ISSN 1020-3435 Annon-woodnon-wood information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products JULY 2008 17

EDITORIAL

The editorial for this issue of Non-Wood News has been written by Dr Wulf Killmann, Director of the Forest Products and Industries Division.

From 3 to 5 June 2008, FAO, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), hosted in Rome an International High-Level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. For three days, over 4 700 people, among them 43 Heads of State or Government, discussed options and ways CONTENTS forward to overcome a major challenge for the years to come: global food security in times of changing climatic conditions. 3 Guest article Indeed, not since the 1970s have we seen rises in food prices like those of % Revitalizing Pacific sandalwood the last few years. The FAO Food Price Index rose by 8 percent in 2006 and by a production further 24 percent in 2007. The index average for the first three months of 2008 was 53 percent higher than for the same period in 2007; the price of vegetable oils 5 Special Features rose by 97 percent, grains by 87 percent, dairy products by 58 percent and rice by % Bee products 46 percent. Sugar and meat prices also rose, but to a lesser extent. This rapid • World honey trade rise in food prices is affecting people in all countries, particularly in low-income • German scientist identifies special and food-deficit countries, where it is raising the cost of food imports and properties in manuka honey exacerbating the balance of trade. The livelihoods of hundreds of millions of • Honey-based cosmetics already-vulnerable, poor and hungry people in developing countries are further manufactured in the Russian threatened. However, rising food costs are affecting consumers in wealthy Federation countries as well. • A tree full of honey About 850 million people of a world population of 6 billion still go to bed • Honey hunting of honeybees hungry. By 2050, the world population is expected to have increased to 9 billion • Sustainable honey collection boosts people. During the same period, climate change and related extreme weather returns to Cambodian communities events will affect food production and infrastructure, and thus further challenge • Turkey is second in honey the attainment of food security. production What does this mean for forests? • Beeswax The population increase and negative impacts of climate change will • A Cameroon body cream using especially affect tropical countries. The resulting rising demand for food, water beeswax and energy is likely to put additional pressure on tropical forests. In some • Propolis countries, the demand for wood fuels may increase. More forests may be % NWFPs and climate change converted for cultivation of agricultural crops or liquid biofuel crops, or for raising • Climate change and indigenous cattle. This will affect the water cycle, biodiversity and the carbon cycle. Already, peoples 13 million ha of forests, roughly the area of Greece, are deforested annually, • Canada must adapt to climate leading to greenhouse gas emissions in the order of 1.6 gigatonnes of carbon. impact on forests However, the food crisis also represents new opportunities for forests. • Bark cuts methane emission from Sustainably managed forests play an important role in contributing to food cows security, both directly and indirectly. Forests regulate the water cycle and protect • Development should not affect forests NON-WOOD NEWS • Carbon traders, not is compiled and coordinated by Tina Etherington, Forest Products Service of the FAO Forest Products and Industries conservationists, could save the Division. For this issue, language editing was provided by Roberta Mitchell, Josiane Bonomi and Deliana Fanego; Cameroon rain forest design, graphics and desktop publishing by Claudia Tonini. • Bamboo as carbon sequester and Non-Wood News is open to contributions by readers. Contributions are welcomed in English, French and Spanish and may be edited to fit the appropriate size and focus of the bulletin. income booster If you have any material that could be included in the next issue of Non-Wood News for the benefit of other • Biodiversity key to fighting climate readers, kindly send it, before 31 October 2008, to: NON-WOOD NEWS – FOIP change FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/nonwood.htm FAO home page: www.fao.org All Internet links cited were checked on 24 June 2008. Articles express the views of their authors, not necessarily those of FAO. Authors may be contacted directly for their reference sources. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. watersheds, and thereby also agricultural production in the lower catchments. They protect and conserve soils; give shelter for agricultural crops in agroforestry and mixed cropping systems; provide fodder for livestock and offer grazing in silvopastoral schemes; and conserve biodiversity that may provide gene banks for future crops. Forests supply employment and income for an estimated 1.2 billion people, thus allowing them to buy food. They also directly supply food and livelihoods for an estimated 450 million people worldwide. Non-wood forest products play an important role in all this. They are a direct source of staple foods, essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins, snacks and relishes, and they cater for a diverse and flavourful diet. They also play a very important role in health care, and in alleviating seasonal hunger, i.e. during dry spells and monsoons, or periods of high food prices. Thus, the global food situation should be an incentive for us to take a closer look at the existing, as well as the as yet unrealized, opportunities that NWFPs provide for food security!

• Climate focus neglects biodiversity % Stylishly sustainable jewellery Philippines, Portugal, Russian and poverty issues % Tanning: need to explore niche Federation, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, • Chinese biofuel “could endanger markets for East Indian leather Suriname, Tunisia, Ukraine, United biodiversity” % Tree resin: insulation retrofitters Republic of Tanzania, United States • Bamboo as carbon sequester and push “green” alternative of America, Viet Nam income booster % Valuing trees and forests • International Alliance will unite the • Revenues from forests of the Congo 60 Econook forest peoples of the world Basin % “Biodiversity is vital for human • Adding value to forest resources survival and livelihoods” 12 News and Notes • Putting a value on rain forests % Community-based ecological % Approaches to NTFP modelling • How is a tree valued? monitoring – a promising option to % Biopesticidal plant-derived essential ensure the sustainability of NWFP oils 22 Products and Markets extraction % Bioprospecting/benefit-sharing or % Bamboo, Berries, Edible insects, % Elephants keep ants in harmony with biopiracy? Ginseng, Gum arabic, Maple syrup, tree hosts • Plans to control access to the Amazon Medicinal plants and herbs, Moringa % Indigenous languages and • Namibia: San medicine could be oleifera, Nuts, Piperine, Sandalwood, biodiversity hijacked Shea butter, Stevia, Wildlife % UN strikes new forest accord • Biopiracy rampant in Nagaland, India 37 Country Compass 63 International Action • Filipino scientists developing % Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, % FAO, Domestication and system to stop biopiracy Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Development of Baobab and % CITES and agarwood-producing taxa Cameroon, Chile, Democratic Tamarind (DADOBAT) % Cultivating wild fruits “could boost Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, African nutrition” Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, 65 Recent Events % Développement des PFNL comme Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, moyen de réduction de la pauvreté Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, 67 Forthcoming Events des femmes rurales Myanmar, the Netherlands, Peru, the % Drinks and juices using NWFPs 69 Publications of Interest • Mulberry juice drink unveiled • The buzz on energy drinks 74 Web Sites % Exploitation des feuilles en Afrique centrale 75 Readers’ Response % Fragrance house sources sustainable ingredients % Functions and uses of mangroves Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are goods % Journals of biological origin other than wood, derived • Forests, Trees and Livelihoods from forests, other wooded land and trees • Journal of Medicinal Plant outside forests. Non-timber forest products Research (NTFPs), another term frequently used to % Latest laundry soaps cover this vast array of animal and plant % Non-profit organizations and NGOs products, also includes small wood and • The Boreal Centre fuelwood. However, these two terms are used • Reforesting Scotland synonymously throughout this bulletin. Other • Tourism Cares for Tomorrow terms, such as “minor”, “secondary” or % Plants to raise biological activity in “speciality” forest products, are sometimes space used to keep original names and/or titles. % Plugging NTFPs in the Congo Basin

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 GUEST ARTICLE 3

REVITALIZING beyond its native range to Pacific islands %PACIFIC SANDALWOOD such as Samoa and the Cook Islands, PRODUCTION which is possible because of sandalwood’s capacity to grow in more humid zones Introduction when cultivated in well-managed, The genus Santalum includes the major agroforestry configurations that provide sandalwoods of international commerce adequate sunlight and prevent and trade, and indeed some of the most overtopping by taller trees. valuable and widely recognized plants in the fragrance and essential oil industries. New plantation sandalwood resources in Sandalwoods have a scattered distribution Australia and the Pacific Islands throughout the entire Pacific Islands Within the next ten to 20 years, it is likely region, naturally occurring wherever that Western Australia (WA) will dominate environmental conditions are favourable. sandalwood production and the Pacific sandalwood species of commercial international export trade in sandalwood trade include Santalum austrocaledonicum products. Large plantations have been (Vanuatu and New Caledonia), established in WA through managed S. macgregorii (Papua New Guinea), Sandalwood investment schemes (MIS) financed by the S. insulare (French Polynesia and Cook harvesting is closely regulated in both private sector. Major players include the Islands) and S. yasi (Fiji and Tonga) in the countries but, in the case of Vanuatu, the Tropical Forestry Services Corporation South Pacific; and S. ellipticum, present extraction quota of 80 tonnes of Ltd, ITC Ltd and Santalol that are growing S. freycinetianum, S. haleakalae and heartwood per year appears about 3 700 ha of S. album under S. paniculatum from Hawaii in the northern unsustainable. A recent inventory of irrigation in the Ord River region. Pacific. sandalwood resources by the Department S. spicatum is being planted in the drier Sandalwoods were traditionally used in of Forests and James Cook University in zones of WA with the Forest Products the Pacific Islands for carvings, cultural Vanuatu showed that only about 290 Commission aiming to establish 4 800 ha benefits, medicine and scenting coconut tonnes remain. At today’s harvest rates, by the end of 2008. The MIS company, oil and were also burned as an insect Vanuatu’s sandalwood supply will be Rewards Projects Ltd, has already repellent. Nowadays, they are rarely used substantially reduced in four to five years established 2 700 ha of S. spicatum and locally because of their scarcity and high and will be in short supply until plantation Emerald Peak Plantations Ltd is planning cash value for export. Pacific sandalwood is available in 12 to 15 years. to establish 495 ha of the same species. sandalwoods, such as S. yasi and some Over the past century, sandalwood from By contrast, new sandalwood plantings populations of S. austrocaledonicum, S. yasi in Fiji and Tonga has been exported in the South Pacific Islands (as detailed produce highly prized sandalwoods, often to a limited extent, experiencing short- below) are much smaller and more similar in quality to the well-known lived boom periods associated with a dispersed. Pacific Island plantations of S. album from India and Indonesia. The buildup of sandalwood stocks. The current sandalwood run considerable risks (from sandalwood trade was one of the first high international prices for sandalwood, tropical cyclones, fire, Phellinus noxius reasons to attract Europeans to the South including S. yasi, have led to drastic fungus, theft and rights of ownership, etc.) Pacific in the early nineteenth century. overharvesting in Fiji and Tonga, mostly but, compared with the plantations being Most sandalwood species have already illegal and often with no returns for the developed in WA and elsewhere, have reached or are fast approaching legitimate owners, for whom the prices several advantages, such as more rapid commercial extinction in their native paid are variable and often extremely low, growth and shorter rotations for the habitats. They include not only the Pacific e.g.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 4 GUEST ARTICLE

Cook University. The latter project expected that the establishment of • Conservation of genetic diversity in S. demonstrated the variation in heartwood oil agroforestry plantings of sandalwood will yasi. Update the S. yasi conservation and quality (santalol content) and quantity soon exceed 5 ha per year. sustainable management strategy and between populations and individuals, and provide private sector backing and the importance of selecting the correct seed A future model? support for its implementation. source for replanting. A promotional video In Fiji, a promising new model for private- Wherever possible, the genetic material developed by the Secretariat of the Pacific public-community partnerships to develop of any cut sandalwood tree should be Community is also sparking interest and sandalwood resources is being explored by first conserved in gene conservation informing native landowners about how to the Government of Fiji and Pacific stands, either through seed and wildling grow sandalwood. Surveys by the Reforestation (Fiji) Ltd (PRF). It has the collection or grafted scions. Department of Forests show that in recent following features. A similar model might hold promise for years about 80 ha of native sandalwood (S. • Sustainable and equitable utilization of other Pacific Island countries, such as Tonga austrocaledonicum) have been planted by 45 Santalum yasi. Prior to any harvesting of and Papua New Guinea, where sandalwood growers on six islands (Aneityum, Aniwa, S. yasi, the tree/resources owner must resources are being exploited in an Efate, Erromango, Malekula and Tanna). be verified by the recognized authority uncontrolled and suboptimal manner but Smallholder plantings are mainly (Native Lands Trust Board in with little financial return to resource undertaken in agroforestry systems, but collaboration with local provincial owners. (The author acknowledges with most of of the area planted is by commercial councils and the Forestry Department). thanks the input from Pacific forestry growers on Efate. An agreed, fixed and fair price is to be colleagues, Mr Ioan Viji, Ms Sanjana Lal, Mr Fiji. The Forestry Department in Fiji has paid for sandalwood to the rightful Tevita Faka'osi, Mr Otheniel Tangianau and a target of propagating 10 000 seedlings owner(s) with a set proportion going to Mr Tolusina Pouli.) per year for planting by native landowners. the Forestry Department for sandalwood (Contributed by Lex A.J. Thomson, FACT The main species being propagated and extension throughout Fiji, including (Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade) planted are the local Santalum yasi, with training and propagation of planting Team Leader, Secretariat of the Pacific smaller amounts of S. album, and the materials. A modest and sustainable Community, SPC Private Mail Bag, Suva, hybrid between these two species. The harvest rate for the remnant S. yasi Fiji Islands. E-mail: [email protected]) p focus of these plantings is on the two larger trees, such as 20 tonnes, should be islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Native sustained per year over the next 15 landowners are propagating and planting years, until new sandalwood plantings, small areas of S. yasi on the outer islands and plantations come into production. of Fiji, especially on Kadavu and the Lau It is proposed that the sustainable Group. A local company, Pacific harvest rate be regularly reviewed, e.g. Reforestation (Fiji) Ltd, has been every three years, by the Forestry undertaking research on sandalwood and Department. host species and is currently planting • Value adding and marketing/branding of several hectares per year of sandalwood Fiji S. yasi. There would be a ban on and hosts on Viti Levu. export of unprocessed S. yasi heartwood Tonga. The Forestry Division in Tonga has to maximize local value adding and just set a target of propagating economic benefits for Fiji. The private 100 000 seedlings per year. To date, there sector, led by PRF, would develop a have been relatively few sandalwood marketing and branding strategy to plantings, partly because the theft of wild maximize market recognition and trees in recent years has made landowners appreciation of Fiji S. yasi and its reluctant to replant. essential oil. Cook Islands. The majority of sandalwood • Santalum yasi replanting programme. Dr Lex Thomson has recently joined the plantings are on the island of Mangaia where The Forestry Department would expand Secretariat of the Pacific Community in 10 ha of exotic sandalwoods (8 ha of S. its current extension programmes for S. Fiji as Team Leader for the EU-funded austrocaledonicum and 2 ha of S. album) yasi and PRF would develop commercial Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade have been established in a variety of partnerships with Fijian mataqali Project. His research and professional situations. Survival, tree form and height (landowner units) to protect and replant interests are in the areas of conservation growth are good, but diameter increment is S. yasi, including provision of and sustainable use of forest genetic only moderate. information, planting materials and resources in the developing tropics, Samoa. Sandalwood was only introduced finances. assessment and domestication of to Samoa in 2000. Since 2006, several • Research and development. The multipurpose trees, and forest thousand plants (Santalum album) have Forestry Department and PRF should biodiversity for food security, nutrition and been planted per year on the islands of develop a joint R&D programme for income generation. He has worked in Upolu and Savai’i: early growth and bole S. yasi to identify optimum silvicultural more than 30 countries, mainly in the form are outstanding. Together with the regimes, including propagation systems, Asia-Pacific region, including research development of local seed sources and a most suitable hosts and technologies to and development of sandalwood in eight major new agroforestry project, it is initiate earlier heartwood formation. countries.

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% BEE PRODUCTS ultimately, some of it graces the tables of aftershave products and even home care the most affluent people. products are manufactured at the plant World honey trade World trade. About 300 000 tonnes, around under the Volshebnaya Pchela (Fairy Bee) World production. Total annual world one-third of total recorded world honey trademark. The general director of the honey production is somewhere around production, enter the world market and are centre claims that only purely natural 1.2 million tonnes. Reliable statistics are traded internationally. China, Argentina ingredients are used and that they are as difficult to obtain because beekeeping is and Mexico together produce about 60 effective as professional cosmetics. very widely practised on a small scale. In percent of world-traded honey. The EU, The manufacturer says that Bashkir every country, small-scale beekeepers United States and Japan account for about honey, propolis and royal jelly are trade honey locally, and their produce is 70 percent of the import trade. (Source: especially good for skin recondition. unlikely to be included in global production Bees and their role in forest livelihoods, Volshebnaya Pchela cosmetics will be figures. No world organization can provide FAO Non-Wood Forest Products series, 19 distributed in 35 regions in the Russian reliable statistics for the extent of honey [in press].) Federation. In addition, the first batch of production in Africa, in the Middle East or in the products will be supplied to Germany in Asia. It is known that there is considerable German scientist identifies special mid-2008. It is the company's first step on production and that this honey flows, properties in manuka honey the cosmetics market. Since 2001, it has through the hands of numerous traders Manuka Health New Zealand said today been supplying Bashkir honey to Moscow, and intermediaries, from producers in that it had launched the first manuka Saint Petersburg, Siberia and the United remote areas to consumers in honey products certified to contain States. (Source: Cosmetics in Russia industrialized countries. For example, specified levels of a special antibacterial [Russian Federation], 24 January 2008.) honey flows from the forested mountains of ingredient. This follows publication by a Ethiopia eastwards towards the sea and the German technical university scientist of a A tree full of honey Middle East; from villages high in the paper that identifies the natural Bangalore. The banyan tree near Himalayas through ports such as Calcutta compound, methylglyoxal, which is Nandagudi, Bangalore rural district in India and Karachi, to markets in the Middle and responsible for manuka honey's unique has the “world’s largest number of Far East. In many cases, the honey has properties. Manuka Health chief executive beehives”– this unique tree has as many as been harvested by some of the world’s Kerry Paul said that the scientific paper 600 beehives. The Institute for Natural poorest and most remote people yet, was significant for the honey industry and Resources Conservation, Education, for consumers. Research and Training (INCERT) is making Institute of Food Chemistry head, efforts to get this matchless tree Professor Thomas Henle, the Dresden recognized as an International Heritage Technical University in Germany, found Site so as to create awareness about the methylglyoxal was the dominant importance of its bee colony. antibacterial constituent in manuka honey. M.S. Reddy, Reader at Bangalore Prof. Henle wrote in his paper that the University said that the banyan tree had high amounts of methylglyoxal in manuka been monitored by apiculturists for more honey have not been found in any other than a decade and their records show that food. His research analysed 40 samples of there were approximately 625 bee colonies honey from various sources around the in November 2005. A survey conducted in DEFINITIONS OF HONEY world, including six New Zealand manuka October 2007 revealed the number of hives honeys. Methylglyoxal levels in the in the tree to be around 575. Definition of honey according to Codex manuka honeys were up to 1 000-fold The banyan tree is largely surrounded by Alimentarius. Honey is the natural sweet higher than in the non-manuka products. eucalyptus trees whose flowers are a major substance produced by honeybees from Tests found a median methylglyoxal level source of nectar for the bees. During the the nectar of plants or from secretions of in non-manuka honeys of 3.1 mg/kg. monsoon season, the size of the colony living parts of plants, or excretions of Concentrations of the compound in reduces as the rock bees migrate because plant-sucking insects on the living parts manuka honey ranged from 38 to 761 of lack of flowering in the eucalyptus trees. of plants, which the bees collect, mg/kg. A minimum of 100 mg/kg is To prevent this migration, the villagers in transform by combining with specific required for effective antibacterial activity. the vicinity are being encouraged to substances of their own, deposit, (Source: TV3 News [New Zealand], 23 undertake agricultural activities such as dehydrate, store and leave in January 2008.) planting coconuts and floriculture, which honeycombs to ripen and mature. may help create sustenance for the bee Definition of honey according to the Honey-based cosmetics manufactured colony. This is so that the bees may thrive European Union. The EU definition in the Russian Federation all year around. differs in one respect from the above in In December 2007, the Apitherapy and For the past three years even the that it states that honey is only honey Beekeeping Centre in Bashkiria launched a villagers have stopped extracting honey according to the Codex definition when production site to manufacture cosmetics after they had been informed that their produced by Apis mellifera honeybees. based on honey and api-products. Over 20 unskilled methods of extraction had led to stock keeping units (skus) of shampoos, the decline in the number of beehives. shower gels, facial and body creams, (Source: The Hindu [India], 4 January 2008.)

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Honey hunting of honeybees harvested from wild bees. (Source: Bees production within the Krongtes commune, Honey hunting – plundering wild nests of and their role in forest livelihoods, FAO help maintain quality and find additional honeybees to obtain crops of honey and Non-Wood Forest Products series, 19 [in honey markets. beeswax – is still widely practised where press].) The honey harvesting training course is people are poor and living at the subsistence just one of the many initiatives that the SWA level and where wild honeybee colonies are CET is using to build a relationship with abundant. Honey hunting may be seen as community members and assist them in part of the lives of the world’s remaining conserving their natural heritage through hunter-gatherers, often at the margin of the the process of sustainable natural resource farming world. The colonies of honeybees use. (Source: Insert to Voices from the nest in the wild and, depending on species, Forest, 13.) may be nesting in tree cavities, in trees or rocks, in termite mounds or underground. Turkey is second in honey production Where bees are plentiful, honey hunting may Turkish Apiarists’ Union chair Bahri Yilmaz be a common practice. Wild honeybee reported that the EU imported some 200 000 colonies are sometimes regarded as “hole in tonnes of honey each year and Turkey, which the wall” automated cash machines of produces 70 000 tonnes of honey annually, industrialized countries. When a family or exports only 18 000 to Europe. At the meeting individual needs some cash, they can Sustainable honey collection boosts on "Beekeeping and Honey Production in plunder it quickly by honey hunting from a returns to Cambodian communities Turkey", the point was raised that Turkey known colony for some honey or some cash Honey collection provides an important was second after China in honey production or “barter value”. The products from honey source of income for Cambodian rural yet there were serious problems regarding hunting may be indistinguishable from the communities, but the current system of honey exports, advertising and marketing. products from beekeeping in hives. harvesting damages the nests and The head of the Turkish Apiarists' Union • Positive aspect dramatically reduces production. WWF complained about the inadequacy of legal - For hunter-gatherers, honey hunting Cambodia’s Srepok Wilderness Area (SWA) regulations. He said that illegal honey is a quick way of obtaining high project Community Extension Team (CET) commerce was a significant problem for carbohydrate (honey) and high protein has been teaching villages to harvest honey producers in Turkey since this illegal honey (pollen and bee larvae) foods with no more sustainably – with encouraging was being exported with a “Turkish honey” financial cost. When a buyer is results. label and it was all being sent back to available, honey hunting is often seen “I collect honey from 12 honey nests. Now Turkey when various chemicals were found by the very poor as an easy way to I can collect honey from the same nest, two in the honey. He said that some 40 000 raise ready cash. to three times. I am really happy.” These people in Turkey were professional • Negative aspects were the words of indigenous Bunong beekeepers and about 180 000 families - Honey hunting kills bees. villager, Sean Tha, who lives in Pu Rapet earn a living from beekeeping. “If the honey - For some bee species and in some village, Krongtes commune, Pech Chrada producers are supported, this production areas honey hunting may now cause a district in Mondulkiri province. Tha had just can expand to become a very important non-sustainable depletion of completed a training course on sustainable source of economic income." (Source: honeybee colonies and habitat. honey collection, delivered by SWA, with the Biamag [Turkey], 1 January 2008.) - Honey hunters may cause forest fires. technical assistance of Dr Phung Huu Chinh Because honey hunting usually takes of Hanoi-based Viet Nam Bee Research and Beeswax place under difficult circumstances (such Development Centre, a linkage facilitated by Beeswax is the creamy coloured substance as swinging from a rope on a cliff face or the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange used by bees to build the comb that forms high in trees at night time), the product Programme. The course focused on a the structure of their nest. Very pure from honey hunting is usually a mixture of collection technique that leaves the honey- beeswax is white, but the presence of pollen ripe and unripe (i.e. high water content) producing portion of the hive intact. and other substances causes it to become honey, beeswax, dead bees and other In the Mondulkiri Protected Forest where yellow. debris. However, this does not mean that CET works, honey collection and sale can Production and trade. Beeswax is a valuable the product is of low value: it will often contribute up to 30 percent of total family product that can provide a worthwhile ferment quickly but has high local value as income. This harvest season (April to May), income in addition to honey. One kg of a cultural food, a tonic, an aphrodisiac or for example, Tha collected honey worth beeswax is worth more than 1 kg of honey medicine. In Africa, honey from honey about 200 000 riel (US$50). Unfortunately and, unlike honey, beeswax is not a food hunting is mainly made into honey beer. In the honey price is not stable because it product and is simpler to deal with since it this case, the various impurities help it to depends on brokers to set the price. The does not require careful packaging, which ferment all the more quickly. However, not price for selling in the village is 10 000– simplifies storage and transport. However, all honey ends up this way; for example, in 12 000 riel per litre but, if sold directly to beeswax as an income-generating resource India, large volumes of honey are harvested tourists, it can reach up to 20 000 riel per is neglected in certain areas of the tropics. from Apis dorsata colonies and reach the litre. Some African countries such as Ethiopia and domestic honey market. There are no CET leader Amy Maling said that the next Angola, where fixed comb beekeeping is still statistics available on the volumes of honey step for CET is to set targets for honey the norm, have significant beeswax exports,

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while in other countries the trade is scabies, tinia, dandruff, chapped lips, attractive to a colony in search of a nesting neglected and beeswax is discarded. sunburned skin, hard skin on their hands, or place. Propolis is used in traditional Worldwide, many honey hunters and any of the common skin diseases. Three medicines and also as an effective glue to beekeepers do not know that beeswax can honest traditional doctors have confirmed mend or seal containers of wood, metal or be sold or used for locally made, high-value the positive effect of this lotion for skin clay, and to seal up knots in wood. products. Knowledge about the value of problems. (Source: Aaron Ndichia in Bees Propolis has long been used for making beeswax and how to process it is often for Development Journal, 85.) wood varnishes, famously as a varnish for lacking. It is impossible to give statistics, but violins made by Stradivarius, in Cremona in perhaps only half of the world production of FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: northern Italy. The propolis in this region is beeswax comes on the market, with the rest Aaron Ndichia, Apiculture and Nature gathered by bees from poplar trees. being discarded and lost. Conservation Organization, PO Box 5150, (Source: Bees and their role in forest Uses of beeswax. Beeswax has hundreds Bamenda, Cameroon. livelihoods, FAO Non-Wood Forest Products of uses, of which the following are but a few E-mail: [email protected] series, 19 [in press].) examples. • In cosmetics. About 40 percent of the world trade in beeswax is for the NWFPS AND CLIMATE cosmetics industry, which requires first- % CHANGE class beeswax that has not been HONEY AND BEE PRODUCTS IN overheated, is pure and free from CAMEROON Climate change and indigenous peoples propolis. The world price is usually Many unique livelihood systems have been US$4–10 per kg. At a local level, making In 2006, honey and bee products from developed by indigenous peoples and provide skin ointment from beeswax can be one the main producing areas (northwest, examples not only of the human capacity to of the most profitable beekeeping southwest and Adamoua provinces, also adapt to specific and often inhospitable activities. known as the western Cameroon environments, but also often of resilience, • In pharmaceutical preparations. About Highlands) had a value of at least €3 i.e. an ability to adapt to changing 30 percent of the world trade in beeswax million, comprising approximately 3 225 circumstances. The uniquely adapted is for the pharmaceutical industry that, tonnes of honey and 50 000 kg of wax. lifestyles of many indigenous peoples and like the cosmetic industry, requires (Source: Market access for Cameroon the very fact that they tend to be highly good-quality wax. honey: an opportunity for income and dependent on traditional knowledge, living in • Candle-making. About 20 percent of the employment for the rural poor. Available symbiosis with their natural environment beeswax trade is for candle-making. from FAO’s NWFP Web site and often acting as stewards of biocultural Beeswax candles are less common and (www.fao.org/forestry/site/35667/en) diversity, make them inherently perceptive of more expensive than candles made from any signs of threats to the production paraffin wax. In the past, church candles landscape in which they live; moreover, their had to be made of 100 percent beeswax, insight and experience may also provide and this is still followed in some Propolis alternative paradigms to address emerging societies. Apis mellifera honeybees collect resins and threats from climate change. (Source: Bees and their role in forest gums from buds or injured areas of plants. Several indigenous communities make livelihoods, FAO Non-Wood Forest Products This glue-like substance, usually dark brown their living within vulnerable environments – series, 19 [in press].) in colour but also sometimes varying in in mountainous areas, in the Arctic, in yellow, green or red, is called propolis. Just jungles or in dry lands – and are thus often A Cameroon body cream using beeswax as with honey and pollen, propolis differs in the first to discern and suffer the effects of In Cameroon, many beekeepers and honey composition according to the plants from climate change. hunters did not know the value of the honey which bees have been collecting. Similar disruptions in livelihoods occur in comb. Many would burn the combs to drive Stingless bees use large amounts of other areas where indigenous peoples make away evil spirits (as the belief goes) or resin in the construction of their nests. The their living – the disappearance of atolls, discard them as waste. Since I introduced constituents of these materials remain glacier melts and forest fires impact their them to harvesting beeswax from the combs, unknown and this “propolis” cannot be livelihoods. Even though they are not beekeepers and non-beekeepers have used by the pharmaceutical industry. responsible for climate change, indigenous developed a great deal of interest in honey Propolis has antiseptic and anaesthetic peoples are excessively affected by it. and other bee products. properties and is commonly used as an Additionally, they are disproportionately One example is my recipe for body cream. ingredient in medicines, toothpaste, oral represented in both developed and This wonderful lotion has not only increased sprays and chewing gum, and in shampoos, developing countries among the poor and the demand for beeswax, but has solved a soap, skin ointments and cosmetics. It is food insecure. major problem among babies, especially in mainly sold as a tincture of propolis made However, these peoples are not just the Kom tribe of the northwest province by dissolving it in alcohol. victims of global warming; they have a where newborn babies were taken to special In forest societies, propolis is still used critical role to play in supporting global traditional healers to be protected or treated for many purposes. Kikuyu beekeepers in adaptation to climate change. Several against skin diseases. Adults and babies Kenya carry with them a lump of propolis to indigenous populations possess a unique who use this lotion do not suffer from rub inside empty hives to make them knowledge of plant genetic diversity that may

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 8 SPECIAL FEATURES

be needed to fight plant and animal diseases, implementing and adapting CDM in forest Canada is home to about 10 percent of or they know how to breed varieties that can regions, endeavouring to secure that the world's forests and more than 90 cope with stressed environments. The indigenous peoples and other forest percent of the country's forest land is Amazon River basin is home to about 400 communities benefit from the initiative. government-owned. different indigenous groups. Although this Financial incentives are supposed to The report, which was light on specifics, territory accounts for just 7 percent of the compensate landowners for “environmental said the forests will feel the impact of global world’s surface area, it harbours more than services” such as carbon storage and warming even if steps are taken half its biodiversity; indigenous knowledge watershed protection. Nevertheless, internationally to reduce emissions of and livelihoods depend on an intimate perverse subsidies that provide incentives for greenhouse gases linked to climate change. familiarity with a wide range of these unique clearing forests, combined with insecure (Source: Reuters UK, 1 April 2008.) species. Intense research is being carried out property rights of local forest communities, on traditional medicines and many may position industrial interests behind the Bark cuts methane emission from cows pharmaceutical products derived from plants current deforestation to profit from the REDD The Australian Department of Primary have been discovered through interaction (reducing emissions from deforestation and Industries (DPI) staff jointly with University of with indigenous peoples. ecosystem degradation) initiative and other Melbourne scientists have made a Another valuable feature of indigenous ecosystem payment schemes, excluding breakthrough in reducing bovine emissions knowledge is the ability to discern and rural forest communities. Accordingly, by feeding an extract from the bark of black interpret natural phenomena to forecast efforts to reduce forest-based carbon wattle (Acacia mollissima). The scientists weather changes or identify livelihood- emissions must be combined with the supporting resources. protection of the rights of forest communities During this century, tropical rain forests to realize the income potential of their are predicted to experience a 2–8°C environment. Trade-offs between reducing CALL FOR INCREASING THE temperature rise and alarming changes in carbon emissions and reducing poverty have RESILIENCE OF THE WORLD’S FOOD rainfall caused by sea surface temperature to be pursued. SYSTEMS TO CLIMATE CHANGE anomalies, in particular the El Niño- The Global Forest Resources Assessment, Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Forecasts which is continuously carried out by FAO, is The summit on soaring food prices, indicate at least a 20 percent decrease in now including global biomass and carbon convened in June by FAO, concluded Amazonian rainfall. Negative effects will be data, at the same time as CDM small-scale with the adoption by acclamation of a exacerbated by deforestation and forest forestry projects, which have the potential to declaration calling on the international fragmentation. provide immediate benefits to low-income community to increase assistance to Tropical rain forests are home to several smallholders and indigenous communities, developing countries, in particular the indigenous peoples. Living from nature and are receiving particular attention. least developed countries and those depending on technologies that do not Descriptions of the FAO Forestry that are most negatively affected by dominate their environment, they have Department’s activities related to climate high food prices. learned to watch their surroundings and change are given at On climate change, the Declaration understand the intricacies of the rain forest, www.fao.org/forestry/site/17827/en/ said: “It is essential to address the relying on the renewable benefits it provides. (Source: FAO’s contribution to an interagency question of how to increase the However, forest property rights are not paper on climate change and indigenous resilience of present food production always clear and indigenous communities peoples submitted to the Seventh Session of systems to challenges posed by climate often experience severe difficulties in the United Nations Permanent Forum on change ... We urge governments to defending their traditional rights against Indigenous Issues [UNPFII]). assign appropriate priority to the outside forces encroaching on their agriculture, forestry and fisheries territories. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: sectors, in order to create opportunities Surging demand for biofuels, timber and Regina Laub, Gender and Natural Resources to enable the world’s smallholder pulpwood is driving a large-scale destruction Management Officer, FAO, Viale delle Terme di farmers and fishers, including of carbon-rich peat lands and rain forests. Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. indigenous people, in particular For example, according to FAO, Africa lost the E-mail: [email protected] vulnerable areas, to participate in, and highest percentage of rain forest (10.5 benefit from financial mechanisms and percent) during the 1980s and the first half of Canada must adapt to climate impact on investment flows to support climate the 1990s. To date, legal land titles have not forests change adaptation, mitigation and been granted to forest peoples by Central Vancouver. Canada must prepare for the technology development, transfer and African governments. impact of global warming on its forests, such dissemination. We support the The Clean Development Mechanism as increased fires in the west and ice storms establishment of agricultural systems (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is intended to in the east, the country's forest ministers and sustainable management practices oblige industrialized member countries to said on Tuesday. Canada's lumber and paper that positively contribute to the meet a part of their greenhouse gas industry must also address its declining mitigation of climate change and reduction commitments by supporting competitiveness and use of trees for NTFPs ecological balance.” (Source: FAO projects in developing countries through such as biochemicals, the provincial and Newsroom, 6 June 2008.) direct investment and knowledge and federal officials said in a draft report on the technology transfer. FAO is active in future of the country's forests.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 SPECIAL FEATURES 9

found that feeding the crystallized powder US$1.6 million. The problem? No not only reduced methane but also nitrogen conservation groups are interested. emissions, and increased milk production. Apparently the asking price is too high, DPI "Greenhouse in Agriculture" according to The Economist. programme leader Dr Richard Eckard said in Ngoyla-Mintom forest, as the concession an interview "A tannin in the bark is is known, borders the Republic of the Congo combined with nitrogen in the rumen making and serves as a corridor of habitat between it easier to digest and giving more benefit to three national parks in Cameroon, Gabon the animal. The nitrogen goes out in the dung and the Republic of the Congo. Ngoyla- and then released slowly into the Mintom is home to forest animals including environment. The tannin stopped the elephants and gorillas. nitrogen going into the bloodstream, where Without offers to meet its asking price, the animal had to work hard to process it.” Cameroon Minister of Forestry Joseph Matta “A problem is that there were no country to be effective in their natural says that he has little choice but to auction commercial suppliers of the supplement in safeguard duty. Uganda’s declining current the land to loggers. As The Economist puts it, Australia and we are importing it from forest cover, which is now about 22 percent of "Ngoyla-Mintom is thus turning into an Brazil or South Africa where it is used to the land area, compares poorly with other interesting test of what the conservation tan leather," Dr Eckard added. (Source: developing countries such as Cameroon (47 market will bear”. AllAboutFeed [the Netherlands], 19 percent) and the United Republic of Tanzania One possibility is that carbon traders will February 2008.) (45 percent). look at the value of carbon stored in the Development projects should, therefore, vegetation of Ngoyla-Mintom and conclude Development should not affect forests not cause a serious threat to the declining that it is worth protecting for the stream of The debate on whether to conserve natural forest cover in Uganda. There are non- offsets it could generate under REDD, a forests or clear them for investment and destructive investments that can be nascent mechanism for fighting climate development projects is intensifying. At the undertaken within and around forests such change by protecting tropical forests. While recent international conference on climate as tree planting, ecotourism, research and REDD is only in its earliest incarnation, there change in Bali, Indonesia, proposals were beekeeping. These ventures have potentially are signs that it is progressing. Last week, made to look beyond development and lucrative returns but are friendly to Aceh province in Indonesia signed the first commit more resources towards conservation of both the environment and official REDD deal and the World Bank has environment and forest conservation. forests. committed US$300 million to its newly How do developing countries such as Climate-related negative effects of created Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, a Uganda industrialize and transform their deforestation unfolding in Uganda have scheme that will offer tropical countries economies in the wake of increasing calls for already had a retrogressive impact on carbon offset credits to preserve forests. the conservation of forests to mitigate global production. With the persistent A conservative look at Ngoyla-Mintom warming? Sustainable development, a encroachment on central forest reserves and shows that its 830 000 ha of forest store over development paradigm that makes the case the rapid depletion of trees on private land, 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide for maximizing the benefits of investment erratic weather is likely to get worse and (assuming 250 tonnes of carbon dioxide/ha – while minimizing environmental degradation, could be replicated in other parts of Uganda. actual values may exceed 700 tonnes). is the way to go. Mitigating and reversing this climate trend Should Ngoyla-Mintom qualify for REDD, the Credible development projects should requires improving planning to maximize forest protection scheme would seem likely have comprehensive guidelines on investment while conserving forests and the to offer competitive returns relative to environmental conservation. Projects should environment. logging concessions. be subjected to environmental impact On 3 December 2007, the Government REDD calculations. From 2000 to 2005, assessments to mitigate degradation. There launched a US$653 million Natural Cameroon lost an average of 1 percent of are certain conservation ecosystems that Resources Sector Investment Plan. This its forest cover each year. For calculating must remain intact because of their role in seeks to increase forest cover to 30 percent the potential revenue generated from life-supporting systems. Substantial forest of the land area by 2012. The plan is REDD, this figure is applied to the cover is a proven ingredient in stabilizing ambitious but, if implemented, will buttress 830 000 ha of Ngoyla-Mintom forest cover, temperatures and climate. Trees suck up efforts towards stabilizing temperature and amounting to a forecast annual loss of large quantities of carbon dioxide, a major climate, which will in turn be a vital 8 300 ha. contributor to global warming and a hazard ingredient for sustainable agricultural and Assuming emissions of 160 tonnes for numerous ecosystems. industrial production and for posterity. of carbon dioxide/ha from logging, at

Uganda’s forest reserves were gazetted (Source: New Vision [Uganda], 14 January US$3 /tonne of CO2, REDD would generate around strategic locations such as 2008.) credits worth US$64 million (net present mountains, waterbodies and areas with value over 30 years using a 5 percent unique vegetation and wildlife species. Carbon traders, not conservationists, could discount rate), well in excess of the US$26 Forests cannot be transferred because they save the Cameroon rain forest million in concession fees (net present value are associated with these permanent The Government of Cameroon is looking to over 30 years at a 5 percent discount rate). features that cannot be replicated. Forests lease 830 000 ha of biodiverse tropical forest The US$38 million difference seems more must cover a significant portion of the to conservationists for an annual sum of than likely to make up the opportunity costs

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 10 SPECIAL FEATURES

of foregoing the jobs and local development Bamboo, the so-called "grass of hope", those of other species. This harmony from timber harvesting. has various features that should be taken between species allows them to interact These calculations err on the side of into account, according to Manda: bamboo positively with each other and fully utilize caution. Carbon emissions from the logging grows more rapidly than trees – as much as the resources of a given space. Artificial or deforestation of Ngoyla-Mintom would 400 mm or approximately 16 inches per day. landscapes proved far less productive than probably be considerably higher than the With a maturity of four to five years, natural ones. figures used, particularly if the land was multiple harvests are expected every The findings appear to have important later converted for agriculture. Furthermore, second year up to 120 years. It can also ramifications beyond plant species, since REDD credits are at present higher than easily be intercropped with vegetables. The the high biodiversity of plants depends on US$3 and European ETS credits currently establishment of a bamboo plantation non-plant species. Insects, birds and bats trade for more than US$90 per tonne. Even requires a minimal capital investment. are major pollinators for plant species; so, the current model suggests that at a (Source: Philippine Information Agency [the some plant species depend on a single price point of US$1.21, REDD credits would Philippines], 25 January 2008.) insect or animal species for pollination. break even with revenue from logging Therefore, to have a truly productive concessions. ecosystem all of the region's biodiversity Carbon traders, not conservationists, must be retained. could become the saviours of the Ngoyla- According to the study, "this result Mintom forest. (Source: The price of supports previous findings and also conservation: the unkindest cut, in The suggests that the effect of biodiversity in Economist print edition, 14 February 2008; natural ecosystems may be much larger mongabay.com, 15 February 2008.) than currently thought". The findings give wildlife conservationists a new powerful Bamboo as carbon sequester and income argument for species protection. Many booster biologists believe that we are currently Benguet. Should it prosper, bamboo entering a mass extinction, entitled the production may yet be an alternative for Holocene extinction event. Estimations environmental protection and as a source of range from 20 to 50 percent of species livelihood since intensive production is becoming extinct within approximately one being encouraged in the Cordillera region of hundred years. The reasons are varied for the Philippines. A Memorandum of species extinction but include climate Understanding (MOU) has been forged by change, habitat loss, pollution, bush trade, the Rotary Club of Makati Central, Centre of Biodiversity key to fighting climate change invasive species and the trafficking of Excellence for Regional Cooperation (CERC) Scientists from Brown University have species for medicinal products. and Cordillera Bamboo Development discovered that an ecosystem's productivity Citation: Pedro Flombaum and Osvaldo (CORBAMDEV) to implement the Bamboo is directly linked to its diversity of plant E. Sala. 2008. "Higher effect of plant for Life project, in undertaking advocacy, species. The discovery has granted species diversity on productivity in natural propagation and likewise for biodiversity new importance in the fight than artificial ecosystems". Proceedings of commercialization purposes. Other against climate change: the more productive the National Academy of Science in the signatories to the MOU were the provincial the ecosystem the more carbon it captures. United States of America, 22 April 2008.) government, Baguio diocese and the "It's a double whammy," Osvaldo Sala (Source: Mongabay.com [United States of Indigenous Peoples' Organization. explained. "We not only are disturbing our America], 29 April 2008.) A bamboo advocate, Under-Secretary planet by putting more carbon into the Edgar Manda, President of the Rotary Club atmosphere, but we're reducing the ability of Climate focus neglects biodiversity and of Makati Central, said that bamboo is ecosystems to capture and store it." Sala is poverty issues important for socio-economic development the director of the Environmental Change Many efforts to curb climate change have and ecology, which are seemingly being Initiative and the Sloan Lindemann paid little attention to conservation or to neglected and ignored. Bamboo is also Professor of Biology at Brown University. helping the world's poor, a think tank has known as a "carbon sequester" since 1 ha of The Brown University scientists warned. A paper by the International bamboo plantation sequesters 12 tonnes of conducted their study for six years in Institute for Environment and Development carbon dioxide each year. In watershed Patagonia. They divided an area into 90 plots (IIED) said that bad policy threatened protection, Manda said that a bamboo plant and then began systematically to remove biodiversity and made poor nations more typically binds 6 cm3 of soil and yields six native species from each plot and chart the vulnerable. The authors called for projects times more cellulose than the fast-growing changes in the plot's productivity. tackling global problems to work more pine tree. Productivity dropped as species were closely together in the future. Bamboo has a wide range of uses from removed. "Pro-poor, biodiversity friendly ways to its shoots to its rhizomes. Its waste The scientists believe that productivity is adapt and mitigate climate change are materials can also be used to produce linked to the diversity of species because of clearly the way forward," said co-author bamboo powder, dust for fuel, charcoal, "niche complementarity". In other words, in Krystyna Swiderska. "But for them to work, bricks, fibreboard, paper, lumber and an intact environment each species has local communities must be involved in clothing. evolved its own niche without interrupting decisions about how biodiversity is used.

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Good governance and fair access to land University said that land classed as idle is floods, changes in the natural biological and resources must be at the heart of these often not empty land, and can be home to cycles, with interferences in farming and efforts." She warned that "bad polices" diverse undomesticated species. fishing. could accelerate biodiversity loss and To cope with potential risks, Millington “The indigenous peoples need to increase the vulnerability of the world's recommends that environmental understand exactly what is happening to poorest communities. assessment is carried out to distinguish high their forests. They have always been Ms Swiderska and co-author Hannah biodiversity areas from low biodiversity areas forgotten when it is time for decision-making Reid wrote that poor communities heavily that are suitable for jatropha trees or other and the time has come for them to be taken depended upon biodiversity for food, biofuel plants. (Source: SciDev.Net Weekly into account because their ancestral medicine and sustaining livelihoods. Update, 17–24 March 2008.) knowledge on nature enables them to Protecting diversity would give these provide important inputs for the climate communities more options to adapt to a International Alliance will unite the forest debate,” said Yolanda Hernández, the warming world, they added. peoples of the world indigenous representative of the Maya While global agreements, such as the The forest peoples of the world are joining Kakchiquel people of Guatemala. CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), forces in order to have access to resources The differences that exist both within and the UN Framework Convention on Climate deriving from the thriving green market, among these countries may be better Change and the Millennium Development based on future mechanisms for the addressed in their quest for common Goals, acknowledged the impact of climate reduction of emissions from REDD, to be solutions to ensure the worthy survival of change on biodiversity and poor nations, created through the UN Climate Convention. the people and the conservation of forests, the authors said there were no shared or They want to use this opportunity so that i.e. to maintain the environmental services common goals to ensure that strategies did their fundamental rights may be fulfilled: the required for the balance of the planet. not conflict. "Policy-makers have focused right to land and to natural resources and “Therefore, the scenario provided by the on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions respect for their traditional livelihoods. REDD mechanism brings together the but biodiversity is also key," observed Ms Gathered in Manaus, in the heart of the interests of forest communities and the Swiderska. "For centuries, traditional Brazilian Amazon, the participants of the interests of scientists, environmentalists farmers have used the diversity within both Peoples of the Forest and Climate Change and members of social movements domesticated and wild species to adapt to Workshop have just set the basis for an throughout the world,” says Paulo changing conditions." She said that greater international alliance, based on a Brazilian Moutinho, from the Amazon Institute for recognition of local knowledge could help model with a 20-year long history that brings Environmental Research (IPAM). According deliver results on a global scale. (Source: together indigenous peoples, extractive to the coordinator of Instituto BBC News [United Kingdom], 18 February producers and riverine populations, inspired Socioambiental, Márcio Santilli, this is also 2008.) by the efforts of Chico Mendes. The new an economic opportunity capable of alliance will function as a network and changing the balance of forces on behalf of Chinese biofuel “could endanger transnational forum for the exchange of the acknowledgement of the territorial biodiversity” experiences among forest populations and rights of the traditional and indigenous Beijing. Using China's forests and “idle mostly for influencing international peoples. (Source: ForestNewsWire (press land” to produce biofuels could pose a discussions on climate, deforestation and release) [Canada], April 2008.) p threat to biodiversity, experts warned at an mechanisms for the reduction of greenhouse international meeting. Spike Millington, gas emissions. chief technical advisor to the European The International Alliance of Forest Union-China Biodiversity Programme, Peoples was unanimously approved on raised the problem earlier this month 4 April by the 11 countries that signed the CORRECTION: SAGO PALM (7 March) at the International Workshop on Manaus Declaration: Brazil, Colombia, Costa (METROXYLON SPP.) Biodiversity and Climate Change, held in Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Beijing, China. Paraguay, Nicaragua, the Bolivarian Republic Unfortunately, during typesetting one In July 2007, China released its middle- of Venezuela, Suriname and Panama and by line was omitted from the text in the first and long-term plan for renewable energy. the members of delegations from Africa column of page 10 of Non-Wood News The plan encourages the development of (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Asia 16. The sentence should have read: “The non-grain biofuels, including cassava- and (Indonesia). The document was approved with two primary uses are for the production sorghum-based ethanol in northeast and the participation of UN observers and of edible starch and durable leaf thatch". south China, and jatropha-based biodiesel observers of Non-governmental In addition, in order to clarify the text in in southwest China's Guizhou, Sichuan and Organizations (NGOs) from Brazil, the United the box on Edible starch on the same Yunnan provinces. But, according to Kingdom and the United States. page, the author has advised that: “This Millington, the region of southwest China In spite of the differences in legislation synopsis is for the lesser known species of targeted coincides with the home of the last regarding the use and conservation of forests sago palms found to the east and remaining intact natural forests in China. that exist in these countries still hosting northeast of New Guinea and does not He added that the degraded forests in the major extensions of rain forests, they share include the most important economic area also play an important role in common problems and already feel the species M. sagu". biodiversity. Liu Xuehua, an associate negative effects of climate change upon the professor of environment at Tsinghua planet in similar ways: severe droughts,

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 12 NEWS AND NOTES

Simulating nontimber forest product management in tropical mixed forests. “Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) J. Forestry, 105(6): 301–306.) Fair trade and organic product consist of goods of biological origin development in malaria commodities other than wood, derived from forests, markets is unlikely, although perhaps other wooded land and trees outside BIOPESTICIDAL PLANT- not impossible. For example, the forests.” %DERIVED ESSENTIAL OILS African native chrysanthemums used as «Les produits forestiers non ligneux source material for pyrethrum could be sont des biens d’origine biologique Boreal forest may be home to new farmed organically under fair trade autres que le bois, dérivés des forêts, medicines cooperative management and des autres terres boisées, et des arbres In recent years, global initiatives and developed for vector control use hors forêts.» multilateral partnerships for the prevention domestically, if intellectual property «Productos forestales no madereros and treatment of malaria have taken great and patented technologies allowing for son los bienes de origen biológico strides towards the reduction of malaria effective product manufacture were distintos de la madera derivados de los deaths, in garnering a strong funding base equitably shared. If a new generation bosques, de otras tierras boscosas y de and in identifying regimes and products that of insecticides needs to be developed, los árboles fuera de los bosques.» are effective in disease vector control. In produced and broadly adopted as a (FAO’s working definition) order for these regimes and products to public good for malaria control, reach full coverage of malaria-vulnerable biopesticides may provide effective populations, global initiative partners solutions that more equitably support emphasize demand creation among sustainable regional economies and consumers of malaria commodities, environmental protection. %APPROACHES TO together with subsidy and pricing structures Botanical raw materials and plant- NTFP MODELLING that work for villagers living in poverty, while derived essential oils known to be providing a reasonable profit margin for insecticidal via traditional knowledge Models of tropical mixed forests for private sector suppliers. Effective social and showing promise for malaria vector simulation of multiple-use forest marketing of approved technologies control – lemon grass, eucalyptus, management are of importance because of depends on wide acceptance and persistent galangal, tea tree, peppermint, thyme, the significance of both timber and non- use of a variety of synthetic insecticidal oregano, rosemary, citrus species, timber forest products (NTFPs) for large treatments. However, the installation of new citronella, rosewood, geranium, and numbers of the rural poor. Models capable and emerging markets for approved malaria cinnamon among others – can be of accurately simulating multiple-use commodities, although proven to reduce grown and processed by agrarian forest management and their impacts child deaths from malaria, creates new villagers for their own local and could be used to address questions such disparities between developed and regional malaria commodities markets as, how much of a given NTFP can be developing nations, since only a few, large if appropriate intellectual property extracted before jeopardizing production of multinational manufacturers are capable of rights are secured for villagers for the other products, and how NTFPs should be producing approved technologies. common good. extracted or silvicultural treatments Meanwhile, concerns over the potential applied to increase timber and NTFP long-term health and environmental effects production. Based on the review of the of insecticidal toxicity remain largely literature, the authors observed that i) unaddressed. there is practically no integration between Funding is needed for the research and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: studies that focus on timber and those of development of alternatives, such as Jennifer Chesworth, Founding Director, NTFPs; and ii) in most cases, the biopesticidal plant-derived essential oils, Herbalists Without Borders, Box 348, limitations of common NTFP modelling and for capacity building that enables the Boalsburg, PA 16827, United States. approaches are rarely acknowledged. The village-level production of malaria E-mail: [email protected] or authors identify key processes that require commodities. Supporting such initiatives [email protected] empirical data collection and suggest may ultimately prove to be a greater social modifications to models to represent better good than building consumer demand for multiple-use forest management. imported products that potentially create BIOPROSPECTING/ (Source: D. Ribeiro do Valle, C.L. new health and environmental risks. %BENEFIT-SHARING Staudhammer & W.P. Cropper. 2007. (Source: Transforming the malaria OR BIOPIRACY? commodities market: the need for interdisciplinary research and Plans to control access to the Amazon development of alternatives to synthetic Brazil's Congress is to be asked to consider pesticide applications for disease vector a law that could require foreign visitors and control. Paper prepared by Jennifer workers in the Amazon region to have a Chesworth, 2008. Available at: permit. The legislation is designed to www.herbalistswithoutborders.org/ prevent outside interference and illegal use Chesworth.MalariaCommodities.pdf) of the rain forest's resources. Those in the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 NEWS AND NOTES 13

region without a permit would be fined up long distances the San would have to travel to ginseng that are highly in demand in to US$60 000. the nearest health facility. It was found that international markets, were almost However, some scientists have warned men, women and children all have completely wiped out in the wilds of that, if passed, the measure could have a considerable knowledge about traditional Nagaland. A similar situation occurred for negative impact on research and would force medicines. Taxus baccata and Cephallu taxus, found in experts to look elsewhere. The author recommended that the San be Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which There has long been a suspicion in some educated about the potential value of their are used in western countries for sections of Brazilian society that not all the traditional medicine and, in particular, their medicines to cure cancer. These plants are attention focused on the Amazon region is intellectual property rights and their right to being smuggled out to neighbouring well motivated. In an interview with the benefit from any marketing of the medicine. Myanmar in truckloads from the Kohima Associated Press news agency, Brazil's She said that the Government, in and Phek districts, Rengma alleged. National Justice Secretary Romeu Tuma said collaboration with international research The latest medicinal plant to fall prey to that Brazil wanted the world to visit the institutions, should undertake research into biopiracy is Paris cordifolia, a poisonous Amazon, but he also said the country wanted traditional remedies. herb used for manufacturing high value visitors to inform the Government when they Last year, in the absence of legislation, the drugs. It usually grows during summer in were coming and what they were planning to Government established an interim the shade of woods and is difficult to spot. do while there. "We want to establish the bioprospecting committee to coordinate its Although the plant generally bears four Amazon as ours," he said. approach on biotrade and bioprospecting. leaves and is called quadrifolia in the West, In recent years, the Brazilian Government Biotrade and bioprospecting have the the Nagaland variety has six leaves, which has become increasingly fearful of what it potential to generate significant economic means that a single stem can give more views as biopiracy, or the appropriation of benefits for Namibia yet, given the absence of products so that demand is high. The plant traditional or indigenous knowledge and appropriate and watertight legislation, the is now extensively used for homoeopathic biological resources, in what is the world's country would lose potential revenue sources medicines for curing headaches and chronic largest remaining rain forest. if they are exploited without proper benefit- respiratory and bronchial infections. The Government insists that it is not trying sharing agreements, the Ministry of Rengma said that local Myanmar drugs to criminalize foreigners visiting or working Environment and Tourism Deputy Minister companies have now engaged in the region, but simply trying to distinguish said at an access and benefits sharing intermediaries to collect P. cordifolia from between the good and the bad. workshop held with several other countries the Kohima and Phek districts after it was The proposals would require overseas last year. (Source: New Era (Windhoek), 12 completely eradicated from the hills of organizations, including religious groups and March 2008.) Manipur. The herbs are taken by truck to individuals, to seek authorization to be in the the Moreh trade point on the Manipur- area from both the Justice and Defence Myanmar border on the way to the Ministries. (Source: BBC News [United neighbouring country. (Source: The Hindu Kingdom], 26 April 2008.) [India], 2 May 2008.)

Namibia: San medicine could be hijacked Filipino scientists developing system to The San people stand to be robbed of their stop biopiracy knowledge of traditional medicine because of To prevent biopiracy of indigenous ignorance about the value this medicine communities’ health practices that modern carries, says Vicky Dan of the University of medical societies have proved to be effective, Namibia. Her study of San traditional medical Filipino scientists are developing a national usage at Farm Six in Tsumeb found that San Biopiracy rampant in Nagaland, India digital library to take stock of the materials. traditional medicine, which is referred to as Kohima. (Press Times of India.) Resource- Dr Jaime Montoya, executive director of the “open air pharmacy”, is in high demand. rich Nagaland is plagued by biopiracy with the Philippine Council for Health Research The study looked into San indigenous rare medicinal herbs, orchids and other and Development (PCHRD) said that a P10- medicinal knowledge and how it is shared. endangered species being smuggled out of million system is being developed to protect Ms Dan found that the level of awareness of the state, NGOs have claimed. the country’s biomedical indigenous what the San people has is very low, which Many plants are being taken away by knowledge from piracy by unscrupulous could be a loophole for profiteers. She said pharmaceutical companies through foreign researchers. According to Montoya, that the danger arising from such a intermediaries who engage locals to collect the national digital library will contain data situation, if it should occur, is that the San naturally grown species for derisory sums, on local communities’ health practices that themselves would reap few or no benefits Thomas Rengma, Media Secretary of Peoples are acceptable to medical societies, in order from commercial exploitation of the natural Group, a Naga environmental NGO, told the to avoid biopiracy and “protect the heritage" remedies. Press Times of India. He said that sheer of Filipinos. The study found that the San use ignorance about the benefits to be accrued by PCHRD has started documenting traditional medicine to treat all diseases the people if formal business in medicinal indigenous health practices all over the except tuberculosis. A variety of plants are plants and herbs were to be undertaken has country and expects to finish its research used to treat colds and flu, aches and pains, aggravated biopiracy in the state. and the digital library by 2010. malaria and high blood pressure; modern Some years ago Panax ginseng and P. Montoya added that the Philippines is medicine is not considered because of the pseudo-ginseng, the local species of teeming with raw materials that can be used

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to develop medicines to make the country looked at the sustainability of growing a DÉVELOPPEMENT DES self-reliant in life-enhancing drugs. range of indigenous African fruits and the PFNL COMME MOYEN The Department of Health is promoting effect it could have on combating %DE RÉDUCTION ten medicinal plants that are already malnutrition and poverty in the continent. DE LA PAUVRETÉ DES available in commercial preparations, Twenty-four fruits were chosen for their FEMMES RURALES namely: lagundi, verba buena, sambong, potential to contribute to nutrition – tsaang gubat, ampalaya, niyug-niyogan, particularly for children – and to economic Le dernier Rapport de Suivi Mondial (RSM) bayabas, akapulko, ulasimang bato and development. Among these fruits are aizen, 2007 de la Banque Mondiale estime que bawang. (Source: GMANews.TV, 11 March balanites, baobab, butterfruit, ebony, marula parmi les 900 millions d’habitants les plus 2008.) and tamarind. pauvres de la planète, les plus touchés se Traditionally, according to the report, situent en Afrique. La majorité se concentre indigenous fruits grew wild and were not toujours en zone rurale, les femmes rurales CITES AND AGARWOOD- domesticated. With the advent of colonialism, et les enfants demeurent les couches les %PRODUCING TAXA fruits from Asia and America were plus vulnérables. Au cours des10 dernières introduced, and Africa's fruits faded into the années, le nombre de femmes vivant dans At the Conference of the Parties CoP13 savannahs and jungles. Mark Dafforn, who la pauvreté a augmenté plus rapidement United Nations Climate Change Conference directed the study, believes that farming que celui des hommes, en particulier dans in 2004, the two genera Aquilaria (c. 24 these fruits will be extremely sustainable. les pays en développement. La pauvreté species) and Gyrinops (c. seven species) were "Their success will draw on local resources continue de perpétuer en zone rurale included in the Convention on International and local knowledge, and these are an sahélienne et magrébine. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna ancestral heritage in which people can take Un développement durable et une and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. The justifiable pride. [The fruits] have the added croissance économique à la fois soutenue et implementation of trade controls for these advantage of having survived conditions like durable ne seront possibles que si l'on commodities poses a challenge for CITES drought and floods for millennia," he told améliore la situation économique, sociale, authorities. SciDev.Net, making them better suited for politique, juridique et culturelle des CoP14 has now decided upon the following sustainability than imported varieties. femmes. Le développement durable doit measures: i) member countries involved in The report advocates not only large-scale s'appuyer sur un développement social trade in agarwood should produce farming, but encourages individuals to select équitable donnant aux pauvres et, plus identification materials for all forms of their best crops and share them with others particulièrement, aux femmes pauvres, les traded products under CITES control; ii) they for propagation, stating that collaboration moyens d'exploiter rationnellement les should agree on which agarwood products between amateurs and professional ressources naturelles. C’est dans cette are to be exempted from CITES control and, horticulturalist and scientists will be the key optique qu’œuvre les organismes once agreed, a proposal for the amendment to success. "Even if just for home use rather internationaux afin de réaliser les objectifs of the current annotation for agarwood- than markets, they could lead to better du Millénaire pour le développement (OMD). producing species should be put forward to nourishment in the general rural population, L’exploitation, la transformation et CoP15; iii) a set of principles, criteria and an essential foundation for any economic le commerce de certains produits existant indicators for the formulation of non- improvement in Africa," adds Dafforn. à l’état naturel ont souvent permis detrimental findings for agarwood-producing Jane Guyer, professor of anthropology at de suppléer aux déficits alimentaires species should be developed; and iv) a the United States-based Johns Hopkins et de fournir des apports financiers, en workshop aimed at strengthening the University and a member of the panel for the particulier durant la période de soudure. capacity of member countries to implement report, points out that these crops are L’arganier au Maroc et le karité au Sahel agarwood-related decisions should be held already valued and used in many parts of sont des exemples d’espèces végétales before CoP15. (Source: Medicinal Plant Africa. "These crops were never lost to the naturelles d’une grande importance pour Conservation, 13, December 2007.) people; they have just been lost to the kind of les populations rurales, particulièrement agricultural science that focused mainly on pour les femmes, qui méritent d’être internationally commercialized crops." mises en relief. Une meilleure gestion et CULTIVATING WILD FRUITS (Source: SciDev.Net Weekly Update, 4–11 un développement de la filière économique %“COULD BOOST AFRICAN February 2008.) de l’arganier marocain et du karité NUTRITION” burkinabé pourraient contribuer à la réalisation des OMD. Africa's traditional fruits could boost Le Sahel et le Maghreb disposent d’un nutrition, environmental stability and important potentiel de produits forestiers economic development if given the right non ligneux (PFNL), potentiel qui mérite scientific and agricultural support, says a d’être valorisé. La gestion participative et le report. The report, by the United States développement de la filière économique du National Research Council, was released last karité et de l’arganier permettraient de week (30 January) and is the third in a series réduire l’extrême pauvreté et la faim. Cela by the council called “Lost crops of Africa”. pourrait améliorer les conditions de vie des A panel of experts from various African femmes en milieu rural. L’arganier et le countries, with input from ordinary workers, karité jouent un important rôle tant sur le

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plan socioéconomique qu’écologique au révèle plusieurs contraintes. En effet, il Maroc et au Burkina. Ces deux PFNL existe un risque réel de voir les femmes rater fertilisent les sols et les protègent contre cette opportunité à cause de leur pauvreté, l’érosion; ils font également l’objet d’un leur ignorance, l’analphabétisation, et le commerce international qui devient de plus manque de financement et de moyens de en plus important. production adaptés à la démarche de qualité L’arganier et le karité recèlent plusieurs exigée par le marché international. Il faut avantages: ils protègent l’environnement et aussi tenir compte de l’intérêt grandissant constituent une source de revenus qu’accordent les hommes propriétaires A manual for practitioners supplémentaires pour les femmes rurales. terriens à l’arganier et au karité mettant en

Les branches d’activité de l’arganier et du valeur leurs droits de propriété, freinant ainsi Community-based ecological monitoring. karité sont devenues une grande opportunité le travail des femmes dans les zones de développement particulièrement pour les d’exploitation. PFNL, et contribuer à rendre leur femmes. Le commerce du karité et de Le manque d’accès au marché utilisation plus rationnelle; l’arganier constitue de nos jours un vrai international du karité et de l’arganier, • contribuer à l’accroissement des paradigme économique, du fait de la l’éloignement et les contraintes de transport, revenus des femmes en zone rurale en croissante demande du marché extérieur. et la faiblesse des prix auxquels les femmes aidant au renforcement de leur capacité Ces deux PFNL sont actuellement très vendent leurs produits aux collecteurs afin qu’elles puissent intégrer les demandés par les industries primaires réduisent les retombées que ces réseaux commerciaux régionaux et agroalimentaires et cosmétiques ressources naturelles devraient procurer aux internationaux; européennes. femmes rurales. En plus de ces facteurs qui • sensibiliser les hommes agriculteurs et A l’heure actuelle, plusieurs organismes freinent le développement de la filière nomades à protéger l’environnement, et de développement appuient la valorisation du économique de ces deux PFNL, il y a les inciter à aider au développement des karité au Burkina Faso et de l’arganier au également les problèmes de surexploitation femmes. Maroc. Ces différents projets s’inscrivent et de changements climatiques qui La gomme arabique et tout le capital non dans la continuité des programmes de entraînent une réduction massive des ligneux dont dispose la Mauritanie nécessite développement, qui ont centré leurs couvertures végétales et le risque de une valorisation. La Mauritanie pourrait en stratégies sur plusieurs approches (bien- compromettre les générations futures, effet suivre l’exemple de l’arganier marocain être, pauvreté et efficacité) concernant empêchant ainsi le développement durable. et du karité burkinabé pour développer son l’intégration des femmes dans le Cette situation nécessite la mise en place potentiel en matière de PFNL. Cela pourrait développement. Ces politiques, inscrites de programmes spécifiques pour répondre lui permettre de réduire la pauvreté et la dans la continuité des concepts du aux besoins pratiques et stratégiques des faim en milieu rural, de protéger développement durable, ont pour fondement femmes, et pour valoriser leurs l’environnement, de lutter contre l’exode la croissance économique. Ainsi compétences et les habiliter à contribuer rural et l’avancée du désert. l’augmentation de la production locale de pleinement au développement économique, (Source: Gestion participative et karité et d’arganier devrait générer un social et culturel de la communauté. développement des produits forestiers non développement économique et pour les Pour que les contraintes relevées au ligneux comme moyen de réduction de la femmes rurales et, par conséquent, niveau des filières de l’arganier et du karité pauvreté des femmes rurales: cas du préserver la ressource naturelle. soient levées, il est nécessaire que les Maghreb et du Sahel par Mme Hawa War, En favorisant la commercialisation du femmes participent à la vie économique et à Volontaire, FAO, Le Caire.) beurre de karité et de l’arganier vers le la lutte contre la pauvreté par leurs activités marché international, les femmes pauvres domestiques, communautaires et POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS, CONTACTER: pourront accroître leurs revenus (rôle professionnelles rémunérées et non Pape Djiby Koné, Forestier principal, productif) en s’insérant pour cela dans des rémunérées. Leur autonomie économique Bureau régional de la FAO pour le Proche-Orient, groupements féminins (rôle est une condition essentielle à l'élimination El Eslah El Zerai Street, 11 Dokki, communautaire). Elles pourront ainsi de la pauvreté. Pour que la gestion et le Cairo, B.P. 2223, Le Caire, Egypte. assurer le bien-être de leurs enfants et de développement des PFNL puissent Courriel: [email protected] leur famille (rôle reproductif). Qui plus est, contribuer à la réalisation des OMD, et www.fao.org/forestry/webview/media?mediaId= l’importance économique de ces ressources améliorer les conditions de vie de la femme 13331&langId=1 naturelles se répercutera alors sur la rurale, il est nécessaire qu’il y ait un préservation de l’environnement. L’arganier encadrement des femmes et leur implication et le karité offrent ainsi une réelle réelle dans l’économie. Par ailleurs, on DRINKS AND JUICES opportunité de développement aux femmes devrait: %USING NWFPS rurales à travers le financement et • insérer les femmes, les responsabiliser l’encadrement des coopératives associatives et les former davantage dans la gestion Mulberry juice drink unveiled féminines de la part de l’Etat, des ONG des PFNL et la production de produits de The Progressive Food Company has nationales et internationales. qualité; announced the launch of the United Malgré les efforts de développement • sensibiliser les femmes et promouvoir la Kingdom's first ever mulberry juice drink consentis par les femmes et les partenaires protection de l’environnement en under the mul-be brand name. It is a not- de développement, le diagnostic du secteur décourageant l’exploitation abusive des from-concentrate (NFC), single fruit, 50

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percent juice drink and is a premium super It's interesting to note that some energy défeuillée se trouve ainsi sérieusement juice drink for adults, one of the fastest drinks are banned in Europe because the perturbée. A peine de nouvelles feuilles growing sectors in the United Kingdom soft safety of these energizing ingredients is not apparaissent-elles qu’elles sont récoltées à drinks market. The drink contains no known and they are deemed potentially nouveau. Cette méthode de récolte bien que artificial colourings, sweeteners, dangerous. There is a difference between moins destructrice que celle pratiquée au flavourings or preservatives and has an energy and sports drinks. Kids and parents Cameroun, a une incidence non négligeable extended ambient shelf-life. should not confuse energy drinks with sports sur la croissance et la capacité de Mulberries are rich in anthocyanins – drinks, which rehydrate the body. Sports régénération de la plante. powerful antioxidants that help cleanse the drinks provide sugars, which the body burns Au Cameroun, très peu de cueilleurs se body of free radicals, harmful molecules to create energy and replenish electrolytes, donnent la peine, comme au Congo, de that can cause serious cell damage. but do not contain caffeine. (Source: Calgary prélever uniquement les feuilles sur la liane. Mulberries are a natural source of vitamin Herald [Canada], 16 April 2008.) Celle-ci est préalablement coupée à la base C and each bottle of mul-be provides 70 de manière à être sûr de ne laisser aucune percent of the recommended daily amount feuille. En forêt dense, le Gnetum utilise (RDA). (Source: talkingretail [United parfois des arbres comme tuteur autour Kingdom], 23 April 2008.) desquels il s’enroule jusqu’à atteindre la cime. Dans pareilles circonstances, la liane The buzz on energy drinks est coupée avant d’être déroulée. Au cas où Energy drinks are flooding the market. l’opération de déroulage de la liane autour They've become so popular that sales at de l’arbre serait ardue voire impossible, le convenience stores are surpassing those of cueilleur abat purement et simplement le soft drinks. It's common now to see coolers tuteur avant de faire la récolte, feuille par by checkouts containing only energy drinks. feuille. Une autre méthode de récolte encore Naturally, kids frequent corner stores and plus dangereuse pour le potentiel productif are big consumers of these beverages, but usitée au Cameroun consiste à déraciner la parents should be aware that there are liane avant d’en collecter les feuilles, ce qui health implications to this choice that EXPLOITATION DES rend impossible tout rejet de souche. Ces children and teens are making. % FEUILLES EN AFRIQUE méthodes particulièrement destructrices et Energy drinks have their place. They're CENTRALE utilisées à une large échelle compromettent meant to supply mental and physical sérieusement l’avenir des Gnetum dans leur stimulation for a short period of time. But Dans la zone d’Afrique centrale, les feuilles milieu naturel. most are packed with double or even triple issues des forêts sont très consommées. La Les feuilles de plantes herbacées de la the caffeine of a caffeinated pop. Caffeine récolte de ces feuilles est variée, selon famille des marantacées ne sont pas can have serious effects on young bodies. qu’elles proviennent d’une liane, d’un comestibles, mais elles jouent un rôle High doses of caffeine in adolescents have arbuste, d’un arbre ou d’une plante prépondérant dans l’alimentation. En effet, been reported to cause severe heart herbacée. elles servent d’emballage pour de palpitations and even seizures. Teens are Les lianes dont les feuilles sont les plus nombreux mets d’Afrique centrale (à l’instar reaching for energy drinks to stay awake all récoltées dans le bassin du Congo sont du bâton de manioc, des gâteaux de night to study, party or to play computer or Gnetum africanum et G. bucholzianum pistache, d’arachide, etc.). Les espèces les video games. Most have no idea of the (okok ou eru). Ces feuilles sont récoltées et plus commercialisées et donc les plus effects these energy drinks have on their consommées dans l’ensemble des pays exploitées sont: Megaphrynium bodies and mental health. étudiés en dehors de la Guinée équatoriale. macrostachyum et Sarcophrynium Most energy drinks contain a variety of Elles font même l’objet d’échanges brachystachys. Ces dernières poussent medicinal ingredients. Natural sources of régionaux et internationaux (marchés dans le sous-bois en forêt et préfèrent caffeine such as guaraná, a Brazilian plant importants vers le Nigéria et même généralement les zones humides. whose seeds are high in caffeine, and yerba l’Europe). Le Gnetum se trouve ainsi la proie L’exploitation de ces plantes est très mate, a South American herb used to make de la convoitise de nombreux cueilleurs intensive mais seules les feuilles «adultes» tea, are commonly added. Many drinks also parmi lesquels certains n’ont pour seul sont récoltées et ces espèces possèdent des contain ginseng, a herb that can increase souci que la maximisation du profit financier capacités exceptionnelles de multiplication energy but may also cause anxiety. immédiat. végétative. Il n’y a, pour l’heure, aucune Sometimes glucuronolactone is added and En République du Congo où les raison de s’inquiéter quant à l’avenir de ces this type of carbohydrate is known to affect collecteurs deviennent de plus en plus espèces dans leur milieu naturel malgré mood and act as a diuretic. Taurine is often nombreux, seules les feuilles sont une exploitation qui se déroule toute contained, and it is an amino acid (building généralement récoltées sur la liane et cette l’année. block of protein) that aids in circulation. dernière est rarement coupée. (Source: Gestion des ressources naturelles Currently there is no research indicating Malheureusement, par ignorance ou fournissant les produits forestiers non how these ingredients work together or nécessité économique «vitale» peut-être, ligneux alimentaires en Afrique centrale. what effect they have on the human body. toutes les feuilles sont récoltées dans la Produits forestiers non ligneux - Document The combination of these substances could mesure du possible. L’activité de travail n° 5, FAO, 2007. be quite harmful. photosynthétique de la liane complètement www.fao.org/forestry/site/40716/en)

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FRAGRANCE enlarge this range. Company chief HOUSE SOURCES executive officer Gilles Andrier highlighted %SUSTAINABLE the importance of securing sustainable MANGROVE USES – WOOD AND INGREDIENTS future resources for companies with such NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS a large range of natural ingredients. Givaudan, the Swiss fragrance house, has (Source: CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com Fuel Honey entered into ethical sustainability [France], 7 February 2008.) Fuelwood Wax partnerships with Australian and Charcoal Birds Venezuelan producers as part of a move Construction Mammals towards sourcing of sustainable Timber and Reptiles ingredients. It has embarked on its scaffolding Other fauna Innovative Naturals programme, which it Heavy Food, drugs and hopes will secure the supply of natural construction beverages resources for the fragrances of the future. Railway sleepers Sugar The two ingredients involved in the Mining props Alcohol programme to date are sandalwood Boat-building Cooking oil sourced from the southern part of Western Dock pilings Vinegar Australia and the tonka bean found in the Beams and poles Tea substitute Caura basin of the Bolivarian Republic of Flooring and Fermented drinks Venezuela. panelling Dessert topping Australian sandalwood. The first of Thatch and Condiments (bark) Givaudan's partnerships is with matting Sweetmeats sandalwood producer Mount Romance. Fence posts and (propagules) The sandalwood is harvested by the chipboard Vegetables Aboriginal communities in the southern Fishing (fruit/leaves) part of Western Australia and Givaudan Fishing stakes Agriculture claims to be the first fragrance house to FUNCTIONS AND USES Fishing boats Fodder use the Aboriginal source of the wood. %OF MANGROVES Wood for Household items The company will pay a premium for the smoking fish Glue supply to be passed to the harvesters; a Mangrove forest ecosystems fulfil a Tannin for Hairdressing oil transaction that will be inspected by the number of important functions and provide nets/lines Tool handles Songman Circle of Wisdom (an a wide range of services at the local and Fish-attracting Rice mortars independent indigenous certification body). national levels (see Box). Fishers, farmers shelters Toys In addition, a fund to finance harvesting and other rural populations depend on Textiles and Matchsticks equipment has been set up by Givaudan them as a source of wood (e.g. for timber, leather Incense and Mount Romance, bringing benefits to poles, posts, fuelwood and charcoal) and Synthetic fibres Other forest both the company and the harvesting NWFPs (food, thatch, especially from nipa (rayon) products communities. palm, fodder, alcohol, sugar, medicines Dye for cloth Packing boxes Venezuelan tonka beans. The second of and honey). Tannin for leather Wood for smoking the agreements is with the criollo peoples Mangroves were also often used for the preservation sheet rubber of Venezuela's Caura basin in partnership production of tannin suitable for leather Other natural Medicines with the non-profit organization work and for the curing and dyeing of products Paper products Conservation International to ensure the fishing nets. However, this production has Fish Paper – various sustainable sourcing of tonka beans declined in recent years, mainly because of Crustaceans types (Dipteryx odorata). Through the the introduction of nylon fishing nets and agreement, local communities will receive the use of chrome as the predominant technical and productivity assistance in agent for curing leather. exchange for their efforts in forest and Mangroves support the conservation of wildlife conservation. biological diversity by providing habitats, shellfish also depends on these coastal Like the sandalwood partnership, the spawning grounds, nurseries and forests. The role of mangroves in the agreement is to benefit both Givaudan by nutrients for a number of animals. These marine food chain is crucial. When improving the quality and harvesting of the include several endangered species and mangrove forests are destroyed, declines beans, and the local communities that will range from reptiles (e.g. crocodiles, in local fish catches often result. be supported in the pursuit of sustainable iguanas and snakes) and amphibians to Assessments of the links between economic activities. mammals (tigers – including the famous mangrove forests and the fishery sector Securing resources for the future. Panthera tigris tigris, the Royal Bengal suggested that for every hectare of forest Givaudan's fragrance division has a tiger, deer, otters, manatees and dolphins) cleared, nearby coastal fisheries lose portfolio of more than 190 natural raw and birds (herons, egrets, pelicans and some 480 kg of fish per year. (Source: FAO, materials and the Innovative Naturals eagles, to cite just a few). A wide range of 2007. The world's mangroves 1980–2005. programme is a way for the company to commercial and non-commercial fish and FAO Forestry Paper 153. Rome, FAO.)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 18 NEWS AND NOTES

applied research and ii) critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries and INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS essays. Instructions for authors and other AVAILABLE AT THE WORLD FOREST details are available from the JMPR Web INSTITUTE, UNITED STATES site.

The World Forest Institute Fellowship FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Program brings forestry and natural Donatus Owa, Editorial Assistant, resources professionals from around Journal of Medicinal Plant Research (JMPR). the world to work at the World Forest E-mail: [email protected] or Institute (WFI) (in Portland, Oregon) for [email protected]; six to 12 months. www.academicjournals.org/JMPR Fellows conduct an independent livelihood benefits and the alleviation of research project developed in poverty; ii) NTFPs and services derived from conjunction with their sponsors. forests; iii) the management of natural and %LATEST LAUNDRY SOAPS Projects may involve gathering seminatural forests and plantations for information, interviewing, visiting enhanced livelihood benefits, including Soap nuts aren't exactly new. In fact, the other organizations or planning a indigenous tree and forest management hard, nut-like fruit of the Sapindus conference. Fellows typically systems; iv) trees and common pool mukorossi (or soap nut tree) has been used summarize their projects in a report resources in land use and management as a natural detergent for hundreds of and poster published by WFI. In systems; and v) policies, institutional issues years – not just in the United States. Now, addition, a large component of the and implementation of rural development however, they're becoming an alternative programme involves travelling and forestry. to manufactured soap among green- visiting players in the Pacific Northwest A special issue of the journal (Vol. 18[1], leaning Americans. forest sector. Fellows visit forest lands, 2008) focused on the certification of NTFPs All you do is take a couple of soap nuts, research sites, manufacturing facilities and included articles on: place them in the small cotton sack that and NGOs. • certification of wild coffee in Ethiopia: comes with the nuts and throw the whole Project proposals are now being experiences and challenges; thing in the wash. Soap nuts don't foam, accepted. • NTFPs and certification: strange but they seem to clean well enough. (Some bedfellows; online discussions suggested they do best For more information, please contact: • experience with NTFP certification: in hot water.) They have a light scent and Angie DiSalvo, International Fellowship lessons from Brazil; can be tossed in the composter after Program Manager, World Forest Institute • certification for local realities: valuing they've been used. (Source: Minneapolis (a program of the World Forestry Center), traditional ecological knowledge of Star Tribune [United States], 31 December 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, NTFPs; 2007.) Oregon 97221, United States of America. • bridging the gap: Phytotrade Africa's E-mail: [email protected]; experience of the certification of http://wfi.worldforestry.org natural products; • certification of NTFPs in China: effects on food quality, forest conservation and rural development.

%JOURNALS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Michael S. Philip, Editor, Forests, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods Trees and Livelihoods, Luton Cottage, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, originated Bridgeview Road, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 in 1979 under the title of the International 5HB, Scotland, United Kingdom. Tree Crops Journal, adopted its new name E-mail: [email protected]; in 2001 in order to reflect its emphasis on www.foreststreesandlivelihoods.co.uk/ the diversity of tree-based systems within NON-PROFIT the field of rural development. It is a peer- Journal of Medicinal Plant Research %ORGANIZATIONS reviewed international journal publishing The monthly Journal of Medicinal Plant AND NGOS comments, reviews, case studies, research Research (JMPR) publishes articles in all methodologies and research findings and areas of research in medicinal plants. The Boreal Centre articles in order to promote discussion, JMPR welcomes the submission of The Boreal Centre for Conservation debate and the exchange of information and manuscripts that meet the general criteria Enterprise is a non-profit association views in its main subject areas: i) the of significance and scientific excellence. All concerned with community development in economic and social importance of trees articles are peer-reviewed. The following the Peace River region of northern British and forests for people, including their types of papers are considered for Columbia, Canada. The Centre’s goal is to cultural significance, potential for enhanced publication: i) original articles in basic and help improve the livelihoods of the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 NEWS AND NOTES 19

marginalized northern, rural and First secure the positive future of travel and material for making various medical Nation communities through the promotion tourism worldwide. agents, as well as for cosmetology and of ecologically responsible, financially As part of its mission, Tourism Cares for the food industry. Ginseng is a source viable and socially relevant “conservation- Tomorrow distributes charitable grants to of biologically active substances called based” enterprise. worthy tourism-related non-profit ginsenosides, evidencing various Since its formation in 2000, the Boreal organizations worldwide. It considers therapeutic effects. Red-rooted gromwell Centre has been engaged in market projects or programmes with either or both contains the valuable, biologically active opportunities research on NTFPs and has of the following goals: i) projects that substance shikonin, possessing facilitated regional consultations on protect, restore or conserve sites of bactericide and fungicide properties, community development. The Centre’s exceptional cultural, historic or natural as well as having a burn-treating effect. vision is being realized as individuals, significance; and ii) programmes that (Source: Russia-InfoCenter [Russian families and communities discover new, educate local host communities and the Federation], 4 February 2008.) environmentally sustainable business travelling public about the conservation opportunities. and preservation of sites. PLUGGING NTFPS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: %IN THE CONGO BASIN Reg Whiten, Executive Director, The Boreal Tourism Cares, 585 Washington St, Canton, Centre for Conservation Enterprise, Box 285, Massachusetts 02021, United States of America. The potential of NTFPs to reduce poverty Moberly Lake, British Columbia, VOC 1XO, Fax: +1-781-821-8949; e-mail: continues to divide opinion. Recently the Canada. Fax: +1-250-7889635; [email protected]; www.tourismcares.org Rainforest Foundation, a United Kingdom- e-mail: [email protected]; based charity campaigning for the www.peaceriverwatershed.ca/borealenterprise protection of rain forests and the (Please see page 69 for more information.) livelihoods of indigenous people who depend on them, added fuel to the debate Reforesting Scotland by publishing a survey of over 30 years of Reforesting Scotland is a Scottish charity research from the Congo Basin (The use of that works to promote and support people's non-timber forest products in the Congo benefits from forests and facilitates Basin: constraints and opportunities, by networking of those active in the ecological Alison L. Hoare). and social regeneration of Scotland. The survey concluded that, while NTFPs Reforesting Scotland promotes NTFPs themselves are rarely the answer to as an alternative use of forestry and has poverty alleviation, their importance held seminars on various aspects of NTFP nevertheless merits a fundamental shift in production and marketing. In addition, it forest management policy. Up to now, maintains the ForestHarvest Web site, policy-makers in the six countries surveyed Scotland's only Web site dedicated to PLANTS TO RAISE (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the providing information about the diversity of %BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the products available from Scottish IN SPACE Republic of the Congo and the Central woodlands. One of the purposes of the site African Republic) have prioritized timber is to help develop the untapped market Tomorrow, the Russian carrier vehicle over all other forest products. However, potential of these products. It includes Progress M63 will deliver a box with cells of according to the report, NTFPs provide information on gathering, management two plants – red-rooted gromwell important nutritional, financial and cultural and trading of NTFPs, including a database (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) and ginseng benefits to forest communities that are of buyers and case studies of operating (Panax ginseng) – to the orbit. The new often threatened by timber extraction. businesses. scientific experiment is aimed at studying Food, money and medicine. Sources of the peculiar features of the development of income from the forest vary across the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: plant cell cultures under zero gravity basin, but bushmeat and fish are often the Reforesting Scotland, 58 Shandwick Place, conditions for a potential rise in their most important. In some villages in Edinburgh EH2 4RT, Scotland, United Kingdom. biological activity. southern Cameroon, sales of bushmeat Fax: +44 (0)131 554 0088; The box will stay on board the accounted for 51 percent of annual e-mail: [email protected]; international space station until the middle incomes, compared with 32 percent from www.reforestingscotland.org/index.php of April under natural radiation conditions, agricultural sales. In the Central African charged particle flows and magnetic fields. Republic, hunters can earn between Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Cell cultures are usually time restricted – US$400 and US$700 per year, more than Tourism Cares for Tomorrow – the tourism culture lawn dries out in 60 days. However, the official minimum wage. Trade in forest industry's non-profit organization – exists this experiment provides an airproof insects is also big business; every year an to preserve, conserve and promote the container, allowing longer life of both cell estimated 9 600 tonnes of edible responsible use of the world's natural, and bacterial cultures. caterpillars are sold in the Democratic cultural and historic treasures, and to The plants chosen for the experiment Republic of the Congo capital, Kinshasa, support education and research to help are special. Ginseng biomass is a perfect alone.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 20 NEWS AND NOTES

Bushmeat, fish and insects also provide insects are farmed rather than gathered, the ivory resembles elephant ivory in both between 30 and 80 percent of the protein benefits they currently offer to these groups colour and hardness and is the only 100 needs of forest populations in the countries may be lost. percent sustainable alternative. Tagua is surveyed. Other major sources of income Cultivation should therefore be combined another name for the seed or nut and the from NTFPs include rattan cane, charcoal, with sustainable resource management in rich colours are created by staining and mushrooms, palm wine, edible vines, kola situ, says the Foundation report. Beyond dying it with natural plant extracts and oils. nuts and various fruits. this, it recommends a comprehensive set of The use of vegetable ivory provides an Forest products form the basis of policies aimed at supporting the NTFP alternative to cutting down rain forests for healthcare in the region. The high cost of sector; promoting policies are needed to farming and prevents elephants from being pharmaceutical medicines and the limited establish harvesting levels for threatened killed for their tusks. (Source: Easier numbers of university-trained doctors have species and to allocate harvesting licences. Lifestyle (press release) [United Kingdom], led to an increase in the use of traditional Further policies would be required to 21 February 2008.) medicines. In the southern province of develop certification schemes for NTFPs Cameroon, around 300 species of NTFPs are and to clarify land tenure and resource used medicinally and, in some parts of the rights of forest communities. Such policies TANNING: NEED Congo Basin, over 90 percent of the would offer a more holistic approach to the TO EXPLORE NICHE population relies on plant-based remedies. region's forests than the current focus on % MARKETS FOR EAST Felling the arguments for timber. Although timber, reflecting nutritional, financial, INDIAN LEATHER forests can prove bountiful, many NTFPs are environmental and cultural values. Revised under threat. Gnetum vines, for example, management plans for the region would be Chennai. Changing fashion trends and provide nutritious leaves much in demand in likely to include extraction of NTFPs, environmental awareness of consumers in urban markets, but deforestation is beekeeping, cultivation of medicinal plants, developed countries have created niche removing the trees that support the vines. agroforestry, insect rearing and markets for ecofriendly products such as Nudaurelia oyemensis – a widely consumed bioprospecting. (Source: New Agriculturist vegetable-tanned East Indian (EI) leather. caterpillar species – is threatened by the Web site: www.new-ag.info/index.php) This leather, produced in the small and loss of its preferred host plant, the sapelli cottage sectors, could be developed into a tree, which is highly valued for its timber. branded product with geographic indication, Rattan canes are frequently overharvested tanners say. because of their perceived status as a free According to the secretary of the Tanners or "open access" resource. Finally, strong Association of Trichy, V.R.S.M. Mohideen, urban demand for bushmeat has had a joint ventures for production and buy-back severe impact on animal numbers, arrangements for fashion and designer exacerbated by increasing human products from ecofriendly and vegetable- populations and diminishing forest areas. tanned leather could be identified to boost The need to protect the long-term supply India’s leather and leather products exports. of these products has been recognized by “It is also in tune with the international the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), fashion trend, which is switching over to fully among others, which has projects for the vegetable-tanned and environmentally domestication of some fruit species, such as friendly leathers,” he said. safou (Dacryodes edulis) and bush mango The unique technology and craftsmanship (Irvingia gabonensis). There are also trials to STYLISHLY SUSTAINABLE required to make vegetable-tanned EI leather incorporate rattan in agroforestry and the %JEWELLERY (East India leather, denoting its colonial Center for International Forestry Research legacy) is vested in the small-scale tanners (CIFOR) has supported cultivation of gnetum Sustainable jewellery label, LeJu’s and craft workers in the Trichy and Dindugal vines. collections are exploding with colour. areas of Tamil Nadu. EI leather is at present Towards sustainable forest management. Muted lilac, citrus lime, dark red and deep being considered for registration as a Domestication – including genetic aquamarine are contrasted with the natural “Geographic indication” product. “India is the improvement – and cultivation of species earth-toned colours of the vegetable ivory only source available to the world for EI outside the forests themselves are often and other tropical seeds making up the leather supply,” Mohideen told the The seen as the only way to ensure a continued range of stylish, vibrant jewellery. LeJu Financial Express. supply of many products. While combines the best in contemporary design EI leather dominated Indian leather acknowledging this, the Rainforest with naturally sustainable, plant-based exports until 1970. After the introduction of Foundation is concerned that cultivation may materials resulting in a unique, ecofriendly chrome-processed finished leather and the reduce the incentive for forest preservation, jewellery that is already gaining focus on exports of value-added consumer and may not stop overharvesting, since momentum with the fashion crowd. products, it was driven into the background. It people will continue to be attracted by a free LeJu specializes in the use of a special currently accounts for less than 5 percent of resource. In addition, the Foundation points seed known as vegetable ivory. The seed is finished leather exports. The EI tanners, now out that many forest products are collected harvested from palm tree species facing an uncertain future because of fiscal by women and the elderly or by vulnerable (Hyphaene sp. and Phytelephas sp.), found and policy constraints, believe that world groups such as Pygmies. If forest plants and in the Amazonian rain forest. Vegetable fashion-makers will create new value-added

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products using EI leather. However, poor ISBN 1014-9945. Available at: London law firm Stevenson Harwood drew patronage by the Indian mainstream leather www.fao.org/docrep/010/ up the pioneering deal, defining the industry, a 15 percent duty on exports, the a1105e/a1105e00.htm/) “ecosystem services” of the reserve as the high costs of environment protection and proven ability of rain forests to generate pollution control technologies, and import FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: rainfall, cool the atmosphere, store carbon, duty on essential ingredients such as wattle Simmone A. Rose, Forestry Officer, Forest moderate weather conditions and sustain extracts, have led to the closure of a large Products and Industries Division, FAO, biodiversity. number of EI leather tanneries, Mohideen Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. If it works, the project could create a new said. E-mail: [email protected]; paradigm for maintaining life on earth by Removal of export duty, liberal imports of www.fao.org/forestry/en/ paying for it – and not just for bugs – but for essential ingredients for tanning and all of us. (Source: Andrew Mitchell, government policy support for the promotion Adding value to forest resources Telegraph.co.uk [United Kingdom], 31 March of EI leather for world markets would give a Interest in NTFPs has grown with the 2008,) new lease of life to this traditional rural- increasing awareness of tropical forest based industry. (Source: The Financial deforestation and recognition of the need to How is a tree valued? Express [India], 14 January 2008.) add value to forest resources. Holistic A plane tree in central London has been management of NTFPs would maintain and valued at £750 000 under a new system that sustain the resource, contribute to puts a "price" on trees. How? TREE RESIN: INSULATION sustainable development, conserve forests A six-foot-wide (1.8 m) plane in Berkeley %RETROFITTERS PUSH and biodiversity and promote non-traditional Square, Mayfair, is thought to be the United “GREEN” ALTERNATIVE enterprises to improve local economies and Kingdom’s most valuable tree. Large, diversify the economic base of the rural poor. mature, city trees like this one are being FoamXperts, a Fishers-based business, is (Source: Asia – a rich source of NTFPs. blamed – sometimes wrongly and often trying to introduce what it says is a more Maskayu, 10, 2007.) fatally – for damage to neighbouring energy- efficient and earth-friendly product: properties. But it is hoped that a new tripolymer foam insulation. According to the Putting a value on rain forests valuation system will make it harder for company's vice president, the product is Biodiversity doesn't sell! At least that was the "expensive" trees to be felled because of water-based, with a high resin content frustrated cry of at least one delegate in New doubtful suspicions that they are to blame for derived from tree sap. It is also mould- and York last week at a conference of subsidence. fire-resistant, he said, and provides a higher corporations, NGOs and financiers to explore So how are trees priced? Size is the level of insulating properties because it innovations in biodiversity and business. biggest factor, followed by population density expands before hardening to conform to the At present, natural capital remains largely of the surrounding area (how many people shape of any space. And, perhaps more off the balance sheet of all but the most enjoy the tree); the size of the canopy; its life important, it is non-toxic. (Source: innovative companies. But this may be about expectancy; its impact (does it flower or drop Indianapolis Star [United States], 14 January to change with the announcement of a annoying honeydew); and any special 2008.) ground-breaking deal by a group of London- features, such as the fact that Queen Victoria based investors in the United Kingdom who planted it. The system has been on trial in aim to change the way the economy values London and is gradually being adopted by VALUING TREES the environment, by investing in rain forests local authorities elsewhere in the United %AND FORESTS as a global life-support system and to fight Kingdom, such as in Bristol. (Source: BBC climate change. News [United Kingdom], 23 April 2008.) p Revenues from forests of the Congo Basin The deal, announced by Canopy Capital at The humid dense forests of the Congo Basin the world's first Biodiversity and Ecosystem are of great economic importance to the six Finance Conference, involves guaranteed countries (Cameroon, Central African payments over five years to the Iwokrama Republic, the Republic of the Congo, International Centre in Guyana in return for Democratic Republic of the Congo, rights to the ecosystem services produced by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon) of the region; a rain forest reserve two and a half times the for example, contributing up to 18 percent to size of London, which the Centre manages on the gross domestic product (GDP) of the behalf of the Commonwealth. Central African Republic and 20 percent to The funds will be used to provide the foreign exchange earnings of Cameroon. livelihoods for the 7 000 indigenous people However, such revenues are calculated dependent on the reserve and to help support from timber harvesting, while the value of conservation of the rain forest. NWFPs is generally not accounted for in Canopy Capital aims to repackage the national statistics. (Source: J.C.Tieguhong rights into novel financial instruments such and O. Ndoye. 2007. The impact of timber as forest-backed bonds that will acquire The foundation of justice is good faith. harvesting on the availability of non-wood value over time for investors. Profits will be Marcus T. Cicero forest products in the Congo Basin. Forest shared with up to 80 percent of any upside Harvesting Case Study 23. Rome, FAO. going to the Iwokrama community.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 22 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

%BAMBOO way that harvesting trees will, since it grows layers to suit all outdoor pursuits, is back within weeks rather than the years launching a new line of bamboo thermal Dell develops an ecological bamboo needed for other trees. (Source: underwear to move towards more computer TECH.BLORGE.com [Australia], 30 April ecofriendly material that still fits the Bamboo this, bamboo that, what’s up with 2008.) technical criteria of the brand. the bamboo buzz? Bamboo thermal underwear wicks The bamboo plant is strong, renewable Bamboo speakers moisture away from your skin – keeping you and inexpensive. There are nearly 1 000 Panasonic has showcased a number of its naturally drier and comfortable in all different species of bamboo and it can be environmentally friendly products at the First temperatures. Worn as a base layer it traps grown in almost any moderate climate. World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu warm air next to the skin but is highly Bamboo can grow 20 m in under 60 days. Dhabi this week. The consumer electronics breathable in hot weather. It is also naturally However, extremely fast growth is not manufacturer presented its new range of antibacterial – staying fresher and odour- bamboo’s only environmentally friendly speakers that use bamboo fibres in the free for longer. virtue. Bamboo also helps repair the speaker cones. Bamboo not only gives a Most important, bamboo is just as good devastating effects of deforestation and better sound quality than traditional speaker as or even better than any of the other mining to soil and communities. It actually cone materials, but it is also much more alternatives but it is also extremely good for removes toxins from the soil, prevents durable, extending the life of the speaker. the environment. (Source: Ski Rebel erosion and provides jobs and food for many (Source: ArabianBusiness.com [United Arab Magazine [Ontario, Canada], 30 January people. Emirates], 22 January 2008.) 2008.) Bamboo thrives in a diverse landscape up to 12 000 feet (3 657.6 m) and releases 35 Bamboo “silk” protects against ultraviolet percent more oxygen than an equivalent rays and bugs stand of trees. It is the strongest plant Fibres formed from pulped bamboo can be known to humans. woven into strong, silky fabrics that wick Bamboo is also extremely versatile. It has away sweat. Now they have been made to thousands of uses, from paper to clothing, absorb harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and kill fences, construction, chopsticks, flooring, bacteria as well. musical instruments – the list is endless. Bamboo, which is the fastest-growing Furthermore, when manufacturing solid plant and requires no pesticides, is touted as hardwood flooring from plantation timber, an environmentally friendly material. only 20–25 percent is used. Bamboo However, while its natural ability to kill flooring, on the other hand, uses over 90 bacteria has been hyped, Subhash Appidi percent of the bamboo plant with no and Ajoy Sarkar at Colorado State wastage. University, United States, found that some Its strength-to-weight ratio is better than finished bamboo fabric does not have this %BERRIES graphite. The United States Navy even used ability and could cause unpleasant odours. bamboo to reinforce concrete in the Second The fabric they tested also let in UV light. Açaí berries make jump from food into World War. The pair added UV-absorbing molecules skin care In conclusion, the buzz about bamboo is to a commercially available bactericide. They've already created a big buzz in the quite legitimate. (Source: ENN News, 1 April Bamboo fabric dipped in the mixture killed food world over their rich antioxidant 2008.) 80 percent of bacteria and blocked UV rays. properties, now a United States The results were reported at the 235th aesthetician is launching a skin-care Dell develops an ecological bamboo National Meeting of the American Chemical treatment featuring açaí berries from the computer Society. (Source: New Scientist [United palm Euterpe oleracea. Dell has designed a beautifully sleek, Kingdom], 15 April 2008.) Karen's Specialty Skincare is now energy-efficient desktop computer. This launching a skin-care line featuring the bamboo beauty will improve the look of any Greener gear for skiers and boarders much-heralded superfood. Company office and improve your envirogeek cred at Bamboo appears to be the natural material founder Karen Dunlap said she was able to the same time. The bamboo desktop is 81 of choice for the manufacturer of both “connect the dots” between science and percent smaller than other desktops and snowboards and skiwear. nature, allowing her to develop the Açaí uses 70 percent less power. The internal Salomon snowboards have launched a Berry Anti-Aging Facial at her skin-care specs are not known at this time so it is brand-new freestyle ecoboard called the clinic in California, United States. She unclear what chips are incorporated or what Sick Stick. It is made entirely from bamboo, claims that thanks to the antioxidant-rich other technology has gone into creating this with the edges of the snowboard properties of the açaí berry extract small energy-efficient computer. constructed from rubber and bamboo, and incorporated into the formulation, the One thing is clear, this computer reflects the layers that make up the base of the product is able to combat premature Dell’s “green” commitment. Harvesting board made of bamboo light glass. The ageing, as well as nourishing the skin and bamboo for use as computer cases (as well structure of the board offers super-easy improving the tone. as floors, panelling, clothing, furniture and transition to switch even in deep powder. Otherwise known as the Amazonian so on) will not deplete bamboo in the same Thaw, a brand that designs thermal base palm berry, açaí was shown to top the

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antioxidant rankings in a study conducted more than 100 years. People in the Ninxia Source of protein, vitamins and minerals in 2006 by AIBMR Life Sciences that region of northern China have 16 times Of the hundreds of insect species reportedly showed it had the highest ORAC (oxygen more centenarians than people in the rest eaten as human food, the most common radical absorbance capacity) antioxidant of the country. come from four main insect groups: beetles; value of any food. Researchers began studying goji berries ants, bees and wasps; grasshoppers and Açaí also taps into the major trend expecting to find similar results as other crickets; and moths and butterflies. As a towards cosmetic products incorporating fruits. However, vitamin, mineral and food source, insects are highly nutritious. food ingredients into formulations as a nutrient analysis revealed that the berry is Some insects have as much protein as meat means of providing naturally derived active one of the most nutritionally rich foods on and fish. In dried form, insects often have properties. the planet. twice the protein of fresh raw meat and fish, Dunlap says that as well as being In 1988, the Beijing Nutrition Research but usually not more than dried or grilled enriched with antioxidants, the inclusion of Institute conducted detailed chemical meat and fish. Some insects, especially in açaí berry in the skin treatment also means analysis and nutritional composition the larval stage, are also rich in fat and that it contains phytonutrients, vitamins studies of the goji berry. They discovered contain important vitamins and minerals. and minerals to help promote skin cell that it is packed with an incredible range of Most edible insects are harvested from health. vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, natural forests. Yet, while insects account The berry extract is also enriched with essential fats and health-enhancing for the greatest amount of biodiversity in flavonoids, which fight inflammation, phytonutrients. forests, they are the least studied of all together with essential amino and fatty Research has shown that the goji berry fauna. “Little is known about the life cycles, acids to help regenerate skin cell growth, is loaded with age-defying, disease- population dynamics, commercial and and phytosterols to preserve collagen. preventing antioxidants. Its ORAC value management potential of most edible forest (Source: CosmeticsDesign.com [France], 5 (the value a food is given for its protective insects,” said Patrick Durst, Senior FAO February 2008.) potency) is far higher than blueberries, Forestry Officer. “Among forest managers, pomegranates, oranges or raspberries, all there is very little knowledge or Indian berries may fight dengue of which are powerful antioxidants appreciation of the potential for managing mosquitoes themselves. (Source: Natural News.com and harvesting insects sustainably,” noted Hong Kong SAR. Berries of a common [Arizona, United States], 2 April 2008.) Durst. “On the other hand, traditional forest weed found in India may be effective in dwellers and forest-dependent people often fighting mosquitoes that spread dengue possess remarkable knowledge of the fever, a study has found. Synthetic insects and their management.” insecticides are increasingly useless in In some areas, insects are only fighting disease-spreading mosquitoes, occasionally eaten as “emergency food” to such as Stegomyia aegypti that can spread stave off starvation. But in most regions dengue and yellow fever viruses. where insects are consumed for food, they In the online open access journal BMC are a regular part of the diet and are often Complementary and Alternative Medicine, considered delicacies. In Thailand, nearly scientists in India described how they used 200 different insect species are eaten, many juice and extracts from the Solanum of which are highly sought after as snacks villosum weed and found it was particularly and treats. Vendors selling insects are a effective in eliminating S. aegypti larvae. common sight throughout the country, and “The extract ... from the plant could be used in the capital, Bangkok. in stagnant waterbodies that are known to % EDIBLE INSECTS Traditionally, humans have benefited be the breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” from insects largely for the production of the scientists from the University of Beastly bugs or edible delicacies honey, wax and silk, as a source of dye, and Burdwan in West Bengal stated. Chiang Mai. With over 1 400 insect species in some cultures as food and medicine. They went on to discover that the juices eaten by humans worldwide, the insect Wherever forest insects have been part of contained certain chemical compounds world offers promising possibilities both the human diet, the insects are usually that act as a repellent protecting against commercially and nutritionally, FAO said collected from the wild, with most collectors the lethal effects of the larval mosquitoes. today. A workshop organized by FAO in focusing on larvae and pupae – the insect (Source: Reuters India, 3 April 2008.) February 2008 discussed the potential for forms most commonly eaten. Simple developing insects in the Asia-Pacific processing and cooking are the norm and Studies show goji berries are among the region. only minimal forest management is needed most nutritious foods on the planet While the idea of eating insects may to exploit the resource. People in the valleys of the autonomous seem unusual or even unappetizing to A few insects such as silkworms and region of Tibet and Mongolia cherish the some, human consumption of insects is bees were domesticated centuries ago, but goji berry (also known as the wolfberry, actually very common in most parts of the it is only recently that interest has grown in Lycium barbarum). In fact, they honour it in world. At least 527 different insects are rearing other insect species for food. It is celebrations that last two weeks each year. eaten across 36 countries in Africa, and now common to find farmers in northern It is believed this berry is what gives them they are also eaten in 29 countries in Asia Thailand, for example, raising bamboo their disease-free lives, which often last for and 23 in the Americas. worms or crickets for sale to local buyers.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 24 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

Commercial potential Nutritional value of some of the insects consumed in Limpopo province, South Africa (based on a 100 g serving) Aside from their nutritional value, many experts see considerable potential for Species Protein Energy Minerals Carbohydrates Fats edible insects to provide income and jobs (%) Kcal/100 g (g/100 g) (g/100 g) (%) for rural people who capture, rear, Stink bugs process, transport and market the insects. (Encosternum delegorguei) 35.2 2 599 1.2 7.63 50.5 These prospects can be enhanced through Termites the promotion and adoption of modern (Macrotermes falciger) 41.8 7 611 0.75 No data 44.3 food technology standards for food insects Mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) 63.5 543 3.5 11.4 18 that are sold live, dried, smoked, roasted 45–65 No data No data No data 51 or in some other form. Care must, Grasshoppers/locusts 77.2 363 2.1 12.4 12 however, be taken to ensure that the 46.1 No data No data No data 9.6 insects are hygienically safe for human consumption and do not contain excessive amounts of chemical residues such as insecticides. RECIPES FOR COOKING SOME EDIBLE 3. Squeeze the bugs and then wash them “Opportunities also exist for improved INSECTS in cold water to clean the defensive packaging and marketing to make edible secretion. insects more enticing to traditional buyers Mashonzha mopane worms 4. Boil the bugs and then sun dry them. and to expand the market to new Mopane worms are available from April 5. Put two cups of dried bugs in a pot. consumers, especially in urban areas,” to May and from December to January. 6. Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon according to Durst. (Source: FAO 1. After harvesting the mopane worms, of salt and mix. Newsroom, 19 February 2008.) squeeze out the gut content, starting 7. When the water is dry, add fish oil and from the head. fry the bugs. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 2. Wash the worms in cold water and 8. This serves about four people, with Patrick B. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO then boil them for about 15 minutes in porridge. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra a pot. Atit Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10200. Fax: (66-2) 3. Add salt to taste. Nzie locusts 697-4445; e-mail: [email protected] 4. Allow the worms to cool down and Locusts are harvested when they are then put them in the sun for a few inactive, especially in cold weather; a tree Recipes for southern Africa’s edible days until they are completely dry. branch is used to hunt for them. insects 5. Dried mopane worms can be eaten as 1. Once a locust is caught, remove the Most rural people in southern Africa utilize snacks, with or without porridge, wings and hind legs. edible insects as a household nutritional and/or cooked again. 2. Wash the locusts in cold water and put supplement as well as for income 6. The steps for cooking mopane worms them in a pot. generation. Insects supplement the human are given below. 3. Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon diet with protein, energy, minerals, • Soak one cup of mopane worms in hot of salt and mix. carbohydrates and various vitamins (see water for about 30 minutes. 4. Fry the locusts in fish oil until they are Table). Some individuals (mostly women) • Rinse the worms in cold water. brownish in colour. sell these insects at local urban markets • Put them in a pot with 1/2 fried onion, 5. Serve with porridge. for household income. The insects are 2 tomatoes, curry and green pepper. eaten raw, roasted or dried by rural • Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon Madzhulu termites inhabitants in southern Africa. Factors of salt and mix. Termites are trapped by inserting a reed such as an abundance of insects in a • Allow to boil for about 20 minutes. into their hole; once they bite the reed particular area, ethnic group and religious • This serves about five people, with (as a defence mechanism), they will be beliefs, determine the adoption of a porridge. trapped in the reed. particular insect. 1. First put the trapped termites in a The cooking and eating of these insects Thongolifha stink bugs bucket or container. are part of the tradition and culture of Stink bugs are collected at dawn when 2. Separate the termites from debris. southern Africa. However, as the they are still inactive. 3. Put them in a pot, add water and salt population becomes more modernized, 1. After harvesting the bugs, put them in and fry them. consumption is being drastically reduced. hot water to kill them. 4. Sun dry them for several days until As a result, people are ashamed of eating 2. Separate them from leaves and other they are completely dry. the insects, and those who cannot afford debris. 5. Eat as snacks with porridge. other nutritional food supplements become more vulnerable to malnutrition. The recognition of the role of edible insects in household nutrition is essential (Contributed by: Rudzani Makhado Research (CSIR), Pretoria 0001, and people should be educated on how to and Kenneth Mabaso, PO Box 395, South Africa. harvest and cook them. Council for Scientific and Industrial E-mail: [email protected])

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Insectes en République Démocratique • les crevettes (Caridina africana) et les medical and health areas, including du Congo crabes (Potamonautes bayonianus) sont metabolic syndrome, stress, physical Les insectes jouent un rôle important dans récoltés dans les rivières et ruisseaux du endurance, cardiovascular diseases, les régimes alimentaires des peuples du sous-bois des forêts hydromorphes, immunomodulation, reproductive health, and monde entier. Dans les régions tropicales surtout pendant les saisons sèches. Ils neuroprotective and psychiatric disorders. et subtropicales, en particulier, ils sont très appréciés par les populations Ginseng is one of the most widely used représentent une source de nourriture des zones forestières. medicinal herbs in the world. The two best- acceptable, principalement intéressante Dans les villes visitées, principalement à selling species are North American ginseng pour les populations rurales vivant en Kinshasa, Mbandaka et Kisangani, les (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng autosubsistance, dans la mesure où ils chenilles sont vendues chez les grossistes (Panax ginseng). peuvent être trouvés en abondance et par sac de 40 kg et, chez les détaillants, par The research project is headed by Dr faciles à récolter. Etant riches tant en des mesures communément appelées Edmund Lui from the Schulich School of protéines qu’en lipides, ils améliorent «sakombi» (100 sakombi = 1 sac) et «ekolo» Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western sensiblement la qualité du régime (1 ekolo = 3 sakombi), ou parfois par tas. Le Ontario, Canada. Dr Lui explained: "This is alimentaire. Ils constituent en outre une prix suivant la loi de l’offre et de la demande the most extensive project on ginseng ever source de revenus pour la majorité de présente des écarts énormes entre les lieux planned; it involves six of Ontario's ramasseurs. de production et ceux de consommateurs universities and key participants from the Parmi les insectes les plus recherchés urbains. Il est par exemple de 35 dollars le industry like Naturex, the largest botanical figurent: sac à Monkoto (non loin de Mbandaka dans extracts manufacturer in North America. The • les chenilles sont très prisées aussi la province de l’Equateur), de 50 dollars à ultimate objectives of this project are health bien par les populations rurales que Mbandaka, de 120 dollars à Kisangani et de claims validation and to establish an par les populations urbaines. Les 140 dollars à Kinshasa. Associant le coût de ‘umbrella branding’ for the Ontario ginseng." espèces les plus consommées transport par bateau (5$) et les taxes The scientific team involved in this project appartiennent à diverses familles, estimées à environ 3,5 dollars, on observe consists of researchers with diverse notamment: Attacidae, Notodontidae, que la marge bénéficiaire du produit à backgrounds including agriculture, life etc. Elles se nourrissent des feuilles de Kinshasa est de 276 pour cent. sciences, biochemistry, social sciences, différentes espèces forestières telles Source: Analyse de l’état des lieux du economics and marketing. que Bridelia ferruginea, B. micrantha, secteur des produits forestiers non ligneux On 29 January, the Ontario Minister of Erythrophleum suaveolens, et évaluation de leur contribution à la Research and Innovation announced that his Entandrophragma spp., Petersianthus sécurité alimentaire en République Government will grant Can$6.9 million to the macrocarpus, Triplochyton démocratique du Congo. Décembre 2007. Ontario Research Fund as a contribution to scleroxylone et Trema orientalis. On Documents du projet «Renforcement de la this five-year project. (Source: les récolte pendant la petite saison sécurité alimentaire en Afrique centrale à Edubourse.com (Communiqués de presse) sèche durant les mois de juillet et août travers la gestion et l’utilisation durable des [France], 26 February 2008.) et parfois septembre; produits forestiers non ligneux (PFLN)» • les larves d’Oryctes sp.et de (GCP/RAF/398/GER) www.fao.org/forestry/ Wild ginseng in Bhutan becomes Rhynchophorus phoenicis qui se site/43715/en) endangered développent dans les troncs d’Elaeis Ginseng has been used in traditional guineensis et de Raphia sp. en Bhutanese medicine and in many Asian décomposition. Elles constituent une cultures as a nourishing stimulant to friandise appréciée surtout par les increase mental and physical efficiency, populations forestières de l’Equateur, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, urbaines et rurales. On les récolte and also to address sexual dysfunction in toute l'année; men. Tried and tested products of ginseng, a • les criquets, qui apparaissent surtout slow-growing perennial plant, are today sold en début des saisons sèches, sont the world over in health stores, and their consommés tant par les populations unique properties substantially benefit locales qu’urbaines. Les espèces growers. faisant l’objet d’une récolte assidue In Bhutan, wild ginseng (Panax pseudo- pendant la période favorable sont ginseng subsp. H. Hara) grows sparsely in Ruspolia differens (la sauterelle verte) %GINSENG specific locations at elevations ranging from et Brachytrupes membranaceus 2 300 to 3 000 m above sea level. (grillon); Major ginseng research programme However, the wild plant has become highly • les termites dont la récolte est Avignon. Naturex announces today its endangered because of growing illegal effectuée à l’occasion des vols participation in the project "New collection, according to researchers with the d’essaimage, principalement lors du Technologies for Ginseng Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources Research retour des pluies. Les termites de la Product Development", an innovative Centre in Jakar, Bumthang. “A small area in famille des Macrotermitidae sont les programme oriented towards validating Dochola, once filled with the plant, has none plus convoités, principalement l’espèce several health claims on North American left today because of indiscriminate Macrotermes falciger. ginseng. Research will focus on various collections and destruction of its natural

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habitat,” said the centre’s principal (Source: Horsetalk [Canterbury, New taps into the growing research trend in researcher, Dorji Wangchuk. He added that Zealand], 1 January 2008.) beverages for producing emulsions with less ginseng plants in the forest were scattered or no gum Arabic, a gum historically subject and thinly populated, with ages between one Ginseng helps cancer patients reduce to some supply variations. and four years. “The oldest plant found was fatigue, increase energy "The present study demonstrated that the of six years, indicating its life span in American ginseng may reduce fatigue and substitution of 20 percent Arabic gum with Bhutan’s forests.” increase overall psychological well-being high pectin concentration (3–4 percent weight The researcher said that it had become in cancer patients, according to a study for weight) resulted in a better storage imperative to try and domesticate the species conducted by researchers at the Mayo stability, thus ensuring the adequacy of and introduce commercial varieties for Clinic in Rochester, New York, and pectin as a potential replacer for Arabic gum export to protect the plant in the forest and presented at the annual meeting of the in the formulation of orange beverage also to provide a lucrative option for farmers. American Society of Clinical Oncology. emulsion," wrote lead author Hamed As a personal initiative, Dorji Wangchuk Researchers treated 282 cancer patients Mirhosseini from the Faculty of Food Science has already begun trials to cultivate the plant with a daily dose of either a placebo or of and Technology at the Universiti Putra in his garden at Kuje. The trials started in 750, 1 000 or 2 000 mg of Wisconsin Malaysia. November 2004 with nodular rhizomes ginseng. They found that treatment with the The supply of gum arabic (E414 in the collected from Pelela, which were planted in placebo or the 750-mg dose caused very European Union), also called acacia gum a mixed humus and sandy soil under artificial little improvement in measures of fatigue or because it comes from acacia trees in the shade. The plant in the mixed humus showed physical or psychological well-being. gum belt of Africa, is variable because of healthy growth. Dorji Wangchuk said that Treatment with the higher doses, however, political and climatic factors in the primary American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) led to an improvement in overall energy and producing countries such as the Sudan and had been tried with a few seeds in 1984, but vitality levels, a decrease in fatigue and an Nigeria; this has led to spikes in the price of the plants withered from too much sunshine, improvement in overall emotional, mental, the ingredient. as he then had no knowledge regarding physical and spiritual well-being. Extreme Gum arabic, known as the Rolls-Royce of ginseng cultivation. fatigue is a common symptom among gums, is widely used by the food and Dorji Wangchuk learned a little more cancer patients, one that often cannot be beverage industry, and the top producers about ginseng cultivation after a 16-day trip remedied by increased rest or sleep. (mainly the Sudan) bring about 50 000 tonnes to Shimane, Japan, in 1986. However, Ginseng has a long history of use in of gum to the market each year. importing ginseng seeds had been a major Asian and indigenous American cultures. In Attempts to find an alternative have led problem, although the plant was modern times, it is most often used to researchers to study alternatives that could commercially cultivated in the Republic of increase energy levels and stamina and to be used as a thickener, adhesive and Korea, Japan, China and the United States of reduce stress or fatigue. It can also stabilizer for food and beverage applications. America. The researcher said that the reportedly help in the treatment of diabetes (Source: FoodNavigator.com [France], 10 ginseng plant needs shade and a lot of leaf and can reduce obesity risk. April 2008.) mulch and manure and that the age of the All of these purported benefits have led plant can be read by the number of stems. ginseng to become the second best-selling Ginseng is commercially grown from herbal supplement in the United States, at %MAPLE SYRUP seeds and seedlings but its propagation from US$62 million annually. It has even been rhizomes is not known. The trials will show incorporated into mainstream energy Untapped resource whether propagation is possible from drinks, albeit usually in subclinical doses. New York has untapped potential in its trees nodular rhizomes, said the researcher. Lead researcher Debra Barton of the – an opportunity only saps would ignore. It is usually the dried roots of the plant that North Central Cancer Treatment Group, That's the word from the state's maple syrup are consumed for their properties. Recent shied away from advising cancer patients to industry, which says that only about 1 percent studies have shown that some ginseng take ginseng supplements. The of New York's estimated 300 million sugar contains the biologically active saponin. researchers hope to begin clinical trials by maples are accessed for their sap. The (Source: Kuensel [Bhutan], 14 February 2008 to find safe ways to incorporate percentage is believed to be considerably 2008.) ginseng into cancer treatment. (Source: higher in Vermont and, particularly, in Natural News.com [Arizona, United States], Quebec. Ginseng aids vaccination response in horses 23 April 2008.) The problem? Limited access to private Ginseng, revered as a human tonic for land. centuries, has been found to have beneficial The industry is backing a bill by Sen. properties for horses. Work undertaken at %GUM ARABIC Charles Schumer, Democratic, New York the Equine Research Centre at the University that would sweeten the pill for private of Guelph in Canada has shown that low Pectin replaces gum arabic for better landowners. The Maple Tapping Access doses of ginseng in the lead-up to an beverage stability Program (TAP) Act would offer money to inoculation improve a horse's antibody Replacing gum Arabic with low levels of states that establish land-access grants and response when it receives a vaccination for pectin can lead to more stable orange incentives. The Maple TAP Act would provide equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). American beverage emulsions, suggests new research a national total of US$20 million annually ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) made the from Malaysia. The study, published in the from 2009 to 2012, a Schumer spokeswoman vaccination more effective. journal Carbohydrate Polymers, Vol. 73(1), said, and states would be in charge of

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Albany Times Union [New York, United TRAFFIC proposed the standard and States], 30 April 2008.) coordinated several rounds of international vetting in 2005 and 2006. The new Season not so sweet for maple syrup International Standard for Sustainable Wild producers in Canada Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Quebec City. An unusually short season this (ISSC-MAP) is intended to balance the needs year means that the province's maple syrup of people whose traditions and livelihood producers will have trouble meeting demand. depend on these species with long-term After having to dig out their tubing, survival of the plants in their native habitats. because it was still buried under the snow, The new standard is based on six Anne-Marie Granger-Godbout of the principles related to maintaining wild Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers resources, preventing negative says the freezing nights, and warm days environmental impacts, respecting required for the sap to run did not last more customary rights (for example, of indigenous than two to three weeks. "In March there was populations), and exercising responsible Sugar Maple a lot of snow, and it was very, very cold," she management and business practices. Plant designing and implementing their own grant says. "Then very suddenly the weather scientists also drew on earlier guidelines programme. changed and we were almost in summer." both for the conservation of medicinal plants The measure comes as demand for maple Granger-Godbout says a normal syrup- and for good agricultural and collection syrup is increasing, driven by a growing producing season lasts six to eight weeks. practices. "We did not want to reinvent the desire for the product in Japan, China and the Couple the short season with the fact that wheel," says Susanne Honnef, TRAFFIC Russian Federation. The price paid to producers had depleted their reserves medicinal plant officer with WWF Germany, producers has increased by about 30 percent thanks to an aggressive marketing "so the standard builds on existing over the last year, to about US$3 per pound campaign, and she says some export frameworks." (0.45 kg), and there are worries about a markets will not be satisfied. The new standard involves all actors along potential syrup shortage. She admits consumers here could face a the supply chain – from wild plant harvesters David Campbell, president of the New York small price increase but, since 80 percent of to sellers – in a process to determine how to Maple Producers Association and owner of people in Quebec buy their syrup straight conduct harvests and trade sustainably, says Mapleland Farms in the Washington County from the farm, she says it is unlikely that they Honnef. The standard also outlines practices town of Salem, said this would be a great will even notice. (Source: CJAD [Montreal, for monitoring the impact of harvests over time to ramp up his annual production of Canada], 2 May 2008.) time. about 3 500 US gallons of syrup, if he had Honnef says the standard will protect access to more than the 8 000 trees he important natural resources. As the benefits currently taps. A programme that offered MEDICINAL PLANTS of sustainable use become more broadly grants to landowners who allow access to %AND HERBS recognized, harvesters will be encouraged to their trees could work, he said. "They don't protect the ecosystems that support their have to do the work," he added. "We do it for New yardstick for medicinal plant harvests livelihoods. And government agencies will them." Every year more than 400 000 tonnes of have tools for defining benchmarks in a United States producers believe that medicinal and aromatic plants from trade that is often informal and that falls Quebec taps nearly a third of its sugar approximately 3 000 species are traded through the cracks between the groups that maples. And that, Campbell said, "is why they internationally, according to TRAFFIC, a non- manage agriculture and forestry. produce so much more maple syrup than profit watchdog group that monitors The standard was tested in preliminary us". Indeed, Quebec produces as much as commerce in natural products. (Up to 70 000 trials undertaken in six countries. Next five million gallons of syrup annually. species are used medicinally worldwide, comes a two-year implementation phase at Vermont, by contrast, produced 450 000 most of them locally.) Such a growth in sites in Asia, Africa, southeast Europe, and gallons in 2007, while New York trees demand for these plants threatens natural South America. generated 224 000 gallons, according to the resources, since about 80 percent of Josef Brinckmann, Vice President of United States Department of Agriculture. commercially traded species are gathered research and development with Schumer, in a statement, said that the from the wild, according to the World manufacturer Traditional Medicinals, points state has "hundreds of millions of trees" that Conservation Union (IUCN). In February 2007, to Asia and Europe as places where the "are just sitting there, full of a lucrative several groups concerned about the potential standard may first have a significant impact natural resource that could propel New York adverse effects of this rise on plant habitats in alleviating intense harvest pressures. to the top of the maple industry". Schumer's announced an international standard "China and India are the two largest bill would apply to all states, not just New designed to preserve nature's medicine chest producers and exporters of medicinal plants York. That opens potential for other states to for future generations. A year later, the in the world," he notes. Southeastern increase syrup production as well, to the standard appears to be bearing fruit. European countries and the Russian detriment of New York farmers. But The IUCN Medicinal Plant Specialist Federation are also important in the world Campbell downplayed that possibility, noting Group, IUCN Canada, the German Federal market. (Source: David Taylor in that only northeastern states produce Agency for Nature Conservation, the World Environmental Health Perspectives, January significant amounts of maple syrup. (Source: Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Germany and 2008.)

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Medicinal plants “facing threat” from overcollection and deforestation. that were at risk of extinction. These included Hundreds of medicinal plants are at risk of Researchers warned that the cures for yew trees, the bark of which forms the basis extinction, threatening the discovery of future diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDs may for one of the world's most widely used cures for disease, according to experts. become "extinct before they are ever found". cancer drugs, paclitaxel. Hoodia, which Over 50 percent of prescription drugs are The group, which represents botanic originally came from Namibia and is derived from chemicals first identified in gardens across 120 countries, surveyed over attracting interest from drug firms looking at plants. But Botanic Gardens Conservation 600 of its members as well as leading developing weight-loss drugs, is also on the International has said that many were at risk university experts. They identified 400 plants verge of extinction, the report said. And half

MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR LIVELIHOODS sustainability, but conservation poverty is increasing. The loss of intervention can occur at several points livelihood is a very real concern, given Medicinal plants are clearly an along the supply chain. that approximately one billion people, important global resource in terms of The consequences of unsustainable a fifth of the world’s population, live health care but they are also an harvest are far-reaching, and not on less than US$1 a day. important economic resource, traded merely confined to a loss of health care A common definition is that a extensively on scales ranging from the or biodiversity. Many of the world’s livelihood is the financial means local to the international. poorest people rely on the collection whereby one lives; for example, by Internationally, the trade in and sale of wild medicinal plants for collecting wild medicinal plants for medicinal plants is estimated to be income generation. Although prices sale. However, this does not necessarily worth US$60 billion per year, increasing paid to gatherers tend to be very low, mean that the plants collected are at a rate of 7 percent a year. medicinal plant collection provides a sufficient to satisfy an individual’s Very little of the raw material to significant income for the often needs or to lift people out of poverty. supply this demand comes from marginal, rural poor. Such a livelihood cannot therefore be cultivated sources. • About 20 000 tonnes of medicinal sustainable. A sustainable livelihood is Of the 3 000 or so species known to and aromatic plants worth US$18–20 one that can cope with and recover be in international trade there are million are traded every year in Nepal from stresses and shocks while approximately 900 for which alone, and about 90 percent are maintaining or enhancing its commercial cultivation is under way or harvested in an uncontrolled fashion capabilities for the future and without in development. Put another way, by landless, resource-poor mountain undermining the natural resource base. 70–80 percent of the medicinal plants farmers for whom the harvest of and Sustainable use meets the needs of the being traded in the world’s most trade in medicinal plants constitute present without compromising the important range countries for their only form of cash income. The ability of future generations to meet medicinal plants originate from situation is similar in Bangladesh, their own needs. (Source: Plants for collection in the wild. Many of these Bhutan, India and other countries of life: medicinal plant conservation and species are widespread and abundant South Asia. botanic gardens. Botanic Gardens but, for naturally rare and heavily • In Namibia, there are an estimated Conservation International [Richmond, exploited species, wild collection can be 5 000–10 000 devil’s claw United Kingdom].) Download at: a major threat with local extinction the (Harpagophytum spp.) harvesters, www.bgci.org/files/Worldwide/ outcome. It is the collection for 50–100 intermediaries and 17 Publications/PDFs/medicinal.pdf commercial trade rather than home use Namibian exporters. The retail value that is the overwhelming problem. in 2001 was some US$40 million, Although notoriously poorly although Namibia captures at most 5 documented, and although our percent of the retail value of the understanding of the biology, ecology trade. and status in the wild of most • Ethnoveterinary medicine is used by medicinal plants is very fragmented, livestock raisers throughout the this level of wild harvest is said to be world to keep their animals healthy currently unsustainable. and productive, since modern We know this because herb treatments may be expensive and Harpagophytum spp. gatherers are having to go further and inaccessible in remote areas. further afield to harvest the plant they The world’s greatest concentration For more information, please contact want; they are experiencing a drop in of medicinal plant wealth is found in the author: Belinda Hawkins, BGCI, harvest levels. Some species simply are tropical developing countries that are Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, no longer there. Unfortunately, the beset by acute poverty. In these Richmond TW9 3AB, United Kingdom. motivation of short-term profit increase regions, the loss of biodiversity and Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956; neglects all considerations of land degradation are accelerating as e-mail: [email protected]

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of the world's species of magnolias are also Heever observed: “There are 40 000 under threat. Magnolias contain the chemical traditional healers in Guateng. They harvest, honokiol, which has been used in traditional harvest, harvest and don’t conserve”. Proper Chinese medicine to treat cancer and slow management of traditional herbals would down the onset of heart disease. probably lead to better yields and therefore The report also said that autumn crocus, cheaper prices, more variety and more which is a natural treatment for gout and has widespread use. In addition, it would been linked to helping fight leukaemia, is at stimulate the local economy by increasing risk of overharvesting since it is popular with the number of job opportunities available the horticultural trade because of its through trading and harvesting. stunning petals. With such a large proportion of Africa’s Many of the chemicals from plants at risk population dependent on medicinal plants, are now created in the laboratory. Herbal tea may help diabetes the matter of quality and standards is However, the report (Plants for life: A herbal tea developed by scientists from crucial. In response, last year, the medicinal plant conservation and botanic the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Association for African Medicinal Plants gardens – see Box) said that as well as future Industrial Research may benefit diabetic Standards unveiled plans for a Pan-African breakthroughs being put at risk, the situation patients. The researchers say the tea – pharmacopoeia – a catalogue of native was likely to have a consequence in the made from the leaves of the local tree African plants with medicinal properties. developing world. It said five billion people Lagerstromia speciosa Lin – could help Each entry includes a list of medicinal uses, still rely on traditional plant-based medicine lower sugar levels in patients’ blood general taxonomic information, a chemical as their primary form of health care. naturally, reducing the amount of insulin profile, and safety and toxicity information. Report author Belinda Hawkins said: "The they need to inject. The herbal tea might The pharmacopeia will also include loss of the world's medicinal plants may not also help reduce obesity, the experts added. information on chemical tests that can be always be at the forefront of the public (Source: The Daily Star [Bangladesh], 6 used to identify medicinal plants. The first consciousness. However, it is not an March 2008 in SciDev.Net Weekly Update phase of the project is already complete and overstatement to say that if the precipitous (17–24 March 2008.) has resulted in the production of 23 plant decline of these species is not halted, it could profiles. destabilize the future of global health care." Nature’s pharmacy: African herbals on the In addition to increasing the quality and (Source: BBC News [United Kingdom], 19 rise reliability of information about African January 2008.) The future of African herbal medicine is in medicinal plants, the Pan-African question as the plants on which it is based pharmacopeia hopes to enhance Cheap malaria medicine from endive fall victim to overharvesting, deforestation cooperation and communication between Wageningen plant scientists are creating a and climate change. This spells disaster for the academic and industrial sectors. This variety of endive that produces the anti- the 80 percent of rural Africans who depend would make it easier for African malarial drug artemisinine. This is in on medicinal plants in times of sickness or communities of all sizes to have a share in a collaboration with the company Dafra injury. Switching to expensive conventional market that has until now been dominated Pharma, which wants to use the plant to drugs is not an option for poor people. by more familiar Asian herbal products. produce inexpensive malaria medicines for Instead, new initiatives are focusing on Efforts to revive traditional African the African market. protecting and studying traditional African medicinal products have already paid off in Artemisinine is a complex compound medicinal plants. countries such as Mali. With the help of derived from the plant annual wormwood The Medicinal Plant Incubator Project scientists from the University of Oslo, (Artemisia annua), which a Chinese was recently launched in South Africa, Norway, this West African nation has researcher discovered can kill the malaria where it is estimated that more than 350 upgraded its research on medicinal plants parasite in the body. Annual wormwood, species of plants are used for medicine. The and has seen cooperation grow between however, is a fussy plant that produces only a primary mission of the project is to protect conventional and traditional medical small amount of active material. “To provide South Africa’s indigenous plants while practitioners. As a result, the mainstream affordable malaria medicines, we need an ensuring that they remain available to the medical community has in recent years efficient source,” says researcher Harro traditional healers and others who use begun to accept many of the plants and Bouwmeester. them. Scientists will also study how the practices of traditional healers. The bitter substances in the endive variety healing properties of these plants are The work that is being carried out in Mali chicory resemble artemisine. But chicory affected by different growing conditions. In has done more than improve the status of lacks the artemisinine enzyme found in order to prevent overharvesting of the traditional healers. It has fostered important annual wormwood. By introducing the gene plants, well-tended nurseries will be links between Malian and European for this enzyme into chicory, Bouwmeester established, from which traditional healers scientists and with the local villages that will thinks he can get chicory to produce can purchase a regular supply of the plants benefit from their research. After studying artemisinine. In about five years, the that they need. the effectiveness of herbs used to treat researchers expect to have a chicory plant that The project is also educating local people everything from malarial parasites to can produce seven times more artemisinine as to the importance of caring for the areas stomach ulcers, scientists give feedback to per hectare than annual wormwood. (Source: where plants with medicinal uses grow the healers who first recommended them, Wageningen Update, 3/07.) naturally. Project leader Erica van den thereby helping local communities to invest

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more in the species that have greater %MORINGA OLEIFERA potential for success. “We see a change coming,” said Professor Smestad Paulsen of Potential role of the moringa tree the University of Oslo. “A lot of plants have (the miracle tree) in the food security been verified to have an effect. The World and livelihoods of poor communities Health Organization acknowledges in arid regions traditional medicine as vital to improving The family Moringaceae contains 14 species public health in developing countries.” of moringa trees. Moringa oleifera, known as The future of African herbal medicines is the “multipurpose” tree, is drought tolerant looking much brighter thanks to projects and is the best-known member of the family. such as the Medicinal Plant Incubator Project It is native to the sub-Himalayan regions of and the Pan-African pharmacopeia. As rural northern India and is distributed all over the communities learn how best to conserve world in the tropics and subtropics. Moringa plants with medicinal uses and efforts are tolerates a wide range of environmental made to implement quality standards, conditions, grows in various soils types and Chelidonium majus millions of African people will gain easier can withstand up to 48°C in the shade. access to the treatments they need. With Cancer drug to be produced in the United The great potential of the tree and its time, these initiatives could not only improve Arab Emirates various products has not yet been fully the economies of rural African communities A Ukrainian scientist who invented a recognized: moringa holds tremendous but also introduce African herbals to the rest revolutionary cancer treatment medicine promise for benefiting humanity. Initial of the world. plans to manufacture the drug in Dubai. Dr studies in different parts of the world have [Based on Hidden in the herbs, Norwegian Wassil Nowicky – who was nominated for the evidenced the following usages and benefits. Centre for International Cooperation in Nobel Prize for chemistry in 2005 – said he 1. Excellent human food resource Higher Education; http://www2.siu.no/ was setting up a factory to produce Ukrain, a All parts of this tree are edible; the leaves can vev.nsf/o/SIUs+publications-Global + half-synthetic plant-based medicine, and he be eaten raw, cooked like spinach or made Knowledge-Hidden+in+the+Herbs] (Source: intends to open special hospitals and clinics into a powder that can be added to sauces, Bioversity International. Geneflow 2007, pp. in the United Arab Emirates to treat cancer soups or chowders. The dried powder can be 44–45.) patients from around the world. The anti- stored for long periods. The new leaves have cancer drug market is estimated to be worth a tendency to appear towards the end of the Recherches faites sur l’importance several billion dollars a year and Dr dry season when few other sources of green du Vernonia conferta Norwicky believes he can capture a large leafy vegetables are available. The young Le Vernonia conferta est une plante share once production starts in 2010. His green pods can be eaten whole and are médicinale que l’on trouve dans les forêts du company, Nowicky Pharma, is forming a joint similar in taste to asparagus. The older pods bassin du Congo et dont l’utilisation venture with Abu Dhabi-based Emirates can be used for their seeds, which can be concerne le traitement traditionnel de la Health Care, the Middle East distributor of prepared as peas or roasted and eaten like malaria et la purification du sang à partir the patented drug, to set up the factory. peanuts. The flowers, which bloom around d’un protocole consistant à faire bouillir ses The United Arab Emirates Health Care eight months after the tree is planted, can be feuilles avec de l’eau et d’inhaler la vapeur Chairman Mutasim Al Midfa said: “The raw eaten fried and have the taste and texture of qui s’en dégage dans une enceinte couverte. material is Chelidonium majus, a medicinal mushrooms. In Hawaii, the flowers are used De par son importance dans le domaine plant that grows in southern Europe. We will to make a tea that cures colds. In addition, de l’industrie pharmaceutique résultant grow the plant commercially in Europe and the flowers are a year-round source of nectar d’une recherche visant à voir comment les bring its essence to Dubai to produce the and can be used by beekeepers. Not only is grands singes du bassin du Congo (à savoir drug.” the Moringa oleifera tree extraordinary in les chimpanzés, les gorilles et les bonobos) The factory will have a capacity of 500 000 that all its parts are edible, but its most utilisaient les feuilles de cette plante pour se ampoules per year – last year 100 000 amazing aspect is its exceptionally high débarrasser des vers, leur comportement a ampoules were produced. Each ampoule is nutritional value. The leaves are an excellent poussé les chercheurs à faire des analyses sold for Dh950 and a patient requires 20 source of vitamin A (four times the amount in chimiques qui ont démontré que la sève de ampoules each month. Dr Nowicky said that carrots), rich in vitamin C (seven times the cette espèce végétale contient des the ampoules selectively destroyed cancer amount in oranges), calcium (four times the substances chimiques qui, présentes dans cells without damaging healthy ones. It has amount in milk), protein (twice the amount in un organisme, développent des toxines qui been recognized as the first and only drug to milk) and potassium (three times the amount attaquent des vers. do this by the United States National Cancer in bananas); they are also a good source of Cela montre d’avantage l’importance des Institute. It is free of side-effects such as hair vitamin B and other minerals. ressources naturelles dans l’amélioration loss or extreme nausea, so no additional 2. Improvements in human nutrition and économique et sociale du cadre de vie des drugs are needed. The effectiveness of the health populations à l’échelle locale, nationale, treatment has been proved in 56 universities Moringa is an excellent source of nutrition régionale et internationale. and research institutes by 192 scientists and is a natural energy booster. Since this Contribuition de: Mr Gwomb Bi Hell from 21 countries. energy boost is not based on sugar, it is Emmanuel, BP 8002, Yaoundé, Cameroun. (Source: Emirates Business 24/7 [United sustained. The iron content is very good and Courriel: [email protected] Arab Emirates], 6 February 2008.) the leaves have purportedly been used for

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treating anaemia in the Philippines. The and sinks to the bottom of the container. The Student researchers study natural water content of amino acids, such as methionine purified water can then be poured out and purifier and cystine, is also high. Carbohydrates, fats boiled. This method has been used for University of Buffalo, United States and phosphorous content are low, making centuries domestically; it was recently tried undergraduate researchers Kelly Miller this one of the finest plant foods to be found. commercially and was found to be equally and Daniel Loscalzo have been working to These qualities have made the Moringa efficient. Moringa is traditionally used for find a natural water filtration system that oleifera tree a candidate in the fight against “household treatment” in the Sudan, Ethiopia could be used in Africa, where potable malnutrition. and Indonesia and is also used successfully water is a luxury. The students, like other A group of health workers from the in large-scale water treatment works in researchers around the world, are trying to Church World Service have been utilizing this Malawi and other countries. develop a plausible way to use the seeds of highly nutritious and fast-growing tree as a 5. Mats, dyes and tanning the moringa tree to purify water naturally means to cure and prevent malnutrition in The bark of the tree can be used to make and with Africa's available resources. While infants and pregnant and lactating women as mats or rope and in tanning hides. The gum many scientists have been focusing on an alternative to the classic and expensive from the cut tree trunks is used in calico commercial use of this technique, Miller food condiments. For pregnant and printing and in some medicines, while the and Loscalzo are trying to make it easier breastfeeding women, moringa leaves and wood can be used to make a blue dye and for people to purify their own water at pods can do much to preserve the mother's also for firewood. home. health and pass on strength to the foetus or 6. Pulp and paper source To use the seeds for water purification, nursing child. One 100 g portion of leaves can The wood provides a pulp that is considered they are crushed into a powder and clean provide a woman with over one-third of her suitable for newsprint, wrapping, printing water is added. The milky product is then daily calcium needs and give her important and writing papers and for viscose rayon added to more water where it acts as a quantities of iron, protein, copper, sulphur grade pulp for textiles and cellophane. coagulant, attaching itself to any bacteria and B-vitamins. In the case of HIV/AIDS, the 7. Oil production and utilization or silt, and sinks to the bottom of the Vitamin A found in moringa has the potential When the pods mature and turn brown, the container. The purified water is then poured to build immune systems and sustain health seeds can be removed and pressed to extract out. “These seeds can be used to filter better. Vitamin A is also considered high-quality oil, similar to olive oil and rich in water instead of expensive imported important in building resistance to malaria. oleic acid (73 percent). The mature seed chemicals," Miller said. Moringa is soothing; it helps lower blood contains about 40 percent oil. The oil, which The students hope to help the Nigeria pressure and is a sleep aid. Its detoxifying is known as ben oil, can be used for cooking, Delta area with their research. (Source: effect may come from its ability to purify lubrication, in soaps, in lamps and in The Spectrum [University of Buffalo, United water. It acts as a coagulant attaching itself perfumes. It was highly valued by the ancient States], 16 April 2008.) to harmful material and bacteria and it is Greeks, Romans and Egyptians and was used believed that this process also takes place in in perfumes and for skin protection; it was Body Shop launches a moringa bath and the body. The result is long-lasting energy also used in Europe in the nineteenth century body range without hyperactivity, a nerve system at rest, for the same purpose, and was imported The cosmetic company Body Shop a blood system not under pressure, and a from the West Indies. (belonging to L'Oréal) has just launched a gland and hormone system in balance. 8. Plant growth enhancer and soil fertilizer moringa bath and body range. Moringa is The flowers and roots of moringa trees An effective plant growth hormone can be presented as a "miracle of hydratation" on contain a powerful antibiotic known as extracted from the fresh leaves and has been the large advertisement posters on the pterygospermin, which also has fungicidal found to increase crop yields by up to 25–30 shop windows. The packaging has white properties. percent. The leaves can also be used as a flowers on it but the origin of the oil is not 3. Animal feed sources green manure to enrich farmlands. In indicated (i.e. there is no mention of fair Leaves and seed press cake are useful as addition, moringa can be used in agroforestry trade). cattle fodder since the dry matter (DM) yield for intercropping with other crops since the This is the first worldwide advertisement is high at 15 tonnes/ha/year. The fresh leaves trees are legumes and add nitrogen to the campaign on a moringa product. (Source: were found to contain 23 percent crude soil. Moringa trees can also be grown as live Moringanews, in April 2008 Update from protein (CP) in DM, 12.3 MJ of metabolizable fences and windbreaks. the Global Facilitation Unit for energy/kg DM. The inclusion of moringa as a (Contributed by: Prof. Hassan M. El Shaer, Underutilized Species.) protein supplement for low-quality diets Desert Research Center, 1 Matahf El Mataria improved DM intake and digestibility of the St, PO Box 11753, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt. E- Philippines biotechnology firm to sell diet and increased milk production. In mail: [email protected]) moringa oil to the United States general, feeding moringa increases daily Manila. A local firm has started exporting weight gain by up to 32 percent and increases malunggay (moringa) seeds and moringa milk production by 43–65 percent. oil, which can be used as biodiesel, 4. Water purification according to the Department of The powder from ground moringa seeds and Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office the press cake left over from oil extraction (DA-BPO). In a statement, DA-BPO said have the ability to clear murky water since that countries such as Brazil, South Africa they act as a coagulant that attaches itself to and Australia have already sought particulate matter and bacteria in the water malunggay seeds from Secura Moringa olifera leaves

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International, a 100-percent Filipino %NUTS biotechnology firm. Secura's business includes extracting oil from malunggay Maya nut: a forgotten treasure MAYA NUT (BROSIMUM ALICASTRUM) seeds and marketing it as an edible oil with One of the largest trees in the forests of multiple pharmaceutical uses. Central America, the Maya nut (Brosimum Known as capomo, breadnut or ramón Secura’s president and chief executive alicastrum) used to be abundant throughout nut, among many other names, the officer said that Viet Nam, Indonesia and the region. Its seeds were once a staple food Maya nut – a relative of the fig family Thailand were interested in malunggay and of the Mayan people, as well as sustaining – is rich in fibre, protein, vitamins A, B, that their desire for its oil had intensified dense populations of deer, another Mayan C and E, and minerals, including after they had learned of its use as an staple. Its leaves, pulp and seeds continue to calcium, potassium, folate, iron and alternative biodiesel. Secura is also be central to the diet of many forest birds and zinc. Nutritionally comparable to targeting Japan and the Republic of Korea animals. However, as areas of forest have amaranth, quinoa and soybean, it is as its next biggest markets for moringa oil. been felled for timber and for maize, Maya not surprising that the nut was a Meanwhile, Secura is seeking to nut numbers have declined and the tree has favoured food of indigenous groups in complete 500 000 ha of malunggay become extinct in some areas. Central America. plantations in order to meet the demand for Nevertheless, this nutritious nut, which Maya nut tolerates marginal soils, moringa oil as biodiesel feedstock for North can be stored for up to five years, is an salt and drought and is an excellent American Biofuels, Inc. The United States excellent drought- and climate change- species for rehabilitating degraded firm had scrapped jatropha oil and opted resistant food for rural communities. Entire land. Once established, the tree instead to use moringa oil as biodiesel after villages have survived by eating Maya nuts; requires no inputs yet, once mature, testing a 100 kg sample sent by Secura. flour from the nuts was used as a valued can yield over 180 kg of nuts each year, Malunggay oil, which is extracted from its emergency food after Hurricane Stan in and provide food as well as valued leaves, is said to be far superior to olive oil Guatemala (October 2005) and Hurricane ecosystem services for over 150 years. and is a cheap alternative natural medicine Felix in Nicaragua (September 2007). Yet in for common illnesses. (Source: Inquirer.net many areas, the nuts are considered only as [the Philippines], 13 April 2008.) “famine food” and consumption has dropped to less than 5 percent of local diets. nut-based school lunches to rural “Buy a Miracle Tree” campaign To counter this trend, over 8 000 women Guatemalan schools. Their goal is to The Irish charity Vita has launched the “Buy from villages in Honduras, Nicaragua, revitalize the economies of producer a Miracle Tree” campaign 2008. This Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico have communities, improve children's health, campaign focuses on the vital importance been trained since 2001 by the NGO The reduce dependence on imported food and of trees, particularly moringa, for the Equilibrium Fund to raise awareness of the motivate communities to reforest and protect sustainable livelihoods of people in Africa. potential of Maya nut. Communities are Maya nut trees in Guatemala. The campaign will take place in schools encouraged to conserve the tree, establish Another Guatemalan women's throughout Ireland this spring, with each community nurseries and reforest depleted organization, CODEMUR – the Committee for participating school receiving a fun and areas; they are also taught the nutritional Rural Women's Development – is using a educational special “Buy a Miracle Tree” value of the nut. During demonstration grant from the United Nations Development School Pack. The trees bought will then be cooking days, the women are shown how to Programme (UNDP) to promote Maya nut planted in Ethiopia and Eritrea. (Source: make new and traditional recipes, consumption, conservation and reforestation Nenagh Guardian [Ireland], 1 February substituting Maya nuts for maize. Through its among some of the poorest communities in 2008.) work, the NGO has inspired communities to the southern coastal region of Guatemala. plant more than 300 000 Maya nut trees, Yet while thousands of hectares of rain supplementing food and income, and forest have been conserved as a result of the protecting water sources and forest work of The Equilibrium Fund and its biodiversity. partners, the Maya nut remains endangered The benefits of Maya nut have not just in many areas and is probably extinct in parts been felt at the household level. In 2005, of Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Alimentos Nutri-Naturales, a women's Maya Nicaragua. Unfortunately, in situ nut producer group in Guatemala, opened conservation is the only option for the tree as the first Maya nut processing plant in the the seed is “recalcitrant”, i.e. it does not world. The plant is owned and operated by survive drying or freezing. However, a variety the group, which won a US$10 000 award in that produces fruit in four years, half the recognition of its efforts, by being selected usual time, was recently discovered in from over 100 entrants as one of the top ten Mérida, Mexico. businesses in Guatemala. Erika Vohman, Executive Director and The same group won the prestigious Founder of The Equilibrium Fund, estimates Equator Prize in 2007, which included a that at least 200 Maya nut landraces are US$30 000 cash award. The women have currently vulnerable to extinction and is keen used this money to implement a school to conserve landraces and identify the fastest lunch programme, which will provide Maya growing and most nutritious varieties for

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reforesting. She concludes: "Investing in Schinziophyton rautanenii (mungomu) The kernels must be cooked to make research and genetic improvement of this and its use in Mozambique them edible. These nutritious kernels have species, as well as encouraging its use for Schinziophyton rautanenii (ex Ricinodendron protein and carbohydrate contents of about 5 food, fodder and environmental services, rautanenii), known as mungomu in Macossa, and 22 percent, respectively. They are may well be one of the most positive things is a tree that produces a nut that is one of the prepared in many different ways, including governments and organizations can do right staples of the diet of the Kung Khoi-San tribe roasting, grilling, boiling, baking and mashed now to improve agro-ecosystem resilience to in the Kalahari Desert. The nut, (also know as in puddings in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, climate change and thereby secure the manketti nut), supplies up to three-quarters Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Polynesia. future of both human and wildlife of the dietary needs of this tribe. In Well-known dishes include lap lap (Vanuatu), populations in the neotropics". (Source: New Mozambique, it occurs irregularly in hot dry koko (Fiji) and masimasi or robe (western Agriculturist Web site, May 2008.) country on poor soils, north of the Save River. Solomon Islands). Fruits are harvested It is recorded from Chibabava, Nhamatanda, either directly from the tree at maturity or Brazil nuts: the green gold of the Amazon Gorongosa and Macossa districts in central from the ground after ripening. The kernels São Paulo. With the certainty that green may Mozambique and from Tete, Nampula and are sold mainly in domestic markets. They generate profit without being destroyed, Cabo Delgado provinces. The tree occurs are also a good feed for free-range chickens. Ouro Verde Amazônia (Green Amazon Gold) both sporadically and in almost pure stands. (Source: extracted from Traditional trees of makes organic products derived from Brazil The objective of a recent study was to Pacific Islands, ed. Craig R. Elevitch, 2006.) nuts. After three and a half years of research, review and document local knowledge of the the company has developed three products: mungomu tree in Macossa and establish FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE extra virgin olive oil, low-fat groundnuts and whether it varies according to gender, socio- AUTHOR OF THIS CHAPTER: cream, which is a kind of royal jelly made economic status and generational Richard L. Pauku, James Cook University, from nuts. With organic certification by differences. The study also looked at how the School of Tropical Biology, PO Box 6811, Ecocert, about a year and a half ago, the nut is used by local people and its importance Cairns and Queensland 4878, Australia. company started making contacts abroad. for food security. The first shipments should be to France, The study found that the culture of using Australia and Malaysia. mungomu is very much alive in Macossa. All "The global demand for sustainable long-term residents knew about the products is enormous. Rich in antioxidizing mungomu tree and its nut; only a few new minerals, omega 6 and omega 9, the residents who had arrived after the civil war products are recommended to prevent were unaware of it. Consumption, however, is diseases and to improve the working of the declining because of the use of oilseeds such human body's metabolism," explained Ana as peanuts, and the amount of work involved Luisa da Riva, partnering director at Ouro in cracking the nuts. Traditional methods Verde Amazônia. "We are also developing involve using a small and a big stone to crush business with Germany and China," she said. the nut, or splitting the nut casing with a stick According to Ana Luisa, on making the and an axe blade. These rudimentary sustainability project real, the company systems were found to be the main barrier to helps people to appreciate one of the main maintaining, or possibly commercializing, the Piper nigrum treasures of the country: the Amazon. "We utilization of the nut. The kernel is used to try to add value to the fruit, integrating and enrich sauces, to accompany meat, fish, and %PIPERINE training Amazon communities, which live vegetables, but also to produce oil. close to the Brazil nut harvest areas, as well Consumption increases in difficult times, Therapeutic value of piperine as practising sustainable development and such as droughts and during the civil war. India is the major producer, consumer and contributing to the preservation of the forest, (Source: Indigenous knowledge of edible tree exporter of black pepper (Piper nigrum), adding effective value to biodiversity," she products – the mungomu tree in central which is known as the “king of spices”. pointed out. Mozambique, by Gregory Saxon and Catarina Spices are mainly added to increase the taste In 2007, Ouro Verde had revenues of Chidiamassamba. 2005. FAO. LinKS Project and flavour of food. Pepper contains piperine, 500 000 Brazilian reals (US$284 000 at Report 40. www.fao.org/sd/LINKS/ a compound that has food and medicinal current exchange rates). The forecast for 2008 documents_download/Kulima_40.pdf) value and is mainly responsible for the is for revenues of 1 million reals (US$568 000), pungency in black pepper. and exports alone should guarantee the same Inocarpus fagifer (Tahitian chestnut) The Romans travelled the Silk Road to volume of revenues as the company had for The edible kernel of Inocarpus fagifer obtain piperine from the Middle East and the whole of its production last year. The (Tahitian chestnut) is an important Asia, while from the 1600s to the 1800s the company should soon place a greater range of indigenous food in many island countries in Dutch and English fought over trade routes organic and sustainable products on the the Pacific. It is available in Vanuatu and land. In 1820, the Danish physicist, market. (Source: Brazil-Arab News Agency between the two yam seasons. The kernel chemist and professor at the University of [ANBA] [Brazil], 8 February 2008.) is an important traditional supplemental Copenhagen, Hans Christian Orsted, was the staple in Fiji, although today its importance first to identify the compound piperine. Its FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: has declined in favour of cassava and chemical makeup was later isolated during www.ouroverdeagro.com.br imported rice. laboratory synthesis in 1882 and 1894.

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Pepper and piperine are now widely used Commercially, piperine can be extracted Fresh bid to check sandalwood smuggling throughout the world. using a solvent extraction method. A pinch of in India Piperine is primarily found in the fruit of piperine can replace a large purchase of raw The state forest department is planning to the pepper vine, Piper nigrum, which is pepper. Value-added black pepper in the meet the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) indigenous to the Malabar Coast of India, but form of piperine has great potential for border guarding force to come up with is also grown in other parts of southern Asia, pepper growers, industrialists, exporters strategies to launch a crackdown on the South America and even Africa. The plant is and therapeutists. Hence, awareness needs illegal transportation of red sandalwood known for its broad shiny green leaves and to be created to exploit the efficiency of across the Indo-Nepal border. Red small flowers. Piperine imparts a hot, biting piperine. sandalwood is the finest and most and very pungent taste and makes up 5–7 (Contributed by: M. Velmurugan, K. expensive variety of sandalwood. A forest percent of peppercorns. It is found in nature Rajamani, P.S. Kavitha and P. Paramaguru, representative said that the department will with 98 percent purity. Piperine can also be Horticultural College and Research Institute, meet the SSB and the police in April. The found in other vegetables and spices, such Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, decision, which will be made official shortly, as hot jalapeño peppers. Coimbatore, India.) comes after the department in February In the past, piperine was substituted for intercepted over 10 tonnes of red or used in conjunction with cinchona FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: sandalwood, bought from Andhra Pradesh, alkaloids in the treatment of malarial fevers. M. Velmurugan, Senior Research Fellow, in the bordering Maharajganj district. The Nowadays, it is mainly used to treat Research Cell, Horticultural College and truck driver revealed that he was taking the intermittent fever, but has been found to be Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural sandalwood to Nepal, from where it was to less efficient than the alcoholic extract of University, Coimbatore 641 003, India. E-mail: be sold on the international market, black pepper. Its use has also been advised [email protected] particularly in China and Japan. in colic, diarrhoea, cholera, scarlatina and The wood, as the best of its kind, would chronic gonorrhoea. have fetched over Rs100 crore. Pepper was the first spice used in the This is not the first incident. The route is Middle Ages to season everyday foods. In being used on a large scale by smugglers India, many typical southern foods tend to be from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. extremely spicy. This is not a cultural aspect (Source: Lucknow Newsline [India], 20 but has scientific value: the piperine in the March 2008.) spicy food has a habit of stimulating perspiration, which causes a cooling of the body and is, therefore, very helpful in the %SHEA BUTTER south where summer temperatures can reach 40–45°C. Fair Trade certification spreads to Piperine also enhances the absorption of cosmetics certain vitamins such as selenium, vitamin B %SANDALWOOD Fair Trade certification has long been and beta-carotene. It has the ability to available for food manufacturers and increase the body's natural thermogenic Sandalwood oil deal with Lush (United importers keen to redress power activities (thermogenesis is the process of Kingdom) imbalances in international trade and generating energy in the cell), which in turn Perth-based Indian sandalwood grower, TFS protect the rights of disadvantaged creates a demand for nutrients necessary Corporation Ltd, has signed a five-year deal workers. The certification system has now for metabolism. This has been particularly with United Kingdom-based handmade spread to personal care with shea butter helpful for patients who suffer from a cosmetics company, Lush, to supply oil being the first Fair Trade certified cosmetic defective intestinal lining. Moreover, produced from TFS plantations. Key aspects ingredient to hit the Canadian market. children under five have been fed piperine in of the agreement include the Imported by Quebec-based Société the form of pepper powder, dry ginger and commencement of supply upon the d'Agri-Gestion Delapointe and produced by jaggery (sugar) to alleviate colds and poor availability of the first commercial quantities a female farming collective in Burkina digestion. In addition, piperine inhibits a of oil from TFS plantations, which is Faso, Africa, the Fair Trade shea butter is number of enzymes responsible for anticipated to occur by financial year 11, and suitable for use in lip balms, body milks metabolizing drugs and nutritional for Lush to purchase a minimum of 1 tonne and massage creams. substances. of oil and up to a maximum of 15 percent of A recent Organic Monitor report Piperine is found in most insecticides, TFS oil production in each 12-month period. predicted a sharp rise in the number of Fair especially those used against the common Lush has agreed to create a new Trade personal care products on the housefly. sandalwood-based product range using TFS market over the coming years. Beauty Piperine is a boon to humans because of oil for marketing throughout their worldwide consumers have become increasingly its versatile chemical nature, with a wide retail network of 500 stores in 44 countries. interested and concerned about the ethical medicinal and therapeutic use. It not only TFS will issue one million options to Lush, and environmental impact of their inhibits infection, but also highlights the exercisable at US$1.80 per share at any time purchases. Manufacturers have therefore bioavailability of chemical substances and is within three years of the first commercial oil begun to respond to their demands by involved in catalysing certain complex delivery. (Source: WA Business News seeking Fair Trade certification, which mechanisms in the human immune system. [Western Australia], 21 February 2008.) guarantees a minimum price to producers

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and requires in return that producers The key element that sets shea butter apart next one to two years and in Europe within pursue projects for further sustainable from other “butters” sourced from seed oils three to six years, no doubt on the back of development. is the essential healing content of the oil, petitioning from Coca-Cola and Cargill. "Access to the international market via which has vitamins A and E and other crucial Currently, the largest markets for stevia Fair Trade is very promising for the women phytonutrients. The higher the healing are Japan and the Republic of Korea. In shea butter producers because it guarantees content of shea butter, the better the quality. Japan, the ingredient has been used to a price per kilo that is two to three times If the product is two years old or more, it may sweeten diet sodas for about 20 years. greater than what companies from the not be as effective; although the moisturizing Other markets where it is approved include conventional market usually offer," said effect will be there, its healing quotient may China and Brazil. Adama Ouedraogo, director of CECO, a have become less. (Source: The Economic Stevia, derived from the South American poverty-fighting NGO that has supported the Times [India], 20 January 2008.) plant Stevia rebaudiana, is said to have up producers of the shea butter in Burkina Faso. to 300 times the sweetness of sugar. As a (Source: CosmeticsDesign.com [France], 31 sweetener, stevia's taste has a slower onset January 2008.) %STEVIA and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a Shea butter: an essential luxury GLG ramps up stevia production for bitter or liquorice-like aftertaste at high Shea butter is one of those wonderful things Rebiana supply concentrations. However, Cargill and Coca- that too few people know about but actually Ingredient firm GLG Life Tech Corporation Cola claim they have achieved the right end up paying quite a bit for when it makes a will construct two new stevia processing sweetness with their product. (Source: guest appearance in their favourite plants in China, in a bid to meet the supply FoodNavigator-USA [France], 7 January moisturisers and conditioners. Consider this: demands of Coca-Cola and Cargill. The 2008.) 300 g of “pure” shea butter from a premium Canadian firm has raised Can$34.5m brand such as L’Occitane costs around through the issue of additional company US$40. You may well get the same amount of shares in order to finance the expansion shea butter for a fraction of the price, project. however, at an organic or health store. The two new plants, to be located in the What makes shea butter an essential south of China, will start off with a capacity luxury is that it is absolutely necessary if soft, of 1 000 and 500 tonnes of processed stevia. supple skin is your aim, but it is so little GLG's original facility, which last year known that it is very hard to find in India. For expanded its capacity from 100 to 300 many people across sub-Saharan Africa it is tonnes, will ramp up production to 500 as common as, say, coconut oil; increasingly tonnes, placing the firm's overall output at westerners have also woken up to its around 2 000 tonnes per year. wonders and now look for it if not in its pure Coca-Cola and Cargill have developed a %WILDLIFE form, then at least as an ingredient in their proprietary stevia product called Rebiana, winter creams and lip balms. However, the which they plan to market both in food and Caiman yacare in Bolivia very nature of the way shea butter is made beverage products and as an ingredient. Latin America is the richest area in species means that it will never become really cheap The ingredient is in its final stages of of crocodilians, compared with any other for the rest of the world. development, and the two companies soon area in the world; 12 taxa (including Everything about shea is amazing. The expect to start marketing it initially in subspecies) occur from Mexico to Argentina. thick, waxy trunk of the karite (or shea) tree countries where stevia is approved as a food The vast area of humid lands and immense (Vitellaria paradoxa) is flame resistant and additive. They are also expected to petition river systems provide an extensive habitat for extremely resilient even in poor soil, so it for approval in other global markets, caimans and crocodiles, which is the reason grows defiantly across some of the most including the United States and Europe. In for the large number of these animals in the inhospitable parts of Africa. The first fruits order to meet their supply needs, the two region, although the exact numbers are not come only when the tree is 20 years old companies have set up a global supply known. These crocodilians represent a (hence large-scale commercial production chain. GLG is one of their suppliers. resource of considerable ecological value has not been viable), but the tree is then GLG operates as fully integrated a supply and have great economic potential. productive for the next 200 years. The chain as is possible in China since it cannot Latin America has suffered the greatest incredibly tasty fruit is greenish yellow and buy the stevia farms, but will be supplying hunting operations of crocodilians in the looks rather like a cross between a litchi and the high-quality seedlings to farmers and world. Historically, this hunting was carried an amla (Indian gooseberry). buying back the leaf under contract. The out for the international trade in skins, The all-important butter comes from the company claims to control over 80 percent causing a serious decline and local kernel, so people simply eat the flesh and of stevia production in China. It also plans to extinction of some species. In the 1990s, save the pits for this by-product. The kernels develop its own line of table-top products the region provided half of the skins of go through a complicated nine-stage for sale in the United States as dietary crocodilians worldwide. The loss of habitat metamorphosis from sun drying and supplements (for which stevia has and hunting continue and are a risk for the cracking to crushing, roasting and curing regulatory approval). survival of several species. However, there until they attain the creamy shea butter The company is confident that stevia will has been a basic change in conservation avatar, in shades of cream to palest green. be approved in the United States within the tendencies throughout the world, including

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 36 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

Latin America: international controls are promote the sustainable use of NWFP? FAO Internet sites, 4 300 advertisements for the being implemented that restrict the trade of Non-Wood Forest Products Working sale of wildlife products, including wildlife and improved conservation Document 6. www.fao.org/docrep/010/ elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses and marine management programmes are being k0457e/k0457e06.htm#P408_41380) turtles, have been found. established, generating some optimism with The meetings with authorities in China, regard to the future of caimans and Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of crocodiles. China follow an eight-month survey of The adoption of strategies for the popular Chinese-language auction sites by sustainable use of crocodilians has provided TRAFFIC. As a result, several new incentives for the conservation of these advertisements have been removed, species and their habitat. In Bolivia, the deliveries intercepted and those involved development of a pilot programme convicted. "Sustainable Utilization of Caiman in Bolivia" Once the report World Without Borders started in 1995, creating the basis for the was published, traffic TRAFFIC met the adoption of the Regulation for the China CITES Management Authority and the Conservation and Advantage of the Caiman The high price of wild meat China Internet Information Security (Caiman yacare) in 1997. At the same time, A new report from the wildlife trade Monitoring Bureau to address different the General Biodiversity Direction (DGB) monitoring group TRAFFIC finds that standards in physical and virtual trade. The prepared the national programme of hunting by hungry East African refugees is latest meetings were held with major Web conservation and sustainable use of the decimating populations of chimpanzees, site companies and other relevant species in Bolivia, in which evaluation and buffaloes and zebras in the United Republic organizations, such as the State Forestry monitoring of the caiman population and of Tanzania. More than half a million Administration and the Customs Bureau, to other species of crocodilians were refugees from Rwanda, Burundi and the find solutions to control illegal wildlife trade established. Democratic Republic of the Congo have on the Internet. The habitat of the species consists of taken up residence in camps across the TRAFFIC’s aim is to promote efforts to moving waters for the "white yacare" and country in recent years, pushing the keep online trade legal and sustainable, ponds for the "black yacare", mainly on the nation’s ability to protect its wildlife to the because the extent of wildlife being offered borders of the Amazonian waterbodies. In limit. for sale in apparent contravention of times of abundance, these species inhabited TRAFFIC reports that refugees are international and national laws is alarming. lakes, lagoons, wells, marshes and small resorting to hunting wildlife because The report recommends the development of streams in the plains and forests. Frequently agencies supplying food are not providing strategies to police virtual markets, to bring they cross land when migrating from the meat. “The scale of wild meat consumption in Web-based markets under the same great rivers to the different ponds. East African refugee camps has helped regulatory structure as physical markets The main use of the large reptiles is in the conceal the failure of the international and alert shoppers to the growing use of the leather industry. In 2004, however, export of community to meet basic refugee needs,” Internet for illegal trade. (Source: ENN caiman meat started – both fresh vacuum- said Dr George Jambiya, the report's News, 29 February 2008.) sealed meat and dry meat (charque de principal author. “Relief agencies are turning jacaré) – mainly to the markets of the United a blind eye to the real cause of poaching and Gorilla Agreement enters into force States, Japan and Italy for use in exotic food illegal trade – a lack of meat protein in The Gorilla Agreement, negotiated in October restaurants. refugees' rations.” 2007 by representatives of nine African range Since 1987, Bolivia has maintained a TRAFFIC, a joint operation of two leading states under the auspices of the Convention Convention on International Trade in international non-profit organizations, the on Migratory Species (CMS), has been signed Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the by three range states and will enter into force (CITES) commitment to limit the exports of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), on 1 June 2008. The Central African Republic skins to 50 000 annually. In 2003 and 2004, recommends that relief agencies and the and the Republic of the Congo signed the 48 000 caiman skins were authorized Tanzanian Government increase the supply of agreement during the meeting of the Congo annually. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether meat protein to refugees in order to help Basin Forests Partnership on 26 October or not the quota is being fully respected, reduce overhunting of already strained 2007, while Nigeria signed on 9 April 2008. although a brief evaluation indicated that wildlife populations. But with even canned The first Meeting of the Parties will take recent numbers of caiman skins have not yet meat costing far more than the beans most place on 29 November 2008, in Rome, Italy, reached the annual quota set by CITES. agencies now provide as a protein source, immediately prior to the Ninth Conference of The major challenge in changing the wildlife advocates are not optimistic. (Source: the Parties to CMS (http://www.cms.int/). Government policy from total prohibition to emagazine.com, 27 January 2008.) (Source: MEA Bulletin, 45.) p sustainable use of caiman is to maintain a strong caiman population size, while at the Trade is virtual but wildlife isn’t same time ensuring that local people are Chinese conservationists met major benefiting from the commercialization of Internet auction site companies in January, A clear conscience is a soft pillow. caiman. So far, this challenge seems to have urging action on illegal virtual trade in German proverb been met. (Source: Case study on Caiman thousands of products made from yacare in Bolivia in Trade measures – tools to threatened wildlife. On Chinese-language

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 37

%ARMENIA In addition, 20 percent VAT (value-added mad cow disease scare, stringent food tax) is also tacked on. This further safety regulations have required importers Armenian tea isn’t appreciated in Armenia complicates matters for the small-scale to prove that products are not new, or face When the thyme leaves blossom, residents producer, says Chilingaryan. “We have shipments being impounded. South of nearby villages begin to harvest the herb packaged and stored away much of our American countries have called the EU's from the lofty meadows around Sisian, product line but it’s been a year already policies protectionist and appealed to the Kapan and Goris. The fragrance of the that we haven’t been able to sell it. Our World Trade Organization for fairer access thyme is pronounced in these areas and the thyme and rose hip items are stored but to EU markets for traditional foods. oil content of the herb is rich. haven’t yet been packaged. At the same The rarity of native food exports has “Bio Universal” LLC, purchases the thyme time we’re ready to produce more and created uncertainty for sellers and buyers from the residents in its dried state and expand our production that today only and hobbled the export trade, Ms Hess- produces tea, oil, syrup, tinctures and amounts to 25–30 percent of total Buschmann said. But she hopes her seasonings from the herb. “Some 3 200 capacity.” research, combined with regulations herbs grow in Armenia, of which 1 500 are The Armenian market for Bio Universal’s expected soon, will open up the gate. medicinal plants. Many such plants are product line is fairly small. Thus, the Not all barriers to the rise of native only to be found in Armenia,” says Yuri company views any future growth solely foods have been international. Australians Chilingaryan, the firm’s director. “Based on linked to the foreign market and orders have also been guilty of what some call a this fact, we’ve decided to select the better- with foreign buyers are at present being culinary cringe when it comes to our known varieties and produce teas, negotiated. (Source: Hetq Online [Yerevan, indigenous produce. essential oils and condiments from them.” Armenia], 4 February 2008.) The Commonwealth Scientific and Tea is produced from thyme flowers and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) oil from the stems. The rest of the herb is has estimated the industry's value "at the used to make seasonings for appetizers farmgate" at $A14 million a year, not and cheese that is aged underground. One including the macadamia industry. But an gram of thyme essential oil can cure 100 kg industry spokeswoman, Martha Shepherd, of meat. It neutralizes the meat’s odour said this figure was growing. An industry and prolongs its shelf-life. group, Australian Native Food Industry Ltd, These products are also used for began life only last year. It is now focused curative purposes. Thyme tea regulates the on getting about a dozen of the most body’s metabolism, cleanses it of the commonly available native foods registered negative properties of alcohol and narcotics with the EU – a list that includes lemon and stabilizes blood pressure. Thyme oils myrtle, the quandong, the bush tomato, refresh and rejuvenate the skin. Joint pain wattle seed and the desert lime. Some of can be eased when the affected areas are these "priority foods", such as the massaged with thyme essential oil. These Tasmanian pepperberry and the Kakadu items are also used to produce medicinal and Illawarra plums, are among a list remedies since the herbs contain %AUSTRALIA identified by Food Science Australia as potassium, calcium and magnesium, having vitamin and antioxidant contents up among other elements. Europe a weak link in the native food chain to five times that of blueberry. Bio Universal began operations two Indigenous Australians have eaten them for The chef Mathew Cribb says that the years ago. During this period, teas, syrups tens of thousands of years and scientists industry is a victim of its infancy, which and oils made from blackthorn, hawthorn, are now telling us they are among the means the prices of emu and crocodile can rose hips, mint, peppermint and other world's best sources of vitamins and run to $A70/kg. "Some of the ingredients medicinal herbs have been added to the antioxidants. But sales of Australian native are so expensive to buy that no one wants product list sold under the Manana brand foods are being hindered by stringent to take the risk." name. international laws that treat them as "novel Once that cycle is broken, they are While these herbs were traditionally foods" alongside genetically modified crops confident that the times will suit Australian used in Armenian medicine, Armenian and food engineered by state-of-the-art native foods – here and abroad. (Source: consumers today are more attracted to the nanotechnology. It is one of the reasons, Sydney Morning Herald [Australia], 27 black and green tea varieties more say industry experts, that a dozen December 2007.) commonly found on the market. One of the Australian "superfruits" are still a novelty reasons is that Armenian teas are on menus from Paris to London and expensive when compared with other tea Montreal. %AZERBAIJAN types. One packet of thyme tea, for Sibylla Hess-Buschmann, a native foods example, has an intrinsic value of 1 300 grower and researcher, has spent the past Originating centre and domesticating drams and is sold in stores for 1 560 18 months collecting documentation to history of sea buckthorn (Hippophae drams. One gram of thyme essential oil is prove that ancient Australian foods such as rhamnoides L.) in Azerbaijan valued at around US$5. This cost factor lemon myrtle and Kakadu plum are not The Genetic Resources Institute of the does not allow for large quantities of the novel exports to the European Union (EU). Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences is product to be sold on the Armenian market. Since the establishment of the EU and the one of the leading institutions in the region

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 38 COUNTRY COMPASS

and houses, among others, a Fruit, Berry to be less fertile, with a short vegetation and Grapevine Laboratory. The laboratory period and with low tolerance to diseases works on collections, reproduction studies, and pests. documentation and conservation of the Because of its national economic gene pool of local resources of berry importance as a source of biologically plants, including sea buckthorn. active substances, the Genetic Resources There are natural brushwoods of sea Institute of the Azerbaijan National buckthorn within 15 regions of the country Academy of Sciences has begun to resort Sheki-Zagatala, Quba-Khachmaz, Shirvan, to the gene pool collection of 1972, in order Karabakh and Nakhchivan zones are to create high-yielding and qualitative especially rich in sea buckthorn. These varieties of sea buckthorn from local forms ancient floristic regions of Azerbaijan are and introduced Altai varieties. The use of the origin of several families and genera, ecologically separated forms of sea including oleaster (Elaeagnus L.) and sea buckthorn for hybridization allowed us to buckthorn, which are representatives of the create a rich hybrid material. As a result, % BOLIVIA Elaeagnaceae Lindl. family. It is thought and appropriate to local soil and climatic that migration to the north of these genera conditions, the following cultivars have Valorización de productos forestales started from here. been created: Shafa, Zafarani and no madereros utilizados para crear Sea buckthorn used to be a tree-shaped Tozlayan. These are high-yielding varieties artesanías plant in subtropical conditions. As a result (18–25 tonnes/ha), big-fruited (the weight Los recursos forestales no madereros of a colder climate in the Pleistocene and of each fruit is 50–60 g), weak-thorned existentes en la amazonía boliviana later periods, the bush shape began to (Zafarani and Tozlayan) and even without alcanzan un potencial poco estudiado. develop. However, sea buckthorn kept its thorns (Shafa). Los pocos productos no madereros que se biological and morphological peculiarities, In the natural brushwoods of Azerbaijan, conocen tienen buena aceptación entre la which are characteristic of tropical sea buckthorn fruits mature towards the gente. Al ser valorados representan una aboriginal wooden plants. Towards the end end of October. The new cultivars have alternativa para generar ingresos of the Cretaceous period, the Caucasus different maturation periods (beginning of económicos adicionales para muchas with its humid climate was covered by August to the second half of October) and personas que dependen de estos recursos tropical and subtropical forests, but during are resistant to diseases and pests. These naturales. freezing periods these tropical forests were new sea buckthorn varieties are of Las etnias indígenas que habitan las nearly destroyed. However, the Talysh universal character: they can be used as zonas bajas de la llanura tropical han Mountains were not very exposed, which fresh fruits, to prepare jam, juice, liqueur, aprendido a manejar sus recursos de resulted in conditions to maintain the stewed fruit and much more. Thanks to forma sostenible. Un ejemplo de ello es tropical forest components of the Hirkan their positive bioeconomic peculiarities, que para facilitar varias actividades flora. This is the reason why the Talysh the profitability level is high (414–448 cotidianas han adoptado productos de Mountains play an exceptional role in the percent). origen vegetal, entre ellas se señala el uso country’s present very rich vegetation From a recent hybridization between de las fibras vegetales. cover. Taking into account Hirkan flora’s forms of different origin (Siberia x El uso de estas fibras ha permitido autochthonous origin, we believe that sea Azerbaijan), three varieties of sea facilitar distintas actividades domésticas. buckthorn has spread throughout buckthorn with early maturation (ultra Un buen ejemplo son algunos productos Azerbaijan and to neighbouring countries scope matured) fruits (July) and oil content artesanales que elabora la etnia Yuqui, directly from the Talysh region. (7.1 percent) have been obtained. Taking habitantes de la zona del trópico de Like other fruit berries, sea buckthorn into account the economic efficiency of Cochabamba (Bolivia), entre éstos se exists in many wild forms. Despite the large growing the above-mentioned varieties of destacan las bolsas creadas con fibras de variety of sea buckthorn in Azerbaijan, sea buckthorn, we believe they can have Ambaibo (Cecropia concolor) y Llausamora there were no cultivated species. To meet great potential, not only in Azerbaijan, but (Abutilon purpusii). individual demand, local people harvested also in countries with similar climatic Este material vegetal proviene de la wild brushwoods of sea buckthorn. Taking conditions such as Turkey, the Islamic corteza de las especies antes into account the small fruits, thorny bushes Republic of Iran, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal mencionadas. Tanto el Ambaibo como la and the inaccessible locations of the and the southern regions of China. Llausamora poseen un filamento que se natural brushwoods, fruit collection (Source: article by Mirza Musayev, in GFU encuentra entre el ritidoma (corteza) y la resulted in massive destruction of the wild Update, October 2007.) parte interna del tronco (duramen). El varieties. aprovechamiento de estos filamentos In order to meet both the people’s and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: conlleva una larga y ardua tarea, ya que industry’s demand, Siberian varieties of the Mirza Musayev, The Genetic Resources algunas plantas como el género Cecropia sea buckthorn were introduced into Institute, Azerbaijan National Academy vive protegida gracias a la simbiosis con Azerbaijan. However, testing of Altai of Sciences, 155 Azadlyg Prospect, hormigas agresivas que habitan en el varieties in three climate zones (Apsheron, 370106 Baku, Azerbaijan. interior del tronco. Karabakh and Sheki) did not meet the E-mail: [email protected]; Una vez aprovechada esta fibra pasa a expected results: the varieties were found www.cac-biodiversity.org/aze/aze_instgen.htm ser transformada de forma artesanal en

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Actividades regulares que intervienen en la transformación de bolsones. Las mismas fueron Al existir una buena aceptación del cuantificadas en horas promedio para bolsones medianos (25 x 22 cm.) elaborados en 5 días mercado sería interesante hacer ensayos de silvicultura de plantaciones, por ejemplo se podrían hacer ensayos de domesticación de las dos especies consideradas en este estudio bajo distintos tratamientos a fin de tener mayor materia prima a corto plazo. Aportación hecha por Eddy Almanza Cadima, Proyecto Manejo Forestal Sostenible en Tierras Bajas de Bolivia (FOMABO– ESFOR/UMSS), Av. Atahualpa final norte, Temporal de Cala Cala, B. Prefectural, Casilla 447, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Correo electrónico: [email protected] y Edward Sanzetenea Terceros, Escuela de Ciencias Forestales (ESFOR – UMSS), Av. Atahualpa final norte, Temporal de Cala Cala. B. Prefectural, Casilla 447, Cochabamba, pitas trenzadas. No existe una la tecnología atrás existía abundancia de biomasa en Bia Bolivia. Correo electrónico: adecuada para este trabajo, por lo tanto, Recuaté para elaborar bolsones de [email protected] los Yuquis lo realizan manualmente distintos tamaños. En los barbechos generalmente lo trabajan con las piernas. abandonados de sectores colonos Jipi japa resource Este proceso conlleva mucho tiempo ya (colindantes de la TCO Yuqui) se constató Jipi japa palm (Carludovica palmata) is que este material es de textura dura y una mayor presencia de esta especie. En extensively distributed throughout the astillada. los lugares donde anteriormente hubo lowland tropics, extending from the centre Una reciente investigación realizada por bastante intervención humana es donde se of Bolivia northwards into the Amazon E. Almanza y E. Sanzetenea tuvo como observó que el Ambaibo se desarrolla con basin. Generally it is found within forest objetivo general valorizar de forma toda tranquilidad. En predios de la fringes of foothills and around river banks. estratégica los productos artesanales de comunidad San Marcos (vecina de la TCO), It grows in clusters of individual plants, origen forestal no maderera de la se encontraron manchas grandes de pura and harvesters target young unfurled comunidad indígena Yuqui. Los objetivos Cecrópias ya que nadie le da importancia a leaves from which to extract plant fibre to específicos fueron: a) registrar la cadena estas plantas. En cuanto al Abutilón weave hats and for other diverse crafts. de transformación de un producto purpusii sucede algo similar. Resource scarcity is considered to be artesanal (bolsones) en dos zonas del En los lugares próximos a Bia Recuaté largely a result of habitat loss – trópico cochabambino; b) determinar el no se pudo encontrar esta especie, deforestation and mass land conversion to peso de los filamentos obtenidos de las probablemente por las condiciones agriculture – rather than overharvesting. especies aprovechadas en función de su biofísicas del lugar. Al acercarse a la According to the National Protected Areas desarrollo y ambiente, y c) determinar el comunidad de puerto San Marcos, la Service (SERNAP), people wishing to peso de la fibra hilada (procesada) con Llausamora comienza a tener presencia en harvest jipi japa must ask for a permit relación a 100 gr. de fibra en bruto. los barbechos abandonados. A unos 8 km related to its function and future use, i.e. Entre las actividades que intervienen en al noroeste de San Marcos se encuentra el either domestic or with a commercial aim. la cadena de transformación, las tareas sector colono de Estaño Palmito, es ahí The law states that while individuals may domesticas son las que ocupan mayor donde la abundancia de la Llausamora es own the land upon which jipi japa grows, parte del tiempo. Los Yuquis se dedican mayor, aunque las plantas no presentaban más que todo a la caza, pesca y por ende a mucho desarrollo sea en diámetro que en la atención del hogar ya que no son altura, a esa zona no es posible acceder agricultores por tradición. Desde que por las diferencias entre colonos e empezaron a relacionarse con la cultura indígenas. El Ambaibo y la Llausamora no occidental influenciada por la migración son las únicas plantas tropicales que colona, su cosmovisión sobre sus poseen fibras. productos comenzó a tener un matiz más En otros bosques, algunas comunidades comercial y ello representa, hasta la fecha, usan fibras de distintas especies como la extraer en mayor cantidad la biomasa del Balsa (Ocroma lagopus), Jipi Japa lugar. (Cardulovica palmata), entre otros. La No existe mucha abundancia de comunidad Yuqui particularmente, tienen biomasa de Ambaibo (Cecropia concolor) y más familiaridad con el comercio, ya que Llausamora (Abutilón purpusii) alrededor las fibras que ellos trabajan son bien de la comunidad. Por referencias aceptadas en el mercado local y a costos etnobotánicas hasta hace algunos años medianamente bajos.

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they do not own the actual resource. United Kingdom, has developed a series of However, national regulation has little initiatives to help rural populations in the impact and, in reality, this government region take fuller advantage of CAMBODIA NTFP WORKING GROUP department receives a negligible number opportunities for commercial trade in tree of requests for extraction permits. and forest products. The Cambodia NTFP Working Group is As a result of depleted natural In January 2005, various departments of an informal network of individuals and resources, some communities have the Burkina Faso Government, local NGOs, organizations working towards the attempted to domesticate the species, with TREE AID and FAO joined forces to launch a promotion of forest conservation and the most promising results coming from pilot project for the promotion of small sustainable NTFP livelihoods in growing it with other plants and under business development based on tree and Cambodia. They produce a monthly shade. (Source: Commercialization of non- forest products: the Village Tree newsletter, Forests, People and NTFPs. timber forest products: factors influencing Enterprise. The pilot project adopted a success. Lessons learned from Mexico and Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) For more information, please contact: Bolivia and policy implications for approach to entrepreneurial organization [email protected] decision-makers, eds. E. Marshall, K. and capacity building at the village level to Schreckenberg and A.C. Newton.) improve local processing and marketing of NWFPs. (Source: Unasylva, 228(58), [2007; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: http://www.fao.org/forestry/8707/en/) Elaine Marshall, Independent Consultant, Many communities living in the remote Heywood House, Crawley End, Chrishall, Collection of wild plants for household mountainous areas earn a livelihood by Royston, Herts SG8 8QN, United Kingdom. consumption collecting NTFPs such as vines, rattan, wild E-mail: [email protected] In Burkina Faso, and throughout the West fruits and honey. They also keep cows and African Sahel, rural women carefully buffaloes for labour exchange with the collect the fruit, leaves and roots of native more affluent. The creative use of NTFPs plants such as the baobab tree (Adansonia helps to improve the living conditions of digitata) and red sorrel leaves (Hibiscus these communities and provide them with saddarifa), kapok leaves (Ceiba pentandra) a brighter future. and tigernut tubers (Cyperus esculentus L.) The Vice Chairman of Taop Cheang for use in the family diet. Mountain Community Forestry said that in These supplement the agricultural his community forest area there were plenty grains (millet and sorghum) that provide of honeybees this year, yet community only a part of the nutritional spectrum and members collected very little honey may fail in any given year. More than 800 annually: they found it difficult to sell and it species of edible wild plants have been was cheap because the buyers assumed catalogued across the Sahel. (Source: that it was not pure. No matter how hard the IK Notes 23 in Building on gender, sellers try to explain that their honey is pure, agrobiodiversity and local knowledge. the customers do not usually believe them. %BURKINA FASO A training manual. FAO.) People from Taop Cheang Mountain (Please see page 73 for more information.) community rely on NTFPs, especially rattan. Village Tree Enterprise – supporting In general, the life of rattan collectors is development of small enterprises based on extremely hard. They go to the forest in the NWFPs %CAMBODIA wet season and have to set up camp to stay NWFPs are an important part of traditional in the forest for many days. Since the water livelihoods and culture in the West African Life of people in community forests in rises in the wet season, it is easy for boats to Sahel and remain popular not only with rural remote areas access and transport rattan canes. Rattan people, but also with recently urbanized Farmers living in mountainous areas do not collectors have to go down deep valleys to populations. Villagers generally have free have sufficient land to produce rice. They look for rattan because these types of access to communal forest resources. live in hope of collecting NTFPs in both the creepers grow in parallel with big trees. So NWFPs are already an important source of wet and dry seasons. the rattan collectors take many risks and income for rural households – especially for At present, Cambodians living in rural spend a lot of money in transport. women, as NWFP harvesting and marketing and remote mountainous areas have more Sometimes, after dealing with all are traditional preserves of women in Africa. understanding thanks to awareness- expenses, they end up having nothing left Although official statistics are rare, informal raising efforts by both local NGOs and at their disposal. This makes collecting evidence indicates that trade in NWFPs has international organizations. Through these NTFPs hopeless for them. Yet they have no grown in recent years, both domestically and networks, communities have made alternative. internationally. improvements in organizing themselves to There are five kinds of rattan canes Yet isolation from marketing manage and protect natural resources and (phdao) the traders need: i) phdao ach opportunities remains a familiar forest areas, which they believe are moan (Calamus guruba) is used for characteristic of rural livelihoods in the valuable for their children and the basketry and chair seats; ii) phdao Sahel. TREE AID, an NGO based in the generations to come. chhveang (C. palustris) is excellent for

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furniture frames; iii) phdao saom inventoried in 12 villages. We encountered a Dans le bassin du Congo, le Cameroun (Daemonorops jenkinsiana) is usually used total of 206 tree species with an average of est l’un des pays ayant une potentialité for low-quality furniture and for coring and 21 tree species per agroforest. In the more considérable en biodiversité forestière. De binding; iv) phdao dambong (C. rudentum) is urbanized area around Yaoundé, ce fait, on y trouve un massif forestier dense used for handicrafts; and v) preah phdao. agroforests were less diverse than in the et humide couvrant environ 60 pour cent de Every time collectors sell rattan to traders other subregions. son territoire national, soit environ they are bought for a low price, with prices In all the agroforests, food-producing 20 millions d’hectares (classé au deuxième for one piece ranging from 200 to 300 riel tree species tended to be more frequent rang en Afrique). Par la richesse naturelle (for phdao ach moan) to 1 000–1 500 riel for than other species. Two-thirds of the food qu’offre sa biodiversité, on y trouve près de preah phdao. Sometimes the traders say trees were native forest species and one 297 espèces de mammifères sauvages they will buy only if the rattan is 5 m long. third was introduced. From Ebolowa to (cinquième rang africain), 183 espèces de Prices are usually dictated by the traders Yaoundé, the density of food-producing reptiles (sixième rang africain), 39 espèces and have no clear reference. trees doubled and the density of exotic de papillons (deuxième rang africain), Therefore, there is little incentive for food-producing species increased relative 280 espèces d’oiseaux. Tout cela fait du community people to collect rattan in the to native species. Some local species Cameroun, le deuxième pays d’Afrique en forest: rattan collection can be dangerous producing high-value NTFPs were found in matière de biodiversité forestière. with the wild animals in the forest, and the the agroforests, but their density was far En plus de ce potentiel, il faut ajouter les price of rattan is low. If traders continue to lower than that of exotic tree species. The plantes médicinales, les plantes lower the prices at their will, Cambodia’s agroforests also provide medicine, charcoal alimentaires et les plantes de service. On forest products may be of no use to and other products for household compte près de 8 000 espèces de plantes communities in the future. consumption and sale. parmi lesquelles près de 150 espèces sont However, the community at present has We conclude that unless there are endémiques au Cameroun; ce qui le place hope in the local NGOs and international specific efforts to promote local forest tree au deuxième rang africain. organizations that helped train them in species in cocoa agroforests, these will Dans le cadre de cette étude, la collecte techniques to process rattan for furniture progressively lose importance with des données s’est faite pour certaines and handicrafts and to find export markets. increasing market access, population catégories de PFNL classés dans le sens This is instrumental in order to improve the pressure and land use intensity. (Source: latéral selon l’ordre décroissant de leur living conditions of the people in the Taop D.J. Sonwa et al. 2007. Diversity of plants in importance: Cheang Mountain community and in other cocoa agroforests in the humid forest zone • les plantes médicinales, les plantes communities. (Source: Forests, People and of Southern Cameroon. Biodivers Conserv., aromatiques et les plantes fourragères; NTFPs, Year 1, Issue 1, November 2007.) 16: 2385–2400.) • les plantes médicinales, les exsudats et les produits apicoles; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: : • les plantes médicinales, les plantes %CAMEROON Denis J. Sonwa, Agroecologist, International comestibles, les plantes ornementales Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Humid Forest et les animaux sauvages vivants; Diversity of plants in cocoa agroforests in Ecoregional Center (IITA–HFC), PO Box 2008, • les plantes médicinales, les plantes the humid forest zone of southern Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Fax: (+237) comestibles, les rotins et le gibier; Cameroon 2 223 74 37; e-mail: [email protected] or • les plantes médicinales, les plantes In the humid forest zone of southern [email protected]; www.iita.org comestibles et les ressources Cameroon, farmers generally associate halieutiques. cocoa with native and exotic trees in Le Cameroun: les PFNL et la biodiversité Grâce à ces travaux, certains PFNL complex agroforestry systems. Despite the forestière (plantes médicinales et plantes socio-economic and ecological importance Parmi les composantes de la biodiversité comestibles) ont revêtu une grande of these systems, few studies have forestière, les produits forestiers non ligneux importance socioéconomique à l’échelle investigated their plant composition. We (PFNL) sont d’une manière générale les nationale, alors que par l’absence de la investigated the tree composition of these produits forestiers autres que le bois vulgarisation d’une technique industrielle cocoa agroforests along a gradient of d’œuvre, désignant l’ensemble des biens et de conditionnement, d’autres PFNL pour le market access, population density and services pouvant être vendus, moment n’ont pas encore assez resource use intensity in the subregions of autoconsommés ou être utilisés par d’importance connue de tous pour une Yaoundé, Mbalmayo and Ebolowa. Market l’industrie comme source de matières exploitation soutenue et durable. C’est l’un access, population density and resource premières provenant des ressources des problèmes majeurs liés à la gestion des use intensity all decreased from the first to renouvelables de la biomasse. Alors, l’on ne PFNL et se posant dans la plupart des pays the third subregion. pourrait savoir combien de fois les PFNL en développement, dans le bassin du Congo We quantified the diversity of tree jouent un rôle important dans la satisfaction et au Cameroun en particulier. species associated with cocoa within des besoins des communautés Des expériences faites dans ces régions individual agroforests, among agroforests camerounaises et celles du bassin du Congo ont montré que les PFNL sont utilisés au in the same region and among the three en général, comme étant leur moyen de niveau local pour la subsistance et/ou pour subregions, and classified the tree species subsistance, de maîtrise de la gestion de la génération des revenus économiques according to their main uses. A total of 9.1 l’environnement sur le plan agro-sylvo- supplémentaires des populations; d’où la ha belonging to 60 cocoa agroforests were pastoral . nécessité de leur commercialisation.

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Présentation de quelques PFNL bien connus et trouvés au Cameroun an ecosystemic vision that does not consider the forest just as a wood source, Nom commercial ou commun Nom scientifique Parties utilisées but as a benefit for the community, since it Pygeum Prunus africana Écorce, feuilles, racines sets funds for forest recovery and for its Bush onion Apostyrax le pidophyllus Bulbes non-lumber management," says Antonio Voacanga Voaccanga Graines, feuilles, latex Lara, Dean of the Forestry Science Faculty Noisette (komol) Coula edulis Graines at the Austral University in Valdivia, Chile, Yohimbe Pausinystalia Écorces and involved in the negotiations since 1992. Arbor à ail (Olom) Scorrodipheus zenkeri Ecorces A key aspect of the law is the creation of Rauwolfia Rauwolfia vomitoria Racines, écorces an initial fund of US$8 million a year for Eru, Okok Gnetum africanum Feuilles forest conservation, recovery and Strophantus Strophantus gratus Graines, feuilles Bidou Saccogiotis gabonensis Ecorces sustainable management projects. The text Moambe jaune Enanthia chlorantha Ecorces of the legislation mentions the Saringang Terminalia glaucescens Graines, écorces establishment of an additional annual fund Emien (Ekuk) Alstonia boonei Ecorces, racines, feuilles to "boost scientific and technological Candle stick Carpolobia tues Tiges, écorces research related to the native forest and Gomme arabique Acacia spp Exsudats the protection of its biodiversity, soil, water Atui (dabema) Piptadeniastrum afromomum Ecorces sources, flora, fauna and the associated Noix de kola (kola nut) Colonidita colacuacciminata Noix ecosystems". The law will also protect Bambou de chine Arundunaria alpina; Tiges water sources by banning the felling of Oxytenanthera abyssinica native forests located near springs, rivers, Aiele (abel) Canarium schweinfurthii Fruits, exsudats Fromager Ceiba pentandra Racines, feuilles écorces, glaciers, wetlands and lands with steep Poivre sauvage (Bush pepper) Piper guineensis graines slopes. Essesang (ndjanssang) Ricinodendron heudoletii Graines fruits An advisory council will be set up – Bitter kola Garcina kola Noix involving government authorities, forestry Fève de Calabar (Calabar beans) Physostigna venenosum Graines and biology academics, NGOs and native Divers afromomum Afromomum spp Graines, feuilles, fruits forest owners – to advise on the law's Bush mango (andok) Irvingia gabonensis Ecorces, amandes application and propose modifications. Charbon de bois Tout bois Bois carbonisé Chile has more than 15 million ha of Akpa Tetrapleura tetraptera Ecorces, racines, fruits forest, 13.4 million of which are native. Dambala Discoglypremna Bois According to a press release from the Bilinga Nuclea diderrichii Fruits, racines écorces Chewing stick Garcinia manii Bois Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, the law is Padouk Pterocarpus soyauxii Ecorces likely to allow 500 000 ha of native forest to Ebene (Eboni) Diospyros spp Bois be preserved over the next 15 years, Iroko Millitia excelsa Ecorces, graines, feuilles, 600 000 ha to be recovered for productive exsudats use and 38 000 new jobs to be created in and Wengue Milletia laurentii Bois around the forestry sector. Furthermore, the Bubinga (Essingan) Guibourtia tessimanii Ecorces Ministry suggested that biomass from forest Rotin Calamus spp liagne Tiges waste could also provide a potential source Moabi (adjap) Baillonela toxisperma Graines, écorces material for biofuel. (Source: SciDev.Net, 31 Funtumia Funtumia spp Latex, bois December 2007.)

Cette analyse montre que la biodiversité %CHILE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC forestière est constituée d’un ensemble de %OF THE CONGO ressources dont les PFNL sont les plus Chile approves Native Forest Law after abondants et sont susceptibles de 15 years Indigenous peoples map their forests contribuer efficacement à l’atteinte d’un Santiago. The Chilean parliament has with GPS in an effort to save them réel développement économique et durable unanimously approved a law to preserve This week over 500 villagers in the en milieu tropical. Cependant, il serait the country's forests, promote their Democratic Republic of the Congo's rain souhaitable que tous les acteurs impliqués sustainable use and foster related scientific forest will employ GPS (global positioning dans la gestion des ressources naturelles research. system) technology to map their forests in puissent trouver des moyens rapides et The Native Forest Law has been in an effort to preserve their territory from fiables pour une pérennité, afin de pouvoir negotiation for 15 years – the longest any logging companies. This large-scale concilier la protection de l’environnement law has taken to pass in Chile – and community initiative is being managed by et l’amélioration du cadre de vie des members of the scientific community, the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK), communautés riveraines des forets. environmental organizations and which has trained 66 “Master Mappers” to Contribution: Mr. Gwomb Bi Hell government authorities have expressed aid the villagers in mapping their Emmanuel, B.P.: 8002, Yaoundé, Cameroun great satisfaction with its approval this territories, using motorbikes and canoes. Courriel: [email protected] month (19 December). "This law introduces The villagers are mapping their full

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territory in the country, but are also protecting the forests is essential in the valorizando la tradicional experiencia de employing GPS to mark significant areas fight against climate change." (Source: los productores – la formulación de including their villages, sacred places, and Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com, April 13, propuestas técnicas que permitieran llegar fishing and hunting areas. 2008.) a un aprovechamiento sostenible de este The Congo Basin has the world's second (Please see page 25 for more information recurso forestal. largest rain forest. It has suffered greatly on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.) Un reciente libro (El bálsamo de El from the two civil wars in the Democratic Salvador: tradición y alternativa Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 1996 to sostenible, de Alessandrello, Marco; 1997 and from 1998 to 2003. During these González, José Mardoqueo y de la Escuela devastating wars, militias and armies Nacional de Agricultura, publicado en el exploited the rain forest and its indigenous marco de la ejecución de este proyecto, peoples with impunity. Since the end of war, está estructurado en cuatro partes. Las the political stabilization of the country has dos primeras están basadas en meant that its forests are under new investigaciones bibliográficas que pressure, this time from industrial and often presentan la historia del árbol y sus international logging companies. características, las técnicas de cultivo y “There is a rush for the trees,” according extracción, calidad y usos de la resina. La to René Ngongo, from the local NGO, % EL SALVADOR tercera parte, basada en un trabajo Organisation Concertée des Ecologistes et experimental, presenta la investigación de Amis de la Nature (OCEAN), which is El bálsamo de El Salvador: tradición campo sobre el cultivo del bálsamo en las working with RFUK. "What is at stake is y alternativa sostenible cinco comunidades del proyecto y una guía enormous. Two-thirds of the people in the El proyecto "Mejora, recuperación y del cultivo a partir de este estudio. La Congo Basin depend on this forest to promoción del bálsamo (Myroxylon cuarta parte, dedicada a la provide food, medicines and building bálsamum) en cinco comunidades de la comercialización de la resina, es fruto del materials. It is critical for the survival of the Cordillera del Bálsamo en El Salvador" es estudio sobre el mercado nacional e people and animals.” realizado por Intervida gracias a la internacional y las labores de The natives of the forest have largely contribución de la “Fondazione CARIPLO” investigación. been left out of forest policy thus far; the de Milán, Italia. La idea del proyecto nació hope is that these maps will change all en 2003 cuando, visitando las zonas de PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN DIRIGIRSE A: that. "It is going to be the first time that intervención de Intervida en El Salvador, se Fundación Privada Intervida El Salvador, anybody in DRC sees on paper that these tuvo la oportunidad de conocer las Colonia La Mascota, Calle La Mascota Nº. 204, forest-dependent communities exist," Cath condiciones de vida de las poblaciones de San Salvador, El Salvador Long, RFUK Project Director, said. "Their la cordillera del Bálsamo. Se trata de una Correo electrónico: maps will be a vital tool for the zona montañosa ubicada en los [email protected] communities to negotiate with the departamentos de La Libertad y government. It will allow them to Sonsonate, entre la carretera del Litoral y demonstrate that they are there, and that la carretera Panamericana que une la %EQUATORIAL GUINEA they need to be taken into account when capital San Salvador a Sonsonate. Dichas decisions are made about the forest they comunidades viven en una de las zonas Oil boom fuels bushmeat trade live in." menos deforestadas del país, con gran in Equatorial Guinea The maps are to be completed by 8 May, vocación forestal y hasta hace pocos años Interdisciplinary research in continental in time for a meeting where the dedicadas casi exclusivamente a la Equatorial Guinea shows the impact of government will decide how various producción cafetalera. changing national economics on bushmeat territories of the forest are to be used. The Desde la introducción del café, el hunting and trade. The economy has meeting could affect forest policy in the bálsamo, alto y majestuoso árbol, ha sido recently boomed following the discovery of country for decades. For indigenous utilizado para dar sombra. A causa de la offshore oil in the mid-1990s. A study of villagers, who have already seen portions reciente crisis del precio del café, las consumers, markets, households, hunters of their territory handed over to logging comunidades rurales de la zona se han and offtake in the regional capital, Bata, companies, this is an opportunity to make visto obligadas a buscar alternativas de and the village of Sendje, 41 km to the their voice heard. generación de ingresos. Una de las más south and a major supply of bushmeat to Simon Counsell, RFUK Director, adds interesantes ha sido el regreso a la Bata, has shown that the resulting increase that the preservation of the rain forest, or extracción de la resina del bálsamo; sin in incomes is increasing demand for fresh the lack thereof, could no longer be embargo, volver a esta producción supone meat and fish, with all fresh meat and fish considered purely a regional question. toda una serie de problemas a los que los types registering positive income "This is an issue that affects us all because técnicos no tenían soluciones ni elasticities. With few alternative sources of not only are rain forests home to an recomendaciones: no había literatura ni fresh animal protein (fish is favoured, but estimated 50 million indigenous forest experiencia formalizada y estructurada. Es fisheries are underdeveloped and current peoples and more species of plants and por esta razón que en el marco de un supply is inadequate), and few alternative animals than all the earth's other proyecto piloto se decidió proponer la rural livelihoods, commercial hunting is ecosystems combined, but also because realización de estudios que orientaran – increasing to feed this demand.

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Over 10 000 animals (40 000 kg) were droughts, wars and other hardships. Elders the repeated climatic shocks that have hunted in Sendje in 2003. Of these, and other knowledgeable community hampered agricultural production, leading relatively little bushmeat was bought or members are the key sources or reservoirs to food shortages. Increased consumption consumed by Sendje households, since its of plant knowledge. The consumption of of wild foods allows people to cope better high cost meant it was more profitable to wild food is still very common in rural with erratic, untimely rains, while they are sell most of it (89 percent) to the Bata areas, particularly among children. Of also able to face several consecutive years market and use the profit to buy cheaper these, the most common wild plant fruits of drought, without suffering severe food dried fish or frozen alternatives. Across the are those of Ficus spp., Carissa edulis and shortages, famine and general asset village, hunting was the second highest- Rosa abyssinica. depletion, as is the case in other areas of earning livelihood activity after wage- The consumption of a wide range of wild Ethiopia. Although wild plants are found in paying jobs (with hunting the sole plants is more common and widespread in uncultivated lowland bush, forest and livelihood for 55 of 93 adult males), but the food-insecure areas; the linkage has given pastoral areas, in the more densely median monthly income from hunting was rise to the notion of famine-foods, plants populated and intensively used upper less than half that of waged employment. that are eaten only in times of food stress lands, a great variety of these indigenous Although one particularly prolific hunter and are therefore an indicator of famine plants and trees has been domesticated had the highest per capita income in the conditions. Local people know the for home consumption and medicinal use. village, in general men preferred the importance of wild plants and the Konso, Derashe and Burji special weredas security of a regular wage, and nearly all contribution that they make to their daily (administrative districts) and parts of the said that they did not like hunting. Hunting diet, although they also know about the Southern Nations, Nationalities and tended to be a “fall-back” option, providing possible health hazards, such as an upset People’s Region (SNNPR) may still a source of income in the absence of stomach after eating certain wild plants. For be considered part of the biodiversity preferable alternative livelihood example, Balanites aegyptiaca (bedena in hotspots of southern Ethiopia. (Source: opportunities. Amharic), an evergreen tree 10–20 m tall, is Y. Guinand and D. Lemessa in Building Increasing the availability of alternatives typical of this category. Children eat its ripe on gender, agrobiodiversity and local at the urban level would decrease demand fruit at any time as do adults when there are knowledge. A training manual. FAO.) for bushmeat, but without provision of food shortages. The new shoots, which are (Please see page 73 for more information.) alternative rural income-generating always growing during the dry season, are opportunities as well, low opportunity commonly used as animal forage. During Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge costs mean that hunting will continue and food shortages, however, people cut the and practice of the Oromo ethnic group hunting households will simply get poorer. newly grown succulent shoots and leaves An ethnomedicinal study (by Haile Yineger, Feasible solutions that address both and cook them like cabbage. People in the Delenasaw Yewhalaw and Demel Teketay in demand and supply are therefore urgently drought-prone areas of southern Ethiopia Journal of Ethnobiology and needed to improve food security, also apply these consumption habits to the Ethnomedicine, 2008, 4:11) was undertaken livelihoods and conservation fruits and young leaves of Solanum nigrum from December 2005 to November 2006 to simultaneously. (black nightshade), a small annual herb, document indigenous medicinal plant (Source: N.F. Kümpel, 2006. Incentives for and Syzygium guineense (water berry tree), knowledge and use by traditional healers in sustainable hunting of bushmeat in Río which is a dense, leafy forest tree about southwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected Muni, Equatorial Guinea. Institute of 20 m tall. at random from 45 selected traditional Zoology, Zoological Society of London and In parts of southern Ethiopia, the healers using semi-structured interviews Imperial College London, University of collection and consumption of wild food and observations. London (Ph.D. thesis). Available at: plants are key to important local survival Sixty-seven ethnomedicinal plant species www.iccs.org.uk) strategies and have intensified because of used by traditional healers to deal with 51 (Contributed by: Dr Noëlle Kümpel, ESRC different human ailments were identified Fellow, University College London, and and documented. The indigenous Programme Manager, Bushmeat and knowledge of the healers was positively Forests Conservation Programme, correlated with their reported age but not Zoological Society of London, Regent’s with their educational level. A high degree of Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom. consensus was observed among traditional Fax: +44 (0)20 7483 4436; healers in treating tumours (locally known e-mail: [email protected]; as tanacha), rabies (dhukuba seree) and www.zsl.org) insect bites (hadhaa). The use of more than one species was particularly cited for remedy preparations. % ETHIOPIA The reported abundance of the ethnomedicinal plant species varied Wild food plants in southern Ethiopia significantly with regard to the presence of The rural people of Ethiopia are endowed multiple uses of the reported species. with a profound knowledge of the use of Results showed that ethnomedicinal plant wild and medicinal plants, some of which species used by healers are under serious are consumed and used particularly during Balanites aegyptiaca threat owing to several factors, which

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indicates the need for urgent attention resources may help to improve macrolevel towards their conservation and sustainable poverty estimates and policy planning and utilization. (Source: 7thSpace Interactive execution. The quantification of (press release) [New York, United States], environmental income may serve as an 29 April 2008.) important factor in encouraging forest restoration or reforestation, input into the conservation policy and particularly %GERMANY establishment of protected areas, by determining the potential loss to rural German herbal cure market under strain dwellers of reduced access to environmental Germany has become the £1.6 billion a year resources. (Contributed by: Dr Tapani global leader in herbal medicines, but the Tyynelä, Finland.) green lobby may be pruning back future profits. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Some 45 000 tonnes of plants, roots, Dr Tapani Tyynelä, Researcher, shoots and leaves are harvested every year, Government of Ghana has embarked upon Finnish Forest Research Institute, more than in any other industrialized community-based forest rehabilitation and PO Box 44, Fin-69101 Kannus, Finland. country. About 75 percent of customers in landscape restoration through the E-mail: [email protected] German pharmacies choose a natural development of plantation and agroforestry or Dr Ari Pappinen, Project Director, product when buying non-prescription systems, using indigenous tree species. University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, medications, and Germany is the world's Determining the impacts of rehabilitation PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland. largest exporter. interventions on the livelihood structures E-mail: [email protected] But conservationist Uwe Schippmann and sociocultural practices of local warns that excessive harvesting and communities in Ghana will be the main Standardization and legalization of unregulated trade pose a threat to the socio-economic subject of the Finnish- moringa leaf powder trade existence of 4 000 medicinal plants Ghanaian forestry research project Moringa is a tropical tree (Moringa oleifera) worldwide, about 150 of them in Europe. "Restoration of Indigenous Forest that can be intensively cultivated for leaf For about a decade, Schippmann's Landscape in Ghana: Interdisciplinary production. The leaves are extremely rich in conservation group BfN (German Federal Approach" between 2008 and 2011. proteins and micronutrients (vitamins, Agency for Nature Conservation) has been In Ghana, there is currently a "bushmeat minerals and antioxidants) and can be dried working with the World Wide Fund for boom" and people are encouraged to farm and grounded into a powder, to be used as a Nature on a comprehensive protection plan grasscutters instead of hunting animals. food supplement. This product is becoming for medicinal and aromatic plants. (Please (See pages 25–27 of Non-Wood News 14 for more and more popular for individual use or see page 27 for more information.) more information on bushmeat and the in schools and during maternities to fight Growing these plants industrially is not boom in Ghana.) Bushmeat hunting can also micronutrient deficiency. African companies an option – it is either impossible or cause deforestation if it is undertaken by manufacturing cereals are also interested in requires too much effort to domesticate starting bushfires to scare animals out of enriching their products with this low-cost, them. So unless ways can be found to their natural habitat. FAO's State of the locally available source of vitamins and replicate Mother Nature, natural medicines World's Forests 2007 also indicated that minerals. could become scarcer. (Source: This is commercial trade in bushmeat for In 2006, the Moringanews network Money [UK], 11 February 2008.) consumption is probably the single most organized an international workshop on important cause of the decline in wildlife moringa, financed by CDE (Centre for the populations in many parts of Africa, ranging Development of Enterprise) and CTA % GHANA from insects, birds and turtles to primates, (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural antelopes, elephants and hippopotamuses. Cooperation ACP-UE). The workshop Bushmeat hunting and forest degradation However, what would be the socio-economic created a high level of interest in this plant. in Ghana impacts if bushmeat hunting were to be Demand for moringa leaf powder exploded, Tropical forests play an important role in prohibited in the project areas? and prices reached €150/kg in February supporting the livelihoods of 21 million It is not clear how important bushmeat is 2007. Production followed quickly and prices Ghanaians, particularly the rural for maintaining standards of living and as a went down to more reasonable levels, communities. However, the combined effect source of protein in Ghana. For example, around €40/kg (November 2007). of overexploitation of forest resources, earlier studies in the United Republic of The Moringa Association of Ghana (MAG) unsustainable farming practices, bush fires Tanzania suggest that the causes of hunting was founded in January 2007, in the and mining have significantly reduced are connected with poverty and low dietary presence of the Minister of Health, by the Ghana’s forest area. Continued forest loss, standards. Therefore, assessing the main producers, processors and traders of which is currently at an annual rate of 1.3 variation in forest use and dependence on all moringa leaf powder. The question of percent, threatens the existence of many forest resources (and especially bushmeat) product registration was quickly raised and valuable indigenous tree species such as of different socio-economic backgrounds MAG established close relationships with African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis). In will be covered in this study. The empirical the regulating bodies concerned: the Food order to address this concern, the investigation of dependence on forest and Drug Board, Ghana Standard Board and

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Food Research Institute. These bodies the shea nut industry in the north. According provided training for MAG members on to the budget, a steering committee to sanitary issues, processing, packaging and THE SHEA TREE CAN BE USED revamp the shea nut industry, which is one labelling. However, the novelty of moringa TO FIGHT DESERTIFICATION of the major preoccupations of the three leaf powder as a food, and in particular the northern regions, has been established. absence of product standards, hindered the The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) has This newspaper thinks that the certification process. environmental significance for Ghana, development of the shea nut industry In November 2007, CDE and Ex-Change particularly in the fight against should be a broad component of the agreed to finance a short mission at the desertification. Ghana's total land area of Northern Development Fund, which was request of the Paris-based Moringanews 238 539 km2 is at risk of desertification, also announced in the 2008 budget with the network. The objectives were to facilitate the which claims about 20 000 ha of the commitment of seed money of 25 million certification of moringa products and country’s land annually. The most cedis. (Source: Public Agenda [Accra, identify the needs of MAG to carry out its severely affected areas are the northern Ghana], 15 January 2008.) role as an intermediary organization. and upper regions of the country. Land As a result of the mission, the Ghana in these parts of Ghana is arid and the Standard Board is ready to prepare the climate is hot and dry. The land in these %HONDURAS gazetting of Publicly Advisable regions is covered in sparse vegetation Specifications, i.e. provisional product and is mostly grassland, conditions which La contribución de los productos forestales standards, until the full certification make it susceptible to desertification. no madereros al derecho a la alimentación procedure is carried out. The missing data Therefore, in the fight against En Honduras, los principales productos for the product standards will be researched desertification in these areas, the shea forestales no madereros (PFNM) utilizados by the Food Research Institute – shelf-life tree, which has been described as the y aprovechados comercialmente son la and maximum moisture content. The Food "cocoa of the north", could be a resina de pino y la resina de liquidámbar. and Drug Board is ready to accept the suitable ally. Although several efforts Otros PFNM que también tienen registration of moringa leaf powder as a have been made to propagate the shea importancia comercial son las semillas food if MAG controls the processing, tree scientifically over the years, no forestales, las flores, musgos, animales packaging and labelling. Moringanews and significant results have yet been silvestres y una gran diversidad de cortezas CDE are committed to continue to support achieved. However, like all scientific y hojas utilizadas como productos the development of the moringa market. efforts, it is only a matter of time medicinales. (Source: Underutilized Species Update, April before a solution is found. (Source: Joy El reglamento de la Ley de 2008 [Global Facilitation Unit].) Online [Ghana], 3 December 2007.) Modernización y Desarrollo del Sector Agrícola (Acuerdo 1039-93-LMDSA), FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: contiene disposiciones en línea con tales Dr Armelle de Saint Sauveur (Mrs), exigencias, al establecer que el Scientific Director, Moringanews, Moringa bamboo and rattan development, cumplimiento del plan de manejo dará al and Plant Resources Network, 211 rue du processing and marketing. (Source: Modern propietario el derecho a disponer de los Faubourg Saint Antoine, 75011 Paris, France. Ghana [Ghana], 25 April 2008.) productos forestales que se obtengan del Fax: + 33 140 09 04 79; bosque (Art. 38). e-mail: [email protected]; A viable shea nut industry can curb Por otro lado, el artículo 46 establece www.moringanews.org migration of girls que la Administración Forestal del Estado, A recent study, conducted by a group of es decir la AFE-COHDEFOR ahora researchers at the University of Ghana, has denominado Instituto de Conservación y concluded that: "It is possible that if the Desarrollo Forestal, de Áreas Protegidas y shea nut and shea butter industry is given Vida Silvestre, programará trabajos de special attention, it could be a more reforestación combinados con trabajos lucrative source of income for young girls agrícolas en áreas forestales nacionales and make migration to the south less desarboladas donde sea técnicamente attractive to them". This conclusion is based factible, y los efectuará por contrato con Government taking action to reduce on the fact that most of the young girls who cooperativas, empresas asociativas o pressure on forests migrate to the south initially engage in the cualquier otra forma de organización The Government of Ghana has embarked on shea nut trade to secure their fare to travel societaria legalmente reconocida por el forest plantation development, including to the south only to engage in menial jobs. Estado, quienes se beneficiarán en su development of the bamboo and rattan Details of the report revealed that many totalidad del rendimiento agrícola y industry, to reduce the pressure on natural teenage female migrants were exposed to participarán en los beneficios que deriven forest and slow the process of deforestation. reproductive health risks in the south, which de la explotación del bosque. The Bamboo and Rattan Development could have been avoided if the shea nut Cabe mencionar que la nueva ley Programme (BARADEP), has been adopted industry had been developed as a forestal, de áreas protegidas y vida as a national policy to complement the sustainable source of income. silvestre, aprobada por el Congreso President's Initiative on Forest Plantations The Government of Ghana in its 2008 Nacional el 13 de Septiembre 2007, with a secretariat to coordinate issues on budget promised to invest 550 000 cedis in establece una reforma institucional del

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sector forestal muy marcada, entre las %INDIA cuales se destaca que el subsector forestal será elevado a sector forestal denominado Uttar Pradesh tribals demand forest rights US$2 MILLION BAMBOO PROJECT Instituto Nacional de Conservación y About 10 000 tribals in Uttar Pradesh's FOR NORTHEAST INDIA LAUNCHED Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas protegidas y Vida Sonebhadra district have demanded land Silvestre (ICF) en sustitución de la AFE- and forest rights to sustain themselves. An ambitious and innovative four-year COHDEFOR. Over 7 000 women protesters took part in project, which aims to strengthen El ICF promoverá también la the event. India's role as a leader in the world incorporación de estos grupos “a labores” More than 40 million people live in the cane and bamboo industry, was de producción y conservación de los country's resource-rich forest areas, which launched here on Wednesday. The bosques y a su aprovechamiento, include protected wildlife reserves and US$2 million project will be incluyendo la extracción de resinas. dense woodlands, eking out a meagre implemented with effect from May En relación a la comercialización interna living from simple farming, picking fruit 2008. The United Nations Industrial y externa de la madera y “demás productos and collecting honey. For generations, they Development Organization (UNIDO) forestales”, el artículo 68 dispone que es have had no legal entitlement over the land will be the executing agency, with the completamente libre, pudiendo efectuarse or the use of forest resources. They claim Department of Industrial Policy and por cualquier personal natural o jurídica, they are treated as "encroachers" and Promotion (DIPP), Northeastern Council sin necesidad de autorizaciones o permisos "criminals" on their own land and forced to (NEC) and Development Commissioner administrativos previos, sujetándose leave it by forestry officials, mining and (DC) (Handicrafts) as the coordinating únicamente a la aplicación de las logging companies. (Source: The Times of and counterpart agencies. disposiciones vigentes en materia forestal, India, 17 March 2008.) Of the total project cost of aduanera, tributaria, cambiaria, de sanidad US$2 307 373, the donor contribution of vegetal y a los convenios internacionales Women and NTFPs in Western Ghats India is US$1 868 472 from DIPP, NEC and que regulen su comercio. We obtain three-quarters of our income DC (Handicrafts); UNIDO’s contribution Lo anterior no incluye sin embargo la from NTFPs,” Ms Subbi Gowda, a tribal was US$196 000. (Source: The Financial comercialización de especies o productos NTFP collector said, without wavering. The Express [India], 9 April 2008.) de flora y fauna silvestre prohibidos o Appiko-Prakruti movement’s decade-long restringidos por convenios internacionales. study and sharing knowledge with local En cuanto a la producción y communities also revealed the same. In the procesamiento de semillas forestales, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state of cultivation aspects, the resource is estará sujeta a lo dispuesto en el Artículo 15 India, forest dwelling communities earned depleting and collectors are not getting the de la LMDSA, para lo cual la AFE- a maximum of 95 percent of their total desired benefits. COHDEFOR (* ICF), como parte integrante income and an average 33 percent income As an alternative to conventional del Sector Público Agrícola, emitirá los from NTFPs. However, with the loss of development activities, Prakruti is respectivos planes indicativos. habitat, overharvesting and limited promoting the sustainable use and En particular, la ley establece que toda knowledge regarding harvesting, development of NTFPs together with the persona natural o jurídica podrá realizar processing, marketing, policy and forest-dwelling communities. Activities actividades de investigación, producción, include resource mapping, nursery raising, procesamiento o comercialización de Contribution of NTFPs to overall cultivation, enterprise development and semillas, con sujeción a las disposiciones household income promotion of sustainable use of the legales vigentes y la SERNA (Secretaría de resources. (Source: Voices from the Forest, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente) Total annual income NTFP income 13 [October 2007].) (Rs) (%) establecerá y aplicará las normas de calidad de las semillas producidas y More than 50 000 1–10 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: comercializadas. 20 000–49 000 10–20 Narasimha Hegde, Appiko-Prakruti, Hulemalgi El artículo 71, por fin, establece que las Below 20 000 21–95 Building, Chowkinath, Sirsi, Karnataka, 581401 sociedades mercantiles u otras personas India. E-mail: [email protected] jurídicas que se dediquen al corte, aserrío, o impregnación de la madera, extracción o Income details per NTFP type destilación de resinas, la industria primaria NTFP Income details per type Overall o secundaria de los recursos forestales y su Max. Min. Average contribution (%) comercialización interna o externa podrán contar con socios, socias y capital Flowers 1 875 117 620 3.10 Resins 1 660 600 1 130 0.09 extranjeros de conformidad con el artículo Leaves 1 400 40 320 0.69 336 de la Constitución. Fruits 39 000 60 4 500 76.70 (Aportación hecha por Francesca Felicani Insect products 10 000 150 1 500 10.90 Robles, Consultora legal, FAO, Via delle Rattan 35 000 100 7 700 5.79 Terme di Caracalla, Roma 00100, Italia Pods 1 275 25 350 1.60 Correo electrónico: New stem nodes 20 10 1.2 0.01 Seeds 1 500 500 900 1.07 [email protected])

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Bamboo industry eyes slice of US$7.5 “We collect bamboo from Ormanjhi, Bero, sections – the soil to silk section, the silk to billion world market Angara and Namkum where it is grown on fabric section and the fabric to garments Bamboo is gradually engaging the attention raiyati land and bring it near the Circuit section. “Besides having plantations of all of the Indian Government, which has House for sale. It is our means of livelihood.” the six silk varieties, it will have live planned to diversify its uses to reap the The remote pockets from where these demonstration units to display the rearing, benefits from the US$7.5 billion global gariwallahs bring bamboo are Jumlabeda, reeling and weaving units – showing the bamboo product market. Sikidri, Pipratoli, Hajnet, Pansekam, formation of silk yarn from the cocoons to India is the second richest bamboo Husrihatu, Rajadera, Getalsud, Beesbandag, making silk cloth – and the pilot-scale units resource country in the world, next only to Nabagarh and Kunte. “It takes two full days for designing, printing and producing China. In terms of genetic diversity, India and nights to reach the capital from these garments from the fabric,” said Capt. L.B. has 136 bamboo species under 75 genera. interior villages. The journey is quite arduous Kalantri, Director of the SD. About 89 bamboo species of the 126 and a lot of hardship has to be borne,” says The plantation will include all the recorded in India under 16 genera grow another gariwallah, who is returning home germplasm available in the country: the naturally in different forest areas or are after spending days in the city to sell his mulberry plantation – both trees and shrubs cultivated. Although India has bamboo entire stock. The practice of using bullocks to – tussar plants, Termemallia arjunalia resources in about 9 million ha, the yield is carry bamboo makes them old in a mere (white) and Termemallia tomantose (black), low at 3 tonnes/ha/year since cultivation is three to four years. It is, therefore, the Eri silk castor plantations and muga silk. not intensively managed. China, on the other indisputable that the real sufferers behind “Muga silk trees grow only in Assam, but we hand, has engaged in intensive commercial the practice are the native gariwallahs, are cultivating them in controlled conditions cultivation of bamboo and has increased whose lifestyle has not changed even after so in the park just to showcase every variety in average yields to 25 tonnes/ha/year. Within many years. one place,’’ Capt. Kalantri added. two decades of this initiative, China has been The state forest department is silent on In the second phase, the park will promote able to convert its traditional bamboo-based this issue of the bamboo trade whereby city the concept of silk-to-milk, which is being handicrafts sector into a mechanized one. business people sell at exorbitant rates after universally promoted by SD. Under this However, the situation is changing in purchasing bamboo at very low prices. The project, cows are expected to be fed with the India with the launch of the National gariwallahs demand that the Government deleafed stem of the mulberry bushes, which Bamboo Mission (NBM) a year ago. The develop this bamboo trade in a planned have a very high protein content and should mission is encouraging farmers to grow the manner so that they get their “fair” share. bring additional income for farmers. (Source: right type of bamboo and facilitating Bamboo, which is used mostly for The Times of India, 17 February 2008.) bamboo-based industries. NBM works in construction, painting and other high-rise coordination with the Cane and Bamboo building work, yields high margins for big Lac farming boost to tribal families Technology Centre (CBTC) and the Bamboo traders here. “We have to sell a bamboo stick Dhanbad. Lac, known for its use in making Technology Support Group (BTSG) in 12 at Rs30 which the city businessmen sell for bangles, will soon be helping 250 families in states, including eight northeastern ones, in Rs80, making a profit of Rs50,” said one the tribal areas of Dhanbad. The divisional Bihar, Jharkhand, west Bengal and Orissa. gariwallah who comes here every week. forest department here is undertaking the Two sites have been identified in Assam (Source: Calcutta Telegraph [India], 25 April cultivation of lac on palaash (Budea for the development of model bamboo 2008.) monosperma) trees in a three-year project clusters. BTSG has been entrusted with the costing Rs29 lakh. The project will involve task of certifying bamboo nurseries in support, cultivation and marketing of the northeastern India and the same is being product. Spread over 12 villages, selected done by CBTC in other states. (Source: The families will undertake cultivation by forming Financial Express [India], 21 April 2008.) self-help groups. The project plan has been sent to the state government for approval, Indian bamboo trade stuck in century-old while 50 selected farmers are undergoing a practice two-day training at the Indian Lac Research Ranchi. Take a walk near Circuit House in the Training Institute in Ranchi. Lalpur area to find out how the state still lives Divisional forest officer (DFO) Sanjeev in the past. Here, one finds any number of Kumar said that palaash is a very common bullock-cart drivers transporting hundreds tree in this part of Jharkhand, growing of bundles of bamboo every day. These are mostly in degraded soil. At least 10 percent of the same gariwallahs whose forefathers the forest cover here comprises palaash. “We carried bamboo from remote villages to the planned using the trees to generate income city for more than a century. India’s first silk park for the poor villagers in the tribal areas. Lac For many decades, the forests of Nagpur. Taking a lead of sorts, the cultivation is easy and reaps profits in a short Jharkhand have abounded in the production Sericulture Directorate (SD) of the time,” the DFO said. of bamboo. Yet, even after so many years of Maharashtra Government is setting up the The 250 families comprising both women independence, trading still takes place country’s first-ever silk park near Amravati. and men in the 12 villages will be given a through the private gariwallahs. One bullock- In an area of 36 acres (14.6 ha) at a cost of target of cultivating lac in 25 000 trees with a cart driver from Angara, whose ancestors Rs6 crore, the park will be completed in three support of Rs10 000 each in the first phase. were also involved in the same trade, says: phases by 2012. It will be divided into three The forest department has arranged for

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brood lac at the rate of Rs70/kg. Availability cattle, and for fuelwood, small timber and Lannea coromandelica, Madhuca longifolia, and quality of brood lac is highly uncertain various NTFPs for the human population. Miliusa tomentosa, Terminalia bellirica and but the department has promised its A study was carried out at the request Wrightia tintoria. unhindered supply. and with the financial support of the Important tree species known for their Lac is a secretion from the body of an Rajasthan Forest Department, in edible fruits near habitation areas include insect called Laccifer or Kerria lacca. The Pratapgarh, Udaipur (central) and Banswara Mangifera indica and Zizyphus sp., insect secretes lac resin and forms hard forest divisions, where Joint Forest Tamarindus indica and Phoenix sylvestris. resinous layers as it goes into the pupa stage. Management (JFM) activities are already Dendrocalamus strictus is the main bamboo This resin is scraped off, dried and processed ongoing. The tropical dry deciduous forests species of these forests, whereas to form lac or shellac. (Source: Calcutta of the Aravalli hills house natural resources Dichanthium annulatum, Aristida depressa, Telegraph [India], 21 April 2008.) that can rightly be called livelihood assets Heteropogon contortus, Schima nervosum for the local rural communities, since they and Themeda quadrivalvis are the main collect not only fuelwood and fodder grasses fodder grass species. from the forests but also a great variety of Salient research findings from the study other NTFPs (see Table) for their own include the following. consumption as well as for sale. • Significant quantities of NTFPs are An assessment of the gathered in the three forest divisions of availability/potential of NTFPs in the Aravalli the Aravalli region of Rajasthan and the hills and the value of these products was annual estimated values of NTFPs needed so as to establish a sound and realized per household are Rs2 765, ecologically viable policy for the subsistence Rs794 and Rs478 in Udaipur (central), of forest dwellers and for the overall Pratapgarh and Banswara forest conservation and development of the forest divisions respectively, ignoring the resources of the region. It was also collection of fuelwood and fodder grass. necessary to quantify the annual financial • Villagers in the Aravalli ranges collect Tectona grandis value realized per household through NTFPs all year and their average collection of these NTFPs, and for income varies from Rs20 to Rs100/day, NTFPs as source of livelihood for local sustaining the livelihoods of local depending on the kind of NTFP collected communities: a case study from the communities. The total forest area under and the season. The most common Aravalli hills of Rajasthan, India study was approximately 4 000 km2, covering types of NTFPs collected are Diospyros Rajasthan is the largest state of India, with about 1 295 villages. melanoxylon leaves (tendu), Madhuca only 9.54 percent of its geographic area Three main types of forests are found in longifolia (mahua flowers and fruit), classified as forest area. Per capita forest the region, namely, teak forests, Anogeissus Embelica officinalis (aonla fruit), area (0.06 ha) in the state is low. More than forests and mixed dry deciduous forests and Terminalia bellirica (bahera fruit), 50 percent of the forest area lies in the grasslands. Biotic interference is the main Cassia tora (puwar seed), Jatropha Aravalli range. The state has about 5 factor responsible for changes in natural curcus (ratanjot), Butea monosperma percent of the country’s human population vegetation in some areas. Tectona grandis is (khakra patta), honey and gum. but a cattle population of 11 percent; its the main species (30 percent) followed by • There is a serious depletion of some livestock population is 20.57 percent of the Acacia catechu, Anogeissus latifolia, NTFP species in the region (up to 50–60 entire livestock population of the country. Azadirachta indica, Boswellia serrata, Butea percent) compared with the situation There is tremendous pressure on the monosperma, Diospyros melanoxylon, 15–20 years ago. These include the state’s forests for fodder for livestock and Embelica officinalis, Holoptelia integrifolia, following important commercial and

NTFP availability, collection season and status in the forest study area

Scientific name Local name Part(s) used Collection season Status in local forest Aegle marmelos Bael Fruit pulp, leaves Oct–Nov and all year Common Anogeiessus latifolia Dhawda Gum Dec–Feb Occasional Annona squamosa Sitaphal Fruits Nov–Dec Abundant in some areas Boswellia serrata Salar Leaves All year Abundant Butea monosperma Khakhra Leaves Winter Abundant Cassia tora Puwar Leaves, seeds Mar–Apr Abundant Carrisa carandus Karanda Fruits May–Jun Abundant in some areas Diospyros melanoxylon Tendu Leaves, fruits Apr–May Common Embelica officinalis Aonla Fruits Oct–Dec Common Helicteres isora Marodphali Fruits Oct–Feb Occasional Jatropha curcus Ratanjyot Seeds Aug–Sep and Mar–Apr Abundant Madhuca indica Mahua Flowers, fruits May and July Occasional Momordica dioica Kikoda Fruits May Occasional Syzygium cumini Jamun Fruits Jun–July Abundant in some areas Terminalia bellirica Bahera Fruits Nov–Jan Occasional

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medicinal plant species: Acacia catechu in territories of the river upstream with cultivating eaglewood and contributing to (khair), Boswellia serrata (salar), primary forest. Despite the many changes its conservation, their rights and Lannea coromandelica (godal), Sapindus in the Punan way of life, their dependence ownership over their traditional land will trifolatus (aritha), Anogeissus latifolia on the forest remains strong. be consolidated. Moreover, they have (dhavra), Madhuca latifolia (mahua), Consequently, they continue to hunt and realized that they can obtain two profits at Chlorophytum borivilianum (safed seek out forest products despite being far the same time – both from naturally musli), Withania coagulans (paneer from forested regions. growing eaglewood and the planted trees. bandh), Tylophora indica (dama bel), Punan life is entwined with that of the Initially, it was difficult to convince many Dendrocalamus strictus (bamboo) and forest. They view the forest not only as their of the Punan that planted eaglewood trees Embelica officinalis (aonla). source of life, but as their home – a place would produce the much-sought after Local communities living near forest areas where they feel safe and protected. The resin, since they traditionally believe that in Rajasthan state are allowed free access to Punan are hunter-gatherers and thus this resin is available only in eaglewood the forest and collection of NTFPs by the cultivation activities are alien to their trees growing naturally in the forest. In state government. This is in accordance with culture. However, through greater order to convince them to the contrary, government policy to provide livelihood interaction with other communities, they LP3M (Institute of Rural, Coast and support to local communities in a welfare have learned to engage in farming, Societal Studies) invited the Punan to visit state such as India. planting sweet potatoes, bananas and the garden of Pastor Wan Ibung N. Based upon the findings of the study, other crops. They have also acquired skills Berkingheri, OMI. He has successfully efforts need to be made by the Rajasthan in gold panning and rattan crafts. developed resin-producing eaglewood Forest Department to undertake plantation Eaglewood (or gaharu) and rattan are their through the process of inoculation and activities for those NTFPs and medicinal main sources of income. Proceeds from continues to cultivate eaglewood seedlings plant species in the Aravalli hills that are the sale of these commodities are used to from these trees. being collected by local communities and buy sugar, salt, tobacco and clothes, as In the UN Climate Change Conference harvested to a dangerous extent in order to well as televisions and parabolic aerials. held last December 2007 in Bali, LP3M and sustain their livelihoods. The Punan believe that eaglewood the Punan community had the opportunity (Contributed by: Dr Rameshwar L. (Aquilaria spp.) has magical qualities and it to tell their story – that through eaglewood Srivastava, Dr Pradeep Chaudhry, Mr Arvind is highly valued in traditional Punan life. It cultivation the forest can be rescued and S. Apte and Dr Pramod Kumar, Arid Forest is treated as a special commodity, with a continue to be the source of life for the Research Institute, Jodhpur, India. traditional ceremony held before its Punan and the Indonesian people. (Source: harvesting, when the Punan implore the Voices from the Forest, 14 [March 2008].) FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: spirits for high-quality resin. Dr Pradeep Chaudhry, Head, Silviculture Division, Punan culture is characterized by being FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur 342005, conservation conscious. For example, local Boro Suban Nikolaus, Co. Jl. Raja pandita RT. Rajasthan state, India. wisdom does not allow hunting and killing V No. 32, Desa Malinau Kota, Malinau 77554, E-mail: [email protected] of wildlife when meat supplies are still Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia. available. This principle also holds true for E-mail c/o Panthom Priyandoko: eaglewood harvesting. The Punan have [email protected] long been harvesting eaglewood in a sustainable way; they know which trees Artificial rattan gains favour contain eaglewood resin so that trees Global furniture manufacturers are using without resin are marked and left to grow. more artificial rattan in their products Unfortunately, this wisdom is not shared because of short supply in the naturally by outsiders who have carried out occurring equivalent, the Indonesian indiscriminate harvesting of eaglewood, Furniture Industry and Handicraft resulting in a drastic decline of the Association (Asmindo) said on Monday. resource. Asmindo chairman Ambar Tjahyono said Today, eaglewood is on the way to that artificial rattan, which is made of extinction because of large-scale forest plastic, accounted for 35 percent of all exploitation by pulp and paper companies, global furniture containing rattan. "In the % INDONESIA massive land-clearing in the development last four years, the demand for furniture of oil-palm plantations, and illegal logging. made of artificial rattan has been very high, Conserving forests through eaglewood This situation is worsened by the despite its higher price compared with that cultivation – the wisdom of the Dayak government’s lack of attention to forest of the natural kind," he said. Punan of Malinau , East Kalimantan conservation activities. Natural rattan producers, he added, The Dayak Punan community has spread Faced with this situation, the Punan should immediately raise production in throughout the Bulungan Regency, Berau have been forced to adapt, their gathering order to be able to take advantage of the and Malinau, a result of the Indonesian culture becoming slowly a cultivation high price of artificial rattan and the rising Government’s resettlement programme culture. They have realized that it is only demand for the commodity in the from 1972 to 1973. Prior to this through cultivation that they will be able to international market. He said the supply of programme, the Punan were concentrated protect the forests that they own. By natural rattan for local furniture

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manufacturers had declined because of the Budiman expressed concerns that the Ministry of Trade’s regulation in 2005 that younger Orang Asli youths were not had allowed for rattan exporting. He added interested in earning a living like him and that as of the end of last year, the scarcity instead preferred to work in towns and had bankrupted 144 out of 426 furniture factories. "This is an inheritance of the firms in Cirebon, West Java, where the Orang Asli for several generations. I am majority of rattan centres are located, and worried that one day there will be even that more would follow. fewer Orang Asli who are self-employed," The central statistics agency showed a he said. (Source: New Straits Times drop in rattan exports last year to US$219 [Malaysia], 13 April 2008.) million from $343 million in 2006. Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said the Government would establish new rattan %MYANMAR centres to complement those in Cirebon. (Source: The Jakarta Post [Indonesia], 29 Herbal park set up to promote traditional April 2008.) medicines Myanmar has set up the first national %MALAYSIA herbal park in the new capital of Nay Pyi % KENYA Taw to grow herbal and medicinal plants. Orang Asli couple happy with income from The herbal park is part of the Plans to turn bamboo into money-maker wild plants Government's efforts to protect and for farmers Pekan. The Orang Asli are known for their preserve the time-tested herbs from The Kenya Forestry Research Institute ability to turn plants grown wild in the depletion and extinction and to keep alive (KEFRI) plans to train farmers on the jungle into traditional medicines, the country's traditional system of commercial gains of planting bamboo handicrafts and decorative items. medicines. trees, setting the stage for their entry into a Budiman Saiman and his wife, Salmiah Over 20 000 herbal and medicinal plants lucrative market. Under the training Abdullah, of Kampong Landai use their of more than 700 species from some ten programme, artisans will learn how to expertise to generate a source of income to states and divisions are being grown in the make chairs, tables, pen holders, sofa sets, support their family. The couple has a stall 81-ha park for producing medicines used in coat hangers and baskets using bamboo – selling homemade handicrafts along the treating diseases such as cholera, all products for which demand has Pekan-Rompin stretch near Kampong diarrhoea, dysentery, hypertension, increased both locally and internationally. Tanjung Batu, Nenasi, and it attracts a diabetes, malaria and tuberculosis. Most of the products on sale in Kenya are large number of passers-by, especially The Government has urged the imported from Asian countries such as during the weekends. The couple believes practitioners of traditional medicines to Japan, Thailand and China. Concerns have that their exposure to the jungle strive for promotion of the standard of the been raised over these large imports of environment during their younger days is a country's traditional medicine. bamboo products, which are thwarting blessing. "As Orang Asli kids, we were According to the health authorities, efforts to expand the industry internally. trained to follow our elders whenever they Myanmar has made arrangements for the The training, which begins later this went into the jungle looking for rattan, development of traditional medicine in line month in central Kenya, aims to create a unique tree barks and roots. The roots are with set standards, initiating diploma and vibrant bamboo products industry with the used for traditional medicine while the rest practitioner courses to train skilled expectation that the sector will grow to of the plant is carved into decorative physicians in the field. (Source: Indian attract the international market. Trainees items," said Budiman. Muslims [California, United States], 6 are expected to help promote product- Salmiah said they normally ventured into January 2008.) making techniques in their localities. The the jungle near Tanjung Batu here once a training programme is being funded by the week to search for material for their United Nations Development Programme handicraft items. "After we have gathered % THE NETHERLANDS (UNDP) and the Kenyan Government. our jungle harvest, we clean the roots and Over the past two years, forestry officials separate the ones with unique shapes Mushroom varieties disappear have been promoting bamboo as an which we then paint to make them look Mushrooms are declining in number in alternative to wood trees to ease the more elegant. But some will also be left woods in the Netherlands because of the growing pressure on forests. KEFRI has with their original colour because some use of fertilizers, increasing acidity and soil also been training farmers on the artificial customers prefer the natural look.” disturbance, according to Meetnet, which propagation of bamboo to expand the The couple earns about RM400 a month tracks the threats to landscapes for the supply in anticipation of a steep rise in from the sales of the jungle roots and Ministry of Agriculture. Nitrogen-sensitive demand. rattan. They also make and sell colourful fungi such as the drumstick truffleclub and In Kenya, bamboo is mainly grown in the flowerpots for between RM5 and RM20, the dappled webcap are disappearing, Aberdares, Olengurueni, Molo, Kakamega which are a favourite among the customers despite reduction in fertilizer use since and parts of the coastal region. (Source: and they weave mengkuang mats and sell 1981, says Monday's Trouw, the Nutrition Business Daily Africa [Kenya], 4 April 2008.) them for between RM30 and RM50. International company.

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The Netherlands has 3 500 varieties of have risen by as much as US$1 000/year Manejo forestal participativo para mushroom and fungus of which 500 are listed through camu-camu sales, with the largest la producción de plantas medicinales as endangered. Nearly 200 varieties have fields (10 ha) earning almost US$20 000 in en el Perú already disappeared. (Source: DutchNews.nl the peak year of 2007. Después de haber terminado la primer [the Netherlands], 1 April 2008.) While demand and prices have fase del proyecto en diciembre 2007, se ha fluctuated, the price of the fruit paid to publicado un libro en cuatro idiomas para harvesters and producers has increased el uso de las comunidades, y de ese modo % PERU over time, from US$0.14/kg in 1997 to a ofrecer un modelo del plan de manejo para high of US$1.75 in 2007. The increase in que otros puedan efectuar trabajos Camu-camu: a sustainable option for both demand and prices for the fruit has similares. El plan de manejo puede ser agroindustry in the Peruvian Amazon opened opportunities for agroindustrial bajado en español en el sitio: Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia, Myrtaceae) development in the region and brought www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/humaneco/per is a small tree native to the blackwater socio-economic gains for rural inhabitants u-medicinal.php floodplain environments of Peru, Colombia, of the Peruvian Amazon. Most of the fruit Se está buscando financiación para the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and that is marketed still comes from natural comenzar la segunda fase del proyecto, la Brazil. Over the last 35 years, the use and stands, which is an environmental concern, cual tendrá como destinatario a dos production of camu camu has developed but there has been an increase in plantings comunidades que quieren poner en into an export industry in the Peruvian in recent years. práctica el plan de manejo, y que se han Amazon. The main product is the pulp Export revenues from camu-camu comprometido a establecer negocios derived from the very nutritious fruit. This products have risen from less than comunales para la producción sostenible expanding industry is linked to the adoption US$500 000/year from 1996 to 2001 to de plantas medicinales. of the species as a component of floodplain more than US$1 million in 2005 and Aportación hecha por Charles Veitch, agroforestry systems by smallholders US$4.8 million in 2007. Environmental Change Institute, Oxford practising traditional agriculture in these Demand for the fruit by processors is University Centre for the Environment, seasonally inundated environments. The now far greater than harvests from the wild South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK. water-loving trees are also seen by policy- or production by smallholders. In 2007, Fax: +44-(0)1865 275850 makers as a way to improve socio- 3 785 tonnes of camu-camu were Correo electrónico: economic conditions in rural areas while at marketed, yielding 1 000 tonnes of fruit [email protected] the same time increasing international pulp, with the remainder of the fruit sold trade for Peru. for local consumption. Japan is currently Camu-camu contains the highest the main market, but domestic demand for %THE PHILIPPINES concentration of vitamin C in any fruit camu-camu continues to increase, known (2 800 mg per 100 g of fruit pulp); providing needed economic and nutritional Silkworms give Philippine farming town a about 1.5 times that of acerola (Malpighia benefits for Peruvian society. makeover punicifolia), or 30 times that of an orange (Contributed by: Mario Pinedo-Panduro, Kapangan. Hundreds of white mulberry (90 mg/100 g), with far more iron, niacin, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía trees have started to cover mountain riboflavin and phosphorus. These nutritional Peruana (IIAP), Calle Putumayo 2758, slopes deep in the Cordillera region of the characteristics have created a demand for Iquitos, Peru. E-mail: [email protected] or northern Philippines, changing not just the camu-camu in international health food James Penn, Grand Valley State University, landscape but also making over the image markets and as an ingredient in cosmetics Allendale, Michigan, United States 49401. of a poor farming town. Up until the early and shampoos. In Peru, camu-camu is E-mail: [email protected]; http://www.icuc- 2000s, the upland villages of Kapangan, a popular in ice creams, drinks and yoghurt. iwmi.org/files/News/(08)Penn.pdf; vegetable-growing town of 18 000 people in The Instituto de Investigaciones de la www.rainforestconservation.org/articles/ Benguet province, were widely known for Amazonía Peruana (IIAP; Peruvian Amazon camu-camu.html) one of the country's largest cultivation Research Institute) has promoted the areas of an illegal plant – marijuana. cultivation of the trees in floodplain fields "We're determined to be known as to sustain production and alleviate harvest something else, perhaps, the silk capital of pressure on wild stands of camu-camu. the country," said Roberto Canuto, a public Approximately 1 050 ha of camu-camu attorney in the province, who was elected grow naturally in the Amazon Basin of mayor in 2007. northeastern Peru, with another 776 ha Canuto said that some farmers have planted between 1997 and 1998. started growing mulberry trees, the main Smallholders who have maintained their food of silk-producing worms from China plantings of camu-camu have found that and Japan, after sericulture was intercropping these productive fruit trees introduced in nine of Kapangan's 15 with their traditional mix of annual crops villages in late 2004. "We're expanding the (such as manioc, melons and beans) mulberry plantation to accommodate more provides them with important additional farmers willing to go into silkworm income when floodwaters cover their fields. operations," he said, adding that many With fields of just 1–2 ha, their incomes farmers got excited after initial trials Camu-camu

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produced about 25 kg of raw silk, sold at with a national conference about the communities living in biodiversity hotspots US$50/kg early this year. industry, as well as the inauguration of the by decreasing poaching, illegal logging and Wilbur Teofilo, leader of a 33-member São Brás cork route, which will be officially other unsustainable practices of natural farmers' cooperative in Kapangan, said presented to the public during the council’s resource use. they have started upgrading 11 "rearing Feira da Serra. The project was implemented in the houses" and building nine more to raise As well as the cork route, São Brás Leningrad region (Veppski Les Nature raw silk production to 250 kg every two Câmara has already launched a project to Park) and in the Arkhangelsk region months this year. "We can easily produce collect and recycle used corks from (Kenozerski National Park). These PAs about 500 kg of raw silk every two months bottles. There are currently 30 rolhões represent different sets of priorities and when our operations go on full blast," (cork recycling units) in public spaces objectives of functioning, different levels of Teofilo said, showing a box containing throughout São Brás and others have been biodiversity protection, different thousands of fresh cocoons, leftovers from given to restaurants. For the moment, the administrative schemes of management last month's production. cork collected is being transformed into and different interactions with regional and An official from the Fibre Industry objects such as heat-proof kitchen mats federal authorities. Development Authority reported that the and notice boards. (Source: Algarve During the project, a round of silkworm project could produce as much Resident [Portugal], 3 April 2008.) consultations was organized with the as 2 000 kg of raw silk every year once principal regional partners: operations expand in two years, bringing in representatives of the Leningrad Region an extra 4 million pesos (US$95 690) for Administration, Regional Forest Service the farmers. and NGOs, the Saint Petersburg Society of The head of the Philippine Drug Naturalists and the Association of Enforcement Agency said antinarcotics Protected Areas of the Russian North West. agencies had pledged to sink in more A set of analytical reviews on the investments in the sericulture project if assessment of NTFP harvests and their silk-making succeeds in cutting marijuana influence on the biodiversity of PAs was supply. also developed. Teofilo stated that farmers in his village From October 2006 to December 2007, were willing to give the silkworm project a training courses were organized for try because the potential for providing stakeholders in seven communities located them with extra cash was huge, based on in the PAs. Training included the initial experiments since 2004. (Source: organization of NTFP business and Reuters Canada, 21 April 2008.) optimization of marketing strategy, and the %RUSSIAN FEDERATION standards of the European market for NTFPs. % PORTUGAL Development of sustainable NTFP-based Sustainable practical results were businesses for people living in protected achieved through the project. A practical A revival of the region’s cork-producing areas in the Russian Federation model for small business support in history In January 2008, the International Union remote traditional communities, based on São Brás de Alportel has developed two for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-World the sustainable use of biological resources projects that aim to raise awareness Conservation Union project “Assessment of was developed in Kenozerski National among residents and visitors to the region Non-Timber Forest Products Market Use Park. This model is applicable to other about the cork industry and the products as an Alternative Livelihoods Strategy for biodiversity hotspots in Russia. Relations that can result from recycling. Local Communities at the Protected Areas were strengthened and improved between São Brás has a long cork-producing in the Russian North West” came to an end. local communities and the parks. Local history with more than 80 factories having It had started in August 2006 and was communities became better informed on, been dedicated to the industry. Now the funded through the BBI-Matra programme. and more closely involved in, natural volume of production continues to be the The project’s goal was to develop a resource management. The government of same because of industrialized machinery sustainable model for the ecologically and the Leningrad region upheld an initiative to but only about ten factories are left. economically sound market use of NTFPs support NTFP small business development On 12 March, the São Brás Câmara by communities living in or near protected in the Podporozhski district. The Khanty- (chamber) hosted their third discussion areas (PAs) that could be implemented in Mansiisk and Vladimir regional authorities entitled “Around the Cork Oak” to support the future in other PAs in other regions of are also interested in application of the the launch of the cork route (Rota da the Russian Federation. model developed by the project. Cortiça) in July, aimed at highlighting the The project sufficiently improved the As a result of the project, local decline of cork manufacturing and plans cooperation of PAs in the Russian North production of about 20 types of NTFPs was for the future of the industry in São Brás de West with communities and other generated, including different crafts using Alportel. The next discussion, which will stakeholders to promote sustainable rural birch bark, several varieties of herbal teas, take place on 5 May, will focus on the development in the country and to create dried forest mushrooms, wild berries, investigation and new applications for cork. alternative livelihoods and additional chaga mushrooms and honey, etc. Local These discussions, ending in July, coincide income-generation opportunities for people are now marketing these products

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very successfully at local and regional fairs regulations were developed that were that they produce quality silk products. and to tourists through the park visitors’ necessary to introduce the Forestry Code," Jointly with the Rural Sector Support centres. So far, demand exceeds supply: all the Minister noted. Programme (RSSP), Silk Culture has 2007 products were sold. Local women "Laws of the Republic have been passed established the Gasabo Silk Culture were very actively involved in producing and on the order and regulations of harvesting Cooperative to handle production and marketing the products. of wood by citizens for their own needs; on marketing. Kenozerski National Park continues to the order of procurement of food forestry Farmers are supplied with free invest its own funds in guaranteed products by citizens and gathering herbs mulberry cuttings because the project is purchasing of all products of sufficient for their own needs; and also the law on the still in the pilot stage, but the facilities will quality, assessed by the park’s experts on order of procurement of non-wood forestry put sale targets in place to recover egg compatibility with sustainability harvesting products by citizens for their own needs," costs. (Source: The New Times [Kigali], 4 practices. the head of the timber industry of Karelia January 2008.) NTFP development will be continued in said. (Source: News of the Republic of this region. In January 2008, the next IUCN Karelia [Russian Federation], 11 February project on NTFP development – 2008.) %SRI LANKA “Sustainable Development Models for Local Communities of Protected Areas in the Ceylon cinnamon a money spinner North West of Russia” – will start, funded by %RWANDA The medicinal value of Sri Lanka’s the Ford Foundation. The project will assist cinnamon has widened market stakeholders to develop PA-oriented small Country to produce silkworm eggs opportunities in the international market, community-based traditional businesses Rwanda has a target to produce about said a senior research officer of the and relevant support programmes/projects. 700 million silkworm eggs by the end of Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), K. R. Local stakeholders will be empowered by this year. This stock is sufficient to supply Dayananda. knowledge and ability to support effective all cooperatives in the industry True cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon use of their traditional knowledge for local countrywide. The silkworm egg production (Cinnamomum zeylinicum), produced only economic development, compatible with the is to cover 25 ha at Nyandungu site in Kigali in Sri Lanka, has a promising opportunity conservation objectives of the PAs. where 300 000 mulberry cuttings imported in this emerging market. However, two The project will develop additional from Uganda have been planted. In a long- challenges need to be addressed at once. employment in the most vulnerable and term plan, the Rwandan Government aims First, the traditional fumigation method fragile areas of the Russian North West, to have 600 000 ha of mulberry planted in used in the industry has to change contributing to sustainable rural the next three years to benefit 60 000 poor immediately to meet international development of the region. families. standards. The sulphur residual level of (Contributed by: Ekaterina Yanchur and Peter Muvara, chairman of the our cinnamon is higher than European Nikolay Shmatkov, IUCN, 3 Building sericulture project, said that imports of standards and today the market has a Stolyarny Pereulok, Moscow 123 022, eggs for silk production are costly and at temporary respite. Russian Federation. E-mail: times lose viability in transit. Rwanda has Second, true cinnamon has to be [email protected] or been importing eggs from the Republic of separated from cassia, or Chinese [email protected]) Korea and India, so that making them cinnamon, because both are traded locally is now the priority. "The challenge commonly as cinnamon. This is a that constrains the project is the marketing disadvantage for Ceylon cinnamon because aspect, where the private sector is still cassia has a high percentage of coumarin, moving at a slow pace compared with a toxic substance. ITI conducted research production," he said. on the coumarin content of Ceylon Another challenge to the project is the cinnamon and the results were impressive, cost of eggs, since each box costs from Dayananda said. This is the first US$15 to US$20; processing silkworm comprehensive analysis on Ceylon eggs locally would save about RF383.6 cinnamon for its coumarin content. The million from 35 000 boxes. The Rwanda results of the study confirmed that Ceylon Investment Group (RIG), as a service cinnamon contains less coumarin provider in the industry, has also pioneered compared with cassia and it is within the as a private investor in the industry with 20 safe limits recommended by FAO/WHO ha in Rusizi, Western Province, and a local guidelines. textile company, UTEXRWA, is in position to Recent research has proved the manufacture silk products. medicinal and neutriceutical value of The Republic of Karelia Forest Plan The Government has allocated about cinnamon. Scientists have isolated and The development of the principal forestry RF154 million, in particular for training characterized several polyphenolic document of Karelia, its Forest Plan, is to about 60 people to handle production, polymer compounds from cinnamon bark be completed by 31 May 2008, according to training in various sericulture activities that could one day become natural the Minister of Forestry, Vladimir Yuriev. including mulberry farming activities, ingredients in products aimed at lowering "Last year in the Republic, 13 norms and silkworm rearing and weaving to ensure blood sugar levels.

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Today Ceylon cinnamon dominates the conservation in the Guianas, world market in terms of value and fetches anthropological research on the winti a very high price compared with cassia. religion and health studies on Surinamese According to 2006 trade statistics, Sri immigrants. Sustainable harvesting is not Lanka has exported 10 685 tonnes of only essential for the conservation of cinnamon and earned US$5 509/tonne, medicinal plant species, but also for the which is much more than the livelihoods of many forest-dwelling US$925/tonne received for cassia. communities. The study will not pronounce However, a large quantity of cassia is hard judgement on the sustainability of coming on to the market and it is a close current harvesting practices, but will look substitute. We can promote the advantage for possible indications of overharvesting of low coumarin content to compete with of medicinal plant resources in Suriname, cassia, Dayananda said. (Source: Sunday which can form the basis for further Observer [Sri Lanka], 4 May 2008.) sustainability and conservation studies. Apart from scientific publications, the results of the study will be made available %SURINAME by means of an online database and an illustrated field guide of Surinamese Medicinal plants of Suriname: herbal medicine. changes in plant use after migration (Contributed by: Tinde van Andel, Ph.D., to the Netherlands National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Apart from contributing to their health, the Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, sale of wild-harvested medicinal plants 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands. provides a significant income for rural E-mail: [email protected]; people in Suriname. Almost half of the http://osodresie.wikispaces.com) Surinamese population migrated to the Tunisia encompasses most of the main Netherlands over the last three decades climatic zones: humid, subhumid, semi- and many immigrants continued their use %TUNISIA arid, arid and desert. Thus, biological of medicinal plants and traditional health diversity is extremely rich and varied: some care (winti) in the country. Some aspects of forestry in Tunisia 2 200 plant species, of which 360 are rare Hardly any information exists on the Extending the woodland area from the or under threat of extinction; 80 species of scale and ecological effects of the trade in 400 000 ha at independence to the roughly mammals; 70 species of reptiles and medicinal plants from Suriname. Which 1.25 million ha today (latest figures from amphibians; and numerous invertebrates. species are sold in Paramaribo, which are the July 2007 inventory) has entailed good Furthermore, wetlands can be found exported to the Netherlands, where and organization at every level. In percentage throughout the country, including coastal how are they harvested, who is using them terms, this progression in total woodland areas, chotts (depressions), lakes, oueds and why? area has grown from 4 percent to the (intermittent rivers), sebkhas (salt marsh This research project will clarify the role present-day 12.5 percent. Privately owned deposits), dams, springs and oases. These that medicinal plants play in traditional woodlands in Tunisia amount to 54 000 ha. areas are home to a great diversity of plant health care among the various ethnic This growth is the result of adequate and animal life. groups in Paramaribo and assess the structuring that has taken into account all The conservation policy for natural principal factors influencing people’s the factors impinging on the sector, in areas that has guided the Tunisian choice to use traditional medicine, whether particular the economic, social, authorities since independence highlights or not in combination with conventional environmental and developmental aspects. clearly the importance of sustainable medicine (in both Suriname and the Given the fact that there are more than development for future generations in the Netherlands). How does medicinal plant one million Tunisians resident in forests conservation of natural resources. use change after migration? and woodlands, Decree No. 2373 of Moreover, eight national parks and 16 It is expected that when people migrate 9 December 1996 set up the Public Interest nature reserves have been created to date. from rural areas to Paramaribo and Forestry Associations (PIFAs ) They are located across the country, onwards to the Netherlands, their focus of (Associations forestières d’intérêt collectif) include all the various ecosystems and herbal medicine shifts from the treatment in order both to implement cover some 197 000 ha. Tunisia is a of the basic health problems of a forest decentralization and foster a participatory signatory to all the International dweller to sexual and gynaecological approach. Major schemes have been Conventions concerning nature disorders and psychosocial ailments established to favour, encourage and conservation and protection of the typical of immigrants. provide training for these PIFAs. This environment. By investigating the importance of initiative proved to be a success and The main native forest tree species in Suriname’s biodiversity for the country’s legislation in the form of umbrella law No. Tunisia are: citizens and overseas immigrants, this 43 of 10 May 1999 officialized these • Pinus halepensis, Aleppo pine: in the study will bridge the gap between associations as Agricultural and Fisheries west-central region of the country, biological research on floral diversity and Development Groups (ADGs). covering some 200 000 ha, of which

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about 160 000 have been improved and sharply increased prices for all major fruits oedema, as well as malnutrition in exploited for wood and seeds (used in and vegetables in a new season. Moreover, children. Dried root powder mixed with pastries and desserts); the increased price of meat has an impact sheep fat is applied to the skin for wounds • P. pinaster, maritime pine: some 5 000 on demand and prices for cultivated and infections. Skin diseases caused by ha, in the far north of the country, often mushrooms, since they compete with meat fungal species are common among the combined with cork oak; for consumers. population in the Mbeya region and these • Quercus suber, cork oak: in the north In addition, the 2007 harvest of wild conditions are possibly treated with of Tunisia, covering around 60 000 ha – mushrooms was much lower than usual ointments of C. molle, among other herbal about 12 000 tonnes of cork are because of droughts and the hot summer. remedies available. Crude extracts of the harvested annually; Consequently, the demand for cultivated roots and leaves have good antifungal and • Q. faginea, zeen oak: specific to North mushrooms also shot up because of this antibacterial effects. The antifungal Africa, covering about 10 000 ha – it factor. Increased expenses for energy and triterpenoid, mollic acid-3-ß-D-glucoside can grow to 30 m. labour costs have their impact as well. and the antimycobacterial ellagitannin The other widespread species are: During the III international conference- punicalagin are the only antimicrobial Quercus coccifera, Q. ilex, Cupressus exhibition "Mushroom Industry 2008", compounds from C. molle characterized to sempervirens, Callitris articulata, Fraxinus leading experts in Poland, Ukraine, the date. oxyphylla, Populus sp. and Acacia radiana. Russian Federation, the Netherlands and C. fragrans F. Hoffm., hansebwe (Swahili). The principal native bush and shrub other countries will speak in detail about Hot water decoctions of powdered roots species are: Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus the prospects of Ukraine’s mushroom and roots mixed with maize porridge are communis, Capparis spinosa, Rosmarinus industry in the coming years and also used to treat diarrhoea. This species is officinalis, Artemisia herbaalba, Thymus about the technological novelties of the used for the treatment of infections in other capitatus, Calligonum arich, mushroom business. (Source: Agricultural African countries as well. Crude extracts of Arthropphytum scoparium and Rhus Marketing Project [Kiev, Ukraine], 21 April the roots have excellent antibacterial triparti. (Source: extracted from an article 2008.) effects, but the active principles are by H’maïed Kouki, Head of Manouba unknown. Leaf extracts of this species have Forestry District, Tunisia in The latest on been found to contain antifungal tannins, Mediterranean Forests, 8, December UNITED REPUBLIC flavonoids and saponins. Crude extracts of 2007.) %OF TANZANIA the leaves are excellent inhibitors of the growth of HeLa cervical cancer and T 24 Combretum and Terminalia species in bladder cancer cell lines. The cytotoxically traditional medicine in Mbeya region, active compounds are yet to be elucidated. southwestern Tanzania Terminalia sericea Burch ex. DC., mpululu The Mbeya region, situated in southwestern (Swahili), namatipo (Nyakyusa) grows Tanzania, also called the Southern abundantly in the Mbeya region. All parts of Highlands, has not been well explored for this plant are used in medicine, except for its traditional medicine, although a certain the flowers. T. sericea is sometimes mixed amount of research has been undertaken. with other plants for medicine. Diarrhoea, It is estimated that more than 60–80 fever and hypertension are treated with hot percent of the population in the United water decoctions or infusions of dried Republic of Tanzania is dependent on leaves, roots and stem bark. Alternatively, traditional medicine for primary health the dried plant organs are powdered and % UKRAINE care. A study in the Mbeya region revealed mixed with maize porridge for the same that people older than 55 and non- Mushroom prices are 1.5 times higher Christians tend to choose traditional than in 2007 medicine for their health care even when According to the analysts of Fruit-Inform modern medicines are available, whereas weekly, there is at present a dynamically Christians and younger people tend to use increasing demand on the Ukrainian modern medicine. market for cultivated mushrooms. Traditional healers, waganga, among the Ukrainian producers are unable to satisfy Nyakyusa and some other tribes in Mbeya demand and so prices for champignon and region use various species of Terminalia L. oyster mushroom rise rapidly on the and Combretum Loefl. (Combretaceae) in domestic market. their traditional medicine. As of 21 April, the wholesale prices for Combretum molle, mlama (Swahili), champignon are 62 percent higher than in mpula (Nyakyusa). Powdered dried roots, the same period last year; the prices for stem bark and leaves and a plant called oyster mushrooms are 46 percent higher. muwofi are mixed with maize porridge, According to Andriy Yarmak, the head of ugali, to treat gonorrhoea and syphilis. the Fruit-Inform project, the price increase Roots and leaves are used to treat for mushrooms directly relates to the diarrhoea, influenza, severe colds and Combretum molle

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purpose. T. sericea is claimed to be Fruits of the soil poisonous in large doses. Root and leaf Conserving indigenous and wild trees is now extracts are strongly antibacterial and a viable economic venture in the United antifungal; the roots contain polar Republic of Tanzania. In Tabora, Uyui and antibacterial compounds, whereas the Sikonge districts, women are cashing in on leaves contain fewer polar or non-polar species such as ntonga (Strychnos antimicrobials. Screenings of the cocculoides), ntalali (Vitex mombassae), antibacterial potential of different kinds of mbula (Parinari curatellifolia) and furu (Vitex extracts of T. sericea have revealed that hot doniana), which they have planted on their water decoctions are as effective as nowadays cultivated unsustainably in the farms alongside traditional crops. Other extracts made from methanol or acetone. natural forests of the East Usambaras. trees popular with farmers are mbuguswa This is an interesting result since T. sericea The general aim was to study the (Fracourtia indica), ng'ong'o (Sclerocarya is often used as hot water decoctions for possibilities of developing new profitable birrea), zambarau (Syzium guineense), medicine in various African countries and and sustainable agroforestry systems for mmbuyu or baobab (Adansonia digitata) and thus antimicrobial compounds are clearly the benefit of the local people and which ukwaju or tamarind (Tamarindus indica). extracted by this kind of medicinal would contribute to relieving the pressure The fruit from these trees is processed into preparation technique. The lignan on the remaining natural forests in the jams, juices and wines. anolignan B is to date the only antibacterial East Usambara Mountains. So passionate are the farmers about compound characterized from T. sericea. Results from a spice crop agroforestry conservation projects in the area that they T. kaiserana F. Hoffm., mpululu (Swahili), trial, established in cooperation with a have taken to policing the vast woodlands bena (Nyakyusa). Roots, leaves and stem local farmer, showed a clear advantage of against loggers. Mwadawa Luziga spends bark are used for medicine and made into intercropping cardamom (Elettaria much of her day in the woodlands and she hot water decoctions to treat diarrhoea, cardamomum) and black pepper (Piper does not regret it. She says it is now rare to gonorrhoea and vomiting. T. kaiserana nigrum) with trees, especially with see anyone destroying wild and indigenous roots are also, together with Combretum Grevillea robusta. The nitrogen-fixing tree trees because women conservation groups molle, used to treat diabetes. In vitro species Gliricidia sepium also improved have taught the community at large that it is screenings on the antibacterial and the nitrogen and organic matter content of important to conserve these trees. antifungal effects of extracts of T. the soil over levels found in the natural Government institutions have also kaiserana justify the traditional uses of this forest. With improved agroforestry introduced incentives to encourage private plant in the Mbeya region for treatment of methods for spice production, households landowners to protect dwindling natural infectious diseases, since both roots and generated as much as13 times the net forests from further destruction. The leaves contain antibacterial and antifungal income obtained with traditional forest conservation projects were conceived to compounds. cultivation practices. address problems facing the Tabora region, (Contributed by: Dr Pia Fyhrquist, There are thus sustainable and such as widespread poverty, food shortages, Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of profitable ways to cultivate spices as cash malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and the degradation Pharmacognosy, POB 56, Viikinkaari 5 E, crops in well-managed home gardens. of renewable resources. 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. However, farmers need stable markets, The region is dominated by miombo E-mail: [email protected]) access to credit and comprehensive woodlands, which have plenty of edible fruit extension services. The soil fertility trees. Production of value-added products Agroforestry systems for sustainable depletion should be reversed with organic such as jams and juices started with the livelihoods and improved land manure application and an enabling policy development of a fruit processing technology management in the East Usambara environment for the smallholder farming by the Agricultural Institute in Tumbi (ARI- Mountains sector. Strong farmers’ organizations and Tumbi) in April 2004. The project received a Forest destruction for agriculture equal rights to resources and decision- grant of £60 000 (US$78 000) from Farm continues to be a major threat to the rich making are needed. Organic spices have an Africa's Maendeleo Agricultural Technology biological diversity of the East Usambara increasing demand, and their export would Fund. Mountains in the northeastern corner of be profitable for farmers. What, however, is David Mayanga, an extension officer at the United Republic of Tanzania. The most needed for change is the political will Inara village, said: "Sustainability of these highest ratio of endemic plant and animal of a government that understands the trees is vital. Most of the world's virgin species found on 100 km2 anywhere in the importance of agricultural and forestry forests are diminishing at a rapid rate and world is dependent on the remaining development for poverty reduction. people must rely more and more on man- natural forests. Forests are vitally (Source: Teija Reyes, [Ph.D. thesis]. made managed forests. That's why we have important for the local population in many Download at: www.fao.org/forestry/ been encouraging local people to manage different ways, and nationally they are an 35667/en/) the remaining virgin forests." important source of water and Contributed by: Teija Reyes, Researcher, Apart from preserving large areas of hydroelectricity. The soils, of low fertility University of Helsinki, VITRI -Viikki Tropical indigenous forests, the success of the and mostly acidic ferrasols, mainly have Resources Institute, PO Box 27, conservation effort is reflected in the nutrients in the topsoil. After clearcutting, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. standards of living of the surrounding the soils soon become poor when the E-mail: [email protected]; communities. From processing jam and juice topsoil is eroded. High-value cardamom is www.honeybee.helsinki.fi/mmeko/vitri/ and wine-making, many families have seen

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their incomes increase threefold. Various UNITED STATES women's groups, each with at least 40 %OF AMERICA members, are now involved in fruit processing projects. These projects are Native medicinal herb could become New empowering women financially and family Mexico cash crop incomes have been raised by an average of Alcalde. Through the centuries, settlers in TSh30 000 a month (US$28.5), reducing the southwest have discovered the women's financial dependence and medicinal benefits of the native plant yerba increasing their access to capital goods and del manso (Anemopsis californica), social services, such as education and commonly called swamp root or lizard-tail. health for their families. With the renaissance of medicinal herbs in The projects have further contributed to the United States, a New Mexico State household food security – fruits have University (NMSU) agronomist believes that replaced staple food such as maize in local the plant could become a cash crop for brewing – and improved nutrition for the New Mexican organic farmers. A feasibility processors and their families. study conducted by the NMSU College of However, the projects have created new Agriculture and Home Economics indicates problems of storage since most indigenous that some herbs, depending on market fruit trees produce one bumper crop in a demand, could provide an above average The great cork experiment year. Lack of proper packaging materials per acre (0.4 ha) gross income for small- A recent article by David Taylor highlights has also hampered the transportation of the scale farmers. the historic, economic and sometimes indigenous fruit tree products. And since Native Americans first introduced the national security importance of NTFPs most of the areas experience electrical native herb to Spanish settlers. The such as cork. It outlines the campaign failures, the products can be spoiled very Europeans learned that the plant's waged in the 1940s by Charles McManus, quickly. The conservation groups have plans antiseptic and antibiotic properties had head of the Crown Cork & Seal Company, to purchase solar-operated refrigerators for many uses. Yerba del manso's benefits an immense bottle-cap and container preservation purposes. They are also have been passed down from generation to company then headquartered in Baltimore, working with the Tanzania Bureau of generation. The plant with the large white to put an end to the dependence of the Standards to ensure quality processed flower spikes found in riparian habitats of United States on foreign cork through the products. northern Mexico and the southwest United supply and planting of millions of cork oak The project at large has shown that it is States can be used as a remedy for colds, (Quercus suber) acorns. not just fruit trees, but also a large number sinus infections, gum diseases, toothaches, McManus had commissioned a United of other indigenous plant treasures of the ulcers and upset stomachs. States map showing the climate zones miombo woodlands that need preserving. "Traditionally, people dig up the roots or most favourable for growing cork (the (Source: The East African [Nairobi], 24 harvest the crown of the plant from wild Eastern Shore and Tidewater Virginia March 2008.) stands in high watertable areas, such as appeared in a promising green). His vision river bosques (forests). But with the was to turn these areas – and indeed riparian areas in New Mexico shrinking anywhere else in the United States where because of urbanization, the habitat for this the climate was right – into a cork-growing useful plant is rapidly disappearing," said region that rivalled those of southern Charles Martin of the Sustainable Europe and northern Africa. He distributed Agriculture Science Center in Alcalde. millions of cork oak acorns and seedlings Since it has been plentiful and easily to all takers, persuading governors in 11 available to the traditional medicinal herb states to endorse the campaign by planting community, it has never been seedlings on their capitol grounds. commercialized or thought of as a The campaign continued for a while commercial crop. Martin anticipates a need after his premature death but cork, once for commercial cultivation of this plant in the dominant material for gaskets, seals, the future as yerba del manso becomes stoppers and dozens of other mechanical popular among herbalists. and industrial uses, would soon become Since 1998, Martin has studied the plant obsolete. The millions of seedlings planted to determine how to transplant the native as part of the McManus Cork Oak Project species into a cultivated environment. His would be forgotten. And most of them, findings have been published in NMSU's especially in Maryland and Virginia, would Research Report 758, Cultivation of succumb to the cold winters. Taylor Anemopsis californica under small-scale describes his search to find any of the grower conditions in northern New Mexico, surviving Quercus suber that had been available from: www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/ planted in the late 1940s and early 1950s. research/agronomy/RR-758.pdf (Source: El The cork oak, one of many evergreen or Paso Times [United States], 21 April 2008.) “live” oaks (not to be confused with the

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 COUNTRY COMPASS 59

ornamental cork tree of Asia), is native to area to start with is the country’s abundant Scientists say it takes 100 years for the Mediterranean forests, and has proved sensitive plant. tree's diameter to grow to the thickness of a adaptable to moderately warm climates One obstacle that the researchers had human calf. Many of the felled pines were everywhere. The tree’s unusually light and to overcome was the matter of funding. from one to two metres in diameter. But resilient bark can be peeled off in huge The university provides the researchers trees just 15 cm in diameter were not sheets without damaging the tree and its with facilities but the materials required spared. The scientists fear that the last combination of low density and surprising must be procured through private funds. pines on Elephant Mountain are close to elasticity give it remarkable sealing ability Despite the benefits of mimosine extinction because their ability to reproduce and buoyancy. (Source: Chesapeake Bay extraction, the researchers were unable to is very weak and there are no intermediary Magazine, March 2008.) secure funding and paid for the materials generations. (Source: VietNamNet Bridge out of their own pockets. [Viet Nam], 18 February 2008.) FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Viet Nam currently imports alkaloid David A. Taylor, 311 S Lee St, Alexandria, mimosine, which is expensive. Therefore, if VA 22314-3813, United States. Vietnamese scientists can mass produce E-mail: [email protected] mimosine from the sensitive plants growing wild in the country, not only will there be Multipurpose moringa tree to grow on medicinal benefits, but there will be Molokai, Hawaii financial benefits as well. Moringa plants may soon cover 1 000 acres The research team successfully (404.7 ha) of Molokai land, according to an produced a medicinal tea using the dried aim discussed at a recent meeting. Jim leaves of the sensitive plant. The tea Schelinski, who spearheads the operation, stimulates the immune system and helps noted that the target might be met within prevent bone diseases such as the next eight months, as those involved osteomalacia, which is common in women, Ecotourism development to protect forest begin to plant the supplied seeds. The tree and reduces the risk of cancer. (Source: biodiversity would provide a variety of opportunities Thanh Nien Daily [Viet Nam], 1 January At a seminar held in Da Lat, participants and advantages, including 40–50 jobs. 2008.) established that ecotourism could be a The benefits of the multipurpose helpful way to protect natural resources in moringa do not, however, stop with its Anticancer pines virtually wiped out Viet Nam’s national parks and reserves. economic advantages. According to some Illegal loggers have felled half the However, the dependence of people sources, the leaves of the tree may prevent remaining stand of Viet Nam's unique thong dwelling near the forests on the parks’ up to 300 diseases. Furthermore, the do trees in the Tay Nguyen (Central natural resources has resulted in the fertilizer derived from the plant may be Highlands). Their destruction has so unfavourable loss of biodiversity in these used by local farmers; the oil can be shocked scientists that they have broken a areas. shipped to the mainland, while the powder 100-year-old oath to keep the location of Delegates noted that because forest- can be made into several products. the trees – renowned for their medicinal dependent people live in poverty, improving Schelinski's wife is equally enthused about qualities – secret in an effort to save the last their living conditions is necessary in order the project. “My biggest interest would be 65. They want people to know about the to reduce their reliance on and resulting an emergency food supply in Molokai,” she trees so that they can be protected. exploitation of the forest resources desired said, noting that the plants would provide The thong do (Taxus wallichiana Zucc.) for conservation. These speakers even more greenery to the island. pine is treasured for its resin, which is used emphasized that the needs of local Future goals may also include the to treat cancer and other diseases. The communities must thus be addressed formation of a cooperative for local perennial trees are believed to have first before plans for ecotourism and farmers. (Source: Molokai Times [Hawaii] grown at Nui Voi, Elephant Mountain, in the preservation can be successful. (Source: 8 January 2008.) Lang Bian highlands, 2 000–5 000 years VietNamNet in RECOFTC Community ago. Forestry E-News, April 2008.) p "My colleagues and I have spent more %VIET NAM than 15 years trying to protect their original genes," says Tran Van Tien of the Lam Local scientists extract cancer drug from Bong Silviculture Research Centre. “Our native plant objective in nurturing the young pines was After almost four years of research, to reproduce the species to help cancer Vietnamese scientists at Ho Chi Minh City patients. It's high time for us to act to University of Technology have successfully protect these precious trees and their extracted mimosine, a toxic non-protein 'green drug' to treat cancer." amino acid used in cancer treatments, Biologist Doan Nam Sinh, who works to If what you have done is unjust, you from the plant Mimosa pudica, also known replicate species for the pharmaceutical have not succeeded. as the “sensitive” plant. Viet Nam could industry at Xuan Truong, believes that Thomas Carlyle save thousands of import dollars by thong do trees are confined to the Lang refining expensive cancer drugs, and one Bian highlands.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 60 ECONOOK

“BIODIVERSITY IS VITAL underestimated – between the production The development of an ecological % FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL sectors and biodiversity is essential monitoring framework adapted to small- AND LIVELIHOODS” towards achieving universal right to food scale use of NWFPs in Zimbabwe was and sustainable development”. started in 2005 and ended in 2007 with the “Biodiversity is vital for human survival and Mr Butler stressed the need to foster publication of a manual (see Box). The aim livelihoods; we need to conserve it for future international cooperation with regard to was to develop a methodological generations. At the same time, the emerging new complex challenges for food framework, which had to be easy and cost- unacceptable scale of hunger and rural and agriculture, such as climate change. efficient to implement and needed to poverty in our small planet calls for urgent (Source: FAO Newsroom, 18 February provide the necessary results for decisions remedial action,” FAO Deputy Director- 2008.) on NWFP extraction and natural resource General James G. Butler said today. He was use at the community- and district-level. It addressing the opening session of the had to ensure compliance of the NWFP- Thirteenth Meeting of the Subsidiary Body COMMUNITY-BASED extraction activities to ecological criteria, on Scientific, Technical and Technological ECOLOGICAL be based on the participation of the Advice of the Convention on Biological MONITORING – A collectors and respond to the challenging Diversity (18–22 February 2008). % PROMISING OPTION political, social and economic context in Ultimately, at the global level, this event TO ENSURE THE Zimbabwe. The tool was not meant to focus – which involves FAO, the Convention on SUSTAINABILITY OF only on the NWFP resource as such, but Biological Diversity and their partners – is NWFP EXTRACTION also on the surrounding ecosystems. aimed at meeting the challenges of Moreover, it was meant to include the sustainable agricultural production to Small-scale commercialization of NWFPs impact of climatic factors on the ensure food security for all peoples, is a key livelihoods strategy in many environment in order to support the “especially the rural poor – often the woodland areas in developing countries. communities in their adaptation to actual managers and custodians of our However, as discussed in previous articles and future climate changes. biodiversity”, as Mr Butler put it. of Non-Wood News, commercialization of Outcomes in Zimbabwe. An example of The Rome meeting focused on the NWFPs, even on a small scale, is not indicators developed and ecological implementation of the programmes of necessarily environmentally sustainable. challenges addressed in the context of work on agricultural biodiversity and forest Significant long-term decreases in ecological monitoring is provided in the biodiversity; the application of sustainable ecosystem resilience, biodiversity and Table, which was derived from the use principles and guidelines to functional ability of the ecosystems were ecological monitoring framework agricultural biodiversity; the linkages detected over time in numerous small- developed in the mountainous woodland between agricultural biodiversity and scale NWFP extraction systems. In detailed area of Nyanga in the Eastern Highlands of climate change; marine, coastal and inland case studies, it became obvious that these Zimbabwe. There, leaves from Fadogia water ecosystems biodiversity; invasive are hard to predict because of the ancylantha (makoni tea bush) and alien species; and other scientific and complexity of woodlands dynamics and Myrothamnus flabellifolius (resurrection technical issues. human impacts. tea bush) are collected by small-scale “Mainstreaming biodiversity into the Ecological monitoring can be very entrepreneurs for processing and regional food and agriculture, livestock, fisheries helpful to minimize these destructive sale. and forestry sectors will be critical to effects and to increase environmental With these indicators, significant effects provide humankind with opportunities for sustainability. It can be defined as the from changes in land-use practices were increasing food availability and stability continuous collection, analysis and already detected in the pilot implementation while maintaining a healthy natural capital interpretation of data related to the between 2006 and 2007 and were confirmed for future generations,” Mr Butler said. He environment in order to understand, with historic information. For these also stated that “understanding the positive determine or detect ecological trends in an changes, regulatory or corrective means linkages – often forgotten or area. were developed accordingly. Among others,

Extract from Nyanga Ecological Monitoring Plan

Indicator Specifications Ecological challenges addressed Early/late fires Number of fires per village, Uncontrolled fires per dry season woodland/grassland area burned Erosion gullies Number of gullies wider than Erosion 1.5 m and/or longer than 3 m Alien plant Number of Eucalyptus sp., Acacia marnsii and Alien plants populations Lantana camara individuals in sampling plots Number of Average estimated distance, time walked Target species Fadogia plots development Area under tobacco Area under tobacco cultivation per village Wood offtake Trade in Uapaca Amount of Uapaca fruits traded by Uapaca population kirkiana fruits collectors, distance development

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 ECONOOK 61

possible action regarding the sharp increase In interviews with community members, decreasing precipitation. A more rigid of wood offtake caused by extended small- changes in the natural systems over longer regulation for collection had to be scale tobacco farming (which requires periods of time also became obvious and introduced at these places in order to firewood for tobacco drying), is being are plausibly caused by climatic change. ensure the sustainability of NWFP discussed by the community and district Some populations of the harvested Fadogia extraction. authorities as it endangers the existence of tea bush in rather dry areas were found to The development of this ecological NWFP-relevant species. be under strong ecological pressure from monitoring framework and its results are indicative of a possible way of dealing with the challenges faced by natural resource management and NWFP-related initiatives in developing countries, i.e. the lack of COMMUNITY-BASED ECOLOGICAL recommended steps of supporting local reliable baseline data; the need to define MONITORING. A MANUAL FOR communities in ecological monitoring and use highly aggregated core indicators; PRACTITIONERS and summarizes the lessons learned. limited financial, technical and human The approach taken for community- resources; and difficulties in deducing The Zimbabwe-based NGO SAFIRE based ecological monitoring is based evidence for long-term trends from locally (Southern Alliance for Indigenous on local governance structures and and temporally limited natural phenomena. Resources), together with DED traditional knowledge systems. It (German Development Service), has provides a framework for the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: developed a new approach for communities: Alexander Fröde, Reichenberger Str. 155, 10999 community-based ecological • to track changes in the natural Berlin, Germany. E-mail: monitoring of the extraction of NWFPs. resource base of NWFPs easily and [email protected] or SAFIRE After more than two years of effectively as a base for decisions for (Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources), developing a multistakeholder process sustainable use; PO Box 3362, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe. and testing for feasibility, a publication • to detect effects of climate change E-mail: [email protected] Community-based ecological and negative side effects of resource monitoring. A manual for practitioners uses at an early stage and to plan for has now been brought out. appropriate action; The manual is aimed at providing • to support long-term maintenance of backup for staff of governmental or productivity and yield of NTFP non-governmental institutions working resources and conservation of in rural zones of developing countries biodiversity. in the context of rural development The manual is available to download and sustainable natural resource use from the Readers’ Research page of initiatives. In a plain and illustrative FAO’s NWFP home page at: manner it explains the rationale and www.fao.org/forestry/site/35667/en

ELEPHANTS KEEP %ANTS IN HARMONY WITH TREE HOSTS

If the African savannah were to lose elephants, giraffes and other large grazing mammals, there would be unexpected ecological effects all the way down to the ants and acacia trees of the plains, suggests a new study. The mutually beneficial relationship between acacia trees of the African savannah and the ants that live on the trees and defend them from harm has an unexpected third partner in the form of these large mammals. In the absence of the grazers, the former cosy relationship between trees and ants breaks down into an every- species-for-itself battle.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 62 ECONOOK

Journal reference: Science (DOI: Pekka Patosaari, Secretariat Director of 10.1126/science.1151579). (Source: New the UN Forum on Forests, told General Scientist [United Kingdom], 10 January Assembly members. 2008.) The agreement is not legally binding on governments but will set new standards for forest management aimed at reducing INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES forest clearing and the degrading of native % AND BIODIVERSITY forests in ways that preserve the livelihoods of forest users. Patosaari said Indigenous languages are treasures of vast the lack of national and international traditional knowledge concerning mechanisms to underpin sustainable ecological systems and processes and how economic uses of woodland areas have to protect and use some of the most defeated attempts to preserve them. About vulnerable and biologically diverse 3 percent of the world’s forest cover has ecosystems in the world. been destroyed in the last 15 years alone The whistling thorn acacia (Acacia It is no coincidence that the areas where and deforestation accounts for around 20 drepanolobium) and its ants have long indigenous peoples live are the areas that percent of total greenhouse gas been a textbook example of a mutualistic contain the greatest biological diversity. In emissions. relationship. The tree provides the ants fact, biological, linguistic and cultural The UN Climate Conference in Bali with nectar and hollow thorns to live in. diversity are inseparable and mutually kick-started a new trial process to pay The ants return the favour by aggressively reinforcing, so when an indigenous local communities not to clear forest. attacking any animal that touches the tree. language is lost, so too is the traditional Many hope this Reduced Emissions from Todd Palmer of the University of Florida knowledge on how to maintain aspects of Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) will in Gainesville, United States, and his the world’s biological diversity. lead to a legally binding worldwide colleagues compared this relationship in The protection of indigenous languages agreement. (Source: Environment News 12 study plots in Kenya. On half of the is therefore not only a cultural and moral Service, 27 December 2007, in plots, large herbivorous mammals have imperative, but an important aspect of CarbonPositive News, the Hague, the been fenced out since 1995. On the other global efforts to address biodiversity loss, Netherlands, 2 January 2008.) p half, herbivores still roam freely. In plots climate change and other environmental without herbivores, the trees produced less challenges. (Source: Report of the nectar and fewer hollow thorns, International Expert Group Meeting on presumably because they needed less Indigenous Languages. Permanent Forum protection. Sure enough, the most on Indigenous Issues. Economic and Social beneficial species of ant, Crematogaster Council. E/C.19/2008/3, 21 January 2008.) mimosae, was 30 percent less common on trees in these plots. Instead, it was replaced by a second ant, C. sjostedti, UN STRIKES NEW which harms the trees by encouraging % FOREST ACCORD attack by a stem-boring beetle. As a result, trees on the herbivore exclusion plots grew A new international forest agreement more slowly and were more likely to die struck at the United Nations is a major than trees on control plots. Even C. step towards controlling deforestation, its mimosae becomes less "friendly" on the sponsors say. exclusion plots. Left with less food and The United Nations General Assembly housing, it stops attacking invaders and has adopted the new accord put forward by begins tending sap-sucking insects, again the UN Forum on Forests which to the detriment of its host. recognizes that measures to produce The result has sobering implications for sustainable forest use around the world conservation. Large mammals are must account for the human factor – that especially vulnerable to habitat loss and poor local communities rely on forest encroachment by human settlements, and resources for their livelihood. their numbers are declining over much of The United Nations says that 1.6 billion Africa. If the decline continues, far more people rely directly on forests for fuel, than the mammals themselves could be at food, medicine and income. risk, the study suggests. "Make a major "Almost all recent success stories of perturbation and you're likely to see ripple restoring the world's forests are based on Truth can be a dangerous thing. It is effects that you might not have expected," better recognition of the needs and actions quite patient and relentless. says Robert Pringle, a member of the study of local peoples, their ownership and R. Scott Richards team at Stanford University in California, access rights and ancient knowledge of United States. indigenous tribes and communities,"

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 INTERNATIONAL ACTION 63

%FAO FORESTRY DEPARTMENT HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE FAO’S WORKING GROUP ON New FAO strategy for forestry ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY INDIGENOUS ISSUES In March 2007, the Committee on Forestry (COFO) requested that a new FAO strategy for High-Level Conference on World Food Collaboration with and learning from forestry be developed in consultation with Security: the Challenges of Climate Change indigenous peoples, who make their FAO Members and other partners. The and Bioenergy living from their natural environment consultative process has begun. The goal is to Securing world food security in light of the and thus generally possess a profound propose a new strategy to COFO at its next impact of climate change may be one of the knowledge of its significance and meeting in March 2009. The Regional biggest challenges faced in this century. potential benefits, are of great Forestry Commissions will discuss the An estimated 850 million people in the importance to FAO. Indigenous peoples elements for the new strategy in their 2008 world today suffer from hunger. Of these, are essential in the context of FAO’s sessions. about 820 million live in developing countries, mandate, not only because they are In the first stage of the consultation, the very countries expected to be most among the most vulnerable in terms of comments are requested on a “Discussion affected by climate change. Governments, food and livelihood security and paper on elements of a possible strategy”. international organizations, civil society, the remain highly dependent on Based on feedback received during the first private sector and other actors must work agriculture for their livelihoods, but part of 2008, a draft strategy will be developed together to address these challenges and to also because they and their civilizations and circulated for comments during a second devise appropriate strategies and responses. manage, provide, contribute to, and phase of the consultation in mid-2008. The recent Thirty-fourth Session of the are currently the primary custodians of To access the discussion paper and for more FAO Conference, held during November 2007, the main part of the world’s information on the consultation process please called for a series of expert meetings and agricultural diversity and its related visit: www.fao.org/forestry/site/strategy/en/ stakeholder consultations on climate change ecosystems, biological and knowledge and bioenergy, to be followed by a High-Level diversity. FAO IN THE FIELD Conference on World Food Security and the More than 50 FAO staff members Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. from different technical departments Forests for poverty reduction: mobilizing The preparatory meetings were held from come together regularly in the small and medium forest enterprises in January to April 2008 and the High-Level interdepartmental working group on Central Africa (project GCP/RAF/408/EC) Conference took place from 3 to 5 June 2008. indigenous issues in order to discuss The Congo Basin in Central Africa is the The High-Level Conference was informed by and exchange experiences in their second-largest forest area in the world. Its work undertaken and findings that emerged work with indigenous peoples. The forests are home to millions of unique from the expert meetings and stakeholder working group is currently developing animals and plants. More than 100 million consultations, as well as new analysis a publication on FAO’s work with people depend on the forest resources for undertaken by FAO, as part of its regular indigenous peoples, a policy for their food, medicines, income and cultural activities. indigenous peoples and guidelines to uses. An especially important income- The High-Level Conference was even more strengthen its work on indigenous generating activity is the trade of NWFPs, i.e. timely in light of soaring food prices and the issues. Furthermore, the working group fruits, leaves, bushmeat and tubers. additional challenges that this situation poses is collaborating closely with the United Research shows that small and medium to achieving global food security. Nations Permanent Forum on forest enterprises (SMFEs) that deal in One hundred and eighty-one countries Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the NWFPs are the main source of income for participated – 43 were represented by their Inter-Agency Support Group to the millions of forest dwellers worldwide: Head of State or Government and 100 by high- UNPFII. • 80–90 percent of forest enterprises in level Ministers. Sixty Non-governmental and developing countries are SMFEs; Civil Society Organizations were present as For more information, please contact: • >50 percent of forest sector employment well. Overall, 5 159 people attended – 1 298 of Regina Laub, Gender and Natural is generated by SMFEs; them were journalists covering the event. Resources Management Officer, FAO, Viale • 20 million people are formally employed delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. by SMFEs (140 million informally); and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: E-mail: [email protected] • >US$130 billion/year of gross value www.fao.org/foodclimate/home1.html added is produced by SMFEs worldwide. (Please also see Dr Wulf Killmann’s editorial.) Despite the crucial role of NWFPs in forest people’s livelihoods, the trade of these products faces many obstacles. SMFEs are mostly informal, family or community enterprises. Businesses are not organized, lack sufficient market information and technological expertise and face ownership problems. To strengthen the contribution of SMFEs to people’s well-being and poverty reduction in

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 64 INTERNATIONAL ACTION

Central Africa, the following measures are www.fao.org/forestry/site/35689/en needed: i) strengthening capacity to organize or Ousseynou Ndoye, Project Regional business; ii) developing the value chains of Coordinator and National Coordinator for Baobab is a multipurpose, widely used major NWFPs; iii) adaptation of legal and Cameroon, PO Box 281 Yaoundé, Cameroon. African tree. It occurs scattered in institutional measures that facilitate small Fax: + 237 22204811; e-mail: savannahs, often near dwellings, and forest enterprises; and iv) sustainable [email protected] has numerous medicinal properties and production, harvesting and domestication (non-)food uses. techniques. • Young leaves, rich in minerals/vitamins, A three-year project (2007–2009) – Forests are cooked like spinach and sauces. for poverty reduction: mobilizing small and INFORMATION ABOUT FAO’S WORK, • Fruit pulp is high in vitamin C, and is medium forest enterprises in Central Africa 1945–2008 dissolved in water or milk and drunk, (GCP/RAF/408/EC) – is being funded by the used as a sauce or fermenting agent, European Commission to address these Did you know … that if you need to find etc. issues. FAO has taken the lead role and is out about FAO studies and projects in a • Seed kernels are eaten fresh, dry or working in partnership with the Netherlands particular country you may simply search ground and are used in cooking, as a Development Organization (SNV), the Center the FAO library catalogue, entering the thickening/flavouring agent, or for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), name of the country in the search box and roasted. Seeds are also a source of and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). selecting “Documents produced by FAO”? cooking oil. The project is being carried out in The FAO library catalogue is directly • Bark fibre is used for rope, basket nets, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of accessible from the David Lubin Memorial fishing lines and weaving. the Congo and is pursuing close collaboration Library’s Web page. Tamarind is grown for subsistence and with the governments of these countries www.fao.org/library/index.htm some commercial production in Asia and within the framework of the Central African Latin America; however, it often occurs Forest Commission (COMIFAC). wild in the tropics. In Africa, unimproved The project’s focus is on the following trees are often commercially exploited, areas. but are considered an underutilized • Capacity building: strengthen the crop. organization, management, production, • Tamarind fruit pulp is the richest transformation, commercialization and known natural source of tartaric acid marketing skills of small and medium and is used for flavouring chutneys, forest enterprises. sauces and juices. Sweet varieties can • Knowledge and information: generate also be consumed as table fruit. Its data on resource stock and study leaves are a source of food and production, consumption and markets. medicine. Develop market information systems. • Tamarind wood is used for timber, tool • Processing: develop and disseminate handles, charcoal and fuelwood. technologies for transformation and • Seed kernel powder, the major packaging. industrial product, is an important • Production: promote sustainable DOMESTICATION material used in sizing textiles and harvesting techniques and domestication AND DEVELOPMENT paper. through the integration of high-value %OF BAOBAB AND cultivars in production systems. TAMARIND (DADOBAT) • Access to capital: improve access to credit by collaboration with and capacity The Domestication and Development of They can provide food, medicine, wood and building of microfinance institutions. Baobab and Tamarind (DADOBAT) project a number of secondary processed • Legal, institutional and business aims at developing sustainable production products for income generation that can environment: multistakeholder systems of baobab (Adansonia digitata) help to meet the basic needs of an processes play a key role in legal and and tamarind (Tamarindus indica Lam.) in increasing number of people in a context institutional development, improving three West African countries based on of decreasing land availability. public-private sector relationships, characterization, conservation and use of strengthening civil society and increasing local genetic resources. This is expected to FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: access to information. have a positive impact on food security and Patrick Van Damme, Project Coordinator, income generation in the countries DADOBAT, Laboratory of Tropical and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: included in the project. Issues of new Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Sophie Grouwels, Forestry Officer, Community- crop/niche development are addressed University of Ghent (Ugent), Ghent, Belgium. based Enterprise Development Programme through a holistic research approach and E-mail: [email protected]; (CBED), Forest Policy Service, Forestry multidisciplinary research activities. www.dadobat.soton.ac.uk/default.aspx p Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Both baobab and tamarind are plant 00153 Rome, Italy. Fax: (39) 06 570 55514; species with high potential for arid and e-mail: [email protected]; semi-arid areas in the developing world.

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NATIONAL WORKSHOP The gathering raised awareness of the INTERNATIONAL %ON SUSTAINABLE potential of edible forest insects as a food SEMINAR ON MEDICINAL MANAGEMENT OF NTFPS source, documented the contribution of PLANTS AND HERBAL edible insects to rural livelihoods and %PRODUCTS AND JABALPUR, INDIA INTERNATIONAL 18–19 JANUARY 2008 assessed linkages to sustainable forest management and conservation. HERBO EXPO 2008 The objectives of the workshop were to: TIRUPATI, INDIA • identify issues relating to the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 7–9 MARCH 2008 sustainable management of forests Patrick B. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, and NTFPs in different states and take FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, The seminar covered cultivation, extraction stock of initiatives taken to address 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10200. of medicinal plants and herbal products, these issues by the forest department, Fax: (66-2) 697-4445; e-mail: [email protected] plant biotechnology, supply of planting researchers, NGOs, etc.; (Please see page 23 for more information.) material and herbal products, applications • identify and develop models of in ayurveda, herbal cosmetics and crosscutting, especially in the context pharmaceuticals, standardization and of primary stakeholders, i.e. forest- ROUND TABLE quality control issues and marketing protecting communities and primary ON SUSTAINABLE aspects. NTFP collectors; and %FORESTS NATIONAL • develop a uniform approach for TECHNICAL WORKSHOP FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: planning on sustainable forest AND MEETING Prof. G. Sudarsanam. E-mail: [email protected] or management with the roles of various KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, stakeholders clearly defined. UNITED STATES [email protected]; http://ismphp.blogspot.com 25–28 FEBRUARY 2008 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Dr A.K. Pandey, Head, Non-Wood Forest The objectives of the workshop were to. Produce Division, Tropical Forest Research • learn about and provide input on data Institute, PO RFRC, Mandla Road, collection and reporting on NWFPs; Jabalpur 482021, India. Fax: 91-761-2840484; • highlight and learn about ongoing e-mail: [email protected] or sustainable forest efforts in the [email protected] southeast region; • learn about and contribute to the knowledge base on climate change, and climate change in the context of sustainable forests and other resources; and • shape future activities of the Round Table on Sustainable Forests. The results from all the workshops will PRIMER SEMINARIO – be utilized by the United States TALLER DESARROLLO Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest %DE PRODUCTOS Service in their preparation of the 2010 NO MADEREROS National Report on Sustainable Forests. DEL BOSQUE SANTO DOMINGO, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA FOREST INSECTS AS Shawn Walker, Project Coordinator, 25 Y 26 DE ABRIL DEL 2008 FOOD: HUMANS BITE Meridian Institute, 1920 L Street NW, Suite 500, BACK. A WORKSHOP Washington, DC, 20036, United States. El propósito general era promover % FOCUSED ON ASIA- Fax: +1-202-354-6441; tecnologías y métodos de aprovechamiento PACIFIC RESOURCES www.merid.org múltiple del suelo y de otros recursos AND THEIR POTENTIAL naturales en áreas boscosas para la FOR DEVELOPMENT obtención de productos forestales no CHIANG MAI, THAILAND madereros (PFNM), como contribución al 19–21 FEBRUARY 2008 desarrollo sostenible de comunidades campesinas y otros sectores de la Organized by FAO and Chiang Mai economía dominicana. University in Thailand, specialists Otros de los objetivos del seminario- attending the three-day workshop focused taller eran: contribuir a diversificar la on edible forest insects and their producción en áreas boscosas, promover management, collection, harvest, un mayor cuidado ambiental, promover la processing, marketing and consumption. introducción de tecnologías en el

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desarrollo de los PFNM del bosque, REVOLUTIONIZING No. 310, Wenyi Rd, Hangzhou, 310012, contribuir al rescate de tradiciones THE GLOBAL INDIAN Zhejiang Province, China. Fax: +86 571 productivas y a la identificación de nuevas %SANDALWOOD 88869217; e-mail: [email protected] or fuentes sostenibles de recursos (SANTALUM ALBUM) [email protected] económicos en comunidades campesinas, SUPPLY entre otros. THE KIMBERLEY GRANDE, En el taller, se hizo la presentación de KUNUNURRA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA HIGH-LEVEL una propuesta sobre un proyecto de 13–15 MAY 2008 CONFERENCE ON extensión y desarrollo del cultivo del ratán WORLD FOOD SECURITY: para la introducción en el país de This conference showcased the scale, %THE CHALLENGES germoplasma probado con éxito en áreas R&D, professionalism and history of OF CLIMATE CHANGE del caribe. Australia’s Indian sandalwood (Santalum AND BIOENERGY Las ponencias enviadas se encuadraron album) plantations, which will begin ROME, ITALY en las grandes temáticas propuestas: delivering a reliable and significant supply 3-5 JUNE 2008 • el cultivo del ratán y las posibilidades of high-quality S. album to the market de su introducción en la República within the next few years. Dominicana; The conference provided an excellent FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: • el aprovechamiento químico de los opportunity to see the 12 km2 of plantation, www.fao.org/foodclimate/hlc-home/en/ subproductos forestales: taninos, as well as the research in and (Please see Dr Wulf Killmann’s editorial and resinas, aceites esenciales, sustancias development of plantation-grown Indian page 63 for more information.) p activas farmacológicas y otros; sandalwood, in which Tropical Forestry • el uso y el aprovechamiento de la Services Ltd (TFS) and others are involved. biomasa forestal; Samples of TFS oil were also available. • el aprovechamiento múltiple del suelo y de los recursos naturales locales; así FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: como la protección ambiental; Danae Christensen, Research Officer, • el desarrollo de la agroforestería y la Tropical Forestry Services Limited, agroecología; PO Box 3068, East St George's Terrace, • la diversificación de la producción en Perth WA 6832, Australia. Fax: +61 8 9221 9477; áreas de bosques (producción apícola, e-mail:[email protected]; lombricultura, hongos comestibles y www.tfsltd.com.au otros); • la participación comunitaria en la búsqueda de soluciones; y 2008 TRAINING COURSE • la contribución al desarrollo rural ON BAMBOO sostenible. %TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN DIRIGIRSE A: HANGZHOU, CHINA Proyectos y Gestión Ambiental, 1 JUNE–30 JULY 2008 Fundación Desarrollo Sostenible Comunitario, Inc. (FUNDESCO), Respaldo Kennedy No. 8, This training course was organized by the Ensanche Kennedy, P.O. Box: 30108. China National Bamboo Research Centre Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. (CBRC) and sponsored by the Ministry of Correo electrónico: [email protected]; Commerce, China as a contribution of the [email protected] Chinese Government to other developing http://groups.msn.com/voluntariosdefundesco countries within south-south cooperation. The course was designed to help people who are interested or who work in the bamboo/forest sector to master the basic theories and principles of bamboo cultivation, processing and utilization; to enhance their awareness and capacity of the integrated development of bamboo; and to share China's experiences with and expertise in bamboo. Truth has no special time of its own. Its FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: hour is now – always. Eng. Cai Hanjiang, Project Assistant, Albert Schweitzer International Cooperation Division, China National Bamboo Research Centre (CBRC),

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TREES CONNECTING agriculture” is most apt in the present meet future societal needs for forest % PEOPLE: IN ACTION context. The congress objective is to products and the full range of forest goods TOGETHER showcase research and development and services. Ongoing research in various BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA activities in bees and bee products. fields of forest and forest-related sciences 29 JULY–1 AUGUST 2008 The three-day congress, organized by will be presented in parallel sessions of the Century Foundation, Bangalore, India in conference. This international meeting on urban and association with the Ministry of Agriculture, The conference will be co-hosted by FAO, peri-urban forestry is being organized by Government of Bhutan, will help to develop the International Union of Forest Research FAO. It will gather together worldwide an agenda to ensure sustainable livelihoods, Organizations (IUFRO) and the Swedish institutions and experts, interested in natural resource use optimization and University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) with building collaboration and partnership in ecosystem protection through income- support from the United States Forest support of the capacity building of generating activities such as beekeeping. Service, Seoul National University, Republic developing countries and countries in Topics/Technical Sessions will cover: i) of Korea and the Royal Swedish Academy of transition, with the aim of optimizing the biology and management of honeybees; ii) Agriculture and Forestry. role of forests and trees for healthy cities. bees and crop pollination; iii) honey flora and Conference topics will include the migratory beekeeping; iv) bee pests, diseases following. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: and enemies; v) bee products: processing and Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Health Michelle Gauthier, Forestry Officer, Forest marketing; vi) honey quality, safety and and Ecosystem Services. Conservation Service, FAO, 00153 Rome, Italy. international trade issues; vii) beekeeping • Physiological responses of trees to E-mail: [email protected] or technology and equipment; viii) bees and climate change, including wood [email protected] environment; ix) beekeeping training and properties. extension; x) apitherapy; and xi) organic • Climate-induced changes in forest honey production and its importance. ecosystem composition, processes and 2ND INTERNATIONAL geographic extent. %BEEKEEPING CONGRESS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: • Invasive species – increasing THIMPHU, BHUTAN Dr V. Sivaram, Organizing Secretary, establishments in previously hostile 19–21 AUGUST 2008 2nd IBC 2008, Department of Botany, environments. Bangalore University, Bangalore 560056, India. • Altered incidence, severity and Asia has long been known for its glorious Fax: 91-80-23219295; e-mail: geographic range of insect pests and tradition of beekeeping and honey hunting, its [email protected] or [email protected] disease outbreaks. rich and diversified bee flora and fauna and or Mr Kailash Pradhan, Deputy Chief Research • Impacts on forest ecosystems of altered its suitable climate for beekeeping almost Officer, Local Coordinator, 2nd IBC 2008, frequency, intensity and timing of throughout the year. Beekeeping is now Council for RNR Research of Bhutan, extreme events, including fire, wind and established and developed as a profitable Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan. ice storms. agroforest-based industry providing basic Fax: 00-975-2- 322504/321097; Adaptation Implications for Science, Policies, employment, supplementary income and e-mail: [email protected] and Practices. nutritious food for a large rural population, • Silviculture and production of wood and besides enhancing crop productivity through non-wood forest goods. pollination. INTERNATIONAL • Forest biodiversity, endangered species Beekeeping plays a crucial role in the CONFERENCE: and nature conservation. present context of commercialization of ADAPTATION OF FORESTS • Protective functions of forest resources, agriculture and liberalization of economy. It AND FOREST including water and soil issues. covers the entire range of honeybee MANAGEMENT TO • Socio-economic functions, livelihoods resources, bee products, beekeeping %CHANGING CLIMATE WITH and poverty – integrated natural practices, pollination services and their EMPHASIS ON FOREST resources management. interface with business systems and HEALTH: A REVIEW OF • Forest genetics and tree breeding. environmental integrity. There is a significant SCIENCE, POLICIES, • Phytosanitary regulations, including unknown diversity of scientific and practical AND PRACTICES trade. knowledge available in different countries UMEÅ, SWEDEN • Role of innovative management that needs to be disseminated properly. 25–28 AUGUST 2008 approaches, including precision forestry, Because of lack of coordination among ecosystem management and different implementing agencies, little The Conference will focus on the current multistakeholder participation. information is available on the overall status state of knowledge of ongoing changes in Enhancing Knowledge of Climate Change of research, training and extension systems. climatic conditions in different regions of the Impacts and Adaptation Measures. The International Beekeeping Congress world, and the implications of these changes • Scenarios and modelling for forest will provide a forum for reorienting the for forest health, management and management planning. policies and programmes for more conservation. Presentations and discussions • Monitoring, assessments and early productive and sustainable apiculture. The will emphasize research, policies and warning. theme of the congress “Beekeeping practices that are needed to enable to plan • Roles of traditional forest knowledge in development and its relevance in mountain for and manage healthy, productive forests to climate change adaptation.

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• Opportunities for combining adaptation (IUBS) in Paris in 1993, nine international on the options and requirements of a and mitigation (carbon sequestration) organizations decided to establish an broader operational framework for objectives. international non-governmental body to be sustainable development, based on the • Quality and comprehensiveness of the known as the International Council for use, management and conservation of the existing scientific evidence base, further Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ICMAP) forests of the Amazon region. research needs. (www.icmap.org) with the general objective of promoting international understanding FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: and cooperation between national and Ms Inka Montero, Congress Secretary, Björn Hanell, Swedish University of Agricultural international organizations on the role of Waldbau Institut, Universität Freiburg, Sciences (SLU), Box 7070, 750 07 Uppsala, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79085 Freiburg, Germany. Sweden. E-mail: [email protected] science, medicine and industry, and E-mail: [email protected]; or Jim Carle, Senior Forestry Officer, improving the exchange of information www.waldbau.uni-freiburg.de/forlive/05_ Forest Management Division, FAO, between them. One of the functions of Events/sc.html Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. ICMAP is to arrange a world conference on E-mail: [email protected]; medicinal and aromatic plants (WOCMAP) www.forestadaptation2008.com every five years. %FIRST WORLD CONGRESS About 1 200 delegates are expected to OF ENVIRONMENTAL attend WOCMAP IV. Themes to be covered HISTORY 2009 2008 INTERNATIONAL include: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE • biodiversity prospecting and 4–8 AUGUST 2009 ON TROPICAL ethnopharmacology; %RAINFORESTS AND • conservation, cultivation and The theme of this First World Congress of AGROFORESTS UNDER sustainable use; Environmental History (WCEH) is "Local GLOBAL CHANGE • perspectives in natural products livelihoods and global challenges: BALI, INDONESIA chemistry; understanding human interaction with the 5–9 OCTOBER 2008 • targeted screening approaches for environment". drugs and cosmetics; Why hold a World Congress of Tropical rain forests disappear at an • quality, efficacy and safety of Environmental History? Worldwide, humans alarming rate, causing unprecedented phytomedicines and phytocosmetics; interact with the environment to make their losses in biodiversity and ecosystem • developments in industrial processing of living, create artefacts, recreate, reflect their services. Despite an increased recognition MAPs; belief systems, and to survive. Humans have of the value of these goods at national and • economics and marketing of MAPs; changed the face of the Earth considerably international levels, rain forests continue to • new developments in laws and and have experienced both resilience and be seriously threatened by human-induced regulations for the use of MAPs – trade degradation of natural systems. global change such as agricultural and industry perspective; Environmental historians in many fields intensification and climate change. • traditional medicine and health systems study these interactions and their Understanding these processes needs an for new and old diseases; explorations are aimed towards a integrated scientific approach linking • nutraceuticals; sustainable future. ecological, economic and social approaches • veterinary medicine. WCEH 2009 will offer opportunities for all on different scales, from the household and member organizations to meet and present village level to landscapes and regions. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: themselves. It will bring a wide range of Kobus Eloff, Chairman, Organizing Committee, high-quality research papers to a diverse FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Phytomedicine Programme, University of audience and seeks to discuss the political Mr Teja Tscharntke (Chair), Faculty of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South relevance of environmental history. Agricultural Sciences, Dept of Crop Sciences, Africa 0110. E-mail: [email protected]; It is the goal of the congress to ensure as Agroecology, Waldweg 26, 37073 Göttingen, www.up.ac.za/phyto wide a representation of participants as Germany. E-mail: [email protected]; possible. It invites organizations, www.globalchange-2008.org/ associations, corporations and governments PROVOKING CHANGE: to provide support to enable students and %STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE scholars from under-represented countries 4TH WORLD CONGRESS FOREST USERS IN THE to attend. If you come from a low-income or ON MEDICINAL AND AMAZON under-represented country, please check % AROMATIC PLANTS – SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, BOLIVIA out our funding page for possible avenues of USING PLANTS TO 10–14 NOVEMBER 2008 support. BENEFIT PEOPLE CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA The purpose of this international congress FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 9–14 NOVEMBER 2008 is to create a platform for dialogue among E-mail: [email protected]; scientists, politicians, development www.wceh2009.org/home.htm p At a meeting of the Secretariat of the agencies and representatives from civil International Union of Biological Sciences society to catalyse a process of reflection

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Baez, S. & Balslev, H. 2007. Edge effects on Caruso, A., Rudolphi, J., & Thor, G. 2008. palm diversity in rain forest fragments in Lichen species diversity and substrate western Ecuador. Biodivers. Conserv., amounts in young planted boreal forests: a 16(7): 2201–2211. comparison between slash and stumps of Picea abies. Biol. Conserv., 141(1): 47–55. Barlow, J., Overal, W.L., Araujo, I.S., Gardner, T.A. & Peres, C.A. 2007. The Colfer, C.J. Pierce. 2008. Human health and value of primary, secondary and forests. A global overview of issues, plantation forests for fruit-feeding practice and policy. People and Plants butterflies in the Brazilian Amazon. International Conservation. Earthscan. J. Appl. Ecol., 44(5): 1001–1012. Croitoru, L. 2007. Valuing the non-timber Boreal Centre for Conservation forest products in the Mediterranean Enterprise. 2007. Boreal forest bounty: region. Ecological Econ., 63(4): 768–775. a botanical species resource guide for conservation enterprise development. Davidar, P., Arjunan, M., Mammen, P.C., Adams, W.M. & Hutton, J. 2007. People, Victoria, Canada, Trafford Publishing. Garrigues, J.P., Puyravaud, I.P. & parks and poverty: political ecology and ISBN 978-1-4251-1426-8. Roessingh, K. 2007. Forest degradation biodiversity conservation. Conservation in the Western Ghats biodiversity and Society, 5(2): 147–183. hotspot: resource collection, livelihood concerns and sustainability. Curr. Sci., Alessandrello, M., González, J. M. y de la 93(11): 1573–1578. Escuela Nacional de Agricultura. 2007. 2005. El bálsamo de El Salvador: Dawson, I.K., Guarino, L. & Jaenicke, H. tradición y alternativa sostenible. San 2007. Underutilized plant species: Salvador, El Salvador, Fundación Privada impacts of promotion on biodiversity. Intervida. 212 pág. (Please see page 43 Position Paper 2. Colombo, Sri Lanka, for more information.) International Centre for Underutilised Crops. Andel, T.R. van. 2007. Paramaribo’s herbal market. Flora of the Guianas newsletter, Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Touza, J., Perrings, 15: 73–76. C. & Williamson, M. 2007. A century of the ornamental plant trade and its Andel, T.R. van, Behari-Ramdas, J., impact on invasion success. Divers. Havinga, R.M. & Groenendijk, S. 2007. Distrib., 13(5): 527–534. The medicinal plant trade in Suriname. This publication is an attempt to highlight Ethnobotanical Research and some common forest botanicals found in de Oliveira, R.L.C., Lins Neto, E.M.F., Applications, 5: 351–373. Canada’s western boreal forests that have Araújo, E.L. & Albuquerque, U.P. 2007. either established or emerging commercial Conservation priorities and population Andel, T.R. van, de Korte, S., Koopmans, value. structure of woody medicinal plants in D., Behari-Ramdas, J. & Ruysschaert, (Please see page 18 for more information.) an area of Caatinga vegetation S. 2008. Dry sex in Suriname. (Pernambuco state, NE Brazil). Environ. J. Ethnopharmacology, 116 (1): 84–88. Caillon, S. & Degeorges, P. 2007. Monit. Assess., 132(1-3): 189–206. Biodiversity: negotiating the border Andel, T.R. van & van’t Klooster, C.I.E.A. between nature and culture. Biodivers. Donovan, J., ed. 2007. Small and medium 2007. Medicinal plant use by Surinamese Conserv., 16(10): 2919–2931. enterprise development for poverty immigrants in Amsterdam, the reduction. Opportunities and challenges Netherlands: results of a pilot market Cardillo, M. 2006. Disappearing forests and in globalizing markets/Desarrollo de survey. In A. Pieroni & I. Vandebroek, biodiversity loss: which areas should we pequeñas y medianas empresas eds. Travelling cultures and plants. The protect? Int. For. Rev., 8(2): 251–255. forestales para la reducción de la ethnobiology and ethnopharmacy of pobreza. Oportunidades y desafíos en human migrations. Studies in Cardon, D. 2008. Natural dyes: sources, mercados globalizantes. Conference Environmental Anthropology and tradition, technology and science. Bois Proceedings/Memorias de conferencia. Ethnobiology, 7, pp. 207–237. New York, et Forêts des Tropiques, 295. Technical Series. Technical Meetings no. Berghahn Publishers. 12/Serie técnica. Reuniones técnicas Carroll, N., Fox, J. & Bayon, R. 2007. no.12. Turrialba, Costa Rica, Tropical Asmüssen, M.V. & Simonetti, J.A. 2007. Conservation and biodiversity banking. Agricultural Research and Higher Can a developing country like Chile A guide to setting up and running Education Center (CATIE)/Centro invest in biodiversity conservation? biodiversity credit trading systems. Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Environ. Conserv., 34(3): 183–185. Earthscan. ISBN 9781844074716. Enseñanza (CATIE).

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Biodivers. livelihoods in the north-central regions healthcare among the people living in and Conserv., 16(11): 3129–3146. of Namibia. London, United Kingdom, around a conservation area of northern International Institute for Environment Bangladesh. International J. Forest Koh, L.P. 2007. Impacts of land use change and Development (IIED). Usufructs Management, 8(2). on Southeast Asian forest butterflies: a review. J. Appl. Ecol., 44(4): 703–713. Macqueen, D. 2008. Supporting small forest Mushita, A. & Thompson, C. 2008. Biopiracy enterprises: a cross-sectoral review of of biodiversity – global exchange as Kümpel, N.F. 2006. Incentives for best practice. London, United Kingdom, enclosure. New Jersey, United States, sustainable hunting of bushmeat in Río IIED. ISBN 978-1-84369-684-1. Africa World Press. Muni, Equatorial Guinea. United Kingdom, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Martín-López, B., Montes, C. & Benayas, J. Nasi, R., Brown, D., Wilkie, D., Bennett, E., Society of London and Imperial College 2007. The non-economic motives behind Tutin, C., van Tol, G. & Christophersen, T. London, University of London. the willingness to pay for biodiversity 2008. Conservation and use of wildlife- conservation. Biol. Conserv., 139(1–2): based resources: the bushmeat crisis. Laurance, W.F. 2007. Forest destruction in 67–82. Technical Series 33. Montreal, Secretariat tropical Asia. Curr. Sci., 93(11): of the Convention on Biological Diversity 1544–1550. Mathew, P.J. & Thomas, M.T. 2007. and Bogor, Center for International Medicinal plant resource of Kerala. Forestry Research (CIFOR). Lenaerts, M. & Spadafora, A.M., eds. Towards harnassing its potential. Part 1 Pueblos indígenas, plantas y mercados. – Introduction. Kerala, India, Tropical Nautiyal, S. & Kaechele, H. 2007. Conserving Amazonía y Gran Chaco. V Congreso Botanic Garden and Research Institute. the Himalayan forests: approaches and CEISAL de Latinoamericanistas, ISBN 81-900397-7-6. implications of different conservation Bruselas 2007/Abril 11–14. Zeta Series in regimes. Biodivers. Conserv., 16(13): Anthropology and Sociology, 3. ISBN 978- 3737–3754. 973-88632-7-9. (Languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English.) Ohl-Schacherer, J., Shepard, G.H., Kaplan, H., Peres, C.A., Levi, T. & Yu, D.W. 2007. Luckert, M.K., Campbell, B.M., Gorman, The sustainability of subsistence hunting J.T. & Garnett, S.T. 2007. Investing in by Matsigenka native communities in indigenous natural resource Manu National Park, Peru. Conserv., Biol., management. Australia, Charles Darwin 21(5): 1174–1185. University (CDU) Press. Paterson, P. 2008. The tropical Luttrell, C., Schreckenberg, K. & Peskett, agriculturalist – beekeeping. Macmillan L. 2007. The implications of carbon Publishers, the Technical Centre for financing for pro-poor community Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) forestry. ODI Forestry Briefing 14. United and the International Bee Research Kingdom, Overseas Development McShea, W.J., Healy, W.M., Devers, P., Association. Institute. Fearer, T., Koch, F.H., Stauffer, D. & The emergence of new financing Waldon, J. 2007. Forestry matters: Peck, J.E. & Muir, P.S. 2007. Conservation mechanisms associated with the rise of decline of oaks will impact wildlife in management of the mixed species carbon markets brings potential for hardwood forests. J. Wildlife nontimber forest product of "moss" – are increased investment in forestry. This Management, 71(5): 1717–1728. July. they harvesting what we think they're paper explores the implications of these harvesting? Biodivers. Conserv., 16(7): mechanisms for community forestry and Midgley, A.C. 2007. The social negotiation of 2031–2043. suggests ways in which such finance may nature conservation policy: conserving contribute to the pro-poor outcomes of pinewoods in the Scottish Highlands. Perez, M., García, M., Blustein, G. & Stupak, community forestry. The paper also Biodivers. Conserv., 16(12): 3317–3332. M. 2007. Tannin and tannate from the provides an opportunity for those quebracho tree: an eco-friendly working on the design of carbon Mukul, S.A. 2007. Bridging livelihoods and alternative for controlling marine financing mechanisms to draw on the forest conservation in protected areas: biofouling. Biofouling, 23(3/4): 151–159.

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Rawat, D.S. & Rana, C.S. 2007. Arenaria protection of hotspot dry forest in southern WHO. 2007. WHO guidelines for assessing curvifolia majumdar (Caryophyllaceae): Madagascar. Ambio, 36(8): 683–691. quality of herbal medicines with reference an endangered, and endemic Himalayan to contaminants and residues. Geneva, herb rediscovered. Curr. Sci., Tewari, D.D. 2008. Management of Switzerland, World Health Organization. 92(11):1486–1488. nontimber forest product resources of ISBN 978 92 4 159444 8. India: an analysis of forest development Ribeiro do Valle, D., Staudhammer, C.L. & corporations. Lucknow, International Wilson, K.A., Underwood, E.C., Morrison, Cropper, W.P. 2007. Simulating nontimber Book Distributing Co. 52 pp. ISBN 81- S.A., Klausmeyer, K.R., Murdoch, W.W., forest product management in tropical 8189-223-2. Reyers, B., Wardell-Johnson, G., mixed forests. J. Forestry, 105(6): Professor Tewari reviews the Marquet, P.A., Rundel, P.W., McBride, 301–306. management of NTFPs in India under the M.F., Pressey, R.L., Bode, M., Hoekstra, control of forest development J.M., Andelman, S., Looker, M., Richards, M. & Jenkins, M. 2007. Potential corporations during the last 30 years. The Rondinini, C., Kareiva, P., Shaw, M.R. & and challenges of payments for author suggests a new approach towards Possingham, H.P. 2007. Conserving ecosystem services from tropical forests. managing this economically important biodiversity efficiently: what to do, where, ODI Forestry Briefing 16. United Kingdom, resource so as to reform the functioning and when. PLoS Biol., 5(9): 1850–1861. Overseas Development Institute. of ailing corporations in the interest of tribal communities. A cooperative Zambrana, N.Y.P., Byg, A., Svenning, J.C., Sánchez-Azofeifa, G.A. et al. 2007. Costa framework, which entrusts the Moraes, M., Grandez, C. & Balslev, H. Rica's payment for environmental management of NTFPs to the tribal 2007. Diversity of palm uses in the services program: intention, communities, together with a support western Amazon. Biodivers. Conserv., implementation and impact. Conserv. price programme and effective 16(10): 2771–2787. Biol., 21(5): 1165–1173. coordination of market forces, is recommended for sustainable and socially Zerbe, S., Schmidt, I. & Betzin, J. 2007. Sarfo-Mensah, P. & Oduro, W. 22007. rewarding management. Thus, a more Indicators for plant species richness in Traditional natural resources decentralized management of NTFPs and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests of management practices and biodiversity a nationally coordinated marketing Germany. Biodivers. Conserv., 16(12): conservation in Ghana: a review of local framework are to be developed. 3301–3316. concepts and issues on change and sustainability. Fondazione Eni Enrico Thompson, I. & Christophersen, T., eds. Mattei Working Paper 149. 21 pp. 2008. Cross-sectoral toolkit for the NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM conservation and sustainable FAO’S NON-WOOD FOREST Sekhsaria, P. 2007. Conservation in India management of forest biodiversity. PRODUCTS PROGRAMME and the need to think beyond “tiger vs Technical Series 39. Montreal, Canada, tribal”. Biotropica, 39(5): 575–577. Secretariat of the Convention on NWFP Working Documents Biological Diversity. 53 pp. The role of CITES in controlling the Semwal, D.P., Saradhi, P.P., Nautiyal, B.P. international trade in forest products: & Bhatt, A.B. 2007. Current status, Uddin, M.B. & Mukul, S.A. 2007. Improving implications for sustainable forest distribution and conservation of rare and forest dependent livelihoods through management, by Teresa Mulliken. Working endangered medicinal plants of NTFPs and home gardens: a case study Document No. 7, TRAFFIC International. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Central from Satchari National Park. In J. Fox, B. Forests and forest products are Himalayas, India. Curr. Sci., 92(12): Bushley, S. Dutt & S.A. Quazi, eds. Making fundamental to the health and well-being 1733–1738. conservation work: linking rural of the vast majority of the world’s human livelihoods and protected areas in population. They play a critical role in the Small, R.D.S. 2007. Becoming Bangladesh, pp. 13–35. Hawaii, East-West livelihoods of local communities in and unsustainable? Recent trends in the Center and Dhaka, Bangladesh Forest around forests and are a source of food, formal sector of insect trading in Papua Department. medicines, construction materials, fuel, New Guinea. Oryx, 41(3): 386–389. ornamentation and even companionship, Uddin, M.S., Mukul, S.A. & Abedin, M.J. for example, in the case of pets. Struebig, M.J., Harrison, M.E., Cheyne, 2007. Assessing local and urban native Technological innovation, and specifically S.M. & Limin, S.H. 2007. Intensive fruit markets in Sylhet district, improvements in the global transport hunting of large flying foxes Pteropus Bangladesh. International J. Forest infrastructure, combined with human vampyrus natunae in Central Usufructs Management, 8(2). migration have served to increase the use Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. and availability of forest products around Oryx, 41(3): 390–393. Wadt, L.H.O., Kainer, K.A., Staudhammer, the world. However, this use is not without C.L. & Serrano, R.O.P. 2008. Sustainable a cost – the populations of many wild Tengo, M., Johansson, K., Rakotondrasoa, F., forest use of Brazilian extractive reserves: species have declined as a result of harvest Lundberg, J., Andriamaherilala, J.A., natural regeneratioon of Brazil nuts in for international trade, some to the point Rakotoarisoa, J.A. & Elmqvist, T. 2007. exploited populations. Biol. Conserv., that entire species are threatened with Taboos and forest governance: informal 141(1): 332–346. extinction.

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In order to address international trade used to lead them through the issues of Alternatively, a hard copy is available from: threats to wild species, governments have gender and local knowledge, which are Laura Russo, Forestry Officer, established the Convention on International important elements for agrobiodiversity Forest Assessment and Reporting Service, Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna management and food security. Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle and Flora (CITES). CITES entered into force in Agrobiodiversity and food security are Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome. 1975, and has over 160 member complex issues that need careful E-mail: [email protected] governments (Parties). This report explores consideration. The myth that technologies the role and impact of CITES on the trade in taught to farmers will ease their poverty and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: forest products and sustainable forest hunger because the expertise or seeds http://www.naturalinquirer.usda.gov/ management throughout its 30-year history, provided are modern or new, persists in http://www.fao.org/kids/en/forestry.html with an emphasis on plant, and specifically many contexts. This leads to positive results www.fao.org/forestry/site/fra timber, species. not materializing and rural farmers being An electronic version of this document is faced with failed crops, or it is found that the Le Koko ou Mfumbu (Gnétacées) Une plante available from our NWFP home page technology applied is not appropriate to the alimentaire d'Afrique centrale (www.fao.org/forestry/40716/en/). A hard particular situation. Chevalier (1951) fait remarquer qu'en 1950, copy will shortly be available free of charge There have been successes, this is true; son attention fut attirée par un produit from FAO’s NWFP Programme at the however, a careful reading of the case végétal vendu toute l'année sur les marchés address on the first page or by sending an e- studies contained in the manual will prompt de Bangui et connu des peuplades de la mail to: [email protected] readers to pause and reflect. In some cases, sous-région d'Afrique centrale sous le nom the fine balance between wild foods and de «Koko» ou «Mfumbu». Au Nigéria, il est Pipeline publications cultivated local varieties offers better appelé «Okasi» et a été décrit par les • A new title – Bees and their role in forest solutions for local contexts and the botanistes qui l'ont classé dans le genre livelihoods. A guide to the services introduction of new technologies may disturb Gnetumt dans la famille des Gnétacées qui provided by bees and the sustainable the equilibrium. comprend une trentaine d'espèces harvesting, processing and marketing of The manual is available online at: localisées dans les forêts tropicales their products – will shortly be added to www.fao.org/sd/dim_pe1/pe1_060302_en.htm d'Afrique, d'Amérique et d'Asie. our NWFP series. Extracts from this Les deux espèces africaines (Gnetum publication, which has been authored by FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: africanum et Gnetum buchholzianum) sont Nicola Bradbear, are included in the Regina Laub, Gender and Natural Resources de petites lianes de sous-bois à feuilles Special Features of this issue (please Management Officer, FAO, Viale delle Terme comestibles. Elles constituent une source see pages 5, 6 and 7). di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. très appréciable de protéines et de sels • Another new title planned for our NWFP E-mail: [email protected] minéraux et sont commercialisées par les series is Fruit trees and useful plants in femmes durant toute l'année sur les the lives of Amazonians. It is scheduled Microfinance and forest-based small-scale marchés d'Afrique centrale. Elles font to be published later this year and will be enterprises également l'objet d'échanges a beautifully illustrated joint publication Microfinance and forest-based small-scale transfrontaliers en Afrique et sont exportées by FAO and the Center for International enterprises (FAO Forestry Paper 146) is now dans les pays européens. Les spécialités à Forestry Research (CIFOR). available online in English, French, Spanish base des feuilles de «Koko» jouent un rôle and Arabic from the FAO Forestry qui va au-delà de leur utilisation alimentaire. Department Web site at the following Les populations d'Afrique centrale OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS addresses: expriment leur identité culturelle à travers la www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0226e/a0226e00.htm consommation de ces plats. Building on www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0226f/a0226f00.htm Cet ouvrage donne des renseignements gender, www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0226s/a0226s00.htm précieux sur la biologie de la plante, les agrobiodiversity www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0226a/a0226a00.htm possibilités de sa domestication, son intérêt and local alimentaire, et la commercialisation de ses knowledge. A Natural Inquirer feuilles en Afrique et en Europe. training manual The Natural Inquirer is an integrated science Mialoundama, Fidèle. 2007. Le Koko ou This training education journal for students aged from 11 Mfumbu (Gnétacées). Une plante alimentaire manual is a to 14. A recent issue (Vol. XI/No. 1) focused d'Afrique centrale. Paris, L'Harmattan. p publication by on the world’s forests and was prepared in the Gender, collaboration with the FAO Forestry biodiversity and local knowledge systems Department. It presents the results of FAO’s for food security (LinKS) project (see also worldwide effort to understand the world’s Non-Wood News, 8). It is based on forests – the Global Forest Resources There are perhaps no days of our experiences collected in numerous training Assessment 2005, which contains childhood we lived so fully as those workshops carried out under the FAO- information from 229 countries and we spent with a favourite book. LinKS project in eastern and southern territories around the world. Marcel Proust Africa. The manual constitutes a The journal can be downloaded from: conceptual guide for trainers that can be www.fao.org/forestry/site/fra/en

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 74 WEB SITES

health and protect our communities. What the world eats www.forestera.nau.edu/index.htm www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307, FAO’S NWFP HOME PAGE 1626519,00.html Forests and trees for healthy cities. Our Web site is gradually being updated Improving livelihoods and environment for all Wildlife focus webcam and new features added. We invite you Trees and forests are an essential part of Webcam in the Forest, the “Puro” webcam, to visit: urban development, contributing to healthy shows streaming wildlife footage from the • the “Readers’ Research” page, which cities for healthy people. The green healthy city breathtaking and remote tropical forest of includes new articles on NWFP activities will be an integrated element of ecosystem, Fundación Jocotoco’s Buenaventura in Bangladesh, Pakistan, the United landscape and watershed management, Reserve, Ecuador. Republic of Tanzania, Cameroon and resulting in better protection of the city against www.wildlifefocus.org/ many more (www.fao.org/forestry/ floods and landslides, and reduction of site/35667/en); damage to roads and building infrastructure. Wild mushroom identification and truffle • the latest and all past issues of the This will also improve livelihoods, and preserve hunting device NWFP Digest; bibliography page human lives and health. Urbanization must be WildMushroomsOnline.co.uk has recently (www.fao.org/forestry/site/13467/en); linked to the development of productive cities launched a service for anyone who has a • the updated “Other NWFP links” that support livelihoods and generate income passion for wild mushrooms. This site has (www.fao.org/forestry/site/12979/en); for all population levels, while facing the been created to assist newcomers to wild • our ever-expanding “NWFP challenges of environmental sustainability. mushrooms and also, hopefully, provide bibliography” page (www.fao.org/ This new Web site is an “interactive online some useful information for others who are forestry/site/13467/en). community” on urban and peri-urban similarly passionate about the subject. Please help us make this a rich forestry (UPF) with the goal of promoting People are encouraged to e-mail their wild resource by continuing to send us (non- UPF, taking into account the specific needs mushroom finds to the site's editor and he will [email protected]) your NWFP Web for poverty alleviation, food security, perform an online identification. He obviously sites, citations of any publications that livelihood improvement and sustainable urges extreme caution to anyone intending to we are missing, as well as any research land and forest management in developing eat their finds, since wild mushrooms can kill that you would like to share. countries and countries in transition. if the wrong types are eaten. www.fao.org/forestry/site/6367/en The site, which is available in English, The site also contains latest news and French and Spanish, aims to facilitate a wide recipes on cooking wild mushrooms. In the and open network to reinforce dynamics future it will contain a section on a step-by- among sectors, disciplines and institutions step guide to cultivating your own wild concerned. It supports an open dialogue and mushrooms. (Source: PR-USA.net [press exchange of information and expertise to reach release], [Varna, Bulgaria].) an optimum integration of trees and forests in www.wildmushroomsonline.co.uk and around the cities of today and tomorrow. http://km.fao.org/urbanforestry XIIIth World Forestry Congress 2009 www.wfc2009.org/800/index_800.html International Association for NWFP-DIGEST-L Mediterranean Forests Charles Darwin – complete works www.aifm.org The Digest is a free monthly e-bulletin The complete works of Charles Darwin are produced by FAO’s NWFP Programme now available online. This is the largest Photos and covers all aspects of non-wood forest ever publication of Darwin papers and New photos of plants from reader Pankaj products. Past issues can be found on manuscripts, totalling about 20 000 items Oudhia are available from the Discoverlife FAO’s NWFP home page at in nearly 90 000 electronic images database. www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en http://darwin-online.org.uk/ www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_PAO/ You can take part in contributing to manuscriptsBrowse.html 0000 the continued success of this newsletter by sharing with the NWFP community Edible insects Special Programme for Food Security any news that you may have regarding www.eatbug.com/ The Special Programme for Food Security research, events, publications and (SPFS) helps governments replicate projects. Kindly send such information Encyclopedia of Life successful food security practices on a to [email protected] Excellent for checking scientific names of national scale. SPFS also encourages To subscribe: send an e-mail to: species. investment in rural infrastructure, off-farm [email protected], with the www.eol.org/index income generation, urban agriculture and message: subscribe NWFP-Digest-L; or safety nets. through the NWFP Programme’s home ForestERA Since 1995, US$770 million from donors page at A collaborative process that views forest and national governments have been invested www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en p ecosystems from a landscape perspective in FAO-designed food security programmes. to discover better ways to restore their www.fao.org/spfs/

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 READERS’ RESPONSE 75

harvesting or sourcing plan that clearly shows information on a wide variety of NWFPs and nature is not diminished. This will need to be related issues. The layout makes it a pleasure CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-WOOD NEWS supported/signed off by competent experts. to read through the wealth of information The fair trade brand appears to be presented. I can imagine what a huge amount A strong characteristic of Non-Wood inadequate. State agencies differ throughout of work this has been, and wanted to say News is that it is open to contributions the world in attitude, varying from a total ban thanks very much, it's highly appreciated! from readers. Should you have any which leads to illegal/uncontrolled harvesting (Reader in the United Kingdom) interesting material on any aspect of to zero control. NWFPs that could be of benefit to all I believe the Canadian Government has I enjoyed reading it and I am looking forward our readers, please do not hesitate to brought in a licensing system whereby to receiving further issues. submit it. Articles are welcomed in contractors engaged in harvesting species (Reader in Germany) English, French and Spanish and should such as salal from the forests must undergo a be between 200 and 500 words. training programme and are allocated Non-Wood News is a valuable source of Networking is an important aspect of specific areas. This is perhaps the correct way information for our staff. our work and, consequently, each as it enlightens contractors to the fact that (University librarian in the Philippines) article should be accompanied by a sustainable harvesting is in their interests as complete mailing address/e-mail; this much as it is to everyone else. ... Non-Wood News which I receive regularly will enable readers to make contact We are very interested in aromatic foliages and read from cover to cover. should they require further information. – both tropical and temperate and would like (Reader from the United States) The deadline for contributions for to make contact with agencies/persons – Non-Wood News 18 is 31 October 2008. especially from Africa. You are doing a great work and I would like to There is huge potential to develop this share it also with our colleagues in the region For more information, please contact: sector in a sustainable manner provided working on NTFPs. Tina Etherington at the address on the proper research is done in terms of (Reader in the Lao People’s Democratic front page or by e-mail to non-wood- management. Republic) [email protected] (Jim Costello, [email protected]) I don't know how you keep track of all the Comments received stuff that you manage to jam into each issue I have received the two Non-Wood News of but we keep these around our lab. and they Cherukat Chandrasekharan July 2007 and January 2008. I have not known get read by students and visitors and certainly I read the obituary of Dr Cherukat before that there is such a very good NWFP at the end of the day are more practical use Chandrasekharan published in the last issue bulletin, I am very happy and feel honoured to than an awful lot of expensive scientific of Non-Wood News. The comment receive them. NWFPs, especially in tropical research that is supposed to be top drawer “notwithstanding his ill health, he maintained rain forests, are much bigger than WFPs. For but is frankly too inaccessible. his professional interest and commitment” the case of Indonesia, where most of the (Reader in Hawaii) touched me very much, since I am a forests are degraded, those NWFPs are our beneficiary of his said attitude. He was kind most possible hope to sustain the forests and I read the January 2008 issue of Non-Wood enough to me to write the foreword of our their economy. News. It is such a fascinating magazine. I was recently released book Medicinal plant (Reader in Indonesia) much absorbed reading fascinating stories of resources of Kerala – towards harnessing its people from different countries of the world, potential, in spite of his illness. I am very grateful for your magazine that you including my own country, when they wrote (P.J. Matthew, Tropical Botanic Garden and are sending me for many years now. It makes elucidating how they utilize NWFPs to (a) Research Institute, 695562 Kerala, India.) very good reading material and has many build their homes; (b) supplement their diets; ideas that are simple and easy adaptable. (c) boost their economic status; (d) try to heal Request for information: foliage I share the magazine with friends and we patients with most difficult diseases to treat I was wondering if there is any information discuss and put into practice a number of such as HIV/AIDS. available on the environmental impact of ideas over the years. Thank you again! (Reader from Malawi) pistache harvesting for foliage in woods (Reader from the United Republic of Tanzania) along the Mediterranean basin? As a Thank you very much for the newsletter! ... I forester, I would not be happy with the very Also, we found your bulletin very informative enjoy looking through the articles. It's an crude way in which I observed foliage being and newsworthy. amazingly useful source of information ... removed; it is like cutting out olive tree (Reader from Singapore) (Reader in the United Kingdom) branches just to get olives. However, it is a very good foliage product and would be of I find the bulletin excellent. I've just discovered your organization via an interest to United Kingdom customers, (Reader from Ireland) agroforestry Web site. Please put this library provided there is traceability and no on your mailing list to receive the Non-Wood damage to nature. Non-Wood News – fantastic as ever! Just a News magazine. It appears to fit a niche that Sustainability is rightly becoming a big brief note to say congratulations on another we have never filled in our collection of issue around NWFPs – especially foliage great issue of Non-Wood News. As ever, it's periodicals. Thank you very much! harvesting. Many of our customers seek a packed full of loads of interesting and useful (Librarian, United States) p

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 17 July 2008 Bees and forest livelihoods © Ole Hertz © Ole © Nicola Bradbear © Nicola © Nicola Bradbear © Nicola © Ole Hertz © Ole © Nicola Bradbear© Nicola Hertz © Ole

Beekeeping is a sustainable way for local people around the world to generate income from forests. Beekeepers may have many hives distributed throughout the forest or alternatively they may harvest honey from wild nests of bees. Honey and beeswax are the main products harvested from bees. Honey is a source of high-carbohydrate food, adding nutritional variety to human diets; in many countries, it is regarded more as a medicine or special tonic rather than as an every-day food. Honey and beeswax can be used in the manufacture of many secondary products, such as honey wine or beer, sweets, soaps, cosmetics, candles and a multitude of other value-added products.

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