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%ARGENTINA Argentina has legislation (Law 26.331 spp.) from around 100 of the 900 plus and Law 25.080) that protects the country’s species of acacia, then used the coarse Argentina’s forest diversity native forests and establishes various flour in baked seed cakes. Wattle seed has Argentina stretches across many lines of categories for their use, ranging from strict an unusually low glycaemic index, which latitude and, as a result, encompasses a conservation to the possibility of means that the carbohydrates in it are diversity of climates and soil types. It is this sustainable harvesting. Forestry incentives slowly absorbed and therefore better for geographic diversity that fosters the more are established by means of non-repayable one’s health than sugary, quick-release than 30 million ha of temperate, subtropical, grants to producers for planting trees and alternatives. humid and semi-arid native forest. such silvicultural activities as pruning, Wattle seed is now being used by In the north of the country is the thinning, coppicing and the enrichment of Barons, an Australian brewery, in one of its Chaqueño parkland, forming deciduous native forests. (Source: XIII World Forestry ales, Barons Black Wattle. xerophilous stands with scrubland, Congress announcement, www.wfc2009.) The same brewer uses another little- grassland and palm stands. Species known NWFP in its Witbier: lemon myrtle present here include various types of leaves. Lemon myrtle (Backhousia quebracho (Schinopsis spp.), carob %AUSTRALIA citriodora) is a flowering plant native to the (Prosopis spp.) and pink lapacho (Tabebuia subtropical rain forests of Queensland, avellanedae). Australian truffle harvest in full swing Australia. It is considered to have a "cleaner In the northeast of the country, Australia's black truffle harvest is in full and sweeter" aroma than comparable Tucumano-Boliviana rain forests form swing, with growers tipping a bumper crop of sources of citral (such as lemongrass). submontane and montane subtropical the revered fungus this winter. Lemon myrtle is one of the well-known forests with altitude determining the Australia's truffle pioneers are in bushfood flavours and is sometimes composition of mixed forest. Species found Tasmania, which produced the country's first referred to as the "Queen of the lemon here include cedars (Cedrela spp.), pink Tuber melanosporum in 1999 after plantings herbs", with the new growth preferred for its lapacho, jacaranda (Jacaranda began in 1991. Peter Cooper from Périgord sweetness. (Source: Lehrman Beverage mimosifolia) and cebil (Anadenanthera Truffles of Tasmania is predicting a best-ever Law [Australia], 29 June 2009.) colubrina). There are alders (Alnus national harvest for 2009 of about 1.5 tonnes. acuminata) above 1 200 m, while mountain Europe produces up to 60 tonnes of black or Tucumán pine (Podocarpus parlatorei) truffles during its annual winter harvest. can be found up to 1 900 m. The feather-light truffles have a three- The Misiones subtropical rain forest is week fresh shelf-life and fresh is considered also found in the northeast. It contains mixed best, although truffles can be preserved. subtropical forests with high levels of Mr Cooper said prices for Australian biodiversity and multistorey stands 20–30 m truffles have so far withstood an impact on tall. In addition, the province of Misiones has demand caused by the global financial crisis. a considerable area of forest plantations They will sell this season for about AU$2.50 producing fast-growing species, particularly per gram, he said. Pinus elliottii and P. taeda. Tasmanian truffles, sniffed out from under Just south of Misiones is the province of oak and hazel trees by dogs, are picked in the Corrientes, which has the most extensive morning and packed and shipped the same area of forest plantations. The province of day. The clock on freshness is ticking as soon Entre Rios, bordering Corrientes, has a large as they are plucked from the earth. area planted with various species of Mr Cooper said they can be anywhere in %BANGLADESH eucalyptus, together with a well-established Australia within 24 hours and anywhere in industry. the world within 48 hours of harvesting. Most Present status of NTFPs species stock in Andino-Patagónico forests are found of them will be sold overseas, through Asia Sylhet Forest Division: a case study from along the Andes from latitude 37º south, and into Europe. Juri Forest Range-2 southwards to Tierra del Fuego. These A black truffle varies in size from 2 cm in The exploitation of NTFPs is less ecologically forests contain such species as the monkey diameter to the size of a grapefruit and is destructive than timber harvesting and puzzle or pehuén (Araucaria araucana) and covered in black warts; its appearance therefore provides a sounder basis for various species of the Nothofagus genus, indicates nothing of its true value. sustainable forest management. Research which are found as far south as Tierra del The truffles, which form annually, are reveals that NTFP cultivation can bring Fuego. found just below the soil surface to a depth of concrete ecological benefits, e.g. it can Espinal scrubland forms deciduous 20 cm and are believed to develop their best encourage natural regeneration and mimic xerophilous woodland interspersed with characteristics in cold soil. (Source: Food natural forest ecosystems in plantations and palm stands, grassy savannah, grassy Week Online, 24 July 2009.) afforestation sites. steppe and bushy steppe. This region can A study was carried out in the Juri Forest be subdivided into three regions, the first Wattle and myrtle beers Range-2, Sylhet Forest Division, to explore the dominated by ñandubay (Prosopis affinis), For over 6 000 years, Australian Aborigines existing numbers of cultivated NTFP species. the second by carob and the third by caldén in different clans around the country The NTFPs in the study area were bamboo, (P. caldenia). parched and milled wattle seeds (Acacia cane, sungrass and murta (see table).

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Stock of NTFPs in Juri Forest Range-2

Local Scientific Family Average no. Average no. Average no. Average circumference name name of culm/ha of clump/ha of culm/clump of each clump (mean±SD) (m) (mean±SD) Jai bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Graminae 7 545 373 25(±6.016) 3.02(±0.884) Dulu bamboo Neohouzeaua dulloa (Gam.) Camp. Graminae 3 144 153 27(±5.422) 7.13(±1.923) Muli bamboo Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz Graminae 8 867 – – – Jali bet Calamus guruba Ham. Palmae 4 950 224 25(±6.016) 3.02(±0.884) Sungrass Imperata arundinacea Graminae 8 482 534 18(±5.59) 4.10(±1.02) Murta Schumannianthus dichotoma Marantaceae 710 72 22(±5.67) 6.81(±1.98)

The study found that there were six Government figures show that between This move to improve service delivery is species under three families of available June 2007 and June 2008, 60 178 trees – one of the sub-themes discussed at the NTFPs in the study area. The dominant about 165 every day – were felled to meet Second Annual Forestry Conference held in family was Graminae, with four species, the demand for poles. About 550 trees were Zhemgang from 29 to 31 October. “The DoF followed by Palmae and Marantaceae (one felled daily for other uses. is making it simple and convenient for the species each). "There's an immense pressure on the farmers,” said the nature conservationist, Communities living in or around the forest," Department of Forests spokesman Dr Sangay Wangchuk. forests have been collecting various forest Gopal Mahat told the Kuensel newspaper. With the main theme of “Managing products, mainly NTFPs, for their "We can't stop granting permits, especially Forestry Resources for Poverty Alleviation”, subsistence as well as for commercial use. for important religious rites because it forest officers will also sort out how to Selling NTFPs has been the most involves sentiments," he said. "The demand enhance access to forest resources, widespread way in which rural people in the is for straight, young trees, which have the especially NWFPs, by the community. study area earn a cash income and whereby potential of becoming crop trees." “Clear-cut guidelines and frameworks for new development opportunities are created. Many Bhutanese Buddhists believe that the use of forest products and marketing However, NTFP resources are declining at the ideal number of prayer flags for will be framed,” said Dr Wangchuk. an alarming rate because of overexploitation. deceased people is 108, preferably made NWFPs include cane and bamboo Tropical countries such as Bangladesh do not from freshly cut trees. products, various medicinal plants, have enough information on their stock of Officials warn that this approach means Cordyceps, mushrooms and different species NTFPs. Therefore, in order to prepare a that most of Bhutan's forest will be gone of ferns. Dr Wangchuk said that, to date, lack proper forest management strategy, within the next 20 years and that trees are of guidelines and frameworks restricts people assessments of NTFPs in the whole country already being cut down deeper and deeper from using forest resources. “Giving farmers are extremely important. (Contributed by: Md. within forests. The problem has become so access to harvest forest resources would Parvez Rana and Mohammed Salim Uddin, serious that forestry officers in the capital, generate income to the community, which Department of Forestry and Environmental Thimpu, have restricted the number of would help in poverty alleviation,” he said. Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral prayer flagposts to 29. The chief forestry officers, park Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Plans are also afoot to persuade people managers, dzongkhag (district) forest Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh. E-mail: to switch to bamboo for prayer flags, but a officers, senior range officers and [email protected]) similar initiative recently launched to representatives from the World Wide Fund encourage people to use steel was for Nature (WWF), Helvetas and SNV unsuccessful. (Netherlands Development Organization), %BHUTAN Bhutan's constitution, which will also discuss issues such as sustainable emphasizes the importance of gross forest management and linking Action over prayer flags national happiness over gross domestic conservation activities to livelihood, by The Bhutanese Government has warned its product, stipulates that the country must developing strategies for income citizens not to cut down thousands of young have at least 6 percent forest cover. generation through ecotourism and urban trees each year to make poles for hoisting (Source: BBC News, 11 September 2009.) recreational centres. Buddhist prayer flags. It said that the The conference will also discuss felling of trees is a threat to the tiny Forest products to help alleviate poverty emerging issues such as the role of forest kingdom's beauty and undermines the Farmers from Trongsa will no longer have resources in poverty alleviation, payment government's duty to promote "gross to go to Zhemgang divisional forest office to for ecosystem/environmental services and national happiness". ask for permission to use forest products making conservation programmes The flags are flown by Himalayan as in the past. This time- and cost-saving sustainable through programmes such as Buddhists to help the dead find the right measure will be made possible after the ecotourism and urban recreational centres. path in their next life. They believe that the Department of Forests (DoF), with a strong Bhutan has 72 percent forest cover, with more flagpoles put up for the departed the focus on delivery of services through 64 percent tree cover and 8 percent better. Buddhist monks say that fresh poles decentralization, allows the territorial degraded forest. (Source: Kuenselonline must be used each time. forest offices to issue permits. [Bhutan], 30 October 2009.)

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Interim framework for the collection and adapted over centuries and strongly rooted in %BURKINA FASO management of NWFPs cultural and social relations. Maun and the A central region training workshop on the Okavango Delta were selected because they Determinants of access to forest products interim framework for the collection and represent areas of ethnic and cultural in southern Burkina Faso management of NWFPs was organized jointly diversity, as well as an enormous There is an increasing understanding that by the Netherlands Development Organization biodiversity. forests and the forestry sector are key (SNV) and the Social Forestry Division (SFD) of CESRIKI recognizes the wealth of elements in poverty reduction strategies in the Department of Forests at Tsirang knowledge that needs to be explored, Africa. However, issues of equity between dzongkhag. The workshop for the central documented and studied, as well as various forest users are becoming a major region covered Tsirang, Sarpang and modernized, so that it contributes maximally challenge to environmental development, Zhemgang dzongkhags. The overall objective to the benefit of communities in terms of forest management and poverty reduction. of the training was to strengthen the development, innovation and A recent paper presents an analysis of sustainable harvesting/collection, entrepreneurship and enables traditional household representatives' socio- management, marketing and trade of NWFPs. doctors to express their views in decision- economic determinants and other A start has to be made for the sustainable making. constraints on accessing forest products, use and harvesting of these NWFPs, while at The Okavango research would also help in based on data collected through a the same time resource assessments must documenting, evaluating, validating and questionnaire survey of 1 865 respondents be initiated to provide collection and protecting widely practised IKS and also in in seven districts of the Sissili province, harvesting guidelines for forestry field identifying problems associated with their southern Burkina Faso. Three logistic personnel and collectors. This framework is use that could serve as researchable topics regression models were developed to being developed for the collection/harvesting to find appropriate solutions, as well as examine determinants of access to the of NWFPs from Government Reserved create an IKS database to ensure future forest for collecting fuelwood, grazing Forests (GRFs) and from Private Registered access for IKS practitioners, community livestock and collecting NTFPs. Land (PRL). The framework for collection of representatives and researchers. The results showed that access to forest NWFPs from GRFs is an interim measure for Traditional doctors are involved as products is associated with individual a maximum period of three years. During research partners. Activities carried out characteristics. Age, ethnicity, occupation this time, a Community Forest Management include consultative workshops, sampling of and sources of income were significant Plan for the collection/harvesting of NWFPs different plant medicines and testing. This determinants of access to all types of should be prepared, wherever feasible. will give the traditional doctors insight into forest products. Access to the forest for The framework is being developed to how dangerous or helpful their plants could grazing livestock was further influenced by guide NWFP collection, using a system of be. Ngaka Seputhe from Maun and many gender and household size, while access to permits, and guide forestry personnel in others will share their knowledge with NTFPs was influenced by gender, the field in order to strengthen the researchers. Ngaka Themba said he is very household size and education level of the sustainable harvesting, collection, happy as this showed some development and respondents. The formal forest law that management, marketing and trading of a sense of recognition and appreciation. He precludes grazing in the forest, and NWFPs. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture said this bears testimony to the fact that their customary rules and regulations pertaining [Bhutan], 11 June 2009.) profession is indeed worthy and is now given to land tenure, were reported to be serious the benefit of the doubt. He said they want to constraints to forest access for women and build up cooperation with both the migrant people. Understanding the factors researchers and the University of Botswana. influencing access to products from The traditional doctors affirmed that they commonly owned forest resources could be have learned a great deal about plant the basis for developing, modifying and activities and their toxicity. However, they targeting policy instruments that promote were concerned that their medicinal plants equitable access. Policies should will become extinct once people learn about particularly encourage the direct them from the research. They called upon involvement of vulnerable and the authorities to find ways to preserve marginalized groups (women and endangered plant species from harvesters. migrants) in forest management activities. Another challenge faced by these doctors is (Source: Pascaline Coulibaly-Lingani, that most of them do not have a formal Mulualem Tigabu, Patrice Savadogo, Per- education. Christer Oden and Jean-Marie Ouadba. %BOTSWANA The research exposed the need to 2009. Determinants of access to forest establish contacts with IKS practitioners in products in southern Burkina Faso. Forest Traditional doctors are engaged in research various parts of the country to explore policy and economics, 11[7]: 516–524.) on traditional knowledge appropriate modalities for interaction as well The Centre for Scientific Research, as with community leaders and members, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation and to develop a solid base for long-term and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, (CESRIKI) is carrying out research in Maun mutually beneficial relationships that are Faculty of Forest Sciences, Southern Swedish that seeks to address indigenous knowledge transparent and respectful. (Source: Forest Research Centre, PO Box 101, SE-230 53 systems (IKS) as a vital source of knowledge University of Botswana, 22 October 2009.) Alnarp, Sweden. Fax: +46 40 41 5398.

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% CAMBODIA to ensure quality assurance,” said Mr approche, axée sur la création de petites et Thibault Ledecq, Rattan Programme moyennes entreprises (PME) impliquées First rattan association in Cambodia, a Manager from WWF. (Source: WWF dans les filières des PFNL de nature végétale step to a sustainable rattan industry International, 1 October 2009.) (Irvingia spp., Prunus africana, etc.). Situées Phnom Penh. Eleven small and medium généralement dans les maillons de enterprise rattan owners and other FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: production et de commercialisation de la community rattan processors from Phnom Mr Thibault Ledecq, Chief Technical Advisor, chaîne de valeur, ces PME sont cependant à Penh and the provinces met on 28 WWF Greater Mekong Programme – Laos un état embryonnaire et leur développement September 2009 officially to form Country Programme, PO Box 7871, House 39, se heurte encore à de nombreux obstacles. Cambodia’s first rattan association. Unit 05, Ban Saylom, Vientiane, Lao People’s De ce fait, à travers le projet "While the association is perceived by Democratic Republic. E-mail: GCP/RAF/408/EC «Mobilisation et members as creating space and [email protected] or renforcement des capacités de PME opportunity for key actors in the rattan [email protected]; impliquées dans les filières des PNFL en production chain to meet and work www.panda.org/greatermekong Afrique centrale», lancé,par la FAO, together, this institutional initiative is l'Organisation néerlandaise de described as a fundamental first step to développement (SNV), le Centre mondial achieve the goal of maintaining a d'agroforesterie (ICRAF) et le (Centre pour la sustainable production and supply of recherche forestière internationale (CIFOR), rattan. We are delighted to support this de nombreuses actions ont été mises en project and this activity in particular," said œuvre pour renforcer leurs capacités. the representative of the European A cet égard, nous avons effectué une Commission's Delegation in Phnom Penh. évaluation de l’impact du renforcement des “The formation of the rattan association capacités de ces PME, dans le cadre d'une is critical to ensure understanding of étude menée pour l’obtention du Master 2 en community suppliers, processors and analyse et évaluation de projets. Il en ressort traders about the need to maintain a que les PME évaluées ont amélioré sustainable supply of rattan for a clean and considérablement leur chiffre d’affaires better production,” said Mr Lip Cheang, a annuel, qui est passé de 65 789 USD en 2007 founder of the rattan association and owner % CAMEROON à 243 421 USD en 2008. Le nombre d’emplois of the Kampuchea Samay Thmei rattan induits est passé de 162 en 2007 à 238 en factory. Le développement des petites et moyennes 2008. Les difficultés rencontrées sont Fast growing economies elsewhere in entreprises camerounaises impliquées toutefois encore importantes, notamment: the region are motivating the rapid dans la filière des PFNL de nature végétale • L’instabilité de la production des PFNL: expansion of processing activities, leading Avec un massif forestier d’environ 22 Il s’agit d’un problème crucial to a demand for rattan resources at an millions d’hectares, le Cameroun possède la susceptible d'entraîner le unsustainable level. There is an urgent deuxième plus grande surface forestière en désengagement des acteurs de la filière, need to establish a model of sustainable Afrique centrale. Outre le bois d’œuvre, la la perte des débouchés, etc. La production that can support the continuous forêt camerounaise fournit de grandes domestication serait donc un facteur growth of rattan in forests, while quantités de produits forestiers non ligneux important du développement des maintaining seasonal harvesting and a (PFNL) qui contribuent à la vie de filières. sustainable supply. nombreuses populations rurales en tant que • L’exploitation illégale des PFNL: “This is the right time to move forward source importante de revenus, aliments, Nombre de PME ne disposent pas d’un with concrete actions that will help the remèdes, etc. permis d’exploitation des PFNL. Sur 36 development of the rattan industry of A l’heure actuelle, les populations ont un PME enquêtées dans cinq villes, seule Cambodia to export clean and high-quality droit d’usage reconnu sur les PFNL en vue l'une d'entre elles détient un permis products into international markets, while de subvenir à leurs besoins domestiques. La personnel et 12 utilisent le permis de continuing to manage rattan resources commercialisation et/ou la vente des l’association à laquelle elles sustainably in the forest,” said Mr Ou produits sont interdits dans ce cadre. appartiennent. Ratanak, Rattan Project Manager from Toutefois, la FAO et le Ministère de la forêt et • L’insuffisance des capitaux WWF. de la faune (MINFOF) camerounais d’investissement: La majeure partie des The rattan association will first of all put s’attellent à élargir ce droit d’usage de fonds investis vient de l’acheteur, qui a legal identity to a group of rattan manière à autoriser une commercialisation finance à l'avance l’achat des PFNL et suppliers and processors, which is limitée des PFNL. Cette démarche s'inscrit impose de ce fait les conditions de important for their recognition by national dans le processus de relecture de la marché. and international societies. politique forestière et des textes de la loi (Contribution de: Nathalie Diane Nzouengo, “One of the project’s major objectives, forestière de 1994. Experte en analyse et évaluation de projets, funded by the European Union, is to engage Aujourd’hui, le Cameroun constitue un Programme sur les PFNL en Afrique small and medium enterprises in cleaner important marché de PFNL aux niveaux centrale, P.O.B. 281, Représentation de la production, with the aim to introduce local, national et international. En effet, ces FAO au Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun. proper techniques in processing activities dernières années ont vu naître une nouvelle Courriel: [email protected])

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Baka pygmy population says: “Our lives Production et commercialisation des are defined by this forest” PFNL par les populations pygmées baka Pauline Siembe, a Baka pygmy in southeast de la zone du Grand Djoum (sud du Cameroon, comes out of her smoky hut, Cameroun) licking her fingers after a meal of pounded La zone du grand Djoum dans le sud du yam and bushmeat soup. A bright smile Cameroun constitue l’un des plus importants lights up her face, revealing an array of bassins de production de PFNL tels que sharp-pointed teeth, intentionally sharpened l’Irvingia spp. (mangue sauvage), le to eat bushmeat. “It always feels good eating Pentacletra macrophylla (ebai) ou le a meal like this,” she remarks, as she straps Ricinodendron heudelotii (njansang). Ces a basket on her shoulder and heads for the produits sont exploités par les Bantu et les forest. Her husband, Daniel Njanga, wiping pygmées Baka. his mouth with the back of his hand, still En général, les Baka représentent 30 à 50 savouring the meal, says: "This is what the destroy nothing. We get only what we need pour cent de la population dans chaque zone government wants to deprive us of". from the forest,” Siembe says. où ils sont établis. Ils sont de grands Taking on a more serious look, Njanga Gilbert Ngwampiel, a Baka man in collecteurs de PFNL, du fait de leur parfaite spits out his disdain for the government's Ngoyla, near the Nki National Park, says: “If maîtrise de la forêt et de ses ressources methods of conserving the vast forest the government says we should not hunt (fruits, écorces, miel, feuilles). Ils prélèvent reserves of southeast Cameroon that animals, it is a way of exterminating the ces dernières de manière traditionnelle, puis straddle two of the country's “divisions”, the Bakas. Eating bushmeat makes Baka men les réservent à l’autoconsommation ou bien Boumba and Ngoko and the Upper Nyong fertile. Failing to eat meat means that the les vendent à vil prix ou les échangent contre divisions, all in Cameroon's east region, and Baka man will not be able to impregnate his du sel, de l’huile, du savon, des cigarettes et part of the Congo Basin rain forest. “This is wife, and this is dangerous”. de l’alcool. La commercialisation des PFNL our home and there is no point telling us "Of course we want these animals to par les Baka n’est pas équitable, en raison that we should not access it.” continue living here," Ngwampiel says, de l'absence d’organisation, de “If we are talking about conservation, when asked whether the Baka hunting l’analphabétisme, du manque d’informations then the Bakas are the best techniques would not perhaps lead to the sur le marché, etc. conservationists. We have been living here extinction of some species. “We kill only Ainsi, à travers le projet GCP/RAF/408/EC since time immemorial, and the forest has enough animals to eat, and we don't kill all «Mobilisation et renforcement des capacités not disappeared. Those who now claim they animals. We hunt only male animals, the de PME impliquées dans les filières des are conserving the forest are the same females and the babes are left for posterity. PNFL en Afrique Centrale», la FAO, la SNV, people pillaging our forests. We see Those who kill animals indiscriminately are le CIFOR et l’ICRAF œuvrent-ils pour sawmills felling large portions of our forest those who want to go and sell, and they are intégrer les minorités Baka dans la filière every day. Is it not this same government not the Bakas – they are the Bantu.” des PFNL. C’est dans cette optique que, that authorizes the felling?” he asks. Olivier Tegomo, a junior research assistant dans le cadre d'une étude menée pour Njanga is obviously angry that the forest for WWF, who was at the forefront of a study l’obtention du Master 2 en analyse et has been gazetted into three national parks that recommends a shift in conservation évaluation de projets, nous nous sommes and 23 logging concessions, totalling some paradigms, said he worked closely with the penchés sur 54 ménages Baka producteurs 760 000 ha. While logging concessions are Bakas to find out what the forest really de PFNL, afin d’évaluer les impacts designed to foster sustainable timber represented for them. “All this has to do with socioéconomiques de leur implication dans exploitation – in fact, operators are supposed the notion of participatory forest l’exploitation de ces produits. to plant ten trees for every one felled, management. We had to find out the types of D’après cette étude, la situation actuelle although the provision is frequently violated – products they get from the forest, where des Baka n’est pas la même qu'il y a national parks create even stricter these products are concentrated, and how quelques années, où ils étaient considérés restrictions, as access is forbidden. These they could exploit those products without comme des sortes d'esclaves et ne restrictions pose a threat to the Bakas, who threatening the forest ecosystem. Along with profitaient pas des fruits de la now have to grapple with new challenges. the Bakas, we have come up with a commercialisation des PFNL. Actuellement, By the forestry law of 1994, national participatory map that localizes all their ils y trouvent une opportunité de parks fall under the sphere of permanent interests in the forest.” positionnement. Cela se ressent notamment forest domain. The law explicitly states: Leonard Usongo, former WWF coordinator dans des expressions employées par les “Public access to state forests may be for the WWF-Jengi Conservation Project of Baka du grand Djoum, qui disent par regulated or forbidden”. The more than southeast Cameroon, who supervised the exemple: «on nous a ouvert les yeux»; «on 30 000 Baka pygmies who live in the region study, says any conservation paradigm that négligeait de l’or sans savoir»; «on ne va see these restrictions as an affront to their does not take into consideration the plus nous tromper». Le plus important pour right of access to the forest that they sociocultural needs of the people is built on eux est de voir leurs efforts récompensés consider their natural home. the wrong premise. “The solution that works par un achat des PFNL à des prix équitables: “Our lives are defined by this forest. We is that which still allows the indigenous ainsi, le seau de 5 litres d’Irvingia spp. est harvest fruits, wild tubers, honey and people access to forest products, although we acheté entre 2 et 11 USD chez les Baka medicine from the forest. And we kill have to encourage them to do so sustainably.” quand il est revendu entre 15 et 35 USD en animals for our basic food needs. We (Source: AllAfrica com, 4 October 2009.) ville. De même, le seau de 15 litres de

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Pentacletra macrophylla est acheté en intensive training course. MbMF is Initiative – Vitality, a measure aimed at moyenne à 3 USD alors qu’il est revendu à 9 supporting the development of the supporting slow-growth communities, USD. curriculum. In addition, the training course encouraging diversification of the local L’étude montre que les associations Baka will be piloted in the MbMF area in the economic base and reducing reliance on sont devenues des acteurs de la filière des autumn of 2009. (Source: CMFN News, 27 single-industry economies. (Source: Canada PFNL. Leur participation à cette dernière July 2009.) News Centre, 21 September 2009.) demande toutefois à être favorisée et accrue. D’où la nécessité de renforcer leurs Canada to enhance NTFP research and capacités en matière d’organisation et de production % CHINA gestion, de les former davantage sur les The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of techniques de production et de les intégrer State for Canada Economic Development, Medicinal plant fights Chinese desertification, effectivement dans le Système d’information today announced the awarding of CA$49 826 brings profit sur le marché. (Contribution de: Younchawou in non-repayable funding to the Syndicat des Hohhot. When Ulji sold his beloved jeep that Ngouwouo, Conseiller en développement, producteurs de bois de la Mauricie (SPBM) he used in herding and spent the money on Expert en analyse et évaluation de projets, (Mauricie Wood Producers Trade Union) to saplings and herb seeds, his father flew into a Programme sur les PFNL en Afrique carry out research aimed at identifying ways rage and shouted at him; "We are herdsmen, centrale, P.O.B. 281, Représentation de la to enhance Mauricie NTFPs. herding is what we do". FAO au Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun. NTFPs are native or naturalized plants But Ulji never regretted his actions. In Courriel: [email protected]) other than timber (fibre). They are gathered 2001, he put all he had on planting in the forest, idle land, underbrush, natural cistanche (Cistanche spp.), a kind of herb forests or managed plantations. The that has a symbiotic relationship with the %CANADA contribution from Canada Economic desert plant, saxaul (Haloxylon Development will help generate a databank ammodendron). Goods from the woods: Manitoba Model and set of tools aimed at mapping out Saxaul is used effectively to fight against Forest hosts introductory NTFP effective land development and supply impeding erosion, but without its symbiotic workshops strategies. In addition, the setting up of a partner cistanche, there is no monetary In March and April 2009, the Manitoba Model network of stakeholders should attract gain in growing it. Cistanche lives on the Forest (MbMF) held a series of six workshops processing firms to the region, while creating slender tendrils of saxaul's root, and is on NTFPs in communities around the model sustainable jobs in this sector of activity. often called the ginseng of the desert. As a forest area. The workshops were very “Wise use of our forest resources is an treasured traditional Chinese herb, it has successful, with more than 150 people attractive economic development and been used to treat senile dementia, attending, and generated great interest in diversification opportunity for the region. constipation and infertility. It is also opportunities from the forest. The workshops The SPBM’s project will make it possible to believed to boost immunity, improve represented a collaboration between MbMF, develop the NTFP industry in a concerted memory and delay ageing. the Centre for Non-timber Resources at and coherent manner, so as to maximize Ulji began to grow saxaul inoculated with Royal Roads University (Victoria, British the positive economic impacts,” said cistanche in 2003 and harvested the first Columbia), the Manitoba Forestry Minister Lebel. cistanche in 2006. He couldn't wait to show Association and the Woodlot Association of Since 1967, the SPBM has supported the it to his parents, who still had no idea how Manitoba. 5 700 or so private woodlot owners in their much money the humble potato-like plant Participants learned about a wide variety efforts to harness and market their unique would provide for the family. of topics related to NTFPs, including: what forest products by providing advisory services In May 2006, Ulji sold half a packet of are NTFPs, local and international and training related to forestry operations. cistanche for 3 000 yuan (US$440), equal to marketing, adding value to products, and an Canada Economic Development’s funding the average annual income per capita in exploration of what is in your community’s of this project has been awarded through the the town. And in the spring of 2008, the backyard. They also gained some hands-on Community Economic Diversification family earned more than 10 000 yuan just experience in growing their own shiitake and from cistanche. oyster mushrooms on logs and tapping So far, Ulji has planted saxaul on 24 ha Manitoba maple trees for sap and the of desert and fruit trees on another 21 ha, production of maple syrup. There were making a small oasis in the fourth-largest opportunities to sample ice cream with desert in China. Manitoba maple syrup, and herbal tea from Zhang Jianjun, a 33-year-old vendor in a the Russian Federation. Some participants small town called Bayangaole near the attended the workshops out of interest in Ulan Buh desert, still remembers how his starting up a business, while others attended family had to move five times because of to learn about NTFPs for their own use. desert expansion a decade ago. The family The workshops are part of a longer-term has not moved since 1999, after Dengkou plan to build capacity and expertise in NTFP county, which administers Bayangaole, businesses in the model forest area. A new invested heavily in growing saxaul. Now the curriculum on NTFPs is being developed by county has planted 20 000 ha of saxaul and Royal Roads University and Dave Buck for an inoculated cistanche on 2 000 ha.

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To combat desertification, saxaul- %COSTA RICA of plants he, Steven Farrell, and the staff of cistanche shrubs are spread over the vast Finca Luna Nueva began to grow in the deserts of western China. The shrubs also Semillas Sagradas: an ethnomedicinal garden. The book is not intended as a serve as wind barriers on the singular road garden complete guide to Semillas Sagradas, but that runs through Tarim desert in Xinjiang, Since the beginning of time, humans have rather as an illustration of the richness of northwest China. The cistanche-rich depended on seeds for survival. Seeds of information that exists about the many barriers generate 9 million yuan revenue a many different plant species have provided species under protection and study there. year, enough to cover maintenance of the essentials such as food, fibres, medicines and How fascinating to find that a species of plant road. combustible oils. At some point, people is used for the same healing purpose in Saxaul, a small, bushy tree 1–4 m high, noticed that seeds dropping from the plants various parts of the world. One can only has an 80 percent chance of surviving they were using had sprouted, quickly imagine the trial and error experimentation drought and barren deserts. It has a strong multiplying the plant populations. that led to those simultaneous discoveries – root that can reach more than 10 m down The development and spread of agriculture or did people disperse seeds and plants, into the ground and hold the sands firmly. are thought to have begun over 10 000 years along with knowledge of their healing Its lush needle leaves also slow down the ago, when people began intentionally to properties, on their journeys? The answer, wind. It once faced extinction as herdsmen collect and plant seeds of species they most likely, is that both scenarios occurred. would overharvest the tree, digging it up by considered important. Agricultural practices We know that some plants are employed for the roots. But the situation started to developed independently in many parts of the the same medicinal uses by cultures that change once the Chinese began to cultivate world. Human society quickly learned how have never been in contact, while we have cistanche artificially. vital seeds were to feeding, fuelling and evidence of other species being dispersed to Every hectare of saxaul grown with healing their rapidly evolving world. In fact, far-off places by botanically and medicinally cistanche can yield 150 000 yuan worth of agriculture made it possible for human inclined travellers and explorers. cistanche products, in addition to the civilization to develop and for people to move Semillas Sagradas is a contribution to desertification control benefits, said Tu to new regions; build settlements; feed, preserving and teaching traditional wisdom Pengfei, a scholar from Beijing University's clothe, house and heal growing populations; involving healing herbs. It honours the Modern Research Center for Traditional store and barter or sell their surpluses. reverence that ancient cultures had for their Chinese Medicine. The cistanche and It was the recognition of the essentiality of seeds and plants, such as the sacred lotus, saxaul combination is an ideal way to crop seeds that led people to create the first according them the highest status possible combat desertification compared with seed banks – these precious propagules were through religious symbolism, myth and growing grass and trees, said Tu. originally stored in earthen pots in cool areas legend. The information presented in an “The locals take more personal underground or in caves protected from the earlier version of this document was initiatives in planting profitable herbs such elements. Great advances in seed storage originally compiled by the senior author. The as cistanche to prevent desertification,” technology have been made since those early coauthor and editors expanded that version, said Xia Ri, President of the Inner Mongolia days, with large international projects now updated nomenclature and synonyms, added Sand and Herbs Industry Association. "And under way to protect the Earth’s plant diversity local names through conversations with the it helps ecology, economy and social well- – sometimes in deep freezers at -20°C. At the San Isidro de Peñas Blancas community, and being," Xia added. same time as the world scientific collected additional references on uses, Jia Zhibang, Chief of China Forestry community, using its latest technological chemistry and pharmacology. Administration, said 18.11 percent of China, tools, takes on the massive challenge of It is the hope of the authors that perhaps or 174 million ha, is desert. China suffers preserving seeds as a hedge against some readers will find a way to create their an annual direct economic loss of 54 billion calamity, it is now clear that small farmers own Semillas Sagradas, in Costa Rica or yuan from desertification that affects the around the world are essential to seed and wherever they make their home, contributing lives of nearly 400 million people. genetic preservation – by maintaining crop both to the preservation of plant diversity and China's desert area has been shrinking diversity through cultivation and use, and by the knowledge of traditional medicines at the rate of 128 300 ha a year, a U-turn the protection of nature habitats, including around the world. from the annual expansion of 343 600 ha agricultural ecosystems. before the end of the twentieth century. Steeped in this spirit and purpose was the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: (Source: Xinhua News [China], 27 July creation of Semillas Sagradas – the Sacred Mr Rafael Ocampo, Jardín Agroecológico 2009.) Seed Sanctuary of Finca Luna Nueva – Bougainvillea S.A., Apartado Postal 764-3100, devoted to preserving the diversity of plants Santo Domingo, Heredía, Costa Rica. so important in traditional healing and the E-mail: [email protected] field of botanical medicine. A 2009 publication, Plants of Semillas Sagradas: an ethnomedicinal garden in %CUBA Costa Rica (by Rafael Ocampo and Michael J. Balick), contains information on a small Se impulsa el cultivo del bambú en number of the more than 250 plant species el oriente cubano currently growing in Semillas Sagradas. The La Habana. La provincia de Santiago de senior author, Rafael Ocampo, selected Cuba, en la zona oriental de la isla, these species as representative of the range promueve la siembra de bambú para la

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actividad forestal, además de recuperar non gouvernementales (ONG) nationales et pays qui abrite des espèces endémiques, áreas afectadas por la deforestación. El internationales (WWF-RDC, African Wildlife notamment le bonobo, le rhinocéros blanc territorio desea concretar este año la Foundation [AWF], Wildlife Conservation du nord, etc.». Il apparaissait donc que ce plantación de unas 400 hectáreas de esa Society [WCS], TRAFFIC Afrique Centrale, travail de réflexion arrivait à point. especie vegetal. etc.), presse écrite et audiovisuelle. Quant à l’ICCN, organisateur de cet Los especialistas destacaron la utilidad Tous ont participé activement à cet atelier, il s'est exprimé ainsi par la voix de del bambú por sus variados usos atelier de réflexion, dont les objectifs son Directeur général adjoint, M. Idi Omari económicos en la confección de muebles y ambitieux étaient les suivants: (i) India: «C’est avec empressement que objetos artesanales, muy demandados en el identification des différents problèmes ou l’Institut congolais pour la conservation de mercado interno. Entre los usos de esa facteurs à la base de la gestion non durable la nature attend que le processus planta resaltan la elaboración de madera de la faune sauvage en République d’élaboration de la stratégie et du plan prensada, la edificación de casas con démocratique du Congo et défis à relever à d’action sur la viande de brousse, lancé par distintos fines así como instalaciones para el cet égard; (ii) formulation, à partir des la tenue de cet atelier, aboutisse le plus expendio de alimentos ligeros. problèmes et défis identifiés, des rapidement possible.» Los bosques son también vitales en los principaux axes stratégiques susceptibles Avec l’appui du Dr Guy Mbayma Atalya, planes para disminuir el impacto del cambio de permettre la gestion durable de la Inspecteur général auprès de l’ICCN et climático, dada su gran capacidad en captar ressource faunique en République modérateur de cet atelier de réflexion, les

el CO2 presente en la atmósfera y sanear los démocratique du Congo; (iii) production, participants ont pu dégager trois axes terrenos dañados o con escasa vocación pour chaque axe stratégique, d’un cadre majeurs sur lesquels les futurs stratégie et forestal. (Fuente: DTCuba, 6 de julio de 2009.) logique qui en définit les objectifs, les plan d’action devraient s’articuler, à savoir: résultats attendus, les actions à exécuter, (i) l’amélioration de l’efficacité du cadre les indicateurs, les sources de vérification, juridique et institutionnel, (ii) l’initiation et DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC les responsables et les sources de la promotion des activités alternatives à la % OF THE CONGO financement. consommation et à la commercialisation Dans son allocution de bienvenue, de viande de brousse, et (iii) la Atelier pour l’élaboration de la stratégie Stéphane Ringuet, Conseiller technique sensibilisation à cette problématique de la et du plan d’action national sur la viande pour le développement du programme part de l’ensemble des parties prenantes. de brousse TRAFFIC en Afrique Centrale, a rappelé Les axes relatifs au suivi et aux Un atelier visant à l’élaboration de la que «TRAFFIC s’associe à cet atelier afin renforcement des capacités ont été stratégie et du plan d’action national sur la de soutenir un processus d’élaboration reconnus comme transversaux. viande de brousse s’est tenu du 23 au 24 d’une stratégie et d’un plan d’action (Contribution de: Roland Melisch, septembre 2009 à Kinshasa. national sur la viande de brousse». Il a Coordonnateur du programme, TRAFFIC Cet atelier était organisé par l’Institut d’autre part souligné que «cette stratégie International, c/o WWF Germany, congolais pour la conservation de la nature contribuera à orienter et canaliser les Rebstoecker Str. 55, D 60326 Francfort, (ICCN), sous le haut patronage du Ministère efforts futurs de la République Allemagne. Télécopie: +49 69 617221; de l’environnement, de la conservation de démocratique du Congo, en vue de fixer un courriel: [email protected]; www.traffic.org) la nature et et du tourisme (MECNT), en cadre d'actions/des axes à tous les niveaux collaboration avec le programme TRAFFIC du pays.» Ce souhait a été partagé par pour l'Afrique centrale, un programme l’ensemble des participants. % EQUATORIAL GUINEA mixte du Fonds mondial pour la nature Dans son allocution, le Dr. Petrus (WWF) et de l’Union internationale pour la Ndongala-Viengele, Directeur de cabinet Linkages between household wealth, conservation de la nature (UICN). Cet du Ministère de l’environnement, de la bushmeat and other animal protein atelier a réuni une cinquantaine de conservation de la nature et du tourisme, consumption participants, représentant de nombreux représentant le Ministre, s’est félicité de Bushmeat consumption is affected by groupes ou institutions: administrations l’appui des partenaires. Il a en outre fait household wealth. However, how nationales coordinations provinciales de observer que cette stratégie devrait household wealth impacts bushmeat eaten l’environnement, conservateurs des sites permettre au pays de préserver ce qui peut in different environmental and social de l’ICCN (Parcs nationaux de la Maïko, de encore l’être, tout en comptant sur le settings (i.e. whether urban, rural, coastal la Garamba, de la Salonga et de Virungas, pouvoir régénérateur de la nature. A cet or forest) is poorly understood. Parc marin des mangroves, Réserve de égard, il a affirmé: «Personnellement, je In a recent study, the authors examined faune d'Okapis), Commission en charge me suis inquiété quant à l’avenir de nos households in six contrasting localities in des forêts d'Afrique centrale (COMIFAC), écosystèmes naturels lorsque j’ai entendu Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea, in coastal Programme régional de l’Afrique centrale le cri d’alarme faisant mention du (Bata, Cogo), central (Niefang, Evinayong) pour l’environnement (CARPE/UICN), 'syndrome des forêts vides', qui devenait and eastern parts of the territory (Ebebiyin, Programme sur la biodiversité et et les malheureusement une réalité pour les Nsork). On average, 32.3 g of bushmeat per forêts relevant de la coopération technique forêts de la République démocratique du adult male equivalent per day were allemande, Université de Kisangani, Congo, et dont les conséquences consumed, although this varied widely Groupe de travail forêts (GTF), projet de écologiques pourraient être la diminution between sites and most households ate no recherche Lukuru Wildlife Research ou l’extinction de différentes espèces de bushmeat on the survey day. Fish was the Project (LWRP), UICN-RDC, Organisations faune. Ce serait une catastrophe pour notre most frequently recorded source of protein

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and in a coastal site, Cogo, significantly %GHANA problem facing its 500 members was the more fish was consumed than in the other acquisition of land. He said the nine plots localities. Promotion of NWFPs may save the forests acquired so far were not large enough to Overall, average protein consumption Ghana faces the threat of losing its forest accommodate all the members. was correlated with household wealth, but cover and becoming a desert if the current Mr Vordzi called on the government to the strength of this effect varied among rate of deforestation continues without empower the Association to issue licences sites. At the site where average wealth was support from all stakeholders in an effort to for entry into bamboo enclaves for the greatest (Bata, the most urban site), switch to the use of regenerative and early harvesting of the plant, and also help the bushmeat was more expensive and maturing plant species, Mr Henry Kamel Association to check the illegal export of wealthier households ate more of it. Ford, a deputy minister for the Ministry of bamboo products while measures were also Elsewhere, bushmeat consumption was not Lands and Natural Resources warned on being taken to expand the market for associated with wealth, and the cost of Friday when he interacted with members of bamboo products. (Source: Ghana News bushmeat was a higher proportion of the Greater Accra Bamboo and Rattan Agency, 2 August 2009.) household wealth. In Bata, wealthier Association. He said that the Government households reported consumption of more was exploring ways to conserve the than one meat type (most frequently traditional wood species and promote the bushmeat and either domestic meat or fish), lesser-used plant varieties such as bamboo and diversity of dietary items also increased and rattan, which have very high with wealth. In all sites, wealthier regenerative capacities. households ate less fish. In a stocktaking of the forest resources of The authors demonstrate distinct the nation, Mr Ford pointed out that forest differences in relationships between urban cover, which was about 8.3 million ha in versus rural areas, and between coastal 2000, shrank to 1.5 million ha in 2006. He versus inland sites, and therefore caution added that, if the current rate of depletion of that general patterns of wealth-wild meat 65 000 ha continued, Ghana would have no consumption must be evaluated taking into forests in 23 years’ time. account the circumstances of wild meat Consequently, the Government of Ghana Dependence on forest resources and consumers. (Source: J.E. Fa, L. Albrechtsen, is promoting the use of bamboo and rattan tropical deforestation P.J.Johnson and D.W. Macdonald. 2009. as suitable alternatives to wood, not only to In Ghana, forests provide many products on Linkages between household wealth, conserve the traditional woods, but also which the local population subsists. bushmeat and other animal protein because bamboo has nutritional values and However, these resources are becoming consumption are not invariant: evidence moreover could be used in the aviation, depleted as a result of a variety of factors from Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea. Animal construction and textile industries. Mr Ford including agricultural expansion and Conservation, 12[6]: 599–610.) said that the Ministry had begun a capacity overexploitation of forest resources. It is programme for stakeholders in the bamboo believed that at the start of the 1900s, one- industry, and was collaborating with the third of Ghana’s land area was covered by %FIJI governments of China and the Philippines natural tropical forest; by 1989, 78 percent of for training to enhance bamboo use in this forest had disappeared. Fiji’s forests as carbon factories Ghana. A recent survey conducted with 431 Protecting, growing and managing Fiji's Mr Ford said the government was ready household heads in three Forest Districts forests will help address environmental to support the acquisition of land at showed that forest income provides 38 challenges such as climate change, says Ayimensa, near Accra, to localize the percent of total household income in these Forestry Ministry permanent secretary bamboo industry there in order to make it a areas. Household consumption and petty Viliame Naupoto. However, the aim was to one-stop shop for bamboo products. trading in firewood and other NTFPs – such create a road map that would help manage Currently, most artisans in the bamboo and as fodder, building materials, herbal the forest sector climate change, he said at rattan industry are scattered throughout medicines, chewing sticks, pestles, canes, the REDD (reducing emissions from Accra without any proper shelter, making it nuts, wild fruits, honey, bushmeat (giant deforestation and forest degradation) policy difficult for them to work when it rains. rats, grasscutters and squirrels), artifacts scoping workshop. The deputy minister inspected some and other household items – are integral to "It has been known for centuries that furniture made from bamboo and rattan by lives and livelihoods. The majority of the forests are factories that provide countless the artisans and saw how they had recycled respondents surveyed depend on wild economic, ecosystem and social services. the waste materials to mould animals such animals such as snails and bushmeat, wild The services include timber, water as giraffes, lions and other forest species. honey and wild and cultivated vegetables. catchment protection, water production for He said it would perhaps become possible The four most highly ranked causes of agriculture, NWFPs, biological diversity, for schoolchildren to use bamboo furniture deforestation are poverty-driven agriculture, fuelwood and social recreation," Mr Naupoto when the industry was fully developed, in lack of alternative rural wage employment said. Forests are large storehouses for order to save the nation’s traditional wood other than farming, household population carbon that is captured from the atmosphere. species. levels and conflict in traditional land "We can lock the carbon by forest protection." Mr Vincent Mawuli Vordzi, General practices. This shows a shift in the view of (Source: Fiji Times Online, 31 August 2009.) Secretary of the Association, said the main local people who, in the past, were quick to

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blame logging companies and government is probably the main seed disperser of provide ecological, social and economic policies for deforestation. Given the reasons carapa in Guyana. The indigenous Makushi benefits to local, national and for deforestation, much thought needs to go name for the agouti is akuri. international communities. into agroforestry practices (e.g. snail Coauthors on the paper include Odile farming, beekeeping, fish farming and Poncy of the Centre national de la recherche FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: vegetable production) in efforts to reduce scientifique (National Centre of Scientific Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest deforestation, which are currently less Research) in Paris, Rachel Thomas of Conservation and Development, 77 High Street, promoted. (Source: Mark Appiah, Dominic Iwokrama, David Hammond of the NWFS Kingston, PO Box 10630, Georgetown, Guyana, Blay, Lawrence Damnyag, Francis K. Consultancy and David Kenfack of the South America. Tel.: (592) 2251504; fax: (592) 225 Dwomoh, Ari Pappinen and Olavi Missouri Botanical Garden. (Source: 9199; e-mail: [email protected]; Luukkanen. 2009. Environ. Dev. Sustain., 11: mongabay.com, 9 December 2009.) www.iwokrama.org 471–487.) Iwokrama Forest: conservation with social Norway to help protect Guyana's forests FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: and economic benefits For the past year, President Bharrat Mark Appiah, Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, The loss of tropical forests will result in Jagdeo of Guyana has travelled the world, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 9, PO the extinction of half the world’s plant and offering to place his nation's forests under Box 27, Helsinki 00014, Finland. E-mail: animal species, with unknown changes to international supervision if other countries [email protected] the global climate. To counter the global pay his citizens not to deforest the tropical loss of tropical forests, the Iwokrama landscapes. Much of Guyana's forest land Forest – a protected area in the Guiana is zoned for logging activities, and avoided % GUYANA Shield of northeastern South America – deforestation schemes in neighbouring was established, with the idea of providing Brazil could push logging into Guyana. New tree species discovered in Guyana is a living laboratory for tropical forest The campaign received major support rich source of oil management. last week when Norway announced a Botanists have discovered a new species of Situated at the heart of one of the last US$30 million commitment on Monday for tree with commercial significance in four untouched tropical forests in the the small South American nation to Guyana. The discovery is published in world, Iwokrama is home to the implement an "avoided deforestation" plan. Brittonia, a journal issued by the New York indigenous Makushi people, who have If the programme shows success, Guyana Botanical Garden. The new species, Carapa lived off the forest for generations. The will receive an additional US$250 million akuri, had long been mistaken for Carapa Makushi ways of managing and using the through 2015. guianensis, a tree widely dispersed across forest have made them a critical part of "We are giving the world a workable the Amazon and commonly logged for the the ecosystem. Today, the success of the model for climate change collaboration furniture industry. protected area relies on the ownership of between North and South," said Erik The find is significant because it is an local people and the combined skills of Solheim, Norway's Minister of the important source of natural oil for Makushi specialists and communities. Environment and International Amerindians and the cosmetic market, As a non-profit institution established Development, in a statement. "It's not according to Pierre-Michel Forget, lead by Guyana and the Commonwealth, the perfect, but it's good, and it will be author of the paper that describes the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain improved upon as we learn and develop species and a researcher at the National Forest Conservation and Development together." (Source: ENN Daily Newsletter, Natural History Museum in Paris. "Akuri is collaborates with local people to ensure 18 November 2009.) an important source of sustainable local economic and social benefits from development within the Iwokrama forest," forest use and conservation. By partnering Forget told mongabay.com, referring to with local communities and the private %INDIA Guyana's innovative forest reserve that has sector, the Centre combines traditional become the centrepiece for the country's knowledge, science and business to Pimpinella tirupatiensis: an endemic efforts to protect its forests through develop “green”, socially responsible and medicinal tuber under threat sustainable management. sustainable forest products and services. Pimpinella tirupatiensis is an endemic plant Oil from carapa's large seeds is used for These include ecotourism, low-impact species in the Seshachalam hill ranges of a variety of purposes, including treatment timber harvesting, developing the skills of Tirupati-Kadapa-Nallamalai, in the Eastern for dandruff and rashes, as an insect forest rangers and guides, and harvesting Ghats of India. Belonging to the Apiaceae (or repellent and as a moisturizer. When aquarium fish. Umbelliferae) family, the plant is generally produced from Carapa guianensis, the oil is These forest-based businesses, while found growing at an altitude ranging known as crabwood oil or andiroba. providing local and national benefits and between 1 080 and 1 240 m. Commonly The species is also endemic to the region returns, also help preserve biodiversity termed forest coriander in the West, it is and may be at risk from logging, providing and regulate climate. By managing the known locally in the native Indian Telugu new impetus for protecting its diverse rain 371 000 ha of the Iwokrama Forest, the language as konda kottimeera. The taxon is forest habitat. "This single tree can save a Centre aims to show how conservation characterized by a tuberous root stem forest," said Forget. need not be at the expense of local (30–100 cm tall) and white flowers that Carapa akuri is named after the red- livelihoods. On the contrary, forests can be blossom between October and December rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), which conserved and sustainably used and and bear fruits between February and May.

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Pimpinella tirupatiensis grows in Bearing this in mind, the Bodoland Muarojambi and Sarolangun in Jambi, and association with Phoenix farnifera var. Bamboo Development Board and the Musi Banyuasin in south Sumatra. The area pedunculata and Decaschistia crotonifolia. International Network for Bamboo and is currently being reforested to replenish It sprouts in warm and humid climates and Rattan (INBAR), based in Beijing, signed a the damaged forests, formerly a timber its aroma facilitates insect pollination. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) to concession. "We're currently repairing the tuberous root contains starch, establish a bamboo-shoot processing damaged ecosystem," said Harapan rain carbohydrates and proteins, as well as oil centre in Kokrajhar on Friday, in an attempt forest agency intern head Yusuf Cahyadin globules, phenols, flavanoids, lignins, to use the abundant grass on a commercial recently. alkaloids, tannins, steroids and saponins. It scale. The bamboo processing centre will As part of the reforestation efforts, the is also rich in magnesium (52 percent), with be established at the Central Institute of agency will issue an outright cessation on traces of iron, zinc and copper. Technology (CIT) situated at Balajan in logging in the area, or at least a 20-year The plant plays an important role in Kokrajhar. INBAR will lend the technical moratorium. This, Yusuf said, will allow the health care in the region, boasting several support required. forest to be densely wooded once again. medicinal properties. It is used by locals to Besides training youth, INBAR will The ban will not affect local communities combat ulcers and asthma and is also emphasize the commercialization of that live off the forest, particularly the Anak known for its anti-inflammatory qualities bamboo-related edible products. Dalam and Bathin IX tribes, which use as well as for being an aphrodisiac. Locals Terming the signing of the MoU as a step NTFPs such as rattan and resin. use the tuberous root extract in powder forward for industrial development in the Communities living near the forest will also form, mixing it with honey to cure stomach, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area, stand to benefit, Yusuf says, by growing mouth and throat ulcers. Its fruits have BTC executive member Mitaram rubber, for instance. "We're currently diuretic properties, also helpful in treating Basumatary, who is also the chairperson of initiating a community-based forest ulcers. In raw form, the tuber is an the Bodoland Bamboo Development Board, through an agreement between forest abortifacient. It is not only valuable for said all parts of bamboo plants are useful caretakers and local residents, in the hopes curing human ailments, but those of and can be industrially processed and that they can also protect the forest," he animals as well. Mixed with pepper and utilized. said. He added that 30 percent of the forest onion, the tuber is given orally to oxen and “The bamboo shoot has the largest has been damaged through clear-cutting, buffaloes to alleviate colic pains and potential market, not only in the region but particularly for oil-palm plantations. "Oil- rheumatic diseases. also outside, but it lacks commercialization palms are not suited to the forest," he However, the species previously known in and value addition. I believe the proposed pointed out. (Source: The Jakarta Post the Tirumala hills as the “queen of tuberous bamboo-shoot processing centre will be [Indonesia], 25 September 2009.) vegetation” now faces a real threat of able to bring some dramatic changes in the extinction. As a result of the changes in bamboo sector in the BTC area. The microclimatic conditions, natural calamities, emphasis is on commercialization of ISLAMIC REPUBLIC the introduction of monoculture practices bamboo-related spices and the %OF IRAN and the short window of time in which the preservation of bamboo shoots through plant matures, the plant’s distribution today various technologies,” Basumatary said. Iran’s forests and their NWFPs is limited to small populations in a handful of Experts say there is a growing market With an area of about 12.4 million ha, rich moist deciduous and mixed dense for processed and packaged shoots, forests in the Islamic Republic of Iran forests. Its medicinal and economic value, providing an opportunity for entrepreneurs comprise 7.4 percent of the whole country. moreover, has led to overexploitation by local to explore their commercial potential. Recently, the per capita forest area was tribes and villagers, which may be the (Source: The Telegraph [India], 30 July equal to one-third of the world’s per capita greatest threat to the plant’s survival. 2009.) average (0.2 ha as compared with 0.6 ha). Identifying an alternative medicinal herb Although Iran’s forest cover is considered with similar properties is crucial to counter poor in comparison with other countries, it the risk of extinction currently facing the % INDONESIA is unique regarding plant diversity. The plant. (Contributed by: Prof. N. Savithramma, country’s climatic diversity has resulted in Department of Botany, S.V. University, Harapan rain forest raises hope amid five distinct forest zones: Hyrcanian, Tirupati – 517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India. E- overexploitation Arasbaran, Zagros, Irano-Turanian and mail: [email protected]) Sumatra's low-plain forests are fast Khalijo-Omanian. diminishing, currently measuring only The Hyrcanian forest zone encompasses Bamboo shoot raises hope for sweet profit 400 000 ha. The main cause of the commercial and industrial humid forests, The pungent bamboo shoot should soon deforestation is rampant illegal logging and the dominant species of which are beech become a staple ingredient for industrial clear-cutting. If this situation prevails, experts (Fagus orientalis), hornbeam (Carpinus growth in the underdeveloped Bodo belt. warn, low-plain forests in Sumatra will betulus), oak (Quercus macranthera), Used to season numerous dishes, the shoot probably be completely wiped out by 2010. poplar (Populus caspica), boxtree (Buxus has found its way on to supermarket racks The Harapan rain forest, spanning hyrcanum) and Caucasian wingnut in both fresh and canned versions. Despite 101 355 ha and located in Jambi and south (Pterocarya fraxinifolia). Beech and its popularity in the northeast, the bamboo Sumatra provinces, is part of the remaining hornbeam species comprise 70 and 60 shoot has not been tapped for its low-plain forests on the island. It straddles percent respectively of the stem number commercial potential. the four regencies of Batanghari, and standing volume. Only in these forests

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is industrial timber harvested by region; the most important product of this marketing. Therefore, research into NWFPs governmental sources, cooperatives and species is turpentine. Turpentine is needs to explore the role of harvesting, private companies. NWFPs are not given exported and, according to last data from processing and marketing of NWFPs in much consideration. Currently, NWFPs the Forest, Range and Watershed increasing household income. harvested from the commercial forests are Management Organization of Iran, its The Islamic Republic of Iran has a high sloe (Prunus divaricata) fruits, walnuts export value was US$60 000 in 2000. Other potential for tourism and agroforestry, both (Juglans regia), raspberries (Rubus sp.), products used in this region are mountain of which could increase the employment and hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) and honey. almonds (Amygdalus sp.), zedu (A. income of the local people. The vast deserts Tourism has increased as a result of the communis, Amygdalus sp.), wild pears of the Irano-Turanian zone have abundant high potential of the region for attracting (Pyrus glabra), walnuts (Juglans regia), attractions – signs of indigenous knowledge tourists, expanding facilities and the myrtle (Myrtus communis) and somaq (nomads, aqueducts) and also geological creation of tourist towns. This industry (Rhus coriaria). facies (salt pans and polygon facies) – which plays an important role in the local and The Irano-Turanian forest zone has arid could be promoted for tourism. national economy. forests with juniper (Juniperus polycarpus), Important factors such as population The Arasbaran forest zone, with semi- wild pistachio (Pistacia mutica) and almond growth, immigration, urbanization and the humid forests, has been identified as a (Amygdalus lycioides). In this region, as in progress of technology, knowledge and global biosphere reserve because of its the other forest zones, wood is not awareness have effectively contributed to plant diversity. The most important woody harvested at all. Local people use zedu management patterns and changing plants in this region are black oak (Quercus (mountain almond) and turpentine. management methods, and the macranthera), white oak (Q. petraea), wig The Khalijo-Omanian forest zone, conservation and utilization of forests. tree (Cotinus coggygria), pliant tree consisting of arid tropical forests, has a These factors mean that we expect more (Viburnum lantana), cornelian cherry different appearance from the others. The from forests than in the past. In recent (Cornus mas) and juniper (Juniperus main species of this territory are mangrove decades, policies and strategies based on foetidissima). This is a (Rhizophora mucronata), black mangrove the conditions and needs of this sector have conservation/protected zone and wood is (Avicennia marina), Arabian jujube been recommended in order to help policy- not harvested either industrially or (Ziziphus spina-christi), Indian mesquite makers and researchers to facilitate commercially. Local people in the region (Prosopis spicigera) and acacia (Acacia sustainable forest management (SFM). use NWFPs such as raspberries, cornelian nilotica). On the whole, both wood and Governments must consider supporting cherries, hazelnuts, tree leaves, honey, NWFPs are rarely harvested. SFM and policy-makers should actively bushmeat and acorns. They also harvest All the forest zones, except the engage the participation of rural fuelwood extensively. Most products are Hyrcanian, are conservation/protected communities in the exploitation and traditionally harvested without any areas and it is probable that the harvest of management of natural resources. Policies management plan for their utilization. timber will not be allowed legally – or is should be towards supporting small and Some products, such as raspberries, ecologically feasible – in the near future. medium forest industries. Facilitating the cornelian cherries and honey, can increase Therefore, the harvesting of NWFPs could access of small producing factories to household incomes through proper play an important role in household markets will improve the livelihoods of harvesting, processing and marketing. economy. This role could be optimized people who use forests and trees. Research The Zagros forest zone, with semi-arid through the use of operating plans; and correct and valid information about to temperate dry forests, has three oak determining sustainable harvest levels; NWFPs are extremely important for policy- species: Lebanon oak (Quercus libani), identifying usable species in all forest makers. The demand for NWFPs will Lusitanian oak (Q. infectoria) and Brant's areas; improving harvesting methods; increase as a result of their role in rural oak (Q. brantii). This is also a post-harvesting technologies; increasing development and in improving household conservation/protected area and wood is participation of local communities; and economy. Two important and strategic not harvested either industrially or approaches are recommended: the use of commercially. The high population density criteria and indicators for SFM, introduced and many socio-economic problems have in previous international forest processes; led to an extensive use of NWFPs by the and adopting a so-called ecosystem local people. The main product used is approach in forest management for fuelwood. Minor products include fruit sustainable forestry activities. (Quercus libani), leaves (Q. brantii) and The principles of SFM should be taken types of gall such as qolqaf, mazuj and into account for forest products (both wood sechka (Q. infectoria). Gramineous flour – a and NWFPs) so that we can be a model for kind of manna – is produced as a result of future generations when using our natural insect activity on a tannic tree (Q. heritage. (Contributed by: Sajad Ghanbari, infectoria). This product is used in pastry M.Sc. student of Forestry, Department of and has a good market. Fruits and leaves of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of the oak species are used in animal Natural Resources, Tehran University, husbandry and for animal nutrition. Wild Karaj 31585-4314, Islamic Republic of Iran. pistachio (Pistacia atlantica) is one of the Fax: 00982612249312; e-mail: most useful forest plants of the Zagros Rhus coriaria [email protected])

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% JAMAICA pineapples are also distributed free of A number of challenges limit women’s charge to participating community enjoyment of the full benefits from NWFP University improving life in the Cockpit members on the basis that they will collect exploitation, the overriding problem being Country growth data for the project. their inadequacy (in quantity and/or quality). The Cockpit Country, an area of forested The UWI has created a new opportunity In this paper the authors discuss these hills that covers parts of St James, for every rural person in Jamaica to farm commonly utilized and managed NWFP plant Trelawny and St Elizabeth, is highly and earn a living by using these disease- species in Mbooni and their potential treasured by scientists because of the vast free plantlets to produce a more bountiful contribution to improved livelihoods and number of plants and animals found only in harvest. (Source: The Gleaner [Jamaica], sustainable development in Mbooni, Kenya that region. These plants and animals also 26 July 2009.) and sub-Saharan Africa in general. (Source: provide food and livelihood for many of the Dorcas Mbuvi and Emmanuel Boon. 2009. surrounding communities. The livelihood potential of non-wood forest The forests contain medicinal plants that %KENYA products: the case of Mbooni Division in are used in home remedies and as key Makueni District, Kenya. Environment, ingredients in wines, “root” drinks and The livelihood potential of NWFPs: the case development and sustainability, 11[5]: tonics. Among these forest plants are chainy of Mbooni division in Makueni district 989–1004.) root, sarsaparilla, medina and “strong back”. Forestry is a productive sector with Over the years, however, the Cockpit significant effects on meeting national socio- FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Country has been heavily harvested for economic and environmental functions as Prof. Dr Emmanuel Boon, Programme various NTFPs such as roots, bark, vines, well as the improvement of rural livelihoods. Coordinator, Human Ecology Department, Vrije leaves and fruits. Medicinal plants are now NWFPs in particular have been widely Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B–1050 reported to be in short supply or available advocated by conservation and development Brussels, Belgium. Fax: 02 477 49 64; e-mail: only deep in the interior. organizations as potential alternative [email protected] or [email protected] With funding from the United States livelihood strategies, particularly among Agency for International Development vulnerable forest-dependent households. (USAID) in collaboration with government As in most tropical countries, NWFPs are %MADAGASCAR and local committees, a project led by Dr relevant in the sustainable development of Sylvia Mitchell, lecturer and head of the Kenya, which is particularly endowed with Lemurs in danger from political turmoil Medicinal Plant Research Group at the important forest resources. Kenya hosts and “timber mafia” Biotechnology Centre, University of the about 17 million ha of forested land (about The lemur, a furry primate that symbolizes West Indies (UWI), Mona, was launched for 3.51 percent of the total sub-Saharan Africa Madagascar's unique biodiversity, is under the micropropagation of selected non- forest cover by 2000), of which about renewed threat from a "timber mafia" timber forest medicinal plants. 16 865 000 ha are under natural forest. pillaging the island's forests for profit. The researchers, realizing that there is an Outside the gazetted forests, there are other Environmentalists warn that a political crisis urgent need to curtail the threat to NTFPs, large tracts of forests in trust lands, including in the impoverished country is reversing have begun educating residents about how national parks and reserves, hill forest conservation gains of recent years and they can earn a living in a manner that does reserves and privately owned lands covering putting "hundreds if not thousands" of not degrade the forests. Dr Mitchell said that about 0.5 million ha. Woodlands, bushlands species, many not yet identified, at risk of an important component of the education and wooded grasslands, mainly found in the extinction. Madagascar, which has been process is showing the residents how to arid and semi-arid lands, cover 37.6 million isolated from land masses for more than incorporate new technology into their ha, while forest plantations (started in 1946) 160 million years, is the world's fourth traditional livelihood practices. cover about 170 000 ha of land. largest island and a "conservation hotspot" She says: "The process starts in the In most NWFP-endowed regions of the with thousands of exotic species found only laboratory where the hard-to-find forest country, however, this socio-economic and here. These include nearly 100 species of plants are multiplied by a process called environmental potential is still unrealized. lemur, six of which are deemed critically micropropagation. The rooted plantlets are The authors of a recent paper illustrate the endangered. then taken to the tree-hardening facilities latter by a case study of NWFP use and Decades of logging, mining and slash- established in the Cockpit Country at Quick management in four villages in the Mbooni and-burn farming have destroyed 90 Step, Troy and Bunker's Hill. At these division of Makueni district. The division was percent of Madagascar's forests, although demonstration sites, the plantlets are chosen because of its relatively high NWFP the rate has slowed in the past two removed from their glass vessels and after a availability, particularly from South Mbooni decades. The former president, Marc hardening phase, when they are strong Forest, which is located at a distance of less Ravalomanana, was praised for putting enough, they are planted in the field plots". than 5 km for an estimated 80 percent of the 6 million ha under protection and backing Dr Mitchell noted that the Cockpit interviewed households. Data used for the ecofriendly community projects and Country's endangered species, particularly analysis were collected through a fieldwork sustainable farming. But Ravalomanana these valuable medicinal plants, are now survey carried out on women (35+ years) in was ousted in March in a violent coup that being preserved from overharvesting. In August 2005. One hundred and sixty NWFPs led to a breakdown of law and order and a addition, large numbers of plantlets of are harvested (from plant and animal species) "gold rush" of armed loggers and economically important crops such as and used mainly for food, income generation poachers. International sanctions have wicker, peppers, peppermint, ginger and (supplemental) and medicinal purposes. caused the suspension of environmental

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programmes and could hit 45 national You start to lose the confidence of the potential, our communities can benefit parks that are 90 percent dependent on communities. If the World Bank doesn't economically by carrying out contract overseas aid. fund Madagascar national parks, they will farming of these plants,” he said, when The natural habitat of the lemurs is run out of money very quickly". opening a regional workshop hosted by the under threat from accelerating Madagascar's US$390 million (£230 Centre yesterday. deforestation. In addition, the endangered million) a year tourism industry, of which The SBC has been nominated by the animals are being hunted for bushmeat, ecotourism is the backbone, is down to just United Nations Development Programme, either to be eaten by drought-afflicted local 40 percent of its normal level because of which coordinates the distribution of the populations or sold as a roasted delicacy in this year's instability. global environmental fund, as the Asia- city restaurants. O'Connor warned that Madagascar's Pacific region’s centre of excellence for Dr Hantanirina Rasamimanana, a priceless natural laboratory was in traditional knowledge documentation. researcher and teacher at Antananarivo jeopardy. "We have the potential for losing Morshidi said the SBC was carrying out University, said: "Deforestation is always a hundreds if not thousands of species. research and development activities on plants problem, but in these past five months There are still new species being documented from the state’s indigenous bushmeat is also very dangerous. People discovered: plants, birds, chameleons, communities. He said the traditional are desperate because of the lack of rain". lemurs, tortoises that we might not yet knowledge documentation project had Conservationists say that armed gangs are know about, that could be on the brink of covered 12 indigenous communities in 40 exploiting the security vacuum to pillage extinction." (Source: iplextra.com [India], locations statewide over the past seven years. rosewood and ebony from supposedly 17 November 2009.) The state has some 30 indigenous protected forests on behalf of a so-called communities spread across 3 000 villages. "timber mafia". “From these locations, we have documented About half of Madagascar's national % MALAYSIA over 2 400 plants with various uses: from budget, and 70 percent of investment plants to cure ailments to plants used for spending, comes from outside assistance. Malaysia discovers huge potential in oil crafts. Traditional knowledge has contributed But, after the coup, most international plants significantly to modern agricultural practices donors and lending agencies suspended or The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) has as well as to the personal care, medicinal cancelled non-humanitarian assistance identified oil plants that have antimicrobial and cosmetic industries,” he said, adding until a constitutional government is properties which can be exploited for that many products in the market were elected. WWF has been forced to suspend commercial value. State Secretary Datuk produced based on information derived from several projects. Niall O'Connor, head of Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani added that traditional knowledge. Morshidi said if such WWF’s Indian Ocean regional office, said: these plants could be developed as health knowledge was not documented, it risked "The impact of not having funding is care products, and used to make hand wash, being “lost”. (Source: the star online probably greater than the political crisis. body shampoo and soap. “With such [Malaysia], 9 October 2009.)

%MONGOLIA BUSHMEAT TRADE THREATENS RARE small, subsistence scale. This is bigger, LEMURS IN MADAGASCAR more organized and systematic and it's Marketing the taiga: political ecology of typical of what we've been seeing with NWFPs in Mongolia Endangered lemur species found only in the breakdown in law and order,” he Since Mongolia's socio-economic transition Madagascar are being slaughtered and told Reuters on Friday. and integration into the global market served up in local restaurants as Poachers are using slingshots and economy, increasing degradation of its poachers take advantage of a security traps to hunt the lemurs in Daraina, a natural environment and ongoing loss of vacuum on the island after a coup newly protected region in the far north biodiversity are taking place. Nowadays, an earlier this year. of Madagascar. Only 8 000 golden- impoverished and marginalized rural Pictures of the blackened remains of crowned sifakas, found only in Daraina, population relies more and more on the scores of crowned lemurs and golden- remain in the wild and risk being wiped commercialization of NWFPs, such as crowned sifakas, smoked in preparation out in weeks. "More than anything else, wildlife products or Siberian pine nuts, to for transport, have been released by the these poachers are killing the goose that sustain their livelihoods. The present environmental protection group laid the golden egg," said Russ situation resembles that at the beginning of Conservation International. James Mittermeier, president of Conservation the twentieth century, when Mongolia, for Mackinnon, technical director at the International. “(They are) wiping out the first time, was driven into the world group's Madagascar office, said gangs the very animals that people most want economy as a supplier of natural resources. were pillaging the forests of precious to see and undercutting the country and Following the conceptual framework of hardwoods and trapping rare animals especially local communities by robbing political ecology, a recent article analyses for Asia's pet market, unwinding hard- them of future ecotourism revenue.” present and past utilization of NWFPs in fought conservation gains on the island. (Source: Reuters [India], 21 August Mongolia against its sociopolitical, economic “Lemurs have always been hunted on a 2009.) and institutional background. The problems of transition can be illustrated with the case study of the Batshireet district on the border

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with the Russian Federation: the decline of a % PERU demand for local medicinal plants could sawmill forced people to look for alternative result in overharvesting. incomes; field studies in 2003 revealed that Peru to pay Indians for conservation of “Recognizing that our medicinal plants NWFPs counted for one-third of household Amazon jungle are so important, we must protect them, incomes. (Source: Jurgen Hartwig. 2008. Lima. The Peruvian Government will pay especially the endemic plants. The Marketing the taiga – political ecology of Indian communities for their work in commercial demand for local medicinal non-wood forest products in Mongolia. preserving the Amazon jungle as part of an plants may cause overharvesting from the [Original title: Die Vermarktung der Taiga. ambitious programme that seeks to protect wild,” said Gina Mangalindan of Zur politischen Okologie der Nutzung von 55 million ha of rain forest in the country, BiomartAsia-Philippines. Biomart, a firm Nicht-Holz-Wald-produkten in der Environment Minister Antonio Brack told specializing in herbal skin care products, Mongolei.] Geographische Rundschau, EFE (Spanish news agency). makes use of locally grown natural herbs 60[12]: 18–25. December.) “One of the worst problems about global known for their unique properties. warming is that mankind in the last 500 Mangalindan said that the creation of a years has destroyed 50 percent of the Medicinal Plant Working Group, which may % NEPAL forests on the planet and that is a very include representatives from industry, serious problem indeed,” the Minister said, government, academia, tribes and Herb farming shows way out of poverty adding that in Peru 10 million ha of tropical environmental organizations, is needed. Its Jumla. The populations of ten Village forest have been destroyed. Up to now goal should be to create a framework Development Committees (VDCs) (local development has consisted of the woodland action on behalf of medicinal plants. She communities of villages) in a mid-western practice of slash-and-burn to clear land for said the group must raise awareness of district of Nepal have taken to herb crops and livestock, but that has given native medicinal plant issues and needs farming in a big way. This endeavour, mediocre results because of the 10 million among partner agencies and cooperating which enjoys the support of the Ministry of ha where that has been carried out, organizations also to promote the Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC), is 8 million ha are unproductive. “It’s shameful sustainable production of native medicinal helping to bail people out of penury. and we can’t keep doing it,” Brack said. plant products. Moreover, commercial herb farming has The Peruvian administration’s Mangalindan said that those who want to helped conserve medicinal plants that programme is not limited to compensating go into the medicinal plant industry could were endangered in the wild as a result of native communities economically, but will also take note of a number of trends that the unabated collection that took place up also initiate other actions such as include the rising demand for certified until 2005. employing 600 Indians as forest rangers to “organic” raw material and value-added Medicinal plants are in high demand in protect these areas, and to award products such as teas, soaps, juices, the international market and fetch a good scholarships so that natives can be trained cosmetics and extracts. “The health food price too, says Laxmi Chandra Mahat, in activities such as ecotourism and sector is also increasing, so natural district project facilitator for the herb beekeeping. (Source: Latin American alternatives to artificial flavours, sugar and farming project. “Apart from herb Herald Tribune, 9 August 2009.) salt are being looked at,” she said. conservation, this project will be Mangalindan said the global herbal instrumental in raising the living standard market comprises pharmaceuticals, spices of local people,” says Mahat. and herbs and cosmetics. The global According to statistics of the district market today is mainly divided among project office, farmers have cultivated at Germany (28 percent), Asia (19 percent), least ten kinds of herbs in some 1 500 ha in Japan (17 percent), France (13 percent), Jumla. “Cultivating crops, we used to find it rest of Europe (12 percent) and North hard to meet day-to-day expenses even for America (11 percent). The major suppliers six months. Now that we have taken to herb of crude medicinal products to European farming, we hope to get a better return,” markets are China, the United States of says Kali Bahadur Thapa of Patmara VDC. America, Germany, Singapore, India, Chile, In the fiscal year 2008/09, the people of Egypt, Albania, Bulgaria, Morocco, Mexico Patmara sold 120 kg of herbs and earned and Pakistan. (Source: Business Mirror about NPR130 000. The profit motivated [Philippines], 7 September 2009.) them and they planted herbs in some 300 %PHILIPPINES ha in their village. Sustaining traditions to safeguard the Taking a leaf from Jumla, the MoFSC Plans to raise awareness of medicinal future of forests in the southern plans to expand the herb farming project in plants Philippines 11 districts of four zones in three phases by The Philippines should undertake In the small community of Mintapod, 2014. The International Fund for initiatives to conserve native medicinal nestled on the slopes of Kimangkil Agricultural Development has loaned plants amid the increasing global trade in Mountain Range in Bukidnon province, NPR1.5 billion to the ministry for the herbals now estimated at US$120 billion. In Mindanao, live the Higaonon Indigenous NPR2.17-billion project, according to a statement released by the Philippine Peoples, whose lives and livelihoods have Mahat. (Source: Ekantipur.com [Nepal], 2 Exporters Confederation Inc., BiomartAsia- long depended on the natural resources in August 2009.) Philippines noted that the increasing their mountain habitat. Their time-

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honoured knowledge and traditions play a Dzierzanowski is one of a group of Polish central role in protecting the local forests. enthusiasts reviving a form of beekeeping Earlier this year, five Higaonon ancestral stretching back thousands of years but domains, represented by their traditional abandoned more than a century ago. leaders called datu, signed the Mintapod "There used to be thousands of bees' nests Declaration. The agreement represents in Poland's forests, tens of thousands over 5 000 Higaonon families and aims to even," Dzierzanowski told AFP (Agence protect the health of the local mountains. France-Presse) in the Spala forest, about The Declaration was the highlight of the 100 km south of the capital, Warsaw. Kimangkil Indigenous Peoples Corridor "For now, we've set up around 20," Conference held at Cagayan de Oro City added Dzierzanowski, whose day job is with from 1 to 3 April 2009, which attracted over the local environmental department. 80 participants from Higaonon indigenous After initially collecting honey from smoky taste and was not oversweet – and is communities, support groups and purely wild bees' nests, ancient hunter- traditionally eaten mixed with remainders government institutions. The Conference is gatherers gradually learned how to give the of pollen and chewy wax. "Forest honey is part of a larger project called “Building insects a helping hand by cutting holes in much better than other kinds because it Forest Corridors through Sustainable trees and leaving honeycomb to attract a contains seven times more micronutrients," Ancestral Domain Management”, swarm. Under that ancestral method, the said Nawrocki. supported by the European Commission. subsequent nest was opened just twice a In addition, it is a delight for organic food The initiative aims to contribute to forest year: once in the spring to check how well fans: the forest nests and the bees' pollen- conservation by strengthening indigenous the bees had survived the winter, and again gathering territory lie far from the peoples’ communities. Crucial community in the autumn to harvest the honey. fertilizer- and pesticide-strewn fields of needs – such as tenure security and skills The practice persisted in Poland until agribusiness. Besides tickling the palate, building in legal affairs, livelihood the end of the nineteenth century, bringing back honey harvesting has a enterprise, reforestation and sustainable gradually losing ground because honey broader ecological goal. forest management – are addressed from the growing number of beehive farms "In the past, bees were an integral part through the project. was cheaper and the forests were hit by of the forests, and played a role in their The leader of the initiative, Amy large-scale felling. A natural mishap in the biodiversity," Nawrocki explained. Matangkilan, emphasized that recognizing 1980s wiped out the remaining wild bees While the amount of honey harvested is the Higaonon Peoples’ right to continue buzzing around Poland's forests – a still tiny, the enthusiasts dream of a day practising their traditional skills will help disease of Asian origin carried by a when there will be thousands of such nests preserve over 70 percent of the local parasitic mite called Varroa destructor. across the country. Another long-term goal forests. (Source: Voices from the forest, The current revival then is also a total is to get Polish tree honey inscribed in a NTFP Exchange Programme for South and reintroduction of the insect after a three- European Union register of produce that is Southeast Asia, Edition No. 17, September decade absence. It comes thanks to a rooted in specific regions of the 27-nation 2009.) meeting of minds between the global bloc. (Source: Agence France-Presse, 3 environmental group WWF, two Polish October 2009.) FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: national parks, enthusiasts such as Miks Guia-Padilla, Anthrowatch, Project Dzierzanowski, and a group of beekeepers Manager, Building Forest Corridors through from Bashkortostan, a region of the Russian % RWANDA Ancestral Domain Management, 46-C Mahusay Federation near the Ural Mountains. St, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City, "We discovered that they still harvested Farmers to benefit from bamboo Philippines. Fax: +63 2 4360992; e-mail: honey from trees in Bashkortostan," said fraternity [email protected] Przemyslaw Nawrocki, who is in charge of Kigali. Rwandan farmers have been fronted the project at WWF. "We got in touch with as a priority group to benefit from a bamboo the Bashkir beekeepers who hosted us planting fraternity spearheaded by the % POLAND there and patiently taught us their craft. International Network for Bamboo and Last year, they came to Poland to set up the Rattan (INBAR). This was revealed early last Honey – again – grows on trees first hives," he added. The Poles also spent week by the visiting INBAR Director General, Spala. Perched in a lofty pine tree 12 m their time trawling through museums to J. Coosje Hoogendoorn, who said that from the forest floor, Tomasz learn about the ancient method, making Rwanda has all it takes to gain from the Dzierzanowski carefully removed a clump precision copies of the tools of their immense environmental and economic of dry grass from a hole in the wood and ancestors. benefits of bamboo trees. "I am struck by wafted smoke into a bees' nest. Using a "According to the archives, they used to the tremendous potential in this country. wooden spatula, he delicately cut out the harvest between 6–10 kg of honey per tree. The soil and weather are favourable for the gleaming slices of honeycomb, and the Our maximum is around 3 kg. But it's only growth of bamboo trees and I am impressed dark, shining liquid ran down his fingers. our second year of harvesting, so we need that people here have realized the After climbing down, he tore off a waxy to wait a while longer," said Dzierzanowski. importance of bamboo," Hoogendoorn said. chunk and tasted the powerfully flavoured Tree honey is distinctive – Dzierzanowski's Bamboo is one of the most productive honey. harvest had a deep-gold colour, an initial and fastest growing plants on Earth and it

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offers the possibility of annual selective naturally, a honey extractor is needed to harvesting and removal of about 15–20 harvest honey. Top bar hives are referred to percent of the total stock productivity. Over as transitional hives since they bridge 90 percent of bamboo carbon can be traditional bee farming with Langsroth bee sequestered in durable products such as farming. Langsroth hives are reusable, which boards, floors, furniture, buildings, cloth, could lead to an increase in honey paper and charcoal. production. Bamboo trees play an important role in Traditional hives yield between 8 to 15 kg controlling soil erosion, which is one of the per harvest whereas 20 to 30 kg can be most outstanding problems faced by harvested from the modern Langstroth. farmers in Rwanda. According to Between January 2003 and August 2005, 2 Since a great deal of expertise is not Hoogendoorn, INBAR is partnering with 295 tourists took part in this enterprise. In required, beekeeping can be practised by all China to provide the capacity for bamboo addition, locals’ access to credit has also – the educated and the uneducated – and processing. She said INBAR is looking at been facilitated and community camp irrespective of age, gender and economic conserving the already existing bamboo grounds improved. status. Any entrepreneur would be suited and trees as well as introducing new species. This initiative is an example of how beekeeping could be a source of employment INBAR has a membership of 34 countries measures to protect and conserve forests for many. and Rwanda is its current chair. can work in tandem with those aiming to In areas where beekeeping is Fredrick Munyansonga, the official alleviate poverty. (Source: Bridging the gap. predominant, people generate income by charged with bamboo planting in the 2009. FAO’s Programme for Gender making beekeeping equipment; processing, forestry department, revealed that this Equality in Agriculture and Rural packaging and selling bee products; and partnership is likely to change the lives of Development.) extension work. Traditional hives sell at many people, especially farmers. "Bamboo between 10 000 to 20 000 shillings (UGX), the planting has two inherently important FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: top bar hive from UGX40 000 to 55 000, while causes, conserving the soil and alleviating Economic and Social Development Department, the Langsroth sells from UGX100 000 to poverty. This cause should be taken FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, 150 000. A beehive maker can therefore earn seriously because it's a total win-win Italy. E-mail: [email protected]; or S. Grouwels, a reasonable income. Farmers today sell 1 kg undertaking," he said. Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme of honey at UGX6 000 to 10 000. Around 1.5 billion people around the di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. E-mail: Beekeeping enhances biodiversity and world depend on bamboo in some way. [email protected]; or Mgahinga Bwindi increases crop yields through pollination of (Source: The New Times [Kigali], 23 August Forest Conservation Trust (MBIFCT), PO Box crops. The busy bees also contribute to 2009.) 1064, Kabale, Uganda; [email protected] natural resource conservation. This renders beekeeping a non-destructive and Turning honey into money sustainable activity. %UGANDA Beekeeping is a venture that has not Biryomumaisho adds that beekeeping can attracted many investors. However, the be used as a tool to reduce threats to Communities establish forest enterprises demand for this product locally and Uganda’s vegetation, particularly natural while protecting their local habitat internationally explains the dire need for habitats. “(For instance) national parks, Local communities in Uganda have long more investors to engage in its production. forests and woodlands are an alternative depended on forest resources in the Bwindi Dickson Biryomumaisho, Director, source of livelihood to communities,” he Impenetrable National Park for weaving Western Region, the Uganda National says. (Source: Daily Monitor [Uganda], 8 materials, medicinal plants, hunting, honey Apiculture Development Organization October 2009.) collection, fruit gathering and building (TUNADO), describes apiculture as the poles. In 2001, FAO began assisting local science of bees and art of keeping bees to FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE: men and women to develop small forest produce honey and other hive products, using www.greenresources.no enterprises, making sure not to interfere different techniques. This art can be carried with the park’s conservation efforts. out with or without land. “One may need as With the help of FAO, nearly 200 women little as10 x 10 m of land, unlike other UNITED STATES and over 100 men were assisted in ventures,” he says, adding that the %OF AMERICA establishing small-scale enterprises on the undertaking is a low-cost investment open to outskirts of the park. These activities are all classes of people since little or no capital Chestnut tree restoration managed entirely by local men and women is needed. “Hives and other equipment can A tree orchard recently set up at the and consist of beekeeping; handicrafts; be made locally and bees are freely available Tennessee Army National Guard Lavinia mushroom, passion fruit and potato and depend on beekeepers for food,” he says. training site will examine the American cultivation; and ecotours. The Buhoma Traditional hives include broken pots, chestnut tree, which was decimated by a village walk was one of the first successful woven twig hives or log hives that are hung fungus that arrived more than 100 years ago. ecotourism enterprises established; on trees. However, Biryomumaisho says that The Tennessee National Guard is tourists are guided through the park for it is advisable for bee farmers to graduate to working on a programme with the gorilla watching, with the tour stopping at a modern Langsroth hives where, unlike American Chestnut Foundation, which local handicrafts centre run by women. traditional hives where honey is extracted began the restoration project more than 20

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 20 January 2010 SC POEUCNI AT RL YF ECAOTMUPRAESSS 57

years ago. The fast-growing trees were Honey standard especies de mayor uso en la categoría de valued for their integral roles in the Florida recently passed a honey standard alimento son: Mangifera indica, Inga sp., ecosystem, as food sources and as a and is the first, and only, state to have done Spondias mombin, Psidium guajava y lumber source for furniture. so. The standard is the first step towards Persea americana y en la de medicina: Today, more than 500 chestnuts at the getting adulterated honey off the store Angostura trifoliata, Protium sp., Brownea Volunteer Training Site Milan orchard are shelves and sets limits for, among other sp., Mangifera indica, Spondias mombin, being tested for ways to fight off the blight things, the amount of fructose, glucose, Annona muricata, Couratari multiflora, disease. The method of "back-crossbreeding" sucrose and moisture content defining Cecropia peltata, Anacardium occidentale, American chestnuts with their blight- honey. Bixa orellana, Copaifera officinalis y resistant predecessors is being used. Anyone selling honey in the state of Xylopia aromatica. The goal is to have a hybrid Chinese and Florida who violates this standard is El 76,6 por ciento de las especies American chestnut tree able to cross back subject to a US$500 fine. The Florida arbóreas utilizadas como PFNM son to the American versions, which once Department of Agriculture is depending on nativas de los bosques de la localidad, lo numbered in the billions in the United consumers to help enforce their new honey cual refleja un alto grado de conocimiento States of America. The trees would then standard. (Source: examiner.com [United y uso del bosque natural por parte de las provide pollen and seeds to create a new States of America], 31 August 2009.) comunidades criollas que habitan en el generation of highly resistant trees, sector. according to the National Guard. El nivel de ingreso promedio del 49 por As of 2007, there were only 117 known VENEZUELA ciento de las personas entrevistadas oscila American chestnut trees in west %(BOLIVARIAN entre $232,55 y $ 65,11 por mes. Con Tennessee, mainly in Hardeman and REPUBLIC OF) respecto al nivel educativo, el 33 por ciento Fayette counties, according to a study by sólo alcanza el grado de primaria, el 17 por Joe Schibig, a professor at Volunteer State Árboles utilizados como PFNM: ciento el nivel básico de bachillerato, el 23 Community College. (Source: Jackson Sun, Zona Central Reserva Forestal Imataca por ciento el grado de bachiller y el 27 por 27 July 2009.) Un reciente trabajo presentado en el XIII ciento técnicos y otras profesiones. Congreso Forestal Mundial (véase página (Fuente: XIII Congreso Forestal Mundial, USDA proposes label for biobased 63) se realizó con el objetivo de caracterizar www.wfc2009.) products los productos forestales no madereros Washington, DC. The United States (PFNM), según el uso dado a las especies PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A LOS Department of Agriculture (USDA) has arbóreas por la población criolla que habita AUTORES: Juana R. Figueroa; Elio Sanoja proposed a labelling system to identify en la cuenca alta del Río Botanamo. Dicha y Luz A. Delgado. Correo electrónico: products made with renewable plant, cuenca está localizada en el borde oriental [email protected]; animal and other biobased materials. de la Reserva Forestal Imataca, la cual está [email protected]; [email protected] p The BioPreferred labelling proposal is habitada por diferentes grupos humanos an outgrowth of the federal government's asociados con ecosistemas boscosos de alta BioPreferred purchasing programme, complejidad. Sus habitantes utilizan los which was created in the 2002 Farm Bill. PFNM como parte de sus recursos de The 2008 Farm Bill expanded the subsistencia. Un total de 310 hogares fueron programme further to promote the sale of seleccionados aleatoriamente, encuestando biobased products outside the government. una persona por hogar. The proposal would set up a system in Las especies arbóreas fueron which companies could voluntarily apply clasificadas por categoría y frecuencia de the BioPreferred label to their products. uso. El tamaño de la muestra fue definido USDA has already identified more than con un nivel de confianza del 95 por ciento y 15 000 biobased products in about 200 un margen de error del 5,4 por ciento, categories. (22 545 habitantes y 4 509 hogares). La USDA hopes that a labelling system for identificación taxonómica de las especies biobased products will help consumers, arbóreas utilizadas fue hecha a partir de businesses and governments easily identify muestras recolectadas empleando biobased products, and also act as a métodos fitotaxonómicos tradicionales en marketing tool for the product makers and el Laboratorio de Botánica y Dendrología vendors. de la Universidad Nacional Experimental USDA defines biobased products as de Guayana (UNEG). items that are made up entirely or mostly of El uso de las especies arbóreas se biological ingredients such as plant, distribuye en seis grupos: medicinal Even if I knew that tomorrow the animal, marine and forestry materials. A (35 por ciento), alimento (32 por ciento), world would go to pieces, I would still product would be able to use the fibra y artesanía (13 por ciento), forraje plant my apple tree. BioPreferred label if it meets or exceeds (11 por ciento), colorante (7 por ciento) y Martin Luther USDA's minimum content requirements. ornamental (2 por ciento). Se destacan los (Source: GreenBiz.com, 5 August 2009.) usos medicinales y de alimentos. Las

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 20 January 2010