the groundwork for the development of En Chile tenemos una amplia variedad pre y post cosecha, manipulación, new business and employment de PFNM que constituyeron los normalización, comercialización y opportunities. The most recent NTFP alimentos, medicinas y utensilios que escalamiento más adecuado, para demonstration project sponsored by tuvieron los primeros habitantes del transferir luego este conocimiento a los ICNRC in 2000-2001 played a role in: país. Hoy aún son de una importancia actores involucrados en el tema. ¥ the creation of two to three new capital, ya que más de la mitad de la Participarán en este proyecto dos businesses; población tiene como ayuda medicinal institutos de investigación y desarrollo ¥ the creation of approximately 20 jobs de primera necesidad el uso de plantas (INFOR e INTEC-Chile) que disponen de in the region (both seasonal and full- medicinales, yerbas, cortezas, frutos, amplios conocimientos y experiencia en time); hojas, y otros productos se utilizan como el sector forestal, en general, y en los
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 39 COUNTRY COMPASS
PFNM, en particular. Se ha incorporado, There are also the dynamics of además, a un grupo de empresas, HONDURAS foraging economies. Most of the grupos campesinos y étnicos, e wealthier and more integrated Tawahka instituciones nacionales como CONAF, households have abandoned forest- INDAP, CONADI, que han participado based activities for more profitable activamente tanto en la formulación y, occupations (e.g. agriculture, shops, como se espera, en la ejecución del wage labour). It is also highly probable proyecto. Diversas instituciones that more prosperous communities extranjeras brindarán su apoyo a través increase in population size. The authors de asistencia técnica y asesorías en therefore conclude that increasing wealth materias pertinentes; tal es el caso de la The creation of markets and trade plays and integration into markets are likely to FAO, de la Academia China de Ciencias a central role in strategies that aim at lead to the concentration of people in Forestales(CAF), de la Red Internacional merging conservation goals with one place, as well as to higher rates of del Bambú y Ratán (INBAR) y de improved local welfare. But increased per capita consumption. They expect entidades de Europa y Asia interesadas wealth and exposure to markets may that “sooner or later, the need for en el desarrollo y conservación have unforeseen side effects. Josefien management and collectively accepted armonioso de los bosques nativos. Demmer and Han Overman studied agreements on forest resource use will La metodología de transferencia these effects among Tawahka Indians in be required.” considera la capacitación y articulación Honduras and Tropenbos International In order to reduce pressure on certain entre operadores forestales, empresas has published the results. species, the two researchers suggest: vinculadas, organizaciones e The Tawahka Asangi Biosphere ¥ exploring the possibilities for setting instituciones. Se utilizarán técnicas Reserve in Honduras was created in up pig farms; tradicionales de difusión como 1999 to reconcile the conservation of ¥ discouraging sales of canoes and seminarios, días de campo, charlas, biodiversity with sustainable use and the boards to outsiders; exposiciones, y métodos más modernos protection of indigenous land rights. ¥ establishing mixed tree plantations ya antes señalados. Además, se Despite this protected status, the and introducing wood preservatives, utilizarán los medios de difusión e Tawahka territory is not free from the lesser known species and Amazonian intercambio utilizando tecnología effects of the market. The results of this canoe-building techniques. actualizada, estableciendo una página study suggest that people intensify their Demmer and Overman demonstrate Web del proyecto y difundiendo a través use of forest resources as their links with that the annual value of the forest de la actual Red de PFNM que opera en outside economies and wealth are accruing to the Tawahka ranges from el servidor de INTEC-Chile, así como strengthened. US$17.8 to $23.7 per hectare. This utilizando la Plataforma de Educación a Increasing levels of wealth and combined value of consumption and the Distancia de ésta institución. Se integration into the market appear to sale of forest goods is only a small producirán además CD-ROM con result in higher per capita pressure on fraction of the value that the global material recopilado por el proyecto que forest resources. Some species face community attaches to services of the se pondrá a disposición de los usuarios. more pressure than others, however. forest such as climate regulation, CO2 (Contribución de: G. Valdebenito R.) Plants that provide thatch and timber for absorption and erosion reduction. This canoes and board, in particular, face leads to the conclusion that the global Para más información, dirigirse a: more intensive exploitation with increased community should consider Gerardo Valdebenito R., Director de integration and wealth, while red brocket compensating villagers for foregone Proyecto, Instituto Forestal de Chile, deer, peccaries, spider monkeys and benefits if they would be willing to refrain Huérfanos 554, Santiago, Chile. some birds are among the animal from activities that lead to deforestation Fax: +56 2 6381286; species that are more intensively hunted. and forest depletion. This would increase correo electrónico: [email protected]; The effects of integration into markets the financial incentives for conservation www.infor.cl cannot be assessed, however, on the as well as raise local welfare. The basis of extraction data alone. The specifics of such mechanisms should be authors argue that the effects of income- negotiated between policy-makers, generating forest use and increases in NGOs and indigenous groups. Demmer the area of cultivated land should also and Overman believe that this could be be taken into account. For example, a promising long-term management cash generated by ecotourism may have strategy for indigenous reserves, negative side effects on the forest, because it covers the direct interests of because of agricultural expansion. the stakeholders. (J. Demmer and H.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 40 COUNTRY COMPASS
Overman. 2001. Indigenous people addition through sun drying or no value different approach, one which is conserving the rain forest? The effect of addition at the primary collectors’ level. integrated and holistic on multiple fronts wealth and markets on the economic Marketing linkage for these products is such as: internalization of environmental behaviour of Tawahka Amerindians in available at the village level in the form considerations in development planning, Honduras. Tropenbos Series 19. of badla deeds, i.e. exchange of NTFPs improving knowledge of and information Tropenbos International, Wageningen, against essential goods such as salt, on the realizable potential of the region’s the Netherlands. ISBN 90-5113-053-8.) kerosene and chilli. natural resources, clear understanding NTFPs constitute the major produce of the suitable approach and concrete This publication can be ordered from: on which tribals are dependent. The operationalization of community-based Tropenbos International, PO Box 232, livelihoods of people in the surrounding planning and a decision-making 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands. forest areas in general are intricately framework. The sustainable production Fax: +31 317 495520; linked with the availability of NTFPs. and conservation of forest products, e-mail: [email protected]; A recent paper by Susanta Kumar especially NTFPs, are influenced by a www.tropenbos.nl Barik attempts to serve two purposes. It number of factors, largely socio- sets out the contribution of a broad economic and institutional in nature. range of NTFPs, especially mahua, Unsustainable harvesting of the plant INDIA tamarind and hill brooms, and also to materials from the wild by collectors, what degree they contribute to the mostly for sale in outside markets, and sustenance on the tribal livelihoods. people’s lack of awareness about the real value of the resources, are two For more information, please contact: important causes of overharvesting. Susanta Kumar Barik, Research Officer, The paper is organized in five parts. ODI, M.P. Livelihoods Option Project, E- Part one describes the dilemma faced 8/19, Basant kunj, Arera Colony, Bhopal by northeastern states between (M.P.), India. development goals and environment E-mail: [email protected] imperatives. Part two talks about the forestry sector being the lead sector and Institutional and socio-economic factors the comparative advantage enjoyed by The Atavi (Atavika) forest tribes derive and enabling policies for NTFP-based NTFPs for basing the region’s their livelihood in most part from the development in northeastern India development. Part three argues for an forest, as is evident from their life style Ð The purpose of a recent paper by incentive-based management approach eating, clothes and household design, Madhav Kharki on NTFP enabling for pushing individuals, groups, clans etc. The forests and tribals live in policies in northeastern India was to and local self-government units into harmony in what might be called the raise some basic issues and postulate a managing NTFPs to generate maximum anthroposylvan ecosystem; the forest is few ideas in the context of exploring and benefits. Part four lays emphasis on a living complex and so is humankind. defining new approaches to developing an enabling institutional and More than 90 percent of their needs are development planning and project policy framework, specifically a state met through the collection, consumption implementation in northeastern India. It tenure system so that the real and sale of NTFPs, which not only is based on the premise that stakeholders, such as tillers or the provide sporadic support by providing development of a pristine, biodiversity conservers of the resource, have secure short-term monetary gain, but also by rich and culturally sensitive region such access to the resources and obtain the providing employment to all, irrespective as the northeast is a serious and maximum benefit from the investment in of caste, creed, age, sex and economic delicate affair. This region, which has so land. viability over the year. far failed to institute a system of The contribution of NTFPs to the food sustainable management of its vast For copies of a full transcript or for security base of the hill dwellers is quite natural resources for the welfare of its more information, please contact: significant year-round in terms of supply people, lags far behind on the Madhav Kharki, Regional Program of leaves, fruits, roots, tubers and barks. development ladder in comparison with Coordinator, Medicinal & Aromatic By and large, these products are other Indian states and needs fast- Plants Program in Asia (MAPPA), (IDRC, sustained to a close market economy of paced development efforts. However, Canada; SARO), 208, Jor Bagh, New the tribals, where collection, value appropriate development of the Delhi 110003, India. addition and disposal are carried out at northeastern region, aimed at Fax: +91 11 4622707; the local level. These products are sustainable improvements in the quality e-mail: [email protected]; mostly sold in raw form with a little value of life of the local people, may need a www.idrc.ca/saro
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reality the term biodiversity-based A US$31 000 grant from the UNDP product includes a wide array of products Global Environmental Facility Small from the plant and animal kingdoms and Grants Programme (SGP) has helped the having varied uses. According to one 140 members of the cooperative improve classification, biodiversity-based produce their livelihoods and communities while covers nine broad and 17 subcategories protecting the environment. of products. The nine broad categories Since some villages still do not allow comprise: edible plant and plant parts, women to work or participate in income- fatty oils (edible and non edible), gums, generating activities “our cooperative resins, oleoresins, seed gums, etc., represents a step forward, not only medicinal plants, tans and dyes, fibre and supporting women as economic flosses including grasses, bamboos and participants, but also empowering them Biodiversity-based products for poverty canes, petroleum substitutes, and to be active decision-makers in the alleviation in Madhya Pradesh miscellaneous biodiversity-based community and at home,” said Jehad Forests are nature’s greatest gift to products (products of animal and plant Amarat, head of the cooperative in Jabal humankind. Since time immemorial, origin, floral and decorative crafts, etc.). Al Akhdar. humans have depended upon forests for The above classification, however, The cooperative produces their various needs, be it food, fodder, excludes ecotourism, which has recently environmental education materials and fibres, fertilizers, medicine and caught the imagination of planners and has created a pool of trainers on forest construction material, etc. A recent study tourists alike and is likely to emerge as management and environmental issues. carried out by Peoples for Animals (PFA) an important forest-dependent This helps create awareness among discusses the “back to nature” trend and commercial activity in the service sector. schoolchildren, parents and teachers of the consequent rejuvenated worldwide (Source: Extracted from the executive the importance of preserving the interest in “minor forest products”. PFA summary of the research study, Bio- environment. Members also construct argues that this is a misnomer since it diversity based products for poverty cisterns, used with drip irrigation indicates a secondary status to these alleviation in Madhya Pradesh.) systems, and carry out land reclamation groups of products in comparison with activities. timber, while in reality it is just the For more information, please contact: ‘‘I got a loan of US$280 from the opposite as biodiversity-based products Dr R. Sugandhi, Senior Research cooperative to finance planting trees and are the basis for a multibillion-dollar Officer and President, Peoples for thyme seedlings and to buy pipes for industry worldwide. Animals, 179, Kalpana Nagar, Raisen irrigation and water tanks,” said one Internationally these are better referred Road, Bhopal (M.P.) 462 021, India. participant. After paying back the loan, to as “non-wood forest products (NWFP)” E-mail: [email protected] she got a second one to raise turkeys, or “non-timber forest products (NTFP)” chickens and rabbits, and also received and are defined as “including all goods of training, focusing on irrigation and thyme biological origin, as well as services, cultivation. “Many women came to me derived from forest or any land under requesting information,” she said. “I told similar use and exclude wood in all its them what I’d learned, and nearly ten forms”. This definition does not have started their own projects.” Last distinguish between the biodiversity- year she harvested 110 kg of thyme and based product available wild in nature sold some to neighbours. They dried and and the one that is cultivated. The packed it and sold it in the market. definition of biodiversity-based products, The Ministry of Agriculture, recognizing however, has been amended: JORDAN the cooperative’s achievements, has Government of Madhya Pradesh Circular allocated it land for a permanent office No. F-26/8/97/10-3 dated 15/5/1998 Jordan women’s cooperative protects and authorized the group to use a tenth defines the term “minor forest produce” Ajloun forest and changes lives of a hectare in the national forest reserve as “non wood forest produce, which can The women’s cooperative of Jabal Al for tree conservation and environmentally be exploited without harming the forest Akhdar and Khshaibeh, two villages in sound income-generating activities, and will not include minerals as well as northern Jordan, is taking a pioneering including beekeeping and harvesting wild forest animals or animal parts”. path leading to bigger roles in decision- sumac, used as a spice. Generally, the term biodiversity-based making, new income-earning The national SGP coordinator in Jordan product is considered to be synonymous opportunities and more protection for the reported that in three years, through with medicinal and aromatic plants, but in area’s endangered Ajloun forest. activities financed by SGP, almost half of
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 42 COUNTRY COMPASS
the people in the villages have increased diversity, water, climate amelioration and All indigenous forests in Kenya are their income and around 80 percent have tourist attractions. Apart from subsistence, threatened because unsustainable reliable access to water at home. The there is growing evidence of commercial harvesting has resulted in initiative also cooperates with a local commercialization of products such as widespread destruction. This is the case watershed management project, which honey and herbal medicines. with Prunus africana, which is in high provided five specialists who worked Forest products form a significant part demand for export, mainly to the United closely with the local people. (Source: of the household economy in many States. Extracts from the bark are used Newsfront, UNDP, 31 January 2002.) areas. It is estimated that the average clinically for the treatment of prostate forest-adjacent household earns ailments. The result is that the species is KSh 9 020, KSh 7 650 and KSh 2 270 now severely depleted and in urgent yearly from forest use in Kakamega, need of conservation measures. Arabuko-Sokoke and Mau, respectively. In spite of a government ban, Aloe The corresponding value for the forest- species have also been overexploited for dwelling Ogieks is KSh 17 300. [US$1 = their leaf extract, which is used widely in KSh 79.6, November 2001.] the treatment of human and livestock Forest-harvested foods may constitute ailments, and some are on the verge of a regular and integrated part of a extinction. household’s diet. The fruit of the Hunting is now on the wane in some “sausage” tree, Kigelia abyssinica, is regions largely because of declining commonly used by communities around animal populations. Mt Kenya to make the famous muratina Owing to limited indigenous forest brew and coconut palms are the source areas in Kenya, the focus is now shifting of mnazi at the coast. to the pros and cons of exploiting these
Fundación Espavé On the other hand, wild animals are resources in relation to crucial questions the source of meat, hides and skins. The related to the ecology of non-timber forest Mijikenda of Arabuko-Sokoke regularly products. These questions would define KENYA hunt up to 50 species of forest birds and the ecological bottom-line of non-timber animals. forest resource exploitation, and it would There’s more to natural forests than Surveys done in the 1990s by the be unwise to continue ignoring them. just timber Kenya Indigenous Forest Conservation Valuable as they are, it would only be The economic value of indigenous forest project established that the monetary prudent to extract non-timber resources resources has often been defined in values for the major forest products Ð in a sustainable manner. (Source: Daily terms of timber and wood-based fibres, grazing, honey, hunting and others Nation, 29 November 2001.) products. While timber is the Ð amounted to KSh 149.7 million, predominant commercial product from KSh 322.3 million, KSh 139.2 million, Indigenous Food Plants Programme forests, increased attention is now KSh 172.2 million and KSh 68.9 million, With its extensive galleries, exhibits turning to the role of non-timber forest respectively. On a national scale, these library, education and research resources, products. These products include food, conclusions implied a total annual value including ethnographic, botanical, medicinal plants, fodder, fuelwood and of KSh 850 million. zoological and archaeological collections, charcoal. Others are soil, sand, The oils and resins industry is the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) is mushrooms, game meat and honey. considered to have good commercial well-positioned to act on its mission to Although these products are not potential. Acacia senegal, which is found “collect, document and preserve, to study reflected in the national statistics on forest in arid areas, produces gum arabic, a and present our past and present cultural products, they are particularly important to valuable additive in beer, confectionery and natural heritage and to enhance forest-dwellers and communities living and pharmaceuticals. A resin of knowledge, appreciation, respect, adjacent to forests. In Kenya, about 2.9 commercial value is oleoresin, which is management and use of these resources million people live within 5 km of an obtained from Pinus species. for the benefit of Kenya and the world”. In indigenous forest. Of these, 70 000 Rosin Kenya Limited produces all its activities it supports the biological households are adjacent to dry-zone oleoresin and is the sole supplier to the and cultural diversity of eastern Africa, forests. The number is much higher when pulp and the paper industry in Kenya. through research, conservation, tree utilization in the arid and semi-arid Despite a ban on its harvesting, aloe information documentation and zones is considered. Indigenous forests extract is illegally obtained and used in dissemination, and education activities. also produce other benefits which are the pharmaceutical and cosmetic Based within the NMK, the East difficult to measure, including biological industries. African Herbarium holds the largest
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 43 COUNTRY COMPASS
botanical collection in tropical Africa For more information, please contact: Project to help rural people discover comprising more than 700 000 plant Patrick M. Maundu, Centre for sustainable and beneficial ways to specimens, used for regional studies of Biodiversity, National Museums of develop the resources that form a part of plant taxonomy and related studies such Kenya, PO Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya . their traditional lifestyles. This latest as plant distribution (e.g. Forest Coastal Fax: +254 2 741424; initiative is being sponsored by the Survey) and plant use (e.g. Indigenous e-mail: [email protected] or Netherlands Government and executed Food Plants Programme). [email protected]; by the Lao Government. www.museums.or.ke The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has implemented a pilot project in Many traditional plant foods are Oudomsay, Champassak and Saravan characteristically energy-rich and play provinces, aimed at creating examples of a crucial nutritional role during hunger the efficient use of NTFPs in order to periods. They may be equally important provide a sustainable future for the during periods when people have less country and its natural resources. The time for food preparation, such as project found there are more NTFPs in during peak agricultural seasons, or in the north than in any other part of the arid regions where seasonal food- country. Most of the products, such as supply fluctuations are particularly bitter bamboo shoots, benzoin, toud tien acute. Commelina spp., for example, is and cardamom are exported to China. strategically available at the beginning In Champassak, the project of the rainy season before other concentrated on protecting and using species can be harvested … NTFPs. The project has successfully … Many traditional food plants LAO PEOPLE’S encouraged local people to grow grow wild. Therefore, where they are DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC eaglewood, a fragrant tree used in accessible, they can be collected freely medicine and perfume production. More and are thus are available to everyone, Non-timber forest products boost rural than 30 ha of eaglewood have been including the poor. But these traditional incomes planted in Champassak; other parts of the vegetables may also conveniently be Non-timber forest products have the country are also growing it in an grown within the homestead in kitchen potential to contribute substantially to the enthusiastic manner. Project officials or home gardens … national economy, especially if they are believe that in the next ten years people ... All wild species treated in this used in a sustainable way. People who grow the wood will be very wealthy book are occasionally consciously throughout the country earn about US$5 owing to the high price that one litre of oil protected by the communities in areas per year selling products collected from distilled from eaglewood brings. The where they occur and therefore are natural forests. This is the official figure project has focused on utilizing NTFPs often spared when vegetation is being since the unofficial one is not known. from national conservation areas in cleared. A few may also be managed in It is popularly recognized that rural Saravan province, in which 50 families their natural habitat, while in other people, who comprise about 80 percent earn their living. species seeds, saplings, cuttings or of the national population, rely on the Besides conservation activities, the other parts of the plant are collected for biodiversity of local forests. Merchants project is also involved in trading by propagation in fields or home gardens. make a profitable trade purchasing organizing meetings to create a product products from rural people with understanding among the local merchants negotiable prices. Most people collect and producers in order to prepare these Patrick Maundu, Grace Ngugi and products from the forest without thinking businesses for entry into the world Christine Kabuye worked for many years about their protection. An important part market. Demand for cardamom, benzoin, on the Indigenous Food Plants of sustaining natural resources is eaglewood and bong bark is high in the Programme, which documented many of educating people to know when to ease world market. the edible plant species of Kenya, the exploitation of precious materials. The project will explore the problems, especially ones that are gathered in the Many people also know very little about needs and opportunities related to “wild”. One result is the fact-filled volume the tremendous potential of forest developing forest resources, in pilot Traditional food plants of Kenya, materials and NTFPs are being projects carried out all over the Lao published by the National Museums of threatened owing to careless harvesting People’s Democratic Republic during the Kenya in 1999. methods and an increasing population. past six years. The project will facilitate (Source: People and Plants Handbook, The government, therefore, established discussions into the future of Lao natural issue 7 [September 2001].) the Non-timber Forest Products (NTFP) resources, and forest products in
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 44 COUNTRY COMPASS
particular. According to the Director of the needs to be more flexible and of rice they go to the forest. When they NTFP project, the lessons gained from participatory and focus more on land-use run out of forest, where will they go? these pilot projects will enhance the ability planning, rather than on allocating specific To request a free electronic copy of the of all provinces, at the district level, to plots to farmers. The government’s paper or to send comments or queries to develop, sustain and benefit from Lao community forestry policies should focus the author, please contact John Raintree forest resources. (Source: Vientiane more on the secondary and degraded at: [email protected] Times, 5 April 2001.) forests on which poor people depend. A useful new report, Lao PDR, The government should also ensure that Production Forest Policy, prepared by the policies concerning NTFPs do not lead to World Bank, SIDA and the Lao and greater overharvesting of those resources Finnish Governments, can be found at or increase the competition between poor the World Bank Web site people and powerful interest groups. (www.worldbank. Without ongoing access to forest org/html;extdr/regions.htm). (Source: resources, poor people in the Lao David Kaimowitz, Polex Listserve uplands will go hungry. When they run out [[email protected]].)
LEBANON
There’s more to natural forests than just timber The following primary trees found in Lebanon have reported or suspected medicinal Forest for when the rice runs out properties. To the people living in the Lao uplands being poor means using up all their rice Species Habitat Medicinal uses and having no cash or cattle they can sell Alianthis West mountains of Mount, Powdered bark used to treat to buy more rice. When that happens altissima Lebanon between 0 and intestinal tapeworms and for they turn to the forest. They hunt, fish 2 000 m altitude; in Bekaa, South dysentery and other stomach and harvest wild cardamom, bamboo Riyyak and in southern Lebanon trouble shoots and vegetables, as well as resins, Ceratonia Coastal areas and on the inferior The pulp has antidiarrhoea siliqua slopes of coastal mountains, properties, the gum serves as rattan canes and other products. They between 0 and 1 000 m altitude a suspending agent, absorbent consume some of these directly. Others demulcent, lubricant they sell to buy rice. In many remote Clematis Localized in the northern part External usage against varicose upland villages these products provide 40 vitalba of the country, between 0 and ulcers to 60 percent of household incomes. For 1 000 m altitude the poorest families the percentage is Cupressus West and east mountains of Mostly used to treat blood often much higher. Forest products have sempervirens Mount Lebanon, between 300 circulation disorders traditionally been available when people and 2 000 m altitude need them the most. Ficus carica Spontaneous Laxative Fraxinus ornus Between 0 and 2 000 m altitude The extracted mannitol is used as an For many of these people life is getting osmotic diuretic and as an excipient harder. Owing to population growth, Juglans regia West mountains of Mount Lebanon, Leaves are astringent eupeptic government policies and outsiders between 300 and 2 000 m altitude; with a hypoglycaemia action. The encroaching on their forest many families in Bekaa, South of Zahleh, towards extracted juglone is antiseptic and now have less land where they can Baalbek and in Hermon keratinizing practice shifting cultivation. Overharvesting Juniperus sp. Between 1 000 and 2 800 m altitude Diuretic and eupeptic has depleted many forest products. Laurus nobilis Coastal areas, between 0 and External usage, stimulant John Raintree and Viloune Soydara 2 000 m, and southern Lebanon recently wrote a report on the “Human Melia Coastal areas and mountains, up to Anthelmintic remedy for intestinal ecology and rural livelihoods of Laos”. azedarach 1 000 m altitude worms and parasitic skin diseases Myrtus West mountains of Mount Lebanon, Mostly antiseptic, for pectoral They argue that while the Lao communis between 0 and 1 500 m (respiratory) infections Government says all the right things Quercus West mountains of Mount Lebanon, Astringent for external and internal about the problems, it has yet to infectoria up to 1 600 m altitude usage implement effective policies to deal with Rhamnus West mountains of Mount Lebanon, Laxative and purgative them. The Lao Land Allocation cathartica between 1 400 and 2 000 m altitude programme, which regulates where Ulmis minor Subspontaneous Tonic, astringent farmers can practise shifting cultivation,
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Not all of the these plants are gathered sago palm, from which they land,” Pedapaan said. “Big companies accepted as official medicinal plants in pounded out a starchy paste. Pedapaan are logging even young trees these days the pharmacopoeias and some reflect said that they did not have to bring and it is impossible for us to go back to the traditional usage. Nevertheless, there anything into the forest because our traditional way of life.” is a growing market in the Western world everything that was needed was there, An overlooked facet of the Penans is for the use of natural medicines in the pitcher plant became pots and pans their wide knowledge of medicinal plants. preference to synthetic pharmaceuticals. for cooking, and if they became ill, they According to Wade Davis, who has International pharmaceutical companies knew which plants would cure disease or studied 20 tribes of the Amazon and are ready to spend millions of dollars for treat injuries. In addition, they did not kill South America, the knowledge of the clinical trials and for the development of more animals than were needed for food. forest by the Penans surpasses all of new and naturally based drugs. That life and the orderly rule of the them. According to Pedapaan, there has The estimated market value of nomads are gone forever. One day in been no request from the government for medicinal and aromatic plants produced the mid-1980s, Pedapaan and his tribe’s his people to share their knowledge, by forests in Lebanon is US$18.6 million people had their first encounter with which will eventually be lost when the based on 1994 figures. The varied chainsaws, bulldozers and logging plants disappear from the forest, making Lebanon climate had led to a rich company men. The logging company it impossible for the knowledge to be abundance of many wild plant species, then showed the Penans a map and told passed on to young Penans. (Source: including medicinal trees. However, only them that the forest did not belong to the Daily Yomiuri, 12 December 2001 in recently has a study on the possible Penans, but to the logging company. RECOFTC e-letter 2001.16.) uses and potential of those plants been Their traditional culture and livelihood undertaken. An agreement has recently were suddenly forced into a new been signed between Earth University in economy, which was unable to embrace Costa Rica and the Faculty of Agriculture their desires and rights. and Food Sciences of the American The state government offered University of Beirut, which aims at indigenous people longhouses to settle exploring the efficacy of some in and farmland to cultivate. But endogenous medicinal plant species and Pedapaan claims that agriculture had the commercial development of new never been part of their tradition and that drugs based on these species. (Source: the longhouses were uncomfortable. Extracted from the report of the follow-up Logging caused river contamination and meeting for the development and fish became scarce. Poisoned water led coordination of regional activities on non- to a rise in the deaths of children. The wood forest products in the Near East.) loud noise of chainsaws and bulldozers MOROCCO scared away the animals they hunted. In 1987, Pedapaan and his friends An argan oil cooperative is changing MALAYSIA blockaded the road in an attempt to stop women’s lives in Morocco loggers from entering the forest. A cooperative (of 50 women) run Forest tribes plead for their rights He and his wife were later arrested, as exclusively by women in Tamanar, in the The controversy over the destruction of were 103 others on different occasions, Essaouira region of Morocco, has rain forests is a real and immediate for protesting against logging. integrated itself into the economy by problem for the indigenous tribal people Pedapaan’s trial is ongoing. Arrests capitalizing on a piece of ancestral of Sarawak State of Malaysia, according deprive the indigenous people of much- knowledge. to one of the tribe’s representatives. Two needed work, and payments to lawyers The key is the argan or Moroccan tribal members were in Japan in October are more than they can afford. According ironwood, a long-lived tree that grows 2001 to talk about the continued to an NGO, 2.8 million hectares of forest nowhere but in Morocco. Today it is destruction of the world’s oldest rain Ð more than five times the entire area of threatened: in less than a century, more forest. Tokyo Ð were destroyed in Malaysia. than a third of the argan forest has One of them, Pedapaan, remembers This area included most of the forest disappeared. Yet, with 20 million trees the days when his nomadic Penan tribe, where the Penans lived. Japan was the covering 800 000 ha, it is the second most natives of Borneo and believed to be the largest importer of Malaysian timber in important forest species in Morocco and, last hunter-gatherers on earth, wandered 1999, consuming nearly a third of the although neglected, is a very valuable the forest in bands and hunted for food. timber exported from that country. resource. The argan holds great promise They built light, thatched shelters of “What we want now is for the as an oil-producer and constitutes a bamboo or softwood, hunted animals and government to recognize our right to veritable “green curtain” against the
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 46 COUNTRY COMPASS
relentless onslaught of the desert. Above boost, and close to 100 people come ¥ establish a live germplasm bank. all, it represents a source of income for every day to visit the cooperative. Nepalganj is famous for its NTFP trade. people on the margins of society who Tamanar has become the capital of Nearly 60 percent of the whole NTFP have few other means of livelihood: in the argan industry, thanks to the trade in Nepal is carried out here. This fact, the forest can provide subsistence for mechanization of production. The Berber district was previously known for its dense as many as 3 million people. women no longer have to put in 20 hours forest, but deforestation has caused the At the heart of the struggle to preserve of backbreaking work to extract a litre of depletion of NTFP-producing trees and this tree, on which so many women oil. All of this success is due strictly to NTFP collection is now very poor in this condemned to poverty have pinned their the efforts of women. area. The medicinal plants of the Terai hopes, stands a researcher from the The Amal cooperative now has two are extremely important in the treatment Faculty of Sciences at Rabat, Zoubida sister organizations in the argan forest, of common ailments and people use them Charrouf and a research project one at Tidzi and the other at Mesti. Both frequently for household remedies. The supported by the International have benefited from IDRC’s support as availability of such plants is becoming Development Research Centre (IDRC). well as that of other funding scarce, however, and local knowledge on This project has two objectives: to organizations, including the Canadian using these plants is not being passed preserve the argan forest by finding a International Development Agency. down to new generations. sustainable economic use for its An area of 3 ha is lying fallow in products, and to improve the social and For more information, please contact: Nepalganj (in western Nepal) and the economic status of rural women. Towards Prof. Zoubida Charrouf, Département de landowners, the Cremation Ground this end, the British Embassy has helped Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Management Committee, are eager to purchase equipment for the cooperative. Université Mohammed V, Avenue Ibn develop it as a medicinal plant garden. Traditional knowledge in the form of a Batouta, BP 1014, Rabat RP, Morocco. There are many sacred plants that are simple gesture repeated thousands of Fax: +212 37 713279; necessary for ritual work in the Hindu times is key to the project’s success. e-mail: [email protected]; culture, but as a result of deforestation Since time immemorial, the women who www.idrc.ca/reports/read_article_englis such plants are now rare. live in arid regions Ð particularly in h.cfm?article_num=883; To meet this demand, the NEEM southwestern Morocco Ð have depended http://users.casanet.net.ma/arganier/ Society in coordination with the on this almost mythical tree. Its wood is Cremation Ground Management used as fuel, its leaves and seeds as Committee has proposed a park-cum- feed for goats. The tree has medicinal medicinal plant garden. It will not only properties and its oil both nourishes and work as a conservatory, but also as a beautifies. Indeed, argan oil is reputed for germplasm bank and an environment its almost magical powers, but extracting purifier. The medicinal plant garden will it is difficult and time-consuming. restore traditional knowledge of healing Dr Charrouf’s idea was to form a and also the Hindu rituals which have cooperative among the destitute and been abandoned owing to the scarcity of illiterate women who depend on the the necessary plant materials. argan, help them mechanize the process and sell their output so they can earn a For more information, please contact: decent living. From this idea was born Mr Rabindra N. Shukla, Nepal Eco the argan oil cooperative. Today it NEPAL essential Medicinal Plants Society employs nearly 50 women on a full-time (NEEM Society), Tribhuwan Chowk basis and another 100 part-time, and has Medicinal plant garden (East), Salyani Bagia, Nepalganj the distinction of being the first female- The Nepal Eco essential Medicinal (Banke), Nepal. run argan oil cooperative in Morocco. Plants Society (NEEM), an NGO based E-mail: [email protected] Life for women in Tamanar has in a remote area of Nepal, is looking for changed, slowly but surely. The argan funding for a small project in Nepalganj and its products are sources of hope, for that aims to: women, for the region, and for the ¥ establish a medicinal plant garden for struggle against desertification since future generations; cooperative members are also helping to ¥ conserve biodiversity of tropical replant the argan forest: each has medicinal and aromatic plants; committed herself to planting ten trees a ¥ establish a green park in the heart of year. Local tourism has also received a Nepalganj city;
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 47 COUNTRY COMPASS
NTFPs and poverty alleviation in Nepal that are used as staple food are also Poverty alleviation has found its place used as the sources of income, e.g. time and again as the goal of national tannic acid, dyes, honey, nuts, fruit, plans and policies with very little success mushrooms, oilseeds, insects, forage on the ground. The nature of poverty is crops, medicines, genetic resources, etc. diverse, as are its causes and victims; It is necessary to identify and make therefore the strategies to overcome proper use of such resources. With poverty should also be diverse, simple processing they can fetch a very recognizing the difference of people and good price in domestic markets and their opportunities for sustainable living replace the import of similar products Helping poor communities in Nepal standards. Nepalese people are poor from other countries. For example, palm benefit from tourism because they have not acquired essential oil is imported for the soap and detergent Poor communities near some of Nepal’s assets since they live in remote areas industry while the seeds of sal, kusum, prime tourist destinations stand to reap where the resources available have not mahuwa and other fatty oil-producing greater economic benefits with help from been properly identified and utilized. trees in Nepal are being destroyed. an expanding programme. The initiative Poverty is not only an income- There are difficulties in developing helps to reorient tourism policies to help determined outcome and therefore markets and systems of production, but, rural communities where lower castes increasing attention is now placed on the with some effort, NTFPs may represent and ethnic minorities face poverty and capability factors of poverty. It is a a sustainable utilization of forest discrimination, and aims to develop local multidimensional phenomenon and it is resources with minimal environmental strategies to attract tourists to villages in always difficult to disentangle its causes impacts. Such resources may form the ways that are in harmony with local and consequences. The nature and basis of both small- and large-scale cultures and environments. quality of governance largely determines processing industries. The utilization and The programme began in 2001 in the results of development efforts and management of NTFPs should, as far as three popular tourist destinations with success of poverty strategies, irrespective possible, be delegated to the local great potential for nearby communities: of the quality of design and amount of population. Dolpa, Lumbini and Chitwan. Support investment. from the United Kingdom Department for Nepal is well known for its rich and vast Present situation of the resources International Development (DFID) will biodiversity. Owing to the country’s Rural people use their spare time to enable the inclusion of three more diverse climatic zones, non-timber forest collect NTFPs; therefore, the collection communities near tourist destinations in products (NTFP) are distributed in all and quantity of NTFPs depends upon mountainous districts: Sagarmatha, the bioclimatic zones ranging from tropical to time available and not just ecological Nepali name for Mount Everest, is home alpine. Collection and marketing of NTFPs conditions. The resources are to a national park near the world’s has become a way of life for poor people underutilized, overutilized or unutilized highest peak; Kanchenjunga, in the east, in hilly areas to meet their daily needs. according to the prevailing conditions. and Langtang, near Kathmandu, are also The Terai also has different types of The resources known to have a high popular tourist areas. NTFPs which are as yet unexploited, but market value are overexploited while The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and which are being destroyed as people are those that are less known or whose Civil Aviation, working with UNDP, plays unaware of their importance. In the past, economic value is unknown are a key role in implementing the project, in Terai forests were valued primarily as a underutilized or unutilized, even though partnership with the Ministry of Finance. source of timber, but now the harvesting they could provide a good income for the DFID is providing US$4.1 million for the of timber has either been banned or local people. There is no system that new phase, building on more than restricted. Therefore, the NTFPs of the provides information about value, US$1 million in support from the Terai have tremendous potential for collection method, collection time, Netherlands Development Organization generating employment for rural techniques and market information on (SNV) for the first phase. (Source: communities during the lean months of these resources. Hence the less known Newsfront, UNDP, 17 January 2002.) agriculture. If the value of these products or unknown resources are being in terms of variety, volume and socio- destroyed. This is the same with the For more information, please contact: economy is properly assessed, it will far cultivation of NTFPs. The most exploited Sangita Khadka, UNDP, Nepal. exceed that of wood and timber. NTFPs are recommended for cultivation E-mail: [email protected]; or NTFPs have been vitally important to but information on agrotechnology, Trygve Olfarnes, UNDP the forest-dwellers and rural communities markets, harvesting and primary Communications Office. and can play a very vital role in poverty processing of such herbs is not easily E-mail: [email protected] alleviation in Nepal. Many forest products available, and thus the collection and
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 48 COUNTRY COMPASS
production of herbs is also affected. ¥ A marketing network to provide market of field data revealed that rural women There is an NTFP network but what it is information to traders, producers and derive more income from forest product and how it works is unknown to the lay collectors should be established. gathering than from non-forest-related person. There are many regulatory ¥ Permission for the collection of activities, with forest products accounting authorities but practically none for banned items should be controlled and for 56 percent of total monthly income promotional activity. such items should be collected and non-forest-related activities sustainably by government authorities accounting for 44 percent. A multiple Ban on herbs directly or indirectly. regression analysis of these forest In spite of a government ban on the raw ¥ Products harvested and used by products indicates that Irvingia export of certain NTFPs, some herbs are people in rural areas that are part of gabonensis (bush mango), Elaeis regularly collected in large quantities. It is their subsistence economy should be guineensis (oil palm), Achantina generally considered that the herb identified and promoted. marginata (snail) and Gnetum africanum business has been monopolized by some ¥ Products that yield a return when sold (afang) accounted for the highest wholesalers, but in reality it is the trade of on local, national and international production of rural women’s total monthly banned items that has been markets should be promoted. income from NTFP sources with values monopolized, not only in the Terai but ¥ Potential value in relation to of about N 4 464, N 3 571, N 2 602 and also from its source of collection. The ecotourism and genetic resources N 2 865, respectively. The implications illegal trade of banned herbs has should be studied and identified. are that these NTFPs should be flourished and people related to it profit Only some NTFPs are directly used as exploited on a sustainable basis, while the poor rural collectors earn a food, but the economic prosperity to the otherwise a decline in their stock would pittance. The ban results in losses of people as a result of proper utilization of greatly affect the socio-economic government royalties, a spurious supply NTFPs will be directly used by the livelihood of rural women. of raw materials and either smuggling or majority of people. (Source: Extracted It is therefore recommended that destruction of resources. from a contribution by Rabindra N sustainable forest management practices Shukla, Nepal.) should not underestimate NTFP Providing jobs and employment resources as against the present focus Despite the considerable value of NTFPs, For more information, please contact: on timber resources. More conservation this aspect of tropical forestry has in fact Rabindra N. Shukla, Herbs Production & efforts should be focused on the been underestimated. At present, it is the Processing Co. Ltd, Salyani Bagia, sustainability of the NTFPs that are most only source providing income to a vast Nepalganj, Banke, Nepal. significant to rural earnings, if poverty majority of the population. Synthetic Fax: +977 81 22762; alleviation is to become an integral substitutes have ousted many natural e-mail: herbs @mos.com.np component of sustainable forest products from the markets. But properly management programmes. (Source: utilizing NTFPs in the country could Global Journal of Pure and Applied reverse the situation. The variety of Sciences, 7(2): 345-350 [2001].) NTFPs is so vast that they can generate opportunities for both rural people and For more information, please contact industrialists. the authors: F.E. Bisong and A.O. Ajake, Department Recommendations of Geography and Regional Planning, ¥ The authorities concerned should University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. implement an information system on different aspects of NTFP utilization. ¥ Government interference in the NIGERIA PAKISTAN transportation, processing and An economic analysis of women’s marketing should be minimal. dependence on forest resources in the rain Mazri palm, a unique NWFP of Pakistan ¥ Unnecessary taxation by Village forest communities of southeastern Nigeria Dwarf palm (Nanorohpes ritchiana), locally Development Committees,the District The contribution of non-timber forest called “mazri”, is a hardy fibre plant Development Committee and other products (NTFP) to household income, belonging to the wide group of palms. organizations should be abolished. employment and livelihood improvement Mazri is usually a stemless, gregarious ¥ A legal way to promote the cultivation opportunities of rural women was and low-growing shrub which generally of NTFPs should be made; the assessed by the participatory rural grows in low arid mountainous areas up to production of NTFPs in farms should appraisal (PRA) and household 1 524 m. It is the hardiest of all palm be treated as agricultural crops. questionnaire survey techniques. Analysis species and can tolerate temperatures
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 49 COUNTRY COMPASS
ranging from -20¡C to 50¡C. The shrub ¥ Mazri grows on shamilat land. Afghan For more information, please contact: can produce leaves up to the age of 50 camps were entrenched on shamilat Tanveer Ahmad, Social Section, and, under favourable circumstances, land and the mazri was totally uprooted Forest Management Center, develops a trunk reaching approximately to build mud houses. The remainder Forest Department, Palosi Road 4.3 m in height. It is xerophytic in nature was also depleted for use as fuel and Peshawar, Pakistan. and propagated by means of seeds or fodder, a practice that was rarely E-mail: [email protected] rhizomes. The associated flora are Acacia carried out by the local population. modesta, Monotheca buxifolia and ¥ Migration from tribal areas and land Zizyphus nummularia among the shrubs levelling for agricultural land. PAPUA NEW GUINEA sacrum, sanatha (Dodonica viscosa) and ¥ Poor technology and training for Rhazia stricta. producers, lack of information on Some aspects of the eaglewood trade in Mazri leaves are used to make a variety marketing, high transportation costs Papua New Guinea of products: ropes, mats, hand fans, and the low profile of women The trade in Gyrinops and/or Aquilaria sandals, baskets, hats, pouches, grooms producers are also problems. spp. (eaglewood, agarwood, or and other articles of daily use. The dried ¥ High importance of the intermediary. “gaharu”, the Indonesian name) was trunk and foliage are used as fuel. The low importance given to NWFPs probably initiated by Asian buyers in the The Kohat Mazri Act was introduced in at the provincial level is also a reason, late 1980s and early 1990s. Early 1954 to protect the mazri plantation and since the focus is more on timber, which buyers were Chinese Malaysians and to legalize the trade associated with defuses the importance of conservation Indonesians based in West Papua. mazri and its products. The act is through the sustainable production of Two companies in the trade, enforced on all types of land in Kohat NWFPs. Eaglewood (PNG) Ltd and A. & F. and Hangu (communal, private, Forest Products Ltd, have been issued government) where mazri grows. Permits licences by the Papua New Guinea are issued against production annually. Forest Authority. The annual licence fee Harvesting is carried out from 15 is K 1 000 [K 1 = US$0.28, October October to 15 April. The royalties 2001]. The legal buyers and traders generated from tenders or permits are often fly into collection sites in order to distributed, with 80 percent going to the buy gaharu directly from local collectors. community and 20 percent to the forest Illegal trade (smuggling) in gaharu is department as service charges. estimated to be much larger than the According to a survey, 8 to 10 percent legal trade Ð probably 90 percent of the of the people in the Kohat forest division trade is illegal. This is because “super- are engaged in home-based mazri super black” grade is believed to fetch industries, including traders, producers, Conclusion as much as K 3 000/kg in Jayapura, retailers and importers. The sustainable production of mazri about three times the local buying price. resources is essential for the Traders include West Papuans, Women’s role development of that industry, which must resource owners themselves and almost Women play an active role in mazri, be viewed from the perspective of the anyone who can grade gaharu very well. manufacturing finished products. Most of future demand for mazri products and Mistakes in grading can prove costly. the collection and harvesting is also the possible sources of supply. As the Today the trade is so profitable that it is task of rural women. Women are population increases, the demand for possible that corrupt government involved in supplementing household mazri can be expected to increase. On officials are involved in the illegal trade. income for their families, but their direct the production side, population increase, involvement in income generation can be agricultural land expansion, Formation, collection and preparation of seen in mazri items. Women belonging industrialization and other development eaglewood in Papua New Guinea to low-income families make ropes, fans, activities will lead to a further reduction Agarwood formation is part of a baskets and mats and sell them to the of forest areas. This probably means a pathological process in the stem or main licence holder traders. fall in the production of natural forest branches where an injury has occurred. resources, including mazri. However, if Fungi are involved in the process, but Problems large-scale mazri commercial planting is the process itself is not yet fully Mazri palm is a source of income for carried out at the same time, the understood. Damage by boring insects many poor families in Kohat but this possibility of a glut on the market cannot is often associated with the infection. It unique source is dwindling owing to the be ruled out. (Contributed by: Tanveer is believed that the tree is first attacked following reasons: Ahmad, Pakistan.) and weakened by a pathogenic fungus.
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Infection by a second fungus causes the gaharu, K 100/kg for ordinary black and formation of agarwood, but it is unclear K 20/kg for low grade. From August to whether it is a product of the fungus or October 2000, legal buyers in Papua the tree. The fungi implicated in the New Guinea were paying K 500/kg for formation of agarwood in Aquilaria A grade, K 300/kg for B grade, K 150/kg malaccensis and A. sinensis are for C grade and less than K 50/kg for Cytosphaera mangiferae and Melanotus D grade (the reject grade). More recently, flavolives, respectively. A grade may fetch K 1 000 to K 1 200/kg Field collectors locate promising (A. & F. Forest Products). Some licensed gaharu pockets by looking for holes in a buyers are losing their established tree where ants or termites can be seen. customers to other buyers who are They also look for oil residues on the prepared to pay more for the product. scar when branches are removed. The In the Upper Sepik area local people standard procedure then is to cut into live at a subsistence level and suffer the wood at this point with a bush knife Grades of eaglewood from a lack of government services and and estimate the thickness of the Gaharu is classified in various grading trade stores for purchasing goods. Here discoloured wood to ascertain if systems that differ according to the local people have bartered gaharu for harvesting is practicable. If promising, product being traded and the country in goods such as clothes, radios, soap, salt the overburden wood is stripped away which the trade is taking place. One and batteries for torches used in hunting. and the gaharu extracted. It is not international method for grading used in All buyers are aware of adulterated always necessary to fell the tree, and the Papua New Guinea trade is based gaharu, which is a tactic used by there are opportunities for the resource mainly on colour, in which there are five collectors to increase either weight or to be managed sustainably. grades listed in order of priority: 1. Super- colour. For example, some collectors Nevertheless, bush knives and axes super black; 2. super black; 3. A grade; may soak gaharu in black oil or water, or are often used to cut down trees in 4. B grade; and 5. C grade. Eaglewood put samples in mud. Collectors may mix search of gaharu. The heartwood is (PNG) Ltd buys on the five-grade Phaleria chips with gaharu to confuse reasonably soft and white and the international system. Asian field buyers buyers when sorting many chips. brownish to black gaharu product is tend to buy on a simplified three-grade easily discerned. A tree rich in high- system: 1. A grade (super-super black); Issues in conservation and sustainability grade gaharu can be smelt from a 2. B grade (super black); and 3. C grade The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority, distance of up to 50 m. Families can be (everything else). Rejected gaharu (also through the Forest Research Institute, and involved in harvesting, but more termed D grade) is collected by the tonne CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products are commonly men do this work. In some and stored before eventual sale as a very working together to conserve and areas women are the main collectors if low-grade product. There is a tendency for domesticate Papua New Guinea’s men are otherwise engaged in hunting buyers to “reduce” the grade at the buying indigenous forest species. Part of this for food. High-quality gaharu can be point and then upgrade the material for project involves the development of a obtained from roots as small as 7 to later on-sale. This may involve the field conservation and management strategy 8 cm in diameter, and roots are buyer having to trim imperfections from for eaglewood in the country. Participatory sometimes excavated. the wood before resale in an attempt to rural appraisal (PRA) will be undertaken Collection is usually hard work. It can improve the quality of the product. with individuals and specific village take two to three months for one person Burning gaharu chips is a sure way to communities in areas where eaglewood to collect 1 kg of wood in the Sepik grade gaharu appropriately, but occurs naturally. The PRA will assist in Plains. However, in a “super black” area experienced buyers do not need to use ascertaining local views on the biology of it can sometimes take as little as one this method. Brown chips burn with a eaglewood, folk varieties, usefulness and day to collect 0.5 kg. strong flame, while black gaharu burns possible means of management and After harvesting the collector takes for a shorter time before the flame dies conservation. Land tenure issues the gaharu home and using sharp small and smoke comes off for a long period. impacting on germplasm conservation and knives, pieces of broken glass or special Burning can be used to identify Phaleria community-level plantation development company-issued hooked knives spp., as the smoke smells bitter and will be investigated. This survey will build removes unwanted pieces of wood. unpleasant. on the work already undertaken by Resource owners (i.e. villagers) and TRAFFIC Oceania and the South Pacific buyers store the gaharu product in black Buying from field collectors Program, and further collaborative plastic to avoid loss of the valuable In mid-1999, agents generally paid field research on and development of aromatic oil. collectors K 150/kg for super black grade eaglewood will be undertaken.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 51 COUNTRY COMPASS
There remain substantial gaps in the ¥ Methods for inducing the production including all Southeast Asian countries available information on eaglewood, both of high-quality grades in natural and and north to Hainan Island in southern in Papua New Guinea and planted trees. China. In Papua New Guinea, which is the internationally. In Papua New Guinea, ¥ Effective, efficient and less known eastern extreme of the agarwood- some of the key issues that must be destructive collection methods. producing species’ range, the high local addressed are listed below. ¥ Trends in short-term prices. prices for top-grade agarwood suggest ¥ Possible impacts of greater supplies that, if managed correctly, it could provide Taxonomy and inventories from plantations on long-term prices. local communities with a viable eco- ¥ Reappraisal of the taxonomy of the (Source: Extracted from Some aspects enterprise option to replace the promised various genera and species traded of the eaglewood trade in Papua New benefits of industrial logging agreements. under the common name of Guinea, by M. Singadan, W. Yelu, J. With this potential in mind, TRAFFIC eaglewood. Beko, D. Bosimbi and D.J. Boland. ) Oceania and WWF South Pacific ¥ Inventories to ascertain the location, Programme initiated research into this area, status and condition of native For more information, please contact: burgeoning harvest and trade earlier this stands. Forest Research Institute, Lae, Papua year. Unexploited stands of agarwood ¥ Customary ownership of stands and New Guinea; or CSIRO Forestry and still exist in Papua New Guinea. In areas individual trees. Forest Products, PO Box E4008, where harvesting has begun, villages are ¥ Conservation and management Kingston 2604, ACT, Australia. still learning how to extract gaharu and ¥ An awareness campaign on “best E-mail: [email protected] manage the trees. Papua New Guinea practice” for the sustainable utilization therefore provides a unique opportunity and management of eaglewood. to promote the establishment of a ¥ The possible rates of destruction of sustainable gaharu industry. trees. Ayurvedic, Tibetan and East Asian ¥ Whether the species is rare, pharmacopÏias value agarwood for its endangered or common. ability to treat a range of disorders ¥ Prospects for domestication. including pleurisy, asthma, rheumatism ¥ Prospects for the management of and jaundice. Muslims, Buddhists and natural stands for the conservation of Hindus use agarwood incense in religious biodiversity. ceremonies and as a customary perfume. ¥ Prospects for the management of Agarwood essences are used to fragrance natural stands for sustainable soaps and shampoos and the popularity production. of highly priced essential oils reinforces ¥ Mechanisms for listing the range of the value of agarwood derivatives. eaglewood genera and species under Agarwood is found naturally in only a CITES. Sustainable management of Papua New small percentage of trees in the Guinea’s agarwood resource Thymeleaceae family Ð with the highest- Propagation and plantation management Over the past five years, Papua New grade “product” usually harvested from ¥ Seed collection, treatment and storage. Guinea’s lowland forests have been the certain species in the genus Aquilaria. ¥ Nursery practices. setting for a new “gold rush” as local However, the TRAFFIC/WWF study ¥ Establishment and management of communities have begun searching for an identified a related species, Gyrinops plantations for sustainable aromatic wood previously unknown in the ledermannii as producing this fragrant production. country. Already heavily exploited in the heartwood for the first time. Like other rest of the world and with eight species agarwood species, only about 10 percent Production and economics of eaglewood already considered threatened, a report by of mature G. ledermannii trees are likely ¥ Methods to determine quantities and TRAFFIC Oceania and WWF South to produce the fragrant resin that leads qualities of agarwood in the standing Pacific is urging for action to be taken now to agarwood formation in the heartwood. tree. in what could be the world’s last frontier External signs of agarwood are not ¥ Techniques for artificial stimulation of for substantial wild stocks of agarwood. obvious, which often leads to eaglewood oil production. Agarwood (also known as aloeswood, indiscriminate felling of trees in the ¥ Standardized techniques for grading eaglewood or gaharu) has been traded search for darker wood inside. gaharu to assist villagers and the since biblical times for cultural, medicinal The high value of agarwood is trade involved in marketing. and aromatic purposes. Agarwood- stimulating overharvesting and illegal ¥ Business plans to enable villagers to producing species are found from India trade in many other parts of the world. trade effectively within the industry. eastwards to the island of New Guinea, Populations of eight species of Aquilaria
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 52 COUNTRY COMPASS
are already considered threatened, of given the green light by the British which six are threatened by Retailer Consortium (BRC). SOMALIA overexploitation. Nearly every major food retailer Further research is planned for both worldwide requires an independent Boswellia from Somalia, a source of high- Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya (also certificate of quality before it will use quality frankincense known as West Papua) in Indonesia to own-label suppliers, and the so-called Frankincense is the oleo-gum-resin understand better the diversity of “technical standard” certificate of the harvested from several different trees agarwood-producing species, the BRC, which represents 90 percent of all belonging to the genus Boswellia. The harvest and trade dynamics, and to British retailers, is one of the most resin is formed in cavities within the tree develop a strategy that balances prestigious, industry players say. bark and is released when the bark tissue conservation management with the The maker of Wonder Berry, juice and is damaged. This is part of the plant’s potential to generate long-term income. dairy giant Wimm-Bill-Dann, calls getting natural defence mechanism. By “tapping” TRAFFIC and WWF have been BRC approval for one of its products Ð the tree deliberately, people have been discussing the ramifications of this trade which entails a thorough inspection of harvesting this resin for many centuries. with the Inter-Agency Committee production facilities and technologies Ð a There is a distinct lack of knowledge about comprising Papua New Guinea’s major development in its quest to the species in regard to their botany, National Forestry Service, Forest expand its exporting operations around taxonomy and distribution, although Research Institute, Office of Environment the world. Wimm-Bill-Dann already sells clarification has been attempted several and Conservation and Internal Revenue small amounts of Wonder Berry in times in the past. There is much variation Commission. Discussions so far have speciality stores in several countries, in the species in regard to leaf shape, focused on policy interventions that will such as the Netherlands, Germany, inflorescence and fruits, number of promote best-practice management of Israel, Mongolia and Canada. But the branches, and size and shape of the trunk. harvest and trade. On the Indonesian new certificate will be a big bargaining The trunks have distinct swollen bases side of the border, TRAFFIC has begun chip in its current negotiations with the which, it must be assumed, help in the analysing the current trade dynamics in United Kingdom, France, Australia and uptake and storage of water and minerals. Irian Jaya in collaboration with WWF- the Scandinavian countries, said WBD All these adaptations allow the trees to Indonesia’s Sahul programme. (Source: spokesperson Yulia Belova. cope with the extreme environmental Extracted from The final frontier: towards Belova said that the reason her conditions under which they grow. sustainable management of Papua New company chose mors Ð a sort of berry Two species important for their Guinea’s agarwood resource, by Frank compote without the chunks Ð to be its essential oils are found growing in Zich and James Compton, a report of first internationally certified product was Somalia, Boswellia sacra (syn. B. carteri) TRAFFIC Oceania in conjunction with simply because of its uniqueness. “After and Boswellia frereana. The territories WWF’s South Pacific Programme.) extensive marketing research we where these trees grow are divided up decided that mors would be the first into xiji (a Somalian term indicating an For more information, please contact: WBD product on the international market area of land controlled by one specific TRAFFIC Oceania, Regional Office, PO because it has no analogue.” family for the purpose of harvesting the Box 528, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Wonder Berry is produced from resin). Traditionally, these areas belong Fax: +61 2 92121794; berries collected in the Russia forests, to one family group, and are handed e-mail: [email protected]; not cultivated. A similar product is also down through the generations. www.traffic.org/news/agar2.pdf produced in Ireland, but it is not Boswellia sacra is found in northern [Please see under Products and Markets exported. (Source: Extracted from the Somalia, Ethiopia, southern Yemen and for more information on agarwood.] Moscow Times, 6 June 2001, reported in Oman. It grows on hills, gullies and cliffs Taiga ntfp listserve.) up to an altitude of 1 230 m and 200 km inland from the coast. As the trees are RUSSIAN FEDERATION more abundant in the harsher, steeper, less accessible regions, they have not Russian berries to quench EU thirst been exploited as much as those of B. The next time you’re stuck in a frereana which grow in more accessible supermarket in Western Europe thirsting places. The harvest season lasts for eight for some mors, don’t panic: Russia’s ill- months, from March to October. A tapping defined national berry drink could be is made every 15 to 20 days in a cyclical right in front of you. That is because harvest, which enables about ten Chudo-Yagoda, or Wonder Berry, has harvests per season. This type of resin become the first Russian product to be does not tend to run down the bark, and
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 53 COUNTRY COMPASS
upon ripening it becomes a transparent Frankincense resin is a natural yellow colour. Collected resin can be renewable resource that provides a living either deep yellow, reddish or pale white for a great number of Somalis. Somalia is and translucent in colour, and is known the only country identified as having B. locally as beeyo. It is used mainly as frereana growing naturally that produces religious incense as well as in the the precious meydi resin. At present, an European flavour and fragrance industry. Irish development organization, Boswellia frereana is native to northern Progressive Interventions, is working in Somalia. It is found only in coastal sites, Somalia with the remit of looking at ways often on steep vertical slopes to a height to increase the income of local collectors. of 750 m above sea level. This species The resins from several species of Boswellia carteri prefers a hotter, more humid climate and Boswellia are traded as frankincense with requires good supplies of water. The sources from many countries within the harvest season starts in late August with African continent as well as the Near East SOUTH AFRICA a tapping made about every 25 to 35 and South Asia. Industrial distilleries will days. This longer time lapse between buy resin from a mixture of species and Medicinal plants tappings is due to the lower temperatures grades. If their sorting systems are not Almost every city and town in South Africa increasing the time it takes for the resin to strictly quality controlled, the distillation of has some form of trade in plants for mature. mixed batches of resin will occur. medicinal or cultural purposes, most often The resin runs down the bark to form Moreover, differences in distillation through informal street markets or small long valuable “tears”, which are harvested methods can produce oils of different shops known as Amayeza stores annually at the end of the season. This qualities. They can be deterpenized by (amayeza is the Xhosa word for medicine) resin is of superior quality owing to its redistillation and also adulterated. This all or as Muthi shops in KwaZulu-Natal. lemon scent, sweet taste and pale topaz- adds to the general confusion in what is A survey carried out in 2000 of the yellow colour and is known locally as sold as frankincense oil in the general trade of medicinal plants in the six largest meydi. It is used widely as a type of market place. urban centres of Eastern Cape Province chewing gum as it is considerably less In the Plant Biology Department at the has revealed some startling results. bitter than B. sacra. On the open market it Scottish Agricultural College, research Based on 282 informants’ lists of their ten commands twice the price of beeyo. It is was carried out involving the distilling of most frequently traded species, no fewer possible to find the two species growing authentic resin samples from Somalia, than 166 plant species were recorded as together in areas where the upper growth and assessing oil yield and quality by regularly harvested from wild populations limits of B. frereana cross the lower GC analyses. and sold for medicinal and cultural growth limits of B. sacra. The trees are It must be remembered that the resin is purposes. It is estimated that 435 tonnes not harvested until they are five to seven a naturally produced plant material, of wild-harvested plant material is traded years old when they will be 4 to 5 m high growing under uncontrolled conditions, in the six city centres in Eastern Cape with 15 cm diameter trunks. Traditional and as such will exhibit much variation. It Province alone every year, generating an tapping methods are still used today, but may be that an inexperienced trader income of US$2.43 million per annum. As there is now potential for increased yield would find it extremely difficult to lucrative as this may sound, it is shared by improvement of these methods, or differentiate between the different sources among so many traders that the average even the introduction of chemical flow and species. This variation was also monthly income per capita is between enhancers, similar to those used in rubber apparent in the chemical composition of approximately US$19 and $64. production. Harvesting is extremely the distilled oil. (Source: Medicinal Plant Medicinal plants are harvested difficult because of the dangerous and not Conservation, vol. 7, 1 August 2001.) regularly, with little or no control or easily accessible terrain. Tough physical management in communal areas and demands are made on the harvesters, For more information, please contact State-owned land in Eastern Cape who work in high temperatures in regions the authors: Province. No plants are cultivated and all with poor road systems. The resin is Katerina P. Svoboda, Janice Hampson material is wild-harvested. Current taken back to the village, where women or Lorna Hill, Aromatic and Medicinal legislation (National Forests Act 1998) work long hours sorting the resin Plant Group, Scottish Agricultural allows for the harvesting of plant material according to colour, size and shape. B. College (SAC), Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 for subsistence use only and this is sacra (beeyo) is graded by colour into 5HW, Scotland, UK. restricted to what the harvester can carry red, white or mixed. B. frereana (meydi) is Fax: +44 1292 525314; without containers. The Department of graded according to colour and also the e-mail: [email protected] uk; or Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) has size of the “tears”. j.hampson@au sac.ac.uk adopted a policy of sustainable
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 54 COUNTRY COMPASS
harvesting by means of community- construction. Recent research conducted For more information, please contact: based management programmes. The by SUNRAE has shown that these Mr Wayne Twine, Wits Rural Facility, “new” (post 1994) conservation communities still place considerable value Private Bag X420, Acornhoek, 1360, legislation is excellent and allows for on cultural, social and environmental South Africa. both community access as well as strict services provided by biodiversity in areas. Fax: +27 15 7933992; law enforcement where necessary. Many communities face an acute shortage e-mail: [email protected] Unfortunately, there are as yet no of some of these resources, and the links management structures in place and the between poverty and environmental present harvesting rates are uncontrolled decline are readily apparent. THAILAND and far from sustainable. Provincial Against this backdrop, the objectives conservation authorities and DWAF are of SUNRAE are to: Alternatives to national parks critically understaffed and lack the ¥ conduct applied research around the Alternatives to national parks should be capacity to manage previously restricted issues of sustainable utilization and considered in order to conserve both areas, much less communal land. management of indigenous resources forests and people’s livelihoods, (Source: The trade in medicinal plants in in semi-arid communal woodlands; academics say. Thirty-six NGOs at a the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa ¥ develop human resources capable of recent seminar to review the Forestry in TRAFFIC Bulletin, 19(1) [2001].) understanding and addressing the Department’s 40-year management of issues of rural development and national parks agreed the parks had hurt For more information, please contact resource conservation across the the lives of people living in and around the authors: Tony Dold, Selmar human-environment interface; forests. Academics at the meeting said Schonland Herbarium, Rhodes ¥ synthesize and disseminate such an appropriate model for forest University Botany Department, PO Box information and knowledge to rural conservation should allow for both public 101, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. communities, decision-makers, use and forest protection. E-mail: [email protected]; landowners and policy-makers. Somsak Sukwong, of the Regional or Michelle Cocks, Institute for Social Since 1992, more than 90 journal Community Forestry Training Centre and Economic Research (ISER), articles, reports, proceedings and theses (RECOFTC) for Asia and the Pacific, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, have been compiled by SUNRAE. This argued that the poor in the countryside Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. work has shed new light on many needed to live on resources from the aspects of the ecology and management forests, while Somkiat Pongpaiboon, of Sustaining Natural Resources in African of communal lands. It has also raised the Rajabhat Institute at Nakhon Environments (SUNRAE) awareness of key issues on the Ratchasima, said that national park SUNRAE is an acronym that aptly sustainable management of natural management had ignored the fact that describes the focus of this research resources in communal lands in the Thailand was an agricultural country. programme: Sustaining Natural semi-arid savannahs of South Africa. “Conservation per se, where the state Resources in African Environments. The SUNRAE is also a partner in removes the people and takes charge programme is an initiative of the Centre community development and over their land, should be ended,’’ Mr for African Ecology of the University of conservation projects such as the Somkiat added. the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Makuleke Suraphol Duangkhae, of Wildlife Fund SUNRAE is permanently based at the Training programme, and the Kruger to Thailand, said the Forestry Department Wits Rural Facility, a university research Canyons Biosphere Reserve. should retain management of national facility in the central lowveld of Northern parks. Areas outside national parks Province, near Kruger National Park. This should be cared for by the public to region of South Africa is characterized by complement the department’s work. He dense rural populations of the former said that it was important to bear in mind black homelands created during South that it will not be easy to keep moving Africa’s apartheid past, juxtaposed with people out of their land and that an ostensibly élitist private game reserves alliance of people and the department and State conservation areas, all within a will be the key to better conservation. semi-arid savannah environment. IUCN-World Conservation Union The rural populations depend heavily representative, Piyathip Eaowpanich, on communal lands for indigenous natural considered that Thailand’s management resources, such as fruits, edible herbs, of its forests was at the stricter end of plant parts for medicines, animals for conservation and that a combination of meat, wood for fuel, and timber for different kinds of protected areas other
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 55 COUNTRY COMPASS
than national parks would allow people accepted at a retail price of US$2/kg). to make use of forests. Unrecorded internal consumption. The The academics agreed that the export and official internal consumption proposed Community Forest Act, which amount to 53 651 tonnes, but nut is being revised by the Senate, would be production is 68 652 tonnes annually. one of the keys to better management. Therefore, the difference between the (Source: Bangkok Post, 6 January 2002, two figures is unrecorded consumption. in RECOFTC e-letter 2002.2.) If we assume that these products were consumed at a minimum US$1/kg, US$14 973 000 equivalent to 14.973 TURKEY tonnes have been earned. As a consequence, the total income of Chestnuts in Turkey: brief introductory Export chestnut nuts can be calculated: paper about chestnut in Turkey especially Turkey exports more than a tenth of the Export US$6 679 623 as a non-wood forest product total amount of chestnut nuts to more Internal consumption US$94 774 000 The chestnut is probably the most than 55 countries, the main customers Unrecorded internal important nut crop found throughout being Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, consumption US$14 973 000 Turkey’s forests. It has been cultivated Jordan (from the Near East), and Italy, Total US$116 426 623 and consumed for several centuries. Greece, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is Austria and France (from Europe). For For more information, please contact: the only native species of the genus in the ten years from 1990 to 1999, in Ismail Belen, Forest Engineer, General Turkey and its centre of origin is believed exchange for the 62.641 tonnes of Directorate of Forestry, OGM APK Daire to be eastern Turkey or Caucasus. chestnuts exported, Turkey earned Ba_kanlõ_õ 1 Nolu Bina, In Turkey, chestnut covers 29 892 ha US$67 million, which means that 06560 Gazi-Ankara, Turkey. and, according to the Forest Code, is Turkey’s annual export is 6 000 tonnes Fax: +90 312 2227336; considered to be a forest tree and is worth US$6.7 million. The price of e-mail: [email protected] mainly found in forests. According to exported nuts is approximately US$1 per Forest Management Plan statistics, kilogram without processing. 87 percent of chestnuts are high forest; UGANDA the rest are coppice forest. The growing Internal consumption stock is 6 660 722 m3 in high forest and According to official figures collected from Uganda Forestry Association 2 114 846 steres in coppices. Trees Ankara, internal chestnut consumption is The overall objective of the Uganda outside the forest are negligible. estimated to be 47 387 tonnes annually. Forestry Association (UFA) is “to ensure a In general, chestnut is used for its nut. The nut is consumed in Turkey in the sustainable forestry sector that is But, in addition to this, its hardwood timber different ways shown in the table below: accorded its rightful role in contributing to is used for construction materials and its the socio-economic development through flowers for apiculture Ð some counties are Chestnut product Price (US$/kg) production of indispensable goods and famous for their chestnut honey. Raw product 1.5 (average) services”. This will be achieved through (sold in markets) the following specific objectives: Geographical distribution Roasted (sold on 6 ¥ to create and maintain proper public The ten main counties in which the streets by street understanding of the value and the chestnut is found are in the Black Sea sellers) vital role forests play in our daily lives; region, with the exception of Izmir. But Candied 20 ¥ to serve as an advocacy channel for the nuts are generally produced in the forestry issues and create a forum for Marmara and Aegean regions. It is Total Income from chestnuts exchange of ideas among foresters possible to say, therefore, that the The total annual income from chestnuts, and other interested parties chestnuts found in the Black Sea region including export, internal consumption throughout Uganda; are natural. and unrecorded consumption, can be ¥ to promote the effective protection, calculated as follows: production and utilization of Uganda’s Nut production Export. US$6 679 623 equivalent to 6 264 forest resources and in accordance According to the statistics for the last 20 tonnes (average for last ten years). with relevant international years, Turkey’s annual crop yield has Internal consumption. US$94 774 000 conventions/agreements; grown to 68 625 tonnes, an increase of equivalent to 47 387 tonnes product (the ¥ to work as far as possible for the 28 kg of nuts per tree. average price of the nut has been standardization of information
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 56 COUNTRY COMPASS
collection, storage, retrieval, and to promote responsible forestry on Lai Chau provinces manage their natural dissemination and utilization system the estimated 6.4 million hectares of resources in an ecologically, economically for the forestry sector. overseas forests needed to supply the and socially sustainable way”. The target In order to achieve these objectives, UFA United Kingdom market. (Source: Taiga groups are the local populations in the two has developed a three-year, five- News, Winter 2001.) provinces, which comprise a large component project proposal “Improving percentage of ethnic minorities (mainly the value of forests and trees In Uganda” Thai and H’mong). to carry out the following activities, UNITED REPUBLIC The project is working in five areas: including non-wood forest products: OF TANZANIA a) participatory land use planning and land ¥ information and database allocation; b) methodology for participatory establishment and dissemination Preserving tradition village development planning; c) improved including advocacy; Forests and woodlands cover over a technical and organizational options; ¥ research and training; third of the total land area of the United d) technical procedures for natural forest ¥ promoting quality products; Republic of Tanzania, and are the main regeneration; and e) establishment of a ¥ promoting tree growing in Uganda; source of fuel, timber, fruits and other needs-oriented extension concept. ¥ providing consultancy services. foods for many rural communities. More UFA would like to collaborate with other than 50 indigenous wild fruits grow in the For more information, please contact: international agencies wishing to work in miombo woodlands alone, which Ms Huong Lien, SFDP PR Coordinator, the developing world. dominate the west and south of the GPO Box 407, Hanoi, Viet Nam. country. They offer valuable nutrients to Fax: +84 4 214765; For more information, please contact: rural families, but less than half the fruit e-mail: [email protected]; The Administrator, Uganda Forestry is collected, leaving the rest to rot in the [email protected] Association, PO Box 27667, forest or be eaten by monkeys. Kampala, Uganda. The International Centre for Research Tel./fax: +256 41 340442; in Agroforestry (ICRAF) is working with e-mail c/o: [email protected] local women’s groups and the Tanzanian Women Leaders in Agriculture and Branching Out Environment (TAWLAE) to increase An electronic version of Branching Out, awareness of the high nutritional value of the Forest Sector Newsletter of Uganda, these indigenous fruits, and enable the can be obtained from Gaster Kawuubye women to maximize their potential for Kiyingi, Information Officer, Uganda income generation through the Forest Sector Coordination Secretariat, manufacture and sale of jam, wine and ZIMBABWE Ministry of Water, Lands and juice. (Source: Global Newsletter on Environment, PO Box 27314, Kampala, Underutilized Crops, June 2001.) Social benefits of natural woodlands and Uganda; eucalyptus woodlots in Mukarakate, fax: +256 (0)41 340683; northeastern Zimbabwe e-mail: [email protected]; VIET NAM The social benefits of indigenous [email protected] miombo woodland resources and exotic Social Forestry Development Project Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodlots were (SFDP) Song Da investigated in Mukarakate, northeastern UNITED KINGDOM The SFDP Song Da project is being Zimbabwe. The availability of woodland financed by the Federal German Ministry resources and the importance of those Forest Footprint for Economic Cooperation and resources to different social classes and The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Development, BMZ. The project, which genders were studied by using has recently published the United started in 1993 and has a total participatory rural appraisal methods. Kingdom’s Forest Footprint. The United implementation period of 12 years, was Semi-structured interviews were used to Kingdom is the world’s second largest initiated as a watershed protection clarify the benefits from natural importer of forest products, importing measure in the Song Da watershed. The woodlands and exotic plantations, as 85 percent of its needs. The Minister for project goal is that “the living conditions of well as any management problems for the Environment has pledged to reform the local population in the Song Da region eucalyptus woodlots owned by private the government procurement of forest are improved in accord with a stabilization individuals, educational institutions and products to source more Forest of the ecology”. The project purpose is woodlot cooperatives. Interviews of Stewardship Council-certified products that “(rural) communities in Son La and eucalyptus woodlot owners in two typical
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 57 COUNTRY COMPASS
villages were conducted between the Association for the Study of the Flora narrower range of products, while hoping January 1998 and November 1999. of Tropical Africa (AETFAT). to develop them all the way to export The availability of most woodland SAFIRE was established in 1994 quality and production. resources had decreased very rapidly through the collaboration of several local SAFIRE hosts several national and between 1980 and 1998 and are likely to and international NGOs. SAFIRE’s mission regional initiatives aimed at promoting continue decreasing in the future. This is to facilitate the development and natural product development and has caused problems especially for the application of innovative approaches to marketing. These include the Miombo poor and women because they were the diversify and improve rural livelihoods, Forum, which supports alternative trade primary users of many of the non-wood based on the utilization, commercialization and ecolabelling for products derived from forest products (NWFP) from the miombo and sustainable management of natural miombo woodlands in five countries in woodlands, and these products were resources. As a “plants” counterpoint to the southern and eastern Africa; and the getting more and more difficult to find in CAMPFIRE programme, which focuses Southern African Natural Products Trade the area. People from all social classes primarily on large mammals, SAFIRE Association (SANProTA), which facilitates had established eucalyptus woodlots in draws attention to the value of woodlands product and market research and the 1980s, but these woodlots were not to local people. Its main goals are to development for forest or veld products able to provide substitutes for many of the promote the establishment of natural from Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia NWFPs that had come from miombo resource-based enterprises, and to support and Zimbabwe. woodlands. (Source: Forests, Trees and the development of land use alternatives Livelihoods, 11(1): 29-45 [2001].) derived from these enterprises. SAFIRE’s Managing our Indigenous One of the projects that SAFIRE has For more information, please contact Tree Inheritance programme focuses on been working on with support from the the author: T.M. Tyynela, Faculty of the economic development of communal People and Plants Initiative is the Forestry, University of Joensuu, PO areas based on sustainable and reintroduction of a medicinal tree Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland. productive use of natural resources, species, Warburgia salutaris, locally [Please see under Products and Markets Ð especially from woodlands. There are four known as muranga, which is the most Mushrooms Ð for more information on broad areas of focus: a) enterprise important traditional medicine in Zimbabwe.] promotion and development; b) natural Zimbabwe. An economic analysis from resource management at the community this pilot project of Warburgia Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources level; c) institutional development among reintroduction, as well as of market Through their keen and active traditional leadership and modern local price data from a survey of local herbal Zimbabwean fieldworkers and awareness governance structures; and d) natural medicine markets, strongly suggests of local resource needs, the Southern resource policy development at the local that the reintroduction of Warburgia Alliance for Indigenous Resources and national levels. The programme is salutaris in southeastern Zimbabwe (SAFIRE) has established field projects known by the acronym MITI, meaning has great potential to enhance which deal with people-plant interactions “trees” in the local Shona language. conservation of an endangered species away from the Zambezi valley geographic Since its initiation in 1997, MITI has and, simultaneously, improve the focus of the better known and longer sought to develop a range of natural livelihoods of local rural people. established CAMPFIRE programme. plant products, identify and explore T.E. Veeman et al. (in press). Muranga Examples are its research on ilala market opportunities for those products, returns: the economics of production (Hypahaene coriacea) palm harvesters, build production and processing capacity of a rare medicinal plant species re- baobab fibre, oil and nutriceuticals, the within local communities, and develop introduced in southeastern Zimbabwe. role of the musau tree (Ziziphus alternative methodologies for assessing Advances in Economics Botany. mauritiana) in household economies, the volume and sustainable offtake traditional uses of, and economic levels of the plant resources that form opportunities from, makoni herbal tea the basis for these products. (Source: People and Plants Handbook, (Fadogia ancylantha), and work with The MITI project works with issue 6, May 2001.) communities in the Chipinge area on re- communities in five districts in eastern establishment and agroforestry production Zimbabwe. To date, it has identified more For more information, please contact: of the medicinal tree muranga (Warburgia than 40 different enterprise opportunities Mr Gus Le Breton, Director, Southern salutaris). With support from the People based on natural products, and has Alliance for Indigenous Resources, PO and Plants Initiative, SAFIRE is the facilitated the development of enterprises Box BE 398, Belvedere, Harare, national contact point for the Zimbabwe benefiting more than 10 000 people. At Zimbabwe. Ethnobotany Network (ZEN), which links present, the project is moving towards a Fax: +263 4 790470; into the African Ethnobotany Network of second phase, in which it will focus on a e-mail: [email protected]
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 58 ECONOOK
con los requisitos exigidos por el humans, and the problem of helping the DANISH ECOLABELLING INRENA, en consonancia con la community to organize such an activity CAMPAIGN FORGES AHEAD legislación vigente sobre áreas effectively. protegidas. There is an ongoing debate in The Danish Government’s information Según el expediente técnico Cameroon concerning the sustainable campaign on ecolabelling, launched in presentado por la comunidad de Santa management of wildlife, the involvement 2001, has now entered its second phase, Catalina, Chaparrí protegerá los bosques of local populations in natural resource the Environmental Protection Agency y las especies de fauna existentes y management, and activities that can (EPA) has announced. The first stage desarrollará planes de manejo para la generate sustainable income for those saw public recognition of the European rehabilitación y reintroducción de populations. Union “Flower” symbol and of the Nordic especies de flora silvestre amenazadas y In the Lomié region and throughout the “Swan” label increase substantially and en peligro de extinción. humid forest belt of southern and eastern also resulted in rises of up to 50 percent El área de conservación privada Cameroon, agriculture (especially cocoa in sales of ecolabelled products, the Chaparrí tiene una extensión de 34 413 and coffee) used to be the favoured agency said in a statement. The hectáreas, ubicadas en el distrito de source of income for farmers. However, campaign will now focus on increasing Chongoyape, provincia de Chiclayo, with the end of State subsidies and a the range and turnover of ecolabelled departamento de Lambayeque, y en los drastic fall in the market price of these goods. (Source: Environment Daily, distritos de Llama y Miracosta, provincia products, local people have turned to 1091, 29 October 2001.) de Chota, departamento de Cajamarca. hunting (all of which, according to current Las especies de flora más legislation, is illegal “poaching”) in order representativas suman más de 50 entre to meet their needs. Although industrial SE CREÓ LA PRIMERA ÁREA las que se incluyen el sapote, hualtaco, logging within the “agroforestry” zone DE CONSERVACIÓN PRIVADA overo, algarrobo, faique, angolo, undoubtedly provides an income for the chamico, caña brava, lipe, tres especies State and populations living adjacent to silvestres de tomates, una variedad de concessions, the impact of this income at frutales nativos, así como un grupo de 7 village level is very minor. especies que aún no han sido Given this situation, the government, identificadas científicamente. (Fuente: non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Econews, 10 de enero de 2002.) and projects have put emphasis on working with the local populations to find other activities which could generate GORILLA-BASED TOURISM: more sustainable income to compete with A REALISTIC SOURCE hunting and logging. In this respect, local OF COMMUNITY INCOME people can potentially benefit from IN CAMEROON? Cameroon’s forestry policy, which gives El bosque seco lambayecano de them the right to apply for and manage Chaparrí es, desde el pasado 27 de In the southern forest belt of Cameroon community forests and community diciembre, la primera área natural a trial is under way to develop a hunting zones according to established protegida de conservación privada del “community-based gorilla research and norms and procedures. Although the Perú. Su gestión es obra exclusiva de los tourism site”. This is taking place within areas concerned are not large, this is integrantes de la comunidad campesina the context of government policy to nevertheless an achievement for the de Santa Catalina de Chongoyape que involve local populations in the populations, allowing them to take their aspiran a convertir a Chaparrí en un management of wildlife, and is an own decisions about the use of the forest. ejemplo de conservación para las attempt to address the desire of a local Two villages, Karagoua and comunidades del país y en un factor community to develop some sort of Koungoulou, have included the importante de su propio desarrollo social. tourism in and around their community development of tourism in their forest La nueva área protegida privada ha forest. A recent case study of the villages management objectives, and specifically sido creada mediante la Resolución of Koungoulou and Karagoua in tourism to observe gorillas in their natural Ministerial N¡ 1.324-AG-2001, con la Cameroon by Elias Djoh and Mark van habitat. This initiative is supported by a opinión favorable de la Dirección General der Wal discusses some fundamental local NGO, Centre international d’appui de Áreas Naturales Protegidas del questions related to the feasibility of the au développement (CIAD), which, Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales trial, such as the difficulty of working together with local populations, has (INRENA) y que será administrada por within existing legislation, the need to initiated a gorilla habituation trial in the esta comunidad campesina luego cumplir habituate the gorillas to the presence of village forest area. In the long term, the
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 59 ECONOOK
aim is to develop a site for tourism and has also started sneaking into the scientific research where the gorillas will Kumrose forest. The Asiatic one-horned be protected and habituated to the rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger both presence of humans in their environment. roam the forest, and this brings in The authors explore the potential tourists keen to ride on elephant back to benefits, problems and constraints of this catch a glimpse of the rare beasts, or go proposal and present their first results on jungle walks or even camp out. and impressions. They conclude that, in The Kumrose Community Forest is a the case of Lomié, it is clearly possible to remarkable success story of how habituate one or several groups of community forestry and conservation can gorillas, although the habituation process go together. The village collects fees takes time. Locally, it is often compared from the rides and ploughs the money to the establishment of an oil palm directly into further conservation work. plantation: four years of time and energy Biogas plants have been installed in must be invested before the first palm many households as an alternative nuts can be harvested. Thus, it will KUMROSE COMMUNITY source of energy and villagers are require patience and perseverance FOREST, NEPAL encouraged to use less fuelwood from before the gorillas are habituated and the the forest. investment begins to show returns. Given Fifteen years ago, Nepal’s Kumrose Curious visitors to the community the need to diversify local sources of Community Forest was 25 ha of barren forest have also encouraged local micro- income, the authors still firmly believe land. Once part of the vast Chitwan entrepreneurship, and the success of that it is worth attempting despite the jungle, the forests had been cleared by preservation efforts has encouraged problems encountered. The biggest loggers and a government resettlement people to start community enterprises. question is whether the populations campaign. Then, in the late 1980s, the The users’ group of the Kumrose concerned are capable of organizing community got together to plant trees Community Forest, together with the themselves to manage this community and recreate the once-lush jungles of the Village Development Committee, activity. Once they are well organized, it area. Today the Kumrose Community recently constructed a machan (viewing will represent a more sustainable source Forest is a 1 050 ha patch of jungle that tower) that can accommodate eight of income, in contrast to the sporadic generates NRs 1.5 million annually from visitors at a time. The machan offers income from the sales of standing tourists visiting the area for elephant visitors a chance to experience jungle volume. There are, however, several rides and nature walks. life at night and, in the daytime, the other questions which remain Kumrose does not rival the nearby opportunity to observe animals and birds unanswered: how will this money (the Royal Chitwan National Park, but it has in a peaceful setting. income from a community activity shown that human intervention can bring With the growth of the forest and conducted by several villages) be back the nature that human intervention resident wildlife in Kumrose, there has managed? Will the activity have a destroyed Ð and it can work for the been a surge in the community’s positive impact on the conservation of benefit of nearby villages and raise their awareness of conservation. Villagers gorillas as a species in Cameroon? Or standard of living. Park and people need have realized they are the immediate will the gorillas still be hunted in the part not be in conflict. beneficiaries of the revenue generated of the forest that is not involved in this Hira Bahadur Gurung, who chairs the by visiting tourists. There is some habituation trial? (Source: Rural forest conservation group, said that in nervousness about the wild animals their Development Forestry Network paper the past the floods from the Rapti river forest now attracts, especially since 25e, July 2001.) used to wreak havoc in Kumrose and crops are damaged by rhinos and wild seven other villages. Tree plantations elephants and livestock killed by For more information, please contact were started on the barren banks of the leopards. Initially, when faced with the the authors: river to prevent floods; now there are no reforestation plans, not everyone was so Elias Djoh, Director, Centre floods, the trees hold the soil together sanguine and local people were afraid international d’appui au and the farms are more fertile. that wild animals from the nearby Royal développement, PO Box 24, Lomié, Today, nearly 1 200 households in the Chitwan National Park would make this Cameroon. vicinity benefit directly from the Kumrose patch of forest their home and cause E-mail: [email protected]; forest, which helps meet their fuelwood, more trouble to local farmers. or Mark van der Wal, SNV Cameroon, timber, fodder and thatch needs. With Now there is none of the hostility in PO Box 1239, Yaoundé, Cameroon. the restoration of the forests, wildlife Kumrose towards wildlife often seen in E-mail: [email protected] from the Royal Chitwan National Park other conservation areas of Nepal.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 60 ECONOOK
Losses from wild animals are tolerated In 1997, Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN), because of the benefits they bring. NATURE RESERVE IN VIET the state electricity utility, produced a The Kumrose Community Forest NAM: NA HANG DAM pre-feasibility study for a dam on the started 15 years ago as a Panchayat- THREATENS FORESTS, Gam River. Two years later, EVN protected forest, but in 1995 it was PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE produced terms of reference for a registered as a community forest and feasibility study of the dam which was has been functioning according to the The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is due to be completed at the end of 2001. government’s forestry regulations, which endemic to northern Viet Nam and is one Scott Wilson Asia Pacific wrote, in the hand over decision-making on protection of the world’s most endangered mammal inception report for its conservation and management to the forest user species. Before a group was spotted in project in Na Hang, that it proposed to groups set up by the village development Na Hang district in 1992, it was “assist the Government of Viet Nam by committees. considered extinct. Today, 260 of the carrying out a preliminary environmental The Kumrose Community Forest is monkeys are known to be living in assessment of the River gam dam”. shortly completing its terms under the northern Viet Nam. Half of the population Scott Wilson’s consultants completed jurisdiction of the district forest authority, lives in the Na Hang Nature Reserve, their preliminary environmental and is in the process of being registered which was created in 1994 specifically to assessment in 2000. According to Viet as a buffer zone of the Royal Chitwan protect the snub-nosed monkey. Nam’s Electricity Master Plan Number National Park. Once it is declared a The Na Hang Nature Reserve is in an Five, released in 2001, the Na Hang buffer, it will benefit from the park’s area of dramatic mountainous limestone dam is planned to be commissioned in conservation efforts, and in turn scenery. The forest within the nature 2006. So far, the Vietnamese contribute grassroots support for the reserve is extraordinarily rich in Government has not secured park. biodiversity. As well as providing a international funding for the dam. This is a vital part of the modern habitat for the snub-nosed monkey, it is If built, the Na Hang dam would create approach to conservation, and will be home to the François’ leaf monkey, a reservoir stretching 30 km up the Gam the strategy behind the Terai Arc lesser slow loris, stump-tailed macaque, river and flooding 57 km2, including 220 Landscape (TAL), a new conservation pig-tailed macaque, dhole, Owston’s ha of the Na Hang Nature Reserve. approach being designed by the World palm civet, clouded leopard, Asiatic black Forty-five villages would be flooded, and Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to join bear, serow, a series of endangered more than 11 000 people would be conservation efforts in the Nepal Terai birds and butterflies, an endangered evicted to make way for the reservoir. and India. TAL aims to connect tortoise and 13 species of threatened Ethnic groups living in the area include community forests, protected forests, 11 plants. Four endangered fish species live Dao, Tay, Hoa and H’mong, as well as protected areas and national parks in in the Gam river, which forms the Kinh, the Vietnamese majority group. Nepal and India to facilitate migration of western boundary of the nature reserve. One woman, who would be evicted by large mammals such as tigers, rhinos Scott Wilson Asia Pacific, a consulting the dam, told Scott Wilson’s consultants, and Asian elephants. This would ensure company, is leading a consortium “We may be poor, but this is our home.” their natural roaming patterns along carrying out a Protected Area Resource Before the dam is built, the reservoir jungle corridors and ensure their long- Conservation (PARC) project in Na Hang area would be logged. At present there term survival. (Source: Nepali Times, with funding from the Global is no road access to the area. Building 66, 2-8 November 2001; Environment Facility. In addition, the dam would involve building a new www.nepalnews.com. Allwetter Zoo and the Zoological Society road, a major construction site, traffic, np/ntimes/issue66/villagevoice.htm) for the Conservation of Species and construction noise, dust, pollution, Populations (both of Germany) are explosions, and up to 10 000 workers. running the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Construction workers will increase local Conservation Project. demand for wildlife and other forest Unfortunately, the same Vietnamese products. The bones, hands and feet of Government that set up the Na Hang Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys are made Nature Reserve now seems determined into traditional medicines. With a stream to go ahead with plans for a US$420 of construction trucks driving in and out million, 300 MW hydropower dam on the of the area, it would be almost Gam river. The dam would flood part of impossible to stop illegal trading. the Na Hang Nature Reserve and have In May 1999, a group of devastating, long-term impacts on the environmental organizations, including forests, people and wildlife in and the World Conservation Union, Allwetter adjacent to the reserve. Zoo and Primate Conservation Inc.,
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 61 ECONOOK
wrote to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai suddenly found myself surrounded by the Indians’ ancestral lands. Both have and other Vietnamese officials. Their several dozen Miskito Indian guerrillas, exploited natural resources and made letters requested that a thorough each carrying an AK-47 assault rifle. vast profits from the cultivation and sale of environmental impact assessment of the When it became clear to them that I was cocaine. proposed dam should be carried out, in there to protect the forests, not plunder Even now, while attention is focused on accordance with Viet Nam’s Law on them, I was allowed to go. The Miskito Afghanistan, we need to plan for a safer Environment Protection and the had taken up arms because outsiders future by nipping future resource wars in Convention on Biodiversity (to which Viet were seeking to exploit their timber and the bud. Can this be done? Yes, but it will Nam is a signatory). To date, no such mineral resources. require foresight and courage from some study has been done. The Vietnamese The Miskito are not alone. Many violent of the poorest governments, and Government did not reply to the letters. conflicts occur in areas of dense tropical considerable assistance from the rich (Source: RECOFTC e-letter 2002.5, 28 forest, where regular and irregular armies, world. February 2002.) timber and mining companies, indigenous Neglecting remote, forested regions people and drug cartels vie for control and those who live there invites future over natural resources. conflict. It is vitally important that In Cambodia, both the government and governments invest in these areas to the Khmer Rouge financed military provide them with social services, such as campaigns by procuring and selling clinics, schools and running water, and timber. build their credibility among the local In eastern Congo, abundant supplies of people. Just as important is that timber and minerals have attracted a governments promote law and order and ragbag of invading forces eager to profit guarantee forest dwellers secure property from the spoils of war. rights. Many of today’s conflicts could Rebel forces in Angola, Liberia and have been averted if it had been clear a FORESTS AND CONFLICT Sierra Leone have prospered by long time ago who owned what, and who exploiting diamonds and timber in regions had the rights to exploit timber and other The writer is director-general of the that lie far beyond government control. resources. Center for International Forestry There are similar cases in Indonesia’s In the meantime, greater efforts should Research, based in Bogor, Indonesia. Aceh Province, on Mindanao in the be made to defuse current conflicts. Since He contributed this comment to the southern Philippines, in Nagaland in the scramble for natural resources has International Herald Tribune. northeastern India, in parts of Myanmar sparked off many of these conflicts, it is and in other parts of the world. clear that determining control of these With much of the world’s attention riveted There is, it seems, a standard recipe for resources must be central to any on Afghanistan, it is easy to forget that conflict. Take a remote and inaccessible negotiations. armed conflicts are bringing death and forested area inhabited by ethnic In addition, past experience in countries misery to millions of people in scores of minorities with little government presence. such as Guatemala and Liberia suggests countries around the world. Since 1989 With its natural resources, such an area is that there is often an orgy of resource the number of civil wars has tripled. well suited to illicit activities. Outsiders grabbing once a conflict ceases. Some are minor affairs, but others have surge in to exploit the potential wealth. Negotiations must plan not just for peace paralysed whole nations and have the Add automatic weapons that can easily but for the prudent use of natural potential to spark off wider violence. If the be bought on the black market, and the resources once conflict is over. world wants to avoid endless turmoil, it profits of plunder, and you soon end up Of course, peace comes with a price. needs to understand what causes such with jungle warfare between indigenous The governments in most countries conflicts. It is often claimed that the wars people and those they regard as invaders. scarred by conflict lack the financial of the future will result from rapidly rising In this twenty-first century Wild West, resources to invest in remote, sparsely populations fighting over increasingly both people and forests suffer. Take the inhabited regions. scarce resources, such as water and land. recent horrors of Colombia. This is where the rich world can help. At present, though, what we see is that While right-wing paramilitary forces Better, surely, to spend modest sums on the desire to control natural resources have murdered tribal leaders who have avoiding conflict today than billions on such as timber, diamonds and petroleum sought to resist their territorial ambitions, resolving conflicts in the future. The lies behind many conflicts. the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of forests and the people who live there will Take Nicaragua, which I recently visited Colombia have forced Indians to join their thank us for it. (Source: David to do research on forests. After reaching a ranks. Tens of thousands of people have Kaimowitz, The International Herald remote region on the Atlantic coast, I been killed. Both sides have appropriated Tribune, 30 November 2001.)
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FAO LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT FOREST PRODUCTS DIVISION FAO PROGRAMME “IMPROVING SUPPORT FOR ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS OF FAO is to support UNCTAD’s biotrade THE RURAL POOR” The best way to protect a resource, such WORLD FOOD SUMMIT: as forests and their biodiversity, is to make FIVE YEARS LATER it useful to those destroying it. And if they are willing to preserve it instead, they FAO will host a global meeting at its should receive a fair income from it. Rome headquarters from 10 to 13 June That is the thinking behind the Biotrade 2002 to review progress towards ending Initiative launched in 1996 by the United hunger. The meeting, the World Food Nations Conference on Trade and Summit: five years later, is meant to Development (UNCTAD). Its objectives, in track progress achieved since the 1996 line with the Convention on Biological World Food Summit and consider ways Diversity (CBD), are to ensure to accelerate the process. FAO and other agencies have been conservation and sustainable use of The summit was originally scheduled exploring sustainable livelihoods (SL) biological diversity, and to ensure that the for 5 to 9 November 2001 but has been approaches as a means of enhancing the benefits arising from its use are shared delayed in the aftermath of the quality and impact of their programmes on fairly. The initiative has practical support 11 September attacks in the United the reduction of poverty and food insecurity. from the UNCTAD/WTO International States. “The purpose of this event is to In this context, the promotion of sustainable Trade Centre, which assists developing give new impetus to worldwide efforts on livelihoods is a key strategy for FAO in its countries with the skills needed for trade behalf of hungry people,” says Dr Jacques Strategic Framework for 2000-2015. With promotion and export development. Diouf, Director-General of FAO. “We support from the United Kingdom Now, following discussions in Rome must raise both the political will and the Department for International Development with representatives of UNCTAD and the financial resources to fight hunger. The (DFID), which will provide US$7 million over International Trade Centre, FAO will international community has repeatedly five years, the Livelihood Support support the Biotrade Initiative’s Trade declared that it is dedicated to the Programme (LSP) seeks to improve the Facilitation Programme. This is intended eradication of poverty. Eliminating impact of FAO interventions at country level to enable sustainable trade in biodiversity hunger is a vital first step.” through the effective application of products and services, through innovative Unfortunately, current data indicate sustainable livelihood approaches. The SL partnerships in product development, that the number of undernourished is methods and lessons arising through the processing, marketing and biodiversity falling at an average rate of only LSP are aimed at helping FAO to deliver management. 6 million each year, far below the rate of field programmes, policies and institutions FAO already actively promotes a fair- 22 million per year needed to reach the that better support the livelihoods of the trade approach to the preservation of World Food Summit target. Although rural poor. genetic resources, one example being headway has been made and some The overall LSP programme is promotion of non-wood forest products striking success stories exist in individual composed of nine complementary (NWFP) that can be harvested countries and communities, much subprogrammes and major outputs, each sustainably from the forest. This gives remains to be done. with its own theme, interdepartmental people an economic alternative to cutting World leaders will be requested to team, budget and an evolving workplan down the forest for either timber or outline the measures needed to achieve developed in collaboration with the other agriculture. NWFPs range from wild the goal, and make suggestions on how subprogrammes. The overall LSP honey to fibres used in car upholstery, to accelerate progress. They are also management team includes and include mushrooms, wild edible nuts, expected to consider how to increase representatives from each of the berries and bamboo. resources available for agricultural and subprogrammes. rural development. Why biotrade? At the World Food Summit in 1996, For more information, please contact: The thinking behind the initiative is that representatives of 185 nations and the Jan Johnson, Project Coordinator, people will be more willing to preserve European Community pledged to work Livelihood Support Programme, FAO, biodiversity if doing so offers economic towards eradicating hunger. As an Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome advantages. essential first step, they set a target of 00100, Italy. An example is the karite, or shea nut, reducing the number of hungry people E-mail: [email protected]; tree. It grows over much of West Africa Ð by half by 2015. (Source: www.fao.org/ or Sabina Curatolo, Project Secretary. including ecologically sensitive areas on the worldfoodsummit/) E-mail: [email protected] fringes of the Sahara, where trees are vital.
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Karite demonstrates how sustainable Challenges to biotrade ¥ Possible joint promotion of trade in exploitation of a resource may help The Rome discussions on the Trade key NWFPs. preserve it, according to Paul Vantomme, Facilitation Programme centred on a “If this collaboration develops,” says FAO’s expert on NWFPs. “Farmers often number of key issues concerning Paul Vantomme, “it will help us to help cut trees down to free land for growing sustainable trade in biodiversity and local communities become partners in food,” he says. “But, increasingly, they forest products. conservation Ð and raise their own living are tolerating karite trees in their fields Trade in a threatened resource must standards at the same time.” (Source: because the nuts provide an edible oil. have sufficient value for it to be worth www.fao.org/news/2001/010903-e.htm) That oil can also be processed into shea preserving. But at the same time, the butter, which can be used as a substitute trade may have to be limited, precisely Relevance and applicability of certification for cocoa butter in chocolates, and in because the resource is limited. Species and benefit-sharing mechanisms in the cosmetics. If local farmers earn enough yielding NWFPs tend to grow at low field of NWFPs from the income this generates, they will densities Ð especially in tropical forests. The assessment of impact of trade and integrate the trees with agriculture. This is This means there will not be large marketing on the sustainable use of now happening.” commercial quantities. So these products NWFPs is one of FAO NWFP The next step, says Mr Vantomme, must be aimed at niche markets that can Programme’s many activities. The may be that farmers start growing a plant be profitable in small quantities. This objective of the assessment is to analyse in which they previously had no interest Ð could include, for example, forest plants the relevance and applicability of or even considered a nuisance. “A used for high-value medicines and herbal certification and benefit-sharing crossover situation has arisen in which remedies. mechanisms in the field of NWFPs. some potentially threatened plants (such It is also important to determine where For agricultural and timber products, as kola nuts in West Africa) are farmed the limits of sustainable harvesting lie for a certification and benefit-sharing and traded, but wild ones continue to given wild product. And the technical tools mechanisms have been established in grow in nearby forests. This is good, as for assessing those limits must be order to monitor and evaluate the the wild populations can be used to developed and transferred. After this, there ecologically friendly, economically viable maintain the genetic health of the farmed must be ways to certify that harvesting is and/or socially equitable use of these crop.” sustainable, in order to set standards for products. Criteria and indicators have The principle does not apply solely to labelling Ð but it is difficult to certify been elaborated, against which forests, but they offer particular potential products gathered in the wild. production and commercialization are because they are a critical reservoir of Finally, new initiatives are needed to assessed. The following mechanisms are biodiversity. And NWFPs are an market unfamiliar products. becoming more relevant for NWFPs: important business. In 1990/91 the value Many of these issues should be ¥ Forest management schemes mainly of the total recorded trade in such addressed by the joint activities assess ecological aspects of resource products was estimated at US$11 billion. provisionally agreed to at the meeting. management, both at the forest and To put this in context, the global coffee- They include: species/product level. These schemes bean trade was then worth about ¥ Improving terms and definitions for aim at providing environmentally US$17 billion. NWFPs, essential for international sound products, which can be trade. Work will focus on adding to marketed as “green products”. the classifications already listed by ¥ Fair-trade schemes and benefit- the World Customs Organization. sharing arrangements focus on social ¥ Clarification of certification and aspects of trade and the adequate labelling issues. Consumers must share of benefits among stakeholders, know that what they are buying was including disadvantaged local harvested sustainably. communities. ¥ Development of benefit-sharing ¥ Product quality standards aim at arrangements. These are ensuring that defined production mechanisms to ensure that those who standards have been taken into harvest resources with care receive a consideration. These standards can fair share of the income. These focus on various aspects such as arrangements also cover, for organic production or product purity. example, farmers’ rights to use ¥ Certification of origin is used for a commercial varieties of crops variety of products (e.g. food developed with genetic material they products), in order to guarantee that a have helped preserve. given product is derived from a
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certain region or area. It does not organizations involved and case studies the sector between public and private assess any quality standards. will be made available. organizations in the various countries. These mechanisms are mainly used It is intended to co-organize a Mr Vantomme was invited by the as marketing and policy tools. The workshop in the second half of 2002 in conference organizers to present a variety of existing schemes, standards order to clarify further the relevance of keynote address on FAO’s activities on and arrangements reflects the different certification and benefit-sharing NWFPs during the opening plenary ecological and socio-economic mechanisms related to the sustainable session, to chair the NWFP subgroup and dimensions of sustainability. Market use of NWFPs. to present a paper on gum arabic in the demand appears to be the driving force Preliminary results of this “Gums” subgroup. In addition, a poster on when choosing a specific mechanism. documentation and information on the FAO’s activities on NWFPs was displayed NWFPs have only recently been planned workshop will be made available and presented by the Regional Office in incorporated in some of the above on our Web site (www.fao.org/forestry/ the exhibition hall. mechanisms. The relevance of these fop/fopw/nwfp/nwfp-e.stm) as soon as [See under Recent Events for more mechanisms for the sustainable use of they are available. information on this conference.] NWFPs will be analysed and the Note: We would greatly appreciate methods used to assess the sustainable receiving any information on existing Mr Sven Walter travelled to the Sudan production and commercialization of certification or benefit-sharing from 27 May to 8 June 2001 in order to NWFPs will be documented by this mechanisms or related case studies. This participate, together with three forestry programme activity. information would be duly acknowledged officers from the Niger, in a study tour on The main activities include: in our documentation. the production and commercialization of a) documentation of relevant gum arabic, carried out in the context of stakeholders involved in certification For more information, please contact: TCP/NER/0066 “Support to the Revival of and benefit-sharing (e.g. private Sven Walter, NWFP Programme, Forest the Production and the Commercialization sector, governmental and non- Products Division, Forestry of Gum arabic” (Appui à la relance de la governmental organizations, Department, FAO. production et de la commercialisation de labelling initiatives, collector Fax: +39 0657055618; la gomme arabique). The main objective associations, development e-mail: [email protected] of the study tour was to inform the Niger agencies, consumer groups); participants about the current situation of b) analysis of the relevance and the gum arabic sector in the Sudan, in applicability of certification and order to enable them to draw conclusions benefit-sharing mechanisms for for the development of the gum arabic different NWFPs (e.g. food products, sector in the Niger and to establish medicinal plants, gums, cosmetics); contacts between the institutions and c) compilation of working paper(s); governments concerned in both countries. d) establishment of Web site; During the study tour, governmental e) co-organization of meeting(s). organizations, producer associations, A first review of literature on the private companies and research institutes ethical and legal aspects related to the were visited in order to gather information trade in NWFPs led to the compilation of on the production, collection and trade of a Special Feature on the “Commercial gum arabic (mainly gum hashab provided use of biodiversity: ethical and legal by Acacia senegal). aspects” published in Non-wood News Travel of NWFP officers No. 7. In addition, a report on “Benefit- Mr Paul Vantomme travelled to Australia Mr Sven Walter carried out a sharing arrangements in the field of non- from 11 to 22 April 2001 to attend the backstopping mission to the Niger from wood forest products – an overview” has ninth International Conference on Tree 25 June to 10 July 2001 within the been compiled and will shortly be and Nut Crops that was held in Perth. framework of project TCP/NER/0066 [see available on our Web site. The main objectives of the conference above]. The aim of the mission was to: Contacts are being established with were: to increase awareness of the i) evaluate the results of the first phase various organizations involved in the importance of tree crops and nuts for of the TCP; ii) assist in the preparation, development and application of food production; to provide and share realization and evaluation of the “First certification and benefit-sharing information and understanding on the National Workshop on the gum sector in mechanisms. Based on these contacts production, processing and marketing Niger: potentialities, constraints and and an extensive literature review, a and their business environment; and to perspectives of the production and the documentation of existing mechanisms, initiate and strengthen collaboration in commercialization of the gum arabic
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sector in Niger”; and iii) prepare the Consultation with specialists from and c) identifying the information to be second phase of the project. African English-speaking countries. The included in the database. During the first phase, missions were objective of the meeting was to get Mr Walter also participated in the carried out by national and international contributions from experts with solid meeting of the national working group consultants on technological, practical experience in the field of on the exploitation and commercialization commercial, socio-economic and legal NWFP inventory. These contributions of Prunus africana. During the meeting, aspects related to the use of gum arabic would then help to develop guidelines two studies on the national inventory in the Niger. Moreover, a study tour was for the assessment of NWFP resources. and the trade in Europe were discussed carried out to the Sudan and Chad and This Expert Consultation was one of the and validated. He visited the Mount a national workshop was organized. main activities to be performed under Cameroon Project Buea in order to The workshop achieved its goals and component 4 of the EU-funded project collect in the field first-hand information the results obtained will contribute to the GCP/RAF/354/EC designed to sustain on the exploitation of Prunus africana. development of the national strategy forest management in ACP African regarding the revitalization of the gum countries. RIL-Afrique-L – une nouvelle liste sector of the Niger and to the [See under Special Features Ð électronique preparation of the second and third Biometrics Ð for more information on this La Division des produits forestiers a phases of the project. Expert Meeting.] lancé une nouvelle liste électronique, [Please see FAO in the Field for more sous le nom de RIL-Afrique-L. RIL- information on this project.] Mr Sven Walter travelled to Cameroon Afrique-L est un bulletin électronique (en from 10 to 19 November 2001 in order français) portant sur les pratiques Mr Paul Vantomme travelled to to participate in the national workshop d’exploitation forestière à faible impact Switzerland from 15 to 18 July 2001 to “Collection and analysis of statistical en Afrique. Il veut être l’expression d’un represent FAO at the International data on non-wood forest products réseau de communications, d’échanges Expert Meeting on “Ways to Enhance (NWFP) in Cameroon: potentialities, et de discussions entre les différents the Production and Export Capacities of constraints and perspectives”. The acteurs du secteur forestier et il Developing Countries of Agriculture and workshop was carried out in the context s’adresse plus particulièrement à Food Products, including Niche of the European Commission-FAO l’Afrique francophone. Products, such as Environmentally Partnership Programme “Data collection La liste, qui va s’établir avec des Preferable Products”. The meeting was and analysis for sustainable forest inscriptions volontaires, est gérée par la organized by the Trade, Environment management in ACP countries: linking Sous-Division de l’exploitation et de la and Development Section of UNCTAD national and international efforts” commercialisation des produits forestiers and was attended by more than 80 (GCP/INT/679/EC). In addition, (FOPH) de la FAO avec le soutien du participants from about 40 countries. Mr Mr Walter collected information on the programme de partenariat Commission Vantomme was invited by the organizers exploitation of and the trade in the Européenne-FAO ÇGestion durable des to make a presentation on the role of medicinal plant Prunus africana. forêts dans les pays africains de l’ACP». edible NWFPs as potential organic During the workshop, the “Pilot study Cette liste sera un complément à products for developing countries’ export on the collection and analysis of d’autres sources d’information to niche markets in developed countries statistical data on NWFPs in existantes, telles que la liste RILNET [See under Recent Events for more Cameroon”, realized in the framework of opérée à partir de Bangkok avec le information on this international expert GCP/INT/679/EC, was presented, soutien du bureau régional de la FAO meeting.] discussed and validated. The pour l’Asie et le Pacifique. discussions stressed the importance of Pour s’inscrire à la liste, envoyer un Ms Laura Russo travelled to Caracas, improving the quality and quantity of message à l’adresse suivante: Venezuela, from 5 to 10 August 2001 to information on NWFPs. Moreover, the [email protected], en laissant participate in the workshop “Información participants discussed methodological la ligne objet vide et en rentrant la seule sobre productos forestales no aspects, the management and phrase: subscribe RIL-Afrique-L madereros y árboles fuera del bosque dissemination of information and other Pour faire parvenir une contribution à en América Latina”. technical issues. The participants la liste, envoyer un message à l’adresse [See under FAO in the Field for more identified as a priority activity the suivante: [email protected]. org information on this workshop.] organization of a national workshop, which should aim at: a) creating a Pour plus d’informations sur RIL- Mr François Ndeckere-Ziangba travelled national network on NWFPs and an Afrique-L, contacter: to Zambia from 15 to 19 October 2001 agreement on working arrangements; b) Laura Russo. to organize and participate in an Expert creating a national database on NWFPs; Mél.: [email protected]
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America shows considerable deforestation FORESTRY POLICY AND in the 1990s, the “slowdown trend” PLANNING DIVISION compared with the 1980s is quite pronounced there. The role of forestry in poverty alleviation The title of the working paper is: The main contributions that forests and “Comparison of forest area and forest trees can make to the livelihoods of the area change estimates derived from FRA poor are well known. At the same time it 1990 and FRA 2000” and is available is clear that the economic relationship online (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/ between poor people and forests and fra/index.jsp Ð under Working Papers). trees can be modified for good or ill by the institutional and regulatory For more information, please contact: environment within which it is found. In FOREST RESOURCE DIVISION Peter Holmgren, Senior Forestry order to further the understanding of the Officer, Global Forest Assessments, ways in which forests and forestry might FRA 2000 – main report Forestry Department, FAO, Rome, Italy. contribute towards the International The Global Forest Resources Fax: +39 0657055825; Development Target (IDT) and the World Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000) provides a e-mail: [email protected]; Food Summit goal, i.e. to halve the comprehensive and up-to-date view of FRA 2000 main report: number of people who suffer from hunger the world’s forest resources at the end of www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/main/index.jsp to 400 million by 2015, the FAO Forestry the second millennium. It is the result of Department is coordinating an initiative the collective efforts of the countries of Database on forestry short courses investigating the role of forests and trees the world. This major undertaking was The Forest Conservation, Research and in poverty alleviation and how this role based primarily on information provided Education Service of the FAO Forestry might influence poverty reduction by the countries, supplemented by state- Department has just completed a new strategies. of-the-art technology to verify and database on Short Courses and Related The first activity within this initiative analyse the information and to make the Subjects. The database is meant to was to hold an interagency Forum on the results accessible to the world through provide information on short courses Role of Forestry in Poverty Alleviation the Internet. available worldwide on forestry and from 4 to 7 September 2001 in Tuscany, The FRA 2000 is a key source for the related subjects, such as watershed Italy. Representatives of multi- and State of the World’s Forests 2001 which management, protected areas and bilateral agencies, international research reports every two years on the status of wildlife management, and ecotourism. organizations and NGOs came together forests, recent major policy and Users can search according to training to share their experiences. institutional developments and important area, institution and country. The aim of the forum was to help issues concerning the forest sector. The database is available online at: representatives of participating agencies www.fao.org/forestry/for/forc/free/educati develop a sharper sense of issues in Comparison of FRA 1990 and FRA 2000 on/courses.asp designing and supporting assistance to One of the most common and crucial the forest sector. The intention was to questions we receive about the FRA 2000 For more information, please contact: strengthen the capacity of identifying and results is how to compare them with FRA Pieter van Lierop, Forestry Education highlighting conflicting policies, laws and 1990, particularly for forest area and area Officer, Forest Conservation, regulations, as well as perceptions which change, which are the variables that hit Resources and Education Service, may need to be reinterpreted to meet pro- most headlines. Forestry Department, FAO, 00100 poor goals. A Working Paper (No. 59) which Rome, Italy. The participants confirmed that forests explains and analyses the differences in E-mail: [email protected] and trees have an important role to play detail is now available online. It is no in the struggle to reduce poverty. The surprise that the change in forest outcome of the forum was the drawing up definition for the industrialized countries of an Agenda for Action to assist forestry caused some confusion. What may be in having a more effective role in more interesting, however, is that the so- strategies for poverty alleviation. called “slowdown” of net forest area The Agenda for Action is as follows: change (1990s compared with 1980s) is 1. Strengthening rights, capabilities and more pronounced if the differences governance between the assessments are taken into ¥ Support the poor’s own decision- account. Furthermore, although South making power
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¥ Strengthen forest rights of the poor To view How forests can reduce ¥ Non-wood forest products in the Near and the means to claim them poverty please visit: http://foweb01/ East: a regional and national overview ¥ Recognize links between forestry forestry/brochure/brochure.stm (FOPW/01/2). and local governance These documents consist of two main 2. Reducing vulnerability For more information or to request hard parts: i) presentation of background ¥ Make safety nets not poverty traps copies, please contact: information on the programme activities ¥ Support tree planting outside Chief, Forestry Policy and Institutions and analysis of the available information at forests Branch, Forestry Policy and Planning the regional and subregional levels; and ¥ Cut the regulatory burden on the Division, Forestry Department, FAO, ii) presentation of data on NWFPs at the poor and make regulation Rome 00100, Italy. national level (so-called “country profiles”). affordable Fax: +39 0657055514; Most of the data presented in these 3. Capturing emerging opportunities e-mail: [email protected] two reports are indicative figures, which ¥ Remove the barriers to market entry have been collected in published and ¥ Base land use decisions on true unpublished reports, and therefore do not value of forests represent official statistics. The results ¥ Ensure that markets for show that qualitative and quantitative environmental services benefit the information on NWFPs at the national poor level is still weak. It is hoped that these ¥ Support associations and financing reports will support the ongoing process for local forest businesses of data improvement on NWFPs. 4. Working in partnership Improved data are considered to be ¥ Simplify policies and support essential to ensure that the use and participatory processes importance of NWFPs are adequately ¥ Promote multisectoral learning and taken into consideration by decision- action makers, land-use planners, politicians or ¥ Enhance interagency collaboration other concerned experts. ¥ Make NGOs and the private sector Additional information and comments partners in poverty reduction FAO AND THE EUROPEAN from readers to improve data on NWFPs COMMISSION (EC) in African and Near East countries would be very much appreciated. The authors of EC-FAO Partnership Programme “Data the country briefs will be duly About 1.6 billion people in the world Collection for Sustainable Forest acknowledged in the Internet version. rely heavily on forest resources for Management in ACP Countries – Linking Please contact FAO’s NWFP Programme their livelihoods. National and International Efforts” (Project with any comments (non-wood- Sixty million indigenous people living GCP/INT/679/EC) [email protected]). in the rain forests of Latin America, The overall aim of this four-year Southeast Asia and West Africa programme, funded by the European Asia and the Caribbean depend heavily on forests. Commission (Directorate-General Data on NWFPs in Asia and the Three hundred and fifty million people Development), is to strengthen national Caribbean are being reviewed and will be living in, or next to, dense forests rely capacity to collect and compile reliable made available later in 2002. on them for subsistence or income. and current information on forestry and (Source: How forests can reduce analyse the forest sector. Pilot studies poverty. 2001. FAO.) In addition, FAO has carried out pilot Africa and the Near East studies in Cameroon, Madagascar and Two regional studies have been Suriname in order to improve the completed and the results published in availability of data on NWFPs. More A brief for policy-makers, How forests the following two working documents precisely, the studies aimed at can reduce poverty, has been published produced in 2001 by FAO’s NWFP elaborating appropriate methodologies which highlights the findings from the Programme: on data collection and analysis related to forum and outlines the Agenda for Action. ¥ Non-wood forest products in Africa: a NWFPs, which should: i) provide At present, the brief is only available in regional and national overview/Les reasonable estimates of the production, English. The Arabic, Chinese, French and produits non ligneux en Afrique: un consumption and trade in NWFPs; ii) be Spanish versions will be available in aperçu régional et national widely applicable and relevant to other March 2002. (FOPW/01/1); and countries; and iii) be cost-effective,
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adaptable and feasible within the limited E-mail: [email protected]; El primer objetivo consistió en analizar, human and financial resources available. or EC-FAO Partnership Programme, en el contexto de la Región, la calidad, The pilot studies were carried out in Forest Policy and Planning Division, cantidad, oportunidad, puesta a collaboration with: Forestry Department, FAO, 00100 disposición de los usuarios y agregación ¥ the University of Yaoundé, Faculty of Rome, Italy. de valor de la información sobre los Science, Cameroon; Fax: +39 0657055137; diversos PFNM y de los árboles fuera del ¥ the Forestry Department, Ministry of e-mail: [email protected]; bosque en los diferentes países de Environment and Forestry, www.fao.org/forestry/fon/fons/outlook/ América Latina. En este contexto se sitúan Madagascar; and africa/acppro-e.stm los siguientes objetivos específicos: ¥ Adek University of Suriname, Faculty detectar las debilidades y fortalezas of Technology. estructurales en los sistemas de Workshops were organized in información forestal de la Región Madagascar and Cameroon in order to relacionadas con la información sobre disseminate and discuss the findings of ambos temas tratados; detectar las the studies. similitudes y diferencias en las debilidades During the workshop held in Yaoundé, y fortalezas de los sistemas de Cameroon, from 13 to 14 November 2001, información forestal en lo que respecta a the participants recommended the los productos forestales a nivel de países organization of a follow-up workshop in de desarrollo forestal similar y/o order to: pertenecientes a los Grupos ¥ create a national network, which Subregionales de la COFLAC, should aim at facilitating the sharing of Centroamérica y México, Cono Sur y information on NWFPs and agree Amazónico. upon working arrangements; El segundo objetivo consistió en ¥ establish a national database on Proyecto GCP/RLA/133/EC – Información desarrollar, con los asistentes al taller, un NWFPs; y análisis para el manejo forestal sostenible proceso de capacitación que redunde en ¥ identify the information to be stored in Este proyecto, que integra esfuerzos un mejoramiento de la recolección, such a database. nacionales e internacionales en 13 países análisis, puesta a disposición de los The participants of the workshop held in tropicales de América Latina, persigue el usuarios y agregación de valor de la Antananarivo, Madagascar, from 20 to mejoramiento de la calidad, cobertura y información sobre PFNM y árboles fuera 22 November 2002, identified as priority acceso a la información forestal, ya sea del bosque en América Latina. activities the: en materia de manejo como de El tercer objetivo consistió en ¥ improvement of synergies between all administración forestal, incluyendo desarrollar un proceso de capacitación stakeholders (e.g. private sector, instituciones nacionales gubernamentales horizontal, es decir, desde los propios governmental and non-governmental responsables del sector forestal, países participantes en el proyecto, organizations) of the NWFP sector; instituciones de investigación, el sector destinado en particular a: recibir una ¥ estimate of the available resources privado, organizaciones capacitación sobre la experiencia de la providing NWFPs; conservacionistas, inversionistas información forestal referente al tema del ¥ consideration of NWFPs as an entity nacionales y extranjeros, países donantes taller por parte de una institución within organizations concerned; y el público en general. subregional como CATIE; recibir la ¥ encouragement to domesticate El taller sobre «Información sobre presentación sobre la experiencia del selected NWFPs; Productos Forestales No Madereros y propio país anfitrión del taller. ¥ establishment of a information-sharing árboles fuera del bosque en América El taller se desarrolló mediante network on NWFPs; LatinaÈ, organizado en Caracas, conferencias plenarias y sesiones de ¥ prioritization of NWFPs of major Venezuela, del 6 al 9 de agosto de 2001, trabajo en grupo, y contó con el apoyo importance; and por la Oficina Regional de la FAO para técnico de L. Russo, Oficial forestal de la ¥ building of capacities within the América Latina y el Caribe, en Subdirección de industrias madereras y de ministries and institutions concerned. colaboración con la Dirección de S. Sadio, Oficial forestal del Servicio de The report of the various pilot studies, productos forestales y la Dirección de Conservación, Investigación y Enseñanza as well as a global synthesis, will be made recursos forestales del Departamento de Forestales de la Sede de la FAO en Roma. available as a working paper. Montes de la FAO y con el apoyo del El taller fue moderado por J. Morales, Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Coordinador del Proyecto en la Oficina For more information, please contact: Naturales de Venezuela, tuvo tres Regional de la FAO para América Latina y FAO NWFP Programme. objetivos principales: el Caribe con sede en Santiago de Chile.
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Al taller asistieron representantes elementos necesarios para establecer el de la información sobre los PFNM es la oficiales de los 16 países que participan valor real de esta actividad en la escasa importancia que quienes toman en el proyecto. Y se contó, además, con economía regional y en el sector forestal decisiones, y la sociedad en general, dan la presencia de invitados especiales y en su conjunto. a los PFNM. De allí que toda acción que expertos en la temática del taller. Se debe fomentar la domesticación de se tome para lograr la concientización y También asistieron permanentemente las especies, cuando esto sea posible, conocimiento de sus potencial e técnicos del Ministerio del Ambiente y los sin menoscabo de la calidad de sus importancia actual y futura, resulta Recursos Naturales de Venezuela. productos, lo que coadyuvará a disminuir fundamental. A continuación se presenta un la presión sobre las poblaciones resumen con las recomendaciones y silvestres. conclusiones más importantes derivadas Es necesario promover el manejo de los de los trabajos de síntesis sobre los dos PFNM dentro de los sistemas temas centrales. agrosilvopastoriles, como una de las El aprovechamiento de los PFNM se mejores opciones para el manejo basa en la extracción o caza, con integrado de los recursos forestales. excepción de algunos de ellos que, por Se debe promover el desarrollo de su importancia económica, se cultivan o proyectos de investigación que generen crían en forma intensiva. Tal es el caso información básica referente a la ecología, del orégano, la jojoba, el palmito, la biología, manejo y comercialización de los hierba mate, el caucho y algunas palmas, PFNM con mayor importancia entre otras. Cabe señalar que el cultivo socioeconómica en cada país. de estas especies también depende del Igualmente hay que promover la conocimiento biológico que se tiene de la realización de proyectos regionales de especie. investigación multidisciplinaria de los Acciones de corto, mediano y largo plazo La carencia de información continua PFNM con importancia regional, a través en los PFNM que comprende desde la recolección de la participación y financiamiento ¥ Promover y organizar un red regional hasta la comercialización, incluyendo el multinacionales. de información de los PFNM. manejo referente a los PFNM y los Las economías de las regiones en las ¥ Mantener la vigencia de SI Regional- servicios que brinda el bosque, provoca cuales se extraen los PFNM se PFNM como consecuencia de este la subvaloración de los mismos. Se hace caracterizan por su fragilidad en el esfuerzo inicial, con el propósito de necesario, por lo tanto, orientar más contexto de las economías nacionales y, definir y viabilizar las estrategias recursos y desarrollar más más aún, en el de la internacional. Esta formuladas en consenso y orientadas investigaciones sobre los PFNM; así fragilidad exige una particular mesura a la a satisfacer las necesidades como implementar políticas que hora de promover alternativas productivas específicas de información. estimulen su explotación sostenible, a fin novedosas o la ampliación de las ¥ Generar el programa informático para de resguardar la diversidad biológica y existentes a circuitos de mercados el procesamiento de la información contribuir al desarrollo de las regiones mayores. Cualquier propuesta de sobre PFNM y capacitar al personal donde se localizan estos productos. envergadura significativa deberá partir de encargado de su manejo. A tal fin, se requiere contar con bases la realización de estudios de factibilidad, ¥ Validar y enriquecer el programa de datos en cada país que elaboren la ya que de no hacerlo existe un gran riesgo informático. información con variables estandarizadas, de emprender empresas comerciales e ¥ Poner en funcionamiento la red lo que hará más accesible el intercambio iniciativas sociales asociadas con los regional. de información entre los países de PFNM con pocas probabilidades de éxito. ¥ Sugerir a la FAO la incorporación de América Latina, sobre todo en los Se debe impulsar estudios específicos los PFNM en el Cuestionario aspectos comerciales y de manejo. sobre el manejo de las especies objeto de Conjunto del Sector Forestal (FAO, La información de la base de datos extracción actual o potencial. Para ello es ITTO, CEPE, EUROSTAT). debe ser revisada, sistematizada, necesario un marco político que brinde a ¥ Realizar talleres locales de amplia evaluada y procesada, a efectos de los investigadores la posibilidad de iniciar participación a fin de divulgar contar con información actualizada que y darle seguimiento en el mediano y largo información y compartir pueda difundirse oportuna y plazo a sus investigaciones, sobre todo en conocimientos y experiencias sobre públicamente a través de boletines aquellos productos que así lo ameriten PFNM. informativos, revistas técnicas (por ejemplo, setas). ¥ Difundir en foros internacionales la especializadas o páginas Web. De esta Uno de los principales problemas que relevancia socioeconómica y manera, se podrá contar con los enfrenta la colecta, análisis y diseminación ambiental de los PFNM.
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¥ Detectar aquellos temas vinculados a the decline are multiple and include: bad involved in the gum arabic sector in the los PFNM que resulten de inmediata condition of the gum-providing species, Niger (e.g. producers, collectors, consideración para el cumplimiento de inappropriate exploitation techniques exporters, representatives from different los compromisos internacionales (tapping, natural exudation), ministries). suscritos por los países signatarios. disorganization of the production and During the second phase of the project, market chain, and insufficient political and i) the above-mentioned guidelines and Posibles proyectos de apoyo a los SIF de los institutional support. extension concepts on resource países para mejorar la información sobre FAO was requested to assist the management, technological and socio- PFNM Government of the Niger in the economic aspects, and ii) proposals for Realizar una encuesta regional para elaboration of a national strategy in order an adequate legal framework and detectar elementos comunes para la to improve and strengthen the national institutional collaboration, will be formulación y ejecución de proyectos gum arabic sector. FAO is, therefore, elaborated. conjuntos. funding a 15-month (December 2000 to In addition to the FAO NWFP Formular e implementar proyectos April 2002) Technical Cooperation Project, Programme, technical backstopping of específicos sobre PFNM de interés which is being executed by the Ministry of the project is provided by the FAO Forest común entre países de la región, tales Environment and Combating Conservation, Research and Education como taninos, hongos, palmas, palmitos, Desertification (MELD). FAO’s NWFP Service (FORC) and the FAO gomas, algarrobos, fibras, esencias, Programme is responsible for the Development Law Service (LEGN). plantas medicinales, entre otros. technical implementation of the TCP. The main project activities include: For more information, please contact: Para más información, dirigirse a: 1. Diagnosis of the current situation Mr G.J. Bernard, FAO Representative, Jorge Morales, Coordinador Proyecto, related to resource management, socio- PO Box 11246, Niamey, the Niger. Oficina Regional de la FAO para economic aspects, collection and Fax: +227 724709; América Latina y el Caribe, Casilla processing technologies, trade and e-mail: [email protected]; 10095, Santiago, Chile. legal aspects (Phase 1). or Mr S. Walter, FAO NWFP Fax: +56 2 3372101/2/3; 2. Development of guidelines and Programme. correo electrónico: extension concepts related to the e-mail: [email protected]. [email protected]; sustainable use of gum arabic in the www.rlc.fao.org/proyecto/rla133ec/fram Niger (Phase 2). es.htm 3. Elaboration of proposals for an adequate legal framework and FAO IN THE FIELD improved institutional collaboration (Phase 2). Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) 4. Development of a national strategy and “Support to the Revival of the Production plan of action and proposals for follow- and the Commercialization of Gum up projects (Phase 3). Arabic” (TCP/NER/0066) During the first phase of the project, Gum arabic is an exudate, derived from which finished on 31 July 2001, various Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, which is technical reports on resource mainly used in the food and management, commercialization, Acacia senegal pharmaceutical industry. Both gum arabic- technology, socio-economic and legal yielding species grow in the semi-arid aspects provided the necessary CENTER FOR TROPICAL areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The so- information to analyse the status of the FOREST SCIENCE called “gum belt” crosses Africa from gum arabic sector in the Niger. Senegal/Mauritania in the west to Somalia The information that was collected and The Center for Tropical Forest Science in the east. World trade is supposed to analysed over seven months was (CTFS) is a programme within the reach 40 000 tonnes per year. The main presented and discussed during a four- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute exporting countries are the Sudan, Chad day workshop on “Potentials, constraints (STRI) that joins together Ð through and Nigeria. and perspectives of gum arabic formal memoranda Ð a voluntary The Niger was one of the major gum production and commercialization in association of natural and social arabic exporting countries in the 1960s Niger”. This workshop was held in Diffa, scientists and institutions around the and 1970s. In 1979, the Niger exported the Niger from 2 to 5 July 2001 and was world. The mission of CTFS is to 2 610 tonnes, but this amount dropped to attended by some 90 participants promote and coordinate long-term some 100 tonnes in 1998. The causes for representing different stakeholders biological and socio-economic research
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within tropical forests and forest- b) providing a sound scientific basis for sources and species contribute to dependent communities, and translate relevant forest management and policy medicinal research; ii) relationships exist this information into results relevant to decisions. between biodiversity destruction and the forest management, conservation and The Center for Tropical Forest Science spread of diseases; iii) biodiversity and natural-resource policies. To achieve its also produces an annual newsletter, food production are interlinked. objectives, natural and social scientists Inside CTFS. Regarding the management of NWFPs, associated with CTFS work with foreign the sustainable harvest of NWFPs was collaborators in forestry departments and For more information, please contact: addressed, noting differences in universities to develop a network of long- Elizabeth Losos, Director, Center for perceptions regarding the use and term forest research sites. The primary Tropical Forest Science, 900 Jefferson importance of NWFPs. involvement of CTFS is to coordinate Drive, Suite 2207, Washington, DC The bushmeat crisis was highlighted and standardize research at different 20560, USA. and the establishment of a United Nations sites. CTFS also provides technical Fax: +1 202 7862819; bushmeat task force and captive breeding assistance and training to the extent or e-mail Shallin Busch at programmes was proposed. Based on needed at each site. [email protected]; this proposal the following comments A unifying research tool shared by all www.ctfs.si.edu/ were made: CTFS research sites is the Forest ¥ the European Commission preferred a Dynamics Plot. joint work programme with other These are large (up to 52 ha), institutions instead of a task force; permanent forest demographic plots that ¥ the Russian Federation noted are situated in natural forests. All trees bushmeat-related problems in with a diameter of 1 cm or greater are temperate and boreal forests; mapped, identified and monitored. An ¥ Colombia highlighted the initial census and periodic recensuses responsibilities of consumer countries; yield long-term information on species and growth, mortality, regeneration, ¥ Cameroon, with Senegal, stressed the distribution and productivity in relation to need for alternative sources of protein. topography, hydrology, soils, climate and Senegal noted the need for breeding biotic factors. Owing to their large size, programmes and financial resources. the plots are capable of dealing with the CONVENTION Following this discussion, a draft high tree diversity of tropical forests. ON BIODIVERSITY provision on bushmeat was introduced. The CTFS network of long-term forest Responding to the draft, Belgium research programmes is monitoring more The 7th Meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies suggested broadening the focus to cover than 3 million individuals of approximately for Scientific, Technical and Technological unsustainable hunting of forest animals, 6 000 tree species throughout the world’s Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on and Kenya called for collaboration with tropics. Biodiversity (CBD) took place in Montreal, other relevant agreements and institutions. CTFS is currently addressing Canada from 12 to 16 November 2001. Delegates debated whether to establish a questions such as: Working Group I of SBSTTA-7 focused on liaison group or an expert group without ¥ Why do tropical forests have high forest biodiversity issues and discussed resolving the bushmeat issue. species diversity? How can that high recommendations on the forest work The final text (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/7/ diversity be maintained under programme, status and trends, bushmeat, CRP.1) requests the Executive Secretary conditions of human use? forest fires and climate change, as well as to establish a liaison group on non-timber ¥ What role do tropical forests play in the specific elements of the work forest resources with a focus on stabilizing our climate and programme on forest biodiversity. bushmeat. It invites Collaborative atmosphere? How can we take During the working group discussions, Partnership on Forests (CPF) members advantage of and enhance their the issue of NWFP (called NTFPs in the to explore the integration of non-timber ability to store carbon? documentation) was mentioned in various forest resources in inventory and ¥ What determines tropical forest contexts: management; invites FAO, the productivity? How can we utilize The linkages between biodiversity and International Tropical Timber forest resources sustainably? human health, which have so far been Organization and others to address By finding answers to these types of largely ignored in CBD’s work, were biodiversity in their fire assessment questions, CTFS fulfils its twofold goal of: highlighted, stressing that human health activities; and references community- a) helping us understand how tropical depends on biodiversity. It was based approaches to managing forest forests respond to human activity; and mentioned that: i) medicine from natural fires and non-timber forest resources.
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Finally, activities to prevent losses bushmeat, to sustainable levels; (Source: P.S. Chasek, ed. 2001. caused by unsustainable harvesting of ¥ the promotion of alternatives to Summary of the seventh session timber and NWFPs were identified. They fuelwood; of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, include: ¥ the development of legislation; and Technical and Technological Advice ¥ the establishment of a liaison group ¥ encouragement and assistance of of the Convention on Biological with an associated workshop to importing countries to prevent illegal Diversity, 12-16 November. facilitate a joint work plan with import not covered by the Convention Earth Negotiation Bulletin, 9(212). relevant CPF members to bring on International Trade in Endangered Also available at www.iisd.ca/ harvesting of NWFPs, particularly Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). linkages/biodiv/sbstta7/)
ANNEX TO RECOMMENDATION VII/6 OF SBSTTA-7
Elements for an expanded work (a) Establish a liaison group with an (c) Develop any necessary legislation programme on forest biological associated workshop to facilitate for the sustainable management and diversity Ð Summary of specific development of a joint work plan with harvesting of non-timber forest recommendations related to NWFP relevant members of the resources. Collaborative Partnership on Forests (d) Solicit input from Parties, other Programme element 1: to bring harvesting of non-timber countries and relevant organizations Conservation, sustainable use and forest products (NTFP)s, with a on ways and means to encourage and benefit-sharing particular focus on bushmeat, to assist importing countries to prevent Goal 4: To promote the sustainable sustainable levels. This group should the entry of illegally harvested forest use of forest biological diversity. have a proportionate regional resources, which are not covered by Objective 1: Promote sustainable use representation, giving special the Convention on International Trade of forest resources to enhance the consideration to subregions where in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna conservation of forest biological bushmeat is a major issue and and Flora, and consider this diversity. representation of relevant information as a basis for further Activities: organizations such as the Convention steps on this issue. (b) Develop, support and promote on International Trade in Endangered programmes and initiatives that Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Programme element 2: Institutional address the sustainable use of timber mandate of this group is to: and socio-economic enabling and non-timber forest products. (i) Consult in a participatory environment (c) Support regional cooperation and manner with key stakeholders to Goal 1: Enhance the institutional work on sustainable use of timber identify and prioritize major issues enabling environment. and non-timber forest products and pertaining the unsustainable Objective 4: Combat illegal logging, services, including through harvesting of non-timber forest illegal exploitation of non-timber technology transfer and capacity products, particularly of bushmeat forest products, illegal exploitation of building within and between regions. and related products. genetic resources, and related trade. (h) Facilitate and support a (ii) Provide advice on the Activities: responsible private sector committed development of policies, enabling (f) Invite governments and relevant to sustainable harvesting practices legislation and strategies that organizations to develop and forward and compliance with domestic laws promote sustainable use of, and to the Secretariat case-studies and through effective development and trade in, non-timber forest research on the impacts of illegal enforcement of laws on sustainable products, particularly bushmeat exploitation and trade in timber and harvesting of timber and non-timber and related products. non-timber forest products. forest resources. (iii) Provide advice on appropriate (Source: Secretariat of the alternative sustainable livelihood Convention on Biological Diversity. Objective 2: Prevent losses caused technologies and practices for the 2001. Recommendation VII/6, Forest by unsustainable harvesting of timber affected communities. biological diversity, and non-timber forest resources. (iv) Provide advice on appropriate www.biodiv.org/recommendations/def Activities: monitoring tools. ault.asp?lg=0&m=sbstta-07&r=06)
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South Asia and in Central America and MPSG Steering Committee – current IUCN/SSC MEDICINAL the Caribbean. We are also working to Chair Ð Danna J. Leaman PLANT SPECIALIST GROUP set up more efficient communication tools ([email protected]) for the group (an electronic list-serve and Vice-Chair, Central America/Caribbean Ð a Web site). Sonia Lagos-Witte In partnership with the International ([email protected]) Development Research Centre and the Vice-Chair, South Asia Ð Vinay Tandon Canadian Museum of Nature, and other ([email protected]) partners, we are developing regional Research Programme Ð Tony Cunningham projects as Centres of Medicinal Plant ([email protected]) Diversity. These projects will support Publications, CITES Ð Uwe Schippmann research on medicinal plant conservation, ([email protected]) as well as the wider application of SSC tools, such as Red Listing, the Species For more information, please contact: Information Service and the Top 50 Danna J. Leaman, Canadian Museum of The Medicinal Plant Specialist Group campaign. Nature, PO Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, (MPSG) is a global network of experts Recent publications include the 7th Ontario K1P 6P4, Canada. contributing within their own institutions issue of our newsletter Medicinal Plant Fax: +1 613 3644022; and in their own regions to the Conservation (contact: Natalie.Hofbauer e-mail: [email protected] conservation and sustainable use of @bfn.de) and the second volume of the medicinal plants. The MPSG was founded Medicinal Plant Conservation Bibliography in 1994, under the auspices of the Species (available through [email protected]). OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT Survival Commission (SSC) of the World INSTITUTE Conservation Union (IUCN), to increase global awareness of conservation threats The Overseas Development Institute to medicinal plants, and to promote MEDICINAL PLANT CONSERVATION (ODI) is the United Kingdom’s leading conservation action. Our group is currently BIBLIOGRAPHY, VOLUME 2 independent think-tank on international made up of approximately 70 individual development and humanitarian issues. Its scientists, field researchers, government TIn June 2001, volume 2 of the mission is to inspire and inform policy and officials and conservation leaders. Medicinal Plant Conservation practice which lead to the reduction of Our overall aim is to support and Bibliography was published (the first poverty, the alleviation of suffering and promote efforts leading to medicinal plant volume was published in 1996). This the achievement of sustainable conservation and rational, sustainable bibliography is designed to collect livelihoods in developing countries. This use. Our approach is to provide information from the many scattered is done by locking together high-quality information, tools and strategy sources of books and papers on applied research, practical policy advice, coordination that builds on the efforts of medicinal plants and to set priorities and policy-focused dissemination and local, national, regional and global on books focusing on the debate. ODI works with partners in the partners to conserve and use medicinal conservation of medicinal plants. In public and private sectors, in both plants sustainably, focusing particularly total, 801 references and 170 reviews, developing and developed countries. on actions that reduce threats to indexed by general, geographic and ODI’s work centres on five research endangered species and habitats. taxonomic keywords are incorporated and policy programmes: During the current triennium (2001- for the period 1997 to 2000. ¥ Poverty and Public Policy Group, 2003), one of our goals is to restructure The second volume of the which includes the Centre for Aid and the group, currently more than 70 bibliography can be purchased from: Public Expenditure members worldwide, into regional IUCN Publications Service Unit, 219c ¥ International Economic Development subgroups. We are setting up a steering Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 Group committee, which includes regional vice- 0DL, United Kingdom; fax: +44 1223 ¥ Humanitarian Policy Group chairs. This change in structure will 277175; e-mail: [email protected] ¥ Rural Policy and Environment Group support the engagement of the Bibliographical information: Uwe ¥ Forest Policy and Environment Group subgroups in development of regional Schippmann, 2001, Medicinal Plant The Forest Policy and Environment projects, as well as identification of Conservation Bibliography, Volume 2. Group (FPEG) has its own Web site regions where our membership needs to ISSN 1433-304x. (www.odi.org.uk/fpeg/index.html) housing be strengthened. We are furthest along in a variety of publications, including the organizing regional MPSG subgroups in Rural Development Forestry Network
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(RDFN) papers, the TROPICS (Tropical 30 000 plant and animal species and Forestry Projects Information System) has more than 150 member countries. TROPENBOS INTERNATIONAL database and a “grey literature” TRAFFIC itself has developed from a collection. single office based in London into a A new name, a new logo, a new funding The Rural Development Forestry global network of 22 offices in eight phase. The Tropenbos Foundation is Network is an important component of regional programmes around the world, making some changes after ten years. FPEG’s outreach programme. As well as being the world’s largest wildlife trade With increasing attention to international disseminating research information on key monitoring programme and a global environment issues related to tropical rain issues in tropical forestry to its members, expert on wildlife trade issues. forests, and more autonomy exercised by the network aims to influence policy- and The global wildlife trade is big the research sites, the time had come to decision-making in both governments and business, estimated to be worth billions of give Tropenbos the stature of a full-fledged international aid agencies. dollars and involving hundreds of millions international organization. of plants and animals every year. Most of Confusion about whether Tropenbos was Rural Development Forestry 1985-2001 the trade is legal but a significant portion located in Wageningen, the Netherlands, or The Overseas Development Institute has of it is not. The trade is diverse, ranging in a certain country was noted frequently by produced a CD-ROM that contains 17 from live animals for food and pet the research sites. By renaming the years of its publications on forestry- markets to ornamental plants and to huge organization “Tropenbos International”, this related issues. Its 214 key publications industries such as timber and marine indicates that the activities are foremost of a chart the development of people-oriented fisheries. An array of wildlife products and worldwide nature. forestry from 1985 to the present day: derivatives, such as exotic leather goods, As the third funding phase of the ¥ 174 Rural Development Forestry ivory carvings and hawksbill turtle shell Tropenbos programme set in (2001-2005), Network papers (RDFN) accessories, musical instruments, food the opportunity to make this change was ¥ 5 European Tropical Forestry Papers and medicines can be found in markets apparent. Each research site will place the (EUTFP) around the globe. For more information country name below the logo so that it is ¥ 14 Natural Resources Perspectives on wildlife trade, please visit the seen as linked to “Tropenbos International” (NRP) TRAFFIC Web site (www.traffic.org). but is recognized locally as the national ¥ 4 forestry-related Working Papers (WP) In 2001, TRAFFIC celebrated its 25th site. The head office in Wageningen will ¥ 17 chapters of the EU Tropical anniversary with a “25th Anniversary refer to the organization in general as Forestry Sourcebook Event of TRAFFIC”, which was held on “Tropenbos International”. All papers are indexed by publication, 27 November 2001. The logo will be incorporated keyword, author and region. Full text immediately. The acronym to be used will versions of the majority of publications For more information on TRAFFIC, be TBI, but the Internet address is to are available in English, French and please contact: remain (www.tropenbos.nl). Spanish as Acrobat pdf files. The Adobe Maija Sirola, Communications Officer, The Tropenbos Foundation, established Acrobat¨ Readerª software is also TRAFFIC International, 219c Huntingdon in 1988, is an independent, internationally included on the CD-ROM. Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. oriented organization which facilitates Fax: +44 (0)1223 277237; research and development activities to For more information, please contact: e-mail: [email protected]; support the conservation and sustainable Overseas Development Institute, www.traffic.org utilization of tropical rain forests. 111 Westminster Bridge Road, Tropenbos, in close cooperation with London SE1 7JD, UK. universities and research institutes, E-mail: [email protected]; facilitates interdisciplinary research at www.odi.org.uk permanent locations. Currently these are in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, Guyana and Indonesia. Research results TRAFFIC are applicable on a local as well as on a broader scale. (Contributed by: J.B. Maas, Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Tropenbos International.) Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) was established in 1976, largely to assist in For more information, please contact: the implementation of the Convention on Tropenbos International, PO Box 232, NL- the International Trade in Endangered 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands. Species of Wild Fauna and Flora E-mail: [email protected]; (CITES). Today CITES covers some or [email protected]
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 75 RECENT EVENTS
conference. He was invited by the EXPLORING AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL organizers to present a keynote address BIODIVERSITY FOR NEW CONFERENCE ON TREE during the opening plenary session on NATURAL PRODUCTS AND NUT CROPS FAO’s activities on NWFPs; to act as ROME, ITALY PERTH, AUSTRALIA chairperson of the NWFP subgroup; and 9-11 APRIL 2001 13-20 APRIL 2001 to present a paper on gum arabic in the “Gums” subgroup. This three-day workshop was jointly The conference was hosted at the The dynamics in the nut and tree crop organized by the Italian National University of Western Australia State by sectors of countries represented, Research Council (CNR) Rome the Western Australian Tree Crops particularly California (and to a lesser (Department of International Activities), Center and cofunded by the Australian degree also Australia, Chile and South CNR Porano (Institute of Agro-Forestry), Nut and Tree Crop Association, the Africa), were impressive: more than 260 CNR Portici (Institute for Vegetable and Ministry of Agriculture and some private different tree crop species (mainly for Ornamental Breeding) and the Fogarty companies dealing with nuts and tree nuts, fruits, oils, medicinals and International Center (FIC) of the National crops. The main objectives of the aromatics) are already commercially Institutes of Health (NIH) and was funded Conference were to increase awareness farmed (while at the same time most of by CNR, and three United States NIH of the importance of tree crops and nuts these species are still gathered from wild (FIC, National Cancer Institute and the for food production; to provide and share sources in their area of origin Ð or have National Institute of Allergy and Infectious information and understanding on their even become commercially extinct). For Diseases). production, processing and marketing many developing countries who are The main objective of the workshop, and their business environment, and to exporting tree-based NWFPs gathered which brought together some 70 initiate and strengthen collaboration in from wild sources, it is important to note participants from 14 countries, was to the sector between public and private that many of their products might soon explore the strengths and needs of organizations in the various countries. become economically and quality-wise institutions towards the formation of a The conference brought together some uncompetitive as against those tree crops partnership to build natural products 100 participants from all around the world produced on a large scale and by highly capacities in Africa and to promote the to share their knowledge and the latest mechanized tree farms in developed conservation and sustainable use of new developments in the tree crop countries (such as Australia, Chile, African biodiversity through an industry, in addition to “virtual” United States [California and Hawaii]). international network of institutions based participation and presentations given by The conclusions of the conference in Africa, Italy and the United States. some Californian tree farmers through regarding NWFPs indicated the need for Sessions and working groups covered, video-conferencing and Internet- better information on the potential and among other subjects, African plant downloaded ppt presentations. (germplasm) availability of non-wood diversity, new products from medicinal Participants represented a wide variety of forest tree resources in relation to plants (bioprospecting), property rights organizations from the non- species currently used (and the and local economic benefits. governmental, public and, particularly, the assessment of the potential of new private sector (from farmers to species for domestication), better For more information, please contact: representatives of international food availability and access to market and Sven Walter, FAO NWFP Programme. companies). The conference consisted of marketing information for producers in E-mail: [email protected] two days with 22 plenary presentations, developing countries, and particularly the followed by three full days of relevance and importance of good presentations in smaller subgroups on 20 labelling and certification schemes on specific topics such as: carob, hazelnuts, NWFPs; as well as training and walnuts, macadamias, neem, networking on the management, sandalwoods, NWFPs, beverages, gums, processing and marketing of NWFPs. truffles-host trees, etc. On two post- conference tours, participants could get For more information, please contact: an insight into the fast expanding and David Noël, Director, Tree Crops Centre, widely diversified nut and tree crop sector Acotanc-2001 Conference Secretariat, of Western Australia (with climate PO Box 27, Subiaco, WA 6008, ecozones from tropical to temperate Australia. regions). Fax: +61 8 93881852; Mr Paul Vantomme, Forestry Officer e-mail: [email protected];
Walnut tree (NWFP) represented FAO at the www.AOI.com.au/acotanc
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 76 RECENT EVENTS
countries and on the need for reliable THE NATURE AND WAYS TO ENHANCE THE statistics on production and trade in CULTURE OF FORESTS: PRODUCTION AND organic products. IMPLICATIONS OF EXPORT CAPACITIES OF It appeared during the meeting that DIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES edible NWFPs, such as mushrooms, wild SUSTAINABILITY, TRADE, OF AGRICULTURE AND honey, nuts, bamboo shoots, have considerable potential at niche markets AND CERTIFICATION FOOD PRODUCTS , for organic, biotrade or fair-trade outlets. VANCOUVER, CANADA INCLUDING NICHE 8-12 MAY 2001 However, much work is still needed for PRODUCTS, SUCH AS the appropriate inclusion of “wild” The conference objective was to address ENVIRONMENTALLY gathered food products into the existing how diversity in cultural values shapes PREFERABLE PRODUCTS organic certification schemes, and the operative concept of respect for GENEVA, SWITZERLAND recommendations in this regard were 15-18 JULY 2001 nature and impacts decision-making in made by the expert meeting to the forest policy. The following topics were certification bodies. Participants were featured: a) Diversity in the nature of This International Expert Meeting, highly interested in learning from forests; b) Plurality in the culture of organized by the Trade, Environment and successful experiences on NWFP forests; and c) Variability in approaches Development Section of the United utilization and market promotion from of certification and management. Nations Conference on Trade and developing countries and looked to FAO Development (UNCTAD), was attended for information sharing and for exploring For more information, please contact: by more than 80 participants from about ways of collaboration and support. Sandra Schinnerl, International 40 countries and included mostly staff Documents for the meeting are Programs, Faculty of Forestry, from Permanent Missions to the United available online (www.unctad.org/en/ UBC, 2611-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, Nations in Geneva, senior government special/c1em15do.htm). BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. officials and technical experts from Fax: +1 604 8228645. various international agencies, and For more information, please contact: representatives of NGOs and from the UNCTAD, External Relations and private sector, mainly from fair-trade Communications, Palais des Nations, SECOND INTERNATIONAL agencies, bioproduct distributors and from 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. WORKSHOP ON THE organic food certification agencies. Mr Fax: +41 22 9070043; ECOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY Paul Vantomme, Forestry Officer (NWFP) e-mail: [email protected]; AND CULTIVATION OF represented FAO at this meeting and www.unctad.org/index.htm EDIBLE MYCORRHIZAL made a presentation on the role of edible NWFPs as potential organic products for MUSHROOMS developing countries to export to niche CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND 3-6 JULY 2001 markets in developed countries. The focus of the meeting was to discuss and exchange experiences on enhancing For more information, please contact: the production and trade of agricultural Crop & Food Research Ltd, Private Bag products, with particular emphasis on 4704, Christchurch, New Zealand. organic food products from developing Fax: +64 3 3252074; countries for international niche markets, e-mail: [email protected]; such as for biotrade and for fair-trade www.crop.cri.nz/whats_on/mushroom_ schemes. Key issues reviewed during the BALKANS conf/Index.htm meeting focused mainly on the trade HERBAL FORUM potential of niche markets for food PORTOROZ, SLOVENIA products from developing countries and 16-20 SEPTEMBER 2001 on their appropriate certification and labelling schemes, including their required The International Finance Corporation costs, implementation and monitoring through Southeast Europe Enterprise issues, and also the mutual understanding Development (SEED) is committed to and recognizance of different organic help rebuild what was once a thriving and certification schemes; on their perceived important industry in southeastern role as trade barriers by the developing Europe. The Herbal Business Forum
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organized by SEED was to be the first time in recent years that all the FIRST INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY AND FOREST stakeholders involved in this sector had SYMPOSIUM AND PRODUCTS RESEARCH an opportunity to sit together to map out EXPOSITION ON (CFFPR 2001) – the future of the Balkan herbal industry in ECOTOURISM AND “TROPICAL FORESTRY southeastern Europe. Leading regional SUSTAINABLE suppliers attended the forum alongside RESEARCH IN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OF THE some of Western Europe’s herbal MILLENNIUM: MEETING manufacturers and importers. The AMAZON BASIN DEMANDS AND meeting formed a platform from which to COUNTRIES – AMAZON CHALLENGES launch a number of long-term initiatives ECOTOUR 2001 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 1-3 OCTOBER 2001 designed to redevelop the sector in an MANAUS, BRAZIL 24-27 SEPTEMBER 2001 environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner. The themes of this international Southeastern Europe has for centuries For more information, please contact: conference were: sustainable forest been a producer and consumer of Instituto Ambiental Biospfera, Rua management (SFM); biodiversity and the medicinal plants and herbal medicines. Uruguaina, 39 Ð Bloco A ÐGrupo 2401 environment; processing and utilization The varied climate and geography of the B; Centro Ð Rio de Janeiro, of forest resources (wood products and region enables a vast array of temperate Brazil 20050-093. non-wood products); forest plantation; and Mediterranean plants to be grown. A Fax: +55 21 2210155; biotechnology; forest policies; forest rich medical and engineering tradition www.ecotourenglish.com.br.ms economics, investment opportunities and has moreover encouraged the potential for growth; information manufacturing of a wide range of technology (IT) in forestry; and phytomedicines, flavourings, perfumes commercialization of forestry R&D. and cosmetic products. During the 1970s and 1980s the former Yugoslavia For more information, please contact: supplied medicinal and aromatic products Dr Shamsudin Ibrahim or Ms Safiah to a host of leading Western European, Yusoff, The Secretariat, American and Soviet companies. Conference on Forestry and Forest Political upheavals in recent times have Products Research 2001 (CFFPR 2001), severely disrupted herbal gathering, CONSERVATION OF Forest Research Institute Malaysia cultivation, manufacturing and trade within BIODIVERSITY IN THE (FRIM), Kepong, 52109 Kuala Lumpur, the region. Some of the most important ANDES AND THE AMAZON Malaysia. medicinal plants are severely endangered BASIN – LINKING Fax: +60 3 62779643/62767753; as a result of overharvesting and lack of SCIENCE, NGOS AND e-mail: [email protected] or appropriate environmental legislation. [email protected]; INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Through this forum SEED helped to www.frim.gov.my/100years/CFFPR2001 CUSCO, PERU initiate the reintegration of the region’s 24-28 SEPTEMBER 2001 .htm herbal producers into the mainstream of Western Europe’s herbal industry. FAO was represented at the meeting For more information, please contact: BIODIVERSITY OF by Mr Peter Griffee who works on Sigrun Lange, International Network for GUYANA: A GLOBAL medicinal and aromatic plants in the Crop the Conservation of Biological & Cultural PERSPECTIVE FOR THE and Grassland Service of the Plant Diversity (INKA e.V.), Gravelottestrasse 6, FUTURE Production and Protection Division. 81667 Munich, Germany. GEORGETOWN GUYANA Fax: +49 (0)89 45911920; 7-13 OCTOBER 2001 For more information, please contact: e-mail: [email protected]; Chris Miller, SEED Ð Southeast Europe www.inka-ev.de/congress2001.htm; For more information, please contact: Enterprise Development, Hamdije or V.A. Funk, US National Herbarium, Kresevljakovica 19/IV, 71000 Sarajevo, Eliana Rivera, Centro Bartolomé de Las NMNH, Smithsonian Institution, MRC Bosnia and Herzegovina. Casas, Av. Tullumayo 465, Cusco, Peru. 166, Washington, DC 20560-0166, USA. Fax: +387 33 217762; Fax: +51 84 241319; Fax: +1 202 7862563; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; e-mail: [email protected]; www.ifc.org/sme/html/seed.html www.cbc.org.pe www.guyana2001.org
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[Please see under Special Features for e-mail: [email protected]; INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND more information on this expert www.forest-trends.org FOREST MANAGEMENT IN consultation.] FENNOSCANDIA AND CANADA THE SECOND ROTHAMSTED RJOKKMOKK, SWEDEN SPECIAL FOREST INTERNATIONAL 10-12 OCTOBER 2001 PRODUCTS: MUSHROOMS, BIOMARKET. BIOPRODUCTS MEDICINALS AND FROM PLANTS AND The focus of this conference, which HUCKLEBERRIES MICROBES brought together indigenous SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, USA HARPENDEN, UK representatives, environmental groups, 15-17 OCTOBER 2001 7-9 NOVEMBER 2001 governmental and intergovernmental bodies and industry, was on forest use, For more information, please contact: The Biomarket brought together land rights and indigenous strategies for Richard Zabel, Western Forestry entrepreneurial groups from around the sustainable development. The and Conservation Association, world to help initiate successful programme highlighted market-based 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, partnerships between those who are and legal instruments emphasizing forest Oregon 97221, USA. involved in the research, development and certification schemes. Fax: +1 503 2262515; commercialization of innovative products e-mail: [email protected]; and services derived from plant and For more information, please contact: www.westernforestry.org microbial sources. E-mail: [email protected]; www.sapmi.se/forestconference For more information, please contact: PARTICIPATORY Rothamsted BioMarket, IACR- APPROACHES IN FORESTRY Rothamsted, Harpenden AL5 21Q, UK. AND NATURAL RESOURCES Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981; DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS e-mail: [email protected]; (PARTEF) www.biomarket.iacr.ac.uk LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES 23 OCTOBER-3 DECEMBER 2001 WORKING LANDSCAPES IN For more information, please contact: THE MIDWEST: CREATING The Director, Training Center for SUSTAINABLE FUTURES FOR Tropical Resources and Ecosystems AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, ON WOOD FOREST Sustainability (TREES), University of the N - AND COMMUNITIES PRODUCTS INVENTORY Philippines Los Baños, College of DELEVAN, WISCONSIN, USA GUIDELINES: TOOLS FOR Forestry and Natural Resources, 8-10 NOVEMBER 2001 IMPROVED MONITORING College, Laguna, Philippines. AND EVALUATION Fax: +63 49 5363340; A diverse group of Midwest stakeholders LUSAKA, ZAMBIA e-mail: [email protected] came together to organize a Working 15-17 OCTOBER 2001 Landscapes Conference, which explored practices and policies that promote land- The overall objective of this expert NATURE AND THE GLOBAL based economic activity to sustain families, consultation was to develop practical MARKETPLACE communities and ecosystems, while also inventory guidelines for resources LONDON, UK providing multiple benefits to society. providing NWFPs, in order to assist 24-25 OCTOBER 2001 African countries in achieving sustainable For more information, please contact: forest management. Hosted by Forest Trends and the Dr R. Warren Flint, Five E’s Unlimited, Katoomba Group. Delaware Ave., SW, Washington, DC For further information, please contact: 20024, USA. Mr François Ndeckere-Ziangba, Forestry For more information, please contact: Fax: +1 202 4882708; Officer (NWFP), Forest Products Ms Jessica Rice, Forest Trends, 1826 e-mail: [email protected]; Division, Forestry Department, FAO. Jefferson Place NW, Washington, DC www.eeeee.net; Fax: +39 0657055317; 20007, USA. www.SustainableDevelopmentSolutions. e-mail: [email protected] Fax: +1 202 2983014; com
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Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) on behalf and provide recommendations for SECOND INTERNATIONAL of the Fund for Sustainable Biodiversity biodiversity monitoring and evaluation TRAINING PROGRAM ON Management. The workshop’s objectives which benefits rural people and national SUSTAINABLE NTFP were to: i) create a common agenda among level biodiversity managers. MANAGEMENT FOR RURAL participating organizations; and ii) initiate All stakeholders who use, manage or DEVELOPMENT one or more networks of organizations to conserve biodiversity assess it in some MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA elaborate further and implement the way. Local people have different 26 NOVEMBER-13 DECEMBER 2001 common agenda. Twenty-seven objectives and ways of doing this, from participants attended the workshop from policy-makers and government Fifteen participants from five different Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and departments responsible for countries attended this three-week Latin America. commitments to the Convention on training course. Resource persons were Biological Diversity. Improved drawn from accomplished community For more information, please contact: understanding of each other’s forestry practitioners as well as academia Mr Bernward Geier, International approaches to evaluating biodiversity can belonging to different forestry Federation of Organic Agriculture have benefits for rural communities, organizations within the country. Movements, Ökozentrum Imsbach, D- governments and intermediary Training involved situational analysis of 66636 Tholey-Theley, Germany. organizations. the NTFP management and rural Fax: +49 6853 919899; Participatory monitoring and evaluation development scenario (both micro and e-mail: [email protected] of biodiversity involves different macro) and an intensive coverage of stakeholders working together to assess contemporary issues related to NTFP biodiversity, which can help scientists to production, processing and trade. The NATIVE PLANTS: support local people in managing participants were also trained in various PROPAGATION AND biodiversity, or local people to contribute tools and techniques for NTFP resource RESTORATION STRATEGIES to national biodiversity monitoring assessment, enterprise feasibility EUGENE, OREGON, USA processes. assessment and NTFP-based livelihood 12-13 DECEMBER 2001 ,generation. During the field visits For more information, please contact: interspersed throughout the course, This meeting was cosponsored by the Dr Anna Lawrence, Environmental participants were taken to nine project Nursery Technology Cooperative, Oregon Change Institute, 5 South Parks Road, sites in the temperate and the tropical State University and the Western Forestry Oxford OX1 3UB, UK. forests of the country. It was here that the and Conservation Association. Fax: +44 1865 281202; participants got an opportunity to test e-mail: [email protected]; their newly acquired knowledge and skills For more information, please contact: www.eci.ox.ac.uk; in actual field situations. Richard Zabel, Western Forestry and www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/biodiver Conservation Association, sity/index.html For more information, please contact: 4033 SW Canyon Road, Dr Prodyut Bhattacharya, Faculty, Portland, Oregon 97221, USA. Ecosystem Management and Technical Fax: +1 503 2262515; FAO/IPCC/CIFOR Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest e-mail: [email protected]; EXPERT MEETING ON Management, PO Box 357, Nehru Nagar, www.westernforestry.org HARMONIZING FOREST- Bhopal 462003, India. RELATED DEFINITIONS Fax: +91 755 772878(O); FOR USE BY VARIOUS e-mail: [email protected] PARTICIPATORY STAKEHOLDERS www.iifm.org MONITORING AND ROME, ITALY EVALUATION OF 23-25 JANUARY 2002 BIODIVERSITY FAO, jointly with the Intergovernmental CREATING A COMMON OXFORD, UK AGENDA FOR BIODIVERSITY- 7-25 JANUARY 2002 Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the CONSERVING RESOURCE USE Center for International Forestry The European Tropical Forestry Research Research (CIFOR) and the International THOLEY-THELEY, GERMANY 9-11 DECEMBER 2001 Network and the Environmental Change Union of Forestry Research Institute convened this workshop to take Organizations (IUFRO), organized this This workshop was organized by the stock of existing knowledge in this field, expert meeting to review and harmonize International Federation of Organic communicate findings to decision-makers forest-related definitions.
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Much global or regional information on For more information, please contact: likely to be preserved as legally protected forest resources is derived from national Dr Wulf Killmann, Director, Forest areas, conservation of the remaining 90 data. FAO has therefore developed Products Division, Forestry percent will depend on the ability of forest-related definitions for national Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di stakeholders to make the products and inputs to globally aggregated forest Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. services these “working forests” provide assessments and outlook studies. The Fax: +39 0657055618; appear competitive with alternative land IPCC has developed forest-related e-mail: [email protected] use options. definitions for use in issues common to This conference was conceived as a land use, land use change and forestry vehicle for identifying opportunities to and climate change. Other organizations SUSTAINING LIVELIHOODS make that happen, and obstacles that have developed other definitions for other AND BIODIVERSITY IN THE successful efforts will need to avoid or purposes, such as monitoring biological NEW MILLENNIUM overcome. diversity in forests. There is a need to PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA improve the compatibility and consistency 12-15 FEBRUARY 2002 For more information, please contact: of definitions in order to permit Sharon Borneman, Conference comparability and thus to improve the For more information, please contact: Coordinator, IFAS Office of quality and usefulness of forest Devin Bartley, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Conferences and Institutes, University information, increase the synergy among Caracalla, Rome 00100, Italy. of Florida Leadership and Education organizations, and use scarce resources E-mail: [email protected] Foundation, Inc., PO Box 110750, more effectively for information Gainesville, FL 32611-0750, USA. monitoring, assessment and reporting. Fax: +1 352 3929734; There is a need for globally Ð and SECOND INTERNATIONAL e-mail: [email protected] regionally Ð aggregated information on WORKSHOP ON forest resources and forest ecosystems to: PARTICIPATORY FORESTRY ¥ define the concept of, and monitor IN AFRICA INTERNATIONAL progress towards sustainable forest ARUSHA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA WORKSHOP ON SHEA management; 18-23 FEBRUARY 2002 PROCESSING AND ¥ assess the role of forests in climate TRADE ACROSS AFRICA change; For more information, please contact: (ATELIER INTERNATIONAL ¥ assess the attributes and changes Mr Dominique Reeb, FAO, Community SUR LE TRAITEMENT, affecting forest biomes with respect to Forestry Unit, Forestry Department, VALORISATION ET biological diversity; Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, ¥ analyse the social, economic and 00100 Rome, Italy. COMMERCE DE LA FILIÈRE environmental roles of forests. Fax: +39 06570555; KARITÉ À TRAVERS DE The information required differs e-mail: [email protected] L’AFRIQUE) between users, but with consistent and DAKAR, SENEGAL 4-7 MARCH 2002 comparable definitions it could be exchanged between different users. WORKING FORESTS IN THE The workshop was organized by FAO, The consultation: TROPICS: CONSERVATION with support from the Common Fund for ¥ identified key forest-related terms THROUGH SUSTAINABLE Commodities (CFC), and in association whose definitions are critical to MANAGEMENT with the Centre de suivi écologique international processes; (CSE), Dakar. The workshop brought GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, USA ¥ reviewed biome-specific forest 25-26 FEBRUARY 2002 together a variety of stakeholders in order definitions as well as those for the to address critical issues of shea terms “forest degradation” and Tropical forests sustain a wealth of processing and trade in Africa. Within “devegetation”; biodiversity, provide a wide range of FAO, this was a joint undertaking by the ¥ where possible, agreed on the ecosystem services and products, and NWFP Programme of the Forest definitions of these key terms; support livelihoods for millions of people. Products Division, the Food Quality and ¥ made recommendations for Tropical forest conservation is highly Standards Service of the Food and consideration by relevant policy complex, not only because these forests Nutrition Division and the Basic processes with respect to key perform so many different functions, but Foodstuffs Service of the Commodities definitions and their application; also because of the variety of and Trade Division, as well as the ¥ planned further steps to harmonize stakeholders involved. Since less than 10 Forestry Group from the FAO Regional forest-related definitions. percent of the world’s tropical forests are Office for Africa (RAF, Accra, Ghana).
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The shea butter tree Vitellaria paradoxa The export of shea nut from West Africa Enhanced household incomes from the (syn. Butryospermum paradoxum) is a constitutes a significant proportion of living shea tree also serve as a direct slow-growing fruit-tree which is indigenous export earnings for some Sahelian economic incentive for conservation of the to the Sudanic savannah of sub-Saharan economies; for example, it is estimated resource at the local level, where most Africa. The tree occurs in a narrow band of that shea butter was the third largest management decisions affecting the vegetation extending some 5 000 km, from export from Burkina Faso throughout the environment are made. Given the threat of Senegal in the west to Uganda and 1980s. Interestingly, local prices for shea desertification from the steady Ethiopia in the south and east of the range. products in the eastern range of the shea encroachment of the Sahel across the The shea tree provides an annual zone Ð an area not penetrated by export of northern border of the shea zone, the bounty of nutritious fruit to rural the raw material - are nearly twice as high environmental importance of shea is very communities during the annual “hungry as those in West Africa. significant. In many areas, limited market season”. The seeds of the fruit are large It is estimated that during 2000, some options for shea products have resulted in kernels with a high percentage of edible 610 000 tonnes of shea nut were collected wholesale cutting of the tree for production oil, known as shea butter, which is a very across the African shea zone. Of this, of charcoal Ð a short-term and low-value important nutritional and economic approximately 65 000 tonnes were product that results in the permanent resource for households and communities exported Ð mostly to Europe and Japan Ð destruction of the shea resource. across the shea parkland savannah. and the remaining 545 000 tonnes Although the technical constraints of Shea as a resource has long been the processed locally into some 131 000 improved shea processing have largely domain of women farmers across the shea tonnes of shea butter, the vast majority of been addressed, issues of product quality parkland. In traditional societies this to be consumed as food oil in the control greatly limit the market options of throughout the zone, women are primarily producing countries. primary producers across the shea zone, responsible for collection of shea nut, and While the majority of exported shea nut and the profitability of village-level shea the processing and marketing of shea is processed industrially for use in the food processing. butter. Women also control a significant industry, particularly as a cocoa butter The shea butter currently produced by proportion of income from the marketing of equivalent (CBE), the unsaponifiable artisanal methods appropriate to the rural shea products Ð income used primarily to fraction of shea butter gives it unique areas where shea nut is produced remains raise families and meet the needs of the therapeutic properties as a treatment for highly variable in terms of quality. Although household. dry or damaged skin. Cosmetic major industrial importers of shea nut state applications form a small, but high-value that they would be happy to import more component of the international market for shea butter directly from African shea butter. producers, persistent problems of quality Traditional processing methods of shea control have greatly constrained progress butter extraction are very arduous, towards this objective, and have resulted requiring significant inputs of female in lower prices and reduced returns to the labour, fuelwood and water. Improved primary producers. technologies for village-level or artisanal Another constraining factor in the extraction of shea butter have been optimization of benefits to producers is the developed since the 1970s, with the general lack of information, communication objective of improving productivity, and and networking between producers and increasing total yield of shea butter other stakeholders throughout the African through greater efficiency in production. shea zone. Problems of language and Vitellaria paradoxa Some recent rural development limited access to information exacerbate a The annual yield of the shea tree varies programmes have sought to improve situation in which the profitability of shea greatly by individual and over time, production and marketing of shea butter does not fully benefit its primary producers. depending upon factors (both genetic and by the primary producers in order to Clearly, a regular exchange of market environmental) which are not yet well maximize the value-added economic information should be established and understood. Although an estimated 70 benefits of shea processing at the local made accessible to shea producers across percent of the shea kernels collected each level. Complimentary to its consumption Africa, for the optimal development and year are consumed in the home as shea as a food oil, economic returns from the long-term sustainability of this important butter, a significant proportion of the “crop” production and marketing of shea nutritional and economic resource. is currently underutilized owing to products also greatly enhance household This workshop brought together a population patterns and transport food security, multiplying nutritional variety of stakeholders in order to constraints, and by limited profitability to options through increased market access address critical issues of shea processing the primary producers. to cereals, pulses and livestock. and trade across the African shea zone.
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The workshop served the following ¥ development and diffusion of product Fax: +1 202 2983014; objectives: quality standards, and techniques of e-mail: [email protected]; ¥ to bring together all relevant production quality control, for www.forest-trends.org; information and to evaluate past maximum added value in extraction www.katoombagroup.org experience on processing and and increased returns to the marketing of shea nut and shea butter producer; at the local, regional and international ¥ opportunities for national and regional “RENEW YOUR levels; public-private partnerships; and RELATIONSHIP WITH ¥ to identify key constraints and ¥ networking and cooperation between MOTHER EARTH” – 1ST potentials in processing and institutions and individuals in ANNUAL ABORIGINAL marketing of shea products at the producing countries in the areas of HERITAGE GARDEN local, regional and international levels; research and development, training, CONFERENCE ¥ to formulate strategies to enhance quality control systems, and market NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA processing, utilization and marketing information. 18-20 MARCH 2002 of shea products in a sustainable The countries represented by manner, with recognition of the key workshop participants included: Benin, Hosted by the Aboriginal Heritage role of rural women in shea Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Gardens the agenda combines aspects of production, and a focus on reinforcing Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, aboriginal culture, spirituality and NTFPs. producer equity through fair trade; Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, the Niger, ¥ to identify priority areas of intervention Nigeria, Senegal, the Sudan, Togo and For more information, please contact: and to synthesize regional action Uganda. Mario LaPointe, Best Western Manoir plans for future research and Adelaide Hotel, 385 Adelaide St, development activities; and For more information, please contact: Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada. ¥ to disseminate as widely as possible Paul Vantomme, FAO NWFP Fax: +1 506 6846302; the information gathered and the Programme. e-mail: [email protected]; results produced by the workshop. E-mail: [email protected] www.aboriginalgardens.com/NewFiles/ Main issues addressed during the agenda01.html workshop included: ¥ the role of research institutions, state agencies, NGOs and donors, and how FOREST VALUATION AND their interventions can best assist INNOVATIVE FINANCING small-scale producers and facilitate MECHANISMS FOR market access; CONSERVATION AND ¥ the assessment, reliability and SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT renewal of the sources of supply, OF TROPICAL FORESTS including issues of management, THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS conservation and research and 20-21 MARCH 2002 development of the shea resource; ¥ development of improved, locally Tropenbos International organized a two- appropriate processing and storage day seminar to discuss myths and reality methods and technologies and their CAPTURING THE VALUE of forest values, and to support the transfer to users; OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: development and implementation of ¥ resource and equipment requirements DEVELOPING MARKETS FOR appropriate financial mechanisms for the of rural producers, producer groups ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS conservation and sustainable use of and associations; LONDON, UK tropical forests. ¥ organization of small-scale producers, 13-14 MARCH 2002 processors and traders, with For more information, please contact: emphasis on producer equity and Hosted by Forest Trends and the Jelle Maas, Information Officer, ownership by women farmers, the Katoomba Group. Tropenbos International, Seminar 2002, primary producers of the shea PO Box 232, 6700 AE, Wageningen, the resource; For more information, please contact: Netherlands. ¥ means to develop local, regional and Jessica Rice, Forest Trends, 1050 Fax: +31 317 495520; international markets, including the Potomac Street NW, Washington, DC e-mail: [email protected]; development of fair trade markets; 20007, USA. www.tropenbos.nl
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marketing techniques, have been INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY AND RURAL conducted in many parts of the world by CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP international organizations, government MEDICINAL PLANTS, INVERNESS, UK agencies, ecotourism companies and INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE 18 MAY 2002 practitioners, NGOs and research people. AND BENEFIT SHARING However, there has not been so far a truly The workshop is part of the 3rd European comprehensive effort to disseminate THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS 16-19 APRIL 2002 Mountain Convention (Inverness, 16-18 widely the results achieved, or to May 2002) organized by Euromontana. integrate such results so as to produce For more information, please contact: the necessary synergies that will ensure Prof. Dr L. Jan Slikkerveer, Institute of For more information, please contact: that ecotourism will indeed generate the Cultural and Social Studies & the Pier Carlo Zingari, Director, European economic, social and environmental Leiden Branch of the National Observatory of Mountain Forests benefits expected from it. Herbarium of the Netherlands, (EOMF)/Observatoire européen des forêts Among the many activities to be Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, de montagne (OEFM), Les Thermes, F- undertaken at the global, regional, the Netherlands. 73230 Saint Jean d’Arvey, France. national and local levels in the framework E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +33 (0)4 79284058; of the International Year of Ecotourism e-mail: [email protected]; throughout the world, the World www.eomf.org Ecotourism Summit aims to be the major MEDICINAL PLANTS/ landmark. Its global objective and spirit HEALTH/ENVIRONMENTAL are in line with the philosophy of the AND FEVELOPMENT AND THE WORLD United Nations in the field of sustainable INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ECOTOURISM SUMMIT development, and more particularly with ON SUSTAINABLE TRADE QUÉBEC, CANADA UNEP Principles for Implementation of 19-22 MAY 2002 Sustainable Tourism. Similarly, the AND CONSERVATION OF summit will draw inspiration from the MEDICINAL PLANTS Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, RESOURCES approved by consensus by all WTO RABAT, MOROCCO member states in October 1999. The 2-4 MAY 2002 summit conclusions and recommendations are meant to be The programme will be centred on the reported to the World Summit on following themes: ethnobotany and Sustainable Development, to be held in traditional medicine; phytotherapy, Johannesburg, South Africa, in aromatherapy, phytodrugs and phytofoods; September 2002. technology, quality, economic and legal aspects; phytochemistry; pharmacology, The United Nations has declared 2002 as For more information, please contact: toxicology, biology and biotechnology; and the International Year of Ecotourism. The Ecotourisme 2002 Ð JPdL Secretariat, biodiversity, conservation of medicinal and World Tourism Organization (WTO) and 51, rue d’Auteuil, Québec, Québec G1R aromatic plants resources. the United Nations Environment 4C2, Canada. Programme (UNEP) have taken the lead Fax: +1 418 6925587; For more information and to register, in organizing activities for this Year at the e-mail: [email protected]; please visit: international level. The UN declaration is www.world- www.multimania.com/congres2002pma a testimony of the growing importance of tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main- /registration.htm ecotourism, not only as a sector with a Menu.htm; great potential for economic development or Ð especially in remote areas where few United Nations Environment other possibilities exist Ð but also as a Programme, Tourism Programme powerful tool for conservation of the Coordinator, Division of Technology, natural environment if it is properly Industry and Economics, Tour planned, developed and managed. Mirabeau, 39-43 Ð Quai André Citroën, Efforts to understand the implications 75739 Paris Ð Cedex 15, France. of ecotourism better, as well as to Fax: +33 1 44371474;
Rosmarinus officinalis improve its planning, management and e-mail: [email protected]
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HUMAN DIMENSIONS MOUNTAIN INDIGENOUS WORLD SUMMIT ON WORKSHOP KNOWLEDGE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BONN, GERMANY SUSTAINABLE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 3-14 JUNE 2002 LIVELIHOODS AND 26 AUGUST-4 SEPTEMBER 2002 CREATIVE MEANS OF The theme for the workshop will be RESOURCES GOVERNANCE “Human dimensions of urbanization and the transition to sustainability”. (III MMSEA) LIJIANG, YUNNAN, CHINA 25-28 AUGUST 2002 For more information, please contact: Maarit Thiem, International Project The conference will look at indigenous Coordinator, International Human livelihoods, indigenous knowledge and Dimensions Programme on Global creative means of local governance in our Environmental Change, Walter-Flex-Str. mountain areas. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany. The Johannesburg Summit 2002 Ð the Fax: +49 228 739054; For more information, please contact: World Summit on Sustainable e-mail: [email protected]; Xu Jianchu or Timmi Tillmann, Centre Development Ð will bring together tens of www.uni-bonn.de/IHDP for Biodiversity and Indigenous thousands of participants, including Knowledge, Zhonghuandasha, Yanjiadi Heads of State and Government, national 650034, Kunming, China. delegates and leaders from NGOs, 1ST ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE E-mail: [email protected] or businesses and other major groups to FOREST MANAGEMENT [email protected]; focus the world’s attention and direct SUMMIT: SCIENCE IN www.cbik.org action towards meeting difficult POLICY AND PRACTICE – challenges, including improving people’s SHARING SUCCESSFUL lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in REGIONAL AND LOCAL population, with ever-increasing INITIATIVES demands for food, water, shelter, WISCONSIN, USA sanitation, energy, health services and 17-19 JUNE 2002 economic security. The summit will come a decade after For more information, please contact: the historic United Nations Conference Wendy Hinrichs Sanders, Great Lakes on Environment and Development held in Forest Alliance, PO Box 722, Hayward, Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which adopted WI 54843, USA. Agenda 21, the blueprint for sustainable E-mail: [email protected]; development Ð and spawned the www.lsfa.org SMALL FRUIT IN THE conventions on climate change, biological WILD AND CULTURE diversity and desertification. KAUNAS, LITHUANIA Background information, and the dates 20-22 AUGUST 2002 and venues for the preparatory meetings, as they are confirmed, can be found at The theme for the workshop will be the summit’s Web site. “Human dimensions of urbanization and the transition to sustainability”. For more information, please contact: Johannesburg Summit Secretariat, Division for Sustainable Development, For more information, please contact: United Nations Department of Kaunas Botanical Garden, Z. E. Zilibero Economic and Social Affairs, Two 6, LT-3018 Kaunas, Lithuania. United Nations Plaza, DC2-2220, New Fax: +370 7 390133; York, NY 10017, USA. e-mail: [email protected] or E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.johannesburgsummit.org/
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For more information, please contact: MANAGEMENT OF Conference organizers: THIRD INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN FOREST Michelle Forrest and Susanne McCrea. TRAINING PROGRAMME ON ECOSYSTEMS UNDER NEW E-mail: [email protected]; SUSTAINABLE NTFP ENVIRONMENTAL www.borealnet.org or MANAGEMENT FOR RURAL CONDITIONS www.taigarescue.org DEVELOPMENT PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA 1-7 SEPTEMBER 2002 12-27 NOVEMBER 2002
For more information, please contact: Mr Vratislav Balcar, Research Station VULHM Opocno, Na Olive 550, 517 73 Opocno, Czech Republic. Fax: +420 443 42393; e-mail: [email protected] The newly established International Centre of Community Forestry (ICCF) at ECOLOGICAL AND the Indian Institute of Forest Management ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF (IIFM), Bhopal, has been organizing MOUNTAIN FORESTS various community forestry-related training INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA programmes regularly (see below for 15-18 SEPTEMBER 2002 information on the course held in 2001). These training programmes are closely For more information, please contact: grounded on actual field experiences. The Robert Jandl, Federal Forest Research PROTA FIRST previous two programmes have attracted Centre, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, A- INTERNATIONAL the participation of forestry and rural 1131 Vienna, Austria. WORKSHOP development practitioners and Fax: +43 1 878381250; NAIROBI, KENYA researchers, from various countries e-mail: [email protected]; 23-25 SEPTEMBER 2002 worldwide. This programme has been http://fbva.forvie.ac.at/iym/ecology.html designed for enhancing knowledge and The workshop is being organized by the honing skills in the areas of NTFP-based Plant Resources of Tropical Africa livelihood generation through sustainable (PROTA) Programme, Wageningen management of NTFPs. University, the Netherlands. One of the The training topics, which are revised workshop objectives is to highlight the and updated every year, will involve importance of the plant resources of situational analysis of the NTFP tropical Africa through commodity group management and rural development reports, country reports and plant scenario (both micro and macro) and an resources reports. Various papers are intensive coverage of contemporary invited, including on auxiliary and issues related to NTFP production, medicinal plants. The workshop will be in processing and trade. The participants English and French. would also be trained in tools and techniques for NTFP resource For more information, please contact: assessment, enterprise feasibility TAIGA RESCUE NETWORK PROTA Programme, Wageningen assessment and NTFP-based livelihood AND BOREAL FOREST University, PO Box 341, 6700 AH generation. During the field visits, NETWORK 6TH BIENNIAL Wageningen, the Netherlands. interspersed throughout the course, the CONFERENCE E-mail: [email protected]; participants will get ample opportunity to www.prota.org; test their newly acquired knowledge and WINNIPEG, CANADA 20-22 SEPTEMBER 2002 or PROTA First International Workshop, skills in actual field situations. c/o ICRAF, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, The theme of this conference is “Current Kenya. For more information, please contact: and future boreal forest values Ð [Please see under News and Notes for Dr Prodyut Bhattacharya, Course conservation goals and market trends”. more information on PROTA.] Director, Indian Institute of Forest
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Management, Nehru Nagar, PO Box las comunidades rurales e indígenas, E-mail: [email protected] or 357; Bhopal-462003, Madhya Pradesh, el cultivo orgánico, la normatividad, la [email protected]; India. transformación, el comercio justo y www.bridges-prtd.com E-mail: [email protected]; todos aquellos aspectos vinculados www.iifm.org con los recursos terapéuticos herbolarios.
Para más información, dirigirse a: Josefina Morfín López, Presidenta del Comité Organizador del Primer Congreso Latinoamericano de Herbolaria y Primera ExpoNaturalia Latinoamericana 2002, Calle La Calma, 60, Colonia Las Fuentes, C.P. 45070, Guadalajara, Jal., México. Fax: +52 3 6312286; correos electrónicos: [email protected], [email protected]; o Miguel Angel Gutiérrez Domínguez, THE 3RD WORLD Vicepresidente del Comité Organizador CONGRESS ON MEDICINAL PRIMER CONGRESO del Primer Congreso Latinoamericano AND AROMATIC PLANTS LATINOAMERICANO de Herbolaria y Primera ExpoNaturalia FOR HUMAN WELFARE DE HERBOLARIA Y Latinoamericana 2002, Universidad (WOCMAP III) Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Secretaría de SEGUNDO CONGRESO CHIANG MAI, THAILAND NACIONAL DE PLANTAS Investigación Científica, Jardín Botánico 3-7 FEBRUARY 2003 Universitario, Av. Universidad N¡ 1, C.P. MEDICINALES DE MÉXICO 90070 Tlaxcala, Tlax., México. The theme of WOCMAP III is “From GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MÉXICO 21 A 24 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2002 Fax: +52 246 28996; biodiversity through science and correos electrónicos: technology, trade and industry to El Congreso Latinoamericano de [email protected] y sustainable use”. This congress will Herbolaria y el Segundo Congreso [email protected]; provide a forum for international Nacional de Plantas Medicinales de sitio Internet del Primer Congreso cooperation among people in all México se han propuesto como objetivos Latinoamericano de Herbolaria: disciplines that involve medicinal and generales: www.laneta.apc.org/nuevaneta/info/mor aromatic plants, bringing together ¥ Ser el principal foro latinoamericano einfo.php3 experts in medicinal and aromatic plants que promueva la cooperación, el from around the world. intercambio y la difusión de The congress programme will include investigaciones, tecnologías y THE NAMCHE plenary sessions, invited lectures, oral experiencias entre los distintos actores CONFERENCE: PEOPLE, and poster presentations, a commercial sociales vinculados con la herbolaria, PARK AND MOUNTAIN exhibition (EXPOMAP) and excursions in las terapias naturales y la medicina ECOTOURISM AT NAMCHE and around Chiang Mai and Bangkok as tradicional con el fin de rescatar, BAZAAR well as neighbouring countries. conservar, revalorizar y aprovechar Early registration should be made by KHUMBU, NEPAL sustentablemente las plantas 5-8 DECEMBER 2002 31 July 2002. medicinales y sus derivados. ¥ Servir como espacio abierto generador Presentations and workshops will cover a For more information and to obtain a y multiplicador de ideas, propuestas, range of topics, according to participants’ copy of the pre-registration form, políticas, experiencias y acciones en interests. Special attention will be given please contact: torno a la conservación ecológica, la to the role of parks in mountain Congress Secretariat WOCMAP-III, etnobotánica, el manejo sustentable, ecotourism. Department of Biology, Faculty of la investigación de campo y Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang laboratorio, el control de calidad, la For more information, please contact: Mai 50200, Thailand. certificación, la bioprospección, el Seth Sicroff, Director, Bridges: Projects Fax: +66 53 944934; derecho de propiedad intelectual de in Rational Tourism Development. e-mail: [email protected]
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ALL DIVISION 5 IUFRO CONFERENCE XII WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS “FOREST PRODUCTS QUÉBEC, CANADA RESEARCH – PROVIDING 21-28 SEPTEMBER 2003 FOR SUSTAINABLE CHOICES” ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND attend in their personal capacity to 11-15 MARCH 2003 express their own views. For this reason, its role is consultative rather This conference, which is being than executive. organized by the International Union of The WFC Theme “Forests, source Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), of life” is of much relevance to the will serve as a forum for the exchange of topic of non wood forest products knowledge and experience in forest and promises to inspire a rich debate products research at the national and on the role of edible NWFPs to food international levels. Participants will security and poverty alleviation. The discuss recent research progress, FAO NWFP Programme is looking exchange information and collaborate on forward to a wide range of papers research related to the conference theme being submitted to the WFC of “Forest products research – providing emphasizing the important socio- for sustainable choices”. economic contribution of NWFPs Discussion will consider scientific towards sustainable development. progress towards meeting the rapidly Forests have sustained life on increasing demands for forest products of earth since time immemorial, all kinds, while maintaining the forest as providing a range of essential goods the source of such products and a The World Forestry Congress (WFC) and services such as food, shelter, resource for the social, economic and is the largest, most important energy, wood, soil and water environmental benefits. international gathering of key players conservation, wildlife habitat, income This conference includes a session on in the forestry sector. Organized generation, cultural identity and NWFPs under the IUFRO Group 5.11 under the aegis of FAO, the congress spiritual well-being. Thus, it is not chaired by Dr Jim Chamberlain. The takes place every six years. It is a surprising that one of today’s session will be focused on “Research forum for exchanging a wide range of greatest challenges is finding ways to needs for sustainable management of views, where ideas and actions balance and reconcile conflicting and non wood forest products”. having a direct impact on forests and increasing demands from those who on forest management can be depend on one aspect or another for For more information, please contact: presented and discussed so that their survival and development. Dr Jim Chamberlain, NTFP Products practical solutions can be found. Research Technologist, US Forest Overall, the discussions are intended For more information, please Service, Southern Research Station; to bring together the breadth of contact: Coordinator, IUFRO Research Group knowledge, experiences and World Forestry Congress 2003, 5.11 (Non-wood Forest Products), 1650 approaches from around the world to 800, Place d’Youville, 18e étage, Ramble Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061, guide forest policy, practices, Québec, Québec G1R 3P4, USA. research and international Canada. Fax: +1 540 2311383, cooperation. In addition to regular Fax: +1 418 6949922; e-mail [email protected]; working sessions, the congress will e-mail: [email protected] or www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu; showcase the latest advances in [email protected]; or forestry. www.wfc.2003.org Conference Secretariat: The World Forestry Congress is Fax: +64 7 3435507; not a meeting of officials e-mail: representing governments and [email protected] organizations. Rather, participants
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Al-Douri, N.A. 2000. A survey of Coordination Unit, c/o The Tropenbos Caspary, H.-U., Koné, I., Prouot, C. & medicinal plants and their traditional Foundation, PO Box 232, 6700 AE Pauw, M. de. 2001. La chasse et la uses in Iraq. Pharmaceutical Biology, Wageningen, the Netherlands; fax: filière viande de brousse dans 38(1): 74-79. +31 317 495521; e-mail: l’espace Taï, Côte d’Ivoire. Tropenbos [email protected]; www.etfrn.org/etfrn; Côte d’Ivoire Série 2. Wageningen, Amatya, Swoyambhu Man, ed. 2000. www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/ntfp/dow Pays-Bas, Tropenbos International. Proceedings of the Third Regional nloadreport.html) ISBN 90-5113-148-1. w20. Workshop on “Community-Based NTFP Management”. (For more Berg, J. van den, Dijk, H. van, Dkamela, Davidson-Hunt, I, Duchesne, L.C. & information, contact: Dr Swoyambhu G.P., Ebene, Y. & Ntenwu, T. 2001. Zasada, J.C., eds. 2001. Forest Man Amatya, Director-General, The role and dynamics of community communities in the third millennium: Department of Forest Research and institutions in the management of linking research, business, and policy Survey, PO Box 339, Babar Mahal, NTFPs in Cameroon. ETFRN News, toward a sustainable non-timber Kathmandu, Nepal; fax: +977 1 32: 77-79. forest product sector. Proceedings of 220159; e-mail: [email protected]) the meeting, 1-4 October 1999, Bhatia, A., ed. 2001. Himawanti Ð Kenora, Ontario, Canada. General Anderson, P.N. 2001. Community-based Women of the Hindu Kush- Technical Report NC-217. St. Paul, conservation and social change Himalayas. Kathmandu, International MN, US Department of Agriculture, amongst south Indian honey-hunters: Centre for Integrated Mountain Forest Service, North Central an anthropological perspective. Oryx, Development. Research Station. 151 pp. 35(1): 81-83. 76 pp. ISBN 92-9115-412-1. The publication contains a wide Himawanti is a remarkable variety of papers given at the first Anon. 2001. Open to plunder. Smuggling organization, a network of grassroots international conference on NTFPs in is stripping India of rare medicinal women from across the Hindu-Kush cold temperate and boreal forests. It plants. Down to Earth, (January): 28-41. Himalayas concerned with the focuses on many facets of NTFPs: protection and development of natural economics, society, traditional Anwar, R., Haq, N. & Masood, S. 2001. resources such as forest, land and ecological knowledge, biology, Medicinal plants of Pakistan. water. In October 1999, after years of resource management and business Southampton, UK, International planning and preparation, Himawanti development. (An electronic version Centre for Underutilised Crops. ISBN succeeded in bringing together more of the proceedings can be viewed 085-432-739-8. than 200 women from the region for a and downloaded from: regional workshop. The aim was to www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/ kstore.htm. Hard Backes, M.M. 2001. The role of provide a forum for grassroots women copy versions of the book are indigenous trees for the conservation to share experiences and evolve available free of charge from: of biocultural diversity in traditional strategies, and to strengthen Publications Distribution Center, agroforestry land use systems: the communication and alliances, among North Central Research Station, Bungoma case study: in-situ the rural women who are actually United States Department of conservation of indigenous tree involved in conserving and managing Agriculture, Forest Service, 1 Gifford species. Agroforestry Syst., 52(2): natural resources. The situation of the Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53705, 119-132. women, their needs, the challenges USA; or Tim Swedberg, Media and they face, and how they are Public Relations, North Central Baker, N., ed. 2001. Developing Needs- campaigning for change, were Research Station, 1992 Folwell Ave., Based Inventory Methods for Non- discussed at length in the supportive St. Paul, MN 55108, USA; Timber Forest Products Application atmosphere of the workshop. The fax: +1 651 6495285; e-mail: and Development of Current main themes are presented in this [email protected]) Research to Identify Practical book in a visually stimulating form in Solutions for Developing Countries. three languages (English, Hindi, Demmer, J. & Overman, H. 2001. Proceedings of an ETFRN workshop Urdu). (For more information, contact: Indigenous people conserving the rain which was held with and at FAO in ICOD/ICIMOD, POB 3226, forest? The effect of wealth and May 2000 and was funded by the Kathmandu, Nepal; e-mail: markets on the economic behaviour DFID Forest Research Programme. [email protected]; www.icimod.org) of Tawahka Amerindians in Honduras. (Copies of this ETFRN publication are Tropenbos Series 19. Wageningen, available from: European Tropical Cadamuro, L. 2000. Plantes comestibles the Netherlands, Tropenbos Forest Research Network [ETFRN], de Guyane. Écocart éditions. International. ISBN 90-5113-053-8.
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Dkamela, G.P. 2001. Les institutions the United Nations, Rome. ISBN 92- potential uses; 2. carrying out a communautaires de gestion de 5-104590-9. resource base assessment by produits forestiers non-ligneux dans The fourth edition of the State of the estimating the quantity and size of les villages périphériques de la world’s forests (SOFO), FAO’s biennial bamboo reeds growing in the study Réserve de Biosphère du Dja. report providing reliable and up-to-date area; 3. exploring current uses of Tropenbos-Cameroon Documents 7. information on the status of forests and bamboo in the survey area and Tropenbos-Cameroon Programme, developments in the forest sector opportunities of extending the Kribi, Cameroon. worldwide, has been released in management of bamboo into Arabic, Chinese, English, French and integrated agroforestry systems, Duivenvoorden, J.F., ed. 2001. Spanish. Subjects covered in the report small- and large-scale commercial Evaluación de recursos vegetales no include forest cover and condition; farming, environmental rehabilitation, maderables en la Amazonía management, conservation and ecotourism, food security and income- noroccidental. IBED, Universidad de sustainable development of forest generating bamboo projects. (To Amsterdam, Países Bajos. resources; forest goods and services; obtain a copy of the report or for more the institutional framework for forestry; information, contact: Michel Emery, M. & McLain, R.J., eds. 2001. and international dialogue. Six Laverdiere, Forest Conservation Non-timber forest products: medicinal comprehensive annex tables give basic Officer, Subregional Office for herbs, fungi, edible fruits and nuts, country information (land area, Southern and East Africa [SAFR], PO and other natural products from the population, economic indicators) and Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe; fax: forest. Binghamton, NY, Haworth the latest data by country on forest +263 4 703497; e-mail: Press. 176 pp. $29.95. cover; change in forest cover; forest [email protected]) (www.HaworthPressInc. management; production, trade and com/store/product.asp?sku=4487) consumption of forest products; and Gunasena, H.P.M. & Hughes, A. 2000. participation in international Tamarind. Southampton, UK, Evans, T.D. & Viengkham, O.V. 2001. conventions and agreements. (Printed International Centre for Underutilised Inventory time-cost and statistical copies of SOFO are available through Crops. power: a case study of a Lao rattan. FAO’s Sales and Marketing Group A monograph on tamarind (Tamarindus Forest Ecology and Management, [[email protected]]. SOFO is indica L.), published by the 150: 313-322. also available electronically on the International Centre for Underutilised Internet [www.fao.org/forestry/fo/ Crops, is an output from a research Evans, T.D., Sengdala, K., Viengkham, sofo/sofo-e.stm]. For more information, project funded by the United Kingdom O.V. & Thammavong, B. 2001. A contact: Publications and Information Department for International field guide to the Rattans of Lao P.R. Coordinator, Forestry Department, Development (DFID) (For a free copy Scientific Publications Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, of this monograph, contact the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United 00100 Rome, Italy; International Centre for Underutilised Kingdom. fax: +39 0657052151; e-mail: forestry- Crops; e-mail: [email protected]) Rattans contribute greatly to the Lao [email protected]) economy by producing flexible canes Ha Chu Chu. 2001. Situation of non- and edible shoots, which are used FAO. 2001. Resource base assessment, wood forest products production and within country or exported. This book current uses and management utilization in Vietnam. In Proceedings is intended to support their improved potential of bamboo in Manicaland on the International Seminar on Non- management. (For more information, Province (Nyanga, Mutasa & Mutare Timber Forest Products, China- contact: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, districts) of Zimbabwe. Harare, Yunnan, Laos and Vietnam. Yunnan Surrey TW9 3AB, UK; fax: +44 (0)20 Zimbabwe, FAO. University Press. ISBN 7-81068-27-7. 83325197; www.rbgkew.org.uk) Published by the FAO Subregional Office for East and Southern Africa in Hall & Yun. 2000. Edible mushrooms as FAO. 2001. Global Forest Resources Harare, Zimbabwe, this study focuses secondary crops in forests. Quarterly Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000). FAO’s on the assessment and the J. Forestry, 94: 299-304. Global Forest Resources Assessment management potential of bamboo 2000 (FRA 2000) is available online species in the Eastern Highlands of Helbingen, A.J. Bojanic. 2001. Balance (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/main/index.jsp) Zimbabwe. It was conducted in three is beautiful: assessing sustainable stages: 1. gathering information on development in the rain forests of the FAO. 2001. State of the world’s forests. bamboo species found in Zimbabwe, Bolivian Amazon. PROMAB Scientific Food and Agriculture Organization of their distribution and present and Series 4. ISBN 90-393-2757-2.
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Jiaquan, C. 2001. Survey on NTFPs Society of American Foresters, p. 425- 1-29. Washington, DC, border trade between China and 429. ISBN 0-939970-82-1. CABS/Conservation International. (For Vietnam, and China and Laos in (www.safnet.org) a hard copy of this publication, contact Jiangcheng County, Simao Prefecture, Terri Lam at [email protected]) and Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Messerschmidt, D. et al. 2001. Bamboo Prefecture. In Proceedings of the in the high forest of eastern Bhutan: a Riera, P. 2001. Assessment of International Seminar on Non-Timber study of species vulnerability. methodologies for valuing biological Forest Products, China-Yunnan, Laos Kathmandu, International Centre for diversity of forests. European Forest and Vietnam. Yunnan University Press. Integrated Mountain Development. 32 Institute Internal Report 4. 14 pp. ISBN 7-81068-27-7. pp. ISBN 92-9115-3141. (For more (Only available from information, contact: Nira Gurung- www.efi.fi/publications as a pdf file.) Kangas, K. 2001. Commercial wild berry Burathoki, Distribution Officer, ICIMOD, picking as a source of income in PO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal; fax: Schippmann, U. 2001. Medicinal plants northern and eastern Finland. J. Forest +977 1 524509; e-mail: significant trade study. CITES project Economics, 7(1): 53-68. [email protected]; S-109. Plants Committee Document www.icimod.org.sg/publications/pubme PC9 9.1.3 (rev.). 97 pp. Bundesamt Khanina, L.G. et al. 2001. A review of nu.htm) für Naturschutz, Bonn, Germany (BfN- recent projects on forest biodiversity Skripten 39). investigations in Europe including Mors, W.B., Rizzini, C.T. & Pereira, N.A. Russia. European Forest Institute 2001. Medicinal plants of Brazil. USA, Soydara, V. & Ketphanh, S. 2001. Case Internal Report 3. 65 pp. (Only Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0- study on the Marketing Group of Bitter available from www.efi.fi/publications 917256-42-5. Bamboo Shoots in Nam Pheng as a pdf file.) Village, Oudomxai Province, Lao Newton, A.C. & Soehartono, T. 2001. PDR. In Proceedings of the Leakey, R.R.B. 2001. Win:Win landuse CITES and the conservation of tree International Seminar on Non-Timber strategies for Africa: 1. Building on species: the case of Aquilaria in Forest Products, China-Yunnan, Laos experience with agroforests in Asia and Indonesia. International Forestry and Vietnam. Yunnan University Latin America. Win:Win landuse Review, 1-3 March 2001. Press. ISBN 7-81068-271-7. strategies for Africa: 2. Capturing economic and environmental benefits Olson, D.M. et al. 2001. Terrestrial Statz, J. 2000. Investigación de Bosques with multistrata agroforests. ecoregions of the world: a new map of Tropicales Ð Potenciales de desarrollo International Forestry Review, 1-3 life on earth. BioScience, 51(11): 933- en la utilización de productos no March 2001. (For more information, 938. (www.aibs.org/biosciencelibrary/ maderables del bosque. Perspectivas contact: R.R.B. Leakey, Centre for vol51/dec01.ldml) para un nuevo campo de acción de la Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Cooperación al Desarrollo Forestal en Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, Onguene, N.A. & Kuyper, T.W. 2001. Paraguay y Bolivia. GTZ, Eschborn, Scotland, UK; e-mail: [email protected]) Mycorrhizal associations in the rain Alemania. forest of South Cameroon. Forest Liu Sihui. 2001. The utilization of non- Ecology and Management, 140: 277- Stepp, J.R. 2000. Mountain ethnobiology timber forest products in Daweishan 287. and development in Highland Nature Reserve. In Proceedings on the Chiapas, Mexico: lessons in International Seminar on Non-Timber Paoli, G.D. et al. 2001. An ecological and biodiversity and health. Mnt. Res. Forest Products, China-Yunnan, Laos economic assessment of the non- Dev., 20(3): 218-219. and Vietnam. Yunnan University Press. timber forest product gaharu wood in ISBN 7-81068-271-7. Gunung Palung National Park, West Stoian, D. 2000. Shifts in forest product Kalimantan, Indonesia. Conserv. Biol., extraction: the post-rubber era in the Lund, H.G. 2001. Using the Internet to 15(6): 1721-1732. (www.blacksci.co. Bolivian Amazon. International Tree communicate your message: “A uk/~cgilib/bsinc.bin?Journal=biology) Crops J., 10(4): 277-297. Monumental Opportunity!” In Proceedings of the 2000 National Rice, R.E., Sugal, C.A., Ratay, S.M. & Stoian, D. 2000. Variations and Convention of the Society of American Fonseca, G.A. 2001. Sustainable dynamics of extractive economies: Foresters Ð A Monumental forest management: a review of the rural-urban nexus of non-timber Opportunity. Washington, DC, 16-20 conventional wisdom. Advances in forest use in the Bolivian Amazon. November 2000. Bethesda, MD, Applied Biodiversity Science, No. 3, p. University of Freiburg, Germany. Ref.:
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MK 2001/2137/DF 4.2001/97. (Ph.D. version available from various aspects of NTFP conservation dissertation) www.tropenbos.nl) and development and set the stage for future information exchange and Stoian, D. & Henkemans, A.B. 2000. Tropenbos International. 2001. Seminar sharing in the region. The proceedings Between extractivism and peasant proceedings Sustainable management present a clear overview of lessons agriculture: differentiation of rural of African rain forest, November 1999. learnt, similarities and differences in settlements in the Bolivian Amazon. (W.B.J. Jonkers, B. Foahom and P. the region, possibilities for future International Tree Crops J., 10(4): Schmidt, eds.) Part II. Symposium. collaboration, as well as various 299-319. Wageningen, the Netherlands, interesting papers from the Tropenbos International. ISBN 90- participants of the three countries. Svoboda, K.P. & Svoboda, T.G. 2001. 5113-051-1. (Electronic version (For more information, contact: Secretory structures of aromatic and available from www.tropenbos.nl) Jeannette van Rijsoort, Forest medicinal plants Ð a review and atlas Conservation and Community of micrographs. ISBN 0-9538461-0-5. van Rijsoort, J. 2001. The importance of Development Project [FCCDP], Simao (For more information, contact: K. wild NTFPs for villagers in and around Forestry Department, Zhen Xing Lu Svoboda, 34 Carcluie Crescent, Ayr, Nuozhadu Nature Reserve, Simao 48, 665000 Simao City, Yunnan, Ayrshire, Scotland KA7 4ST, UK; e- Prefecture, P.R. China, and China; tel./fax: +86 879 2144046; e- mail: [email protected]) suggestions for future actions. In mail: [email protected]) Proceedings of the International Thomas, R.S. 2001. Forest productivity Seminar on Non-Timber Forest van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. & and resource availability in lowland Products, China-Yunnan, Laos and Bunyapraphatsara, N., eds. 2001. tropical forests in Guyana. Vietnam. Yunnan University Press. Plant resources of South-East Asia No. Tropenbos-Guyana Series 7. ISBN 7-81068-271-7. 12(2). Medicinal and poisonous plants Tropenbos-Guyana Programme, 2. Leiden, the Netherlands, Backhuys Georgetown, Guyana. van Rijsoort, J. & He Pikun. 2001. Publishers. 782 pp. Proceedings of the International Plant Resources of South-East Asia Tran Van On, Do Quyen, Le Dinh Bich, Seminar on Non-Timber Forest (PROSEA) is a multivolume handbook Jones, B., Wunder, J. & Russel- Products, China-Yunnan, Laos and that aims to summarize knowledge Smith, J. 2001. A survey of medicinal Vietnam. about useful plants for workers in plants in Ba Vi National Park, The proceedings are published by the education, research, extension and Vietnam. Methodology and Forest Conservation and Community industry. This second of the three implications for conservation and Development Project (FCCDP), a planned volumes on the medicinal and sustainable use. Biological Chinese-Netherlands-funded project in poisonous plants of Southeast Asia Conservation, 97: 295-304. Yunnan, China. In December 2000, presents a mixture of species with a the project organized an international longstanding reputation in traditional Tropenbos International. 2001. seminar together with two other medicine and species that have been Workshop proceedings The balance Netherlands-funded projects in Viet well investigated phytochemically or between biodiversity conservation Nam and the Lao People’s pharmacologically, but are poorly known and sustainable use of tropical rain Democratic Republic, respectively, on in the Southeast Asian region. Up-to- forests, 6-8 December 1999. (P.J.M. “The role of non-timber forest products date information is provided concerning Hillegers and H.H. de Longh, eds.) (NTFPs) in forest conservation and local knowledge as well as modern Wageningen, the Netherlands, community development”. research findings, where possible. The Tropenbos International. ISBN 90- It was the first time such a regional alphabetical treatment of genera and 5113-050-3. (Electronic version seminar on this specific issue was species comprises 171 papers. available from www.tropenbos.nl) held with the three countries bordering The hardcover edition is distributed by Yunnan Ð China, Viet Nam and the Backhuys Publishers, PO Box 321, Tropenbos International. 2001. Seminar Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 2300 AH Leiden, the Netherlands, proceedings Sustainable management During the seminar, the participants priced _159. A paperback edition will of African rain forest, November 1999. exchanged ideas and experiences on be available as of December 2003, (B. Foahom, W.B.J. Jonkers, P.N. issues related to NTFPs and forest priced _68. For developing countries, Nkwi, P. Schmidt and M. Tchatat, eds.) conservation, community development a cheaper paperback edition (ISBN Part I. Workshops. Wageningen, the and marketing and processing. This 979-8316-43-6) will be available in Netherlands, Tropenbos International. resulted in a better understanding 2002 from the PROSEA Network ISBN 90-5113-047-3. (Electronic between the three countries about the Office, PO Box 332, Bogor 16122,
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Indonesia. (For more information, NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE FAO NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS SERIES contact: Dr J.S. Siemonsma, Head Publication Office, PROSEA, Wageningen Agricultural University, NO. 13. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT NO. 14: RATTAN. CURRENT OF NON-WOOD FOREST RESEARCH ISSUES AND PO Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, PRODUCTS. EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR CONSERVATION the Netherlands; fax: +31 317 BIOMETRIC PRINCIPLES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 482206; e-mail: [email protected]) [Please see under News and Notes for more information on PROSEA.]
Weber, A. et al., eds. 2001. An introductory field guide to the flowering plants of the Golfo Dulce rain forests, Costa Rica. Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park (“Regenwald der Östereicher”). Stapfia, 78: 1-464. (For more information, contact: Mrs Marion Dominikus, Institute of Botany, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria; e- mail: [email protected])
Wolf, J.H.D. & Konings, C.J.F. 2002. Despite the fact that rattan is Toward the sustainable harvesting of an important commodity for epiphytic bromeliads: a pilot study international trade and that, from the highlands of Chiapas, at the local level, it is of critical Mexico. Biological Conservation, relevance in improving rural 101(1): 23-31. (www.elsevier.nl/ This publication is livelihoods, the supply of rattan PII/S0006320701000532) also available in French (Évaluation still comes from cutting palms des ressources en produits in natural forests. Nowadays, World Resources Institute. 2000. World forestiers non ligneux. Expérience rattan resources in their natural resources 2000-2001, people and et principes de biométrie) and range of tropical forests are ecosystems: the fraying web of life. Spanish (Evaluación de los recursos being depleted through 400 pp. ISBN 1-56973-443-7. de productos forestales no overexploitation, inadequate madereros. Experiencia y principios replenishment, poor forest WWF Deutschland & TRAFFIC Europe- biométricos) and is accompanied by management and loss of forest Germany, eds. 2001. Tagungsband, a trilingual CD-ROM. habitats. Against this background, Proceedings. Symposium. Medizin This publication is also available Non-Wood Forest Products Series und Artenschutz. Herausforderung für online at the following address: No. 14, was recently published Mensch und Natur im neuen www.fao.org/docrep/003/y1457e/y1 and contains the proceedings of Jahrtausend. Medicinal utilization of 457e00.htm (English) a joint FAO/INBAR International wild species. Challenge for man and www.fao.org/docrep/003/y1457f/y1 Expert Consultation on Rattan, nature in the new millennium. 107 pp., 457f00.htm (French) held in Rome in December 2000. WWF Deutschland & TRAFFIC www.fao.org/docrep/003/y1457s/y1 This publication is also available Europe-Germany, Frankfurt am Main. 457s00.htm (Spanish) online at the following address: www.fao.org/docrep/003/y2783e/ Zich, F. & Compton, J. 2001. The final For more information, y2783e00.htm frontier: towards sustainable please contact: François management of Papua New Guinea’s Ndeckere-Ziangba, For more information, please agarwood resource. TRAFFIC FAO NWFP Programme. contact: Paul Vantomme, FAO Oceania/WWF South Pacific E-mail: NWFP Programme. Programme. 12 pp. [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] (www.traffic.org/news/agar2.pdf)
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 93 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST
NEW WORKING PAPERS FROM For a copy of the proceedings, please N¡ 499, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de THE FAO NWFP PROGRAMME contact: Dios, Perú. Forest Products Division, Forestry Fax: +51 84 573211; The following two new working papers Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di correo electrónico: have been produced by the FAO Non- Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. [email protected] Wood Forest Products Programme. A Fax: +39 0657055618; third volume covering the Caribbean e-mail: [email protected]; Extractivism in Amazonia countries is under preparation. www.fao.org/forestry/fop/foph/harvest/t The book La forêt en jeu: l’extractivisme urkey/turkey-e.stm en Amazonie centrale (Emperaire, L. FOPW/01/1 Non-wood forest products (org.), Paris, Orstom/Unesco, 1996) was in Africa: a regional and national Development Bookshop Online published in 2000 in Portuguese under overview/Les produits forestiers non ligneux ITDG Publishing, the publishing arm of the title A floresta em jogo: o extrativismo en Afrique: un aperçu régional et national the Intermediate Technology na Amazônia central (Emperaire, L., org., The electronic version is available on the Development Group, and a leading São Paulo, Editora da Unesp/Imprensa FAO home page at: www.fao.org/ publisher of books on development Oficial do Estado, 232 p. 2000), docrep/003/y1515b/y1515b00.htm issues, has recently launched the Often decried and presented as an Development Bookshop Online. This new outdated activity incapable of progress, FOPW/01/2 Non-wood forest products in bookshop allows you to use the Internet extractivism might today be nothing more the Near East: a regional and national to search their database of key than an obsolete testimony to one of the overview development books, make secure online numerous economic cycles that Brazil has The electronic version will be available on orders, and browse bargain and best- experienced. But the political movements the FAO NWFP home page shortly. seller lists. of the seringueiros, whose demands are Country information is also available www.developmentbookshop.com supported by various institutions, and a on the FAO home page at: www.fao.org/ public opinion sensitive to ecological forestry/fo/country/nav_world.jsp. Estándar para la certificación del manejo problems have placed this ancient activity forestal con fines de producción de at the centre of discussions concerning the Printed copies of both publications are castaña (Bertholletia excelsa) en el Perú management of the Amazonian forest. available from the FAO NWFP La producción y impresión de esta The purpose of this publication is not to Programme ([email protected]). publicación ha sido financiada por el present an exhaustive analysis of the [Please see under International Action Ð proyecto «Conservando castañales», many aspects of this activity but simply to FAO for more detailed information of una iniciativa de la Asociación para la suggest some themes for reflection and these regional studies.] Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica research on the subject. The articles fall (ACCA), que viene trabajando desde into four groups dealing respectively with: OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS 1997 en la validación y promoción del extractivism in the historical context of the mejor manejo de los bosques naturales occupation of Amazonia, the numerous Harvesting of Non-Wood Forest Products de castaña de Madre de Dios (Perú) para ways in which this activity is integrated in Ð seminar proceedings el beneficio de la población local y la the systems of production, the ecological The proceedings of the seminar on conservación de los bosques. aspects of the exploitation of different Harvesting of Non-Wood Forest Products Este gran esfuerzo ha resultado en el species, and current tendencies. were recently printed by the Turkish primer estándar de certificación reconocido Ministry of Forestry. This seminar was held por el Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) For more information, please contact: from 2 to 8 October 2000 in Menemen- para el manejo de un producto forestal no Laure Emperaire, IRD (ex-Orstom), Izmir, Turkey at the invitation of the Ministry maderable a nivel mundial. Así mismo, está Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, of Forestry and under the auspices of the dirigido a pequeños productores forestales UnB: SAS, Quadra 05 Bloco H 2¼ andar, Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee on Forest de los bosques amazónicos, demostrando Ed. Superintendência do IBAMA, 70070- Technology, Management and Training. así que los principios y criterios de manejo 914 Brasília, DF, Brazil. The seminar, which was attended by responsable del FSC son adaptables a Fax: +55 61 3228473; participants from 32 countries, covered a algunas de las más complejas condiciones e-mail: [email protected] wide range of topics, from inventory to de manejo forestal. marketing. The 41 papers are presented in Proceedings of the Trees for Arid the language provided by their authors Para más información, dirigirse a: Lands Workshop (mostly English) with summaries in the Proyecto «Conservando castañales», The Trees for Arid Lands Workshop, other two languages of the seminar (French Asociación para la Conservación de la organized by IPALAC, took place in Israel and Russian) for most of the papers. Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA), Jr. Cuzco in November 2000.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 94 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST
For more information, please contact: For Brazil nut collectors in northern Bolivia, Permanent Agriculture Resources, PO Mr Arnie Schlissel, Administrative the problem of ensuring stable or increasing Box 428, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725, USA. Coordinator, International Program for incomes is slightly different, according to Fax: +1 808 3244129; Arid Land Crops (IPALAC), PO Box 653, Dietmar Stoian of Germany and Arienne e-mail: [email protected]; Beer Sheva 84105, Israel. Henkemans of the Netherlands. About 25 www.overstory.com; or E-mail: [email protected] 000 people – half of the region’s labour force order online at: www.agroforester.com/ Ð are employed in the local Brazil nut industry, overstory/ovbook.html Special Forest Products Species which brings about US$30 million per year to Information Guide for the Pacific the region from international sales. Forest Trouble in the Taiga Northwest estates and processors control the industry, Trouble in the Taiga is a recent brochure This United States Forest Service taking thousands of collectors to remote produced by the Taiga Rescue Network publication (PNW GTR-513) is accessible corners in the forest to collect the nuts from and provides a general overview of the as a pdf file on the Forest Service Web site December to February. The collectors’ boreal region and the issues facing it and (www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr513). incomes fluctuate, sometimes dramatically, its people. depending on the price of Brazil nuts in For more information, please contact: international markets and how much factory For more information, please contact: Diane Smith, Publications, PNW owners can sell. Elisa Peter and Ola Larsson, Research Station, PO Box 3890, Portland, Solutions to problems such as these are International Coordination Centre, Taiga OR 97208, USA. never simple. In his paper, Jobst Schroeder Rescue Network, Box 116, S-96223 E-mail: [email protected] of Germany describes how a French Jokkmokk, Sweden. company had a monopoly on the trading of E-mail: [email protected]; Sustaining Incomes from Non Timber Prunus africana, an African tree harvested www.taigarescue.org Forest Products for its medicinal bark. The company worked Sustaining Incomes from Non Timber to make sure the bark was harvested without Valuing trees, woodlands and forests: Forest Products: special issue of the damaging the tree. But high demand for the uncovering the hidden harvest: valuation International Tree Crops Journal, Vol. 10, bark lured many outsiders to the trade, and methods for woodland and forest No. 4. 2000. United Kingdom, AB although local villagers are benefiting, resources. Edited by Bruce Campbell and Academic Publishers. (Free copies of this Schroeder predicts that the current intensive Marty Luckert. issue may be requested at: and often less careful harvesting practices In press, London, Earthscan. [email protected]) will soon deplete the area’s tree stock. Local biological resources are of vital A team of researchers affiliated with While forest product trade is important to importance to people in many parts of the CIFOR examines the problems of many rural communities, a team of world, and the valuation of such resources sustaining incomes from NTFPs, once they Zimbabwe researchers led by Bruce is an essential part of developing have reached some degree of Campbell argues that rather than seeking sustainable harvest and use. This commercialization. primarily to stabilize or increase income from practical manual describes a range of Papers include those by Oliver Braedt of a single resource, it is advisable to consider methods that can be used in the valuation Germany and Wavell Standa of Zimbabwe the broader range of income-generating of woodland and forest resources in who spent many days talking to activities in an area and how they can be developing countries. With contributions woodcarvers in Zimbabwe. In their paper, balanced to meet local livelihood needs. from economists, ecologists and they note that for the country’s (Contributed by: Wil de Jong; e-mail: sociologists, it provides an overview of approximately 4 000 woodcarvers to stay in [email protected]) these methods and approaches, pointing business, they must keep finding sources out the advantages and problems, and of wood for their sculptures. This suggests The Overstory Book: cultivating connections also the increasing importance of an the need to control harvesting of the few with trees interdisciplinary perspective. The non- valuable hardwood species still available in A printed and formatted version of The technical style makes the book accessible the area’s miombo woodlands, and to find Overstory journal editions 1-75 is now to practitioners from a wide range of alternative species suitable for carving the available. Proceeds from the sale of The disciplines, as well as to researchers and popular wooden hippos, rhinos and Overstory Book will be used to cover the students. buffaloes. Braedt and Standa conclude that expense of publishing The Overstory to make the woodcarving industry in journal, which has been provided cost- For more information, please contact: Zimbabwe sustainable, an important first free since March 1998. Enquiries: Earthscan, 120 Pentonville step is for the government to recognize Road, London N1 9JN, UK. woodcarving officially as a legitimate For more information, please contact: Fax: +44 (0)171 2781142; industry. Craig Elevitch, Editor, The Overstory, e-mail: [email protected]
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FAO Chile Forestal Negocios The FO-Publications page of FAO Forestry Department’s www.chileforestal.com/index_5.htm Web site has been updated and changed. The site is available in three languages, although all document titles are not Databases translated, since the entire publication content is being American Indian ethnology database updated. A new e-mail address has been introduced for This is an electronic database containing food, drug, dye, fibre ordering Forestry Department publications (FO- and other plants used by native North American peoples (a total [email protected]). Mail arriving at this address is read by of more than 47 000 items); 291 Native American groups and 3 the staff of the Forestry Library, who also take care of the 895 species from 243 different plant families are represented. distribution of requested documents. Please note, however, the www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb contact address for priced publications (Publications- [email protected]). www.fao.org/forestry/foris/index.jsp?start_id=4668
The FO-Databases page has also been changed. Under each database entry a brief explanation is given of its content. www.fao.org/forestry/foris/index.jsp?start_id=4029
Forestry story online The Web story “Forestry forum spotlights poverty alleviation” is available now on the FAO Web page. It can be accessed from FSC database the FAO front page or by clicking on: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificates are now listed on For Arabic: www1.fao.org/ar-iso/news/2001/010906-a.htm the Internet via a new database developed by the Certified For English: www.fao.org/news/2001/010906-e.htm Forest Product Council in the United States. North American For French: www.fao.org/nouvelle/2001/010906-f.htm product information is already available and in the future the For Spanish: www.fao.org/noticias/2001/010906-s.htm database will also include information on Europe. www.certifiedwood.org Amazonia Web site The site is an attempt to orient the surfer to the various ICIMOD library database “worlds” that exist in the Amazon. The entire International Centre for Integrated Mountain www.amazonia.org.br/ingles/ Development (ICIMOD) Library database is now available online. BorNet www.icimod.org.np/library A group of scientists has initiated an international effort called BorNet to strengthen the scientific basis for maintaining boreal New US non-timber forest product database forest biodiversity. BorNet aims to: understand the human This database currently lists 857 commercial and non- footprint on the boreal; inform the setting of nature commercial non-timber forest product species and is intended conservation targets; find indicator species; analyse habitat to help in the identification, development and conservation of loss; and enhance communication between scientists and NTFP species. You can search by scientific name, common foresters. names, product use, parts used, state range and distribution, www.bornet.org and whether or not it is known to be commercially harvested. http://ifcae.org/ntfp/ Certified Forest Products Council (CFPC) In addition to the product database, the US NTFP Web site has CFPC’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore the world’s a searchable bibliographic database and Internet links forests by promoting responsible forest product buying database. practices throughout North America. www.certifiedwood.org/ For more information, please contact: Eric T Jones, Partner, Institute for Culture and Ecology (501c3), Certified Wood Products PO Box 6688, Portland, Oregon 97228-6688, USA. www.ifcae.org The purpose of this site is to act primarily as a clearinghouse for information on the certified forest products marketplace and The SANREM West Africa annotated bibliographical database certification, with a secondary emphasis on issues surrounding The Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource sustainable forest management and sustainability in general. Management Collaborative Research Support Program www.certwdmkt.com (SANREM CRSP), funded by USAID, has announced the West
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Africa Annotated Bibliographical Database. This database is Directory of Forest-Related International and Regional hosted on SANREM West Africa Project’s (SANREM WA) Institutions and Instruments home page and is a vital multidisciplinary resource for those www.un.org/esa/sustdev/forests.htm concerned with the holistic goal of food security and development in the West African Sahel. FRAME This specialized annotated bibliographical database on food The FRAME Web site is not only a library of technical reports security and development in the West African Sahel targets and country data, but also a gateway to other databases and decision-makers, researchers and development practitioners mechanisms. It facilitates the use of up-to-date information by concerned with sustainable agriculture, natural resource environment and natural resource management professionals in management and conflict resolution in the West African Sahel. Africa and encompasses: a Web gateway to analytical tools and This database resource is an intersection of these fields, information, mechanisms to share lessons and experiences, a addressing the day-to-day crises of competing interests seeking Contact Group and networks of experts, and linkages to food security dependant on a diminishing resource base. enhance collaboration among partners. Funding for FRAME is To date, this database holds more than 600 bibliographic provided by the United States Agency for International records pertaining to sustainable agriculture, natural resource Development (USAID) Africa Office of Sustainable Development. management, conflict management and resolution and other www.frameweb.org issues related to food security in the West African Sahel. These searchable records contain abstracts that can be Global association of online foresters reviewed. Key features are: www.foresters.org/ ¥ Documents are in French and English. ¥ Significant amounts of “grey” (fugitive) literature from Africa, New search engine particularly West Africa. This agricultural search engine (not a directory site) has more ¥ Consolidated information on the topics of sustainable than 300 000 Web pages. agriculture and natural resource management with www.web-agri.com/ information on conflict resolution and management. If you have documents that are relevant to the themes of Newsletters sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and Amazon News list conflict management, please send attachments including an Amazon News is a free weekly newsletter by Friends of the abstract (in Word or WordPerfect) to: [email protected] Earth Ð Brazilian Amazon, with a selection of news published by www.oird.vt.edu/sanremcrsp/index.html Brazilian media in the latest week and translated into English. Subscribe online through the Web site: Species conservation database (WISIA) www.amazonia.org.br/english/ The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) has recently launched a Biodiversity and Intellectual property rights Ð BIO-IPR searchable database which holds information on the national BIO-IPR is an irregular listserver put out by Genetic Resources and international protection status of more than 10 000 animal Action International (GRAIN). Its purpose is to circulate and plant species. This Internet tool presents, for the first time, information about recent developments in the field of intellectual a synoptic view of the diverse field of species conservation property rights related to biodiversity and associated knowledge. legislation. A permanent update of data is guaranteed by the To join, send the word “subscribe” (no quotes) as the subject Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für of an e-mail message to: [email protected] Naturschutz) as soon as one of the relevant species conservation regularizations is amended. For general information about GRAIN, please contact: The database holds information on animals of 1 407 genera E-mail: [email protected]; www.grain.org and 7 218 species; on the plant side it contains 2 821 species from 1 034 genera. The CITES-EC Regulation No. 338/97 EcoNews Perú alone, which implements CITES in the European Union, EcoNews Perú es la primera agencia de noticias ambientales covers 4 756 animal species in its Annexes A and B. del Perú. Su objetivo es proveer de información sobre temas www.dainet.de/genres/mpc-dir ambientales al público peruano a través de despachos diarios libres de costo a los medios de comunicación (prensa escrita, For more information, please contact: radio, TV e Internet). Para ello, ha sido desarrollado un sistema Dr Uwe Schippmann, Bundesamt für Naturschutz, de cobertura diaria de noticias que abarca los campos de la Konstantinstrasse 110, D-53179 Bonn, Germany. ecología, los recursos naturales y la problemática ambiental, E-mail: [email protected]; empleando tecnología de punta y aprovechando la experiencia www.wisia.de adquirida en años de trabajo a lo largo y ancho del país.
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EcoNews Perú espera que esta experiencia, única en su Web site. género en el continente, permita crear conciencia en el público www.mekonginfo.org/partners/ntfp/index.htm peruano acerca de los temas relacionados con la naturaleza y el uso de sus recursos, así como evaluar la respuesta de los Pinestraw medios y las autoridades nacionales respecto de la información Includes information on pine straw studies and management. vinculada al ambiente. www.agriquip.com/pinestraw_baling.html
Para más información, dirigirse a: Philippine Plant Specialist Group Correo electrónico: econews@econewsperú.com; www.pnh.com.ph www.econewsperu.com Plants for a future F R A M Egram This project, based in the United Kingdom, seeks to gather A new twice-monthly bulletin produced by FRAME on strategic together and disseminate information on the many useful environmental issues in Africa. To subscribe, please send an e- properties of plants, particularly rare and unusual plants that mail to: [email protected] have medicinal, edible or other uses. The project practises vegan-organic permaculture with emphasis on creating an IUFRO Non-Wood Forest Products News ecologically sustainable environment and perennial plants. It The inaugural issue of the IUFRO Non-Wood Forest Products maintains a database of over 7 000 plant species. newsletter can be found on the IUFRO Web site: www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/index.html http://iufro.boku.ac.at/iufro/iufronet/d5/hp51100.htm Several activities are being initiated with the newsletter. The Small enterprise development Web sites professional expertise database is designed to serve as a forum www.seepnetwork.org/bdsguide.html; www.sba.gov/starting/ and the discussion group hopefully will advance discussion on critical issues. The initial topic of discussion is the C&I for NWFPs. The Forest Management Trust This non-profit organization located in Gainesville, Florida, United For more information, please contact: States, is updating its Web site and is in search of photographs of Dr Jim Chamberlain, Non-Timber Forest Products Research forests, forest management, forest products (timber and NTFPs) Technologist, US Forest Service, Southern Research Station, and forest-based people and communities. Photogpahps from Coordinator, IUFRO Research Group 5.11 (Non-wood Forest tropical forests are needed, but other forest types are also Products), 1650 Ramble Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. appropriate, especially forests in the southeastern United States. Fax. +1 540 2311383; No payment can be made but credit will be given in the Web site. e-mail: [email protected]; www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu For more information, please contact: Newsfront Stephen Taranto, Forest Management Trust. UNDP helps countries work towards the UN Millennium Summit E-mail: [email protected]; or goal of halving world poverty by 2015. Newsfront brings stories Nacho Paz Posse, Webmaster. of big breakthroughs and small gains. Subscribe online at: E-mail: [email protected] www.undp.org/dpa/newsfront_admin.html Tree Conservation Information Service RECOFTC e-letter www.wcmc.org.uk/cgi-bin/SaCGI.cgi/trees.exe The RECOFTC e-letter is a bi-weekly e-mail intended to provide news and information on community forestry related activities UN Commission on Sustainable Development and issues throughout the region. It is published by the Regional This includes a vast amount of country information on forests, Community Forestry Center for Asia and the Pacific based on country reports to CSD. (RECOFTC). Back issues of the RECOFTC e-letter can be www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/ found at: www.recoftc.org/publications_recof_letter.html USDA Forest Service International Programs’ latest highlights – To subscribe, or for more information, please contact: available online [email protected] www.fs.fed.us/global/wsnew/
NTFP Project in Viet Nam Woodnet The Sustainable Utilization of Non Timber Forest Products Woodnet is the online home for all involved in the Forest and Project Viet Nam, based in the Non Timber Forest Products Wood products industry. Research Centre, Hanoi and supported by IUCN, has a new www.woodnet.co.nz
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 98 READERS’ RESPONSE Request for help Ð Astrocaryum huicungo If you can help, please contact: Abhishek Lal, Innovative El motivo de la presente es para solicitar información sobre la Resources Management, 2421 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, extracción de aceite de una planta denominada Huicungo Washington, DC 20037, USA; fax: +1 202 2938386; e-mail: (Astrocaryum huicungo). Deseo recibir información sobre cómo [email protected]; www.irmgt.com extraer el aceite de esta planta mediante métodos tradicionales pero efectivos. Request for help Ð truffle research Mi dirección postal es: Víctor Hugo Acosta Avila, Romulo I am currently doing research on a truffle found in most of the Espinar 117 (esquina Colegio Rosa Agustina), Iquitos, Loreto, eastern United States, as well as Quebec and Mexico. The Perú; correo electrónico: [email protected] species is Tuber lyonii, which has also been called T. rufum and T. texense. It may be found in most places where any of the Request for help Ð Effect of RIL on NTFPs following trees are found: shagbark hickory, American I am researching RIL (reduced impact logging) and Non-Timber basswood, scarlet oak, several other oak species, pecan, and forest Products (NTFP) for advancing sustainable forest possibly other tree species as well. The largest collections to management and would like information about implementing date have been associated with either American basswood or RIL techniques for NTFPs. In addition to information on this pecan. subject, I am looking into the economic feasibility to implement Because of the wide range involved, there is also a RIL tactics and utilize NTFPs for sustainable forest considerable variation in fruiting times. The fungus has been management ... and not coming up with a lot of case studies or reported from as early as June in Mexico and southern Texas to real-life examples. Any ideas would be appreciated. as late as March in Minnesota “a week after the snows went If you can help, please contact: Erica Clark, Virginia Tech off”. University ([email protected]). Truffles are economically important worldwide, and have an enviable position among gourmets. Last year, the Italian white Request for help Ð Nipa palm truffle (Tuber magnatum) sold for US$7 000/lb in a charity I am looking for information on the Nipa palm and how to auction, according to a report published by the BBC. develop its products into a cottage industry that will generate The wide range and fruiting times indicate T. lyonii may also employment in the countryside of the Philippines. be a fungus of some economic importance, but it appears to If you can help, please contact: Nick Villarruz have been largely ignored for nearly 100 years (it was first ([email protected]) collected in 1903). To proceed with its development, I need to know how Request for help Ð Survey on the commercial potential of common it is at this time and how much is available. For more selected tropical NWFPs from the state of Acre, Brazil information, please visit: www.oregonwhitetruffles.com; if you We are currently assisting the government of Acre, Brazil, in can help, please contact: Daniel B. Wheeler assessing the market potential of seven tropical NWFPs ([email protected]). (copaiba, andiroba, patua, buriti, murmuru, cat’s claw and açai), as part of a project (www.projetoacre.ac.gov.br) that seeks to Request for help Ð wild mushroom business improve the livelihood of forest dwellers (subsistence I am starting to work on my postgraduate study project. This farmers/rubber tappers/Indians), while conserving the natural marketing project will focus on the charcoal and wild mushroom (forest) resources base. business in Hungary that links to the European market. I would Any information regarding the uses, demand and also like to analyse the target market in which the Hungarian international markets for these products would be appreciated products (charcoal and wild mushroom) are participating. I am since pertinent available information seems to be scarce, out of actually looking for country-specific (Europe) information about date, too aggregate and/or not quantified. the charcoal and wild mushroom business. If you have any kind If you can help, please contact: Hector Escobar (Unicamp, of material, publications, ideas about these topics, please Campinas-SP) [email protected], or Guy Henry (CIRAD, contact me personally: Attila Hegedus, Hungary Campinas-SP) [email protected] ([email protected]).
Request for help Ð training materials I am looking for business training materials designed for NWFP enterprises. This is part of some research I am doing for a non-profit conservation group called Innovative Resources Management. More specifically, I am seeking information that could help train new NWFP businesses in product feasibility analysis and marketing. Information on standard formats for product feasibility analysis and rural based marketing would also be useful.
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 99 READERS’ RESPONSE Request for information Ð NTFP definition (1) misleading. How do you classify products like chewsticks that I am making a literature review on the NTFP issue. There are woody, but non-timber? (Hassan Adewusi; seems to be confusion regarding the name and definition. Why [email protected]) isn’t there a universal name with a common definition? As well as for classifications? The following reply has already been sent from FAO’s NWFP Please clarify this for me. Silavanh Sawathvong Programme. ([email protected]). Please have a look at a brief article on this issue at: www.fao.org/docrep/x2450e/x2450e0d.htm#fao, where we distinguished between wood and non-wood forest products. Chewsticks can be derived from different part of the plants, e.g. bark and roots, and I would tend to include them. However, there is indeed a grey area and no clear borderline between NWFP/WP, NTFP/NWFP and NTFP/Timber.
Request for information Ð Russian Far East I would like to find out if you have any information/database suggestions for obtaining information on NTFPs in the Russian Far East. I am working with a forestry project there and am doing some background research. If you can help, please contact: Maureen DeCoursey, Director of Sustainable Development, Herb Research Foundation, 1007 Pearl Street, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80302, USA (Fax: +1 303 4497849; e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]; www.herbs.org).
The following reply has already been sent from FAO’s NWFP Programme, but perhaps readers have additional ideas that they would like to share. “Indeed, the situation is rather complex. NWFPs – as we call them Ð are a rather diverse group of products, ranging from medicinal plants and roots to lianas and bushmeat. The terms just used already show the different possibilities on how to classify these products: by use (medicine), life form (lianas) and part used (roots). Obviously, every classification and definition depends on the purpose of why they are used. It will be very difficult to identify ONE definition or ONE terminology that will fit everybody’s needs. However, what is important is that whenever a given term/classification is used, at least both, terms and classifications, are defined. Once defined, the information presented can be compared with other literature (which might use other terms and definitions ...). For further information on this issue, please have a look at the following articles available on our Web site: ¥ Terminology, Definition and Classification of Forest Products other than Wood (C. Chandrasekharan), at: www.fao.org/docrep/V7540e/V7540e28.htm; ¥ Towards a harmonized definition of non-wood forest products, at: www.fao.org/docrep/x2450e/x2450e0d.htm#fao” You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. Request for information Ð NTFP definition (2) I know you might have extensively deliberated on definitions. Navajo Proverb The use of Non-Wood instead of Non-Timber is somehow
NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 9, March 2002 Resourceful rattans
Rattans are palms which grow in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. The word rattan is derived from the Malay "rotan", the local name for climbing palms. Rattans are best known for the manufacture of chairs and tables, giving many verandas and terraces their much appreciated casual or holiday appeal. Locally, however, rattans are also used as vegetables from the edible shoots, or for ropes, fibres, roof thatching, construction materials and all kinds of household furniture. A recent publication in the FAO NWFP series, Rattan, current research issues and prospects for conservation and sustainable development, contains the proceedings of a joint FAO/INBAR International Expert Consultation on Rattan.
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