Nonwoodnews21.qxd:Nonwoodnews21 28/09/10 17:01 Pagina 1 ISSN 1020-3435 Annon-woodnon-wood information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products OCTOBER 2010 21

EDITORIAL

The editorial for this issue of Non-Wood News has been written by Gillian Allard, Forestry Officer (Forest Protection and Health), who is FAO’s expert on forest pests.

My first experience of insects as a food source was not a comfortable one and has perhaps marked my own non-preference for eating cold-blooded invertebrates. At a tender age, my right of passage to join my brother and friends in their games was to eat caterpillars that had been sliced into colour-coded CONTENTS portions – black and yellow, species did not matter. What did matter is that I was very unwell for some days afterwards, and still was not allowed to play with 3 Guest Article the boys! % A community approach to forest Of the known 1 700 edible insect species I, of course, had eaten a non-edible conservation and sustainable one that feeds off a poisonous plant. As an entomologist, I now know that bright development: the NTFP-EP colours are a warning of unpalatability to predators – not least of all human experience ones – and that not all insects are edible! Subsequently, my career has taken me to several countries where edible insects form the acceptable staple protein diet source. 4 Special Features % Edible insects are an important NWFP and are the focus of the Special Feature Edible insects in this issue of Non-Wood News. The articles included report on the contribution • The contribution of edible forest of edible insects to human nutrition, “insect-tasting sessions”, and the insects to human nutrition importance of combining traditional knowledge with modern science. The back • Nigerian researchers explore cover of the issue covers the same theme and highlights the role of edible nutritional value of local insects insects around the world. • Insects proving food for thought In many countries, edible insects are regarded both as delicacies and • Scientists “grow” edible insects in subsistence food, and not just in times of food insecurity. Children, in fact, are Costa Rica encouraged from a very early age to enjoy both live and cooked insects and to • Author holds “insect-tasting collect them from the forest during peak harvest times. Families move into sessions” across Japan temporary shelters to be close to insect food sources and some even damage • Critter cuisine could feed a nation trees and palms to create a suitable environment for their preferred insect. • Combining traditional knowledge The majority of countries in Asia, Africa and South America have ingrained and approaches with modern knowledge passed on through the generations about the most nutritious insects, science and understanding and cultural tradition eliminates the need to disguise what is being eaten. • Edible insect taste test: from ant This is far removed from Europe and North America where edible insects have candy to bacon and cheese cricket recently received media interest, mainly as a result of the craze for bizarre • Governor in the southern Russian gourmet foods served with the slight shudder factor; reality TV programmes thrive Federation hopes to make a on celebrities having to eat live insects on camera. Chocolate-coated ants and delicacy of locusts mealworm-covered toffee apples are some of the gourmet delights available and • Bugalicious: chefs mix it up for many restaurants serve insects to tickle the taste buds at hugely inflated prices. adventurous diners with worms, ants and scorpions NON-WOOD NEWS % Medicinal plants and herbs is compiled and coordinated by Tina Etherington, Forest Products Service of the FAO Forest Economics, Policy and • Helping African farmers to help Products Division. For this issue, editing support was provided by Giulia Muir; copy and language editing by Roberta themselves Mitchell, Anouchka Lazarev and Deliana Fanego; design, graphics and desktop publishing by Claudia Tonini. • Vets turn to African herbs as animal 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. drugs stop working If you have any material that could be included in the next issue of Non-Wood News for the benefit of other readers, • Application of ISSC-MAP for kindly send it, before 15 January 2011, to: NON-WOOD NEWS – FOEI Cambodian plants FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla • Recognition of traditional medicine 00153 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] by governments www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/nonwood.htm FAO home page: www.fao.org All Internet links cited were checked on 14 September 2010. 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. Nonwoodnews21.qxd:Nonwoodnews21 28/09/10 17:01 Pagina 2

Introducing insects into the European diet is, however, not new and they were frequently mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman literature. In addition, in the United Kingdom in Victorian times, during a period of economic recession, insects were promoted as healthier options to pork, since they feed only on vegetable matter. In this issue’s Special Features, one of the authors is proposing that the protein from insects be disguised as a tofu-like substance, to remove some of the horror factor, to feed us in times of global recession. This is considered an economic proposition since producing 1 kg of protein from a cow requires 13 kg of vegetable matter, while only 1.5–2 kg of fodder is needed for 1 kg of insect protein. Whatever your own food preferences are, you probably have already inadvertently consumed foods and drinks that include insect-based products, such as the natural food colouring derived from the cochineal insect (labelled E120). Please remember that not all insects are edible. Insects are a critical component of biodiversity, but at the same time can provide a valuable protein source for many people of the world and their animals.

• Ginseng: a highly valued herb % Forests may depend on survival of 61 Econook • Picrorhiza kurrooa, an endangered local communities % ACTO debate action plan to protect medicinal plant offering high % Jeweller creates rings embedded with biodiversity commercial potential in the live plants % China, Nepal reach historic Himalayas % Networks emerge as key actors in biodiversity agreement • Heliotropium foertherianum: is the community forestry % Ecologists unveil plan for “barometer octopus bush a solution to fish % Non-profit organizations and NGOs of life” poisoning? • Amazon Watch % Extinction of seed dispersers threat to • Unlocking keys to herbal medicines • American Botanical Council, United forests and forest communities • Institutes complete first gene map States of America % “Rewilding” the world: a bright spot of Chinese medicinal plant • Keystone, India for biodiversity % Protecting rain forests shown to % The keys to forest conservation 14 News and Notes reduce poverty % Biomonitoring: bees help monitor air % The relationship between indigenous 64 International Action quality at German airports people and forests % FAO, CITES % Bioprospecting/benefit-sharing or % The sticky truth: weighing the sugar biopiracy? alternatives 68 Recent and Forthcoming Events • Africa considers equitable access to % Tree products: a resource base for 71 Publications of Interest genetic resources sustainable agriculture • Denmark to help Africa fight % Underutilized foods and nutritional 74 Web Sites biopiracy indicators for biodiversity 75 Readers’ Response • Tensions remain over biological access protocol 22 Products and Markets • Iniciativa andino-amazónica de % Agarwood, Bamboo, Berries, prevención de la biopiratería Bushmeat, Carissa, Cork, Ferns, % Companies fund projects to preserve Frankincense, Honey and bee Amazon rain forest products, Maple syrup, Maya nut, % Congo Basin forests at a “critical Moringa oleifera, Mushrooms, Palms, Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are goods of turning point” Rattan, Saffron, Sea buckthorn, Shea biological origin other than wood, derived from % Forest Footprint Disclosure Annual nut, Stevia, Truffles, Wattle, Wildlife forests, other wooded land and trees outside Review forests. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), 41 Country Compass another term frequently used to cover this vast % Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, array of animal and plant products, also include Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei small wood and fuelwood. However, these two Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, terms are used synonymously throughout this Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, bulletin. Other terms, such as “minor”, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Liberia, “secondary” or “speciality” forest products, are Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, sometimes used to keep original names and/or titles. The mention of specific companies or Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, products of manufacturers, whether or not these Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, have been patented, does not imply that these Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, preference to others of a similar nature that are United States of America, Viet Nam, not mentioned. Zambia

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 GUEST ARTICLE 3

A COMMUNITY community-to-community visits, regional Conclusions APPROACH TO FOREST workshops and internships. Finally, direct One term used within the EP network is CONSERVATION support is offered by staff and experts “looking at the forest from an indigenous %AND SUSTAINABLE affiliated with the NTFP-EP, by means of community perspective”. And indeed, those DEVELOPMENT: technical advice or even linking communities NTFP-collecting communities with an THE NTFP-EP EXPERIENCE up with promising trade contracts, centres of immediate stake in keeping the forest and expertise, the media and policy-makers. its resources intact potentially constitute a The Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange considerable pro-conservation force. It is Programme (NTFP-EP) for South and Case study my wish, therefore, that now at last – in the Southeast Asia has been working for over a Honey is a useful example to demonstrate International Year of Biodiversity and with decade in seven countries (Philippines, the essence of the NTFP-EP approach. Wild- Asia’s forests under pressure as never Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Viet Nam, gathered forest honey, primarily produced by before – this so far largely untapped India and Bangladesh) in support of local – the bee species Apis dorsata, has long been potential be fully recognized. mostly indigenous – communities that a much sought-after delicacy throughout depend on non-timber resources from Asia. However, consumers are concerned Lessons learned forests for their livelihoods. with quality issues such as, for example, To conclude, important generic lessons This steadily expanding network of adulteration of the product with sugar and learned while working with NTFP collectors community organizations and support NGOs is water or with low-quality A. mellifera honey, in the region and recommendations driven by local demand and aims at which is rampant. Therefore, the prices that subsequently made include the following. strengthening the capacity of forest-based consumers are willing to pay are rather low. • Aim for a holistic approach and from the communities to use sustainably and manage a Furthermore, the resource base and start address livelihood, conservation broad range of NTFPs. These products include, supplies are under threat because of forest and sustainable management among many others, wild fruits, tree resins and degradation and conversion and often few, if simultaneously, together with issues gums, materials for crafts and forest honey. any, government services are available to regarding land tenure. At the same time, Furthermore, the network and its assist honey collectors. enhance institutions and the cultural secretariat play a significant role as In order to address this situation, starting integrity of the communities. catalyst and facilitator in two overarching in the late 1990s, several pilot schemes were • Do not try to force quick fixes; instead, fields. The first involves enhancing initiated with forest honey collector groups ensure a long-term commitment over livelihood security by improving local cash within the NTFP-EP network. In recent years, extended periods. income – through enterprise development, these schemes have grown into full maturity • Ensure that the communities’ processing and marketing of promising and have expanded well beyond the original aspirations and concerns are always fully NTFPs – and improving subsistence sites. Sustainable harvesting practices have incorporated. It is also important that the economies based on foods from the forest. been commonly accepted, while – through the venture primarily is – and remains – the The second focuses on sustainably introduction of improved hygienic handling community’s own initiative. managing forest resources, community techniques – acceptable high-quality • The eventual self-reliance of the forest conservation and rehabilitation, as standards are now achieved region-wide. grassroots partners involved requires well as issues related to land tenure. Furthermore, network partners take pride in finding simple and culturally In function of the above-mentioned topics, guaranteeing the purity of their products. appropriate solutions. ample attention is given to a number of other Strict internal rules have been established to • Empower community organizations by initiatives, such as strengthening community- this end, while traceability of the source of providing them with direct links to based institutions, fostering dialogue on NTFP- origin has been made relatively easy. quality expertise, trade contacts and related policies with relevant government As a result, but also helped by extensive policy-makers. In other words, avoid agencies, as well as advocacy, media work and free publicity in local media, markets have becoming a gatekeeper! lobbying directed at restricting destructive opened up and income derived from honey This handful of guidelines may sound all developments. Among these initiatives is a and wax collection has, in many cases, too obvious. However, go to the field and topic that today is receiving more focused increased significantly (please see listen around. You will discover that such attention: working to articulate positive cultural Sundarban honey wisdom on page 42). seemingly simple basic points still very much values – in particular those related to good In addition, organized honey collectors play need to be implemented on the ground. forest stewardship – since experience has an increasingly active role in forest conservation. (Contributed by: Jenne de Beer, Non-Timber shown that conservation efforts are most Since it is a basic fact that bees cannot produce Forest Products Exchange Programme effective where they concern communities with good honey without numerous flowering trees, (NTFP-EP), 92-A Masikap Extension, largely intact cultures or with an explicit desire suitable host trees for their hives, adequate Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City 1100, to revitalize or strengthen cultural integrity. water supplies and a large enough forest to Philippines. Fax: +63 2 426 2757; e-mail: Support is provided primarily through support seasonal migration patterns, honey [email protected]) three types of interventions. The first entails harvesters are in the front line for promoting “information provision”, such as conservation of intact and biodiverse forests. In Mr de Beer is the former Executive Director documenting best practices and lessons Indonesia, for example, this point was forcefully of NTFP-EP and is currently International learned through illustrated booklets, films, stressed by senior officials during the 2008 Society of Ethnobiology (ISE)/Darrell Posey posters, etc. The second involves exchanging national workshop “Forest honey and forest Field Fellow for Ethnoecology and expertise and experiences through conservation: what is the link?” Traditional Resource Rights.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 4 SPECIAL FEATURES

%EDIBLE INSECTS traditional medicine, anthropology, protein deficit. Gram for gram, insects agriculture and livestock raising. often contain more protein and minerals The contribution of edible forest insects Contributions from these allied disciplines than meat. In fact, nutritionists represent to human nutrition are exceptionally important to the leading group of researchers in food Wherever forest insects are part of the understanding the past and present roles, insects, motivated by a desire to remedy human diet, they have generally been as well as to the future potential of food the problems associated with protein- collected from the wild. In most cases, insects. deficient diets. (Source: D.V. Johnson. 2010. minimal management of forest vegetation The lack of any one institution in the The contribution of edible forest insects to has been practised in association with the world with a strong research focus on human nutrition and to forest exploitation of forest insects, and actual edible insects is an impediment to management. In Edible forest insects. domestication of insects thus far has been conducting research on the subject. Humans bite back! 2010. Rome, FAO.) limited to only a few species such as Relevant information is scattered far and silkworms and bees. The most commonly wide among a variety of books and articles FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: eaten insect forms are larvae and pupae, from different university departments and Mr Dennis V. Johnson, 3726 Middlebrook Ave, usually with little or no processing of the research facilities. Cincinnati OH 45208, United States of America. insects before they are consumed. Worldwide, nearly 1 700 insect species E-mail: [email protected] As an academic discipline, entomophagy are reported to be used as human food. (the human consumption of insects) is Four insect orders predominate, in rank Nigerian researchers explore nutritional necessarily interdisciplinary, with sequence: Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, value of local insects relationships to several different Orthoptera and Lepidoptera, accounting for Nigerian researchers have confirmed that recognized fields of scientific study. While 80 percent of the species eaten. insects are indeed a good source of protein entomology is the core related discipline, Edible forest insects represent rich and other nutrients. They have found that edible forest insects are also closely linked sources of protein for improvement of the edible insects constitute an important part to the fields of forestry, human nutrition human diet, especially for individuals of the daily diet of a large proportion of the (including famine food and ritual food), suffering from poor nutrition because of a population in southwestern Nigeria. According to a study published in the African Journal of Biotechnology, these Number of edible insect species reported in the world insects provide a high quality of proteins and Order Common English name Number of species supplements (minerals and vitamins) even when dried. A.D. Banjo, O.A. Lawal and E.A. Coleoptera Beetles 468 Songonuga of the Department of Biological Hymenoptera Ants, bees, wasps 351 Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Orthoptera Grasshoppers, cockroaches, crickets 267 Iwoye, Ogun State (Nigeria) have written that Lepidoptera Butterflies, moths (silkworms) 253 “the consumption of non-toxic insects, Hemiptera True bugs 102 therefore, should be encouraged. Insects Homoptera Cicadas, leafhoppers, mealybugs 78 are traditional foods in most cultures, playing an important role in human nutrition Isoptera Termites 61 and have many nutrients to offer. They can Diptera Flies, mosquitoes 34 be reared for their high nutritional qualities Odonata Dragonflies 29 and sold to the populace that regards them Ephemeroptera Mayflies 19 as delicacies. Some of the most sought- Trichoptera Caddis flies 10 after species, especially those with high Neuroptera Dobson flies 5 nutritional content, ought to be cultivated Anoplura Lice 3 with modern techniques to increase their Thysanura Silverfish 1 commercial values and availability.” The study is entitled: The nutritional Total 1 681 value of 14 species of edible insects in southwestern Nigeria. According to the Number of edible insects per continent and number of consumer countries study, commonly eaten insects in Nigeria are termites (winged adults, queen), Continent Number of Percentage of total Number of species recorded consuming countries Macrotermes bellicosus/Macrotermes notalensis, esusu in Yoruba and aku in Ibo; Asia 349 20 29 adult crickets (Brachytrypes spp.), ire in Australia 152 9 14 Yoruba; grasshoppers (Zonocerus Africa 524 30 36 variegates), tata in Yoruba and abuzu in Ibo; Americas 679 39 23 adult short-horned grasshoppers Europe 41 2 11 (Cytacanthacris naeruginosus unicolor), Total 1 745* 100 113 tata in Yoruba and ukpana in Ibo; rhinoceros beetle larvae (Analeptes * The world total is actually 1 681; some species occur in more than one continent, hence the higher total. trifasciata), ipe in Yoruba and ebe in Ibo;

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIAL FEATURES 5

scarab beetle larvae (Oryctes boas), vegetable matter as feed. Yet 1 kg of meat ogongo in Yoruba; snout beetle larvae from a cricket, locust or beetle needs just (Rhynchophorus phoenicis), munimuni in 1.5 to 2 kg of fodder and produces a

Yoruba; eggs, larvae and pupae of honey fraction of the CO2 emissions. The maths bees (Apis mellifera), oyin in Yoruba and are quite simple. On average, in the West, anwu in Ibo; and larvae of caterpillars we eat 120 kg of meat per person. China is (Anaphe spp.), ekuku in Yoruba. currently at 80 kg per head and catching us The researchers analysed 17 species of up fast.” edible insects representing nine families “If five billion people eat 100 kg of beef Scientists “grow” edible insects from southwestern Nigeria for nutrient or pork, then we’ll need to grow an average in Costa Rica composition. They include the orders of of 6.5 trillion kg of fodder per year. There The day when restaurants will serve garlic Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, just isn’t enough space or nutrients in the grasshoppers or beetle larva skewers is Hymenoptera and Isoptera. Analeptes earth to support that and the poorest getting closer in Costa Rica, where scientists trifasciata, Rhynchophorus phoenicis and people will simply starve to death,” he said. are “growing” insects for human Zonocerus variegates have the highest “The good news is that, not only do consumption. Entomologist Manuel crude protein content (29.62, 28.42 and 26.8 insects require less food to farm, you also Zumbado’s research into this alternative food percent, respectively). don’t have to eat as much to survive, as source is inspired by practices in Africa, where Hundreds of insect species have been they are an extremely good source of insects have long been part of people’s diet. used as human food; some of the more protein and vitamins,” added van Huis. With its rain forests playing host to important groups include grasshoppers, Thailand has 15 000 household cricket countless insect species, including thousands caterpillars, beetle grubs and sometimes farms bred for human consumption. In that have yet to be identified, Costa Rica is a adults, winged termites (some of which are southern Africa, the Mopane worm perfect breeding ground for the work. From very large in the tropics), bees, wasps and industry is worth USD85 million and is an leaf-cutting ants to rhinoceros beetles and a ant broods (larvae and pupae), as well as important source of protein for the dizzying flurry of butterflies, the Central winged ants, cicadas and a variety of indigenous population. The insects are American nation is also a haven of aquatic insects. Insects are not normally harvested from the Mopane trees that they ecotourism. But is it the next hotbed of used as emergency food during shortages, use as their habitat. mouth-watering bugs? The food but are included as a planned part of the In the Netherlands, insect-rearing diversification programme at the National diet throughout the year, or when companies are already in business; Biodiversity Institute in Santo Domingo de seasonally available. typically, they tend to breed large beetles, Heredia, a small city close to the capital San The researchers concluded that “this crickets and locusts. Locusts have to be José, looks into indigenous insect species. study revealed that some of the insects farmed at 30 degrees, so this may be the But it also examines mushrooms, inspired by which are pests also have high nutritional main reason why insects are not eaten in their importance in diets in the Himalayan qualities”. (Source: www.ngrguardiannews. the Western world to the same extent. kingdom of Bhutan. At the institute, Costa com [Nigeria], 14 April 2010.) However, Professor van Huis said that the Rican scientists mingle with Bhutan mycology most common misconception is that insects expert Ugyen Yangchen and Elisabeth are not tasty. “Because of the mild climate, Zannou, an entomologist from Benin. we’re just not culturally used to eating insects “Benin knows a lot about insect but, if they’re cooked correctly, they can be consumption and Bhutan about eating delicious. Really, there’s no credible reason mushrooms, while Costa Rica is bringing against eating them, taste-wise and its experience in managing biodiversity,” nutritionally, there’s no difference between Marianella Feoli, who manages the Insects proving food for thought insect meat and that from birds, fish or foundation coordinating the research An insect summit is aiming to revolutionize mammals,” he said. “But in an attempt to programme, told AFP. the way we think about bugs as a combat the developed world’s In Benin, termites, grasshoppers and sustainable source of food. It is estimated squeamishness, we’re looking at ways of crickets, as well as butterfly and moth that 80 percent of the world’s population grinding the meat into some sort of patty, larvae, are a common part of people’s diet, include some sort of insect in their diets. which would be more recognizable to Western explained Zumbado, who travelled with his Yet, in the West, the idea is confined to palates. It’s also possible, although not yet colleagues to explore the phenomenon in reality TV shows. commercially viable, to extract the protein, the coastal country. “In other countries, The Royal Entomology Society and produce a kind of meat substitute, similar gourmet restaurants serve insects,” he Conference taking place at Swansea to the Quorn products we’re already used to.” noted. “In the beginning, people thought we University (United Kingdom) from 26 to 28 On health grounds, Professor van Huis were a bit crazy, but I think this is an July will hear that insect protein may be warns against going down The Good Life alternative, not only as a survival food, but key to alleviating famine. route, and harvesting your own bugs in the also as a cultural concept.” One man is on a mission to give us a back garden. Esperanzas, a large grasshopper taste for creepy-crawlies. Professor Arnold Swansea University was chosen to host species with long antennae that abounds in van Huis from Wageningen University in the summit in recognition of its ground- Costa Rica’s forests and rural areas is “far Belgium said: “Producing a kilogram of breaking work in the field. (Source: BBC more savoury than shrimp” when seasoned meat from a cow requires 13 kg of News Online, 27 July 2010.) with garlic, according to the researcher.

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Zumbado should know – he has consumed Critter cuisine could feed a nation She now receives advice and equipment scores of insects during his travels in Costa Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. from FAO to help with her cricket farming. Rica and Benin. After a hard day’s work, Bounpheng Wattana One of the attractions of insect farming As part of his efforts to convince a and his friends like nothing better with a cold is its simplicity, Bounthavy sceptical public not particularly enthused beer than a mouthful of creepy-crawlies. In Sisouphanthong, Vice-Minister of Planning at the thought of munching on crunchy his opinion, insects are the ultimate organic and Investment, told Integrated Regional creepy-crawlies, the entomologist food. “These are local and natural foods from Information Networks (IRIN). “You don’t suggested first adding insect delicacies to our country,” said Bounpheng “so Lao people need to have lots of land, you don’t need the menus of the best restaurants in town. like this kind of food because there are no lots of equipment and you don’t need that (Source: AFP, 3 February 2010.) chemicals”. much knowledge, and then you can make a While tasty critters may be a popular city business,” he said. snack, investing in sustainable insect Insect farming can be a lucrative farming and promoting the benefits of bug- venture. Neighbouring Thailand cannot gobbling could form part of the answer to satisfy its growing demand for insects and alleviating chronic malnutrition in the Lao already imports from countries including People’s Democratic Republic, said Cambodia and Myanmar. Vonglokham Phouvanh from FAO. “Insects Serge Verniau, FAO’s representative in can provide a good source of protein, fats, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Author holds “insect-tasting sessions” carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins and other thinks insects could play a part in tackling across Japan minerals – this is an essential part of world poverty. “The vision of FAO is not just Green ants, hornet larvae and silkworm human nutrition,” he said. to reduce chronic malnutrition in the pupae were on the menu at Shoichi A 2007 World Food Programme report country, which is of course the core Uchiyama’s most recent insect-tasting estimated that about 40 percent of children objective, but also to feed the grand event, held at a café in the Asagaya district were malnourished or stunted, one of the metropolises in the future, from Calcutta to of Tokyo on 8 June. And the events are worst rates in Southeast Asia, while the Shanghai and even New York to Rome. This becoming so popular, he said, that he has a UNDP Human Development Report 2009 great food source is also environmentally waiting list for future insect buffets. indicates that 40 percent of Lao children friendly to produce and needs much less “I first tried this four years ago, but I have under five are underweight. energy and space than conventional meats,” had to increase the frequency to less than Promoting insects could help alleviate Verniau said. (Source: IRIN, 14 June 2010.) one a month now because so many people the problem, and the potential is there – a want to take part,” he said. “Everyone who recent FAO survey found that more than 95 Combining traditional knowledge came already knew that we would be tasting percent of Lao people snack on critters. and approaches with modern science insects and even though some were a little There are about 1 700 edible insect species and understanding nervous at first, they soon got their courage worldwide but their nutritional benefits are In this fast-paced modern world, it is up and tried the dishes,” he said. “I think a relatively recent discovery. To capitalize sometimes easy to lose sight of valuable they really enjoyed them.” on this and ensure sustainability, FAO has a traditional knowledge and practices. There Around 1 000 species of insects from programme focused on the whole chain – is a tendency to think of traditional habits around the world are considered to be edible from bug breeding to commercialization and customs as outdated or primitive. Yet, and Mr Uchiyama has sampled most of and consumption. experience across numerous fields has them. He released a book of insect recipes highlighted the value and benefits to be in 2008 and traces his interest in insect gained from combining customary cuisine to his boyhood in the northern knowledge and approaches with modern prefecture of Nagano, where corner stores A video on FAO’s work with edible insects science and understanding. would sell bags of grasshoppers that had in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Such is the case with edible forest been cooked in sake, soy sauce and sugar. can be found at insects. The practice of eating insects goes Mr Uchiyama, 59, believes that insects can www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6jfcHwT5_w back thousands of years and has been be the healthy and nutritious answer to the documented in nearly every part of the world’s growing food shortages. To raise beef world. In modern times, however, cattle, he points out, takes vast areas of land consumption of insects has declined in and large amounts of fodder, while insects many societies and is sometimes ridiculed consume the things that humans will not Vankham Duangbutby started breeding as old-fashioned and unhealthy. Yet, it touch and can be raised in much smaller crickets from her home in the suburbs of would be prudent to consider carefully the spaces. It helps that they are very nutritionally Vientiane five years ago and soon realized value of customary knowledge before balanced and have little fat, he added. how profitable it could be. “At first I did a discarding it too readily. Scientific analysis Insects have been eaten for centuries, he little farming, just tried with two cylinders confirms, for example, the exceptional points out, with the Chinese fond of scorpions, of crickets. After we found it worked we nutritional benefits of many forest insects, huge spiders considered a delicacy in parts of continued to farm until we had 56 and studies point to the potential to South America and water bugs popular in cylinders. When we sell, on average, we produce insects for food with far fewer Thailand. (Source: The Daily Telegraph can earn one million kip [USD115] a negative environmental impacts than for [United Kingdom], 14 June 2010.) month,” Vankham said. many mainstream foods consumed today.

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Aside from their nutritional and Edible insect taste test: from ant candy environmental benefits, experts see to bacon and cheese cricket considerable opportunity for edible insects Many cultures across the globe incorporate to provide incomes and jobs for rural insects into their diets, both as a protein people who capture, rear, process, source and a means of enhancing taste. transport and market insects as food. While many Americans question the These prospects can be enhanced through practice, entomophagy (the practice of promotion and adoption of modern food eating insects) remains a legitimate part of technology standards to ensure that the food culture and an ancient human insects are safe and attractive for human tradition. Insect candy, ant candy and consumption. “crispy crickets” are now readily available Traditionally, most edible insects have even here in the United States of America Zhilkin suggested that locusts could be been harvested from natural forests, but through mail order. dried, salted, frozen and exported, or sold surprisingly little is known about the life Those looking for a fresher taste are to Thai or Chinese restaurants. cycles, population dynamics, commercial encouraged to visit the Audubon The official believes that this may be an and management potential of most edible Insectarium in New Orleans. Every day, the ingenious solution to the problem. forest insects. Among forest managers, museum’s Bug Appetit Café serves a slew (Source: RIA Novosti News Agency knowledge and appreciation of how to of treats, such as chocolate chip cookies [Russian Federation], 29 June 2010.) manage and harvest insects sustainably and garden herb dip – insect-infused, of are limited. However, traditional forest course. Jayme Necaise, the Insectarium’s Bugalicious: chefs mix it up for dwellers and forest-dependent people Director of animal and visitor programmes, adventurous diners with worms, ants often possess remarkable knowledge of says: “We offer a virtual bug buffet. It’s and scorpions the insects and their management, offering really a nice spread”. Toronto, Canada. Crickets have hopped excellent opportunities for modern science Last year, the Insectarium celebrated back on to the menu at Toronto’s Atlantic and traditional knowledge to work National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day restaurant. together. with a chocolate fountain and roasted Chef Nathan Isberg admits the deep- In an effort to explore more fully the crickets. “The crickets are roasted off- fried critters are a novelty. “Strange various facets of edible forest insects, the site,” says Necaise, “but we always hand- though it may seem to the ordinary FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific dip them right here”. Canadian palate, there are many people organized an international workshop, Visitors can sample dips such as wax who delight in platters of ants, scorpions, entitled “Forest Insects as Food: Humans worm mango chutney and mealworm salsa. worms and even bullfrogs – if they are Bite Back” in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in For a more authentic taste, insects can cooked just right.” February 2008. The workshop brought also be ordered online from Thailand Isberg says some diners may be turned together many of the world’s foremost Unique. The online “specialty gourmet food off by the squishy or crunchy delicacies. experts on entomophagy – the practice of store” offers insect “variety packs” with But for more adventurous types, he is eating insects. Specialists in the three-day bags of cooked and dehydrated happy to whip up dishes such as chilli-fried workshop focused specifically on the grasshoppers, weaver ants and dung crickets with greens, cricket-fried rice or science management, collection, harvest, beetles, as well as a pouch of mixed bugs, grilled crickets and jellyfish on a skewer. processing, marketing and consumption of with bamboo worms and silkworm larva. The insects were briefly swatted off the edible forest insects, as well as their (Source: Asylum online, 21 June 2010.) menu until an insurer recently gave the OK potential to be reared commercially by for their return. Isberg uses rosemary or local farmers. The edited proceedings of Governor in the southern Russian oregano to spice them up but admits that the Chiang Mai workshop have just been Federation hopes to make a delicacy he does not cook them every night since it published. It is hoped that the publication of locusts takes a while to raise them to the right will help to raise awareness of the The governor of the Astrakhan region in the size. “If people are particularly interested potential of edible forest insects as a food southern Russian Federation has proposed in it then I have them available, but they source, document the contribution of exporting locusts, killed to protect crops, to are pretty labour-intensive.” edible insects to rural livelihoods and Asian countries as a delicacy. Insects are more often served at special highlight linkages to sustainable forest Swarms of locusts have been attacking events rather than restaurants in Canada. management and conservation. (Source: crops in the region since 25 May. The But such cuisine is catching on at foreword to Edible forest insects. Humans regional government has declared a state authentic Mexican restaurants in the bite back! Rome, FAO, 2010.) of emergency amid fears the insects may United States of America, says Jeff Stewart destroy more than 50 000 ha of crops. of Creepy Crawly Cooking in Niagara-on- FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: “I saw a report yesterday on how many the-Lake, Ontario. Before, only 10 to 25 Patrick B. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, millions we spend annually on the fight percent of those attending special events FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 against locusts and I thought maybe we can that he catered for would taste insects, Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. make it a profitable business, because Stewart says. Now, it is closer to 75 Fax: (66-2) 697 4445; people in dozens of countries around the percent. e-mail: [email protected] world eat locusts,” Alexander Zhilkin wrote At the 5th Annual Bugalicious Insect (Please see page 73 for more information.) on his Internet blog on Monday. Food Festival in February, Stewart cooked

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up cricket candy and white chocolate MEDICINAL PLANTS the reserve, which will serve as a prototype crickets, Chinese scorpion soup and fresh %AND HERBS for other such centres that BDA hopes to ant fettuccine alfredo. build across the country. “Is it healthy, is it good for you?” asked Helping African farmers to help In the third year of the programme, the Stewart. “Yeah, if you look at the themselves students will return to their land to start nutritional content, they’re very good for Carole Robert may not fit the stereotype of their businesses. BDA will create funds for you.” Still, chefs should check with their a humanitarian aid worker, but the microcredit so the ecopreneurs can hire sources since wild bugs can be exposed to Blainville entrepreneur has just won an employees. herbicides, he says. (Source: Winnipeg international award for her programme to BDA has raised and committed USD3 Free Press [Canada], 8 June 2010.) help poor African farmers learn to cultivate million to the programme to date. and market medicinal plants in a “Africans can exploit their own natural sustainable manner. resources,” Robert said, “but we wanted to Until just a few years ago, Robert was a help them embark on international trade in prominent businesswoman running her a responsible way, because that is own construction materials export essential. We wanted to show them how to company. She realized that there was great protect these plants from overexploitation potential for commerce in some developing so they can protect their resources for the countries, but the people needed education future and make a living at the same time,” and connections. she said. (Source: The Gazette [Canada], While doing her MBA, she learned about 2 March 2010.) the flourishing global trade in medicinal, plant-based products that were coming Vets turn to African herbs as animal drugs into vogue for use in pharmaceuticals, stop working cosmetics and foods. There was already a The West’s veterinary drug drive is not USD60-billion global market in these working, say animal disease scientists, products in 2004, and that market was who have started researching the growing by about 10 percent a year. Yet, effectiveness of plant-based treatments sub-Saharan Africa, where 43 percent of used in Ethiopia. the world’s medicinal plants grow Researchers from the Scottish THE FUTURE USE OF INSECTS naturally, was only participating in 0.01 Agricultural College (SAC), United Kingdom, AS HUMAN FOOD percent of this market. will visit the East African country and select Robert then launched a foundation 30 plants used by native herders to control Edible insects may be used as space-travel called “Biotechnology for Sustainable parasites in their animals. These will then food in the distant future. For long Development in Africa Foundation” (BDA). be taken to laboratories in Ethiopia and voyages to other planets, their cell BDA’s first project is Plant Action, a three- Scotland to test for their effectiveness. culture will provide animal protein in a year educational programme in the “Like farmers across the world, they spacecraft, within which the area for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This often do things because their fathers and production of foodstuffs will be limited. pilot project will train 30 farmers in grandfathers did. Our idea is to find out if If humans ever live in huge airtight sustainable planting and harvesting of and how they work and to feed that domes on other planets, food production medicinal plants and trees, and turn them information back to the farmers,” said will have to be developed within the into entrepreneurs. project leader Dr Jos Houdijk. confines of the domes. Breeding of large “I believe developing countries will Dr Houdijk said the project was livestock will not be practicable because flourish through commerce, not charity.” recognition that it was time to look for of space limitations. The alternative will In the first year, the “ecopreneurs-in- alternatives to the veterinary drugs on be to use insects to provide a source of training”, as Robert calls them, learn about which farmers in industrialized countries animal protein. For such purposes, sustainable cultivation practices in the had become reliant to control animal species such as silkworms, termites and industrial production of medicinal plants. diseases. “When these drugs were flies have been suggested, taking into The students will learn to grow plants such introduced in the West in the 1960s we account the effective recycling of organic as moringa or neem trees to international thought they would solve all our problems substances. (Source: Jun Mitsuhashi. standards of quality control. They will have but we couldn’t have been more wrong. 2010. The future use of insects as human access to a phytochemistry laboratory, built Nowadays, the parasites are becoming food. In Edible forest insects. Humans and financed by a local Jesuit group. resistant and the consumer is becoming bite back! Rome, FAO. 2010.) The second year consists of practical more aware about having products that training in the equatorial forest and have a minimum use of drugs. Alternative For more information, please contact: savannah of the Luki Man of the Biosphere medicines are coming into fashion again.” Jun Mitsuhashi, Koishikawa 1-28-13, Reserve, a 30 000-ha conservation area The project is one of 16 others given Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0002, Japan. managed by the World Wide Fund for funding by SAC to look into helping sub- E-mail: [email protected] Nature. Students from the Université du Saharan and South Asian farmers tackle Québec’s École de technologie supérieure the spread of livestock diseases. (Source: helped build a plant-processing centre in The Ecologist, 19 February 2010.)

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Application of ISSC-MAP for Cambodian plants MANAGING A two-year project being piloted in Cambodia • “Saving Plants that Save Lives and AFRICA’S by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia on the Livelihoods” is a global project that MEDICINAL PLANTS sustainable management of medicinal and aims to conserve MAPs and their aromatic plants has come to a successful habitats and to establish sustainable Research into Use’s close this year. The pilot was part of the use schemes, including benefit- (RIU) pocket guide “Saving Plants that Save Lives and sharing within local communities. It and policy brief series Livelihoods” project, designed to test a is funded by the German Federal has produced a brief recently developed International Standard for Ministry for Economic Cooperation that outlines the the Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Development (BMZ), and need to find ways to and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) for species implemented by TRAFFIC, the World manage Africa’s important to local health and economies Wide Fund for Nature and the medicinal plants in a sustainable way. around the world. Cambodia’s particular International Union for Conservation The brief, Future health: sustainable success offers insights into the feasibility of a of Nature (IUCN) Medicinal Plants management of Africa’s medicinal global standard for sustainable medicinal and Specialist Group in India, Nepal, plants, highlights that 80 percent of aromatic plant (MAP) management and Brazil (please see page 43 for more Africans use traditional treatments made provides direction for future courses of action. information), South Africa/Lesotho from wild native plant species and one- In Cambodia, the reliance of many people and Cambodia. third depends on them entirely. As on traditional medicines highlighted the need • The ISSC-MAP standard was populations increase, so too does use; for the application of a standard such as developed between 2004 and 2007 overexploitation is rampant. Control is ISSC-MAP to conserve resources and by WWF, IUCN, TRAFFIC and the imperative to sustain forest resources improve livelihoods. Nearly 40 percent of German Federal Agency for Nature before they are lost, potentially denying plants in Cambodia are medicinal and Conservation (BfN) to provide a tool access to medicines for millions of aromatic plant species used in health care, to achieve this conservation target. people. subsistent livelihoods and commercial trade. The rationale for developing the There is demand for better Generally, the highly valued species in local project was to put the ISSC-MAP into management of resources, and a firm and international markets face exhaustive practice in selected regions belief that this can be achieved. The collection, resulting in population scarcity, worldwide to develop efficient Trees for Health Forever resolution was which impacts local livelihoods, traditional conservation mechanisms for signed by foresters, traders, herbalists knowledge and biodiversity. Like plant selected MAP resources and their and ministry officials from countries species in many countries around the world, habitats, which are under threat or across southern Africa in 2005. It many MAP species in Cambodia are now likely to become threatened. committed to cross-border collaboration threatened, mainly because of on forest management and to get the overharvesting, unsustainable collection and message of sustainable harvesting issues poor management of natural resource areas. through the medicinal plant supply To apply the ISSC-MAP standard in Phnom Penh to determine the market chain. Cambodia, a suitable location and MAP viability of krakao and tepirou. Results of Scientists are already producing tools species with high potential market value were these studies found that the tepirou tree was that can make sustainable management first selected. During the first project not a good candidate for the management a reality. Policy-makers are encouraged workshop, stakeholders from local programme: bark collection of this species to support groups, such as the communities, traders, research can only happen on a five-year rotation and Indigenous Resources Working Group in organizations, NGOs, government, the current population size is too small to southern Africa, and take advantage of universities and others discussed and provide enough potential income for the Prek new management approaches and tools selected a location and MAP species based on Tnoat community, and incorrect harvesting as they become available. data from field observations and local would threaten the species with extirpation. Policy must ensure that all interviews. The Prek Tnoat Community However, the management plan put in place stakeholders, from traders and Protected Area (CPA) was chosen as the site a methodology for sustainable harvesting so wholesalers to local collectors gathering for ISSC-MAP implementation for two MAP that, while income generation is small, forest products, are included in species: krakao, Amomum ovoideum, a plant overexploitation can be avoided. The initiatives to preserve forests and their whose fruits are medicinally used for resource assessment also provided the basic medicines. As a result, policies must be respiratory and digestive health, and tepirou, information necessary to create a inclusive of all countries, and push for all Cinnamomum cambodianum, a rare tree community-based MAP management plan trade to be monitored and recorded. whose bark is also used for digestive health. covering three main areas: (i) managerial This may involve new joint policies A detailed resource assessment was structure, role and responsibility; (ii) among countries in the region to protect conducted by biologists and members of the regulation of collection; and (iii) benefit- these valuable resources. (Source: Prek Tnoat CPA to measure vegetation type sharing. This MAP management plan was www.worldpress.com, 30 March 2010.) and structure, species ecology, population drafted by a team of various stakeholders density and yield production. In addition, a and integrated into the annual CPA market chain survey was conducted in management plan.

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A key objective of the project was to Recognition of traditional medicine and Uganda. An East African Network on ensure the continued success of ISSC-MAP by governments Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants implementation following completion of the Politics have a large influence over herbal has been established with its hosting since pilot project. At each step in the process, medicine, as can be demonstrated 2007 in the Lake Victoria Basin efforts were made to empower and build historically. East Africa and parts of the Commission of the East African capacity among the various stakeholders in Himalayas were subject to colonial rule Community. order to retain long-term sustainable MAP until the 1940s to 1960s, during which time Among the Himalayan countries, management in Prek Tnoat. Members of traditional medicine tended to be Bhutan has accorded an equal status to the local community were trained to neglected or even denigrated by the Tibetan and Western medicine, influenced conduct their own resource assessments, authorities. Since independence, by Buddhism and regard for environmental monitor MAP harvest and survival, properly traditional medicine has gradually gained stewardship. The Government in China has collect and process the MAP species, and increasing recognition in East Africa, provided strong encouragement to participate in access and benefit-sharing. especially recently with the declaration by traditional Chinese medicine, and Leaders of the project also produced and the African Union of 2001–2010 as “The recognized several other medical distributed a leaflet in Khmer on Decade of Traditional African Medicine”. A traditions, such as those associated with sustainable harvest and processing “Traditional Healer Policy” was the Dai, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uigur and Yi techniques of krakao to produce quality established for the United Republic of peoples. In India, several indigenous fruits with high market value. Tanzania in 2002 and similar policies are at systems of medicine have been legally One challenge to the implementation of an advanced state of preparation in Kenya recognized (for instance, Ayurveda, Siddha ISSC-MAP in Prek Tnoat was that only a select few MAPs are valued in national and/or international markets. A potential solution was to add value to the raw krakao material by processing and packaging it on- HERBALISTS SCORE MAJOR VICTORY site into traditional medicine that commands a higher price. To this end, the stakeholders Herbalists have scored a major victory in have initiated a community-based Traditional their quest for official recognition after Medicine Producer Group charged with scientists have provided evidence that producing medicines from sustainably some herbal medicines can cure many harvested resources. Another obstacle was diseases. that Prek Tnoat does not have a direct Scientists from the University of market link to Phnom Penh. MAP sellers Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of were forced to transport krakao to Phnom Agriculture and Technology analysed 12 Penh and often complained of being stopped medicinal plants used by traditional and taxed by authorities along the way. healers in the Machakos and Kitui districts The seasonal availability of krakao in Nairobi and found most to contain Amaranthus spinosus means that Prek Tnoat will need to expand healing properties against common its MAP management to include other bacterial infections, including tuberculosis. use the plants indiscriminately because species such as Smilax glabra. The best They also confirmed the widely held belief they have to understand the correct strategy for increasing income for the that the mchicha plant (Amaranthus) has dosage and the part of the plant to use community without overharvesting krakao properties that protect people with HIV for the best and safest results. will be to harvest multiple MAP species from various opportunistic infections. Citing an earlier study on the throughout the year. In order to meet The study carried out by nine antibacterial properties of the Croton tree market demand for popular MAP species researchers from the two universities was which found the plant had little medicinal and avoid local extirpation, collectors will published in the Phytotherapy Research value, the researchers in the current study have to expand collection to other Journal. “In the past few decades, there found the tree to be quite effective, a communes and sites. Future management have been intense pharmacological contrast they attributed to the locality of will also need to establish technical studies brought about by the recognition plant species, parts used, and time of standards on issues such as names of of the value of medicinal plants as collection, storage and methods of analysis. MAPs (krakao is just one of many common potential sources of new compounds for This in essence means that a neem tree names), processing techniques and managing diseases,” says the study. (Azardirachta indica), for example, found at community benefit-sharing. (Source: The researchers say plants such as the coast may not have similar medicinal TRAFFIC Bulletin, 22: 3, 2010). Aloe, Croton, catch thorn (Ziziphus properties to its counterpart growing abyssinica) and several others of the elsewhere in the country. This should serve FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: analysed 12 are promising candidates in as a warning for many herbalists who are Sarah Morgan, Greater Mekong Programme the search for new cures. increasingly domesticating plants away Office, c/o IUCN Viet Nam, Villa 44/4 Van Bao, However, they warn that their from their indigenous habitats. (Source: Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. findings do not authorize herbalists to Daily Nation [Kenya], 5 January 2010.) Fax. +84437264665; e-mail: [email protected]

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and Unani, but not Tibetan) and the mountain forests of central and eastern Government has established a National North America. The first specimens of Medicinal Plants Board to develop and American ginseng were transported to regulate the medicinal plants sector. In Europe in 1704. It should come as no Nepal, recognition has been accorded to surprise that the North American Indians Ayurveda, but not Tibetan medicine, and also knew of and utilized ginseng root for development of the medicinal plants its medicinal qualities. They called it sector has been accorded a priority in garantoquen, which translates as “like a government planning. A high-level Herbs man”, in reference to its forked root and Non Timber Forest Products structure, which closely resembles the Coordination Committee has been formed shape of a man. with 12 medicinal and aromatic species American Indians have a particular selected for the development of agronomic method of harvesting the root, whereby it technologies. (Source: A.C. Hamilton (ed). is only harvested after the red fruit of the 2008. Medicinal plants in conservation and plant has reached maturity. They then development: case studies and lessons bend the stem down to the ground before learnt [Salisbury, United Kingdom], proceeding to dig the root. This method Plantlife International.) reportedly increases the germination rate Taraxacum officinale and provides for a greater future yield. The FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Sioux Indian women had especially well- Aconitum heterophyllum, Acorus calamus, Ms Elizabeth Radford, Global Programme developed ways of cleaning and processing Angelica glauca, Bergenia ciliata, Manager, Plantlife International, 14 Rollestone ginseng, and were said to collect the finest Cinnamomum tamala, Dactylorhiza Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1DX, root of all the tribes. hatagirea, Heracleum candicans, United Kingdom. Fax: +44 (0)1722 329035; Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is found Picrorhiza kurrooa, Podophyllum e-mail:[email protected] primarily in the Northern Hemisphere and hexandrum, Panax pseudoginseng, mainly in China, Tibet, Mongolia and the Swertia chirayita and Taraxacum Republic of Korea. The Korean and officinale. In recent times, Picrorhiza Manchurian species are traditionally kurrooa Royle ex Benth considered the most highly prized. Wealthy (Scrophulariaceae), a perennial herb, has Chinese will pay up to USD200 000 for the drawn tremendous attention from vitality-enhancing properties of a pharmaceuticals as well as premium-grade ginseng root. conservationists. The species has an These highly prized roots are found immense trade value on national and growing wild in the mountainous regions of global markets and is an important high the Republic of Korea and the Changbai altitude herb of the Himalayas, having and Xiaoxinganling Mountains in China’s flexible habitat niches, mostly on open northeast. They grow on steep slopes at slopes (temperate to alpine). It has several heights between 500 to 1 100 m above sea local names, kutki (in Sikkim), karu (in level. Himachal Pradesh) and katuka, kuru, Wild ginseng growing in ancient forests katvi, katurhini and katki. with deep loamy soil and moisture-laden Underground stolons of P. kurrooa air is found to have a much greater potency producing erected inflorescence stalks, than ginseng grown commercially out of its embedded with numerous pinkish flowers, natural environment. (Source: The Epoch allure visitors to alpine habitats in Times [United States of America], summer. It is distributed in Pakistan, India, Ginseng: a highly valued herb 23 February 2010.) Nepal, Bhutan and southern China, along Like the rich mountain forests where an altitude of 2 700–5 000 m. In India, it is ginseng grows naturally, its use dates back Picrorhiza kurrooa, an endangered distributed from Kashmir to Sikkim; in to antiquity. Ginseng is a perennial herb medicinal plant offering high commercial Sikkim, it is found at an altitude ranging belonging to the genus Panax, which is potential in the Himalayas from 2 800 to 4 500 m. The snow melts of derived from the Greek word Panakos, or Himalayan medicinal plants have been a early summer reveal the emergence of the panacea in English, meaning an all- source of curiosity for their use in shoots. In the alpine meadows, the plant healing remedy. ethnomedicine by numerous community reaches a height of 20 cm during its Both the Asian and American varieties healers and native people and, most flowering stage. are employed medicinally, sharing the important, for their historical use in one of In Ayurveda, the whole plant is same growth habits and virtually the same the most accepted Indian medicine considered medicinally useful and is one of appearance, with the only difference being systems, Ayurveda. the most bitter plant drugs. The dried that the Asian variety is larger. The Indian Himalaya records over 1 750 roots are considered a tonic, cathartic, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) species. Many Himalayan medicinal stomachic, cholagogue and purgative, and is found throughout the deciduous species offer a very high market value, viz. are used in fever and dyspepsia and

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against scorpion stings. The species is one depending upon the manure in practice in launching cultivation trials would add of the most potent liver conditioning and one year. The use of vegetative propagule value to baseline guidelines for protective drugs. The chief bioactive may provide about 2.6 to 7 times greater strengthening commercial ventures for photochemical of the root is glycosides, productivity over seeds. Phenological poor farmers in the Himalayas. especially picroside and kutkoside. The observations, which may fluctuate over the (Contributed by: Dr Hemant K. Badola, roots sampled from the trade market years and altitude zones, are crucial for Scientist – Conservation of Biodiversity, showed 0.5–3.5 percent kutkin (bitter standardized cultivation practices at PO Box-40, G.B. Pant Institute of principles). The roots/rhizomes produce different agroclimatic zones and can be Himalayan Environment and Development, non-bitter product kurrin (D-mannitol), taken as important indicators of climate Sikkim Unit, Gangtok [Campus: vanillic acid and kutukol. change and global warming. Pangthang], Sikkim 737 101, India. Over the decades, because of the I have tested this cultivation protocol. E-mail: [email protected]; prevalent trade demand by However, it would be beneficial if more [email protected]; pharmaceuticals, P. kurrooa has been scientific studies covering different [email protected]) severely harvested in its natural habitats. Himalayan zones are targeted, especially In recent times, as a result of this on population studies, demonstration Heliotropium foertherianum: is the depleting natural population and resulting trials and marketing status exploration. octopus bush a solution to fish poisoning? unavailability of the raw material to meet Very important, location-specific Cebu, Philippines. Scientists are improving the expanding demand from knowledge on the technical feasibility, a Pacific folk remedy used to treat a form pharmaceuticals, P. kurrooa has become economic viability and farmers’ of food poisoning that prevents millions of the focus of conservationists. Using acceptability as basic criteria for people in the region from consuming fish. International Union for Conservation of The octopus bush (Heliotropium Nature (IUCN) criteria, the species was foertherianum) is the traditional medicine assessed as endangered and in 1997 was of choice in the Pacific islands for also incorporated in Appendix II of the 93 PERCENT OF INDIA’S WILD ciguatera fish poisoning, which is caused Convention on International Trade in MEDICINAL PLANTS ARE ENDANGERED by powerful ciguatoxins produced by Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and microscopic Gambierdiscus algae. Flora (CITES). Among 29 plants, P. The Botanical Survey of India found 93 Ingested by fish and clams, the toxins kurrooa is banned for the export and re- percent of wild medicinal plants in accumulate in the food chain, causing export in raw form through EXIM (Export India are endangered, many of which diarrhoea, vomiting and neurological and Import Policy) 1998, under the Foreign are used in traditional Ayurvedic symptoms. At least 100 000 people, mostly Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, medicine. The research was carried out in the Pacific, are poisoned each year. 1992, excluding manufactured parts or on 359 of the most widely used wild Scientists from the Institute of Research derivatives. medicinal plants species. Of these, 335 for Development (IRD), collaborating with During a brainstorming exercise of species have been assigned the Red List colleagues from the Louis Malarde international experts (Workshop on status. The threatened species include Institute in French Polynesia and Pasteur Endangered Medicinal Plants), convened Utleria salicolia and Hydnocarpus Institute in New Caledonia, Melanesia, by the author in 2002, P. kurrooa was pentandra in the Western Ghats and screened around 100 medicinal plants for prioritized and identified as one of the top Gymnocladus assamicus and Agapetes their activity against ciguatoxins. taxa for immediate conservation through smithiana in Sikkim. All of the surveyed Octopus bush extracts were found to be ex situ cultivation. In addition, P. kurrooa plants are under threat because of the most promising, containing a molecule is one of the proposed taxa for overall overexploitation to meet the demand similar to rosmarinic acid – a compound development by the Indian Medicinal from herbal industries. (Source: known for its antiviral, antibacterial, Plants Board, Government of India. Terragreen (May 2010) in MFP News, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Few scientific studies have appeared so XX: 2, 2010.) properties. The researchers think far on the cultivation of P. kurrooa. Wild rosmarinic acid may remove the populations at different altitudes may ciguatoxins from their sites of action, as exhibit variations in active compounds. well as being anti-inflammatory. Studies indicated that there may be the They are now seeking to patent potential to obtain a high amount of the rosmarinic acid and its derivatives, and are plant’s active contents even at a lower developing octopus bush extracts with an elevation, within the flexible limit of even stronger detoxifying effect. species adaptation, if densely grown. One Lead researcher Dominique Laurent of of the cultivation efforts by my group IRD in French Polynesia said that Japanese indicated that altitudes above 2 200 m are research has suggested that octopus bush very suitable agroclimates for P. kurrooa may contain alkaloids, naturally occurring in the Himalayas, using stolon cuts. The chemicals that can be toxic. Fear of below-ground dry weight production in P. poisoning from the remedy may be kurrooa cultivation may reach 0.7 to 3.8 Gymnocladus assamicus deterring people from using it and a quintal/acre (0.4 ha) if careful and detoxified version might be more appropriate agropractices are adopted and acceptable to local people, he said. “We

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prefer to improve the folk remedy because – an ointment for genital warts made from Institutes complete first gene map it could be difficult to explain to local green tea leaves. of Chinese medicinal plant populations to buy a drug rather than use a Now, using tiny worms that live only 20 Two traditional Chinese medicine plant growing on the beach,” he said. days, the team sorted out which institutes announced the completion of a But the researchers have yet to consider compounds found in two common Chinese gene map of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, how they would commercialize such a herbal formulations showed the most the first of its kind, on 20 June in Beijing. drug, said Laurent. potential for their stated purpose: The Institute of Medicinal Plants of the The poisoning is rarely fatal but the extending life expectancy. Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences neurological symptoms can last several Cinnamon and ginseng won, showing launched a programme to create a gene years. Fear of poisoning has reduced fish the most promise. map of S. miltiorrhiza in conjunction with consumption, and the resulting dietary A team led by Yuan Luo, Ph.D., M.Sc., Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou shift could lead to higher rates of Associate Professor at the School, Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd. cardiovascular disease, obesity and conducted a first-of-its-kind, “systematic They used the second generation of high- diabetes. evaluation” of a mixture of ten herbs called flux sequencing techniques to check S. Paul Bienfang, a specialist in diagnosing Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (SQDB), reportedly miltiorrhiza’s DNA order and finally algal toxins in fish, at the University of effective for fatigue and energy; and an 11- finished its gene map. Hawaii, said the development of an herb formula called Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan The success of the gene map is seen as effective antidote would be a significant (HLXL) used as a treatment for arthritic a step forward in the research of medicinal accomplishment. (Source: SciDev.Net, joint pain. Both mixtures are reputed to plants and the merger of front-line life 9 June 2010.) have benefits for healthy living and science and traditional Chinese medicine. longevity in humans. It promises new breakthroughs in the The researchers tested the mixtures, as research of Chinese medicine. (Source: well as each separate herb in them, on the People’s Daily Online [China], 21 June laboratory worm model C. elegans. This 2010.) p particular worm – which biochemists often use as their “lab rat” – shares genes for ageing and other traits with humans and other organisms. Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum cassia) from HLXL extended the life span of the worms by 14.5 percent and cinnamon bark from SQDB extended life by 10.8 percent. Ginseng root (Panax ginseng) from SQDB extended the life span by 7.7 percent. Significantly, cinnamon, ginseng and Cinnamomum cassia SQDB also thinned out levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can destroy cells. They Unlocking keys to herbal medicines each also enhanced expression of small A team of researchers at the University of heat shock proteins, an indicator for Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), United States cellular response to stress that plays an of America, writing in the science journal important role in the maintenance of cell PLoS ONE, has developed a biological functions. method to tease out which compounds Herbal medicines are usually mixtures from herbal medicines and medicinal of herbs. That presents a severe challenge herbal mixtures produce their reputed for the FDA to understand which medicinal benefits. compounds or combinations of compounds “This provides the first step to find, from in the herbs are effective or not effective. all of the hundreds of compounds in herbs, “Because it’s very difficult to sort out so which ones have potential for medicinal many herbs with so many constituents purposes. And you can do this very quickly together, we needed to find a model,” says and efficiently,” says co-author Laura Dosanjh. C. elegans is valuable to science Dosanjh, graduate student with the School because its very short life cycle is suitable of Pharmacy at UMB. for conducting rapid experiments and Science has not been very helpful in between 60 to 80 percent of the 20 000 determining the efficacy of herbal genes in the C. elegans genome have medicines in the United States of America. similar origins to human genes. The genes The US Food and Drug Administration are found consistently along the (FDA), for example, has so far sided with evolutionary paths including worms and science only once to approve a herb-based humans. (Source: University of Maryland, treatment with multiple active ingredients 26 March 2010.) Salvia miltiorrhiza

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definitive conclusion, he said, but preliminary Environment Programme (UNEP), this results are promising. issue is more important than the Kyoto “Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) Could bees be modern-day sentinels like Protocol because it is at the heart of consist of goods of biological origin the canaries once used as warning signals of sustainability of the Earth. other than wood, derived from forests, toxic gases in coal mines? President Hifikepunye Pohamba said other wooded land and trees outside Assessing environmental health using efforts are being made in Namibia to forests.” bees as “terrestrial bioindicators“ is a fairly ensure that indigenous communities can «Les produits forestiers non ligneux new undertaking, said Jamie Ellis, Assistant share in the benefits of the exploitation of sont des biens d’origine biologique Professor of Entomology at the Honey Bee indigenous plants such as devil’s claw autres que le bois, dérivés des forêts, Research and Extension Laboratory, (Harpagophytum procumbens) and hoodia des autres terres boisées, et des arbres University of Florida in Gainesville. “We all from the plant family Apocynaceae. hors forêts.» believe it can be done, but translating the The Convention on Biological Diversity «Productos forestales no madereros results into real-world solutions or answers (CBD) Secretariat has stated that species son los bienes de origen biológico may be a little premature.” Still, similar work are disappearing 50 to 100 more than they distintos de la madera derivados de los with insects to gauge water quality has long would have done naturally. An estimated bosques, de otras tierras boscosas y de been successful. (Source: New York Times, 34 000 plants face extinction. About 45 los árboles fuera de los bosques.» 28 June 2010.) percent of the forests, home to most of the (FAO’s working definition) world’s known terrestrial biodiversity, have disappeared and, while there are some regrowths, the world’s total forests are shrinking at an alarming rate, particularly in the tropical regions. BIOMONITORING: The World Health Organization said that % BEES HELP MONITOR 80 percent of the world’s population AIR QUALITY depends on health care provided by AT GERMAN AIRPORTS medicinal plants and the associated traditional knowledge of indigenous Airports in Germany have come up with an communities forms up to 70 percent of the unusual approach to monitoring air quality. basis of modern pharmaceuticals. Düsseldorf International Airport and six other The Namibian Minister of Environment airports are using bees as “biodetectives”, BIOPROSPECTING/ and Tourism Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah their honey regularly tested for toxins. % BENEFIT-SHARING said that 90 percent of medicinal plants are “Air quality at and around the airport is OR BIOPIRACY? found in developing countries on the lands excellent,” said Peter Nengelken, the airport’s of the indigenous communities. A further community liaison. The first batch of this Africa considers equitable access aspect to the loss of biodiversity, said year’s harvested honey from some 200 000 to genetic resources Nandi-Ndaitwah, is the loss of cultural bees was tested in early June, he said, and Namibia is hosting a continental conference diversity because culture is tied to indicated that toxins were far below official in preparation for the finalization of an resource-dependent ways of life, adding limits, consistent with results since 2006 international regime on access and benefit- that “lack of secure rights to sustainable when the airport began working with bees. sharing of the world’s biodiversity and livelihoods is rendering many African Beekeepers from the local neighbourhood genetic resources later in the year in communities extinct”. club keep the bees. The honey, “Düsseldorf Nagoya, Japan. This week, environmental Lucy Mulenkei of the Indigenous Natural”, is bottled and given away as gifts. ministers from 38 African states and three Information Network said there is a strong Biomonitoring, or the use of living European countries – Denmark, Germany need to accord indigenous communities organisms to test environmental health, does and Norway – are in Windhoek to finalize full and effective participation within the not replace traditional monitoring, said Martin Africa’s position before the negotiations convention of the biodiversity process to Bunkowski, an environmental engineer for continue in Japan later in the year. ensure that their rights and concerns are the Association of German Airports. But “it’s a African leaders have said that without fully taken into account in the ongoing very clear message for the public because it is effective and wide-ranging benefit-sharing negotiations – and beyond. (Source: easy to understand,” he added. to drive sustainable use, the cost of www.newera.com.na, 9 March 2010.) Volker Liebig, a chemist for Orga Lab, who conservation may simply be too high for analyses honey samples twice a year for many poor rural communities, which in Denmark to help Africa fight biopiracy Düsseldorf and six other German airports, Africa are the real custodians of Environment Minister Karen Ellemann was said results showed the absence of biodiversity. the opening speaker on Monday for an substances that the laboratory tested for, The consequences for biodiversity, said international ministerial conference on such as certain hydrocarbons and heavy Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and biopiracy in Windhoek, Namibia, aimed at metals, and the honey “was comparable to Tourism, will be dire because there will be stopping companies from obtaining genetic honey produced in areas without any no incentive and justification for poor resources from countries without providing industrial activity”. A much larger data people to conserve it. In fact, added Dr reciprocal economic benefits. Together with sampling over more time is needed for a Bakary Kante of the United Nations the country’s president, Ellemann hopes the

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Danish cosponsored conference will assist said Ahmed Djoghlaf, the UN’s Executive Iniciativa andino-amazónica Africa in obtaining some of the significant Secretary to the CBD. de prevención de la biopiratería profits from its many genetic resources But the draft remains highly controversial, La Iniciativa andino-amazónica de often used by Western companies. and participants have been forced to arrange prevención de la piratería, tiene como Much of the material companies obtain a further week-long meeting to take place in objetivo principal prevenir el uso ilegal de is used to develop products such as Canada in July to prepare the draft for recursos genéticos y conocimientos cosmetics, medicines and genetically October’s meeting in Nagoya. tradicionales y fortalecer las capacidades modified organisms (GMOs). Biopiracy is Agreeing a protocol is one of the three nacionales y regionales para enfrentar, a common in Africa, however, where large objectives of the CBD. The goal is to ensure través de la colaboración e interacción entre international companies typically exploit that benefits arising from the use of instituciones, la biopiratería. Esto incluye la the countries’ resources. genetic resources from plants, animals or implementación efectiva de políticas y According to the Environment Ministry, micro-organisms are shared in a fair and normas en materia de acceso a recursos some companies have even gone so far as equitable way with local communities or genéticos y protección de conocimientos to take out patents on the development of countries that provide them. tradicionales. substances that have already been used for Krystyna Swiderska, a senior researcher Recursos como el ayahuasca, la maca o several hundred years in traditional at the International Institute for la quinua, y los conocimientos tradicionales medicines in developing countries. One Environment and Development in the asociados a ellos han pasado a formar notable example was chemical company United Kingdom, told SciDev.Net that “the parte de invenciones protegidas W.R. Grace’s attempted patent on products real negotiations on a draft protocol only legalmente por patentes u otros derechos from the Indian neem tree (Azadirachta started on Thursday and I was not entirely de propiedad intelectual, sin un indica). surprised to hear that the negotiations reconocimiento de su origen. El término de “It’s high time that we stop the broke down on Friday evening, given the biopiratería se refiere a la apropiación worldwide exploitation of natural genes,” very divergent positions between parties”. indebida o ilegal de recursos genéticos, said Ellemann. “Developing countries’ “The industrialized countries want easy semillas y conocimientos tradicionales de populations must also be a part of Western access to genetic resources in other los pueblos indígenas. companies’ profits on creams, medicines countries,” she said. “If they have their way, Desde el año 2004, la «Iniciativa» viene or agricultural crops, where the products the protocol will at most require trabajando en la creación de redes y en la were developed from those countries’ compliance with existing legislation in the búsqueda de sinergias entre las acciones genetic resources.” developing countries. On the other hand emprendidas por los países andino- “Fairtrade would benefit both sides the biodiversity-rich developing countries amazónicos destinadas a garantizar que el because it would be an incentive for want to assert national sovereignty over acceso a sus recursos genéticos y developing countries to protect their rich biological resources, and to ensure that the conocimientos tradicionales sean natural resources, while the companies protocol binds industrialized countries to utilizados con su consentimiento y would be allowed to retain access to those sharing any benefits.” participación. En el año 2007 se inició una resources,” she said. (Source: The Industrialized countries also want the segunda fase con la finalidad de Copenhagen Post Online, 9 March 2010.) protocol to focus only on genetic resources, profundizar en el fortalecimiento de las while developing countries want to ensure actuaciones de las instituciones públicas y Tensions remain over biological access that derivatives and traditional knowledge privadas nacionales frente a potenciales protocol are included, added Swiderska. “And casos de biopiratería. After nine years of meetings about industrialized nations want compliance international rules on providing equitable with the protocol to be enforced through PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: resources, a major step was reached at the individual contracts for example between Manuel Ricardo Ruiz-Muller, Co-director end of March with agreement on a draft text drug companies and governments while del Programa de Asuntos Internacionales that is intended to form the basis of a developing nations want to include [legal] y Biodiversidad, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho protocol on access and benefit-sharing. measures for compliance with the protocol Ambiental (SPDA), Prolongación Arenales At the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working itself,” she said. (Source: SciDev.Net, No. 437, Lima 27, Perú. Fax: +511-422-4365; Group on Access and Benefit-sharing of the 2 April 2010.) correo electrónico: [email protected]; Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), www.biopirateria.org/spa/proyecto.php which met in Cali, Colombia from 22 to 28 March, representatives from 193 countries agreed to use the draft as the basis of a COMPANIES FUND protocol to be submitted to the Tenth PROJECTS TO Conference of the Parties to the CBD, % PRESERVE AMAZON which will be held in October in Nagoya, RAIN FOREST Japan. The UN hailed the meeting as a great Deep in the Amazon, in a village accessible step forward in the quest to use the world’s only by boat, river dwellers for generations biodiversity fairly. “Cali has entered history have survived on fish, sparse crops and as the birthplace of the draft Nagoya nuts from the forest. Now they have a new Protocol on access and benefit-sharing,” resource: debit cards.

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Families in Boa Frente receive USD29 a distributor now pays USD7 for a 5-gallon can Congo, the Democratic Republic of the month to spend in a town upriver. The village – up from USD3 – because quality has Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon also has a new brick walkway, rainwater improved. and Equatorial Guinea. Only the forested cisterns and a new school with solar panels “The forest has riches,” village leader terrain in the Amazon Basin is larger. and Internet access. In exchange, residents Aderbal de Oliveira said, thwacking dry Unlike the Amazon rain forest, the agree to protect the forest surrounding their leaves with his machete to uncover fallen ecosystems are still intact and functioning, plots instead of clearing more trees for nuts. “We must be its guardians.” (Source: as indicated by the presence of elephants, farming or fuel. The windfall comes courtesy latimes.com, 21 February 2010.) great apes and other large animals; the of Marriott International Inc., the USD12- Amazon has long since lost its terrestrial billion hotel chain. It is part of a complex – megafauna. Studies cited in the report note and controversial – plan to save the world’s that the Congo Basin hosts exceptional rain forests with the help of big business. species diversity and is among the world’s Rules for Reducing Emissions from richest areas in vertebrate and plant Deforestation and Forest Degradation – or species. REDD – are being designed under the The area is also home to more than auspices of the United Nations as part of a 90 million people, most of whom subsist by global effort to cut greenhouse gas harvesting forest products or through emissions. Around the world, dozens of small-scale slash-and-burn shifting REDD projects are under way. So far, these agriculture – a practice that uses the forest REDD projects are voluntary, often funded by for expansion. firms that want to burnish their green Deforestation of the dense tropical forest credentials. But eventually these “avoided is estimated in the report at a relatively low deforestation” efforts could be included in CONGO BASIN average rate of 0.17 percent. However, mandatory carbon cap-and-trade systems, % FORESTS AT A “CRITICAL forests represent a major source of such as one already in place in Europe. TURNING POINT” economic revenue, in both formal and But nowhere has the idea been embraced informal sectors, and the easing of the civil more keenly than in Brazil, home to Deforestation has remained relatively low war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 27 percent of the world’s tropical rain forests in the Congo Basin, the world’s second has brought economic opportunities. and 18 REDD projects, including the one in largest tropical forest expanse, but is likely Accompanying these opportunities are Boa Frente. Although 98 percent of the to increase as the region looks towards great environmental risks, as forest surrounding state of Amazonas remains economic development, a new report management takes place against a forested, ranchers, farmers, loggers and warns. background of widespread impoverishment miners are rapidly moving in. The state The forests of the Congo Basin: state of – and the population is expected to double calculates that it could lose a third of its trees the forest 2008, released in late 2009, in the next 20 years. by 2050. states that the Congo Basin forest is at a “With 73 percent of people living below The first project is in the Juma Reserve, “critical turning point”. the poverty line, the development needs are located 125 miles (201.17 km) south of the “Because there’s been very little huge,” says the lead editor of the report, state capital, Manaus. It is home to 380 development in the Congo Basin, forests Carlos de Wasseige of the International families in 43 villages, including Boa Frente. have been protected by default,” says Cooperation Centre of Agricultural In exchange for their bolsa floresta – or forest Robert Nasi, Center for International Research for Development (CIRAD), Head allowance – villagers also attend two-day Forestry Research (CIFOR) scientist and of the Central African Forest Observatory workshops on global warming. Their promise co-editor of the report. “It is the one area (FORAF) coordination unit in the not to expand their plots is enforced: the land with a low rate of deforestation. But it’s Democratic Republic of the Congo. is mapped and the forest monitored by also an area with weak government, lots of Balancing economic development with satellite. If a family reneges, its debit card is land development, lots of resource sustainable forest practices and cancelled. development and lots of people looking for conservation is a major challenge facing Forest dwellers are also trained in land and resources.” the region. Accepting the “sustainable yet sustainable livelihoods, including harvesting A key objective of the report is to provide multiple use of forest resources” is an seeds, berries, rubber and other products regional decision-makers with up-to-date important step to winning support for needed by researchers and industry. information to assist with strategic planning. intervention strategies, de Wasseige says. So far, 14 villagers have been trained. In The new trend of making payments to While the complex problems are local, the coming months, 70 more will learn to stakeholders for the environmental the issues remain global because of the gather seeds from dozens of species, services that forests provide may be effects that increased deforestation and including varieties used in medicines and essential to balance development and forest degradation could have on climate cosmetics. conservation, the report notes, but change. “The whole world should be Downriver, in the village of Fleixal, eight challenges remain immense in the face of involved in searching for solutions that families occupy thatched-roof shacks shaded weak governance and infrastructure. improve the livelihoods of Central African by 200-foot (61-m) Brazil nut trees. Villagers The vast forest ecosystems of the Congo people while preserving forests,” de attended workshops on how to build wire- Basin cover some 160 million ha across six Wasseige says. (Source: Thinking beyond mesh, plastic-covered nut dryers. A nations: Cameroon, the Republic of the the canopy (CIFOR), 20 April 2010.)

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FOREST FOOTPRINT traditional community values and JEWELLER CREATES %DISCLOSURE ANNUAL communal ownership of more than 21 000 %RINGS EMBEDDED WITH REVIEW ha of pine and oak forest to run a successful LIVE PLANTS business that benefits the entire community. Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) is a There is no private property, and rather The ring collection from jeweller Hafsteinn special project of the Global Canopy than establishing a business to maximize Juliusson would not quite qualify as Foundation. Initiated in 2008, the project is profits, the people of Ixtlán – and in other ecofriendly, but it does come across as a designed to improve corporate Zapotec communities of Mexico with great way to spread the green message. understanding of a “forest footprint” similar forest-based enterprises – focus on Rings in the jeweller/designer’s collection generated by the use of forest risk job creation, reducing emigration to cities come with a stainless steel base, but have commodities: soy, palm oil, timber, cattle and enhancing the overall well-being of the the biggest jewel of them all: nature products and biofuels. community, Bray told participants at the embedded at the top. FFD designed a disclosure request asking Smallholder and Community Forestry These rings have Icelandic moss plants as about company policy on sustainable supply Conference in Montpellier. their crowning glory, leading the way for chains for these products and sent it out to “Communities will be more important in them to be called “clash of jewellery and 217 international companies in July 2009. the years to come because they can gardening”. The moss, like any other plant, This Annual Review describes the findings of address vital issues that the state and the needs some care. The wearer would have to that disclosure request and provides some market cannot,” Bray, an expert on water them; pruning though, will not be context on the subject. (Source: community forests in Mexico and Central necessary as the moss will not grow very www.amazonia.org.br, 10 February 2010.) America, told IPS. noticeably during the time. If cared for, the The survival of many of the world’s forests moss could last for nearly six months. may well depend on the survival of local However, the innovative green rings do not communities. A quarter of the world’s come cheap; each will cost £485 and we remaining forests are controlled by about hope that there is a way to get that moss one billion local people, says Estebancio growing and thriving again after the six Castro Diaz of the Kuna Nation in Panama, months are over. (Source: GreenPacks, who is Executive Director for the 6 January 2009.) International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of Tropical Forests. “Local control is good for the people and good for NETWORKS EMERGE the forest,” Castro Diaz told participants %AS KEY ACTORS IN attending the conference. COMMUNITY FORESTRY “The forest is a supermarket for us, it is not just about timber,” he said. Community networks have emerged as an For those reasons, more than 90 percent important force in enhancing forest tenure of the forests controlled by the Kuna people security and livelihood benefits for forest- FORESTS MAY DEPEND are still standing. “We need to communicate dependent communities. In many % ON SURVIVAL OF LOCAL that there are broad benefits to the larger countries, such networks have become COMMUNITIES society for local control of forests,” Diaz said. part of the forest tenure reform process. In sharp contrast to the usual nation- They develop at the grassroots level, and After the failures in Copenhagen to agree state or private enterprise overexploitation are proving to be effective agents for on a new climate protection treaty and, of commonly held lands, oceans or other collective action. more recently, at the Doha meetings on resources – characterized as the “tragedy The Federation of Community Forest User trade in endangered species, indigenous of the commons” – local communities can Groups, Nepal (FECOFUN), is one of the forest communities may offer examples of set and enforce rules to maintain their largest of these organizations. It emerged sensible governance for shared resources landscapes, conserve biodiversity and along with the growth of community forestry on a small planet. improve livelihoods for the long term, Bray in Nepal in the 1990s, and today represents Hundreds of poor Mexican Zapotec suggests. more than 14 000 community forest user indigenous farmers have become owners The World Bank, FAO, International Union groups (CFUGs) across the country. of a multimillion-dollar diversified forest for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and others FECOFUN has supported CFUGs by, for industry, offering an important model of a have formed a “Growing Forests Partnership” example, developing and implementing community-based enterprise that supports to find ways to support community-managed management plans, staging rallies, local people and conserves the natural forests, said Chris Buss of IUCN. Not only is running media campaigns and offering environment, says David Barton Bray, a this partnership trying to ensure that legal support and education. Its nationwide professor and associate chair in the indigenous and local people are involved in network and the broad populace it Department of Earth & Environment at their national government’s forestry policy, represents have helped it to challenge Florida International University in Miami. but also to find ways to channel financial power imbalances between the forest The farmers of Ixtlán de Juárez, a forest investment into local forest management be it bureaucracy and local communities. It has community in the Sierra Norte mountains of for timber, Brazil nuts or other uses. (Source: also increased user groups’ sense of central Mexico, utilize their strong Inter Press Service [IPS], 29 March 2010.) security over their forest rights.

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“FECOFUN educated us about national NON-PROFIT FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: forest policies and other legal issues that %ORGANIZATIONS American Botanical Council, PO Box 144345, affect our relationship with the forest,” AND NGOS Austin, TX 78714-4345, United States of says Hemraj Kafle, a community member America. E-mail: [email protected]ò in Nepal’s Jhapa district. “Its guidance has Amazon Watch www.herbalgram.org/ helped us to reclaim access to diverse Amazon Watch is a non-profit organization forest products.” working to protect the rain forest and the FECOFUN is one of three community rights of indigenous peoples in the networks featured in a new book that offers Amazon basin. Founded in 1996, the an in-depth case study analysis of organization collaborates with indigenous NGOs WORKING TO PROTECT community forestry across the globe. and environmental organizations, FORESTS: MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE Forests for people: community rights and campaigning for human rights, corporate forest tenure reform is the culmination of a accountability and the preservation of the A new report published by the United three-year study in ten countries in three Amazon’s ecological habitat. Its work is Kingdom Environmental Funders regions of the world – Africa, Asia and Latin rooted in the belief that indigenous Network maps out the civil society America. The research project, led and knowledge, cultures and traditional organizations working to address coordinated by CIFOR (Center for practices contribute in a vital way to the deforestation. International Forestry Research), examined sustainable and equitable stewardship of The report, Saving the rainforests: civil 30 sites of differing size and the Earth. society mapping, profiles 65 characteristics. Amazon Watch hopes to broaden public environmental and social justice Anne Larson, CIFOR associate and co- awareness and support of indigenous organizations, enabling readers to editor of Forests for people, notes that peoples and their stewardship of the identify gaps and overlaps in the networks such as FECOFUN and the Amazon rain forest, particularly in light of landscape of groups working to reduce Association of Forest Communities of new challenges such as climate change. global forest loss. The report specifically Petén (ACOFOP) in Guatemala have aims to inform grant-makers providing become key actors in the forest policy FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: funds to civil society organizations. process. “These organizations have been Amazon Watch, 221 Pine St, 4th Floor, “The mapping was inspired by the important not only for the defence of San Francisco, CA 94104, United States observation that good philanthropy is community rights but also for opening of America. Fax: 415-487-9601; similar to acupuncture – philanthropic communication between communities and e-mail: [email protected]; grants may be small in size compared the state forestry administration on a new www.amazonwatch.org with the body politic, but when inserted level,” she says. in the right place they can have In recent years, governments in American Botanical Council, enormous impact,” said Harriet Williams, developing countries have transferred at United States of America lead author of the report. “The least 200 million ha of forests to Founded in 1988, the American Botanical methodology that we’re developing is communities living in and around them. Council (ABC) is a leading international applicable to any complex environmental Now, more than a quarter of forests in non-profit organization addressing issue.” developing countries are owned by or research and educational issues The report – together with a map, assigned to communities. (Source: regarding herbs and medicinal plants. published separately – classifies NGOs into Thinking beyond the canopy, 26 March ABC’s members include academic nine “storylines” to categorize 2010.) researchers and educators; libraries; organizational culture: “Knowledge health professionals and medical builders”; “Peoples’ heroes”; “Institution institutions; government agencies; watchers”; “Finance pioneers”; “Standard members of the herb, dietary setters”; “Parks, rangers”; “Brand supplement, cosmetic and attackers”; “Critical friends”; and pharmaceutical industries; journalists; “Consumer guides”. For example, the consumers; and others in nearly report distinguishes between groups that 70 countries. often work with business (“Critical The organization publishes the friends”) to those that expose quarterly journal HerbalGram, the environmental transgressors among monthly e-publication HerbalEGram, corporations (“Brand attackers”). HerbClips (summaries of scientific and The map evaluates the stance of clinical publications), reference books various organizations on issues including and other educational materials. ABC carbon offsets, REDD (Reducing Emissions also hosts HerbMedPro, a powerful from Deforestation and Forest herbal database, covering scientific Degradation), and certification schemes and clinical publications on more than for forest products. (Source: Amazon 220 herbs and coproduces the “Herbal News, 1 April 2010.) insights” segment for Healing quest, a television series on PBS.

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Keystone, India wisdom that says biodiversity conservation Keystone is based in Kotagiri, a small town was not compatible with development in the Nilgiris, which is part of the Western goals. Ghats of India. It works with indigenous “The results are surprising. Most people communities in the Nilgiris Biosphere might expect that if you restrict resources, Reserve, declared a hotspot under the Man people on average will be worse off. In and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO. contrast, the results indicate that the net It is an extremely biodiversity-rich area, impact of ecosystem protection was to both in terms of the flora and fauna, as well alleviate poverty,” he said. as the different communities that coexist The findings come as seven countries; here. Keystone has already completed 15 Norway, Germany, the United States of years of work in the Nilgiris. America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Keystone’s mission is “to enhance the Japan and France commit to funding THE RELATIONSHIP quality of life and the environment with projects that will protect rain forests. At a % BETWEEN INDIGENOUS indigenous communities using meeting in Oslo this week, they reached an PEOPLE AND FORESTS ecodevelopment approaches”. Some of the interim agreement to help get REDD thematic areas that it is involved in are: projects (Reducing Emissions from More than 1.6 billion people around the conservation, livelihoods, environmental Deforestation and Forest Degradation) up world depend to varying degrees on forests governance, culture and people, and and running while they wait for an for their livelihoods – not just for food but organic market development. This has international agreement on tackling also for fuel, for livestock grazing areas meant working with traditional agriculture, climate change. A new body to manage the and for medicine. At least 350 million NTFPs, drinking-water and micro- funds will be set up by the end of the year. people live inside or close to dense forests, irrigation, and processing and value Professor Ferraro admitted that the largely dependent on these areas for addition of agricultural and forest produce, countries analysed in his study, Costa Rica subsistence and income, while about 60 etc. It also means coming up with and Thailand, may not be representative of million indigenous people are almost innovative approaches for mountain all developing nations, having experienced wholly dependent on forests. systems that are simple but relevant. both rapid economic growth within Indigenous forest people use their land in Dialogue with the forest department and relatively stable political systems. He also many different ways – for fishing, hunting, other government agencies is integral in said the study did not look at the reasons shifting agriculture, the gathering of wild this effort. behind the fall in poverty. However, he forest products and other activities. For Keystone also works through various believes the expanding ecotourism sectors them, the forest is the very basis of survival networks and holds the current presidency in both countries may have played a and its resources have to be harvested in a of the NTFP Exchange Programme. significant part. sustainable manner. But when traditional “The question we need to answer now is lifestyles change and, for example, industrial FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: whether poverty is being reduced through logging or mining takes place, overuse of Ms Snehlata Nath, c/o Keystone Foundation, ecosystem protection per se or because resources can lead to conflict. Groves Hill Road, PB 35, Kotagiri 643217, tourists come to see the biological diversity Although indigenous people around the Tamil Nadu, India. or because the protection maintains the world often have very different sets of beliefs E-mail: [email protected]; supply of other valuable ecosystem and traditions, a special bond with the land is www.nilgiriswaterportal.in; services,” he said. “Or is poverty reduced a common factor. For example, the semi- www.keystone-foundation.org through donor investments in development nomadic Matses people of the Peruvian activities and enhanced roads and public Amazon call the rain forest titá, meaning services (e.g. electricity and water mother. Titá provides the Matses with PROTECTING RAIN infrastructure) that often accompany the everything they need – as long as they follow %FORESTS SHOWN establishment of a protected area?” her rules, including never taking more from TO REDUCE POVERTY The Rainforest Foundation said that the the forest than is needed and treating all findings indicated that protected areas things belonging to it with respect. Introduction of measures to protect rain could have a positive, rather than the As with the Matses, indigenous peoples’ forests and ecosystems in Costa Rica and usually negative impact on poverty ideas of territory are not only concerned Thailand over the past 40 years has alleviation in poor countries in and around with controlling a geographic area or using improved the livelihoods of the local areas for biodiversity. “However, they have forest resources: territory also embodies population. to be treated with caution, as we do not fundamental aspects of culture and Researchers from Georgia State know from the study whether specific ‘pro- geography. University (United States of America) community’ measures were in place in the Indigenous forest people see themselves looked at the long-term impacts for poor cases studied, as these tend to be the as inseparably linked to the forest and people living near parks and reserves set exception rather than the rule, and could everything in it – trees, plants, rivers, up before 1985 and found the net impact of distort the findings of this study,” said animals and mountains. It is impossible, the protection was to alleviate poverty. United Kingdom Executive Director Simon according to community beliefs, to Study author Professor Paul Ferraro said Counsell. (Source: The Ecologist, 28 May separate any single object or living thing in the findings went against the conventional 2010.) the forest – such as a particular plant,

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residence in, and use of, forest areas. In the compounds the human body does not Democratic Republic of the Congo, absorb, the syrup is a low-calorie, low- indigenous groups and other forest- glycemic sweetener. According to a study in dependent communities are participating Clinical Nutrition, “daily intake of yacón in the mapping of their traditional syrup produced a significant decrease in territories. Such maps are likely to be a body weight, waist circumference and body vital tool in the future as indigenous people mass index”. around the world struggle to gain formal Luo han guo (Siraitia grosvenorii ) has recognition of their rights. (Source: Vital been cultivated for centuries in southwest Forest Graphics, 2009.) China. In 1995, Procter & Gamble patented a process to isolate the fruit’s sweet mogrosides compounds, creating a powder THE STICKY TRUTH: that is 250–300 times sweeter than sugar. %WEIGHING THE SUGAR Today, several companies sell ALTERNATIVES commercially prepared luo han guo products, some combined with herbs or animal or mineral – from its symbolic Americans love sweets. The sweetness we sugar alcohols. position in the cosmology of the people. crave can come from refined sugar, Stevia (Asteraceae family) is an extremely These ideas are expressed through chemically derived artificial sweeteners sweet herb native to Paraguay, where it has mythology, religious practices and systems (such as aspartame), or a host of “natural” been used for over 1 500 years. In Japan, it is of social regulation, including management products that are less processed, so they more common than sugar. The herb is of the environment and systems of contain nutrients that are otherwise 200–300 times sweeter than sugar, but has production and exchange. removed in the refining process. Natural no calories or carbohydrates and a low Because of their special relationship sweeteners cause less environmental glycemic index. The leaves also contain fibre, with the land, many indigenous people damage than sugar-cane plantations, and vitamins A and C and minerals. But there are cannot comprehend the idea that forests many offer more complex flavours than many concerns about its safety. Studies and land can be bought and sold. However, plain old sugar. suggest stevia may interfere with this does not mean that they do not have a Organic honey that has not been metabolism and absorption of clear notion of their rights. The use of pasteurized, clarified or filtered is the most carbohydrates, lead to male reproductive certain areas or resources may be granted ecofriendly sweetener. It is raw, problems and cause genetic mutations. The based on a number of criteria, such as unprocessed, minimally packaged and, if herb is not approved for use in the European belonging to a particular group, tribe or you are lucky, local. Union or Canada and was banned as a clan. Land use can also be based on Maple and sorghum syrups are also sweetener in the United States of America reciprocal agreements with neighbouring minimally processed; the sap or juice is until December 2008, when the Food and groups or individuals. boiled to remove the water, concentrating Drug Administration approved certain sweet In many countries, the state is the the sugars and minerals. compounds extracted from its leaves. official owner of most forest areas, even Palm sugar is a traditional sweetener in Agave syrup, a sweetener developed in though some of the land may have been Southeast Asia and India. The collected the last decade, comes from the sap of the inhabited for generations by large numbers flower nectars are kettle-boiled into thick Agave tequilana plant. The syrup (also of people. In some cases, the rights of such syrup, then dried and ground to produce a called “nectar”) is marketed as a healthy people are recognized. In the Philippines, grainy, crumbly sugar that is organic, alternative to sugar: raw, 100 percent for example, land issues in such areas are unbleached, contains amino acids, B governed by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights vitamins and minerals, and has a low Act. Unfortunately such regulations are glycemic index. Palms grow in diverse often contravened by powerful local agro-ecosystems that support wildlife interests. habitats, restore damaged soils and require Moreover, traditional tenure systems are little water. Per acre (0.40 ha), coconut not always recognized by governments, palms produce 50–75 percent more sugar leaving indigenous forest people without than sugar-cane plantations, and use less formal rights to their territories. This than one-fifth of the nutrients for that violates the United Nations Declaration on production. Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (UNDIPR) as The yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is well as ILO Convention 169 – both of which related to the sunflower and native to the place a clear obligation on states legally to Andes. Its crisp, sweet tuberous roots have recognize, demarcate and effectively long been eaten by the Incas of Peru and protect indigenous peoples’ territories and Bolivia (now the Plurinational State of). The natural resources. syrup is made by juicing the tubers, then One strategy that is increasingly being concentrating the liquid by boiling. used by forest people in order to defend Because the yacón’s sweetness comes their rights is to provide proof of their chiefly from fructo-oligosaccharides, Asteracae family

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natural, with a low glycemic index. But, crops. This might result from the group of first one is compulsory, and several of the according to Dr Ingrid Kohlstadt, a fellow of toxic biomolecules possessing insecticidal others should be met for a species to be the American College of Nutrition, it is just properties present in annona leaves. included in this list: high-fructose syrup “with great Similarly, some tree species (Alangium • the food was/is/could be used for marketing”. That is because converting the salvifolium, Annona squamosa and Aegle human consumption; plant’s juicy sap into syrupy nectar is a marmelos) have been found to have effects • may have great potential for complicated process involving heat and on the growth and development of crops contributing to food security and enzymes. To keep the syrup from because of the growth-promoting nutrition; fermenting, the natural enzymes are substances present in their leaf extract. • mainly local and traditional removed. When chemically processed, the The annona leaf extract, containing crops/animals (including insects, sap becomes hydrolysed high-fructose annonacin and annonidines, could enhance amphibians and reptiles) whose inulin syrup devoid of nutrients. (Source: the physiological activity and growth of distribution, biology, cultivation and Yvona Fast, The Environmental Magazine, cultivated crops or plants. uses are poorly documented; XXI: 2. March/April 2010.) The Albizzia amara leaf extract has • receive little attention from research, desirable attributes on plant growth and farmers, policy- and decision-makers, yield. Being an ecofriendly and cost- technology providers and consumers; TREE PRODUCTS: effective alternative, a 2-percent spray of • have weak or no formal seed/animal % A RESOURCE BASE young leaf extract of Albizzia amara could germplasm supply systems; FOR SUSTAINABLE be used in the absence of GA3 for rice • farmed, reared, gathered or caught on AGRICULTURE production. a small scale; Hence, many herbs and trees, • the species must be grown/raised in Ancient India was blessed with a rich particularly wild species, possess varied the country/region where it is knowledge of herbal remedies for humans alkaloids and compounds that can be underutilized. Species that are called Ayurveda, as well as for plants, extracted and used for sustainable imported do not count as underutilized called Vrikshayurveda. agriculture. in that region; According to the World Health (Contributed by: C. Harisudan, C. Sivaraj, • information on country/region of origin Organization, many people die every year M. Velmurugan and P. Hemalatha, should be given. because of pesticide poisoning and Directorate of Extension Education, Tamil These criteria, only intended to be used agrochemicals. The immediate effect has Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- to report on the two nutrition indicators for also appeared in the environment and 641 003, India. biodiversity, should not replace the broad ecosystems. These pesticides, besides E-mail: [email protected]) criteria that have been defined for creating atmospheric pollution and categorizing underutilized species as such consequent health hazards, are also toxic (www.underutilized-species.org/spotlight/ to non-target organisms such as animals, UNDERUTILIZED FOODS what_are_underutilized_species.asp). The predators and pollinators. Hence, the use AND NUTRITIONAL integration of these specific criteria and the of herbal insecticides in agriculture has % INDICATORS FOR reference list of underutilized foods assumed a greater importance as a result BIODIVERSITY accounting for food biodiversity will be of the growing awareness of the harmful uploaded on the Web sites of the Global environmental effects of chemical The development of nutritional indicators Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species pesticides. for biodiversity is a collaborative at www.underutilized-species.org/species/ Trees and plants, particularly wild international process, led by FAO, together about_species.asp and of INFOODS at species, have been an essential part of with Bioversity International and other www.fao.org/infoods/biodiversity/ human life. Plant products are naturally partners. The task is part of the cross- index_en.stm/ (Source: various, including evolved ingredients of the biosphere; they cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and Crops for the Future, Special Issue, March not only have an edge over synthetic alien nutrition. It is expected that these 2010. p molecules, but also preference and indicators will become an advocacy tool to acceptance from an environmental safety promote awareness of the importance of viewpoint and an ecofriendly approach. The food biodiversity – including wild, use of legumes as green manure, because indigenous and traditional foods – while of its high nutrient content and faster contributing to nutrition security and the decomposition rate, is very well known. conservation and sustainable use of food Leaf extracts from neem, pungam and biodiversity. bael trees have been found to have When reporting on these indicators, With courage you will dare to take insecticidal properties on pests such as difficulties were encountered in defining risks, have the strength to be Earias vitella, Helicoverpa armigera and underutilized foods. Therefore, FAO and compassionate and the wisdom to be Spodoptera litura, either by directly killing Crops for the Future have developed humble. Courage is the foundation of them or interfering with their specific criteria in order to establish the integrity. metamorphosis. reference list for underutilized foods Keshavan Nair The application of annona tree leaf accounting for the nutritional indicators for extract has checked pest incidence in biodiversity. Of the following criteria, the

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%AGARWOOD But agarwood was not new to the required. Later, in 2004, all agarwood Bhutanese living at the foothills. Tenzingla, species were also added to the list. Agarwood is considered “wood of the gods” a Bhutanese expert on plant genetics, Although overall trade volumes of the in Bhutan recalls how a Bhutanese businessman wood may appear small in “timber trade” When agarwood (Aquillaria tree) – approached him with an idea of extracting terms, they are not small in monetary commonly called aloe wood and eaglewood agarwood oil. “I found out that the tree terms. Agarwood chips and segments may – gets infected, naturally or artificially, it produced the oil as a by-product of a sell for several hundred to several produces a resin with a strong musky microbial fungal reaction,” he said. “The thousand United States dollars per smell, which is highly sought after in the tree as such has no value. It becomes kilogram. In the Qatar market, 18 g of the international market. valuable only when it gets infected.” wood can cost QR500. Locally called ogur, agarwood is valued The Department of Forests says that the The wood is mainly used to make in many cultures because of its distinctive tree is nearing extinction in Bhutan, which customary perfume and for other cultural fragrance. From Saudi royalty to Bhutanese Tenzingla said is a result of smuggling. purposes in the region. The demand for the monks, it is used widely in perfumes and Agarwood has been identified as an wood is high because of its medicinal, incense. endangered species, and because the religious, cultural and aromatic value An expert from Bhutan, Chang Dorji, market for agarwood is increasing, some throughout the world, mainly within Asia. calls the tree a treasure. “In the Buddhist countries have adapted measures to “The trade history of the wood goes back community, it is known as ogur sang shing control the overexploitation of the tree. In centuries, and hence there is a huge (agar incense wood) and considered wood anticipation of the growing international mismanagement as it does not look into for the gods,” he said. “The dark wood is market, valued in billions of United States having a trade system that can ensure the used to make special incense that is dollars, 55 million agarwood trees have conservation of the agarwood reserves. offered only to Bhutan’s chief protective been planted in Assam (India), 1.5 million in This is a key CITES issue,” said Compton. deity Palden Lham.” the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and The quality and quantity of agarwood One kilogram of the infected tree’s chips 2 million in Thailand. from the wild are also going down because costs about USD190 (about Nu8 400), with In 1995, CITES listed the Aquillaria tree of extreme exploitation. “People are better grades fetching USD10 000/kg. The as a potentially threatened species in the looking to make money out of this kind of cheapest oud oil, distilled from agarwood, world. At the recent CITES conference, the harvesting; hence that is also another can cost about USD20/kg, while the finest need to protect Aquillaria trees was also challenge for CITES to differentiate oud oils distilled from agarwood can cost discussed. (Source: www.kuensenonline. between wild and the domestic species,” as much as USD7 000/kg. com [Bhutan], 18 April 2010.) he said. In Bhutan, the National Institute of Consumer countries, including Qatar, Traditional Medicine is the only Agarwood needs protection should work together with producers to organization that currently buys agarwood The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) ensure an agarwood industry that for medicinal use. It costs about Nu60 for countries should make the right choice encourages legal and sustainable trade 1 kg of agar. According to pharmacists, they immediately to protect depleting agarwood and curbs the black market. (Source: The use about two trees. resources. The agarwood trade industry Peninsula [Qatar], 15 March 2010.) The Aquillaria tree is native to Southeast with its billion dollar value is in need of Asia and grows in eight countries: Myanmar, proper management for its sustainable Bhutan, Thailand, the Philippines, Viet Nam, continuation, according to James Compton, Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Asia-Pacific Programme Coordinator for In Bhutan, it grows in the subtropical TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring foothills, especially in Samdrupjongkhar, network. “The CITES conference is an Sarpang, Samtse and Zhemgang. important turning-point for agarwood According to sources, the late Dasho conservation and trade as some of the Nishoka accidentally discovered it in major consumers are in the region,” he told Bhutanese forests. “Two people felling The Peninsula. “There should be a trees illegally in Panbang were caught and, collaborative management between both on investigation, they were found the consumer countries and the producers. smuggling agarwood,” recalled a colleague If consumer countries such as the GCC %BAMBOO of the late Dasho, adding, “Dasho used to states, Taiwan (Republic of China), Japan say that there was a lot of poaching of the and others make the right choice and Bamboo nations prepare to shoot into tree in southern Bhutan by people from commitment now, a long-lasting change carbon markets across the border”. A study carried out by will happen. If something is not done, in Interest in using bamboo for climate change the Department of Forests, with assistance five years the chance of a sustainable trade mitigation is picking up in Southeast Asia. from the World Wide Fund for Nature, is very low.” The Philippines and Cambodia, both rich in found that the Aquillaria trees were almost Agarwood, an aromatic wood, is at threat bamboo, used the opportunity offered by the extinct because of uncontrolled of depletion in the wild. In 1995, one United Nations Framework Convention on exploitation. “When the late Dasho learned species of agarwood was listed in CITES Climate Change (UNFCCC) last year to open about the value of these trees, he collected Appendix II, meaning that trade could up the definition of “forest” for bamboo and seeds and planted 3 000 of them.” continue, but a CITES export permit is palms. The two countries have taken a

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALPRODUCTS FEATURES AND MARKETS 23

national decision to broaden their forests to promocional de la Sociedad Civil Habitat- bamboo and palms, and have Cuba, a través de un trabajo sistemático que communicated this to the UNFCCC (clean comenzó por la divulgación y capacitación, development mechanism [CDM] Executive así como las experiencias en países del área Board). Technically, this enables CDM que revelaron resultados positivos. En el afforestation/reforestation (A/R) projects 2003 se celebró el Primer Taller Nacional de with bamboos and palms. Viet Nam is taking Bambú organizado por la ACTAF y a similar decision in the immediate future. patrocinado por el Fondo Canadá-Cuba para While the potential of bamboo in carbon iniciativas locales, donde se presentó el sequestration is considered high, the Programa Desarrollo de Alternativas standard A/R methodologies designed for Agroecológicas para el uso del bambú en tree forests need adjustments to Cuba. En la actualidad, se continúa con el accommodate the peculiarities of bamboo. It desarrollo de este programa en siete is anticipated that the voluntary carbon provincias, patrocinado por la ONG COSUDE. markets are providing better opportunities La regeneración natural de los bambúes for bamboo, with their wider range of la guadua alcanza su punto culminante como ocurre estacionalmente por medio de accepted mitigation activities. material, hoy denominado «Acero Vegetal». semillas y por la activación asexual de las Integrated bamboo carbon projects can En la industria papelera en Brasil, se yemas del rizoma y de los culmos. Estas vías be designed to: (i) plant bamboo on eligible destaca el grupo Joao Santos, y la de propagación son limitadas, aún más lands for sequestration; (ii) improve stand industrialización de las chusqueas (bambúes cuando se desea introducir la especie a la management to enhance carbon stocking; de altura) en Chile, son dos buenos ejemplos producción. Una alternativa a la propagación (iii) make long-lasting products for locking de seguir. En la actualidad, todos los países vegetativa es la regeneración y up carbon; and (iv) promote fuel switches del mundo fijan su atención en el recurso multiplicación de plantas in vitro. Esta from coal and diesel to the use of dead bambú y su potencial, que ya no es futuro, técnica ha sido utilizada para la propagación culms and processing waste in generating sino un presente. de otras especies de bambú, utilizando rural electricity. All such activities can Aproximadamente, el 50 por ciento de las primordios foliares de ápices, semillas generate carbon offset credits, which can be especies de bambú existentes en la maduras y hojas inmaduras. sold and revenue collected. A payment for naturaleza, se hallan en América. Se El cultivo in vitro ofrece varias ventajas en environmental services (PES) scheme would encuentran prácticamente en todos los la propagación de las plantas, los bambúes provide a robust mechanism for engaging países americanos, desde los 40° de latitud no escapan de esta posibilidad. La farmers with bamboo in carbon finance. norte hasta los 47° de latitud sur, y desde el propagación en laboratorio de este grupo de (Contributed by: Mr Jukka Tissari, Forestry nivel del mar hasta los 4 000 m de altura en plantas de diferentes especies, se ha Officer [Forest Products Trade and los Andes. Cabe mencionar algunos desarrollado en varios países. En Cuba, se Marketing], Forest Products and Industries aspectos referentes a la Guadua angustifolia, trabaja en el establecimiento de protocolos Team, Forest Economics, Policy and una de las más valiosas especies de la de propagación en el laboratorio de algunas Products Division, FAO Forestry naturaleza, endémica desde Venezuela hasta especies de interés para los programas de Department. Fax: +39-06-570 55137; e-mail: las selvas amazónicas del Perú, reforestación que se están desarrollando en [email protected]) aproximadamente 50 millones de personas algunas provincias. Sin lugar a dudas las en el continente americano, utilizan tasas de multiplicación que se alcanzan con Desarrollo y uso del bambú como una bambúes en su vida diaria, ya sea de manera estas técnicas, en tan poco tiempo, no se alternativa agroecológica tradicional o en usos modernos. pueden lograr por ninguno de los métodos El bambú, patrimonio de la humanidad, es la A principios del Siglo XX llegaron los de propagación referidos para estas especie vegetal de más rápido crecimiento nuevos materiales, como el cemento y el especies. en la naturaleza. Dependiendo de la especie, acero. Sin embargo, el uso del bambú en las Los bambúes son de vital importancia en Asia se utiliza para alimento, materia comunidades rurales y en las áreas para los programas de construcción y de prima para extracción de celulosa, periféricas de pequeñas y grandes fabricación de muebles que se están artesanías, medicinas, laminados, refrescos, poblaciones, se convirtió en el «material de llevando a cabo en las provincias de licores y mil usos más, la mayoría de estos los pobres», encontrado en infinidad de Granma y Holguín, entre otras. La Guadua usos se realizan a nivel industrial. El bambú aplicaciones industriales, desde alimentos angustifolia y la Bambusa bambos son ha sido utilizado en América de diferentes hasta medicinas, pasando por tejidos, bambúes con ciertas características formas desde tiempos precolombinos, y hoy artesanías, bebidas y construcciones entre particulares, y de crecimiento rápido, lo se vislumbra su uso de manera otras. cual es de interés para estos programas de industrializada. Entre los centenares de La construcción de 1000 casas anuales de reforestación y de construcción. especies de bambú endémicas de América, bambú con material proveniente de 60 h de Aunque los trabajos de propagación in se destaca el género guadua, y entre ellos la una plantación de Guadua, equivale a la vitro fueron iniciados con Guadua especie Guadua angustifolia, considerada madera de 500 h de valiosos árboles angustifolia, esta especie se comportó como una de las variedades más importante tropicales. recalcitrante, por lo que se continuaron los para la construcción por sus propiedades A mediados de la década de 1990 fue que trabajos con otras especies de bambúes. físico mecánicas. Con la edificación del se comenzó a hablar del cultivo organizado En el Centro de Bioplantas de la Pabellón Zeri, en la feria de Hannover 2000, del bambú por medio de la gestión Universidad de Ciego de Avila, se han

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logrado, en sólo dos semana de cutivo in This means that if the product is not made vitro, altas tasas de proliferación para directly of bamboo fibre, but is a Bambusa bambos. manufactured fibre for which bamboo was El bambú ha sido, es y será un valioso the plant source – it should be labelled and recurso natural de América, por lo que es advertised using the proper generic name necesario su estudio, su manejo, su for the fibre, such as rayon. explotación sostenible, su In Canada, the Canadian Competition aprovechamiento industrial, así como su Bureau (CCB) requires importers and protección para las generaciones retailers to comply with the country’s presentes y futuras. Textile Labelling Act (TLA) and the Textile Aportación hecha por: Marcos Daquinta Labelling and Advertising Regulations Gradaille, Centro de Bioplantas, (TLAR). The correct generic name depends Universidad de Ciego de Ávila. Carretera on the cellulose process used. If the Morón, Km 9. CP 69450. Cuba. Correo product is made of commercially produced electrónico: [email protected] rayon fibres derived from bamboo, the generic fibre name must first make EU releases Ghana ¢28million to promote reference to either “rayon” or the bamboo as an alternative energy source in clothing and other textile products – such corresponding process outlined in the Ghana and Ethiopia as towels, socks and T-shirts – on the TLAR, followed by the words “from The European Union (EU) has released 28 market, which hail the virtues of bamboo bamboo”. (Source: INBAR, 15 April 2010.) million Ghana cedis to support a project and are labelled “made from bamboo”. that seeks to promote bamboo as a new However, with the increase of such source of energy in Ghana and Ethiopia. products, the scrutiny of the labels and The project, dubbed: “Bamboo as a claims made about the origins of the fibre Sustainable Biomass Energy – A suitable have increased and, in many cases, the FTC CRACKS DOWN Alternative for Charcoal and Firewood authorities have concluded that such ON “GREENWASHING” IN THE Production in Africa”, aims at increasing claims or labelling practices do not comply UNITED STATES OF AMERICA the use of bamboo as a source of energy for with the relevant laws and regulations. the poor, while providing a more Bamboo fabric can be produced from Seventy-eight companies nationwide sustainable, environmentally friendly and bamboo fibres. If the natural fibres are have received Federal Trade economical option to firewood and used and made into yarn, the fabric is made Commission (FTC) letters warning that charcoal. from bamboo and in some countries can be they may be breaking the law by The 48-month project launched in March labelled as such. selling clothing and other textile 2009 is being coordinated by the However, most “bamboo fabric” is products that are labelled and International Network for Bamboo and actually viscose or rayon, a regenerated advertised as “bamboo”, but are Rattan (INBAR), in collaboration with the cellulose fibre that is chemically actually made of manufactured rayon governments of Ghana and Ethiopia. manufactured from bamboo, by a very fibre. The letters make the retailers A statement issued by the EU said it was similar process used to make rayon from aware of the FTC’s concerns about absolutely critical that the processes of the wood or other biomass and waste by- possible mislabelling of rayon products project in both Ghana and Ethiopia respect products. as “bamboo”, so the companies can existing government policies and help In the largest markets for these textile take corrective steps to avoid FTC proactively in promoting sector governance products – the European Union (EU), the action. issues and raising awareness of United States of America (USA) and Canada The FTC has a publication designed environmental aspects and consequences – the authorities have all issued specific to help businesses that sell clothing of the project. rules on the labelling and marketing of and textile products that are labelled In this respect, people should be mindful “bamboo” textiles. as bamboo to market their products in of the deforestation taking place in both For the EU market, the European ways that are truthful, non-deceptive countries and must understand the causes Commission has issued a directive on and in compliance with the law. for this and be aware that simply textile names. The Directive, published on “Avoid bamboozling your customers” introducing a new energy source may not 14 January 2009, addresses labelling can be found at www.ftc.gov/bamboo. necessarily in itself solve all the problems. requirements and textile fibre names, The FTC also has an alert entitled (Source: Ghana News Agency, 19 February describing conditions and rules for the “Have you been bamboozled by 2010.) labelling of textile products to be placed on bamboo fabrics?” that provides useful the EU market. information for consumers shopping Labelling and marketing “bamboo” Also, in the USA, the Federal Trade for bamboo-based fabrics. It can also textiles Commission (the USA’s consumer be found at www.ftc.gov/bamboo. Bamboo is becoming more popular in protection agency) has ruled that unless a (Source: Wall Street Journal, commercial usage and is often marketed product is made directly with bamboo fibre 3 February 2010.) as a “sustainable” and “green” product in – often called “mechanically processed many countries. There are now many bamboo” – it cannot be called “bamboo”.

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Bamboo bikes: the ultimate ecofriendly down the river from them, they make much ride of their living from the açaí harvest, which Craig Calfee is known as the master of they calculate is 8 000 açaí palms on 35 bamboo-bike builders. In his workshop on acres (14 ha). “Two or three years ago, we the Californian coast, the frame designer had a lot of trouble selling the product,” builds breathtaking bikes out of the fast- Orisvaldo Ferreira de Souza said. “We had to growing bamboo, the largest member of bring it to town, and sometimes we came the grass family. back without selling it.” Back then, he said, Bamboo is native to all the Earth’s a standard lata, or 14 kg basket, brought continents, including North America, and about two or three Brazilian reais, or for the new bike prototype Calfee used roughly five cents a pound (0.45 kg) at Californian bamboo. He found that the bike today’s exchange rates. But now, the had impressive impact resistance and was harvesters don’t even have to leave their tougher than carbon fibre and less prone to % BERRIES land: buyers ply the river right up to their fracturing. These results were confirmed rickety wooden pier offering ten reais or after the bamboo frames were tested at the Açaí – global super fruit – is dinner in the more. “Just yesterday, six buyers came by,” EFBe bicycle testing laboratory in Amazon he said. “We sold ten baskets each to two of Germany. Clustered high up in the slender, tilting them.” Calfee has now found a whole new area palms of the eastern Amazon, the little Exact export figures are hard to come by, of operations for his bamboo bikes: Africa. purple orbs known as açaí (from the Euterpe but in Pará, which produces almost “In developing countries, bicycles are oleracea tree) look mighty. Virtually 90 percent of Brazil’s açaí, the export enormously important for transporting unknown outside the Amazon two decades category that essentially refers to açaí pulp goods and going to school or to the ago, and until 2000 not exported from Brazil surged from 380 tonnes in 2000 to 1 700 market,” he says. And the big advantage – its major producer – açaí is now an tonnes in 2005 – to 9 400 tonnes last year. that bamboo bikes have over steel bikes is international celebrity, riding the wave of the For the de Souzas and families around that the raw materials to make them are antioxidant craze and rain forest chic. them, added income has meant that they growing right there. But for families who live here along the can buy meat and chicken in town, attach Calfee founded Bamboosero, an winding, interlaced rivers at the hub of açaí motors to their boats, purchase power initiative supported by, among others, the production, the fruit has long been a vital generators or solar panels and afford Earth Institute of Columbia University, part of their diet, a cheap way to fill up and a parabolic antennas and televisions. which supports sustainable development taste of home. And now, for some, it is a The fruit was traditionally collected from benefiting the world’s poor. The source of newfound prosperity. wild palms. Now companies have açaí Bamboosero project endeavours to teach In places such as Cametá, a town of about plantations, and collectors are raising more locals in developing nations how to make 117 000 people, and Belém, the capital of açaí palms on their land, according to their own bicycles, with the long-term goal Pará state, a bowl of açaí pulp is a filling side Antônio Cordeiro de Santana, an agricultural of eventually founding a bicycle-making dish especially valued by poorer families. economist at the Rural Federal University of business. Unlike the pulp used in Rio’s smoothies, the the Amazon. With cultivation more In February 2008, Calfee helped teach kind here is not pre-sweetened or frozen, concentrated, resistance to disease and three groups in Ghana the basics of but fresh from cylindrical machines known productivity have decreased, he said, even bamboo bike frame building. There are now as batedores de açaí, “açaí beaters”, which as the number of açaí palms in Pará has several projects ongoing in that country. remove the thin layer of fruit from the pit. exploded. (Source: The New York Times in And further projects are planned, Almost every neighbourhood has stands or Amazon News, 24 February 2010.) everywhere from Uganda and Liberia to the small stores where customers get a daily or Philippines and New Zealand. (Source: weekly supply. Belém’s most famous açaí Maqui berry, super berry Spiegel Online, 8 January 2010.) market, the Feira do Açaí, bustles before Another year, another super berry. It used to dawn as wholesalers stack baskets of the be said that açaí berries packed the most Philippines town turns taxis green fruit on the cobblestone square. powerful antioxidant punch, but research The Philippine town of Tabontabon, in the Açaí’s international reputation as an now suggests that the maqui berry (the fruit province of Leyte, has commissioned taxis energy booster and diet aid tickles those from the maqui tree or Aristotelia chilensis), with bodies made of indigenous bamboo. who grew up with it as a caloric side dish. which grows in Chile and Argentina, is even Not only, they burn biodiesel fuel made While the old ways of eating açaí continue more potent. from locally available nut oils. in the Amazon, increased demand The deep purple colour of the fruit Tabontabon mayor Rustico Balderian is elsewhere in the world has driven up prices suggests incredibly high level of antioxidants the inspiration behind these “ECO taxis”, and made life easier for people such as 53- and it also boasts an ability to prevent which are 90 percent bamboo. They provide year-old Orisvaldo Ferreira de Souza; his premature ageing, aid weight loss and boost employment opportunities for local youth, younger brother, Josivaldo; and their elderly the immune system. and safer transport for families who parents. The de Souzas live in a battered The maqui has long been used by the otherwise ride four or five together on a wooden home on stilts on Itanduba Island, Mapuche Indians for its amazing health single motorcycle. (Source: www. about an hour by boat from Cametá’s town benefits. It is also believed to have powerful greencarreports.com, 19 March 2010.) centre. Like the families who live up and anti-inflammatory properties that can help

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to alleviate the pain of sore joints, aching about five tonnes of bushmeat gets into Paris flourish but in a hidden economy that makes muscles and swelling. each week. They also noted that penalties for it more difficult to manage or control. Maqui extract is also widely used as a importing illegal meats are light and rarely “Those in the bushmeat trade who make colouring for Chilean wines. (Source: imposed. Under French law, the maximum money out of the commercialization of rare www.liverpool.echo.co.uk, 22 February 2010.) penalty is confiscation of the goods and a species for the healthy urban markets need USD556 (450 euro) fine. to be strictly controlled. However, those Bushmeat is widely eaten and sold in who eat bushmeat for their own nutrition or % BUSHMEAT Central and West Africa, with the Central sell bushmeat to pay for medicines or African Republic, Cameroon and the Republic school fees, should not be presented as Bushmeat trade creates new luxury of the Congo being the main sources. It is criminals,” she says. market in Europe typically allowed where people are permitted Dr Van Vliet will coordinate a session Traders sell an array of bushmeat: monkey to hunt, as long as their prey is not dealing with the hunting of bushmeat in carcasses, smoked anteater, even preserved endangered and they can prove the animals Central Africa at the 2010 IUFRO World porcupine. But this is not a roadside market in were killed in the wild. Congress in Seoul. She hopes her session will Africa – it is the heart of Paris, where a new A bushmeat ban is enforced in Kenya, but it reach beyond conservationists to integrate study has found more than five tonnes of is legal in most parts of the Republic of the the input of social, health and economic bushmeat slip through the city’s main airport Congo, where hunters may stalk wildlife stakeholders to help develop more integrated each week. parks that are not heavily guarded. bushmeat strategies and policies. (Source: Experts suspect similar amounts are Even after several outbreaks of the deadly IUFRO News, 29: 2, 2010.) arriving in other European hubs as well – an Ebola virus linked to eating bushmeat, the illegal trade that is raising concerns about practice remains widespread. Scientists diseases ranging from monkeypox to Ebola, warned that eating bushmeat was a potential and is another twist in the continent’s health hazard. Malcolm Bennett, of the struggle to integrate a growing African United Kingdom’s National Centre for immigrant population. Zoonosis Research at the University of The research, the first time experts have Liverpool, said bushmeat had a high risk of documented how much bushmeat is bacteria like salmonella and might also be smuggled into any European city, was carrying new diseases. published on Friday in the journal Nina Marano, chief of the quarantine unit at Conservation Letters. the United States Centers for Disease Control “Anecdotally we know it does happen ... But and Prevention, said similar underground it is quite surprising the volumes that are markets for bushmeat exist across America. coming through,” said Marcus Rowcliffe, a “We have to be culturally sensitive and Rare animals being “eaten to extinction” research fellow of the Zoological Society of recognize this is important for some African in the Congo Basin London and one of the study’s authors. communities,” she said. “But there are no Research in the Congo Basin in Africa has In the Chateau Rouge neighbourhood in regulations for the preparation of meat from found that more than three million tonnes of central Paris, bushmeat is on the menu – at wildlife to render it safe.” bushmeat are being extracted from the area least for those in the know. The scale of Europe’s illicit bushmeat trade every year. Most of the animals are small For the study, European experts checked suggests the emergence of a luxury market. antelopes such as the blue duiker or rodents 29 Air France flights from Central and West Prices can be as high as USD18/pound (30 such as porcupines, but larger mammals Africa that landed at Paris Roissy-Charles de euros/kg), double that of more mundane such as monkeys and even gorillas are also Gaulle airport over a 17-day period in June supermarket meats. (Source: Business Daily taken. 2008. Of 134 people searched, nine had [Kenya], 23 June 2010.) The study published in Mammal Review bushmeat and 83 had livestock or fish. The found the rate of hunting is higher than ever people with bushmeat had the largest Bushmeat: beyond the ecological crisis because of malnutrition in the area and is amounts: one passenger had 51 kg of Contemporary African societies are a mix of calling for more funding to help the local bushmeat – and no other luggage. Most of the modernized Western society and traditional community find alternative sources of food. bushmeat was smoked and arrived as dried African roots. Those traditions mean that Bushmeat is one of the most important carcasses. Some animals were identifiable, people – rural and urban – still consume sources of protein for many people around although scientists boiled the remains of bushmeat for reasons linked to culture, taste the world, especially in Africa. But in a others and reassembled the skeletons to and attachment to healthy, natural products. 500 million-acre (202 343-ha) region of the determine the species. Experts found 11 However, the scale of hunting occurring in Congo Basin stretching into eight countries, types of bushmeat, including monkeys, large Central Africa poses a threat to many tropical hunting has reached an unprecedented scale. rats, crocodiles, small antelopes and forest species. The response to this has Researchers from the Overseas pangolins, or anteaters. Almost 40 percent typically been legal: ban the trade in Development Institute calculated that were listed in the Convention on International bushmeat and criminalize the hunters and 3.4 million tonnes of bushmeat are removed Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna consumers. every year from that area alone, equivalent to and Flora (CITES). This, said Nathalie Van Vliet, bushmeat the weight of 40.7 million men. Based on what officials seized – 188 kg of strategic advisor for TRAFFIC, has not been John Fa, Chief Conservation Officer at the bushmeat – the researchers estimated that terribly effective. The trade continues to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said it

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was “unsustainable”. He pointed out that roots, which traditional peoples have illegal logging is also destroying habitats, and long used to treat toothache. predators such as leopards will be unable to • Carissa carandas is commonly known survive without prey. “People are taking rare as caronda and is eaten raw and in animals out of the forest at an enormous rate jams, jellies and sherbet. The sweeter yet we know very little about them,” he said. fruits may be eaten raw but the more The animals most vulnerable to acidic ones are best boiled with plenty extinction by hunting include the Drill of sugar. The fruit produces a gummy baboon, red colobus monkey, black colobus latex when cooked and the rich red monkey, Preuss’s guenon monkey, juice is used in cold beverages. In India, moustached guenon monkey, crowned the ripe fruits are utilized in curries, guenon monkey, gorillas and chimpanzees. Carissa tarts, puddings and chutney. When the (Source: The Telegraph [United Kingdom], fruits are not yet mature, they are often 23 March 2010.) picked to make a jelly. % CARISSA • Carissa macrocarpa, commonly called the Natal plum, is a shrub native to Carissa: a neglected fruit of the forest South Africa, where it is known as the India is rich in plant diversity. An estimated large num-num. It grows well in salt- CAMEROON REGULATES TRADE 15 000 species can be found in different laden winds, which makes it well- OF BUSHMEAT climatic zones, 1 000 of which are edible. suited for coastal areas. It is commonly Many of them are popular fruits among found in the coastal bush of the In an attempt to preserve endangered tribal and forest dwellers. Eastern Cape and Natal. It grows to animal species in Cameroon, the Carissa is a genus of 20–30 species of heights of 0.6–2.15 m, reaching a width Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife has shrubs or small trees native to the tropical of 2.15–3.05 m. Natal plums produce authorized the sale of wildlife meat, and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia shiny, deep green leaves and snowy or bushmeat, on designated markets. and Asia. It belongs to the Apocynaceae white flowers, whose scent intensifies The government hopes to get a grip family. The species can range between at night. Like other Carissa species, on the rampant selling, trading and 2 and 10 m in height, with spiny branches. this is also a spiny, evergreen shrub trafficking of bushmeat in Cameroon. The leaves are thick and waxy, typically containing latex. The plump, round, The authorization of the bushmeat between 3 and 8 cm long. The flowers are crimson fruit appears in summer and sales on designated markets will allow produced throughout most of the year; they autumn when it blooms. In moderate, sellers to distinguish themselves from range between 1 and 5 cm in diameter, with coastal areas the fruit can appear those who are illegally trading in a five-lobed white or pink corolla. The fruit throughout the year. It can be eaten seriously endangered wildlife species. is a plum-shaped berry, and can be red or freshly picked or made into pies, jams, The Last Great Ape (LAGA), a dark purple depending on the species. It jellies and sauces. The fruit is the only wildlife law enforcement organization can contain as many as 16 flat brown part of the plant that is edible. that fights “the commercial poaching seeds. Only the fruit of the plant is edible. (Source: Kavya Dashora, Reshma Shaheen, with its related trade of protected Conservation strategies ought to include Anjali Gupta and Meenakshi Bhardwaj in species”, applauds the decision to the protection of less popular fruits such as MFP News, XX: 2, 2010.) regulate the bushmeat trade. “I Carissa, because they are an important believe that it will go a long way to source of nutrition for forest peoples. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: start better enforcement of the The most important Carissa species Kavya Dashora, National Bureau of Plant wildlife law for the benefit of all; the commonly consumed by tribal peoples Genetic Resources, Pusa, New Delhi – 110012, benefit of wildlife in the country and include C. acuminata, C. arduina, C. India. Fax: + 91-11-25842495; the benefit of the sellers themselves,” bispinosa, C. boiviniana, C. carandas, C. e-mail: [email protected]; said Ofir Drori, Director of LAGA. macrocarpa, C. oblongifolia, C. opaca, C. www.nbpgr.ernet.in/ The hunting and trading of septentrionalis and C. spinarum. bushmeat are ingrained in society to The uses of some of these Carissa plants the extent that these activities have are described below. %CORK become the sole source of income for • Carissa bispinosa can grow up to 5 m many local residents. The government tall. The plants need moderate Cork, plastic or twist? The cork industry has set up projects to offer alternative watering and grow best in partial shade tightens the screws on the wine industry ways to make a living. Drori says that and sunny conditions. They are More wineries are moving towards plastic it is in fact the rich people who benefit particularly resistant to windy bottles and aluminium caps and away from from the illegal trade, whereas the conditions, are moderately drought cork stoppers. poor are exploited. (Source: Epoch resistant, and are best suited for Some would say this is unfortunate for a Times [United States of America], warmer and coastal areas. host of reasons. Harvesting cork is an 17 February 2010.) Traditionally, the plants are not only ancient practice that keeps a cluster of valued for their edible fruits, used in cork trees – which are almost entirely in jams and jellies, but also for their Portugal and Spain – alive.

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More winemakers around the world, removed every 9–12 years without ever which is used as insulation on the Space however, are turning to synthetic damaging the tree, which lives for more Shuttle’s external fuel tank – has not been alternatives. Wineries in Australia and New than 200 years. Cork only has the used more often. DynAero, which has a Zealand gravitate towards metal caps qualities needed for the production of factory in Portugal’s central-south Alentejo because importing cork is expensive. Some wine bottle stoppers – its main region, says the carbon fibre-cork would argue that synthetics avoid cork application – after the third harvesting. composite could be used in airframe parts mould that can taint wine while providing an • The ancient Greeks and Romans used such as the fuselage and wings. The easier way to seal a bottle. cork in combination with natural resins material would be lightweight and fire While many high-end vintners still use to stopper wine and oil amphorae. Now, retardant, two important, if not obvious, cork, synthetics are still gaining in some 70 percent of all cork produced is factors in aeroplane design. (Source: popularity, so now the cork industry is used to make wine bottle stoppers. www.wired.com, 4 February 2010.) pressuring winemakers and distributors to Portugal alone makes 40 million stay with cork for environmental and stoppers per day. economic reasons. • The tree’s acorns are used to feed the Corticeira Amorim, a leading Portuguese pigs that make some of the cured ham cork manufacturer, has launched a Web site for which Spain and Portugal are detailing all sorts of facts and statistics. The famous. company touts a PricewaterhouseCoopers • Thanks to cork’s cell-like structure, the study explaining that synthetic corks create material is elastic, resilient and highly a carbon footprint exponentially higher than impermeable. that of naturally derived cork. Other studies • Ground-up cork is “baked” and explain that cork taint is overhyped, outline compressed to make floor and wall tiles, Amorim’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas good for acoustic isolation. Granulated emissions and articulate how cork recycling cork is added to concrete for thermal is increasing and how the results of this are insulation and reduced weight. beneficial for the planet. All these reports Shredded cork is used in ablative %FERNS and campaigns have the purpose of thermal protection coating on booster pressuring winemakers to turn away from rockets, including the Space Shuttle’s Breakthrough breast cancer treatment synthetics and return to cork. external tank, which is jettisoned as it The next treatment for breast cancer could The environmental and social impacts of leaves the Earth’s atmosphere. stem from a fern. “The fact is ferns had to cork’s decline are clear: cork provides some (Source: Reuters India, 1 February 2010.) adapt to land conditions and make some of the world’s few remaining high-paying major biochemical adaptations for agricultural jobs. A decline in cork Cork aeroplanes could prop up purposes of protection from predators,” production could devastate cork forests, bottle-shocked industry explained Dr Sarah Crawford, who which house trees hundreds of years old and The old pilot’s rule of “eight hours from oversees research at Southern Connecticut contain rare ecosystems that would bottle to throttle” will take on a new State University (SCSU) in New Haven disappear should cork production cease. meaning if researchers in Portugal find a (Connecticut, United States of America). Finally, much of the Mediterranean has way to make aeroplanes out of cork. With So far, the medicinal properties of the suffered from drought – cork trees protect the wine industry turning to alternative ways fern are showing promising results in the local soil from drying out and halt erosion. of capping a bottle, Portugal is scrambling fight against aggressive forms of breast (Source: Environmental News Network, to find new markets for its huge cork cancer. “What we’ve found is that our 23 July 2010.) industry. The country produces about half of concentrated extract works at least as well, the world’s cork supply. Because the conservatively speaking, if not better than Key facts about cork and its use material is lightweight and naturally Taxol and some of the standard Following are some key facts about cork resistant to fire, one idea is to redirect the chemotherapy currently used in the and its main applications, from bottle country’s USD1.4 billion cork industry from treatment of the disease,” Dr Crawford stoppers to the aerospace industry. wine bottles to aeroplane parts. explained. • Cork is made from the bark of the cork The French aircraft manufacturer In short, the highly concentrated fern oak (Quercus suber) – the predominant DynAero hopes to develop two- and four- extract interferes with cancer cells. tree species in Portugal. Portugal seater aeroplanes, using cork as a “Attachment is essential for viability of accounts for just over half of the world’s substitute for other composite materials, the cells, so if the chemicals in the plants cork output, producing 157 000 tonnes according to Reuters. While the idea of interfere with that attachment, that will annually. There are also plantations in flying in a cork aeroplane may not inspire then start to kill the cancer cells,” said France, Spain, Italy, Algeria, Morocco much confidence, we are not talking about Deana Diamond, SCSU. and Tunisia. a rickety ultralight model. DynAero plans to The evidence is in the tumours, which • Over 100 000 people depend on cork wrap a cork core with carbon fibre, in much are grown outside the body in a laboratory growing and processing in these the same way as lightweight plastic foams practice that is becoming standard. “It countries. are wrapped in aircraft today. actually disrupts the solid mass that we • The bark is harvested for the first time With decades of interesting ideas having see in the dish, we can actually see it when the tree is 25 years old. It is then come and gone, it is surprising that cork – broken apart,” said Rafaela Penarreta,

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SCSU. And it appears the extract has a less essential oil from locally produced In addition to antibiotic resistance and an toxic side effect. frankincense. Then he separates the oil array of negative side effects, antibiotics Next week, Dr Crawford and her into its constituent agents, such as have another downside. They are students will travel to Washington, DC to Boswellic acid. indiscriminate killers, destroying as much present their findings before the American “There are 17 active agents in bacteria in the body as they can. This Association for Cancer Research. (Source: frankincense essential oil,” says Dr Suhail. removes the good bacteria along with the www.wtnh.com, 8 April 2010.) “We are using a process of elimination. We bad. The body contains intestinal flora that have cancer sufferers – for example, a is necessary for normal functioning. Honey horse in South Africa – and we are giving offers a better solution by destroying only % FRANKINCENSE them tiny doses of each agent until we find the harmful, infectious bacteria and leaving the one that works.” good bacteria. Could frankincense be a cure for cancer? “Some scientists think Boswellic acid is There are many different types of honey. Oman’s land of frankincense is an 11-hour the key ingredient. But I think this is wrong. It is important to know that some honeys drive southwards from the capital, Muscat. Many other essential oils – such as oil from have more healing properties than others; Warm winters and showery summers are the sandalwood – contain Boswellic acid, but this depends on the floral nectar used by perfect conditions for the Boswellia sacra they don’t have this effect on cancer cells. the bees that produced it. Manuka honey tree to produce the sap called frankincense. So we are starting afresh.” from New Zealand has been found to have a These trees grow wild in Dhofar. Wadi The trials will take months to conduct and significantly higher level of antibacterial Dawkah, a valley 20 km inland from the main whatever results come out of them will take activity than any other type of honey. city of Salalah, has a forest of them. longer still to be verified. But this is a blink However, even manuka honey should be “Records show that frankincense was of the eye in the history of frankincense. chosen wisely. In New Zealand, a rating produced here as far back as 7 000 BC,” Nine thousand years ago, Omanis system exists for manuka, e.g. manuka says tour guide Mohammed Al-Shahri. gathered frankincense and burnt it for its honey with a unique manuka factor (UMF) Most of the B. sacra trees grow on public curative and cleansing properties. It could be rating of between 10 and 16 is ideal for land, but custom dictates that each forest a key to the medical science of tomorrow. medicinal use; less than UMF 10 it is not is given to one of the local families to farm, (Source: BBC News, 9 February 2010.) potent enough; and more than UMF 16 is and Wadi Dawkah is his turf. too potent and usually overpriced. Using Immunologist Mahmoud Suhail is hoping manuka honey without an active UMF to open a new chapter in the history of rating is not recommended. frankincense. Scientists have observed that When using an active, medical-grade there is some agent within frankincense manuka honey, it is possible to treat that stops cancer spreading and induces effectively conditions such as sore throats, cancerous cells to close themselves down. strep throat, stomach ulcers, cold and flu He is trying to find out what this is. symptoms, acid reflux disease, heartburn, “Cancer starts when the DNA code within irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis. the cell’s nucleus becomes corrupted,” he Manuka honey can also be used topically on says. “It seems frankincense has a reset the skin to treat infected wounds, acne, function. It can tell the cell what the right ringworm, cold sores, pressure sores, skin DNA code should be. Frankincense ulcers and MRSA. (Source: SBWire.com, separates the ‘brain’ of the cancerous cell – 12 January 2010.) the nucleus – from the ‘body’ – the cytoplasm, and closes down the nucleus to Bee decline linked to cell phones stop it reproducing corrupted DNA codes.” HONEY AND BEE London, United Kingdom. A new study has Working with frankincense could %PRODUCTS suggested that cell phone radiation may be revolutionize the treatment of cancer. contributing to declines in bee populations in Currently, with chemotherapy, doctors blast Doctors find the health benefits of manuka some areas of the world. Bee populations the area around a tumour to kill the cancer, honey to be buzz-worthy dropped 17 percent in the United Kingdom but that also kills healthy cells and weakens Since the dawn of time, honey has been used last year, according to the British Bee the patient. Treatment with frankincense for medical purposes. Honey is an ideal Association, and nearly 30 percent in the could eradicate the cancerous cells alone natural medicine, mostly because of its United States of America, says the US and let the others live. antibacterial properties. In the mid-1940s, Department of Agriculture. The task now is to isolate the agent when antibiotics were invented, doctors Parasitic mites called varroa, agricultural within frankincense which, apparently, assumed they were a better treatment option pesticides and the effects of climate change works this wonder. Some ingredients of than honey. Even today, most Western have all been implicated in what has been frankincense are allergenic, so you cannot doctors are trained to believe in dubbed “colony collapse disorder” (CCD). give a patient the whole thing. pharmaceuticals, not natural alternatives. But researchers in India believe cell Dr Suhail has teamed up with medical However, with the dilemma of infections phones could also be to blame for some of scientists from the University of Oklahoma, caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of the losses. United States of America, for the task. In bacteria, the medical community is In a study at Panjab University in his laboratory in Salalah, he extracts the desperate for other solutions. Chandigarh, northern India, researchers

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fitted cell phones to a hive and powered DVD – Honey hunters of the Blue Mountains, them up for two 15-minute periods each India day. After three months, they found the RESOURCES FROM BEES Honey hunters of the Blue Mountains is a bees stopped producing honey, egg FOR DEVELOPMENT film that has been shot over three years to production by the queen bee halved, and document in detail the lives of the last honey the size of the hive was dramatically Bees for Development helps hunters and their intricate relationship with reduced. beekeeping projects and groups in Apis dorsata (giant rock bee), in the Nilgiri Andrew Goldsworthy, a biologist at the developing countries by sending out hills of southern India. The film has been United Kingdom’s Imperial College, resource boxes – a pack of publications made by Riverbank Studios, a professional London, has studied the biological effects and materials for use for a training group from New Delhi. It is headed by Mike of electromagnetic fields. He thinks it is course or workshop. Pandey, a noted wildlife film-maker. possible that bees could be affected by cell Beekeeping Training Modules are The Kurumbas of the film have been phone radiation. The reason, Goldsworthy new. Designed for use by trainers in associated with the Keystone Foundation – a says, could hinge on a pigment in bees Africa, each one is a 16-page booklet group that works with indigenous bees and called cryptochrome. “Animals, including that provides one day of training on people in the Nilgiri hills – since 1995. insects, use cryptochrome for navigation,” one topic. These are: (i) value and life Keystone has tried to understand them Goldsworthy told CNN. “They use it to of the honey bee; (ii) choosing and closely in order to design and implement sense the direction of the earth’s magnetic making a beehive; (iii) harvesting and appropriate interventions for development. field and their ability to do this is processing beeswax; (iv) harvesting and This film project is an outcome of that compromised by radiation from [cell] processing honey; and (v) honey bee interaction – to bring to the world a whiff of phones and their base stations. So colony management. the lives of these indigenous people, who are basically bees do not find their way back to The modules are accompanied by struggling to keep in tune with forests. the hive.” Training Cards. The set of nine double- The film tries to capture the very essence Goldsworthy has written to the United sided A4 cards provides over 60 of living with bees and the myths Kingdom’s communications regulator illustrations and plans. These are surrounding the honey hunter. On the natural OFCOM suggesting that a change of phone laminated to provide durability for history aspect, the film has some frequencies would stop the bees being long-term use. The subjects covered are breathtaking images of A. dorsata. The film confused. But the United Kingdom’s Mobile pests and predators; biology of the is of interest to the bee lover, scientist and Operators Association – which represents honey bee; choosing a beehive; the development planner wanting to address the country’s five mobile network operators beekeeping diary; comb; separating the issues of indigenous people in a – told CNN: “Research scientists have honey; rendering beeswax; hives in changing environment. It will also appeal to already considered possible factors Africa; and top-bar hive dimensions. others interested in learning, looking and involved in CCD and have identified the In addition, there are the understanding a little more about this Earth areas for research into the causes of CCD Beekeeping and Development Guides – and its people. which do not include exposure to radio 32-page illustrated booklets, also Part of the proceeds from the sale of the waves”. intended for use in Africa. These film will go towards “The Honey Hunters Norman Carreck, Scientific Director of address Market access for beekeeping Development Fund” set up by Keystone. the International Bee Research Association and Information for honey packers. at the University of Sussex in the United Resource boxes also include copies FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Kingdom says it is still not clear how much of the Bees for Development Journal, Mathew John, Keystone Foundation, radio waves affect bees. “We know they are information posters (available in Post Box 35, Kotagiri – 643 217, Nilgiris, sensitive to magnetic fields. What we don’t English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese Tamil Nadu, India. Fax: + 91-4266-272277; know is what use they actually make of and Spanish) and other booklets. e-mail: [email protected] them. And no one has yet demonstrated Projects and associations in that honey bees use the Earth’s magnetic developing countries can apply for a field when navigating,” Carreck said. sponsored resource box by completing % MAPLE SYRUP (Source: CNN, 30 June 2010.) an application form available on the Bees for Development Web site or by Research reveals impact of climate requesting a form by post or e-mail. change Projects in other areas can purchase Even though the maple syrup you drizzle on resource boxes and the items described your stack of pancakes may taste as sweet above through the Web site store. as ever, the tasty condiment is actually undergoing changes that may shed light on For more information, please contact: the impact of climate change. Bees for Development, PO Box 105, According to a new study by William Monmouth NP25 9AA, United Kingdom. Peck, Colgate University Associate E-mail: [email protected]; Professor of Geology, and student co- www.beesfordevelopment.org author Stephanie Tubman, the burning of fossil fuels is altering the chemical composition of syrup as well as other

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foods. Their research, funded by Colgate’s As a result of this loss of indigenous Upstate Institute, was published in the knowledge, people cut Maya nut trees for Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry firewood and burn forests to plant maize, and reported recently in Nature. beans and other crops. The Maya nut tree is What began as a laboratory in danger of extinction throughout its demonstration to teach Colgate students range, a situation that threatens the food about isotope analysis led to the findings, security of both human and animal which could have implications for food populations. quality control. The students got a surprise The Equilibrium Fund’s Maya Nut when they compared the samples against programme is working to rescue lost isotope values of maple syrup from the late traditional knowledge about the tree for 1970s and early 1980s. Their research food, fodder and ecosystem services. Since revealed a change in the chemical its inception in 2001, the programme has composition of the syrups, which Peck trained more than 8 000 women from 450 suspected could be attributed to Mild weather zaps sap of maple syrup communities in Honduras, Nicaragua, environmental factors. Upon further farmers in New England, United States of Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. It has analyses of samples from a 36-year time America resulted in the conservation of more than period, Peck’s suspicion was confirmed. The unusually tepid spring in New England 400 000 ha of Maya nut forests and the The research team found increased has been a problem for maple syrup planting of more than 800 000 new amounts of carbon-12, the isotopic form of producers. The quick warm-up this spring seedlings. carbon that is released through burning switched sugar maple trees from sap The programme focuses on women as fossil fuels. producing to bud popping, lowering maple the caretakers of the family and the This research is significant because syrup production. environment, and addresses key factors for isotope analysis plays a key role in food In New York, there was a 30 percent sustainable livelihoods – sociocultural, regulation; regulators use the isotope decline in maple syrup production from last environmental and economic – by creating makeup to determine whether fillers have year, and Maine’s production dropped leadership, educational and economic been added to foods such as maple syrup, 22 percent. In Vermont, maple syrup opportunities for women and girls. honey and fruit juices. production suffered a 3 percent drop. The Equilibrium Fund’s newest As a result of the impact of (Source: USA Today, 28 June 2010.) programme, “Healthy Kids, Healthy environmental change on the chemical Forests” (Bosques Sanos, Niños Sanos), composition of food, it may become more aims to provide Maya nut-based school difficult for regulators to determine the %MAYA NUT lunches for rural children. Starting in quality of food products. The Nature article Guatemala in 2008, it is feeding 8 124 noted that “the findings raise the possibility Maya nut: an ancient food for a healthy children from 46 communities in the Petén that producers of foods that are monitored future region of Guatemala. These communities ... might be able to add cheap sweeteners Maya nut (Brosimum alicastrum) – or are planting more than 300 000 new Maya without being caught”. (Source: Ascribe ramon, ojoche, masica, ujuxte, ojushte, nut trees as “food forests” to sustain the Newswire, 18 February 2010.) ojite, ash, ox, capomo, mojo and breadnut – programme in the future. (Source: Eco- is a delicious, nutritious, abundant Index, 7 January 2010.) Scientists highlight health benefits of pure Neotropical rain forest tree that provided a maple syrup staple food for pre-Columbian hunter Scientists have revealed that pure maple gatherers. %MORINGA OLEIFERA syrup is good for health, encouraging its Maya nuts are exceptionally nutritious, use. providing high-quality protein, calcium, Seeds from the moringa tree can be used Researcher Navindra Seeram from the iron, folate, fibre and vitamins A, E, C and for water purification University of Rhode Island (United States of B. They are also one of the best native Pure water is a key requirement for good America), who specializes in the research forage species and show great promise to health and alternative cheap and safe of medicinal plants, has discovered that provide ecological alternatives to pasture methods are required in many countries. In there are over 20 compounds in Canadian for cattle ranches in the Neotropics. a paper that has just been published in the maple syrup that can be directly linked to In recent history, the Maya nut has been leading American Chemical Society Journal human health, with 13 of these compounds critical to rural food security; thousands of on interfaces, Langmuir, researchers from being discovered for the first time ever. villages throughout Central America and Uppsala University, Sweden, in cooperation Also, eight of the said compounds have Mexico have survived drought and famine with the University of Botswana, describe been discovered in the Acer (maple) genus by eating the nuts when no other food was how extracts from seeds of the Moringa for the first time. available. oleifera tree can be used for water Many of these antioxidant compounds Unfortunately, knowledge about Maya purification. that have been discovered in maple syrup nuts is being lost as globalization, export Flocculation of particulate impurities is a reportedly contain anticancer, antibacterial crops, and deforestation negatively impact common first stage in purification of water. and antidiabetic properties as well. indigenous cultures and the forests that This often uses addition of either (Source: www.topnews.us, 22 March 2010.) sustain them. aluminium or iron salts. Aluminium,

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particularly, has undesirable health drought resistant and has remarkable implications. An alternative procedure that survival instincts. Moringa can also grow in uses a natural extract from seeds of the M. POOR MISSING OUT ON THE the semi-arid regions of the country, oleifera tree is used in Africa. WATER-PURIFYING POWERS rendering several benefits for local Cooperation with the University of OF MORINGA SEEDS communities. (Source: Central Chronicle Botswana, where there is a long interest in [India], 12 March 2010.) exploiting natural products, has led to a Michael Lea of Clearinghouse, a research project that provides important Canadian organization that investigates insights into the way that protein molecules low-cost water purification from M. oleifera seeds interact, binding technologies, has published a step-by- strongly both to each other and surfaces so step procedure online (www.jalmandir. as to cause aggregation into large lumps com/moringa/moringa-seeds.html) that that are readily removed from the water. shows how the seeds from Moringa “It is nice to see how the basic oleifera can be crushed to produce a interactions of molecules can play a role in natural flocculant – a substance that solving practical problems,” says Adrian aggregates suspended particles. He Rennie, Professor at the Department of hopes that making the technique freely Physics and Astronomy at Uppsala available in this way will facilitate University. “Understanding of the process dissemination to those who need it the may lead to further development in water most; the role of the seeds in purification with materials that are locally purification has been known for available and environmentally friendly.” centuries but use has been limited. (Source: Uppsala University News Writing in Current Protocols in %MUSHROOMS [Sweden], 18 February 2010.) Microbiology, he said that the seeds can provide a low-cost, accessible Rare fungus on Tibetan plateau faces Fight malnutrition by eating moringa purification method for poor extinction Veena S. Rao, a former secretary to the communities where diarrhoea caused Every summer since he was 18, Ma Youcai Government of India, in her book by waterborne bacteria is the biggest has combed the craggy, barren slopes of the Malnutrition, an emergency: what it costs killer of children aged five and under. mountains that surround his village in rural the nation, estimated that malnutrition has “M. oleifera is the only indigenous Qinghai province for dongchongxiacao, a led to a loss of 4 percent in the gross treatment technology that addresses rare, insect-like fungus used in traditional domestic product (GDP) of India. Stressing poverty and nutrition while also Chinese medicine. that malnutrition was a huge human providing potable water.” A parasite that attacks and eventually kills resource calamity, she called for making Vallantino Emongor, a M. oleifera moth larvae on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, “high-energy, low-cost food” available to expert at the University of Botswana, just a few grams of the fungus can be ground the poor. said: “What is exciting is that this tree into powder and dissolved to make a tonic This is precisely where Moringa oleifera, is drought resistant and is accessible that is believed to boost energy. the “miracle tree”, our humble drumstick throughout Africa and India. But as Ma prepares for yet another tree, has a role. The tree is increasingly Communities need to learn what the summer search, the 40-year-old goat considered one of the world’s most seeds can do”. Some countries, herder fears this valuable fungus, which valuable natural resources, since its main including Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, provides almost half of his annual income, constituents have several nutritive Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, have is in danger of disappearing forever. Last ingredients. Its leaves, pods and flowers formed associations to facilitate this. year, he found only half as many fungi as he are considered good sources of vitamins A, (Source: SciDev.Net, 24 March 2010.) did a decade ago. In some areas, the

B, B2, B3, B6 and C, folic acid, ascorbic acid, population has dropped almost tenfold in beta-carotene, calcium, iron and amino the last five years, according to Guo Jinling, acids. More important, its leaves are highly an expert on medicinal plants and a nutritious, being a significant source of dried and powdered, when added to the diet professor at the Chengdu University of beta-carotene, vitamin C, protein, iron and of undernourished children enhance their Traditional Chinese Medicine. potassium. appetite and increase their weight. Among Scientists say the decline is largely a It has been claimed that the moringa nursing mothers it markedly increases result of habitat loss and overharvesting, tree provides seven times the Vitamin C in lactation, providing greater nutrition for which is being driven by skyrocketing oranges, four times the calcium in milk and infants. It also makes great fodder for demand for costly and exotic herbal Vitamin A in carrots, twice the protein in cattle. Studies have revealed that the remedies among China’s growing middle milk and three times the potassium in weight of livestock increased up to and upper classes. “Animals and plants bananas. 32 percent through moringa feed, need time to grow. When demand causes A versatile plant with a multitude of increasing their milk by 43 percent. them to be harvested too fast, they can’t natural attributes, moringa is great food for Native to India and widely distributed in keep up and their populations decline,” said humans and animals alike. Its leaves, the country in virtually every region, it can Long Chunlin, a professor at the Kunming flowers and fruits are all edible. Its leaves, grow quickly and under any conditions. It is Institute of Botany in Yunnan province.

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Although classified as a mushroom, But if the fabulous fungi are found in Colombia and Ecuador. It, too, fell out of use caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) – Japan and Sweden, says the team, they in lieu of plastic, but it is coming back into or dongchongxiacao, which literally means might grow in forests at similar latitudes use for various crafts. “winter insect, summer grass” – is a everywhere else as well. (Source: When Richardell’s family came to the parasite that attacks moth larvae. It slowly www.techeye.net, 28 June 2010.) United States of America about ten years grows inside them until it kills and ago, her aunt wanted to start a business that mummifies them, eventually producing a would also help their home country. She fruiting body that releases spores that %PALMS discovered the tagua nut. Her extended infect other caterpillars. The fungus is family, along with six other families, lives in harvested in May and early June, just Nutty jewellery made from the tagua palm the rain forest and collects the tagua seeds, before the spores are released. If In the village of Ivoryton (United States of which fall naturally so the harvest does not consumed, it is said to boost stamina, as America), small images of elephants adorn harm the trees. The seeds then have to dry in well as strengthen the immune system, shop signs. For almost 100 years, some the sun for six to ten months. lungs and kidneys. 90 percent of all the ivory imported to the The nuts are sent to her aunt, whose Caterpillar fungus only grows at high country from Africa was shipped to factories husband is a woodcarver. He carves them altitudes on the Tibetan plateau in an area in Ivoryton or the nearby Deep River. By 1850, into pieces, polishing some, dyeing some and that stretches from Nepal, through northern a few small companies were using elephant leaving others in a natural form. Richardell Sichuan province and into Qinghai province. tusks to make combs, toiletries, billiard balls then turns the pieces into chunky bracelets, However, warming temperatures and and sewing implements. The business grew necklaces, earrings and rings, some overharvesting have caused populations to into making piano keys, fuelled by a national wrapped in wire designs. fall by nearly 90 percent in some areas, say demand for a piano in every parlour during Richardell said the families in Ecuador are experts. the Victorian period. paid a salary, so they have a monthly income, As a result, it is one of the most valuable These days, plastic materials have which is important to her because the medicinal products on the market today. replaced ivory in manufacturing many of poverty rate in her home country is about One jin – roughly equal to 500 g – sells for up these products, but consumer demand for 38 percent. to 80 000 yuan (USD12 000), with some ivory remains in some parts of the world. “I know I’m not changing the world, but experts claiming prices can top 100 000 Although the international commercial ivory this is something that can help,” Richardell yuan. The largest markets for the fungus trade was banned in 1989, poaching said. (Source: The Day [United States of tend to be in South China and around continues to threaten the endangered America], 21 March 2010.) Shanghai. (Source: China Daily in China animals. Tibet Online, 16 April 2010.) Ivoryton resident Desiree Richardell could The new economics of babassu palm help change that. Originally from Ecuador, forests in Brazil Japanese delicacy grows like weed Richardell is part of a family business that is Contemporary societies everywhere live in Sweden marketing “vegetable ivory” as an alternative under the aegis of convergence, where all DNA analysis has revealed that Japan’s to the real thing. systems and processes may be integrated as second-most expensive gourmet mushroom Richardell makes jewellery from the tagua one. This new kind of complexity is daily is actually pretty common in Sweden. palm tree (Phytelephas aequatorialis) that present in economy and markets, science, The hon-shimeji mushroom – Lyophyllum grows in the forests of South America. It is research, technology and even in political shimeji – costs about USD5 000/kg in Japan, the only plant product that produces a institutions. and is by all accounts jolly tasty. Until this material so white, durable and pure, she In economy and markets, convergence has discovery, it was thought to grow nowhere says. The plant version, however, is lighter, blurred sectorial divisions towards an else. But, it seems, people had been harder and less porous than real ivory. integrated system of management. trampling the things underfoot in Sweden During the First and Second World Wars, Integrated forest and land-based industry under the impression that they were another tagua was used for buttons on United States respond to this new technological imperative related species. army uniforms, making it a major industry in where the same economic cluster processes “We were visited by a Japanese wood and other materials for timber, non- mycologist who found a fungus on a pine timber, energy, chip pellets, composites, heath outside Skellefteå which she thought carbon sink and other environmental was similar to hon-shimeji,” says Henrik services. Sundberg, a student at the University of In this way, after 30 years of crisis and Gothenburg. “Using molecular techniques, decline, the market for products from the we’ve now been able to show that this babassu palm (Orbignya spp.) forests of the northern Swedish fungus is identical to the Brazilian tropics has been reborn and is Japanese one.” growing again, led by new demands, such as Hon-shimeji has become rarer and rarer activated charcoal, green markets, biofuels, in Japan, probably because of pests veneers and chip pellets. attacking host trees and changes in forestry. This large set of demands requires a Wild hon-shimeji is currently sold only by a refined system of pricing and marketing few specialist dealers and served at the very strategies. There are many market smartest restaurants. segments and niches that intertwine,

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interchange and trade off, which in turn twice the price of R$0.50 (USD 0.20) per This new process has been successfully require sophisticated business strategies to kilogram paid by markets today for pod- implemented in the state of Ceará. The position both product and service. Therefore, break women. However, this price will be challenge now is to make this new it is not so simple to put babassu products paid by the National Company of Food technology or industrial process widely into this new set of converged market (Conab). available to be transferred and absorbed by opportunities. New technologies, innovation The new demand for biodiesel and special others interested in processing babassu of old products and services, and the oils. In February 2008, a Virgin Atlantic pods. creation of new ones are needed. aircraft made a test flight between London It is known that technology innovation by Technology innovation is the keyword for and Amsterdam fuelled by biodiesel from the disruption or radical organizational change the construction of a new forestry based on babassu nut. The technology to use babassu is not easy. Especially in areas such as the sustainable patterns of management – oil as feedstock for jet fuel, as a way to Amazon, where market asymmetries are innovation from procurement and harvest to increase combustion and reduce carbon huge, information is very costly, and sales and delivery of forest products. That is emissions was developed by Professor knowledge and human capital are not the entire supply and value chain. Expedito Parente, from TecBio. This project adequately managed by enterprises and Below we analyse seven new trends of the is funded by a consortium formed by Boeing, industry. Besides, Brazil has no national or babassu pod markets in the Brazilian General Electric Aviation, NASA and regional innovation system and policy to Amazon. Imperium Renewables. The B20 from make these changes faster, safer and The ban in burning the entire pod. babassu nut oil is the result of a blend with competitively efficient for stakeholders. Addressing the claims from industry, 80 percent of kerosene by transesterification. Land conflict and natural resources Tocantins state bans by law the industrial The potential of babassu for biodiesel is management. These new markets and processing of the entire babassu pod for huge, since its productivity and production utilities for babassu pods have brought up charcoal-making and chip pellets for per hectare is very competitive in ancient social problems concerning the use heating. It is mistaken since this law creates comparison with other oleaginous crops. of natural resources in the Amazon. Around a negative market distortion. Free prices for Activated charcoal and market niches. 400 000 women still have income the babassu pod and its parts could signal Activated charcoal for industrial filters has expectations from the breaking of babassu correctly to markets. In this way, industrial also been addressed by babassu pod pods and the extraction and sale of the nut. demand to process the pod separately industrialization. This is the principal market In addition to the classic problem related to should have to compete with charcoal- niche for Tobasa AS. However, in Brazil this access to the land and its resources, they making and other energy demands that is a very small market niche and is not now face competition from alternative uses process the pod entirely. enough to require a large amount of pods. for babassu pods: charcoal, liquid biofuels Today large amounts of pods are left aside New technologies for small- and medium- and chip pellets. and rot in the forest because of a lack of sized enterprises (SMEs). The unique Today, land conflict between the charcoal markets. However, charcoal from the entire competitive and worthwhile technology to industry, landowners and pod collectors on pod has much tar because of the high process babassu nuts entirely is used by the one side, and pod-break women on the content of oil, which makes it less efficient Tobasa AS in the city of Tocantinópolis, other, has been increasing. Charcoal for heating. Tocantins. This process is patented and is an companies have rented large areas of The charcoal manufacturing cluster. After industrial secret. However, the Mussambê babassu to collect the pods, which reduces the crisis of the oil industry resulting from Foundation, in the northeastern state of the stock of pods to be broken by the women, the increasing open market for importing Ceará, promoted the creation of a new as well as reduce the prices of the nuts of the palm oil from Asia and the boost to Elaeis technology for SMEs to process the nut pods they sell. guineensis palm crops in Pará state, entirely and so extract the epicarp separately Conclusions. The sustainable management babassu pods have been largely used to to produce fibres; the endocarp to produce of the babassu palm forest requires new prepare charcoal to fuel the production of pig flour, amid and starch; the mesocarp to technologies, market perspectives and iron and alumina in the mineral cluster of produce charcoal; and the nut to produce oil. marketing and business strategies. We Grande Carajás. There is today a new cluster believe that all these already exist. What is of small- and medium-sized enterprises lacking is making this innovation happen in involved in the manufacturing of charcoal practice. from babassu pods. This must not be seen as To do this would need a regional a problem but a new opportunity to trade the entrepreneurial system of innovation and pods. Charcoal from the endocarp (lignin) of technology transfer directed to make this babassu pods could produce 615 MW of new cluster of babassu businesses solid, energy yearly. competitive, lucrative and for jobs, Minimum price security policy. In September investments and people, able to create and 2008, the Brazilian Government launched a distribute wealth and well-being in the new price policy to subsidize NTFPs by region. making their harvest and commercialization It is clear that is not easy to conciliate financially worthwhile for the extractive multiple land uses, land rights, social population of the Amazon. The price for the fairness and sustainable natural resources trade of babassu pods is regulated at R$1.46 management. However, it is also clear that (USD0.60) per kilogram of nut debarked. It is efficient technologies are the vector to

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reconcile use, protection and conservation and then heated in a furnace in a process WWF’s Viet Nam Rattan Project Manager, everywhere. that adds carbon and calcium to the wood. Vu Que Anh, said: “The important species of This research was funded by the Then the wood is heated under pressure rattan are now rare and often bought from Freezailah Fellowship Programme of the with a phosphate solution. After ten days, the Lao PDR. Rattan processors in the south International Tropical Timber Organization the material is bonelike and ready to be of Viet Nam have now started to subcontract (ITTO). used. to northern processors, or stop operations (Contributed by: Vag-Lan Borges, Forest Scientists say that the material eventually altogether”. (Source: Viet Nam News Online, Life; Mônica Sousa Ferreira, Forestry fuses to bone and is capable of carrying 29 May 2010.) Student, Federal University of Tocantins loads without breaking, just like real bone. In [UFT]; and Gustavo Félix, Environmental addition, because rattan is porous, it is able Technician Student, Technical Federal to have blood and nerves travel through it. School of Maranhão, Brazil.) Sheep with the transplanted rattan have had the material fuse to their existing bone FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: within a matter of a few months with a Vag-Lan Borges, Director, Forest Life, barely perceptible seam. The fused rattan Av. Taubaté 878, Jd. Paulista, 77.600-000 – material has functioned just like the sheep’s Paraíso do Tocantins – TO, Brazil. original bone, scientists say. E-mail: [email protected]; Funding for the project is being provided www.forestlife.com.br by the European Union. (Source: AllHeadlineNews [United States of America], Palm fronds point the way to integrated 12 January 2010.) forest management In the days leading up to Palm Sunday, Vietnamese rattan companies learn about %SAFFRON planes loaded with greenery take off from sustainable farming in the Lao People’s Guatemala bound for the United States of Democratic Republic Saffron: hard to produce and more costly America and Canada. Every year, 30 million Nine rattan companies from Viet Nam, than gold, but there’s nothing else like it xaté palm fronds (Chamaedorea spp.) are where rattan availability has fallen Saffron is the stigma of a very pretty exported from Guatemala to North America. dramatically because of high demand and crocus native to a strip of west Asia. The Demand peaks around Palm Sunday, when unsustainable exploitation, visited the modern plant is sterile, the hard-won congregations decorate their churches with Sustainable Rattan Management Area in the result of cross-breeding and human-led fronds; the floral industry also uses palms Lao People’s Democratic Republic earlier Darwinism. Every year, people have to dig all year. The trade contributes millions of this month. The area is maintained by the it up, split the bulb-like corms that form dollars to the Guatemalan economy. Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO), part of its root and replant them. The Xaté fronds are one of an increasing Khamkeut district, Borikhamxay province flowers bloom in October, pushing out two number of products, besides timber, being and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). or three fragile, wispy stigmas that can profitably harvested from forests. In The sustainable rattan model has proved only be harvested by hand, and pickers Guatemala, the financial benefits of xaté such a success that DAFO plans to replicate work throughout the night to catch these collection have long been recognized. When it in other areas to improve local livelihoods, at their best. community forest concessions were set up in support poverty elimination and achieve It is punishing, fiddly work. So saffron is the department of Petén in the early 1990s, sustainable rattan management. notoriously the most expensive spice, its multiple forest use, harvesting both timber WWF plans to have this area certified by retail price, pound for pound, often and xaté, was explicitly incorporated into the end of 2011 and will share its successes exceeding that of gold. management plans. (Source: Thinking and achievements with partners in the rattan For as long as there have been people, beyond the canopy, 5 March 2010.) industry around the world. people have known about saffron. A dye Viet Nam imports more than 40 percent of from its stigmas colours 50 000-year-old its needs from the Lao People’s Democratic cave paintings in what is now Iraq. Ancient %RATTAN Republic and also sources significant frescoes on the Greek island of Santorini amounts from Cambodia. It has a significant depict a goddess watching – or perhaps Rattan used for transplants shortage of commercially valuable rattan blessing – a woman picking saffron, Scientists are working on a process that species such as those available in the Lao presumably for medicine. The spice also turns rattan into a bone-like material that is PDR, particularly those in the rattan project appears in the sybaritic verses of the Song almost like human tissue and can bond to areas. of Solomon and in Chinese writings dating human bone. “Normally we import 5–7 000 tonnes of back to 1600 BC. Italian scientists say that a method for rattan a year from the Lao PDR, but none is The Romans grew saffron in Gaul but creating replacement bones for humans from sustainable management areas,” when the Empire fell, so did the civilized might be only a few years away. Right now, Nguyen Truong Thien, Director of the Au Co taste for the spice. The Moors reintroduced the scientists are doing trials involving sheep Rattan – Bamboo Export Enterprise, said. saffron to a benighted continent in the eighth that have had the new material implanted. “After learning about WWF’s rattan project, and ninth centuries. Basel was the centre of The scientists use tubular sections of we understand more about sustainable the European saffron industry in the Middle rattan wood that is cut into smaller pieces harvesting.” Ages, and unscrupulous dealers would,

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under local law, be burned alive for selling individuals were tested with traditional eye Satlej, Indus and Chenab, especially during an adulterated product. Then, as now, cheap charts, a number of them could read one or the rainy season, he said. imitations based on turmeric and safflower two lines smaller than before assuming the Globally, some 40 countries have in the tempted the chancers and cheats. pill, while others could read books and past 20 years joined in the race for sea Saffron’s popularity had waned by the newspapers again. buckthorn development and its commercial eighteenth century as foods such as vanilla, All patients experienced improvements in utilization. cocoa and coffee emerged to titillate the their vision while taking the saffron “Huge chunks of barren land in the palates of the rich. That is why comparatively supplement. But when they stopped taking it, possession of forest departments in the few classic European dishes feature saffron – the benefits quickly disappeared. Himalayan states would also be used for sea and those that do, such as paella and AMD is a disease affecting the macula (the buckthorn plantations and it would bouillabaisse, almost invariably come from part of the eye that allows one to see), accelerate the ecological rehabilitation of saffron-producing regions, as in Provence or associated with ageing that gradually degraded mountainous lands,” Singh said. Valencia. destroys vision. There are few treatments for Aerial seeding, participation of the local Cornish saffron cake, however, is a classic the disease. Saffron affects the amount of fat communities in the programme and English dish with an uncertain history. stored by the eye, making vision cells commercial utilization for the benefits of the Saffron grew most successfully in the east, tougher and more resilient. It has been used farmers are among the issues to be particularly in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and in traditional medicine for centuries to treat discussed in finalizing the national plan, he Essex (Saffron Walden is named after the a range of ailments including cancerous added. crop that, for a time, made it rich, and a tumours and depression. The spice also has Forest ministers of the five beneficiary crocus still appears on its coat of arms). properties that encourage oxygen flow and Himalayan states, together with officials, vice Nobody knows why saffron cake should have prevent cell death. (Source: The Times of chancellors, directors and sea buckthorn come from Cornwall. It has been posited that Doon, 11 April 2010 in MFP News, XX: 2, experts of various research and development the Cornish, who were trading tin with 2010.) institutions have been invited for a 25 June foreign merchants – possibly Phoenicians – meeting to formulate the sea buckthorn as early as 400 BC, bought saffron at the development plan. (Source: Bombay time and retained it in their cooking. If this is SEA BUCKTHORN News.Net, 8 June 2010.) true, England is almost unique in Europe, %(HIPPOPHAE having cooked with saffron for more than two RHAMNOIDES) millennia. The Islamic Republic of Iran now produces Sea buckthorn to green cold deserts around 90 percent of the world’s saffron. The in Himalayan states EU has tried and largely failed to persuade The cold deserts of the Indian Himalayas Afghan poppy farmers to switch to saffron; where the survival of many flora species is although the spice is quite lucrative and minimal may soon see massive plantations well-suited to most Afghan land, farmers of sea buckthorn, a medicinally rich plant, in earn only half as much for it as they do for a move that is expected to help check soil opium. Producing saffron has always been erosion and benefit farmers economically. difficult, and few countries do not even A long-term national policy aims to start attempt it today. (Source: sea buckthorn plantations in high-altitude www.guardian.co.uk, 29 June 2010.) areas of India spanning 75 000 km² in (Please see page 41 for more information on Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu saffron in Afghanistan.) and Kashmir, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Saffron (Crocus sativus) antioxidant The policy has been prepared jointly by properties may reverse age-related scientists of the Defence Research and Hippophae rhamnoides macular degeneration (AMD) Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Saffron (keshar) is well known for its use in Palampur-based Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Tibet boasts ancient sea buckthorn forest colouring food, as a spice and in traditional Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya. Along the Niangmu river valley in the Cona medicine for its antioxidant properties. According to Virendra Singh, a senior sea county of Lhoka Prefecture, lies the sea Researchers have now found that saffron buckthorn scientist at the Vishwavidyalaya, buckthorn forest, covering 2 000 mu (more also helps keep vision sharp, and can “sea buckthorn afforestation will not only than 3 000 acres/1 214 ha) with trees over prevent AMD – a common cause of blindness help in the conservation of the Himalayas by 15 m high and thousands of years old. in people of 60 years of age and older. checking soil erosion but its commercial Nyima, leader of Chomo village in Cona Professor Silvia Bisti of the University of cultivation will also be economically county, said: “In ancient times, Tibetans Sydney is the first to look at saffron’s effect beneficial for farmers because of its protected the sea buckthorn forest, which on eyesight. Patients suffering from AMD medicinal properties. Its extract is used for had been called in Tibetan ‘La xin’ (the were given a saffron supplement daily for making life-saving drugs for cardiovascular plants with souls). I hope in future, the fruits three months followed by a placebo for a diseases, ulcer and cancer”. The problem of of sea buckthorn could bring profits for local further three months. A second group took soil erosion is acute in most rivers Tibetans”. (Source: China Tibet Online, the supplements in reverse order. When originating from the Himalayas such as the 1 June 2010.)

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIALPRODUCTS FEATURES AND MARKETS 37

%SHEA NUT Among the roughly 16 countries where shea grows, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin and Shea production vital to women’s incomes Nigeria represent the bulk of world SHEA BUTTER: A NATURAL Across the semi-arid Sahel region of West production. Mali occupies an important MOISTURIZER THAT’S FOOD Africa, the shea tree (Butyrospermum parkii) position in the market. “With nearly 150 FOR THE SKIN is prized by women who produce a butter million shea trees, Mali is ranked the from its nuts that is a key ingredient in food second largest producer after Burkina Faso Shea butter is fantastically versatile, and cosmetics. However, drought and with an output of about 60 000 tonnes per especially the raw unrefined variety. A diseases threaten this source of income. year,” said Kadidiatou Lah, a shea butter real skin food, it is good for dry and “Shea represents 80 percent of rural exporter based in Bamako. She is also the sensitive skin, soothing for sore, cracked women’s income,” says Fatoumata Coulibaly, President of Mali’s National Federation of skin and its anti-inflammatory explaining how women go out to collect the Shea Exporters, which trains rural women in properties make it useful for sunburn, nuts and later process them to make shea shea tree planting. itchiness, insect bites, rashes and butter. Coulibaly is a member of La Maison The growth of international demand for eczema. It is rich in natural vitamins that du Karité (“the House of Shea”), a women’s shea outside Africa is explained in part by its promote healthy skin and cell repair. group in Siby, a village in southern Mali. IPS expanded use by the food industry in some Derived from the nuts of the spoke to the young woman during Global developed countries. In 2000, a decree came African karité tree (Butyrospermum Shea, an international forum on shea trade into effect in Europe allowing chocolate parkii), shea butter has been used as that took place in mid-March in Bamako, the manufacturers to use a limited amount of fat an African skincare and healing Malian capital. other than cocoa butter in their products, up ingredient for centuries. Now a widely Shea trees grow wild in West Africa. to five percent. used cosmetic ingredient, it is an According to experts, they take 25 years to This change in regulations, which had important resource and source of reach maturity and their lifetime can span previously been the case in Japan, the income for local communities. two centuries. In the rainy season, women United States of America and Eastern Historically, the women who gather pick the fruit: a sweet pulp wrapped around Europe, has opened up new opportunities shea nuts have received very little pay an oily kernel. In the dry season, they sell a for shea. “Today countries from all for their labour, particularly when the portion of their nuts to international continents import shea butter or shea nuts nuts are exported and processed abroad. companies and process the rest themselves to extract butter,” confirmed Lah. Increasingly, however, shea butter is for sale on the local market. Local shea producers have no influence available to buy as a certified fairtrade In West Africa, shea butter is used in over the price fetched by shea nuts and or as a “fairly traded” ingredient. cooking by nearly 80 percent of the rural butter internationally. “The prices change In its most pure, untreated state, population. It is also used in traditional frequently on the international market, but virgin shea butter looks like lumps of medicine, and the wood from the tree is at the moment a kilogram of shea nuts hard caramel ice cream. Just warm it up prized as fuel. costs between 500 and 600 CFA francs (just in your hands until it melts and softens The many uses of the trees have assured over USD1),” said Kone. and massage it gently into the skin. its protection for centuries by local Large companies prefer to buy their shea When buying branded body butters populations, some of whom even consider it nuts from villages through local buyers who or creams containing shea, beware: sacred. “We treat shea with respect. That is roam the countryside. However, these not all shea is the same quality. Most why we organize ceremonies when shea intermediaries make far more profit from shea butter on the market has been trees reach maturity,” said Nayouma the trade than rural women producers. extracted with a chemical solvent and Coulibaly, a woman from Tioribougou, a (Source: Inter Press Service News Agency “refined”, which not only removes the village in southern Mali. [IPS], 9 April 2010.) natural scent and colour of the natural But now, according to the Albert butter but also many of its beneficial Schweitzer Ecological Centre, a Swiss-based Global Shea properties. The best shea is obtained NGO, shea trees face many threats such as Global Shea, the Trade Hub shea brand, using a traditional method of drought, diseases and overuse as a source of represents industry aspirations: improved extraction, cold pressed without the firewood. quality and expanding markets. With Trade use of solvents. (Source: The Ecologist, Not all observers agree that there is a Hub assistance, the shea industry is 1 June 2010.) problem. “I don’t think there’s cause to expanding, creating jobs and improving worry. Actually, the number of shea trees is livelihoods. on the rise, because people have now Just a year after Sekaf Ghana started planting them. I’ve done so myself,” inaugurated its first shea butter village things getting better and a lot of repeat said Seydou Kone, a trade technician with near Tamale in northern Ghana, creating customers.” AMEPROC, Mali’s association of exporters of 40 jobs for women, the facility now employs Kpelly’s experience is just one reflection of agricultural products, headquartered in 250 women. And Sekaf is building two how well the shea industry is doing. Trade Bamako. AMEPROC is combating shea tree others like it in collaboration with Hub shea expert Dr Peter Lovett, a disappearance and disease by conducting international buyers. “Buyers like our biochemist intimately familiar with the public education in rural areas where shea approach,” Senyo Kpelly of Sekaf Ghana product’s valuable properties, has helped trees are threatened, training local said. “We have our own improved method dozens of companies and producer groups populations on shea planting and protection. of processing for the butter. We’ve seen across West Africa improve the quality of

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 38 PRODUCTSSPECIAL AND FEATURESMARKETS

their shea butter and link to international The Commission will “take note” of Meanwhile, if you want spotted owls in buyers. EFSA’s warning that its “acceptable daily the Pacific Northwest, you need flying Indeed, major international buyers of shea intake” level of 4 milligrams per kg of body squirrels, the bird’s favourite food. Which nuts and makers of speciality fats are weight set for stevia could be exceeded by means you need an environment rich in looking closely at opportunities in Nigeria. In both adults and children if the sweetener the squirrel’s favourite food: truffles. October 2009, a new exporter from Benin is used at the maximum levels proposed (Source: Scientific American, 6 April attended her first trade show. And shea by its makers. 2010.) stakeholders in Mali established an The value of the global sweetener association in November 2009 as Trade Hub market was estimated at about USD58.3 Researchers unlock truffle genome began organizing the third annual billion in 2009. The current global stevia The genome of the black, golf ball-sized international conference for the industry, market is worth about USD500 million, but edible mushroom known as the Périgord which took place from 16 to 19 March in is expected to reach USD2 billion by the truffle (Tuber melanosporum) has been Bamako, the country’s capital. end of 2011. (Source: Reuters, 16 April successfully decoded by French and Italian Kpelly’s company employs women who 2010.) researchers, a step that experts believe make shea butter much as it has been for will cut down in fraudulent sales of generations. Elsewhere, several high- T. melanosporum impostors. technology processing facilities are In a 28 March press release, officials producing tonnes of shea butter for the from the French National Institute for international speciality fats industry. 3Fs, an Agricultural Research (INRA), who worked international speciality fats manufacturer, alongside officials from the Universities of opened its facility in 2009 in Ghana; it now Lorraine and the Mediterranean and employs over 600 people. scientists at laboratories in Turin, Parma, Trade Hub efforts have improved the Urbino, Rome and elsewhere in Italy, quality of shea butter made by women’s announced that they had published a groups in villages and of shea nuts traded in paper discussing the sequencing and international markets, and expanded decoding of the “black diamond” fungus. markets for producers through participation The paper, which was published online in international trade shows. Trade Hub’s in Nature, found that 6 000 of the truffle’s access to finance programmes has opened 7 500 protein-coding genes were similar to banks’ doors to the shea industry. And Trade %TRUFFLES other mushrooms, but that “several Hub is developing branding to bring the hundred genes are unique to the truffle industry together and increase consumer Truffles serve up environmental and play a fundamental role in mushroom demand in end markets. The result is more information formation and symbiosis with the host jobs and higher incomes over the past three Truffles play a part in environmental plant”. years. research by attracting animals that “Studying them will reveal the scientists need to observe. mechanisms behind the formation of this FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Quality truffles can sell for more than peculiar underground fructification,” INRA Dr Peter Lovett, West Africa Trade Hub Shea USD1 000 a pound (0.45 kg). They are also officials said in their press release. “The Sector Expert, West Africa Trade Hub, valuable in environmental research, work relevance of the study goes beyond the c/o USAID, PO Box 1630, Accra, Ghana. that is discussed in an article called “The purely academic,” the researchers claim. E-mail: [email protected] or hidden life of truffles” in the April issue of “Full sequencing of the black Périgord [email protected]; www.globalshea.org; Scientific American magazine, by Oregon truffle genome has also allowed the www.watradehub.com (West Africa Trade Hub) State University’s James Trappe and development of specialized diagnostic Andrew Claridge, Visiting Fellow at the tools for genetic polymorphism of this University of New South Wales in valuable product.” %STEVIA Australia. “DNA sequencing also made it possible Claridge is getting better estimates of to spot several thousand genetic markers EU could approve stevia sweetener Australian endangered species in the genome. About a dozen of these are by 2011 populations, thanks to truffles. Some currently being used to create a DNA Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), a natural marsupials are as crazy for truffles as fingerprint file of some 50 populations of sweetener derived from the sunflower plant, some humans. Claridge soaked foam pads T. melanosporum from Italy, Spain and could receive European Union (EU)-wide with olive oil infused with the scent of France,” they added. “The DNA approval for use in food by next year, an EU European black Périgord truffles, and left fingerprints make it easier to carry out executive said on Friday. the pads near motion-sensing cameras. ‘typing’ of the geographic origin of The European Commission and EU The animals came in droves, with 50 times harvested truffles, and allow the use of countries will begin discussing whether to as many individuals counted as with other product certification and fraud detection authorize stevia in the coming weeks, after techniques. Claridge used the European tools.” an opinion from the European Food Safety truffle product because it was easy to get; Truffles can reach prices of more than Authority (EFSA) on Wednesday said that it his team will next see the reaction of the US1 300 per pound (0.45 kg), and they are was safe for human consumption. animals to native truffles. often the target of fraud as individuals try

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS 39

to pass off cheap imitations as the But the use of dogs to find truffles in the %WILDLIFE immensely valuable T. melanosporum. United States of America is in its infancy, (Source: www.redorbit.com, 29 March and places that train and sell dogs for the Coping with raiding elephants and hippos. 2010.) purpose are rare. FAO tests toolkit to lessen human and Recent news stories about truffle wildlife conflict thieves and the damage they cause to Rome. Are raiding elephants bothering young forest stands highlight the need for you? No problem. Drive them off with state-wide regulation of this resource. pepper spray. Are lions, cheetahs or Stricter trespassing laws will not help spotted hyenas attacking your farm alleviate theft; truffles, apparently, are animals? Consider a guard donkey. worth the risk. Nevertheless, new laws Marauding baboons giving you a hard and regulations are needed and must time? Offer them a snake sandwich. focus on truffle buyers, sellers and These are some of the colourful tips harvesters. contained in a toolkit produced by FAO to A state-mandated Oregon truffle help resolve, prevent and mitigate the season, in tandem with a permitting growing problem of conflict between The trouble with Oregon’s truffles system akin to hunting and fishing humans and wild animals. And while the Truffles and Oregon are becoming licences sold by the state, is necessary. measures suggested may raise a smile, synonymous – at least on the West Coast Without adequate regulations and there is nothing light-hearted about the of the United States of America. This is enforcement of truffle resources, on both problem they are designed to address. where many chefs appreciate the culinary public and private lands, landowners will With the world’s population growing at value of Oregon truffles – and harvesters continue to incur damage to their property some 75 million a year, humans and their cash value. But is this resource and lost revenues in the form of dead wildlife are having to squeeze ever more sustainable? trees. (Source: www.oregonlive.com, 19 tightly together, increasing the risk of In Oregon, and elsewhere across the March 2010.) conflict between them. The result is a country, commercial harvesters rake growing threat to people’s lives and truffles from the soil with a garden livelihoods and to their health from cultivator, sometimes called a potato fork, %WATTLE animal-borne diseases. in a mostly indiscriminate fashion. This Competition between humans and method procures more truffles in the Wattle (Australian acacia) comes to Africa wildlife goes back to the dawn of shortest amount of time, and with the A traditional Aboriginal food has become humanity. Fossil records show that the least effort. But it yields both mature (ripe) part of the staple diet of African first hominids fell prey to the animals and young (not so ripe) truffles. For communities. The seeds of Australian with which they shared their habitats. culinary purposes, only mature truffles are acacia, commonly called wattles, are tasty, “But now,” says FAO Forestry and worth their full value, both monetarily and high in protein (25 percent) and Wildlife Officer René Czudek, “things may gastronomically. carbohydrates (40 percent) and easily made be getting worse, particularly in Africa”. The reason commercial harvesters use into flour. The population of the continent, which this method is twofold. First, it is about the In the Niger, wattle has become a local has the world’s largest reserves of money – more truffles mean higher cash legend. The seeds are used in over 40 local wildlife, is set to double from one to two returns. Second, there is no other method dishes. In fact, village consumers say that billion in the next 40 years. Africans will readily available. Unscrupulous truffle eating wattle increases strength, improves not only be packing more tightly into the hunters hurt the land with their metal eyesight, cures night blindness and cities – they and their crops will also be forks. A walk through any accessible, stimulates milk let down in new mothers. increasingly pressing up against territory coastal tree farm reveals the scars: Since the global food crisis of 2008, a populated by wildlife. trenches run deep along tree roots; dirt heightened sense of urgency has driven the FAO’s human-wildlife conflict mitigation mounds, piled in high rows, look like a search for better sources of nutrition. toolkit thus largely focuses on problem- battleground cemetery; the once-sparse Following a famine in 1984, the Christian solving in Africa. It is designed not only to vegetation is gone; and erosion is severe. organization Serving in Mission (SIM) began help protect people, their livestock and In some forest stands, the truffles are a concerted effort to promote wattle- their crops from animals but, just as gone, too. Decades of abuse have growing in the Niger and acacia seeds important, to safeguard animals from devastated the truffle’s mycorrhizal became popular. Between 2006 and 2009, people. It suggests policies, strategies network. That abuse also threatens the over 50 000 acacia trees were planted on and practical tips to make increasingly continuance of Oregon’s truffle industry. 480 farms in 33 villages and more trees are tight cohabitation safer for everyone. But there is hope. Oregon truffles, being planted each year. According to the Southern African despite decades of haphazard harvest World Vision is now promoting wattle Development Community’s (SADC) methods, finally have a reprieve: the seeds in Senegal, Mali and Chad. Many of Technical Committee on Wildlife, wild increasing use of dogs to locate truffles is these projects have been funded through animals represent the number one replacing the potato fork. Using dogs child sponsorship from World Vision problem for Africa’s rural populations both instead of rakes ensures that only truffles Australia. (Source: http://eternity.biz, 9 April in terms of personal security and because at their peak ripeness are dug up. 2010.) of the economic damage they can cause.

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 40 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

Internet is biggest threat to endangered million were reptiles. About one million species, say conservationists birds and 400 000 mammals were traded, The Internet has emerged as one of the along with 18 million pieces of coral. greatest threats to rare species, fuelling The situation is so serious that experts the illegal wildlife trade and making it have invented a new term – empty forest easier to buy everything from live lion syndrome – to describe the gaping holes in cubs to wine made from tiger bones, biodiversity left behind. conservationists said today. “There’s lots of forest where there are The Internet’s impact was made clear just no big animals left,” says Chris at the meeting of the 175-nation Shepherd of TRAFFIC. “There are some Convention on International Trade in forests where you don’t even hear birds.” Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Vincent Nijman, a researcher at the Flora (CITES). Delegates voted United Kingdom’s Oxford Brookes overwhelmingly today to ban trade of University who has investigated the trade, Kaiser’s spotted newt, which the World said that “in Asia, everybody knows the Generally speaking, however, the best Wide Fund for Nature says has been value of wildlife, so people go into the way to reduce the problems that humans devastated by the Internet trade. forest and, whatever they encounter, they face from wildlife, and vice versa, is to Trade on the Internet poses one of the know it has a value and that there is educate farmers and villagers – and also biggest challenges facing CITES, said Paul someone they can sell it to”. policy-makers – to perceive wild animals Todd, a campaign manager for the Nijman’s research offers the first as an asset rather than as a threat to be International Fund for Animal Welfare. glimpse of the size of this widespread eliminated. Awareness and training in how “The Internet is becoming the dominant trade. While most people are aware of people can live better – alongside wild factor overall in the global trade in illegal sales of rhino horn and ivory, he animals – are fundamental to the use of protected species,” he said. “There will says it is the scale of the movement of human-wildlife conflict tools and in come a time when country to country trade lesser-known species that is most building local capacity for conflict of large shipments between big buyers disturbing. prevention and resolution. and big sellers in different countries is a The bulk of seahorses traded were in But obviously villagers will only stop thing of the past.” the form of dried specimens for Chinese seeing wild animals as a nuisance or Most of the illegal trade is in African medicine. “The moment you look into the worse if rural communities receive some ivory, but the group has also found exotic wildlife trade in Southeast Asia, China is tangible advantage from living cheek by birds along with rare products such as the biggest challenge, because they can jowl with animal populations. Paying them tiger-bone wine and pelts from protected use everything and they will use a percentage of the revenue derived from species such as polar bears and leopards. everything.” (Source: The Guardian [United tourism would be one way, while payments “As the Internet knows no borders, it Kingdom], 21 February 2010.) p for the environmental services they causes several new problems regarding provide is another. Compensation for the enforcement of the protection of damage to crops, injury or loss of life endangered species,” the group said in its should also be considered. report. “Whatever the specific measures taken, “The Internet itself isn’t the threat, but it is important that they are introduced it’s another way to market the product,” soon and properly implemented,” says said Ernie Cooper, who spearheads the Czudek. “The alternative could be the investigation for TRAFFIC Canada. progressive loss of wildlife as we know it (Source: www.guardian.co.uk, 21 March across much of Africa – representing a 2010.) tragic loss to us all.” The human-wildlife conflict toolkit, How the pet trade’s greed is emptying currently being tested in southern Africa, Southeast Asia’s forests was prepared in collaboration with CIRAD Countries across Southeast Asia are being (the Agricultural Research for systematically drained of wildlife to meet a Development Centre), WWF (World Wide booming demand for exotic pets in Europe Fund for Nature), CAMPFIRE (Communal and Japan and for traditional medicine in Areas Management Programme for China – posing a greater threat to many Indigenous Resources) and other partners. species than habitat loss or global (Source: FAO Media Centre, 19 July 2010.) warming. More than 35 million animals were There is one thing alone that stands FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: legally exported from the region over the the brunt of life throughout its length: René Czudek, Forestry and Wildlife Officer, past decade, official figures show, and a quiet conscience. FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa, hundreds of millions more could have Euripides PO Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe. been taken illegally. Almost half of those E-mail: [email protected] traded were seahorses and more than 17

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 COUNTRY COMPASS 41

% AFGHANISTAN % ARGENTINA

Saffron being promoted as alternative Productos forestales no madereros: to poppy in Afghanistan su potencialidad en el Chaco Semiárido “When we look at the farmers who make a Los ecosistemas forestales continúan siendo living from growing poppy, we don’t support degradados a causa de la incorrecta the active eradication because when you intervención del ser humano en la eradicate their fields they don’t have an explotación de sus recursos. Durante income any more,” the commander of muchas décadas, el sector forestal industrial Netherlands forces in Uruzgan province, ha llevado adelante una explotación selectiva, Brigadier General Marc van Uhm, told AFP. modalidad que, además del casi extermino “If they can’t feed their families, then what we de la especie explotada, impulsó la do is alienate them from us, they blame us.” degradación de la mayoría de los The Netherlands is the lead nation for componentes naturales del sistema. Esta Son numerosos los PFNM que se pueden NATO’s coalition troops in southern Uruzgan desnaturalización del medio ha llevado a la extraer de este ecosistema forestal. Alguno province, one of the poorest in Afghanistan – desvalorización relativa de la actividad de ellos, pocos, se producen y comercializan, and the fourth largest producer of poppy. forestal frente a otras actividades productivas incluso a nivel internacional. Otros, más Wiping out the crop has been part of efforts como la agricultura y la ganadería. Así es numerosos, se producen y consumen en el to stabilize Afghanistan. But Afghanistan still como actualmente, profundizando la mercado nacional, y especialmente en la produces more than 90 percent of the opium irracionalidad, las actividades agropecuarias región. Una cantidad muy importante de los base used to manufacture heroin worldwide – están terminando de arrasar los ecosistemas PFNM están en fase de investigación y worth some USD2.8 billion in 2009, according forestales, y con ello también la degradación desarrollo. Hasta ahora su aprovechamiento, to United Nations figures. de las clases campesinas y de los pueblos salvo excepciones, no se ha realizado dentro The poppies, which provide rich pickings in originarios. de un sistema de aprovechamiento múltiple. one of the world’s poorest countries, also play Este problema es grave y complejo por lo En un reciente trabajo se ha recopilado e a large part in the corruption that plagues que su solución requiere de cambios en el ilustrado una cantidad importante de PFNM Afghan life at every level, from district to campo técnico, económico y sobre todo presentes en la Región Chaqueña national government. With so many people modificaciones estructurales del modelo Semiárida argentina, así como sus usos. profiting from poppies on both sides of the global de desarrollo. Entre los más usados de origen vegetal se war, efforts to wean farmers off a crop that Este artículo pretende resaltar la pueden nombrar a los obtenidos del provides them with an income several times importancia del aprovechamiento integral y algarrobo blanco (Prosopis alba), árbol de higher than they could earn from wheat or múltiple como medio para revertir, en parte, cuyas flores se produce un tipo de miel other mainstream produce is not easy. la degradación de los ecosistemas y monofloral y de sus vainas ricas en The chief civil representative on Task Force contribuir a la sostenibilidad económica, azúcares, proteínas, sales minerales que se Uruzgan, Michel Rentenaar, says the social y ecológica de un ambiente natural. consume en estado natural (crudo) también Netherlands aim to encourage farmers to Los productos forestales no madereros se elaboran bebidas refrescantes como la turn to alternative crops, such as saffron and (PFNM) son fundamentales a la hora de «añapa» y la «aloja», esta última se obtiene fruit and nut trees. “Our effort is to supply an proponer modelos de desarrollo sostenibles de la fermentación de las mismas en agua. alternative livelihood. We have had success ya que: a) la mayoría de ellos están Con la fruta del vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia) y with introducing saffron in the province; the arraigados en la cultura local, por lo que del algarrobo negro (Prosopis nigra H.) al harvest has increased every year for the past cuentan con el conocimiento, reconocimiento igual que del algarrobo blanco se preparan three years.” y aceptación de la población; b) un alto harinas. Los frutos del chañar (Geoffroea “Saffron is incredibly expensive and its porcentaje de los PFNM satisfacen decorticans) poseen propiedades yield is about two to three times higher than inmediatamente necesidades primarias de alimenticias, medicinales, melíferas, poppy. But it is slow to convince farmers to los pobladores, como la alimentación y la tintóreas y forrajeras. change.” salud; c) la producción de los mismos Otro PFNM es el mistol (Ziziphus mistol) The 2008/2009 harvest was 50 kg, while contribuyen al resguardo de valores y hábitos cuya madera tiene poco valor comercial this year’s is expected to be almost double propios de una cultura; d) en muchos casos, pero sus raíces se usan como jabón y con la that, and of better quality. While the figures se rescatan conocimientos ancestrales; y e) corteza se colorea la lana de color marrón. are small, saffron has long been the su consumo es más bien regional y no global, Su floración es abundante e importante world’s most expensive spice by weight and es decir más compatible con la productividad para la elaboración de miel. Su fruto es a total of some 500 farmers are now de un ecosistema rico en biodiversidad. alimento para personas y forraje para los growing it in Uruzgan, with a Netherlands En el Parque Chaqueño Semiárido animales, también las hojas y frutos de la firm buying a large chunk of the harvest. In argentino no existen actualmente áreas tusca (Acacia aroma) y del guayacán comparison, however, 1.6 million people vírgenes; sus bienes se encuentran (Caesalpinea paraguarienses) se usan were involved in producing 6 900 tonnes of degradados en diferentes intensidades. como alimentos y medicinas. La corteza de opium in 2009, the UN Office on Drugs and Frente a esta realidad es necesario, de la brea (Cercidium australe) exuda una Crime says – mostly in the southern manera urgente, plantear y aplicar sólo goma-resina de valor comercial. La provinces worst hit by the insurgency. modelos de aprovechamiento basados en el jatropha (Jatropha macrocarpa) provee de (Source: AFP, 1 February 2010.) desarrollo sostenible. un aceite, posible sucedáneo del aceite de

NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 42 COUNTRY COMPASS

The Armenia Tree Project has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site raising and planting trees throughout the in 1997 and were declared as the first country for almost 16 years. Last year, one Ramsar site in Bangladesh on 21 May 1992. million trees were planted, a record that The Sundarbans consist of two brings the total of trees planted over the life ecoregions: freshwater swamp forests and of the project to about 3.5 million. All this is mangrove forests. Very rich in floral diversity done by individuals determined that their with about 334 plant species, they are also trees will become forests to sustain known for faunal diversity (375 animals, of livelihoods and restore a vibrant which 35 reptiles, 41 mammals, 210 fish, 14 environment to Armenia. crab and 43 mollusc species). The Bengal What happened to Armenia and its trees, tiger (Panthera tigris) and the Sundari tree Stetsonia coryne and what is being done to reverse the (Heritiera fomes) are among the most devastation of its forests? Jason Sohigian, significant species. ricino. El cardón (Stetsonia coryne), el Deputy Director of the Armenia Tree Project, Meanwhile, about a million people are quimil (Opuntia quimilo), el ucle (Cereus says the lack of alternative fuel sources dependent on the Sundarbans’ resources. forbesii), el quishcaloro (Opuntia caused the loss of Armenia’s forests, The forest people include mawali (honey anacantha var retrorsa) poseen frutos que especially during the years after collectors), bawali (leaf collectors), jeley sirven para la alimentación humana. independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, (fishers) and crab collectors, as well as the Entre los PFNM de origen animal más when people had no other way to keep indigenous Munda, Mahato and Bagdi people. comercializados y que se usan como mascota warm than to cut down trees for fuel. The Bangladesh Resource Centre for son el loro hablador (Amazona festiva), el suri Ideally, forests should cover 25 percent of Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) started to o ñandú (Rhea americana) que proveer de Armenia, Sohigian said. But now, even after work in the area in 2001. From its inception, carne, huevos, cuero y plumas. Así también la a big replanting effort, the country’s tree BARCIK has strived to understand the state iguana (Tupinambis rufescens, Tupinambis cover is in the range of only 7 or 8 percent. of biodiversity, local knowledge and marinae, Tupinambis teguixin), especies Where the trees have been cut, the land is practices, as well as how local people cope cazadas para la explotación del cuero, carne often degraded and desertification has set with natural calamities or developmental para alimentación y la grasa para fines in as topsoil washes away. destruction by their own methods and medicinales. To make matters worse, the changing resources. One key area here is that of El trabajo delinea un modelo de global climate threatens the last fragments livelihood rights. aprovechamiento múltiple a partir del uso of forest, especially if rainfall declines. BARCIK has taken an important step simultáneo de madera y de los PFNM. Se The Armenia Tree Project works to through a new project “Advocacy on explica como este modelo sirve para la afforest Armenia with natural forests, Sustainable Resource Management and valorización relativa de la actividad forestal planting a mixture of native trees that Livelihood Improvement of Mawalis in the industrial frente a modelos agropecuarios should in time expand and regenerate Sundarbans”. The project started in y para contribuir al desarrollo sostenible forests naturally. “We are really trying to en términos ambientales. recreate natural forests, rather than plantations for harvesting,” Sohigian said. PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: Fruit and nut trees are also provided by Dr. Juan Carlos Medina, Docente, the Armenia Tree Project to people in urban SUPPRESSED WOMEN’S VOICES, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, UNSE, areas, so that individuals may plant trees on NOW UNITED Santiago del Estero, Argentina. the streets or in their yards. This provides Correo electrónico: [email protected]; food to eat and trade as well as a more In the Sundarbans, women collect [email protected] pleasant, landscaped environment. various forest resources for their family’s The massive tree planting programme daily needs. Women also face many has also stimulated employment for threats every day: wild animals such as % ARMENIA Armenians, from the cultivation of seedlings tigers, crocodiles and snakes; robbers; to planting and protection of the nascent unjust forest rules; and the male- How trees are restoring hope forests. (Source: National Geographic dominant system. Until today, women’s Armenia has learned the hard way what it Online, 13 March 2010.) forest resource rights in the Sundarban means for a country to lose its forests – areas have remained largely and the huge backbreaking effort required unrecognized. Through BARCIK, the to replant them. But in its struggle and %BANGLADESH women have organized themselves and determination to restore its trees, Armenia formed a group named Sundarban is an inspiration for the rest of the planet. Sundarban honey wisdom Mahila Samiti. Women are now trying The endeavour to bring trees back to The Sundarbans are the largest single to develop NTFP-based cottage Armenia is thanks mostly to an initiative block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in industries, including pickled kewra fruit called the “Armenia Tree Project”, a the world. and golpata handicrafts, as well as soap programme supported by the international Local people call the forest badaban. It and candles made of wax. conservation charity WWF and BMU/KfW, spans 10 000 km², about 6 000 km² of which the German Development Bank. are in Bangladesh. The Sundarbans were

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September 2008. Funded by the International only during the honey season, but also with different interested parties, following Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during bargaining in the market, assessment current guidance and models and take Netherlands (NL), it considers the local of the honey market, and ecological appropriate legal and technical advice. context and aims at a comprehensive education activities in schools. Even family “Saving plants that save lives and community-led programme, focusing on: (i) and social problems are being managed and livelihoods” is a project undertaken by ecology and biodiversity conservation; (ii) solved jointly. TRAFFIC, WWF and IUCN, financed by BMZ NTFP-dependent livelihoods; and (iii) This process has mobilized and and implemented in Brazil by the IUCN ecological markets in the Sundarbans region. empowered the people to claim access to Regional Office for South America and Traditionally, a mawali group – composed permitted forest resources. (Source: Voices AVIVE. One specific recommendation from of seven to nine persons – is formed during from the Forest, Edition No.18, April 2010.) the project has been for AVIVE to develop the honey collection season. The group its own policy to deal with these issues leader, called sajuni, coordinates and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: and to protect its TK. The same operates the whole process. After the Pavel Parth and Rumaisa Samad, BARCIK recommendations are applicable for other harvest, the people no longer work together (Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous parties involved. (Source: TRAFFIC in the same group or in any activities Knowledge), H.N-50, R.N-16 (new), Bulletin, 22: 3, 2010). requiring teamwork. However, through Dhanmondi, Dhaka, 1209, Bangladesh. BARCIK, NTFP collectors formed nine groups E-mail: [email protected]; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: from 81 families. [email protected]; www.barcik-bd.org Ximena Buitrón, Senior Program Officer, Surprisingly, these groups continue to Innovation, Sustainable Business and work together and even formed the Biodiversity, IUCN Regional Office for South Sundarban Sustainable Comanagement %BRAZIL America, Calle Quite Libre E15-12 y La Cumbre, Committee, which functions as a Sector Bellavista, Casilla Postal 17-17-626 comanagement system. This committee Saving plants that save lives and Quito, Ecuador. Fax. +593 2 2261075. involves not only mawali but forest dwellers, livelihoods women, members of local government, AVIVE (Associação Vida Verde da teachers, journalists, members of the local Amazônia) is a women’s association that market committee and the Forest was established in Silves, Brazil, in 1999, Department. The committee functions not with the aim of developing natural products from the sustainable wild collection of native medicinal and aromatic plants. The group subsequently set up a cooperative, COPRONAT, to sell the NINE MAWALI GROUPS BREAK finished products, which are mainly THE SILENCE obtained from collectors and producers from different communities. In some Nine mawali groups have collected cases, traditional knowledge (TK) is about 5 600 kg of honey and 280 kg of associated with the access and use of such %BRUNEI DARUSSALAM wax in an ecologically friendly process. species. AVIVE has established a Women are also involved in forest relationship with the government, NGOs, Sultanate must guard against illegal honey processing. Both female and academic and private sectors for different wildlife trafficking male forest dwellers assess the honey activities related to their work. Brunei has not been spared from the market from local to national levels and Although there is a lack of clarity illegal wildlife trade, which is rampant in sell their own collection at a fair price, regarding the scope of Access and Benefit- Southeast Asia, said the training and which they decided for themselves for sharing (ABS) regulations in relation to the capacity building coordinator of TRAFFIC the first time. use of biological resources, good ABS Southeast Asia. Claire Beastall, speaker at A decade ago, no one would believe practices – as well as those relating to the Borneo Customs Workshop on Wildlife that the mawali would have their own protection, recognition and compensation Crime, said that Brunei is one of the most bank account and savings. Forest people of TK – are key for the commercialization biodiverse places in the world, but there used to depend on loans from the of medicinal and aromatic plants and to are people who are exploiting the mahajan (traditional moneylender) and avoid misperceptions of biopiracy or Sultanate’s animals and plants. Even microcredit-based NGOs. Today, the misappropriation of activities towards though it is difficult to determine the group members have their own bank promoting their sustainable use and trade. seriousness of the illegal wildlife trade in accounts and have saved a total of more Different sectors need to increase their Brunei compared with other countries in than one lac taka (USD1 500). Although knowledge of these issues and their the region, illegal wildlife trade happens on a small scale, it is proof that the importance. Experts recommend that each throughout Southeast Asia. previously marginalized mawali have user obtain clear information from each The two-day workshop (18–19 April), been able to break the unjust social institute before beginning access, use and coorganized by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia power structure for their survival. trade activities. But it is not that simple. and Brunei’s Forestry Department, AVIVE as collector, producer, supplier and focused on issues such as the Heart of trader will have to learn how to negotiate Borneo Network Initiative, wildlife trade in

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Borneo and commonly traded species in our business is to train villagers who live (NTFP-EP) are working together with Southeast Asia. near the conservation area in the provision Bunong communities with the aim of The workshop also touched on of ecotourism services. The result is that sustaining community benefits from the identifying commonly traded wildlife villagers are able to make an income by forest. One of their outputs is Mondulkiri species such as green turtles and their providing accommodation, food and wild: protecting people and biodiversity, a eggs, orangutans, pangolins (anteaters) guiding services for visitors. In return, they DVD (PAL) produced by NTFP-EP, WWF and the gaharu tree – best known as the sign agreements not to hunt animals, not and the Gekko Studio. It is available in main source of agarwood (fragrant wood). to cut down the forest and not to harm English and Khmer and runs for 27 “All of these are either traded in Borneo or their environment.” minutes. they leave the island. This is an illegal and As part of its effort to help maintain unsustainable trade,” she said. “Some of biodiversity in Cambodia, SVC has FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: the commodities that you find in trade developed a flagship project in Tmatboey Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange reach quite high prices, which is an village in Preah Vihear province, where the Programme (NTFP-EP), 92-A Masikap incentive for smugglers.” signing of successful no-hunting and land Extension, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon Beastall said that TRAFFIC monitors conservation agreements between WCS City 1100, Philippines. Fax: +63 2 426.2757; wildlife trade throughout the region and and the village committee has made it a e-mail: [email protected]; www.ntfp.org works closely with the Asean Wildlife model of community-based ecotourism. Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen) for Butler said the main objective of the countries of the Association of Southeast project was to conserve critically %CAMEROON Asian Nations. Asean-Wen coordinates the endangered bird species breeding in the regional response to illegal trade in area. Stratégies de commercialisation protected species, which threatens Another WCS conservation site where des PFNL à l’échelle communale: biodiversity, endangers public health and SVC manages ecotourism services is the cas de la région de l’Est undermines economic well-being. (Source: Prek Toal core area of the Tonle Sap La question de la commercialisation de www.bruneidirect.com, 19 April 2010.) Biosphere Reserve in Battambang l’ebaie, de la mangue sauvage ou du province. Seven water bird species of ndjansang (Pentaclethra macrophylla, “global significance” have been found Irvingia gabonensis et Ricinodendron %CAMBODIA breeding in the area. (Source: Phnom heudelotii) ne se posait pas à priori Penh Post, 22 March 2010.) lorsque, dans les années 1990, le Cambodian villagers turn from hunting législateur camerounais définissait le to ecotourism régime de commercialisation des produits Biodiversity in Southeast Asia suffers from forestiers issus de l’espace national (loi an onslaught of habitat loss, climate n°94/01 du 20 janvier portant régime des change and overexploitation. A few forêts, de la faune et de la pêche au organizations are determined to develop Cameroun; décret n°95/531/PM du 23 août strategies aimed at helping people to live 1995 fixant les modalités d’application du in better harmony with nature. régime des forêts). Pourtant, la demande One of these groups is the Siem Reap- de produits forestiers non ligneux (PFNL) based Sam Veasna Centre (SVC), which comme ceux-ci reste importante sur le manages bird-watching day trips and marché national et sous-régional. Leur itineraries to eight Wildlife Conservation valorisation par les communautés locales Society (WCS) conservation projects across est devenue l’un des champs de bataille Cambodia. Nick Butler, the coordinator of des Organisations non gouvernementales the centre, said one of their main Mondulkiri wild: protecting people (ONG) camerounaises et des organismes strategies for saving Cambodia’s and biodiversity de développement internationaux. Cet wilderness areas is promoting ecotourism. Mondulkiri in northeast Cambodia is rich article revient sur des réflexions issues “Ecotourism works by providing local in forest and natural resources. It is also d’expériences de terrain réalisées dans le communities with alternative and home to the Bunong indigenous cadre du ProPSFE (Programme d’appui de sustainable livelihoods, linking education, communities. l’Office allemand de la coopération as well as no-hunting and land use NTFPs are viewed as a key means to technique [GTZ] au Programme sectoriel agreements, with the conservation of their improve the livelihood of the Bunong but forêts-environnement) et du Centre local environment,” he said. also to ensure their direct participation in technique de la forêt communale (CTFC). Butler said the involvement of local the conservation of the province’s Le Système d’information des marchés communities at a very early stage in remaining forests of about 1.2 million ha. (SIM) des PFNL a été développé dans la developing ecotourism projects was However, the Bunong currently face région de l’Est par le CTFC, sur la base crucial. “We do two things. The first is that challenges to their way of life and their des expériences de divers partenaires au we manage the ecotourism business by efforts at protecting their forest, culture développement tels que la FAO. Des trying to get international bird-watchers to and livelihoods. stratégies de commercialisation des PFNL visit the WCS project sites across WWF Cambodia and the Non-Timber végétaux à l’échelle communale ont été Cambodia,” he said. “The second part of Forest Products Exchange Programme identifiées pour mieux agencer l’action du

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CTFC dans le domaine, afin d’ajuster Eru market chain baseline (Gnetum spp.) l’activité du SIM PFNL de la région à la in the Southwest and Littoral regions législation. Ces stratégies illustrent des Eru (either of two species, Gnetum voies permettant aux PFNL, ramassés au africanum or G. buchholzianum) is a leafy titre du droit d’usage ou simplement vine found in the tropical humid forests of collectés, d’entrer dans un circuit légal de Central Africa, including Cameroon. The commercialisation. leaves are harvested and traded principally La première stratégie est valable pour as a vegetable, which is an important la récolte des PFNL sur l’ensemble du source of protein and nutrients, used in territoire communal, sans distinction de popular dishes in Cameroon and type de forêt. Dans cette optique, une neighbouring Nigeria. entité juridique communale est titulaire From March to October 2009, a baseline du permis d’exploitation des PFNL. Trois assessment (involving focus groups, options sont envisageables: soit la questionnaires, interviews and visits, as commune dispose d’un titre d’exploitation Penthaclethra macrophylla well as secondary data) of the Gnetum spp. et sous-traite l’activité de collecte aux market chain was conducted in the Groupements d’intérêts communs (GIC) et Traditionnellement, la connaissance de Southwest and Littoral regions of aux fédérations communales; soit elle s’en tous ces produits et de leurs vertus Cameroon, extending into the Cross River approprie; soit enfin une union/fédération permettait d’apporter des solutions à de and Akwa Ibom states of Nigeria. de GIC à l’échelle communale dispose d’un nombreuses situations. Or, on constate The Manyu, Kupe-Manengouba and titre d’exploitation. aujourd’hui une perte de connaissances à Ndian divisions in the Southwest and La deuxième stratégie est circonscrite cet égard. En même temps, certains PFNL Mungo division in the Littoral region were aux types de titres forestiers. Dans ce cas, négligés dans le contexte traditionnel selected as important production areas, les PFNL collectés et commercialisés prennent une importance considérable. Tel based on a situational analysis and rapid proviennent exclusivement des forêts est le cas du Penthaclethra macrophylla, assessment that were carried out prior to communales et des forêts communément appelé mubala. Au Nigéria, field work. communautaires. par exemple, sa valorisation par les petites The research indicates that seven main La troisième stratégie, enfin, est liée à et moyennes entreprises a permis à ce market channels exist, linking up to seven la mise en place d’une activité génératrice PFNL de devenir numéro un en une année. types of actors, from consumers to traders, de revenus (AGR) locale. Elle propose ainsi D’après les informations recueillies, il exporters and importers in major markets que les PFNL collectés au titre du droit produirait de l’huile végétale en grande in Cameroon and the high volume market in d’usage soient valorisés et transformés quantité, et ses tourteaux seraient très Nigeria, with the major production au niveau local. La valeur ajoutée du nourrissants pour les porcs. harvesters in the Southwest and Littoral produit devient de la sorte Au sein de la FOMOD, le mubala regions of Cameroon. An estimated 1 885 commercialisable, constituant une forme constitue une forte source potentielle de people work in the chain (including 759 d’exception à l’interdiction de redistribution des bénéfices, du fait de son producers, 60 traders, 138 exporters, 141 commercialiser le droit d’usage. abondance et de son mode de prélèvement importers, 267 retailers and 330 in support Une bonne organisation accessible à tous, essentiellement le services). socioéconomique et le respect des normes ramassage. Eu égard à cette position de As most harvesters and traders in d’exploitation forestière sont des force et aux impacts socioéconomiques Cameroon do not belong to an organization conditions indispensables de mise en actuels et escomptés, la FOMOD se or association, only a limited number of œuvre. L’option idéale serait certes que propose d’accorder une importance small- and medium-sized enterprises (16) toutes ces stratégies fonctionnent particulière à ce PFNL, en évaluant la appear active in the sector. In Nigeria, simultanément sur le territoire communal, possibilité de faciliter l’installation d’une strong associations and unions are more en attendant la consécration législative microentreprise forestière communautaire common, with 18 organizations noted. des différents avis sur les PFNL émis à ce de production d’huile et de tourteaux de Gnetum contributes to 25 percent of jour. (Contribution de: Fernande Abanda, mubala dans la zone. (Contribution de: producers’ NTFP-related income in the doctorante en droit forestier, Université de Patrice Pa’ah, Secrétaire exécutif, Forêt Manyu division and up to 62 percent of Yaoundé II, BP 18, Soa, Cameroun.) modèle du Dja et Mpomo, Cameroun. Dans NTFP-related income in the Mungo division. Courriel: [email protected]) NTFP Newsletter, Volume 1:4, Natural Producers, traders, exporters, Resources Canada and Royal Roads intermediaries, restaurant operators and Microentreprise forestière University, juin 2010.) processors make an average profit margin communautaire: huile de mubala of CFAF220, 495, 232, 50, 550 and 150–500 La Forêt modèle du Dja et Mpomo POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS, CONTACTER: per kg, respectively. Producers in the (FOMOD) regorge de multiples PFNL (tiges Tim Brigham, Centre for Livelihoods and Manyu division make an annual average de jeunes arbustes, écorces, racines, Ecology, Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke profit of CFAF598 729 and those in the fruits, sève, feuilles, fleurs, pollen, nectar, Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V9B 5Y2. Mungo division CFAF526 867. etc.). L’usage de certains de ces produits a Télécopie: 250-391-2500; Eru contributes to 75 percent of a parfois exigé un savoir spécifique et des courriel: [email protected]; retailer’s income, on average CFAF729 327, formes d’initiation culturelle. http://ntfpnetwork.ca/en/node/89 and 58 percent of an exporter’s income, on

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average CFAF3 million. An exporter at on Gnetum spp. in the Southwest and The initiative is known as the Yasuni-ITT Idenau made an annual average profit Littoral regions, Cameroon. Yaoundé, project because it involves the Ishpingo, margin of CFAF357 148 750 in 2008 from Cameroon, FAO-CIFOR-SNV-World Tambococha and Tiputini oilfields, which the eru trade. Agroforestry Centre- COMIFAC: 142.) partly overlap with the untouchable zone in The eru market in Nigeria provides the southern part of the park, one of the higher returns than the Cameroonian FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: most species-rich areas in the world. market, with a Nigerian wholesaler’s Verina Ingram, Scientist, Center for The megadiverse Yasuni Park, the largest average profit margin of CFAF425/kg for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), national park in this South American fresh eru while their Cameroonian c/o IITA Humid Forest Ecoregional Centre, country, was declared a world biosphere suppliers make CFAF232 /kg. The BP 2008 Yaoundé, Cameroon. reserve by UNESCO in 1989. differences can be explained by a number E-mail: [email protected] or Pinto added that the trust fund would be of factors: actors in Cameroon are not as [email protected]; negotiated again with the United Nations organized as those in Nigeria, coupled with www.cifor.cgiar.org Development Programme (UNDP), which poor roads, high levels of corruption and the government hopes will administer the taxes that reduce their profit margins. project. Almost all Gnetum traded originated %ECUADOR Yasuni, declared a national park in 1979, from the forest, the majority (41 percent) is in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon rain from its preferred shady habitat in well- Environmental inspection in the Yasuni forest, in the eastern provinces of Orellana drained, primary and secondary forest. National Park and Pastaza. More than 1 760 species of Domestication schemes in eight villages Representatives of Ecuador’s trees and bushes have been identified on its have not yet matured to enter the markets ombudsman’s office and environmental 982 000 ha. The park is also one of the on any significant scale. Despite high groups have visited the Yasuni National areas in the world with the greatest variety demand, the quantity produced in the study Park, home to some of the world’s last of bird species, and nearly 40 percent of all area in 2008 was 336 tonnes less than in indigenous people still living in voluntary species of mammals that inhabit the 2007. isolation, in order to verify reports of Amazon jungle can be found there. (Source: While a regulatory framework for illegal activity by oil companies. Amazon News, 15 April 2010.) Gnetum does exist, as it is classed as a Ecuador’s new constitution bans oil Special Forestry Product requiring a permit drilling in the “untouchable zone” declared for trade, the majority of harvesters and by the government in the southern part of traders do not possess a permit. Increasing the park to ensure the survival of the harvests, combined with the lack of Tagaeri and Taromenane indigenous NATIONAL PARK CONTAINS regulatory or any customary control communities, who have shunned contact WORLD’S HIGHEST BIODIVERSITY coupled with no enforcement of harvest with society and are highly vulnerable to permits, a very low level of domestication introduced diseases. The untouchable zone More trees grow in a single hectare of and increasing consumer demand have led – where no logging companies or other upland rain forest in Yasuni – 655 species to a situation of long-term unsustainable extractive industries can operate – was – than in the continental United States harvest. Correspondingly, the price of eru declared in 1999, although the boundaries of America and Canada combined. In has increased with time, with an average were not fully defined until 2006. 25 ha, the number of tree species rises increase of CFAF100/kg in production zones Despite the ban on activities in the area, to 1 100. “In just one hectare in Yasuni, during the period 2007–2009. While the construction of an oil pipeline that would there are more tree, shrub, and liana Gnetum trade is essential in providing cash connect currently operating oilfields with (woody vines) species than anywhere income to harvesters and traders to meet possible deposits in the park has else in the world,” said Gorky Villa, an their basic needs in health, education and continued, said Esperanza Martínez, head Ecuadorian botanist working with both housing – helping meet Millennium of the “Amazonia por la Vida – Salvemos al the Smithsonian Institution and the Development Goals in the study area – its Yasuní” campaign carried out by Acción conservation organization with offices in exploitation is failing to contribute to meet Ecológica, a local environmental group. Maryland and Quito, Ecuador. the environmental sustainability goal. Meanwhile, Minister of Non-Renewable The same incredibly high diversity This study, taking into consideration the Natural Resources Germánico Pinto said applies to amphibians; the 150 species views of actors, concludes that a more that President Rafael Correa had approved documented to date throughout Yasuni efficient market structure of the chain in the terms of a trust fund to finance the are a world record for an area of this Cameroon could enable them to benefit decision to leave the oil underground in size. However, the numbers of insects in from higher profit margins. Domestication the Yasuni Park. Under the innovative plan, Yasuni may eclipse all of these: a single and awareness-raising programmes could the government will issue bonds in hectare of rain forest may contain as lessen the pressure on an already depleted exchange for a commitment to forego many as 100 000 unique insect species. resource base and effective regulatory and drilling in Yasuni, where there are an This estimate is the highest per unit area customary control measures – if estimated 850 million barrels of crude, in the world for any taxa, plant or implemented and enforced – could limit and to preserve the park’s rain forest, animal. (Source: Mongabay.com, overexploitation and enhance sustainable while preventing the release of some 400 19 January 2010.) trade. (Source: summary of L. Ndumbe, V. million tonnes of emissions of carbon Ingram et al. 2010. Market baseline study dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.

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% ETHIOPIA %FRANCE As beekeepers, both Nicolas Géant and Paucton are well aware of the damage France’s best honey: from the Paris caused to bees by chemical products. They rooftops? try to increase the public’s awareness of Parisians and tourists enjoying a meal at their disappearance and its consequences one of the restaurants in the famous by organizing visits to their beehives. “Fauchon” gourmet shop in central Paris Still, there is a tendency to think that the might be surprised at the freshness of the honey made in the city cannot be as good honey served with their tea and other as that harvested in the countryside. meals. Analyses made on the honey of the Grand It is fresh and delicious because it comes Palais showed that there were traces of from the roof of the nearby Paris Opera. dandelions in last year’s harvest. “There are The beehives on top of the Opéra Garnier lime trees, chestnuts, acacias in Paris. It’s a are just one of an increasing set of hives diversity you can’t find anywhere else,” sprouting on roofs around Paris in an effort Jean Paucton added. In the countryside, the to save bees, their honey and their impact honey is made of only one species because White honey grows scarce as bees on our food and environment. of single-crop farming. That is why the abandon Ethiopia’s parched peaks The Opera beehives belong to Jean honey of the Opéra is known for its flavour. The truffle of the apiary world – rare white Paucton, 77, who still likes to climb up to The price of that taste is a bit more than honey from Ethiopia’s highest peaks – is in the rooftop of the Opéra in the centre of USD18 for barely 4 ounces (113.4 g). In danger of disappearing, according to Paris to visit his bees. “Paris is perfect for other words: very expensive. (Source: beekeepers in the Tigray region. “No rain them,” Paucton explained. “The average www.globalpost.com, 28 June 2010.) for the flowers,” said Ashenaf Abera as he temperature during the year is 13° C and stood on his rocky, parched slope in the there are lots of gardens: the Tuileries, the northern Ethiopian region. “The bees need Luxembourg Gardens, La Villette basin, the % GHANA high-altitude flowers for the white honey. Bois de Boulogne …” When they cannot find them, they go to Paucton was not always a beekeeper. He Traditional plants at risk of disappearing other plants and produce yellow honey.” used to be an Opéra props man. It was then The Fante-Akan people of Ghana have a Abera is paid £65 a month to mind 270 that he bought his first beehive, and put it traditional knowledge of ritual plants used hives for the Asira Metira monastery, one of on the balcony of his Parisian apartment. to cure people of mental and physical ills, a dozen religious centres in an area whose But his neighbours were not too happy. A but these sacred plants are in danger of fourth-century rock churches are among friend of his told him to put the hive on the vanishing as their surrounding forests the wonders of the world. “We know about roof of the Opéra so that the bees would not diminish. bees,” said honey seller Sheikh Mohamed bother anyone anymore. He did so, and a “Certain important medicinal plants are Ahamedin. He grips a large screwdriver few weeks later, a friend of a friend came no longer available,” Dr Tinde van Andel, of with both hands to ladle a dollop of thick up to take a picture of the beehive. “It the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity and lumpy white honey out of a plastic turned out it was the famous French Naturalis, told MediaGlobal. As an bucket. It is snow-white and tastes sweet photographer Yann Arthus-Bertand!” The ethnobotanist, it is van Andel’s job to study and more waxy than yellow honey. photo was published in the French how cultures utilize indigenous plants and “The price is the highest it has ever been magazine Paris Match. prevent such practices from being lost. this year, because of scarcity,” said Paucton’s rooftop beekeeping idea has In June, van Andel will travel to Ghana to Ahamedin, who sells white honey for become a trend and now beehives are conduct fieldwork documenting the £7.75/kg. Last year he charged £4.50/kg. located all over Paris. They have taken up traditional knowledge of the Fante-Akan Ethiopia is Africa’s largest honey residence on the roof of the newly people. Van Andel warns of the many producer and the world’s fourth biggest renovated Grand Palais on the Champs consequences that may occur if this beeswax exporter. After coffee, gold and Elysée, the brainstorm of beekeeper traditional knowledge fails to be preserved. cowhide, bee products are major Nicolas Géant. “If people do not know their useful plants contributors to the economy, especially Géant owns a shop where he sells anymore, or if the plants are gone, people through exports to Italy, where white honey beehives to other Parisians. “Urban will lose a major source of wild food, is considered a delicacy. beekeeping is the future of apiculture,” he medicine, shelter, craft material, fodder, Bee products are the only export item said. “Most of the beekeepers have taken and cash income.” produced by Tigray’s impoverished 4.6 their hives back to the city because they Commercially valuable plants are being million people, whose region is said to be realized bees were dying 30 percent more overharvested. As a result, the Fante-Akan one of the worst-hit in the world by climate in the countryside.” people now have to walk further in order change. It may seem paradoxical but pollution in find the medicine they need, affecting both Such is Ethiopians’ love of honey that the countryside is more toxic to bees than their health and survival. Van Andel will apitherapy clinics offer treatments for many in the cities, especially in Paris. “For ten specify priority species that are critical to ailments. The national drink is tej – honey years now, the city of Paris has banned all the Fante-Akan people’s social well-being, mead. (Source: The Guardian [United chemical products from its gardens,” Géant cultural diversity and history, which will Kingdom], 18 April 2010.) explained. help in the conservation of these plants.

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Millions of Africans rely on traditional A main cornerstone of PBEEP, which herbal medicine for their primary health care biologists Marleny Rosales-Meda and Maria needs simply because they lack access to Susana Hermes carry out with Maya- forms of Western medicine. The indigenous Q´eqchi´ communities that neighbour plants used by these cultures contain a LLNP, is linking scientific and traditional myriad of natural chemicals, antibiotic or knowledge to favour the long-term antifungal properties, essential oils, and conservation and sustainable use of natural tannins, all of which are effective remedies. resources in the Ecoregión Lachua. A key Certain plants are also used in objective of this innovative programme is to centuries-old traditions and rituals. The promote the rescue and revalorization of Ashanti people of Ghana use a specific tree ancestral Q´eqchi´ knowledge that is bark to dye the clothing of someone who strongly related to the respectful and has died. “The colour of the dye depends on responsible use of nature. the age and social status of the deceased; carried out in a way that contributes to the Rosales and Hermes, coordinators of each colour comes from a different type of sustainability of these natural resources. PBEEP, proposed to elders and LLNP bark,” van Andel added. “Even Ghanaians The Maya-Q´eqchi´ cosmovision has many managers to carry out a different kind of who have migrated to the Netherlands go to traditional elements that promote and reforestation activity guided towards great lengths to obtain this dye in Europe, favour a responsible and respectful use of rescuing and transmitting traditional tree- so they can bury their relatives according to nature. planting values and wisdom to children and tradition.” In 2000, the School of Biology of the teenagers from five communities of the The protection of Africa’s biodiversity is University of San Carlos in Guatemala Ecoregión Lachua. For this purpose, park crucial to conserving the cultural heritage started a subsistence hunting rangers from LLNP constructed a plant of people that depend on plants as part of characterization project in communities nursery with 1 800 native trees that have their way of life. There are many plants that neighbouring the Laguna Lachua National important uses (wood, food, medicine) and still need to be identified, along with the Park (LLNP) to determine its local special meaning for Q´eqchi´ people. roles they play in indigenous cultures. tendencies. This study initially started with This activity is a pioneer reforestation “It is not only essential to preserve nine local hunters from five communities effort where biologists, park managers, traditional knowledge about plants and who collaborated with the project by filling elders and the youth of the Ecoregión forests, but also very important to train out forms with the biological information Lachua work hand in hand in favour of the young scientists in the taxonomy of tropical about the animals they hunted. conservation and good use of trees, plants,” van Andel said. “Too few botanists The result of analyses showed that considering ancestral respect towards or biologists are trained nowadays in subsistence hunting is a very important Mother Nature as a cross-cutting topic. collecting, identifying and describing activity for the Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities (Source: The Guatemala Times in the tropical plants.” Identifying and protecting of the study area, because it provides Traditional Knowledge Bulletin, plants that are an important part of economic and social benefits. As main 17 February 2010.) people’s traditions will take time, money products of the analysis of these hunting and cooperation between governments and tendencies, a Wildlife reproduction calendar academia, van Andel acknowledged. and a Preliminary proposal for subsistence %INDIA (Source: MediaGlobal in Traditional hunting management in local communities Knowledge Bulletin, 2 June 2010.) of the Ecoregión Lachua were formulated. Indian government to promote cultivation The research team began promoting and of medicinal plants carrying out participative efforts guided The Hill state government in India has %GUATEMALA towards establishing a communitarian decided to promote cultivation of medicinal subsistence hunting management system. plants on a commercial scale in view of the Revalorization of indigenous knowledge These efforts led to the First increasing popularity of the traditional Wildlife hunting for domestic consumption Communitarian Agreements for system of medicine. The Hill state accounts (subsistence hunting) is a very common Subsistence Hunting Management, which for over 7 percent of the nation’s activity that is part of the cultural identity were proposed and signed by biodiversity which – if harnessed – can help of many indigenous communities in leaders/authorities of 15 local communities. preserve vanishing herbs and also generate Guatemala’s rural area, yet it has been Currently, the staff are carrying out a additional income for the people. poorly studied in our country. However, long-term Participative Bilingual According to a survey by the World unmanaged subsistence hunting is a Environmental Education Programme – Health Organization, about 80 percent of serious threat for wild animal populations PBEEP – that emerged from a local the population of developing countries still and can cause drastic effects and negative initiative. PBEEP aims to give continuance rely on traditional herbs for primary health alterations in the natural dynamics of to previous research and management care needs. Keeping in view the vast ecosystem. phases through an education, awareness potential for cultivation of some rare The Ecoregión Lachua is home to 55 and dissemination phase of the efforts Himalayan herbs, the government has Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities that still have carried out until today regarding taken several initiatives. A separate Herbal agriculture and forest use practices, such conservation, communitarian management Medicine Plant Board has been set up to as wildlife hunting, which are traditionally and sustainable use of wildlife. carry forward such activities in a big way.

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A road map has been prepared for large- Jharkhand’s forests yield huge amounts He said that the villagers would be able scale cultivation of medicinal plants, to give of minor forest products, the prices of to earn a livelihood by using the natural thrust to herbiculture, under which 37 which run into several crores of rupees. items that otherwise went to waste. He herbal and aromatic species of medicinal But the market has so far been described the medicinal plants in the plants have been selected. Farmers will be monopolized by intermediaries who pastures and forests, honey beekeeping able to profit by cultivating these varieties purchase these products, especially from and sericulture as the potential sources, of herbs from their small landholdings. tribals, at throwaway prices. adding that forest conservation was The state horticulture, forest and Jhamfcofed has already purchased 88.2 possible only when the locals derived full Ayurveda departments will be involved in tonnes of tamarind from villagers at a rate advantage from the NTFPs. (Source: the programme to help farmers grow of Rs20/kg. The price in the open market Chitraltoday Web site, 13 June 2010.) herbs on private land and in forests and is around Rs15/kg. herbal gardens. The government is also The state body has also bought 267.24 Action to support “pro-poor” forests providing technical assistance to tonnes of mahua at a handsome rate of In Orissa, India, IUCN member Winrock individuals and cooperative societies for Rs22/kg and 30 tonnes of natural gum at International India (WII) is working with the purpose. The produce will be supplied Rs40/kg. local communities to manage forests better to pharmaceutical companies “Jharkhand has a collective minor forest within a wider agricultural landscape. In a manufacturing Ayurvedic and allopathic produce market of Rs700–800 crore. But, zone between the Simlipal Tiger Reserve medicines. so far, we have been able to tap a market and the plain areas, WII plays an active role Flora of the state consist of around of Rs1 crore. Large areas remain in the development of forest resources and 3 500 species of plants, of which about untapped,” Chaturvedi said. livelihoods of the forest-dependent people 800 species are rich in medicinal value and Tamarind, mango and chiraunji are in Orissa. Here, forests contribute about 25 165 species are collected for commercial processed into food items such as pickles. percent of the average income, mostly purposes. Besides these, forests produce millions of through NTFPs, of which the income from The total cultivable wasteland in the tonnes of amla, aloevera, karanj, saal the sale of sal leaves accounts for more state is about 123 000 ha, and growing seed, etc. than 90 percent. herbs will go a long way in further Jhamfcofed sells the same to food- WII’s work has evolved over time from strengthening the state’s economy. The processing units. Chaturvedi said that last merely promoting NTFP livelihoods and state is the largest supplier of chilgoza, year, it had earned a profit of Rs10 lakh the conservation of forests to promoting kuth, dioscoria, dhoop, picrorrhiza, after doing business worth Rs1 crore. This integrated natural resource management valeriana and ephedera in the country. year, the target is Rs30 lakh with a total in government planning and programmes. (Source: Tribune News Service [India], investment of about Rs2 crore. (Source: The With the support of the Ford Foundation, 20 June 2010.) Telegraph [Calcutta, India], 20 May 2010.) this work has been extended to assist the coordination of forest protection groups Fair price for forest yield and community-based organizations into a Tribal villagers who make a living out of federation of local NGOs, called MASS (the forest produce will no longer be at the Mayurbhanj Swechasevi Samkhya), which mercy of intermediaries. The government today covers around 800 villages in the moved to ensure a fair price for minor district. (Source: IUCN Monthly Update, forest products such as tamarind, mango 29 January 2010.) pulp, mahua (Madhuca longifolia) and chiraunji (seeds of Buchanania lanzan) this summer. % INDONESIA Jharkhand State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Development Marketing Bioprospecting: a priority for Indonesia

Federation Limited (Jhamfcofed) has Tamarind Scientists from the Indonesian Institute of already purchased numerous tonnes of Sciences (LIPI), Conservation International these products from villagers. Chitral has vast potential in NTFPs (CI) and other scientific institutions “But more remains to be done. We will Exploitation of vast resources of NTFPs in continue to find exciting new species in purchase 200 tonnes of mahua, 20 tonnes Chitral can help fight poverty and raise the both our oceans and forests. We can of natural gum, 50 tonnes of chiraunji nuts living standard of the people. The Deputy reflect on how our rich biodiversity can and 50 tonnes of half-dry mango flesh this Director of NTFPs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa benefit Indonesia after these initial summer,” said Ratnesh Chaturvedi, the Forest Department, Iftikhar Ahmed, added discoveries are made. Managing Director of Jhamfcofed. that efforts were in progress to exploit the Scientists work on two levels: those who The state marketing body was formed in resources on a sustainable basis and for catalogue the species they find and those 2007, a year after the Scheduled Tribe and this purpose a complex was being set up in who look for scientific innovations based Other Traditional Forest Dwellers the district for which land had been on the unique characteristics of the new (Recognition of Rights) Act gave villagers acquired. The active participation of the species. Biodiversity prospecting or the right to collect minor forest produce. local communities must be enlisted and a “bioprospecting” seeks to develop Jhamfcofed, however, took time to create comprehensive training on natural resource commercial uses for these unique genetic its network and began business in 2009. management must be imparted to them. characteristics. Examples include quinine

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to treat malaria, or new drugs to fight time they are granted, researchers have to The statement said that President cancer now or in the future. return home before their research has Sirleaf is accordingly warning all those Bioprospecting is a market-based even begun. involved in the illegal exportation of approach that could support long-term Together with the governmental bushmeat and wild animals to desist with sustainable economic development in a involvement in formulating a immediate effect or face the biodiversity-rich country. It can also bioprospecting policy, Indonesia has a consequences. It said the ban is aimed at provide incentives to conserve nature. tremendous resource in its non- preserving Liberia’s wildlife since certain However, this can only be done with an governmental organizations (NGOs). There species of wildlife are under threat of honest partnership between local are well-qualified NGOs working across extinction. communities – which are the traditional Indonesia, in hundreds of distinct The government’s ban comes in the owners of these plants and animals – the indigenous communities that each possess wake of reports of an increase in cross- private sector and international their own culture, language group and border trade in wild animals and organizations involved in research and knowledge of natural resources. We are bushmeat from Liberia. (Source: African development. In many cases, traditional only just beginning to understand the value Press Agency, 29 June 2010.) knowledge includes an understanding of and varied applications of indigenous the benefits that different plants and knowledge. animals provide for humans. Indonesia has all the tools necessary to %MEXICO What is needed is a systematic make bioprospecting work. It has rich recording of their uses – and the patents biodiversity, a population both dependent Limitantes del marco normativo sobre or licensing to ensure that the local people on and traditionally knowledgeable about los productos forestales no madereros who own these resources receive a real, this biodiversity, a strong NGO community, en México long-term reward for conserving the government institutions working in En México los productos forestales no natural ecosystem that provides such different areas of the environment, and a madereros (PFNM) son fuente de ingreso valuable natural products. developed traditional medicine industry, y empleo importante para familias y If scientists have the task of finding new which puts Indonesia one step ahead of sectores marginales de la población. species and identifying their current or the rest of the world in the exploitation of Representan recursos que aportan a la future uses, the government is expected to its biological resources. It also has foreign calidad de vida y seguridad alimentaria y manage biodiversity, to ensure that arboretums and corporations willing to ayudan a reducir la vulnerabilidad. Son species do not disappear. The government cooperate to make bioprospecting work. aprovechados de forma silvestre y/o is supposed to use these resources to What it does not have is the proper semidomesticada y han contribuido a promote national welfare and prevent arrangement of these elements into one mantener masas forestales. Son la base exploitation. We need to create a efficiently functioning system. (Source: material de muchas manifestaciones harmonized clear government regulation The Jakarta Post, 16 June 2010.) culturales y forman parte de la identidad on biodiversity research, development and cultural regional y nacional. conservation. Reconociendo la importancia de contar There are two immediate priorities for con un marco normativo que fomente el this legislation. buen manejo, es necesario reconocer que First, there is a need to form an actualmente la leyes y su aplicación, en interministerial commission made up of su gran mayoría, están representando representatives from the ministries barreras y obstáculos para el manejo involved in conservation of natural sostenible y para que los beneficios del resources and trade. aprovechamiento de los PFNM beneficien Second, this commission needs to have a sus legítimos poseedores. one representative with the authority to Ante la carencia de una reglamentación negotiate terms with pharmaceutical acorde con el aprovechamiento y uso de companies and others interested in los PFNM desde la perspectiva de las bioprospecting in Indonesia. At present, comunidades, es necesaria una política there are several agencies in charge of % LIBERIA pública clara, que reconozca y proteja a conserving our biological and genetic los conocedores locales y los involucre resources, which creates opportunities for Liberian leader bans exportation centralmente a lo largo de todos los foreign parties to exploit the system for of bushmeat and wild animals procesos de aprovechamiento. access. Even a third party can approach Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Como parte del análisis realizado en el local people without asking for a permit has banned the exportation of wild simposio sobre los PFNM, en el from an authorized agency. This animals and bushmeat from Liberia. I° Congreso Latinoamericano de overlapping management and lack of a A Foreign Ministry press statement Etnobiología / VII Congreso Mexicano de legal basis is a barrier to the conservation issued in Monrovia on 28 June says the Etnobiología (realizado en Pachuca, and protection of Indonesia’s biological ban will remain in force pending the Hidalgo, del 2 al 6 de noviembre de 2009) resources. In addition, permits granted passage of a proposed legislation to be y tomando en cuenta la opinión de through the proper channels can take submitted to the national legislature for especialistas en el tema, destacamos la months to acquire and, typically, by the enactment. existencia de las siguientes fallas

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relativas a la regulación actual de estos cientos de años, basados en este incidencia real sobre el recursos en su relación con las conocimiento tradicional. aprovechamiento comunitario de los comunidades y la responsabilidad social y • En la mayoría de los casos existe poca PFNM y otros aspectos. Fomentar ética de instituciones educativas- o ninguna información científica sobre también el diálogo de saberes, que académicas con las comunidades: la cual basar planes de manejo. Falta permita tomar lo mejor de cada • Existen leyes y reglas, son excesivas y apoyo para realizar la investigación sistema de conocimiento. no necesariamente garantizan básica necesaria para fundamentar • Dada la actual crisis económica y los sostenibilidad. Se ocupan más de los buenos planes de manejo. Pero para escasos recursos que se asignan a la trámites que de garantizar las buenas que sea útil, esta investigación debe ciencia y al desarrollo de tecnología en prácticas. Generan altos costos y poner en el centro a las comunidades y México, es necesario supervisar las dependencia de servicios externos. sus necesidades; es necesario realizar propuestas de investigación y • Muchas veces hay contradicción entre una investigación participativa, proyectos sobre manejo de recursos las leyes y los reglamentos, o poca involucrando a los usuarios en cada naturales, de manera que respondan a claridad. Algunas son muy generales, fase de los estudios, a partir de su las necesidades reales, sentidas y otras demasiado específicas a una diseño. expresadas por los pobladores realidad, pero no aplicables a otra • Como parte del problema, en cuanto al rurales, para mantener o recuperar (como el caso de especies que están papel de las instituciones de sus complejos sistemas productivos, en peligro de extinción en una región, investigación – que muchas veces cuya eficacia ha sido probada por pero no en otra). reciben dinero de las empresas – el generaciones y cuya afectación actual • La regulación es inaccesible y medio académico, en general, no es propiciada por una regulación excluyente. incide de manera asertiva en la excluyente o por una instrumentación • El actual esquema de los regulación de los PFNM. Llega a excluyente de la normativa actual. La «prestadores de servicios» propicia el describir fenómenos pero no pugna condición actual y el futuro de los desempeño irregular y no por operacionalizar recomendaciones PFNM está ligado directamente a las supervisado. En este marco, se ha conjuntamente con los involucrados en condiciones de vida de la población; la desmantelado la tradición del las iniciativas. Esta automarginación desigualdad social y la exclusión que extensionismo agropecuario. Se ha hace que las iniciativas locales de repercuten en la actualidad insertado en el proceso de aprovechamiento de los PFNM se directamente en la viabilidad de los aprovechamiento de los PFNM, a nutran poco de fuentes académicas. recursos naturales. través de la figura de los «prestadores Tomando en cuenta lo expuesto Aportación hecha por: María Teresa Pulido de servicios»; una instancia de interés anteriormente se proponen las siguientes [email protected]; Martha S. González privado financiado con recursos acciones: [email protected]; Paul Hersch públicos, a costa de un rubro de • Se requieren políticas públicas [email protected]; Catarina Illsley apoyo, cuya operación compete al encaminadas a fortalecer las [email protected]; Citlalli López Estado como parte de su capacidades locales y desarrollar [email protected]; Fernando Ramírez responsabilidad social. Los incentivos para comunidades que han [email protected]; María «prestadores de servicios» han mostrado que sus prácticas de Fernanda Sánchez Pardo desplazado a muchos egresados aprovechamiento tienen un impacto [email protected] universitarios de un espacio de positivo sobre la conservación, y que servicio público que debe ser esto se valore como elemento PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: técnicamente competente, éticamente determinante en la autorización de María Teresa Pulido, Centro de Investigaciones riguroso y metodológicamente permisos de aprovechamiento. Biológicas. Universidad Autónoma del Estado dialógico y participativo. • Es necesario revisar a fondo el de Hidalgo. Carretera Pachuca Tulancingo • Las leyes oficiales, en general, no esquema actual de selección y S/N. C.P. 42184. Pachuca, Hidalgo, México. reconocen ni dialogan con las reglas operación de los “prestadores de comunitarias. Las instituciones servicios” para que sean las instancias locales (asambleas, consejos de gubernamentales mismas en una ancianos, rituales, etc) son relación directa con los pobladores, fundamentales en el diseño, las que realicen labores de apoyo instrumentación y cambio de las técnico a los grupos e iniciativas reglas comunitarias. A menudo, en las locales de aprovechamiento sostenible comunidades, sobre todo cuando se de los PFNM, teniendo en cuenta la trata de recursos de importancia preeminencia de los actores y saberes cultural, existen conocimientos, locales. prácticas y reglas para manejarlos. Es • No se niega el papel del conocimiento frecuente que dichas reglas incluyan científico que permite avanzar hacia elementos éticos de equidad y cuidado respuestas técnicas puntuales, es de la Tierra. Hay varios ejemplos de decir, a un aspecto del manejo; por el especies y ecosistemas que se han contrario, se sugiere la investigación manejado de manera sostenible por científica aplicada que tenga

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% NEPAL MAPs collection has a significant impact on food security for poor and MAP- Medicinal and aromatic plants and their BAMBOO HOUSES COULD HELP dependent people. Similarly, among ten role in attaining food security in the high ALLEVIATE options provided (improved livelihoods; hills of Nepal: an experience from Baitadi POVERTY diversified livelihoods; increase in and Darchula marketing access; increased incomes; Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are Together with increase in knowledge; food security; an integral component of the rich providing low- increase in bargaining power; improved biodiversity of Asia, especially the Hindu cost and health conditions; improved well-being; Kush-Himalayan region and the other environmentally and women’s status), respondents ranked highland systems in South Asia. MAPs are friendly houses, food security in the first four. Overall food attracting an increasing attention of both construction of security and increased incomes were development planners as well as houses made of bamboo could ranked first. environmentalists because of their potentially lead to poverty reduction and It is obvious that the collection and sale multiple functions and potential employment generation in Nepal. of MAPs has a positive impact on food contribution to improving livelihoods of The Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC), security for the people living in the high rural and marginalized communities. affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese mountain areas of Nepal. MAPs are MAPs are an integral source of income, Chambers of Commerce and Industry especially important for the poor and for medicine, dyes, nutraceuticals, food (FNCCI), has entered into an agreement those holding less land; they are one way products and cosmeceuticals, benefiting with the International Network for or the other dependent on MAPs for their the poor and landless in mountain and Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) for the daily livelihood. highland regions. The earnings from MAPs promotion of bamboo house Some of the major problems have been utilized mainly in gaining food construction in Nepal. These projects encountered by MAPs collectors were security by most of the people living in the will be undertaken with financial aid improper prices for their collected goods, high mountain areas of Nepal. from the Common Fund for lack of proper market information, Baitadi and Darchula are located in the Commodities (CFC). inadequate value addition technology, and far western part of Nepal and, according to These prefabricated bamboo houses inadequate physical infrastructures such national indicators, are the country’s least are affordable, quick to construct and as roads and warehouses. developed districts. Geographic durable. They can also provide cheap With a better management of MAPs, complexity/remoteness, poverty, food shelter for the relatively poor there would be more possibilities for scarcity, illiteracy, fewer economic population of Nepal. marginalized and poor households to opportunities, absence of land Bamboo houses require minimum attain greater food security. transportation and communication technology. Most of the bamboo (Contributed by: Ram P. Acharya, Executive facilities are the major challenges for houses are based on existing local Director and Rijan Tamrakar, Programme development in the district. technology, which does not require Officer, Practical Solution Nepal.) A study was carried out using a high-technology tools for construction. participatory, consultative and Similarly, these houses can help FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: multiperspective (polyvocal) approach, generate employment opportunities as a Ram P. Acharya, Executive Director, combining both qualitative and quantitative greater number of locals can be engaged Practical Solution Nepal (PSN), data collection methods. The primary data in their production – from the plantation Madhyapur Thimi-15, Bhaktapur, Nepal. were collected through 16 key informant of bamboo to the construction of houses. E-mail: [email protected] interviews, three focus group discussions, The promoters have also emphasized 52 household-level questionnaire surveys that these houses can decrease the (21 female and 31 male respondents) and current dependency on importing % NIGERIA direct observation. foreign raw materials used in The studies showed that the main construction. The bamboo structures use The potential of neem source of household production is local materials that do not harm human Neem is ubiquitous in northern Nigeria, and agriculture and livestock, with MAPs health and the environment, employing yet the neem tree’s medicinal and economic contributing around 12 percent in total energy-efficient designs. They also values remain underexploited. The neem household production (5 percent in Baitadi employ more people. tree (Azadirachta indica), popularly referred and 18 percent in Darchula). Most of the Since bamboo can be used as a to in the Hausa language as Dogon Yaro, is a households agreed that the contribution of substitute for timber, it will also help tree of the mahogany family with a broad MAPs to household production is high. to decrease deforestation. Moreover, dark-brown stem and widely spread Thirty-nine percent of the respondents bamboo is highly sustainable as it can branches. It grows to over 15–20 m in height agreed that it made a moderate change to be regenerated within two to three and produces evergreen leaves with white their food security, followed by significant years, while timber could take longer fragrant flowers and fruits. It is also drought change (25 percent), no change than 25 years. (Source: Himalayan News resistant. (24 percent) and minimum change Service, 18 April 2010.) Curiously, the tree is everywhere in the (12 percent), with no responses for highly northern part of the country: on streets, significant. around houses and in the forests. Dogon

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Yaro does not require any special cultivation these flowers of their habitat. In El Valle, in % PARAGUAY techniques or efforts because it grows in the particular, poverty plaguing the local wild. This single quality makes it easy to population has led some to pick endangered Bamboo against deforestation cultivate and capable of multiplying without species in the woods illegally and sell them Uncontrolled expansion of cattle farming in difficulty. on the market, posing a real and imminent Paraguay has led to rampant deforestation The neem tree has both enormous threat to the orchids. and introduction of “exotic" varieties says scientific and traditional uses. Almost every Concerned about such a situation, environmentalist Guillermo Gayo. To put a part of it is useful: the seed, leaves, bark and APROVACA was created in 2001 in order to halt to this practice in the southern trunk. These parts are used in the protect the flowers from extinction and seek department of Paraguarí, the foundation he manufacture of organic fertilizers, pesticides, a more sustainable way of development. A heads has implemented what is known as pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, number of orchid conservation activities are “permaculture”. traditional herbal medicines and animal carried out to achieve this objective, A decade ago, the Takuara Renda feed. In countries such as India, neem is including reintroduction of endangered Foundation (“the bamboo place” in the used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical orchids into their original habitat, Guaraní language) settled near the town of products to fight parasitic, fungal, bacterial environmental education for the public and Sapucái, on a hilltop that forms part of a and viral infections. It has also proved reforestation. The APROVACA Web site remnant of the Atlantic Forest, which extends successful in the manufacture of drugs to reports: “We grow both the endangered through parts of Argentina, Brazil and cure diabetes, infertility and skin diseases. endemic species and non-local horticultural Paraguay, with just 7 percent of its original Dr Yusuf Lawan Idrisa of the Department ones in our nursery for different motives. We coverage remaining. The foundation chose an of Agricultural Economics and Extension try to conserve the former by reproducing area that had been severely degraded by Services at the University of Maiduguri is an them, while selling the latter to visitors to forest fires and logging. It promotes expert in technology adoption and impact raise funds for our ecofriendly activities and permaculture, which is the design and studies. He said his studies show that neem to make the very act of gathering wild maintenance of small productive ecosystems, “can also be used to control field pests on orchids for profits redundant. Overall, we aim including the harmonic integration of people farms. It only involves drying the leaves and to conserve the local biodiversity and and their homes, in order to meet their needs then grinding them into powder and mixing promote an environmentally conscious and in a sustainable way. with water,” adding that “neem-based sustainable form of tourism.” This approach utilizes materials such as pesticides can be used to reduce the Because of its unique geographic tacuara cane, a type of bamboo, and plant incidences of systemic diseases such as characteristics – the isthmus connecting fibres for bioconstruction. Gayo is not trying cancer, kidney and liver diseases that arise North and South America – Panama boasts to establish bamboo as a crop in the area, as a consequence of using chemical-based exceptional biodiversity. Indeed, Panama’s but rather is using it to help the degraded (non-decomposing) pesticides that leave estimated 1 500 species of orchids is a far forest to recover. “If you cut a branch off the behind harmful but unnoticed residues”. greater number than that of the United bamboo, another grows in its place. That is Neem-leaf based pesticides are States of America and Canada combined, how we are replacing the wood,” he said. biodegradable and have no harmful effects and many of these species are endemic to The foundation’s landholding is just 6 ha, on humans. The bitter taste can be washed Panama. but its efforts are felt far beyond. On 25 away with water. The APROVACA Web site features over 200 surrounding hectares, a process has begun However, of major importance is the seed photographs of Panamanian orchids. to expand the forest with larger tree and from which oil and organic fertilizer can be bush species, and there is an emphasis on extracted. The oil can be used in the FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: preventing fires and halting extensive cattle manufacture of pesticides, pharmaceutical APROVACA, Main Street next to ANAM, El Valle de operations. products and traditional herbal medicines. Anton, Cocle Province, Panama. Tel./Fax: “I was surprised by the house made from (Source: www.allafrica.com, 6 April 2010.) +5079836472; e-mail: [email protected]; tacuara cane and its furniture,” said Myriam http://aprovaca.webs.com Ramírez, a young student from a nearby community who visited the foundation with % PANAMA classmates. Ramírez also participated in workshops about bioconstruction, where she Conserving endangered orchids learned about building structures out of APROVACA is a non-profit grassroots bamboo. (Source: Tierramerica in Inter Press organization of El Valle de Anton that is Service News Agency [IPS], 19 April 2010.) dedicated to the conservation of endangered native species of orchids, many of which are believed to be on their way to extinction. %PHILIPPINES Estimates vary, but it is generally considered that Panama is home to no less Monom: the Téduray weaving tradition than 1 500 species of orchids, making it one Daily life for the Téduray revolves around of the most orchid-rich countries in the their safad or plants, which are considered world. However, the destruction of rain the extension of the human or animal body; forests, accelerated by the recent rapid the barandiya or things crafted by the economic growth of the country, is depriving Téduray from the materials around them for

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Programme – together with the compile and disseminate information on willingness of the tribal leaders and the quantitative and qualitative statistical weavers who shared their ideas and data on NTFPs, their socio-economic uses expertise. and ecological and environmental values.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mr Romeo C. Saliga, Executive Director, Cliff S. Dlamini, Department of Forest and Lumad Development Center, Inc. (LDCI), Wood Science, Faculty of Agrisciences, Tenorio, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao, University of Stellenbosch, P/B X1, Mindanao, Philippines. Matieland 7602, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +268 4041125; e-mail: [email protected] %SOUTH AFRICA %SUDAN various uses; and the késukat or means of The socio-economic status of the NTFP livelihood to maintain a free, peaceful and subsector in Swaziland Beekeeping and the Bongo people progressive society. A wide spectrum of NTFPs generally Beekeeping is the principal activity of the Estimates of the Téduray population makes a remarkable contribution to the Bongo people in Aguko village in Warrap vary widely, ranging from the 56 000 of a household economy in rural areas, with state, southern Sudan. Chief Sultan 2004 survey to the approximately 200 000 most communities making a living either Arkanzelo and local beekeepers showed estimated by the NGO Lumad Development from their domestic or commercial use. some of their hives and how they are Center, Inc. (LDCI). The objective of a recent study by Cliff made. One can easily recognize a Téduray S. Dlamini and Coert J. Geldenhuys of the Hives are constructed from split household in any community because of University of Stellenbosch was to review bamboo woven into a cylinder 2 m long the unfailing presence of their traditional the current status of the NTFP sector and and 30 cm wide. This is then coated with baskets. They are known as the symbol of further compile an up-to-date list of major mud mixed with the fibres of a creeper the Téduray, a lasting display of their use categories of NTFPs. called luyu (possibly a Cissus species). artistry and flair for craftsmanship. A review of past studies on NTFPs in The fibres are slippery and make the mud The general term for weaving is monom the four ecological zones of Swaziland stick to the bamboo. The hive is then and includes all kinds of woven indicates the annual economic value of covered with a layer of grass and a second handicrafts. The Téduray use the following food and drinks, household items, woven bamboo cover is constructed materials in their weaving: pawa, a type of medicinal plants and fuelwood to be at around it. This three to four layer hive bamboo used for the basket body; teel, a USD1.7, 1.7, 32.1 and 13.8 million, ensures that, even if it is put in a tree with type of rattan used for the rim of the respectively. An analysis of the study on little foliage, it will not be affected by heat basket; nito, a type of vine used to sew the natural resources accounting for the from the sun. Each end is closed with a rim to the body, and also to make the contribution of forests and woodland palm leaf circle made from Borassus strap; and buring, a dye made of ash from resources shows that the total value of aethiopum. A third entrance may be made burned tyres or soot from pots used in fuelwood, thatch, edibles, medicines, craft halfway along on larger hives. wood-fired stoves, and mixed with the sap wood, weaving and fodder stand at When the hive is complete, a hole is from plants that serves as a fixative. USD29.6, 1.33, 0.24, 0.10, 0.06, 0.50 and made in the ground and the bark of Commercial logging has denuded the 0.99 million/year, respectively. Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter tree) is remaining forest in the ancestral home of This study reviewed past national, burned and the smoke allowed to infuse the Téduray and Lambangian of Upin, regional and international studies and the hive for 24 hours. Hives will last five to resulting in displacement, conflict in the developed a new list of 18 NTFP use eight years if well made. The hive is community and a threat to the survival of categories subdivided into direct, indirect placed horizontally about 4 m high in a the indigenous peoples. and intermediate uses. Subsequently, a tree to avoid damage when the grass is LDCI has been promoting weaving as a matrix of commonly used botanical NTFPs burned. Hives are placed at any time of means to provide income for the people was designed and includes species such year and bees normally enter fairly soon. (without cutting trees), while at the same as Sclerocarya birrea, Bauhinia galpini, After about one year of being occupied, time raising awareness about the Berchemia zeyheri, Dichrostachys cinerea the first harvest can be made, with a importance of the forest and the need to and others. further two later on. Harvesting usually preserve their vanishing weaving culture. However, the study concluded that takes place in March, May and September, One of the initiatives was to produce there is still a profound lack of information with a total of about 10 litres of honey Monom, a small illustrated booklet on the status and total value of NTFPs and being obtained per year. A special grass is highlighting the skills involved in the recommended that governments, NGOs, used to produce smoke, and at each Téduray weaving tradition. This was only the private sector, communities and other harvest, combs are only taken from one possible with funding support from IUCN’s interested and affected parties (including half of the hive. A central core of comb is Ecosystems Grant Programme and the resource users) should work together to left and, as far as possible, only ripe honey Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange conduct research in order to generate, is harvested.

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Honey forms the main currency for the increasing animal diversity and protecting mulberry tree and fruit are associated with Bongo people, with any remaining comb the perennial medicinal and seasonal beauty: the berries are traditionally given being used for brewing. Beekeeping is plants. Medicinal plants growing in the to a couple to make their life sweeter and, done only by men, as is all the hive reserve include thyme, wild garlic, hyssop, before starting to build a new house, a construction work. Honey is sold for dandelion, narcissus, Artemisia and lilies. mulberry tree is planted. approximately SDD4 (USD1.50) per 500 ml The reserve is also a destination for During some crisis periods, such as the bottle and beekeepers have no difficulty in ecotourism. (Source: Syrian Arab News Second World War or the extended civil selling it. (Source: Bees for Development Agency, 22 June 2010.) war that afflicted the country until 1997, Journal, Issue No. 95, June 2010.) mulberry played a crucial role in providing the main nutrition for the local population. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: %TAJIKISTAN The community of mulberry producers Paul Latham, Croft Cottage, Forneth, from Khorog has been part of the Terra Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6SW, United Mulberry on the roof of the world Madre network (Slow Food) since 2004 and Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected] There still exist pristine places without is working to defend the traditional Pamir industry and pollution where people live in customs of eating mulberry, which have harmony with their environment. One of significantly decreased in recent years SYRIAN ARAB them is the autonomous province of with the spread of industrial products. % REPUBLIC Gorno-Badakhshan in Tajikistan. Although (Source: Platform for Agrobiodiversity its area (about 65 000 km²) extends over Research, 5th Newsletter, 24 March 2010.) Nature reserves maintain biodiversity, half the country, only 3 percent is activate ecotourism in Tartous habitable. Most of it is covered by the Nature reserves play an important role in Pamir Mountains, sometimes called the %THAILAND achieving sustainable development and “roof of the world”. The few villages are preserving the stability and balance of the sited in valleys beside rivers and the Poachers turn fungi farmers to save environment in the coastal Syrian province population tries to cultivate every piece of forests of Tartous. They also provide a suitable available land. Nuan Muangchan began to log rosewood environment for conducting scientific The mulberry is an important food for illegally as a teenager, creeping at night research and protecting biological these valleys. Introduced from China via into Thailand’s largest national park and diversity. the Silk Route, it is perfectly adapted to hiding from animals and rangers to Tartous province is famous for its the difficult mountain environment, where smuggle out her loot. Thailand’s lush natural and artificial forests which extend it grows between 1 100 and 2 400 m jungles are under daily attack by illegal over the western cliff of the coastal (replacing crops such as wheat and barley loggers and poachers, but conservationists mountains, since the province embraces that cannot be grown at these altitudes). in the country’s northeast are turning to an four nature reserves: East al-Shaara, al- There are now more than 60 varieties of unlikely remedy – the common mushroom. Nabi (Prophet) Matta, Qarkafti and al-Kahf mulberry in the Pamir region, the result of A project that turns former wildlife (Cave) Forest. The Director of the centuries of selection and adaptation. They criminals into fungi farmers is proving a Biological Diversity and Nature Reserve can be eaten raw or transformed into jam, surprising success, giving villagers a Department in Tartous, Hiba Salhab, said syrups or pikht – a flour – which is usually decent wage while helping to slow the the reserves were established because mixed with other seeds and cereals. destruction of forests in the Khao Yai they enjoy a rich biological diversity, The local inhabitants mainly grow National Park, a World Heritage Site. hosting various rare plants, while mulberry for family consumption: in Under the scheme, set up by Thailand’s surrounded by several archaeological summer, families put as many as 20–30 Freeland Foundation, Nuan now has her monuments. sacks of dried mulberry aside as a reserve own business as a mushroom farmer and Salhab pointed to the key role of the for the winter. In the local culture, the no longer relies on precious rosewood, reserves in activating ecotourism, while prized for its perfumed sap, as her only preserving these natural areas. She means of regular income. And she has underlined the importance of forests in the persuaded her 33-year-old nephew reserves in cleaning the air of pollutants Boonrod to join her in abandoning the and industrial gases. illegal work. Boonrod said he earns The Director of Tartous Forest USD300 a month from his mushroom farm Department, Hassan Salih, said “the – a relatively good income in this reserve of East al-Sharaa was established impoverished rural belt and enough, he to preserve oak and terebinth trees, in said, to stop logging. addition to protecting rare plant species Education levels are low in the such as maple, Syrian pear, fir trees and northeastern region of Isan and most some species of oak trees”. villagers are landless, with many relying The reserve was established with the on daily hire for farm or construction work aim of preserving the mountainous to provide for their families. As well as ecosystem and the forests in the area and giving potential mushroom farmers all the protecting endangered animals, as well as start-up tools they need, the Freeland

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protection of drinking-water supplies. Trees %UGANDA form the foundation of many natural systems and, as such, provide a wide range Important woody species, their of products (timber, fruit, medicine, management and conservation status beverages, fodder) and services (carbon in Uganda: a case study of Balawoli sequestration, windbreaks, water quality sub-county and quantity control, coastal protection, Woody species are threatened everywhere shade, beautification, erosion control and in the world. Loss of species such as these soil fertility). The forests of Trinidad and can lead to much suffering among the Tobago are home to a wide variety of faunal people who traditionally rely on them to biodiversity, which facilitate pollination, satisfy their needs. To safeguard seed dispersal and germination. livelihoods, therefore, it is important that This internationally recognized these species are protected. environmental day is also set aside to The aim of this study was to generate promote education and awareness of the information that would contribute to the Foundation also trains park rangers, who importance of forests and the benefits of design of robust management plans for arrest an average of two poachers or planting trees. Examples of biodiverse the conservation, and increase, of woody loggers every week. But they said that forests in the country include the Matura species cover in Uganda. The study was prosecution alone has not been effective in National Park, which was declared an conducted in Balawoli sub-county, in reducing wildlife crime. “We have to use environmentally sensitive area in 2004, and eastern Uganda, between July 2009 and two strategies: push and pull. The rangers Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago, which January 2010, and addressed the following push the poachers out of the forest but we is the oldest protected watershed in the questions. (1) Which species are most need to pull the villagers into an western hemisphere, declared in 1776. preferred? (2) What is the conservation alternative occupation and convince them For these reasons, EMA embraced the status of woody species and for which to change,” said Mukda Thongnaitham opportunity to collaborate in a project with species have changes in local availability from Freeland. the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the been observed? (3) What tree management In its efforts to reduce these illegal Environment; the Forestry Division of the practices exist? (4) Which tenure rights activities, the Freeland project consulted Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine exist for trees? villagers on their skills and surveyed the Resources; the University of the West Data were generated through both local market to see what would sell, Indies; and the Institute of Marine Affairs, ethnobotanical and ecological surveys by before plumping for mushrooms as an among others. The project is called the interviewing respondents and conducting alternative income source. The organic Nariva Restoration and Carbon measurements on trees in plots selected oyster mushrooms are sold at the local Sequestration and Livelihoods Project. at random in the landscape. market and have proved so popular that This project will ultimately see the Analysis of the respondents’ responses the farmers cannot grow enough. “At this replanting of 1 300 ha of the Nariva Swamp, showed that 17 species are valued most stage we still cannot meet market demand in areas that were formerly deforested by highly within the community. The priority so we need to expand this project to other large-scale rice farmers more than a species are multipurpose and commonly villages,” said Mukda, who hopes to begin decade ago. Nariva Swamp, the country’s have more than three uses. Altogether, growing yanagi or straw mushrooms, and largest and most biodiverse wetland, was these species have 25 different values for shiitake, which can fetch a higher price. declared an environmentally sensitive area the community. The most frequently (Source: AFP, 21 January 2010.) under the Environmentally Sensitive Area harvested products from the woody Rules, 2001. It has the most varied species are edible fruits, firewood and vegetation of all wetlands in Trinidad and timber. The value of these species as a %TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Tobago, with distinct zones of tropical rain source of income appears to be low (only 4 forest, palm forests, mangroves and grass percent of the respondents mentioned it). Forests … much more than timber savannah/marsh. (Source: The Guardian Eighty-five woody species were found in In observing World Forestry Day on 21 [Trinidad and Tobago], 20 March 2010.) the ecological survey. Of these, 17 appear March, the Environmental Management to have a good conservation status Authority (EMA) encouraged the people of because they were fairly well distributed Trinidad and Tobago to take time to and relatively abundant. Only six of the appreciate the value of the country’s forest highly valued species had a good resources. Historically, forests have played conservation status. important social and cultural roles in the According to local perceptions, the lives of many people, especially those of species Milicia excelsa (uvule), Albizia indigenous communities. coriaria (musita), Combretum molle Today, many are realizing that forests (ndaha), Terminalia glaucescens (musasa), offer much more than just timber. Forests Coffea spp. (mwanyi), Combretum provide recreational opportunities and collinum (mukoolakoola) and Citrus spp. contribute to health and well-being, as well (mangada) are becoming scarce. On the as the regulation of local temperatures and Coffea spp. other hand, the species Artocarpus

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Priority woody species of Balawoli sub-county In conclusion, many woody species, including the most highly valued ones, Species (and local name) Main products Other products appear to be declining in availability. Mangifera indica (muyembe) Edible fruit, firewood Medicine, shade, income, charcoal Efforts by extension workers and others Maesopsis eminii (musizi) Timber, firewood Income, poles, shade, soil fertility, interested in maintaining trees on farms medicine should focus on the 17 priority species Artocarpus heterophyllus (fene) Edible fruit Firewood, timber, shade identified in the table. Second, there is a Citrus aurantium (mucungwa) Edible fruit Firewood, income need to address the key threats identified Milicia excelsa (muvule) Timber Firewood, charcoal, construction, here, namely poor markets for tree shade, rain formation, medicine products, destructive harvesting for Ficus natalensis (mugaire) Shade Bark cloth, fodder, firewood, timber, timber, and wood for construction and edible fruit, poles, charcoal, charcoal-making. The existing windbreak. Does not out-compete crops opportunities that have led to increases in Coffea spp. (mwanyi, coffee) Income Edible fruit some woody species in the area should be Eucalyptus spp. (kalitunsi) Timber Poles, firewood, income, medicine, exploited. windbreak One specific and pragmatic action to Albizia coriaria (musita) Timber Firewood, charcoal, construction, stimulate tree planting should be to medicine increase the motivation of farmers to plant Pinus spp. (pine) Timber Income, firewood, edible fruit trees by promoting and creating markets Persea americana (ovacado) Edible fruit Firewood, medicine for tree products. Improvement of markets or creation of markets will call for Carica papaya (papali) Edible fruit investigations into value chains of selected Ficus sycomorous (mukunyu) Shade Timber, firewood, charcoal, species/products. Additionally, and intercropping, construction, windbreak following respondents’ suggestions, there Senna siamea (gassia seed) Firewood Shade, poles, timber, beautifying is a need to improve access to water, compound access to planting material, and to control Markhamia lutea (musambya) Poles Firewood, timber, shade pests. There is also a need to improve Citrus reticulata (mangada) Edible fruit Medicine understanding of the germination and Citrus limon (nimu) Edible fruit Medicine, firewood, timber, income seedling establishment behaviour of the priority species by conducting investigations both in experimental heterophyllus (fene), Mangifera indica land. The common tree husbandry gardens and on farms. (muyembe), Ficus natalensis (mugaire), practices are planting, protecting trees The collaboration of farmers in tree Citrus aurantium (mucungwa), Acacia sp. against damage and pruning to encourage planting is likely to lead to increased (miwa), Senna siamea (gassia seed), sprouting. Trees are propagated mostly availability of the priority species without Eucalyptus spp. (kalitunsi), Pinus spp. from seedlings. Some farmers are increasing the diversity of woody species. (pine), Carica papaya (papali) and Lantana constrained in planting trees by lack of The protection of this diversity, therefore, camara (kapanga) are known to be seedlings, by pests, drought and lack of remains the responsibility of the local increasing in their availability. There was land. Species are managed mostly in crop administration, which should undertake, low consensus between community fields, courtyards and home gardens. Men among other actions, the reafforestation of perceptions and the results of the own trees in the homestead, and are more its district reserves and tree planting on ecological survey about which species involved in tree management and the sale public lands such as road reserves. were declining or which were increasing in of tree products than women. Lastly, this study was conducted in availability. eastern Uganda, but the loss of species is The main factors believed to be leading occurring all over Uganda. It is necessary to the disappearance of some species, to have the study replicated in the different according to the respondents, include agro-ecological regions of Uganda in order overharvesting; destructive harvesting to to capture the entire diversity of priority produce charcoal, firewood, timber and woody species for the country. poles; attacks by pests; non-planting of The study was funded by the trees by farmers; and droughts. On the International Foundation for Science (IFS) other hand, the key factors leading to the Grant No. S/4644-1. Makerere University success of some species are that they are provided additional support. planted because they are useful; are (Contributed by: John R.S. Tabuti [Ph.D.], drought resistant; regenerate naturally; Institute of Environment and Natural are easy to manage; mature quickly; and Resources, Makerere University, their seedlings are available. PO Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. Farmers stated that they maintain many Fax: +256 (0) 414 530 134; woody species (51) that they plant or retain e-mail: [email protected]; when found growing naturally on their Carica papaya [email protected])

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%UNITED KINGDOM place is a gash extending vertically as much as 10–12 feet (3–3.6 m) from the Bees for Development helps African base of the tree. beekeepers to trade their way out of Working turpentine required a unique poverty scarification of the tree trunks: using a First Minister, Carwyn Jones, last week combination of hacks, turpentiners visited Bees for Development’s Cameroon removed the pine bark to tap into the Honey Trade Project under way in “veins” of the tree. Once wounded, pine partnership with the Welsh company trees secrete resin on to the surface of Tropical Forest Products Ltd. Bees for the wound as a protective coat to seal the Development is an international opening, prevent sap loss, and resist development organization based in exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms. Monmouth, Wales, United Kingdom, Turpentiners wounded trees in V-shaped working to help African beekeepers trade streaks down the length of the trunks so their way out of poverty through selling as to channel resin into cups, where it honey and beeswax. UNITED STATES was collected and processed into the The Welsh Assembly Government’s %OF AMERICA spirits of turpentine. The V-shaped “Wales for Africa Grant Scheme” is streaks – called “catfaces” for their funding Bees for Development to work Totems of Georgia’s turpentiners resemblance to a cat’s whiskers – are with Tropical Forest Products Ltd in this The turpentine industry was central to life unmistakably the marks of a turpentiner. project, which aims to produce a Welsh- in south Georgia for 100 years. The work Half a century ago, most counties in the designed honeycomb separator that will and the profits are gone now, but George southern half of Georgia maintained at assist Cameroonian beekeepers to Music, Jr is determined to maintain the least 100 000 faces, and some kept over improve the quality and yield of their honey face of his occupational legacy. 500 000 in production. and beeswax. On George Music Road on the outskirts Over the last several decades, however, Michael Tchana, Director of the of Waycross, Georgia, a chute of dirt and these telltale signs have become Cameroonian organization Guiding Hope, sand leads into what feels like an infinite increasingly scarce, as the turpentine visited Wales in March to work on the pine forest. At the end of the road – and at industry has declined and timber and honeycomb separator, with the aim of the centre of this forest – sits the century- construction companies have cleared the increasing honey and beeswax exports to old home to three generations of forests. At alarming rates, catfaced trees Wales in the forthcoming months. turpentiners in the Music family. Close by have been sawn down, turned to paper, The products will be sold through Tropical is the mobile home of 50-year-old George crumpled, and tossed into garbage cans. Forest Products Ltd, Wales’ only registered Music, Jr, the only remaining member of Those that do remain are few and far fairtrade importer. The project outcomes will the Music family to have worked in the between. be shared widely with other beekeepers in turpentine woods. These woods and the Today, Music stands firm against Africa and Wales through the information old home are Music’s birthplace. pressures to surrender his vast extent of network of Bees for Development. In the 1970s, the livelihood of natural standing timber for commercial With the United Kingdom producing less turpentining, the only work many people use. than one-third of the honey it eats, the here had ever known, became unreliable, In most forests of what was once the honey trade presents a real economic then impossible, a consequence of new turpentine belt, the sounds of opportunity for people in developing technologies, alternative industrial turpentiners’ hand tools have been countries endowed with natural resources, sources of turpentine, and cheaper replaced by the racket of mechanized but with limited financial capital. Bee foreign labour. George Music and his timbering and the frenzy of industrial diseases are highly prevalent in father were forced to acknowledge that deforestation. Pine forests today crack industrialized countries and most beeswax the dwindling returns they were receiving with the force of bulldozers, the buzz of produced is contaminated with the per barrel of pine resin would not be chemical residues of bee medications. enough to sustain their family business African beekeepers have a strong much longer. comparative advantage, as they are Today, George Music’s forest stands custodians of the largest remaining wild much as it would have before turpentiners honey-bee populations in the world, ever ventured into this part of the thriving and free from introduced pests American South. The woods sit silent and and diseases. (Source: press release, 14 empty, devoid of the labour that for so April 2010, Bees for Development.) long clattered here. Yet Music’s land still bears evidence that his forest was, for FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: nearly a century, devoted to the extraction Bees for Development, PO Box 105, of crude gum for producing turpentine. Monmouth NP25 9AA, United Kingdom. Most striking about his property today is E-mail: [email protected]; that seemingly every other tree in this www.beesfordevelopment.org forest is missing much of its bark. In its

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saws and clatter of rattling chains. But It would not have been a strange sight Alan Whittemore, a botanist at the US not on George Music’s land. Indeed, both in her native country, the Islamic Republic National Arboretum. Music himself and the thick forest that of Iran, where at this time of year entire “For many years, it was a requirement,” envelops his homestead represent an families can be seen laying out sheets and he said. “If you owned property in the unusual set of circumstances. shaking trees to collect the berries, which Virginia area, you were required to plant a When entrepreneurs dealing in naval they eat fresh, dried or blended into juice. certain number of mulberry trees each stores (turpentine and other resinous Here, she acknowledged, her foraging year.” The experiment fizzled: silk products used on wooden ships) first prompts “funny looks”. “This is production required labour that was cheap arrived along the Georgia-Florida border, Washington, DC – people aren’t going to but skilled, and tobacco proved more they ventured into old-growth pine woods go out of their way to get something if it’s profitable. much like George Music’s – forests of not in a store.” But the mulberry trees liked virgin timber that had stood for hundreds They do not know what they are Washington and, with the help of birds, of centuries, never planted by human missing, say mulberry fans, most of whom who eat the berries and expel the seeds, hands. Over time, forest after forest are immigrants. Just the sight of fruit- their population swelled. They now toppled like dominos, and naval stores laden trees can conjure up sweet number in the thousands. operations were continuously forced to memories for people who grew up in the Mulberries are not the only “secret locate new stands of timber in order to Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus harvest” known mostly to immigrants. survive. It was not until turpentiners had and the Far East. Natives of East Asia flock to ginkgo trees migrated from points north into the pine Mir Farid Hashimi, 39, a native of to harvest the seeds, said Yao Afantchao, belt of south Georgia and north Florida Afghanistan who lives in Woodbridge, said ethnic and speciality crops specialist at that forest researchers discovered how to his family makes a day of picking the the University of the District of Columbia, grow pine trees quickly enough to berries in Maryland parks. and immigrants from West Africa gather generate renewable stands of timber. Yet, despite its firm place in nursery wild amaranth to cook as greens. Most estimates suggest that a rhymes, the fruit of the mulberry bush, or In some cities, including San Francisco, sprawling 156 million acres (63 130 960 tree, has never caught on in the United New York and Portland, Oregon, the trend ha) of natural-standing pine once States of America. One reason may be has expanded beyond ethnic communities, blanketed the American South, before that its thin skin makes it hard to with urban foraging tours pointing out humans exploited the forests for industry. transport commercially: the berries taste such delicacies as mustard greens, edible In the centuries prior to European best immediately after picking. The white mushrooms and snails. (Source: settlement in south Georgia and north ones are light and subtle, almost perky, Washington Post, 7 June 2010.) Florida, Native populations of Oconee, but the black ones, the ones that stain Apalachee, Creek and Timucua found their fingers and lips, are luscious and dissolve expansive forests a source of food and on the tongue in a sweet, dusky swirl. shelter, defining wealth in terms of what Most people in the Washington area do the forests willingly bestowed rather than not know this. Nevertheless, most by what they could seize from the pines. Americans, if they think about mulberries Since at least the 1600s, however, the at all, see them as a nuisance. The soft region’s old-growth forests have fallen berries squish underfoot, splat on to cars, victim to the monetary value of their and carpet sidewalks and driveways with a resinous properties and, most sticky mash that, as summer heats up, destructively, of their own lumber. For emits a cloying scent of decay. In the centuries now, old-growth pines have District, the trees are considered a weed. been negligently sawn, chopped, hacked, They grow quickly, often sprouting in and plucked from the earth. The damage untended areas, such as between chain- %VIET NAM was such that by 1952 just 72 million link fences or along road embankments. acres (29 137 366 ha) of natural standing “I didn’t even know the fruit was edible Illegal bushmeat, wildlife trafficking timber remained on the southern to the human,” said John Thomas, at alarming levels landscape – less than half of the pine Associate Director of the District’s Urban Viet Nam’s ecosystems are being seriously cover from presettlement times. (Source: Forestry Administration. “We allow people threatened by the widespread Daily Yonder [Texas, United States of to remove mulberry trees without any consumption of wild meat and trafficking America], 10 June 2010.) permit because it’s such an invasive tree.” of wildlife, experts said at a recent The British were partly responsible for conference. Urgent action is needed on Trees offer many immigrants a taste that invasion. Although the Washington several fronts to prevent this destruction of home area has a native red mulberry tree, the of the nation’s wildlife and their habitat, The rush-hour rainstorm did not faze Sara most common ones in town are they said. They called for strengthened, Shokravi as she parked in Rosslyn, descendants of trees brought over by more effective public awareness Washington, DC. Shokravi, a 27-year-old colonists eager to compete with the silk campaigns against hunting and trafficking consultant, pulled out a plastic bag, industry of the Far East. Silkworms feed in wild animals and for the inclusion of stopped at a tree laden with red and black on the shiny, heart-shaped leaves, this subject in the school curriculum, berries, and started picking. especially those on the white trees, said especially in rural areas.

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%ZAMBIA importance as major household income and food security commodities. The untapped fruit potential Trade in fruits and fruit trees could, Fruit is an important food security therefore, create employment for many commodity. Not only does it provide the Zambians and offer a potential commodity necessary nutrients for both rural and that could break into international markets urban households, but it is also a source if well researched. of extra income through sales conducted Many of these are highly consumed in almost all year round. numerous rural and some urban settings Zambia is endowed with different but have not been offered for sale varieties of fruit trees, both exotic and previously because of the great abundance indigenous. The tropical climatic in past years when they could not fetch a conditions in the country provide good price. opportunities for the cultivation of various However, most fruit trees are becoming types of fruit species such as mango, significant trade commodities as many papaya, bananas, guava, passion fruit, species continue to become scarce at the loquat, pineapples, avocado, citrus fruit, local level because of deforestation apples, pears, peaches, pomegranates, brought about by the demand for woodfuel apricots, plums and grapes. and agricultural expansion. Beyond the cultivated species, there are The future is, therefore, expected to be Tom Osbon of the Viet Nam-based a large number of indigenous fruit species an upward trend in sales of many fruit Wildlife Management Office stressed the such as masuku, mabungo, monsoso, trees, both exotic and indigenous, as the need to legalize multisectoral cooperation cashew nuts, masau and mpundu which, if population increases and alternative in preventing, discovering and punishing exploited, could contribute to the economic income sources become scarce. (Source: forest violations in order to protect wild development of the country and reduce allafrica.com, 20 February 2010.) animals effectively. “It is also very poverty mainly in rural areas. important to establish special inspectors These fruits, especially indigenous in localities which record a high number species, are well adapted and can ensure of violations,” he added. household food security during periods of Dr Scott Roberton, head of the Wildlife natural disasters such as droughts. Conservation Society (WCS), said that The production and processing of fruits hunting wild animals for meat and are labour intensive and therefore provide trafficking had been happening in many employment for a large segment of the countries, especially developing ones. In population. Viet Nam, hunting and trade in wild According to the FAO paper on NWFPs animals had been alarming, he said. in Zambia, exotic fruit trees such as A WCS study conducted at 200 mango, guava, papaya, avocado and restaurants in the central region found mulberry have been a permanent feature they consumed nearly two million wild in homesteads and some even grow animals per year. Among them, stags and naturally in open areas without any human wild boars accounted for around 70 interference. These, together with a percent of the consumed meat, followed number of wild fruits, form a nutritious by turtles, snakes, foxes and porcupines. supplementary food in seasons when The study estimated the demand of wild agricultural crops become scarce. animal consumption nationwide at nearly Species such as Anisophyllea and 4 500 tonnes per year. Uapaca are common features along main The Forest Protection Department roads and at markets between October to discovered 1 042 violations of wild animal January, when they are offered for sale. protection laws last year, a decrease of The other species that are offered for sale 400 cases over 2008. Dr Nguyen Viet include Annona senegalensis, Azanza Dung, deputy head of the Centre for garckeana, Diospyros mesipiliformis, People and Nature Reconciliation, said Flacourtia indica, Strychnos cocculoides, that the real number was much higher. Strychnos spinosa, Tamarindus indica and An individual has not started living Roberton added that Viet Nam was also syzygiums. until he can rise above the narrow an important link in the international wild Almost all exotic fruits have been on the confines of his individualistic concerns animal trafficking chain. Last year, market and still continue to command a to the broader concerns of all authorities found more than six tonnes of place in almost every market countrywide. humanity. elephant tusks trafficked from Africa to With the present harsh economic Martin Luther King, Jr Hai Phong City. (Source: Viet Nam News, conditions, many more fruits are entering 22 March 2010.) into the trade market and are gaining

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ACTO DEBATE ACTION strengthen national systems of protected % PLAN TO PROTECT areas. The plan will also encourage BIODIVERSITY collaborative management, particularly in frontier areas. “Biodiversity knows no The member countries of the Amazon political boundaries,” stated Palazzi. Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) – (Source: MMA – Ministério do Meio Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Peru, Ambiente [Brazil], 17 May 2010.) Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Guyana and Suriname – will work together on conservation and the CHINA, NEPAL REACH sustainable use of biodiversity in the %HISTORIC BIODIVERSITY Amazon rain forest. AGREEMENT for the good of humanity” says the proposal, On 6 and 7 May, representatives from published in the journal Science and co- these countries met in Lima (Peru) to China and Nepal have signed a authored by the great American ecologist negotiate a Biodiversity Action Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding on and writer Professor Edward O. Wilson at initiative encourages the exchange of environment and biodiversity Harvard University. experiences. One of the most debated conservation. The agreement was made “The more we learn about indicator topics was the management of protected between the State Forestry Administration species (which can provide information on areas. of the People’s Republic of China and the the quality of the environment around them), The proposal of an action plan to be Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation the more we know about the status of the implemented in the region contributes to of the Government of Nepal. living environment that sustains us all,” said the preparations for the United Nations The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Wilson. “Threatened species, in particular, Conference on Biodiversity (COP-10), which notes that this is a historic moment for need to be targeted to enable better will take place later this year in Nagoya, both countries as their governments have conservation and policy decisions.” Japan. joined hands for the first time to promote The figures could be used to help “The countries will arrive in Nagoya with cooperation in the field of biodiversity companies carry out environmental impact a plan specifically directed to the Amazon, conservation, management of forest assessments, allow national and responding to the desires of the members resources and protection of wildlife. international organizations to prioritize of ACTO and strengthening the regional The two countries agreed to implement spending, and draw public attention to vision, with a focus on the sovereignty of the obligations of international problems as a way of building support for each nation,” explains the Director of the multilateral environmental agreements policies to protect and improve biodiversity, Department of Coordination of Policies for and conventions to protect the said Simon Stuart, Chair of the IUCN’s the Amazon at the Brazilian Ministry of the environment and conserve biodiversity. species survival commission, and the Environment (MMA), Mauro Pires. The plan (Source: WWF, 9 June 2010.) paper’s lead author. will include research, technology and “Just think of the other uses USD60 innovation in biodiversity; protected areas million are put to by the world, and the management; and monitoring and control ECOLOGISTS UNVEIL amount of money spent on wars or banks, or of endangered species of wild fauna and %PLAN FOR “BAROMETER advertising,” Stuart told The Guardian. “We flora. OF LIFE” can put our hands on our hearts and say this For Giovanna Palazzi, from the Chico would be better for the good of humanity. Mendes Institute for Biodiversity An ambitious project to create a First of all, it’s an indicator of the health of Conservation (ICMBio), the action plan will “barometer of life” to track the changing the planet. Second, in many parts of the fortunes of the natural world will be set out world people depend on biodiversity for food tomorrow by some of the world’s leading or clean water or living wages. Third, I’d say ecologists. because of their intrinsic value: there’s The plan is for thousands of scientists to something inspirational about ecosystems collect information on 160 000 of the world’s and species being in good shape, and the nearly 2 million known species – from great diversity of them.” mammals, fish and birds to obscure insects The idea – informally titled the and fungi – chosen to be representative of “barometer of life” – is supported by the life on Earth. IUCN and nine partner organizations, The index would more than triple the including Kew Gardens in London, and the scope of what is already the world’s biggest Zoological Society of London. scheme – the International Union for Scientists have so far described 1.9 Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of million of the estimated up to 10 million Threatened Species – and would be updated species of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, every five years. fungi and other groups on Earth, and The cost of building the database would possibly tens of millions more bacteria and be about USD60 million (£39.3 million), but archeans. (Source: The Guardian [United this would be “one of the best investments Kingdom], 8 April 2010.)

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EXTINCTION OF SEED deforestation, fragmentation, mining, dam DISPERSERS THREAT and road construction,” Forget says. “Many % TO FORESTS AND fragmented forests, even some natural FOREST COMMUNITIES parks and reserves, now lack the large ungulates, primates and birds that disperse There are few areas of research in tropical seeds. Extinction is sometimes very recent biology more exciting and more important due to uncontrolled development of large- than seed dispersal. Seed dispersal – the scale agriculture, poaching and logging.” process by which seeds are spread from Forget points out that when it comes to parent trees to new sprouting ground – seed dispersers, it is not global extinction underpins the ecology of forests worldwide. that one must focus on, but local extinction conservation biology, Michael Soulé, and In temperate forests, seeds are often and even a decline in wildlife abundance. his fellow conservation biologist, Reed spread by wind and water, although “If spider monkeys are protected in a Noss. It was quickly adopted by grassroots sometimes by animals such as squirrels remote forest of the Peruvian Amazon, it initiatives, such as the Yellowstone to Yukon and birds. But in the tropics the emphasis won’t much help those trees of French Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), a plan to is far heavier on the latter, as Dr Pierre- Guiana,” he says. “Additionally, when large protect and restore connectivity of Michel Forget explains to mongabay.com/ frugivores are exterminated, because it’s ecosystems throughout the Rocky “[In rain forests], a majority of plants, also an important source of protein for Mountains. trees, lianas, epiphytes, and herbs are native people inhabiting the rain forest, we Since then, its central tenets have found dispersed by fruit-eating animals. […] As are also endangering the survival of their way into the programmes of seed size varies from tiny seeds less than autochthonous populations. And that has to international conservation organizations, 1 mm to several centimetres in length or be considered in conservation plans. Not which have embraced “continental-scale” diameter, then a variety of animals are only will we lose natural diversity, but conservation and growing bolder in the size required to disperse such a continuum and humanity will also lose cultural diversity.” of their preservationist programmes. As variety of seed size, the smaller being Forget argues that to date the role of both a conservation method and a transported by ants and dung beetles, the seed dispersers has largely been left out of grassroots movement, rewilding has taken larger swallowed by cassowary, tapir and conservation discussions, even though hold in every inhabited continent, with elephant, for instance.” these species’ actions underpin entire projects stretching from densely populated Forget, a French tropical ecologist, is ecological communities. (Source: Western Europe (the European Green Belt, chairing the Fifth Frugivore and Seed www.mongabay.com, 7 March 2010.) on the path of the former Iron Curtain) to Dispersal International Symposium in the remote reaches of southern Africa. Montpellier, France from 13 to 18 June. He What’s more, it has proved to be an has studied the relation between seeds and “REWILDING” THE adaptable model, bringing conservation to fruit-eating species both in South America %WORLD: A BRIGHT SPOT people and places outside the traditional and Central Africa, focusing mostly on FOR BIODIVERSITY system of parks and protected areas that mammals. “Indeed, when you observe the lack the resources to succeed on their own. understorey and see that profusion of Despite numerous campaigns by the Encouraging new revenue streams and seedlings, it is not always obvious that United Nations and other organizations to conservation on private lands, rewilding there is some type of order, seedlings stem the loss of habitat and species, the has achieved notable successes, along with being not really randomly dispersed, rather world’s biodiversity – and the ecosystem instructive failures. In northern Kenya, an directed-dispersed at some peculiar services supported by it, including carbon area plagued by lawlessness and drought, microhabitats,” he says. sequestration and flood control – is the Craig family turned their struggling Yet, the species so important to approaching what the United Kingdom’s cattle ranch into the Lewa Wildlife spreading tropical seeds successfully are Environment Secretary, has called “a point Conservancy, protecting endangered also some of the most threatened. Their of no return”. rhinos and building a popular ecotourism decline – and in some case absence Happily, however, there is more to the business. Eleven group ranches have since altogether – spells a fall in forest richness. story. A group of solutions is emerging joined the Northern Rangelands Trust, with “If you consider large-bodied, plant- under the rubric of “rewilding”, and this eight of those creating their own dependent and seed-dispersing animals, new movement has made considerable conservancies, setting aside a percentage they are all threatened by hunting, progress over the past decade. A Marshall of their grazing land for wildlife and Plan for the environment, rewilding planning ecolodges. Those with lodges promotes the expansion of core wilderness have already dedicated revenue for areas on a vast scale, the restoration of community improvements, such as schools corridors between them (to fight the and medical clinics. A million-and-a-half “island” effect of isolated parks and acres (607 028 ha) of northern Kenya have protected areas), and the reintroduction or thus been set aside for wildlife protection of top predators. management, and security for people and Known by a shorthand formula – “cores, wildlife has improved. corridors and carnivores” – rewilding was Conservationists in Kenya are seeing a first proposed in 1998 by the founder of marked improvement in formerly

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overgrazed areas. Elephants have promising natural pesticide. The rebounded from the poaching of years past, parataxonomy programme has been copied resuming their migratory routes, and the in other biodiverse areas in Central Africa highly endangered Grevy’s zebra – which and Papua New Guinea. (Source: Yale suffered severe habitat loss in recent Environment 360, 11 February 2010.) decades – is returning to old haunts. Lewa now serves as a model for other conservancies in southern Kenya, and %THE KEYS TO FOREST visitors from Uganda, the United Republic CONSERVATION of Tanzania and Ethiopia have come to study it. A similar community forestry Daniel Janzen – conservation biologist – programme in Nepal is restoring corridors made his name in 1965 by discovering the there for tigers, the one-horned rhino and extraordinary coevolution and the Asian elephant. “mutualism” between two rain forest does get serious about what is packaged Breaking away from the standard fund- species, a study so well-known it goes by under the acronym of REDD and puts in a raising model – a never-ending cycle, since its own shorthand: “the ant and the big bucket of money that is used to lock most money is spent immediately on short- acacia”. In the ensuing decades, Janzen down big chunks of forest in a permanent term grants and projects – several has gone on to additional groundbreaking carbon storage state, that has the potential rewilding groups have embraced the research in the forests of Central America. – and I have to underline the word endowment as a way of supporting But, by the mid-1980s, Janzen had ‘potential’ – for truly saving big blocks of conservation’s long-term needs. University grown so alarmed at the rapid rate at wild areas. And there are a lot of ifs of Pennsylvania biologist Daniel Janzen has which forests were disappearing in the between the big picture wish or been instrumental in the phenomenal region that he and his wife and research international agreements and actual on- success of the Area de Conservación partner, Winifred Hallwachs, threw the-ground doing it.” Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa themselves into conservation projects. ”But if there were a bucket like that Rica, which accomplished what was once They worked to expand a small national available so that people like me, who are thought impossible by restoring former park in northwestern Costa Rica into a seriously out there trying to lock down big cattle ranches to dry tropical forest and 300 000-acre (121 405-ha) reserve – the chunks of forest, that could become a rain forest. Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) – financial instrument for actually doing it.” But rewilding’s greatest potential may lie encompassing dry tropical forest, rain “My feeling is that all the science I see in the creation of green jobs. ACG forest, cloud forest and marine areas. With says that the only places that are going to pioneered “parataxonomy”, providing local Costa Rican colleagues, including survive in the long run are big conserved people with a six-month “bioliteracy” President Oscar Arias, Janzen pieces. Small pieces may be very pretty, training course in collecting and processing demonstrated that denuded tropical forest but they die, just because of insularity.” insect specimens that could then be can be regrown, a landmark achievement (Source: www.mongabay.com, 23 March passed on to taxonomists for identification. in ecological restoration. 2010.) p The parataxonomists are valued Janzen – who leveraged a USD3.5 contributors to Costa Rica’s National million donation into a permanent USD30 Biodiversity Institute and instrumental in million endowment for the park – recently the country’s massive effort to compile an set the ambitious goal of raising half a inventory of its extraordinary biodiversity. billion dollars to endow the entire Costa They have served as foot soldiers in Rican park system in perpetuity. “bioprospecting” the collection of Now 71 – and still pursuing a decades- specimens that may prove useful in long inventory of moths, butterflies and medicines or cosmetics. Extracts from the caterpillars of the ACG – Janzen has quassia tree, for example, have yielded recently turned to another significant both a treatment for stomach-aches and a endeavour: the development of a “barcorder” device, a kind of taxonomic iPod designed to identify quickly the world’s organisms (viruses, invertebrates, plants, animals and birds) by their DNA in conjunction with a vast database to deliver that information to users. Janzen and his partner, Paul Hebert, have championed the device as a way to open the public’s Nothing is more expensive than a eyes to the world’s biodiversity and the missed opportunity. growing threats to it. Speaking on REDD (Reducing Emissions H. Jackson Brown Jr from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), Janzen says: “If the world

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% FAO observing the event. This year, the theme Issues (IASG), as well as members of FAO’s chosen for World Food Day is “United professional body. As such, it addresses a “One billion hungry project” aims to blow Against Hunger”. The events set to take diverse set of outlooks and feasible whistle on hunger place include a ceremony at FAO opportunities for future work. (Source: FAO A global campaign on behalf of the world’s headquarters in Rome, Italy on Friday, Working Group on Indigenous Peoples.) one billion people living in chronic hunger 15 October and one at the United Nations in was launched in a ceremony at FAO New York on Thursday, 28 October. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: headquarters in Rome, Italy on Tuesday Regina Laub, Gender, Equity and Rural 11 May, with parallel events taking place in FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Employment Division, Viale delle Terme cities across the world. From Paris to New Edgardo Valenzuela, World Food Day, di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. York to Yokohama, hundreds of thousands Office of Corporate Communications Fax: (+39) 06 570 53152; are signing FAO’s online petition calling on and External Relations (OCE), FAO, e-mail: [email protected] people to “get mad” at the fact that still Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, today, some one billion people suffer from Italy. Fax +39 0657053210; hunger. e-mail: [email protected] or The online petition calls on national and [email protected]; www.fao.org/ international leaders to move the getinvolved/worldfoodday/worldfoodday eradication of hunger to the top of the political agenda. FAO policy on indigenous and tribal peoples Of the estimated one billion hungry Consistent with its mandate to pursue a people, 642 million live in Asia and the world free from hunger and malnutrition, Pacific, 265 million in sub-Saharan Africa, and grounded in the utmost respect for 53 million in Latin America and the universal human rights, FAO has Caribbean, 42 in the Near East and North developed a policy to ensure the Africa and 15 million in developed Organization will make all due efforts to FORESTRY DEPARTMENT countries. respect, include and promote indigenous A yellow whistle – a symbol of the issues in its overall work. It is motivated by FAO publishes key findings of global petition – is emblematic of FAO’s whistle- the fundamental fact that indigenous forest resources assessment blowing campaign. (Source: www.fao.org/ communities make up a substantial Globally, around 13 million ha of forests news/newsroom-home/en/) portion of the world’s food insecure, that were converted to other uses or lost respect for indigenous knowledge, through natural causes each year between cultures and traditional practices 2000 and 2010 as compared with around 16 contributes to sustainable and equitable million ha per year during the 1990s, development, and by recognition of the according to the key findings of FAO’s most benefits that arise from closer comprehensive forest review to date, The collaboration. At the same time, it Global Forest Resources Assessment responds to the explicit request made by 2010. The study covers 233 countries and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous areas. Issues (UNPFII), by fellow UN agencies and FAO’s Global Forest Resources by indigenous peoples themselves to Assessments are published every five develop a framework for ensuring that the years. More than 900 specialists from 178 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: needs and concerns of indigenous peoples countries were involved in The Global Media Relations Branch (OCEM), FAO, are effectively considered. Forest Resources Assessment 2010. The Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, The purpose of this policy is to provide FAO full report of this assessment will be Italy. Fax: +390657053729; with a framework to guide its work on released in October 2010. e-mail: [email protected] indigenous issues. As current activities follow Key findings. Brazil and Indonesia, which Sign the petition at: www.1billionhungry.org no systematic course of action, they will had the highest loss of forests in the 1990s, (Please see page 75 for more information.) benefit greatly from the delineation of a have significantly reduced their deforestation common direction and approach. At the same rates. In addition, ambitious tree planting New theme for World Food Day: United time, it is also of relevance to indigenous programmes in countries such as China, against Hunger peoples themselves, in order to communicate India, the United States of America and Viet Each year on 16 October – the day on which and clarify what can reasonably be expected Nam – combined with natural expansion of FAO was founded – the Organization from the Organization. forests in some regions – have added more celebrates World Food Day to promote The document highlights some of the than seven million ha of new forests public awareness on the problems of world key areas covered by FAO’s mandate, and annually. As a result, the net loss of forest hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The year addresses the motivations as well as the area was reduced to 5.2 million ha per year 2010 will mark FAO’s 65th anniversary and advantages of such a partnership. It is the between 2000 and 2010, down from 8.3 the 30th observance of World Food Day. result of a series of consultations with million ha annually in the 1990s. Cumulatively over the years, more than leaders of indigenous peoples, UNPFII, the The world’s total forest area is just over 150 countries have been involved in Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous four billion ha or 31 percent of the total land

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area. The net annual loss of forests (when FAO IN THE FIELD dans les communautés forestières d’Afrique the sum of all gains in forest area is smaller centrale. Modérée par M. Honoré Tabuna, than all losses) in 2000–2010 is equivalent to Nouvelles du projet PFNL et sécurité Chef de la Division de la biodiversité à la an area about the size of Costa Rica. alimentaire en Afrique centrale Communauté économique des Etats South America and Africa had the highest Après la mise en place institutionnelle de sa d’Afrique Centrale (CEEAC), la session net annual loss of forests in 2000–2010, with coordination régionale au Cameroun et de parallèle a vu la participation de plus d’une four and 3.4 million ha, respectively. Oceania ses équipes au Gabon, en République soixantaine de personnes. Quatre also registered a net loss, partly as a result centrafricaine (RCA) et en République du programmes ou instances ont été of severe drought in Australia since 2000. Congo, le projet GCP/RAF/441/GER présentés: le projet PFNL de la FAO; le Asia, on the other hand, registered a net «Renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire Réseau sur la gomme arabique et les gain of some 2.2 million ha annually in the en Afrique centrale à travers la gestion résines (NGARA); le projet d’appui à la last decade, mainly because of large-scale durable des produits forestiers non ligneux valorisation des PFNL au Congo et le Centre afforestation programmes in China, India (PFNL)», financé par le gouvernement de coopération internationale en recherche and Viet Nam, which have expanded their allemand pour une période de trois ans, a agronomique pour le développement forest area by a total of close to four million tenu son atelier de lancement en février (CIRAD). ha annually in the last five years. However, 2010 à Brazzaville, Congo. Cet atelier a Il est possible de consulter le site Internet conversion of forested lands to other uses permis d’informer les parties prenantes sur du projet, lancé récemment: continued at high rates in many countries. le projet et d’identifier, présenter et affiner www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/55079/en/. In North and Central America, the forest les activités à mettre en œuvre en 2010. En Inscrivez-vous sur le site et recevez area remained fairly stable, while in Europe outre, le Représentant de la FAO au Congo, automatiquement par courriel des mises à it continued to expand, although at a slower M. Dieudonné Koguiyagda, a profité de cette jour sur le projet, les activités actuelles ou rate than previously. occasion pour remettre officiellement à les publications. “For the first time, we are able to show M. Lambert Imbalo, Directeur de cabinet du that the rate of deforestation has Ministère du développement durable, de POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: decreased globally as a result of concerted l’économie forestière et de l’environnement Juliane Masuch, Cadre associé PFNL et droit à efforts taken both at local and international du Congo, le document «Stratégie nationale l’alimentation, Coordination régionale du projet level,” said Eduardo Rojas, Assistant et plan d’action pour le développement du PFNL, c/o Représentation de la FAO au Director-General of FAO’s Forestry secteur PFNL au Congo», élaboré avec Cameroun, B.P. 281, Yaoundé, Cameroun. Department. l’appui de la FAO – à travers le projet Télécopie: +237-22-204 811; “Not only have countries improved their GCP/RAF/398/GER «Renforcement de la courriel: [email protected]; forest policies and legislation, they have sécurité alimentaire en Afrique centrale à www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/55079/en/ also allocated forests for use by local travers l’utilisation et la gestion durable des communities and indigenous peoples and produits forestiers non ligneux». Démarche pour la relecture de la politique for the conservation of biological diversity Les activités prioritaires du projet forestière et des textes d’application sur and other environmental functions. This is GCP/RAF/441/GER pour l’année 2010 sont les aspects relatifs aux PFNL au Cameroun a very welcoming message in 2010 – the les suivantes: élaborer des stratégies Le Ministère des forêts et de la faune International Year of Biodiversity.” nationales pour le secteur PFNL au Gabon (MINFOF) du Cameroun a lancé un “However, the rate of deforestation is et en RCA; internaliser les directives sous- processus de relecture de la politique still very high in many countries and the régionales relatives à la gestion durable des forestière, de la loi n° 94/01 du 20 janvier area of primary forest – forests PFNL d’origine végétale de la Commission 1994 portant régime des forêts, de la faune undisturbed by human activity – continues en charge des forêts d’Afrique centrale et de la pêche, et de ses décrets to decrease, so countries must further (COMIFAC) dans les législations nationales d’application. Dans ce cadre, la FAO a strengthen their efforts to better conserve du Gabon, du Congo et de la RCA; élaborer engagé une démarche visant à proposer des and manage them,” he added. (Source: FAO une boîte à outils sur les PFNL, la sécurité améliorations de la loi et de ses décrets Media Centre, 25 March 2010.) alimentaire et le droit à l’alimentation en d’application en matière de PFNL, à travers Afrique centrale; créer un sous-groupe de le projet GCP/RAF/408/EC «Mobilisation et travail PFNL (SGT-PFNL) au sein de la renforcement des capacités des petites et COMIFAC; enfin, lancer des études de base moyennes entreprises impliquées dans les sur les six sites pilotes retenus par le projet, filières PFNL en Afrique centrale», financé afin de définir les priorités en matière de par l’Union européenne. renforcement des capacités des Cette démarche doit s’appuyer sur divers communautés locales. documents: a) les «Directives sous- L’équipe du projet a profité de son séjour régionales relatives à la gestion durable des à Brazzaville pour animer un événement PFNL d’origine végétale en Afrique parallèle lors de la 17e Session de la Centrale», adoptées par la COMIFAC lors Commission des forêts et de la faune d’une session extraordinaire du Conseil des sauvage pour l’Afrique (CFFSA), tenue du 22 Ministres tenue du 26 au 27 octobre 2008 à au 26 février 2010. Le thème traité portait Brazzaville, République du Congo; b) « le sur l’importance des PFNL pour la sécurité document de vulgarisation du cadre légal alimentaire et la réduction de la pauvreté régissant l’exploitation et la

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CITES was drafted as a result of a commercialisation des PFNL au Cameroun» % CITES resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of et c) un répertoire des articles à amender members of IUCN (the International Union élaboré dans le cadre du projet What is CITES? for Conservation of Nature). The text of the susmentionné. L’approche sera consolidée CITES (the Convention on International Convention finally entered into force on par l’organisation de réunions de Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 1 July 1975. At the time when the ideas for concertation, la première s’étant tenue à Fauna and Flora) is an international CITES were first formed, international Bamenda du 3 au 6 mai 2010. agreement between governments. discussion of the regulation of wildlife Cette réunion a rassemblé 80 participants Because the trade in wild animals and trade for conservation purposes was représentant tous les acteurs des secteurs plants crosses borders between countries, something relatively new. concernés, et les autorités administratives the effort to regulate it requires Today, CITES is among the conservation des régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest international cooperation to safeguard agreements with the largest membership, du Cameroun. Des présentations des certain species from overexploitation. counting 175 Parties. activités du projet et des principaux résultats CITES was conceived in the spirit of such The species covered by CITES are listed escomptés, ainsi que du contexte menant à cooperation. Today, it accords varying in three Appendices, according to the l’organisation de ces réunions, ont donné aux degrees of protection to more than 30 000 degree of protection they need (see Box). participants un éclairage leur permettant de species of animals and plants. Its aim is to mieux canaliser leurs contributions au ensure that international trade in FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: processus de mise à jour. Informés sur les specimens of wild animals and plants CITES Secretariat, International Environment objectifs et réalisations du projet de la FAO does not threaten their survival. House, 11 Chemin des Anémones, CH-1219 relatifs aux PFNL au Cameroun, les Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland. participants ont été sensibilisés aux Fax: +41-(0)22-797-34-17; différentes initiatives et au processus de e-mail: [email protected]; www.cites.org/ révision de la loi forestière en cours. Répartis dans cinq groupes de travail, ils ont Two South American trees to obtain CITES pleinement apporté leur contribution, listing suggérant d’améliorer la loi concernée en The Fifteenth Conference of the Parties préconisant de: (COP15) Meeting of the Convention in • établir une meilleure définition et une International Trade in Doha, Quatar catégorisation cohérentes et decided in March this year (2010) that two consistantes des PFNL; South American trees, overexploited by • assurer un accès aux PFNL et un droit essential oil traders for the perfumery and d’usage commercial aux populations qui cosmetics market, will be listed under vivent dans les zones forestières; Appendix II of the CITES species listing. • améliorer les procédures administratives Trade controls (international de façon à faciliter la commercialisation commercial trading strictly by CITES export des PFNL sur les marchés locaux, régionaux et internationaux; • améliorer les conditions de culture, de transformation, de transport, de stockage CITES APPENDICES An export permit from the country of et de commercialisation des PFNL; origin (or a re-export certificate from • soutenir la gestion durable des PFNL au APPENDIX I includes species threatened other exporting countries) is required, Cameroun. with extinction which are or may be but not an import permit. Grâce aux résultats du projet threatened by trade. Trade in specimens APPENDIX III includes species that any GCP/RAF/408/EC et aux contributions reçues of these species is permitted only in Party identifies as being subject to lors des réunions de concertation, la FAO exceptional circumstances. An export regulation within its jurisdiction for the pourra proposer des textes législatifs qui permit from the country of origin (or a purpose of preventing or restricting permettront d’améliorer la composante re-export certificate from other exporting exploitation and as needing the PFNL de la nouvelle loi forestière. La countries) and an import permit from the cooperation of other Parties in the prochaine réunion se tiendra à Ebolowa, dans country of importation are required. control of trade. Imports require a la région du Sud, en présence des APPENDIX II includes species not certificate of origin and, if the représentants de six autres régions du necessarily yet threatened, but which importation is from the state that has Cameroun. could become so if trade is not strictly included the species in Appendix III, an (Contribution de: Équipe de coordination du controlled. Species are also included in export permit is required. projet GCP/RAF/408/EC, FAO, Yaounde, Appendix II if they are difficult to Cameroun.) distinguish from other species in All imports into the European Union of Appendix II, in order to make it more CITES Appendix II-listed species require POUR PLUS D’INFORMATIONS CONTACTER: difficult for illegal trade to take place both an export permit/re-export Julius Tieguhong, projet GCP/RAF/408/EC, through misidentification or mislabelling. certificate and an import permit. BP 281, FAO, Yaounde, Cameroun. Courriel: [email protected]

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or re-export permit only) were stated to United Arab Emirates apply within 90 days for Aniba rosaedora • The Dubai municipality has seized (Brazilian rosewood) proposed for listing by animal skins during an inspection of Brazil, which would apply to logs, sawn various veterinary establishments and wood, veneer sheets, plywood and the antique shops, including those of four essential oil, but excluding finished pythons Pythonidae (CITES I/II) and two products packaged and ready for retail Nile crocodiles Crocodylus niloticus trade, and for Bulnesia sarmientoi (I/II). The skins were up to 9 m in (holywood) from the Gran Chaco region of length. The Veterinary Services Section Central America (proposed for listing by plays an important role in Argentina). Bulnesia sarmientoi is the implementing the terms of CITES. The species from which guaiacwood oil, Section takes extra efforts to educate acetylated guaiacwood oil and guaiyl the public and those who work in pet acetate are produced, and the Appendix II shops and shops that sell souvenirs on listing would apply to logs, sawn wood, the provisions of CITES, endangered veneer sheets, plywood, powder and animals, the purpose of protecting “extracts”, but excluding finished products the world. The CITES Appendix listing for these animals and organizing their packaged and ready for the retail trade. each species is placed in parentheses, trade through the provision of CITES The CITES Web site posting now sets out where appropriate. certificates. the revised Appendix I,II and III species Cameroon United Kingdom listings post the COP 15 Meeting, and • On 1 February 2010, police seized more • On 20 August 2009, the Metropolitan indicates that trade controls for these than 1 000 grey parrots Psittacus Police’s Wildlife Crime Unit raided a ingredients will enter into force on 23 June erithacus (CITES II) at Douala Airport shop in London’s Chinatown and seized 2010. In the EU, the annexes to Council as they were about to be smuggled out over 200 medicinal products claiming Regulation EC 338/97 re the Protection of of the country to Kuwait and Bahrain. to contain the following ingredients: species of wild fauna and flora by No CITES documentation accompanied leopards Panthera pardus and tigers regulating trade therein, are expected to be the shipment. Many of the parrots were P. tigris (both CITES I), musk deer modified accordingly, as well as in the dead; the surviving specimens were Moschus (I/II) and costus root United States of America. delivered to the Limbe Wildlife Centre. Saussurea costus (I). But will these listings make any real This is the third major seizure of grey • Between September and November difference? A CITES Appendix I listing parrots in Cameroon in the past two 2009 at the port of Felixstowe, United would have been far more effective, years. Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) especially in the case of the rosewood tree, China officers seized 13 large drums of oil of whose survival has been much more in the • On 19 October 2009, after five months guaiacwood or palo santo Bulnesia hands of lawless loggers than anything of careful investigation, Hengyang sarmientoi (CITES III) in three separate else. Rosewood oil from unlicensed stills forest police, Hunan province, seized 24 seizures (2 375 kg). The oil was being deep in the forest continues to find its way live pangolins Manis (CITES II), and imported from Paraguay without the into the essential oils market, although arrested three suspects. The animals requisite CITES documentation and some imported batches show unusual had been transported from southwest certificate of origin. Paraguay had a compositions, suggesting adulteration, and China and were thought to be bound for moratorium on exports at the time of prompting queries about its source Guangdong province. The animals were export. species, or whether it is 100 percent sent to the local wildlife rescue centre (Source: TRAFFIC Bulletin, 22: 3, 2010). derived from the named botanical species and the suspects were detained. as stated. • On 13 January 2010, the Tengchong FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: As for guaiacwood, there is some branch of Kunming Customs seized TRAFFIC International, 219a Huntingdon Road, confusion over the legal definition of the 946 g of rhinoceros horn from a vehicle. Cambridge CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. term “extracts”. Will guaiacwood oil from Two suspects claimed that they had Fax: +4401223 277237; Paraguay continue to be legally available purchased the horn in Myanmar and e-mail: [email protected]; www.traffic.org p with the correct documentation and had smuggled it through the border. permits, or is it just Argentine origins that The case is under investigation. will become unavailable? Time will tell, but Thailand these CITES listings are, at least, a step in • On 20 January 2010, following a 17- the right direction. (Source: Cropwatch month investigation involving the first Newsletter, June 2010.) collaboration between United States of America and Thai law enforcement The United Nations is our one great Seizures and prosecutions from around authorities, a Thai national was hope for a peaceful and free world. the world charged with trafficking ivory. Earlier in The cases reported below represent a the week, Thailand’s nature crime Ralph Bunche selection of recent seizures and police also raided ivory shops, seized prosecutions that have taken place around tusks and arrested two other dealers.

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IX CONGRESO APICULTURE: to perpetuate ecosystems and biodiversity INTERNACIONAL STOCK-TAKING AND resources, as well as the environmental %DE MANEJO DE FAUNA %PROJECTING THE HONEY services and socio-economic benefits they DE LA AMAZONÍA VALUE CHAIN INTO provide. Recognizing that countries have Y AMÉRICA LATINA THE FUTURE IN WEST sovereign rights over their biological resources, SANTA CRUZ, ESTADO AND CENTRAL AFRICA international agreements such as the PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA FOUMBAN, CAMEROON Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and 10-15 MAYO DE 2010 1–3 JUNE 2010 the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) are committed to El Congreso Internacional de Manejo de enhancing technical and scientific Fauna de la Amazonía y América Latina ha cooperation, training and information tratado los siguientes temas: exchange on conservation and sustainable • Manejo de fauna silvestre para la use of biodiversity in tropical forests. subsistencia y la seguridad alimentaria The recently intensified debate on REDD- (información básica sobre especies de The honey value chain as a key NTFP in West plus has introduced additional opportunities cacería de subsistencia, manejo de and Central Africa has attracted the attention and challenges for the conservation of forests fauna para la subsistencia of a host of research, academic and in the context of carbon stocking in countries comunitaria, organización - development actors. While in some cases the and regions. National and regional gobernanza para el manejo emerging knowledge is discussed, demonstration activities for REDD-plus are comunitario, planificación y gestión documented and shared within institutional being discussed and implemented to meet territorial para incluir el manejo de la circles, it often remains inaccessible to a the challenges for climate change mitigation fauna para la subsistencia, y cambio range of development actors. At the global and adaptation. Likewise, national and climático, reducción de la pobreza, level, discussions on climate change have regional activities to promote forest law objetivos del milenio); perceived bee farming as one of the mitigation enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) • Manejo de fauna silvestre para options for reducing forest deforestation and represent opportunities and challenges to asegurar la calidad ambiental degradation. All these trends justify the develop further and finance the (información básica sobre especies organization of a knowledge-sharing event management of transboundary conservation amenazadas y en vía de extinción, focusing on apiculture in order to make areas for their effective contribution to long- manejo de fauna en áreas protegidas, projections into the future. term development at local, national and el calentamiento global y sus efectos The SNV (Netherlands Development regional levels. sobre poblaciones y especies de fauna Organization) Forestry Knowledge Network This conference allowed for an in-depth silvestre, contaminación y sus efectos organized this two-day event with the discussion of lessons learned, benefits sobre la fauna silvestre, el rol de la objectives of: (i) sharing emerging knowledge generated and challenges to enhance the fauna en el mantenimiento de la on the honey value chain; (ii) demonstrating contribution of TBCAs to biodiversity and calidad ambiental, el manejo de la how interventions in the honey value chain environmental services, to indigenous and fauna y servicios ecosistemicos, la have improved or can improve people’s local livelihoods, and to the sustainable gestión de fauna a escala de paisajes, sustainable livelihood systems; and (ii) development of the countries and regions las enfermedades de la fauna silvestre, outlining a regional partnership and resource involved. el cambio climático y la salud mobilization strategy for the honey value humana); y; chain in West and Central Africa. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: • Manejo de fauna silvestre para la Dr Hwan Ok Ma or Mr John Leigh, Reforestation and producción comercial (manejo de FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Forest Management Division, International Tropical fauna in situ para la producción Nadège Nzoyem Saha, Ingénieur des Eaux et Timber Organization (ITTO), Yokohama, Japan. comercial sostenible, manejo de fauna Forêts, BP 1239 Yaoundé, Cameroun. E-mail: Fax: (81-45) 223-1111; e-mail: [email protected] or silvestre ex situ, organización/ [email protected] Mr Tim Christophersen, Programme Officer for administración comunitaria para el Forest Biodiversity, Secretariat of the Convention manejo de fauna silvestre para el on Biological Diversity, United Nations Environment comercio, zoocría de fauna silvestre, INTERNATIONAL Programme, 413 St Jacques O., Suite 800, Montreal mecanismos de control de tráfico CONFERENCE QC, H2Y 1N9, Canada. Fax: +1 514 288 6588; illegal, biocomercio, manejo de fauna y ON BIODIVERSITY e-mail: [email protected]; turismo, y rol de los zoológicos en el % CONSERVATION www.cbd.int/forest/doc/Announcement-Quito- manejo de fauna silvestre). IN TRANSBOUNDARY Conference-14-17-July-2010-en.pdf TROPICAL FORESTS PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN, DIRIGIRSE A: QUITO, ECUADOR MSc. Mariana Escobar, Av. Irala 565 - Casilla 14–17 JULY 2010 2489, Santa Cruz, Estado Pluriennal de Bolivia. Fax: (591-3) 3366574; correo electrónico: The need to maintain large areas of tropical [email protected] o forests through the establishment of [email protected]; transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs) has www.ixcimfauna-bol.museonoelkempff.org/ long been recognized as an important activity

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utilization, but also other resources derived INTERNATIONAL from the sustainable management of the SYMPOSIUM ON forests, such as ecotourism, which utilizes the %INTEGRATED unique geographic features of the forest area. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD China is well known worldwide for its DEVELOPMENT IN traditional and developed NTFP industry. NTFP MOUNTAIN FOREST AREAS development in China is a combination of ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA sustainable resource cultivation, highly 22–25 SEPTEMBER 2010 efficient industrial processing and smooth marketing networks. NTFPs and their With abundant forests, water and natural production have become one of the supporting resources, hills and mountainous regions pillars of the economic development in the are often havens of biodiversity and the XXIII IUFRO WORLD forest areas of China. birthplaces of cultures. In many nations, CONGRESS: FORESTS This workshop is sponsored by the Chinese especially in those that are developing %FOR THE FUTURE: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and rapidly, hill and mountain people are some SUSTAINING SOCIETY coorganized by the International Network for of the poorest, in part because of the AND THE ENVIRONMENT Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and the Lin destruction of forests, degeneration of their SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA Modern Forestry Technology Service Center ecosystems, frequency of natural disasters 23–28 AUGUST 2010 (LMFTSC). The workshop is dedicated to and undeveloped economies. In China, hills promoting the exchange of NTFP development and mountains cover 69 percent of the Established in 1892, the International Union technologies and products through providing a whole land area and of the 592 counties that of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is platform for China and other developing are classified as poor, 490 are located in one of the world’s oldest and largest countries to learn from each other. mountainous areas (83 percent). There is a international institutions, counting more than Participants at the workshop will not only be pressing need to increase the capacity of hill 700 member institutes and universities in 110 provided with opportunities to learn about the and mountain peoples to adopt and promote countries. The 23rd World Congress of IUFRO experiences and technologies of China, but measures for economic and environmental – held every four to five years – will convene in also share with other countries information in development, and to explore an integrated Asia for the third time in its history to discuss the development and utilization of NTFPs, sustainable developing model. the following themes: keep Asia green; sustainable development, management of Systematic development of ecosystems forests and climate change; frontiers in forest forests and the production, utilization and and social economics in China and many and tree health; forest environmental marketing technologies of NTFPs. other countries has been very successful and services; biodiversity conservation and has produced many new development sustainable use of forest resources; forests, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: models, such as those of Zhejiang province in communities and cultures; emerging Jin Wei, Public Awareness Officer, 8, Futong Dong China. With 30 years of work since the 1970s’ technologies in the forest sector; forest Da Jie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, reforms, environment and economic policies products and production processes for a PO Box 100102-86, Beijing 100102, China. have brought balanced and sustainable greener future; and forests, human health Fax: +86-10-64702166; e-mail: [email protected]; improvements to the lives of local people. and environmental security. www.inbar.int/show.asp?BoardID=171&NewsID =625 There are successful examples of integrated development in many other areas FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: of the world too; the symposium will be IUFRO headquarters – Secretariat, International SUMMIT ON WHO WILL dedicated to sharing successful stories and Union of Forest Research Organizations, Mariabrunn %OWN THE FOREST learning from each others’ past experiences. (BFW), Hauptstrasse 7, A 1140 Vienna, Austria. PORTLAND, OREGON, Fax: +43-1-877 0151-50; e-mail: [email protected]; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: www.iufro2010.com or www.iufro.org 20–22 SEPTEMBER 2010 Jin Wei, Public Awareness Officer, 8, Futong Dong Da Jie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Forest land is attracting interest from PO Box 100102-86, Beijing 100102, China. INTERNATIONAL institutional investors wanting diversification, Fax: +86-10-64702166; e-mail: [email protected]; TRAINING WORKSHOP an inflation hedge and an alternative to stocks inbar.int/show.asp?BoardID=171&NewsID=625 %ON NTFP INDUSTRIAL and bonds. Join the professionals as they AND COMMERCIAL discuss the drivers, trends, challenges and DEVELOPMENT opportunities to investing in this unique asset ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA class. This is North America’s best attended 7–27 SEPTEMBER 2010 annual event on forest land investing.

The development of NTFPs is identified as one FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: of the most significant solutions for the conflict World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, between forest sustainable management and Portland, Oregon 97221, United States of America. local community socio-economic E-mail Sara Wu: [email protected]; development. It does not only include NWFP http://wwotf.worldforestry.org/wwotf6/

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TH 20 SESSION FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SIXTH CARIBBEAN %OF THE COMMITTEE THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS: % BEEKEEPING CONGRESS ON FORESTRY (COFO) Secretariat of the Convention on Biological GRENADA, WEST INDIES FAO HEADQUARTERS, ROME, ITALY Diversity, 413 St Jacques O., Suite 800, Montreal 8–13 NOVEMBER 2010 4–8 OCTOBER 2010 QC, H2Y 1N9, Canada. Fax: +1514 288 6588; e-mail: [email protected]; www.cbd.int Convened by the Government of Grenada The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is the and the Grenada Association of highest forestry statutory body of FAO. The Beekeepers, in collaboration with the biennial sessions of COFO (held at FAO Association of Caribbean Beekeeping headquarters in Rome, Italy) bring together Organizations, this is a unique opportunity heads of forest services and other senior to share the latest apicultural information, government officials to identify emerging ideas and experiences throughout the policy and technical issues, to seek Caribbean and wider region. solutions and to advise FAO and others on appropriate action. Other international FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: organizations and, increasingly, NGOs Grenada Association of Beekeepers (GAB), participate in COFO. Participation in COFO Eastern Agricultural District Office, Seaton is open to all FAO member countries. James Street, Grenville St Andrew’s, INTERNATIONAL Grenada, West Indies. Fax: 1 473 442 4615; FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: CONFERENCE ON e-mail: [email protected]; Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di CURRENT TRENDS www.6cbcgrenada.gd/Home.aspx Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. Fax: (+39) 06 570 %IN MEDICINAL PLANT 53152; e-mail: [email protected]; RESEARCH AND www.fao.org/forestry/cofo/en/ MICROBIOLOGICAL THIRTEENTH BIENNIAL APPLICATIONS CONFERENCE OF THE ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON 27–29 OCTOBER 2010 %ASSOCIATION FOR THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: STUDY OF COMMONS %TENTH MEETING OF The Egyptian Botanical Society and the (IASC) THE CONFERENCE Botany and Microbiology Department, HYDERABAD, INDIA OF PARTIES Faculty of Science, Alexandria University 10–14 JANUARY 2011 NAGOYA, AICHI PREFECTURE, JAPAN are organizing an International Conference 18–29 OCTOBER 2010 on trends in medicinal plant research and The theme of this event, hosted by the microbiological applications. Foundation for Ecological Security, is The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the The two main objectives of this Sustaining commons: sustaining our future. governing body of the Convention on conference are: The conference will deal with physical Biological Diversity (CBD), which entered • elucidating the recent research trends common resources, such as forests, into force in 1992 to promote and pursue in the field of cultivation, safety grazing resources, protected areas, water three main objectives: (i) the conservation control, diversity, conservation, resources, fisheries, coastal commons, of biological diversity; (ii) the sustainable biotechnology, cytogenetics and lagoon commons, irrigation systems, use of the components of biological phytochemistry of medicinal plants; livestock and commons, as well as new diversity; and (ii) the fair and equitable and commons such as information commons, sharing of the benefits arising out of the • revealing diversity of pathogenic cultural commons, genetic resources, utilization of genetic resources. micro-organisms as well as industrial patents, climate, etc. COP works to implement the Convention and marine microbiology. through the decisions it takes at its periodic The conference will tackle 11 major FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: meetings. themes, including new approaches in Subrat Singh, Foundation for Ecological The agenda of COP meetings is vast. A cultivation of medicinal plants; safety control Security, PO Box 29, NDDB Campus, Anand, number of thematic work programmes – art of herbal medicine; environmental Gujarat-388001, India. Fax: 91 2692 including “Forest Biodiversity” – and a series stresses on medicinal plants; and ecology, 262087/262196; e-mail: [email protected]; of key cross-cutting issues relevant to all diversity and conservation of medicinal www.iasc2011.fes.org.in p work programmes have been identified and plants. will be discussed. In particular, strategic issues for evaluating progress and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: supporting implementation of the Convention Prof. Dr Salama M. El-Darier, Alexandria Have confidence that if you have done will be considered and it is anticipated that University, Faculty of Science, Geology a little thing well, you can do a bigger the negotiations to conclude an International Department, Moharam Bey, Alexandria, thing well too. Regime on Access and Benefit-sharing will Egypt. Fax: +2 033911794; David Storey result in the adoption of an instrument on e-mail: [email protected]; Access and Benefit-sharing. www.sci.alex.edu.eg

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The International Year of Aphandra natalia (Arecaceae) in Foster, D.R. et al. 2010. Wildlands and Biodiversity – from talk to action. Amazonian Peru. Economic Botany, 64(1): woodlands: a vision for the New England Conserv. Biol., 24(1): 338–340. 55–67. landscape. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press. Johnson, A., Vongkhamheng, C. & Bhattacharyya, R., Asokan, A., Bhattacharya, Saithongdam, T. 2009. The diversity, P. & Prasad, R. 2009. The potential of Gavin, M.C., Solomon, J.N. & Blank, S.G. status and conservation of small certification for conservation and 2010. Measuring and monitoring illegal carnivores in a montane tropical forest in management of wild MAP resources. use of natural resources. Conserv. Biol., northern Laos. Oryx, 43(4): 626–633. Biodivers. Conserv., 18(13): 3441–3451. 24(1): 89–100. Käffer, M.I., Ganade, G. & Marcelli, M.P. Bindra, Prerna Singh. 2010. Voices in the German, L., Karsenty, A. & Tiani, A. (eds). 2009. Lichen diversity and wilderness: contemporary wildlife 2009. Governing Africa’s forests in a composition in Araucaria forests writings. India, Rupa & Co. globalized world. United Kingdom, and tree monocultures in southern Earthscan. Brazil. Biodivers. Conserv., 18(13): Boissière, M., Sassen, M., Sheil, D., Heist, 3543–3561. M.V., Jong, W.D., Cunliffe, R., Wan, M., Goodall, J., Hudson, G. & Maynard, T. 2009. Padmanaba, M., Liswanti, N., Basuki, I., Hope for animals and their world: how Karst, A. 2010. Conservation value of the Evans, K., Cronkleton, P., Lynam, T., endangered species are being rescued North American boreal forest from an Koponen, P. & Bairaktari, C. 2010. from the brink. United States of ethnobotanical perspective. Ottawa, ON; Researching local perspectives on America, Grand Central Publishing. Vancouver, BC; Seattle, WA. Canadian biodiversity in tropical landscapes: lessons Boreal Initiative, David Suzuki from ten case studies. 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Kaschula, S.A. & Shackleton, C.M. 2009. Mishra, M., Singh, S.P. & Prasad, C. 2009. Poulsen, J.R., Clark, C.J., Mavah, G. & Quantity and significance of wild meat Protection of consumers from inferior Elkan, P.W. 2009. Bushmeat supply and off-take by a rural community in the NTFP products and changing consumer consumption in a tropical logging Eastern Cape, South Africa. Environ. behaviour in local market of concession in northern Congo. Conserv. Conserv., 36(3): 192–200. Mahakaushal region. International J. Biol., 23(6): 1597–1608. Rural Development and Management Klanderud, K., Mbolatiana, H.Z.H., Studies, 3(2): 325–332. Prajapati, Narayan Das., Purohit, S.S., Vololomboahangy, M.N., Radimbison, Sharma, Arun K. & Kumar, Tarun. 2010. M.A., Roger, E., Totland, Ø. & Mitchell, J. & Ashley, C. 2009. Tourism and A Handbook of Medicinal Plants. A Rajeriarison, C. 2010. Recovery of plant poverty reduction: pathways to Complete Source Book. India, Riddhi species richness and composition after prosperity. United Kingdom, Earthscan. International. slash-and-burn agriculture in a tropical Abstract. The book describes more than rainforest in Madagascar. Biodivers. Mueller, J.G., Assanou, I.H.B., Guimbo, I.D. 1 346 medicinal plants found in the world Conserv., 19: 187–204. & Almedom, A.M. 2010. Evaluating rapid and includes vernacular names, participatory rural appraisal as an descriptions, distribution, part use, Kuhnlein, H., Erasmus, B. & Spigelski, D. assessment of ethnoecological utilization, active principles, agronomic 2009. Indigenous peoples’ food systems: knowledge and local biodiversity practices and 870 colour photographs. the many dimensions of culture, diversity patterns. Conserv. Biol., 24(1): 140–150. Separate chapters on organic farming, and environment for nutrition and health. biofertilizers and biopesticides used for FAO and the Centre for Indigenous Mustalahti, I. & Lund, J. 2010. Where and the sustainable cultivation of medicinal Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment. how can participatory forest management plants, tips for medicinal plant cultivation succeed? Learning from Tanzania, and multitier agriculture systems of Lander, T.A., Harris, S.A. & Boshier, D.H. Mozambique and Laos. Society & natural medicinal plants have been presented. 2009. Flower and fruit production and resources, 23(1): 31–44. Glossaries of various terms used and insect pollination of the endangered common names of medicinal plants in Chilean tree, Gomortega keule, in native Nagarajaiah, C. 2009. Resource estimation different languages have been appended. forest, exotic pine plantation and of natural bamboos in Bangalore rural agricultural environments. Rev. Chil. district of Karnataka. Environment and Rainey, H.J., Iyenguet, F.C., Malanda, Hist. Nat., 82(3): 403–412. Ecology, 27(4): 2105–2106. G.A.F., Madzoké, B., Dos Santos, D., Stokes, E.J., Maisels, F. & Strindberg, S. Larson, A.M., Barry, D., Ram Dahal, G. & Nelson, F., Foley, C., Foley, L.S., Leposo, A., 2010. Survey of Raphia swamp forest, Colfer, C.J. 2010. Forests for people: Loure, E., Peterson, D., Peterson, M., Republic of Congo, indicates high community rights and forest tenure Peterson, T., Sachedina, H. & Williams, densities of Critically Endangered reform. United Kingdom, Earthscan. A. 2010. Payments for ecosystem western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla services as a framework for community- gorilla. Oryx, 44(1): 124–132. Lizcano, L.J., Bakkali, F., Ruiz-Larrea, M.B. based conservation in northern Tanzania. & Ruiz-Sanz, J.I. 2010. Antioxidant Conserv. Biol., 24(1): 78–85. Rana, M.P., Sohel, M.S.I., Sayma Akhter & activity and polyphenol content of Islam, M.J. 2010. Ethno-medicinal aqueous extracts from Colombian Olson, D., Farley, L., Patrick, A., Watling, D., plants use by the Manipuri tribal Amazonian plants with medicinal use. Tuiwawa, M., Masibalavu, V., Lenoa, L., community in Bangladesh. J. Forestry Food Chemistry, 119(4): 1566–1570. Bogiva, A., Qauqau, I., Atherton, J., Research, 21(1): 85–92. Caginitoba, A., Tokota’a, M., Prasad, S., Maffi, L. & Woodley, E. 2010. Biocultural Naisilisili, W., Raikabula, A., Mailautoka, K., Rao, R.R., Murugan, R. & Kavitha, S. 2009. diversity conservation. A global Morley, C. & Allnutt, T. 2010. Priority forests Botanical conservatories and ex situ sourcebook. United Kingdom, Earthscan. for conservation in Fiji: landscapes, hotspots conservation of some rare and endemic and ecological processes. Oryx, 44(1): 57–70. medicinal and aromatic plants: a case Marley, G. 2009. Mushrooms for health: study from Western Ghats. Proc. Natl medicinal secrets of northeastern fungi. Osemeobo, G.J. 2009. Economic assessment Acad. Sci. India, B 79: 350–368. United States of America, Down East of medicinal plant trade in the rainforest of Books. Nigeria. Zeitschrift für Arznei und Gewürzpflanzen, 14(4): 171–176. Mikkelsen, C. (ed.). 2010. The indigenous world 2010. International Work Group for Osland, M.J., Pahl, J.W. & Richardson, C.J. Indigenous Affairs. 2009. Native bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea [Walter] Muhl., Poaceae) Mishra, M., Kotwal, P.C. & Prasad, C. 2009. establishment and growth after the Unsustainable harvesting of some removal of an invasive non-native shrub medicinal plants and its impact on raw (Ligustrum sinense Lour., Oleaceae): material quality. Flora & Fauna. 15 (1): implications for restoration. Castanea, 66–72. 74(3): 247–258.

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Reunanen, P., Fall, A. & Nikula, A. 2010. Wu, J. & Zhang, Y. 2009. Status and trend of OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS Biodiversity and ecological forest-cover international trade of bamboo and rattan domains in boreal landscapes. commodities. World Forestry Research, Edible forest insects. Humans bite back! Biodivers. Conserv., 19(3): 665–678. 22(3): 69–71.

Ribeiro, M.M. & Zwirner, W. 2009. Applying Wyndham, F.S. 2010. Environments of participatory processes: findings from a learning: Rarámuri children’s plant supply chain analysis on the knowledge and experience of schooling, commercialisation of paper mulberry family, and landscapes in the Sierra bark in Laos. Systemic Practice and Tarahumara, Mexico. Human Ecology, Action Research. 38:1.

Rist, J., Milner-Gulland, E.J., Cowlishaw, G. Xu, H.G., Tang, X.P., Liu, J.Y., Ding, H., Wu, J., & Rowcliffe, J.M. 2009. The importance of Zhang, M., Yang, Q.W., Cai, L., Zhao, H.J. & hunting and habitat in determining the Liu, Y. 2009. China’s progress toward the abundance of tropical forest species in significant reduction of the rate of biodiversity Disgusting or delicious? The idea of eating Equatorial Guinea. Biotropica, 41(6): loss. BioScience, 59(10): 843–852. insects nearly always brings about an 700–710. immediate reaction. While some people find the very thought of eating a beetle or other Robinson, D.F. 2010. Confronting biopiracy: NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM insect revolting, others smile and smack their challenges, cases and international FAO’S NON-WOOD FOREST lips, perhaps recalling the roasted grubs their debates. United Kingdom, Earthscan. PRODUCTS PROGRAMME mothers prepared as childhood treats or their favourite deep-fried grasshopper snack that Rochon, C., Parcb, D., Khasa, D.P., Fortin, J. Tropical palms, 2010 revision accompanied drinks with friends. & Andrcb. 2009. Ecology and management Palms, belonging to the Arecaceae family, Humans have been eating insects for of the lobster mushroom in an eastern are among the most common plants in millennia and, even today, the practice Canadian jack pine stand. Canadian J. tropical countries and provide a vast remains far more widespread than is generally Forest Research, 39(11). November. assortment of products ranging from food believed. Although modern society has largely to construction materials, fibre and fuel. shunned insects from the dinner table, Roe, D. & Elliott, J. 2010. The Earthscan Tropical palms, originally published in 1998 entomophagy – the practice of eating insects – Reader in Poverty and Biodiversity as the tenth volume in FAO’s NWFP series, has is getting renewed attention from nutritionists, Conservation. United Kingdom, Earthscan. been updated in 2010 to include the most food security experts, environmentalists and recent information and developments rural development specialists. Seeberg-Elverfeldt, C. 2010. Carbon finance regarding the conservation status and use of Based on contributions from some of the possibilities for agriculture, forestry and various tropical palm species. It describes the world’s leading experts on entomophagy, this other land use projects in a smallholder many uses of the products derived from palms publication highlights the potential of edible context. Rome, FAO. and provides updated references and sources forest insects as a current and future food of additional information. Palm products are source, documents their contribution to rural Shiva, A. 2009. Methods of sustainable considered both at the subsistence and livelihoods and highlights important linkages harvesting and value addition for commercial levels. Using this publication, between edible forest insects and forest economic uplift and biodiversity readers will be able to assess the role of palms management. conservation. MFP News, 19(4): 13–16. and their products within forest management, For copies of the report, please write to: reforestation, agriculture and nature Patrick B. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Tewari, D. & Mythili, G. 2009. Management of conservation activities. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra nontimber forest product resources of The publication in its revised version is Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Fax: (66-2) India: an analysis of forest development only available in an electronic format; it 697 4445; e-mail: [email protected] corporations. J. Interdisciplinary can be accessed at www.fao.org/ (Photographs from this publication have Economics, 21(1): 97–99. docrep/012/i1590e/i1590e00.htm been used to illustrate the back cover of Copies of the original 1998 version can this issue of Non-Wood News. Please also Thapa, S. & Chapman, D.S. 2010. Impacts of be purchased from FAO’s Sales and see pages 4,6-7,8 for extracts.) p resource extraction on forest structure Marketing Group at publications- and diversity in Bardia National Park, [email protected]/ Nepal. Forest Ecology and Management, 259(3): 641–649. Pipeline publications If a man empties his purse into his A new title – Fruit trees and useful plants head no one can take it away from United Nations Permanent Forum on in Amazonian life – will shortly be added to him. An investment in knowledge Indigenous Issues. 2009. State of the FAO’s NWFP series. It will be a richly always pays the best interest. World’s Indigenous Peoples 2009. New illustrated joint publication of FAO and the Benjamin Franklin York, United Nations Department of Center for International Forestry Research Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). (CIFOR).

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(www.earthscan.co.uk/JournalsHome Biblical and Talmudic botany, the study of /IJAS/tabid/503/Default.aspx) plants and nature in Torah and Jewish FAO’S NWFP HOME PAGE • Environmental Hazards: Human and tradition. To receive announcements of new Policy Dimensions articles on Torahflora.org and related events Please help us make our Web site a www.earthscan.co.uk/JournalsHome/ such as botanical garden tours and public rich resource by continuing to send us EHAZ/tabid/37213/Default.aspx) speaking events by Biblical and Talmudic ([email protected]) your NWFP www.earthscan.co.uk/journals botanist Dr Jon Greenberg, please send an Web sites and citations of any e-mail to [email protected]; publications that we are missing, as Newsletters/e-zines www.torahflora.org/ well as any research that you would like to share.  CBD E-Newsletter Video links www.fao.org/forestry/site/6367/en To subscribe, please visit: www.cbd.int/forest/redd/newsletters/  Edible insects in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic  The Ecologist e-zine www.youtube.com/ Advancing the application of assisted To subscribe, please visit: watch?v=ZkBpN_Boxhk natural regeneration (ANR) for effective www.theecologist.org low-cost forest restoration  Guatemala’s Tree of Life A new Web portal has been launched by  Tradewinds http://english.aljazeera.net/ FAO to highlight the importance of To subscribe to this monthly e-newsletter news/americas/2010/ restoring degraded forests through produced by the Shea West Africa Trade 06/201062815449882349.html simple, cost-effective interventions to Hub, please visit: assist natural regeneration. www.watradehub.com/activities/tradewinds/  Moringa oleifera seeds www.fao.org/forestry/59218/en/ apr10/shea-2010-tremendous-potential- www.jalmandir.com/moringa/ west-africa moringa-seeds.htmla Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre www.caneandbamboo.org; Southern forests for the future UN data www.bamboobazar.com The World Resources Institute has launched Users can now search and download a variety a Web site that maps forests in the southern of statistical resources of the UN system. Carbon, biodiversity and ecosystem United States of America. Using satellite http://data.un.org/ services: exploring co-benefits imagery, GoogleEarth technology and www.carbon-biodiversity.net decades of forest data, the site depicts World Bamboo Organization threats to the region’s forests, including pest www.worldbamboo.net Cropwatch and pathogen outbreaks, wildfire, logging Cropwatch is an independent watchdog for and human development, the leading cause natural aromatic products used in the of deforestation in the South. aroma (fragrance/cosmetics, flavour, www.seesouthernforests.org NWFP-DIGEST-L aromatherapy), traditional herbal medicine and phytochemical industries. The British Wildlife Wiki The Digest is a free monthly e-bulletin www.cropwatch.org Launched by The Woodlands Wildlife Council, produced by FAO’s NWFP Programme the aim of this Wiki is to make a concise British and covers all aspects of non-wood Journals Wildlife Encyclopaedia that includes all the forest products. Past issues can be species of the British Isles that anyone can edit. found on FAO’s NWFP home page at  Free access to Earthscan journals for http://thewwcbritishwildlife.wikia.com/ www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en developing countries wiki/British_Wildlife_Wiki You can take part in contributing to Earthscan has made a selection of their the continued success of this development journals free to access for The Field Museum, the Philippines newsletter by sharing with the NWFP researchers and academics in developing http://fieldmuseum.org community any news that you may countries through the Online Access to have regarding research, events, Research in the Environment (OARE) and the The Latin-American Forum on REDD publications and projects. Kindly send Access to Global Online Research in www.forumredd.org such information to NWFP-Digest- Agriculture (AGORA) databases. [email protected]. The Earthscan journals included in the The National Biodiversity Indicators Portal To subscribe: send an e-mail to: initiative are: www.bipnational.net/ [email protected], with the • Climate and Development message: subscribe NWFP-Digest-L; or (www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=29957) The North American Truffle Society through the NWFP Programme’s home • Climate Policy www.natruffling.org/ page at (www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=480) www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en p • International Journal of Agricultural Torah flora Sustainability Torahflora.org is a Web site devoted to

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SPECIALREADERS’ FEATURES RESPONSE 75

Please sign FAO’s 1billionhungry campaign the global 1billion hungry petition at knowledge of this important field on a “One child dies every six seconds and www.1billionhungry.org,” he said. global basis. 5 million children every year,” said FAO’s The online petition calls on national and Director-General Jacques Diouf. “We should international leaders to move the eradication Reader from Mexico be extremely angry for the outrageous fact of hunger to the top of the political agenda. I know the bulletin Non-Wood News; this is that our fellow human beings continue to FAO hopes the petition will spread through an excellent material for my academic field. suffer from hunger. If you feel the same way, I social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter want you to voice that anger. All of you, rich and YouTube. Reader from Italy and poor, young and old, in developing and Please help FAO by signing the petition at À tous les membres de l’équipe de rédaction developed countries, express your anger www.1billionhungry.org org de la revue Non-Wood News, mes about world hunger by adding your names to (Please see page 64 for more information.) chaleureux remerciements pour la production et l’envoi de votre revue, que je lis Comments received toujours avec beaucoup d’intérêt.

Reader from the Philippines Reader from Germany I must congratulate you for the always up to Again I have the pleasure to thank you for the date information on NWFPs. I am sure I will informative last issue of Non-Wood News. be able to pick up so much new information Let me assure you that your work is highly from your publication, which is really good. appreciated and of value to the many interested ones who would never get access Reader from Italy to this manifold information. p It was worth waiting for the bamboo publication to arrive: it came with a treasure of printed material I really appreciate. You see, I’m not (yet) 100 percent digital, and it’s a pleasure to browse through articles, topics Five million children die each year from and features the old way. chronic hunger, 15 000 children each day, one child every six seconds. Reader from India Why does hunger exist? Lack of food We (myself and my labmates) received the is not the problem. Enough food is 20th issue and are highly grateful to you. produced in the world today for Please accept our hearty congratulations to everyone to be properly nourished and you and your team working for Non-Wood lead a healthy and productive life. News for covering information from Hunger exists because of poverty. It exists throughout the world, including the because natural disasters, such as workshops/conferences/seminars, etc. The earthquakes, floods and droughts, list of publications is also helpful to the sometimes occur in places where poor members to purchase. I express my deep people have little or no means to rebuild sense of gratitude for publication of my once the damage is done. It exists article on Pimpinella tirupatiensis. because in many countries women, CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-WOOD NEWS although they do much of the farming, Reader from Nepal do not have as much access as men to Thank you very much for regularly sending A strong characteristic of Non-Wood training, credit or land. Hunger exists NTFPs information for me. This news is News is that it is open to contributions because of conflict. It exists because poor very important to know world activities on from readers. Should you have any people do not have access to land or MAPs. interesting material on any aspect of solid agricultural infrastructure to NWFPs that could be of benefit to all produce viable crops or keep livestock, or Reader from Germany our readers, please do not hesitate to to steady work that would otherwise It is always a pleasure to receive Non-Wood submit it. Articles are welcomed in allow them access to food. It exists News. English, French and Spanish and should because people sometimes use natural be between 200–500 words. resources in ways that are not Reader from the United States of America The deadline for contributions for sustainable. It exists because there is not Hello and congratulations on the 20th Non-Wood News 21 is 15 January 2011. enough investment in the rural sector. Anniversary of your Non-Wood News! I Hunger exists because financial and really look forward to receiving it and For more information, please contact: economic crises affect the poor most of keeping up to date with this important Tina Etherington at the address all by reducing or eliminating the sources aspect of ethnobotany. on the front page or by e-mail to: of income they depend on to survive. You have and continue to produce a rich [email protected] variety of articles on non-timber forest products, enriching the understanding and

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Edible insects © S. Boulidam © H. Schabel Durst © P.B © A.Y.C. Chung © A.Y.C. © H. Schabel

There are nearly 1 700 edible insect species worldwide. Edible insects are nutritious and provide a plentiful and excellent protein source for many people of the world and their animals.

From left to right: Local insect market in northern Thailand; a plate of grasshoppers, Lao PDR; ecotourist eating a live caterpillar; bushman with honeycomb in the United Republic of Tanzania; and sago grubs for sale in Borneo.

PRINTED ON ECOLOGICAL PAPER I1810E/1/10.10