Forests, poverty and livelihoods in the Congo Basin

Forests, poverty and livelihoods

in the Congo Basin

Following the fruits of the forest by tracking nine non-timber

forest product chains (photos left) from 2007 to 2009, from forest to consumer,

conducting questionnaires with 3590 people across the chains, meetings and

observations, the multiple economic, social-cultural and environmental values of

these products were revealed.

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Verina Ingram Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and University of Amsterdam

v.ingram@cgiar.org

Can NTFPs contribute to sustainable poverty

reduction? Ensuing lasting livelihood benefits maybe possible if :

• Sustainable harvest techniques are promoted and enforced

• Cultivation in preference to wild harvest is strongly stimulated

• Sector supported and professionalised, collective action enhanced

and market information systems expanded to empower harvesters

• Processing and storage technologies disseminated to reduce losses

and add-value

• Bottlenecks of access to capital, legal framework and technical

support are eased

Prunus africana Pygeum

Cola acuminata Cola nuts

Yushania alpina Mountain bamboo

Irvingia spp. Bush mango

Gnetum spp. Eru, fumbwa

Raphia spp. Raffia, palm wine

Acacia spp. Gum arabic

Apis mellifera Honey, wax, propolis

What do non-timber forest products contribute to the

livelihoods of people involved in their value chains?

Dacryodes edulis Bush plum

Riches The Congo Basin contains the world’s second largest tropical humid

forest. Rich in biodiversity, the forests are well known for their timber, contributing

up to 6% of GDP. Over 700 non-timber products, ranging from barks, fruits, nuts,

stems, resins, saps and animal based commodities are less well known, but

common sights in homes and markets. Many have been used and traded for

centuries as food, medicines, materials and tools. The role of forests providing

diverse products for use and sale is important given the low development levels.

a chain of value is created when NTFPs are traded, flowing from forest

harvesters, to wholesalers, transports, retailers and ultimately consumers.

Poverty The Democratic Republic of Congo is classed as a low income

country and Cameroon as lower-middle income. Nearly 80% of the population in

DRC and 44% in Cameroon subsist on 2 US$ a day. Just over a third and two-

thirds respectively live in rural areas. The states are fragile, doing business is

difficult, corruption is rife and both countries rank at the bottom of most worldwide

governance indicators.

Further from the forest..... income increases

Harvester Processor Wholesaler Exporter Retailer

382 416 2293 1276 9715

Harvester Processor Wholesaler Exporter Retailer

Outside the forest....

38% 23% 37%

dependence increases

42% 52%

Averaged (2007-2009) contribution of 9 NTFPs in DRC & Cameroon to annual household income (US$)

% ranking specfic NTFP as primary source of actors’ annual household income

Beyond the forest....

Harvester Processor Wholesaler Exporter Retailer

6 5 4 4 2

Averaged (2007-2009) number of sources of income for actors in 9 NTFP chains in DRC & Cameroon

35,384,095

39,73,855

0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 35,000,000 40,000,000

Gnetum spp.

Apiculture

Prunus africana

Irvingia spp.

Gum arabic

Bamboo

Cola spp.

Rhapia spp.

AVERAGE CAMEROON

Fumbwa

Safou

Apiculture

AVERAGE RDC

Average annual market value 2007, 2008, 2009 US$

NT

FP

ch

ain

Annual market value NTFP chains DRC & Cameroon

Challenging assumptions of forest reliance, the

chains show how dependence extends far beyond the forest edge.

Whilst these products can lift people out of poverty, and provide

safety nets, they also form poverty traps. Stakeholders further from

the forest are largely uninformed and un-engaged in value chain

custody to ensure long term, sustainable product supply. In 5 chains

over 55% of products are unsustainably harvested and in the last 5

years have become scarcer, with decreased harvest volumes, and

longer harvest distances.

Short term profit seeking and unsustainable harvest practices

threaten long term livelihoods, ultimately of all actors along the chain.

Profits and the distributional equity depend on how product ecology,

market forces and chain governance combines. A mix of incongruent

legal frameworks, customary practice and regulatory voids means

that most stakeholders operate illegally. The high level of informality

avoids state interference but is a barrier to fully valorise the positive

impact of NTFPs contribution to national economies, livelihoods, food

security and health.

Acknowledgements Research was financially supported by CIFOR, FAO, SNV, the

European Commission and INBAR. Many thanks to Mirjam Ros-Tonen, Ton Dietz, Ousseynou

Ndoye and Sheona Shackleton.

High value

Socio-economic values of the nine NTFPs vary widely, but

• Most species have multiple uses (average 6), mainly food and

medicinal, many also culturally important

• When traded are sold for mainly one use

• Big business on a small scale: over 28,500 people directly involved

• Indirectly trade benefits over 211,0000 people

• Excluding consumers, most are harvesters (72%) and retailers (13%)

• High annual market value estimated 39.3 million US$

• Long term source of cash: on average 7 years

• 55% stakeholders female, particularly in harvest and retail

• Over 80% NTFP incomes used for basic needs (school, food, health)

• Mainly small scale, informal individuals and businesses & unorganised

• Under the regulation and policy radar, with low political visibility, low

enforcement , little monitoring particularly trans border trade and high

corruption costs

• Major trade routes vary from local and urban markets (bamboo, raffia),

to national (safou, bush mango), regional (bush mango, cola, eru) and

international (honey, pygeum, gum arabic)

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opportunities decrease