a0467e00

3 SPECIAL FEATURES• Economic value of NWFPs

- Forestry products gain market inBrazil

- NTFPs in the Russian Far East:challenges and opportunities

- Selling forest products to improvelivelihoods in the Gambia

- Mushrooms: cash crops from theforest floor

- Nepal’s lokta resources andhandmade paper

- Growth of the bamboo sector inChina

- Cuban pine resin in theinternational market

- NWFP cooperatives and theSiberian Pine Syrup Project

- Moss is a cash crop for mountainpeople in the United States ofAmerica

- Economic benefits of conservingthe rain forest

- La valeur monétaire de la forêtsuisse en tant qu’espace dedétente

- Mondia whitei, a socio-economically important plant

• Trade in NWFPs- International trade in NWFPs- Public-private partnerships and

global trade in NWFPs- Trade data on NTFPs in India- Trade measures – tools to promote

the sustainable use of NWFPs? - PhytoTrade Africa: adding life to

trade - Aggressive strategy for MFP

exports planned- Exports of Korean ginseng- High sales boost plant extract drug

company

14 NEWS AND NOTES• Alaska paper birch tree holds

potential for new drugs• Arsenic-eating ferns hold hope for

tainted soils• Bark paintings• Biopiracy, bioprospecting and

traditional knowledge- Traditional knowledge: a legal and

market conundrum- India’s digital library will stop

biopiracy

An information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products

April 2006

13

EDITORIAL CONTENTS

➧

ISSN 1020-3435

Forest-dependent communities have always recognized the importance of NWFPs intheir everyday lives – whether as food, shelter or medicine. Over time, recognition ofthe importance of NWFPs in poverty alleviation and knowledge of the multiplicity of

uses and benefits deriving from NWFPs have grown steadily and many NWFPs are nowtraded at all levels: locally, regionally, nationally and globally (although figures on this tradeare often unorganized, missing or incomplete, e.g. on bushmeat).

The Special Features section in this issue of Non-Wood News emphasizes theeconomic importance of NWFPs and provides information on economic benefits at thelocal level (see the Siberian Pine Syrup Project pp. 5–6) through to the global level (seetrade figures on pp. 8–9).

Traditional knowledge is a significant aspect of NWFPs, touching as it does on issues ofbenefit-sharing, bioprospecting and biopiracy, all of which have been covered extensivelyin this issue (see p. 15). Information on NGOs working with NWFPs has also been included,but we would like to hear more about NGO activity at both the grassroots and internationallevel so please continue to send us your contributions.

Coverage of products in this issue ranges from the versatility of bamboo (used equallysuccessfully to build houses or produce T-shirts) to the extensive use of medicinal plants

worldwide. There is information on productsfrom both tropical and temperate forests, aswell as from the vast boreal areas. NWFPsexist in all regions of the world andconsequently the Country Compasssection is particularly rich, with informationfrom 34 countries.

Information dissemination and networkingare key aspects of today’s knowledgesociety – both of which have always beenimportant aims of Non-Wood News. In 2005we carried out an auto-evaluation exercise inorder to improve our service and to give youan opportunity to make suggestions andcomments. Over 600 readers completed ourquestionnaire (see pp. 69–70 for full results)and we were delighted that so many of youtook the time to share your ideas. Thank youfor such an excellent response.

This issue has started to reflect some ofyour suggestions and to address yourcomments – the most important of whichregarded frequency: a vast majority wantedNon-Wood News to be issued at least twicea year (with many keen to see it as aquarterly newsletter). Accordingly, we willnow be bringing you two issues yearly,which we ultimately hope will lead to ashorter and more streamlined product.

In conclusion, while many of us are notpart of forest-dependent communities, weare definitely part of a wider global NWFPcommunity. Our aim with Non-Wood News isto continue to disseminate knowledge onNWFP activities from all societal levelsaround the world in order to raise the profileof NWFPs and emphasize their importance –economically, ecologically and socially.

NON-WOOD NEWSis compiled by Tina Etherington, ForestProducts Service of the FAO Forest Productsand Economics Division. Assistance for thisissue was provided by Marisalee Palermo;design, graphics and desktop publishing werecoordinated by Tina Etherington.

Non-Wood News is open to contributions byreaders. Contributions may be edited to fit theappropriate size and focus of the bulletin.If you have any material that could beincluded in the next issue of Non-Wood Newsfor the benefit of other readers, kindly send it,before 30 September 2006, to:NON-WOOD NEWS – FOPPFAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla00100 Rome, ItalyE-mail: [email protected]/forestry/nwfp/nonwood.htm

FAO home page: www.fao.org

All Internet links cited were checked on 16 February2006. Articles express the views of their authors, notnecessarily those of FAO. The designations employedand the presentation of material in this publicationdo not imply the expression of any opinionwhatsoever on the part of the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations (FAO)concerning the legal status of any country, territory,city or area or of its authorities, or concerning thedelimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

• Myrica gale• Non-profit organizations and NGOs

- Biodiversity Research andDevelopment Centre (BIRD)

- Pragya, India - Tree Aid- United Plant Savers

• Non-timber forest resourceenterprises: fatty oils for edible andnon-edible purposes

• NWFP fabrics- Bamboo charcoal textile products- Bamboo T-shirts- Modi: ethnic and exquisite - United Nations recognizes bark

cloth as world heritage- Fabrics with a healing touch

• NWFP fuels- Bamboo-fuelled power plants in

India- Ipomoea fistulosa – the crisis fuel of

wetlands- Mushrooms as fuel?

• Poison frog production and export• Trees for health forever• Twigs and young trees are falling

prey to human hygiene• Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica Nees)• “Wildlife Interpol”

34 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS• Bamboo, Chestnuts, Cork, Edible

insects, Ginseng, Honey, Medicinaland aromatic plants, Moringaoleifera, Rattan, Sea buckthorn, Sheabutter, Shellac, Truffles

49 COUNTRY COMPASS• Angola, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil,

Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, India,Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran,Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Myanmar,Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Russian Federation, Uganda, UnitedRepublic of Tanzania, United Statesof America, Viet Nam

67 ECONOOK• Traditional medicines could help

African environment• Conservation of the Central

Albertine Rift• Transfrontier Conservation Areas• Baltic forest• Twenty percent of the world’s

mangroves lost over the last 25years

• Asian nations to build biodiversityconservation corridors

• European Union to give €30 million for biodiversity conservation in China

69 INTERNATIONAL ACTION• FAO, South and East Asian

Countries NTFP Network (SEANN)

73 RECENT EVENTS

75 FORTHCOMING EVENTS

79 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

88 WEB SITES

90 READERS’ RESPONSE

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) aregoods of biological origin other than wood,derived from forests, other wooded land andtrees outside forests. Non-timber forestproducts (NTFPs), another term frequentlyused to cover this vast array of animal andplant products, also includes small wood andfuelwood. However, these two terms areused synonymously throughout this bulletin.Other terms, such as “minor”, “secondary”or “speciality” forest products, aresometimes used to keep original namesand/or titles.

CONTENTS

- African women against biopiracy- Curbing biopiracy- Moves to protect devil’s claw(Harpagophytum procumbens)

- Amazon countries team up to tacklebiopiracy

- Patenting of Peruvian plants- Andean nations seek United Statespatent protection for nativemedicines

- Is Brazil beating biopiracy orbiodiversity research?

- Bioprospecting programme inMalaysia

- Bioprospecting in the Pacific region:who will benefit?

• Bird flu is also a forest problem• Boreal forest garden• Boswellia serrata: a tree of

possibilities • Bushmen’s quiver tree threatened by

climate change• Challenges in the Congo Basin• Conservation for a future: lessons

learned from the extinction ofCupressus torulosa

• CPF Sourcebook for funding inforestry

• Does Bacopa monnieri improvecognitive function in older Australians?

• Domestication- Population preferences for localfruit-tree species: implications forthe domestication of Dacryodesedulis and Irvingia gabonensis inCameroon

- Sustaining forest resources• El camu camu logra certificación

orgánica• Ethnoforestry paradigms• Forest cosmetics and fragrances

- Sourcing Brazilian rain forestingredients for cosmetics

- Shellac may combat skin disorders- Forest berries find their way tocosmetics

- Aniba rosaeodora: a quest to save atree

- Sandalwood fragrance• Incense • Les sources de la fertilité et de la

durabilité• Manejo de semillas forestales

nativas de la Sierra ecuatoriana yNorte del Perú

NON-WOOD NEWS, No. 13, April 2006

2

native cacao from the next harvestfrom the producers along theriverbanks of the Urucurituba inAmazonas state.

“We do not have an exact notion yetwhat the forestry economy represents forBrazil. What will come to São Paulo will beonly a sample of the innumerable types ofproducts and services that the forest cangenerate,” stated Smeraldi. The list isextensive and covers items such as typicalfruits, cosmetics, handicrafts and vegetableleather.

The intention was to offer visibility forsmall businesses, such that they becomepart of the most varied productive chains.As an example, Smeraldi made referenceto native cacao, produced on the riverplains of the Amazonas River. In Amazonia,native cacao, a tree that can reach up to 15 m, has special characteristics that makeit an interesting product for predeterminedniches in the market, such as thecosmetics, pharmaceutical and finechocolate industries. This cacao has alarger content of major fats than thecultivated species, which makes it moreresistant to heat. “But as it is missing thestructured productive chain, this specialcacao often falls into the common grave ofcultivated cacao,” Smeraldi stated. “This isthe type of product that we will show at thefair.” (Sources: O Estado de S. Paulo, 13October 2005 and 2 November 2005 andMercado Floresta, 11 November 2005.)

For more information, please contact:

Roberto Smeraldi, Director, Amigos da

Terra Amazonia Brasileira, Rua Bento

de Andrade, 85 – 04503010, São Paulo,

Brazil. Fax: +55 11 3884 2795;

e-mail: [email protected]

NTFPs in the Russian Far East: challengesand opportunitiesThe Russian Far East is a land of “NTFPopportunities” for local forest-basedcommunities yet external persuasion is stillnecessary to prove this fact to local

stakeholders. It is a vast geographically andclimatically diverse region, extending fromthe Arctic Ocean to the Sea of Japan. Thereare areas on the southern part of the region– the Primorie and southern part ofSakhalin Island – where the ecosystemsare quite diverse and highly regardedspecies, such as Schisandra chinensis andActinidia spp. can be found. However, mostof the region is represented by the “usual”(boreal ecosystem) NTFPs that in mostcases can be found on both sides of thePacific, although sometimes represented byendemic species and subspecies.

Nevertheless, even these “usual” andwidespread plants have enormous potentialas NTFP resources. Yet, as a result of thedegradation of indigenous cultures, lack ofsmall business development history andfederal support, they are mostly neglectedas important tools for community economicdevelopment and cultural revival.

The literature research of the WorldConservation Union (IUCN)-CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA)Project “Building Partnerships for ForestConservation and Management in Russia”demonstrated that 33 species, growing juston the Kamchatka Peninsula, can be usedas wild vegetables; 22 species have edibleberries and fruit; 28 make herbal teas; 14can be used for weaving; and 251 areuseful for medicinal purposes.

Many of the products derived from theseplants have clear marketing opportunities.However, less than a dozen are widelyused by local communities as food sources(some berries, wild onions, nuts andmushrooms), and only two, Vacciniumvitisidaea and fern, are sold commercially.This is surprising because the region has along history of NTFPs; many, such ascharcoal, honey, herbal teas and turpentine,were listed as major export items 150 yearsago. There are several Native nations thatwere intensively using NTFPs before theRussians started exploring Kamchatka inthe eighteenth century.

Why are NTFPs not bringing money intothe pockets of forest-based communities,and in many places are not even viewed asan important resource?

As usual, there is no simple answer. Onthe one hand, the traditional knowledge of

ECONOMIC VALUEOF NWFPS

Forestry products gain market in Brazil Food, fashion and furniture. These are theprofits that come from the forest.Almost 8 400 people visited the ForestMarket, the first fair on sustainable forestryproducts held in Brazil, from 5 to 8November 2005 in São Paulo. Visitors hadthe opportunity to learn about 204enterprises with projects reflecting thebiodiversity of ecosystems such asAmazonia, the Atlantic forest and savannah.A group of four environmental organizations(Amigos da Terra, Imazon, Imaflora and theReserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica)joined together to conduct the fair withproducts originating from forests, allproduced in a sustainable manner.

The principal objective of the event, i.e.increasing business and making contactsfor future business, was quite successful:the majority left the event with orders orcontacts for sales. With products directedas much at retail stores as at the industriesof transformation, the fair offered honey,oils and materials for cosmetics, bags ofvegetable leather and timber for furnituredesigners. “The forestry economy is areality in terms of employment andincome,” affirmed the director of Amigos daTerra, Roberto Smeraldi. Quantifying thisreality was one of the challenges faced bythe organizers.

Listed below are some of the cases thatcan be considered emblematic of thediversity of commercial relations regardingNWFPs established during the ForestMarket and that show their market potential.

• The Kayapó People of the IndigenousTerritory of Bau sold their entire crop ofPara nut oil, for a total of R$50 620.

• Artisans linked to SEBRAE ofTocantins state sold at retail R$7 250jatoba dolls and golden grass (capimdourado) products.

• The APA cooperative from Rondoniaestimated that through contacts madeduring the fair it will increase sales ofcupuacu (plant of the cacao tree)pulp by 100 tonnes starting with thenext harvest.

• Five São Paulo companies requested

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E S


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both Native and Russian populations aboutwild harvested plants has been seriouslyeroded; most people now know just a fewplants that can be harvested from the forestor tundra, compared with 150 years agowhen Itelmen Native people were reportedto use over 100 wild plant speciesintensively. On the other hand, there aremany barriers for NTFP marketdevelopment in Russia by localcommunities. There are psychologicalbarriers since many people do not believe intheir own ability to change their lives andthey wait for somebody else to help.Problems for distant villages are the lack ofprocessing equipment and skills,knowledge about markets and marketing,and the money necessary to set up abusiness. High transportation costs andtaxes are also a difficulty. Natural resourcemanagers and authorities often neglect theadvantages that NTFP-based businessdevelopment could create for localcommunities and environment preservation.

As demonstrated in the Russian Far Eastand by the IUCN-the NetherlandsFoundation Project “Gifts of MountainShoria Forests” in the Kemerovo region inSiberia, international projects can assistlocal communities to overcome manychallenges in starting an NTFP business.An important key to success is long-termassistance to remote communities inproduct marketing, marketing strategies,sustainable harvesting practices, etc.

It is usually difficult to convince donoragencies or local authorities that withouteffective long-term support many NTFPprojects are doomed because of the natureof the resource. Long-term initiatives, whichcould be self-sustainable over time, such asregional and/or national marketing centresfor small NTFP producers, need to bedeveloped to enable people to helpthemselves out of poverty though thesustainable use of NTFPs. (Contributed by:Nikolay Shmatkov, IUCN – The WorldConservation Union, Office for Russia andthe Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS), 3, bld. 3, Stoliamy Per., Moscow123022, Russian Federation. Tel./fax: +7(095) 609 3411; e-mail:[email protected]; www.iucn.ruand www.dary-lesa.com)

Selling forest products to improvelivelihoods in the GambiaPoor communities in the Gambia are nowearning a regular income by selling forestproducts, thanks to an FAO programme,funded by the Government of Norway,which helps communities to build upmarkets for local products. In a pilot area of26 villages suffering from extreme poverty,people learned about the potential value offorest products and how they could bemarketed more successfully.

Villagers interested in marketing forestproducts have set up their own businessesand organized themselves in producerassociations to sell honey, logs, fuelwood,mahogany posts, handicrafts and palm oilat nearby markets. They are also earningadditional incomes from tree nurseries andecotourism.

“Before the start of the project, villagershad not explored the market potentials ofhandicrafts made of rhun palm leaves,because they did not have the practicalskills or market knowledge. Now they areselling products such as chairs, tables,lampshades, baskets and beds made ofthese leaves,” said Sophie Grouwels, anFAO community forestry expert.

In the 1990s, the Government of theGambia introduced community forestry,giving ownership to the communities, in anattempt to improve forest management.Despite this change, communities still didnot have many incentives to conserve theforests until the programme wasintroduced. “People who used to shunmanaging forests or exploited them, arenow asking for more forests to own andmanage in order to earn more income,”said Grouwels. “Given the success of thisproject, FAO hopes its methodology will beapplied in other parts of the Gambia and inother countries.”

More information can be found inEmpowering communities through forestry:Community-based enterprise developmentin the Gambia (Forestry Policy andInstitutions Working Paper 8) available atwww.fao.org/docrep/008/j6209e/j6209e00.htm or by contacting Sophie Grouwels,Forestry Officer, Community-basedEnterprise Development (CBED), ForestryDepartment, FAO, Viale delle Terme di

Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected];www.fao.org/forestry/site/25491/en

Mushrooms: cash crops from the forest floorBritish Columbia’s wild mushroom industryis unregulated and unmonitored. Accuratefigures do not exist for amounts harvested,dollar values or the number of pickers.Import information from the JapaneseEmbassy in Vancouver is used to makeeducated guesses as to how many tonnesof fungi are being exported from theprovince. But, according to BritishColumbia’s Ministry of Forests, there is onecertainty: “there’s a ton of stuff coming outof the forest”.

Richard Winder, a director of the SouthVancouver Island Mycological Societyagrees that it is difficult to unearth harddata. He estimates that in 2004, 200 tonnesof morels, 100 tonnes of chanterelles and100 tonnes of pine mushrooms wereplucked out of the forests. More specifically,the chanterelle industry in northernVancouver Island, which has wetterconditions and a longer growing season,flourished, enabling 100 pickers to sell tothree buyers for much of the year. “I’m notsure what that translates into dollars, but itis an important sector in the NTFP sector.”

The Government of British Columbia hasbeen asked repeatedly for funds todetermine how many wild mushroomdollars – and how much lost tax revenues –are being sliced out of the forests. (Source:Globe and Mail [Canada], 17 October2005.)



4

TRUFFLE AUCTION HITS NEW HIGH

Truffles are famously expensive, but acharity auction attended by some ofthe United Kingdom’s most famousrestaurateurs set a new recordyesterday – £63 000 for a tartufobianco (white truffle) weighing 1.2 kg.(Source: The Independent [UK], 14November 2005.)(Please see p. 47 for more information.)

Nepal’s lokta resources and handmadepaperThe area around Kailash village inNepal’s Binayak Pimidanda CommunityForest is endowed with abundant lokta(Daphne spp.), which is a preferred rawmaterial for handmade paper. “If theforest is properly managed, it can supplymore than 20 000 kg of dry lokta bark peryear on a regular and sustainable basis,”added Sushil Gyawali, Assistant ProjectMonitoring Officer at the Asia Network forSustainable Agriculture and Bioresources(ANSAB) office in Kathmandu.

After a thorough study – with the fullparticipation of the local people – it wasdecided that prospects were sufficientlypromising to embark on theestablishment of a papermakingenterprise. ANSAB, with funding supportfrom the Ford Foundation, has played animportant part in the establishment of thepaper factory, initially lending technical,financial and administrative support.

“Prior to the establishment of thecommunity forest, local people used tocut lokta at random. The raw materialwas sold to business people andcontractors from elsewhere,” recalledSurat B. Singh, chairperson of theManagement Committee of the MalikaHandmade Paper Industry. “Withoutproper management, the lokta resourcewas dwindling fast. Many businesspeople were making profits, but the localswere still poor.”

Today, the Malika Handmade PaperIndustry in Kailash village is one of thebest-managed community enterprises inNepal. A report by Dyuthan Choudhari, ofthe International Centre for IntegratedMountain Development, stated that: “themodel is designed around forestryresources based on the forest user group(FUG)’s common property, whichprovides sustainable income to localcommunities who have full rights over theresource”.(Source: extracted from: Shree BinayakPimidanda Community Forest: more thana paper tiger by H. B. Singh [in In searchof excellence, exemplary forestmanagement in Asia and the Pacific, ed.P.B. Durst, et al.].)

Growth of the bamboo sector in China

The annual growth of bamboo areaaverages 126 000 ha according to thestatistics of the Sixth National ForestResources Survey. The production valueof China’s bamboo sector in 2004 was 45 billion yuan, a growth of more than 120 percent over that of 2000. Exportswere US$600 million in 2004, an increaseof 20 percent over 2000.

The great development of the bambooindustry has been achieved during theTenth Five-Year Plan period. The bamboosector has become one of the four largestforest industries in the country.

Bamboo forests cover 4.84 million ha inChina, an increase of 631 800 hacompared with the 4.21 million harecorded in the Fifth National ForestResources Survey. (Source: People’s Dailyonline, 8 December 2005.)

Cuban pine resin in the internationalmarketCuba’s forestry sector is boosting theproduction of by-products, as part of astrategy to increase the island’s offers inthe international market.

Baracoa’s Integral Forestry Company, inwestern Cuba, has increased production ofpine resin, an essential component inseveral industrial products.

Pine resin is used to make wax, paint,soap, adhesives and pharmaceuticals,among other products in high demand. Inaddition, it is the raw material used toproduce turpentine and colophony, whichfight harmful insects.

Obtaining pine resin is a manualprocess and was resumed after nearly adecade, despite the vast areas of pinetrees that exist in the region.

Experts predict an annual extraction of100 tonnes of pine resin, so the country’sexporting potential will increase. (Source:CubaXP, 9 June 2005.)

NWFP cooperatives and the Siberian PineSyrup ProjectNative cooperatives in Kamchatka aregrowing larger and working hard. Thesecooperatives create exclusivemerchandise with NWFPs and NTFPs,using traditional methods that reflect howpeople have been living in symbiosis withnature for centuries and how they continueto intensify and hand down theirknowledge of forest resources and theirproperties, which are profoundly linked totheir social and spiritual life.

Equally important is that this knowledgeis today the basis of a “local sustainablelivelihood strategy”, together with otherelements such as ethnotourism andecotourism (native dances, the possibilityof visiting the villages and surroundings,etc.); cultural activities; fishing and hunting;and reindeer herding. These are all helpingthe communities to enter economicprocesses to counter the economicdifficulties that the region is suffering.

The cooperatives are usually composedof artisans and herbal and resourceexperts, mostly women. As an example,the Aleskam Native People’s CommunityCooperative is composed mainly ofwomen, who cover the crafting, marketingand management roles, and two men – abiologist/medical herb specialist and avideo documentarist – to film theproduction processes and record theindigenous way of using resources forofficial cultural archives and use in nativeschools.

A product of another group, the TarijaNative Peoples’ Community, is dwarfSiberian pine syrup, followed by Mrs ElenaPosvolskaya and monitored by the WorldConservation Union.

With the sustainable harvesting of dwarfSiberian pine needles, Mrs Posvolskayamanages to produce a sweet and tastysyrup that is much enjoyed when used withtea, as well as by itself. At the same time,the pine syrup’s medical properties actagainst throat infections, coughs and



5

colds. This product shows how centuries-old indigenous knowledge regarding themedicinal properties of the pine is usedtoday, fusing traditional knowledge,sustainable harvesting and production witheconomic support, and how this hasactually changed Mrs Posvolskaya’s socialand family role.

“Before starting this project,” MrsPosvolskaya said, “my husband used togive me just enough money at thebeginning of the month to buy food formeals and a few basics for myself. Today Ihave my own money, and he is constantlyasking me to teach him marketing skills. Myfuture plans are about expanding the saleson foreign markets, to fortify the market Ialready have in Moscow.” (Contributed by:Alessandro Toffoli, Via BartolomeoEustachio 4, 00161 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected])

Moss is a cash crop for mountain people inthe United States of AmericaMoss is the all-purpose sponge of theforest, storing water, releasing nutrientsand housing tiny creatures. But acrossAppalachia and in the Pacific Northwest, itis more than this. It is a way to make endsmeet when jobs are few. Picking is hardwork on a hot day. And it pays only aboutUS$5 a sack. What is picked could end upin a floral arrangement or a craft project.Along the way, it will support more than adozen jobs, from people who sort it, dry itand package it to those who ship and sellit. Nationwide, it is hard to tell how manypeople make a living from moss.

Moss is not commercially grown, sobuyers depend on the wilderness.However, some state and national forestshave already banned harvesting, worriedabout what they will lose when mossleaves the ecosystem.

Ethical pickers will not strip the logsbare, but will always leave clumps behindto help the spore-driven plant regenerate.To thrive, it needs moisture, cool

temperatures and shade. How long ittakes to grow back is a question that hassome scientists and United StatesDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) ForestService officials wrestling with theregulation of this secretive industry,where there are plenty of opinions butfew facts.

North Carolina’s Pisgah and Nantahalanational forests expect to ban mosscollection from 1 January 2006 afterstudies there indicated a growback cycle“in the order of 15 to 20 years,” saysbotanical specialist Gary Kauffman of theForest Service. This is twice as long assome veteran pickers and moss buyersthink it will take. Although Kauffmanagrees that the science is still lacking,Pisgah and Nantahala will probably erron the side of caution, meaning that theforests will be off-limits to the 100–200pickers a year who typically get permits.

Sue Studlar, a West Virginia Universitybiologist argues that overall, moss is“mined, rather than sustainablyharvested” and that large-scale removalcan inadvertently damage other species,from ferns to salamanders. TheMonongahela national forest bannedmossing in 2001 until it could study theimpact. Two years later, Studlarconcluded that picking should bediscouraged near limestone cliffs and wetareas, that no log or rock should bestripped bare and that known“biodiversity hot spots” should be off-limits. But “potentially, if you did it right”,moss could be harvested withoutharming the ecosystem. It falls off inclumps naturally as it regenerates andpickers could harvest these remnants.

The Monongahela, which coversnearly 1 million acres (approximately 404700 ha) in West Virginia, may somedayrestore moss-picking permits. Mosserssay that they and others should beallowed to take non-timber products fromthe forest, including ginseng root andmedicinal herbs such as goldenseal,before the loggers destroy them.

Pat Muir, a botanist at Oregon StateUniversity, estimates that mossing was aUS$8.4–33.7 million business in 2003,with anywhere from 4.2 to 17 million lbs

(1 905 000 to 7 711 070 kg) beingharvested in the two dominant regions,Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest.(Source: Environmental News Network[ENN], Daily Newsletter, 17 October2005.)

Economic benefits of conserving the rainforestConservation can bring in more dollarsthan it costs. Africa’s large mammals arefamed for their ability to attract touristdollars, but wildlife reserves without thesemammals can still make enough money tobenefit local people, say researchers.

In one of the first studies to consider thecosts and benefits of protecting differentnumbers of species, scientists at Canada’sUniversity of Alberta concluded that rainforest conservation can more than pay foritself, and is more profitable than clearingforests and using the land for farming.

Working in Uganda’s Mabira ForestReserve, researchers found that touristswere willing to pay much more than thecurrent US$5 entry fee for a chance tospot some of the reserve’s 143 birdspecies. The study, published in theProceedings of the National Academy ofSciences, recommends increasing the feeto about $47. The high charge wouldmean fewer visitors and so less of animpact on the forest. But enough touristswould still be willing to pay the fee to allowthe reserve to protect 80–90 percent of itsbird species while bringing greatereconomic benefits to local communities.

Lead author Robin Naidoo thinksMabira might be representative of otherreserves across the developing world.Many protected areas are under pressurefrom impoverished local populations whoexploit them for resources such as timber,fuel and food. “The key is developing amechanism whereby revenues flow backto the people who need them most, and inwhose hands the future of these reserveslies – the local residents,” he says. “Thiswill give them an economic incentive toprotect tropical forests because they canearn more by preserving them than bychopping them down and farming theland,” he adds. (Source: SciDev.Net, 1November 2005.)



6

La valeur monétaire de la forêt suisse entant qu’espace de détenteLes résultats de la présente étudefournissent, pour la première fois, deschiffres relatifs à la valeur récréative de laforêt suisse pour l’ensemble de lapopulation du pays. D’une comparaisonentre les conclusions de diverses étudesportant sur la fonction récréative de forêtslocales, sur la valeur du paysage pour letourisme et sur les dépenses touristiquesen Suisse, il ressort que les présentsrésultats sont tout à fait plausibles.

Par rapport aux études menées jusqu’àprésent, les présents résultats offrentquelques améliorations car ils reposent,d’une part, sur le comportementobservable des individus (au contraire del’évaluation contingente) et peuvent êtreconsidérés, d’autre part, commel’appréciation exprimée d’une sélectionreprésentative de la population suisse etnon seulement des habitants d’unecertaine région (contrairement auxméthodes des coûts de transport et auxévaluations contingentes appliquées à cejour). Les résultats peuvent donc êtreinterprétés comme une moyennereprésentative de l’ensemble des types deforêt des forêts périurbaines, maiségalement de l’ensemble des types deforêts.

La méthode appliquée examine lecomportement des usagers de bienspublics lors de leur déplacement. Les fraisde transport occasionnés par undéplacement en forêt à des fins récréativesconstituent une limite inférieure duconsentement à payer et de la valeurmonétaire de cette fonction récréative, quiest à l’origine du déplacement. Les frais detransport englobent les dépenses liées audéplacement ainsi que le coût en tempsnécessaire à ce déplacement. Pourl’ensemble des bénéfices récréatifs, le coûten temps (coût d’opportunité) est intégrédans les calculs relatifs au séjour en forêt.

À partir des coûts de la visite en forêt(séjour et déplacement) et de la fréquence,nous pouvons tracer une courbe dedemande qui représente la relation entre lenombre moyen de séjours en forêt par anet les coûts de ces séjours. Elle permet dedéduire l’utilité globale de la fonction

récréative de la forêt pour un visiteurmoyen. Cette utilité varie entre 1 670 et 2 422 francs suisses (frais dedéplacement uniquement) et entre 1 178et 3 066 francs suisses par an (frais dedéplacement et frais de séjour), selon quel’on se fonde sur le concept d’utilité nette(gain de satisfaction) ou sur celui d’utilitébrute (gain de satisfaction et dépensesréelles). En extrapolant ce chiffre à lapopulation suisse de plus de 18 ans,l’utilité de la fonction récréative des forêtssuisses varie entre 9,7 et 14,1 milliards defrancs suisses par an (frais dedéplacement) et entre 6,8 et 17,8 milliardsde francs suisses par an (frais dedéplacement et frais de séjour).

Nous sommes toutefois d’avis d’intégrerle coût d’opportunité du séjour dansl’optique du problème examiné (calcul dela valeur récréative monétaire de la forêt)et de nous baser par conséquent sur lemontant de 6,8 à 17,8 milliards de francssuisses par an. (Source: Martin Baur,Walter Ott, concept, Claire-Lise SuterThalmann, Office fédéral del’environnement (OFEV), Division desforêts, 3003 Berne [Suisse])

Pour plus d’informations, contacter:

Claire-Lise Suter Thalmann,

Office fédéral de l’environnement,

des forêts et du paysage, Exploitation

forestière et industrie du bois,

CH-3003 Berne, Suisse.

Télécopie: +41 31 324 78 66, courriel:

[email protected];

site Web: www.umwelt-schweiz.ch

• The Kenya Wildlife Service estimatesthat 80 percent of Kenya’s tourists aredrawn by the country’s wildlife andthat the tourism industry generatesone-third of the country’s foreignexchange earnings.

• Domestic and international travellersmake more than 275 million visits ayear to the 388 recreation areasadministered by the United StatesNational Park Service, generatingdirect and indirect economic benefitsfor local communities of more thanUS$14 billion annually and supportingalmost 300 000 tourist-related jobs.

• Prior to the civil war in Rwanda,tourists visiting the country’smountain gorillas provided more than$1 million in annual revenues,enabling the government to fund anti-poaching patrols and employlocal residents.Tourism is once againon the upswing, with hundreds offoreign visitors a month paying $250each to see the gorillas.

• More than half of all internationalvisitors to Nepal include a trip to atleast one national park. Before civilstrife reduced numbers, more than 80 000 tourists visited the RoyalChitwan National Park and 50 000trekkers visited the AnnapurnaConservation Area each year.

• The more than 60 000 visitors a yearto the Galapagos Islands contribute inexcess of $100 million to Ecuador’seconomy.

(Source: State of the World’s Forests2005.)

POTENTIAL ECOTOURISM:SOME EXAMPLES



7

Mondia whitei, a socio-economicallyimportant plant Mondia whitei (Hook. f.) Skeels, locallyknown as mulondo, is consumed inUganda and represents a source of localincome. It is one of the few speciescommonly retailed on the streets ofKampala, another being Canariumschweinfurthii Engl. Mulondo is claimedto improve appetites, ease abdominalpains, alleviate nausea and is used totreat fever. Tubers are eaten raw, theirtaste depending on the age of the plant:young tubers are sweet tasting, whereasmature tubers have a slightly bitter taste.

The species is gathered and soldlocally at the markets of Kampala and itssuburbs. From Kampala it is redistributedto other towns and to the islands ofSesse. Many people, includingharvesters, intermediaries, wholesalersand hawkers earn a living from thecollection and sale of the plant.

No estimates exist on the harvest andtrade of mulondo and we do not howmuch is harvested or how much ismarketed. A recent rapid appraisalindicated that the species wholesales forbetween US$0.2–0.3/kg and retails atmore than US$2/kg. The contribution ofthis species to socio-economiclivelihoods needs further study.

Consumption and trade in mulondo areincreasing. There are more consumersand traders now than ten years ago. Yetmulondo is a slow-growing plant that takesabout 15 years to attain a tuber of sufficientsize for consumption. The ecologicalimplications of intense harvesting of such aslow-growing plant to satisfy thisincreasing demand are that harvesting isunsustainable and the species may bethreatened. Indeed the plant is reportedlybecoming much harder to locate in the wild.(Contributed by: John R.S. Tabuti, Ph.D.,Senior Lecturer/Ethnobotanist, Departmentof Botany, Makerere University, PO Box7062, Kampala, Uganda. Fax: +256 (0) 41531 061; e-mail:[email protected])

TRADE IN NWFPS

International trade in NWFPsTables 1 and 2 present total import valuesof raw materials, as well as semi-processed and processed products, for1992 and 2002. All figures are in currentrather than real US dollars, so that thegrowth in trade of most goods appearsmore than it actually is.

Most of the 28 commodities listed inTable 1 are unprocessed, although a fewsemi-processed products are included. For2002, their total import value amounted toUS$2.7 billion. Excluding the twocommodities that were not coded in 1992(mushroom categories 070959 and

071239), the total value of the remaining26 increased from US$1.9 to $2.1 billionbetween 1992 and 2002.

Table 2 lists 34 commodities at differentstages of processing, originating from bothinside and outside forests, with a totalimport value for 2002 of US$7 billion. Bycomparison, the value of global imports ofwood-based forest products for the sameyear, including fuelwood and charcoal,amounts to US$141.4 billion. Excluding thefive commodities for which trade datacannot be compared because codes didnot exist in the 1992 HS, the total value oftrade of the remaining 29 increased fromUS$4 billion in 1992 to $6.2 billion in 2002.

Between 1992 and 2002, import valuesof the 55 commodities in the two tables

HS code Commodity description Global import value(’000 US$)

1992 2002 060410 Mosses and lichens for bouquets,

ornamental purposes 9 352 25 476070952 Truffles, fresh or chilled 4 201 23 656 070959 Mushrooms other than Agaricus, fresh or chilled n.a. 364 412 071239 Mushrooms (excl. 071331/33) and truffles, dried n.a. 219 458 200320 Truffles, prepared or preserved, not in vinegar 3 049 11 012 080120 Brazil nuts, fresh or dried 44 344 59 848 080240 Chestnuts, fresh or dried 109 958 184 663 230810 Acorns and horse chestnuts for animal feed 1 216 7 380* 120792 Shea nuts (karite nuts) 5 155 5 136* 121110 Liquorice roots 33 455 24 310 121120 Ginseng roots 389 345 221 435 121190 Plants and parts, pharmacy, perfume, insecticide

use n.e.s. 689 926 777 980 121210 Locust beans, locust seeds 22 395 40 239 130110 Lac 25 286 25 653 130120 Gum arabic 101 312 105 510 130190 Natural gum, resin, gum resin, balsam, not gum arabic 92 755 96 535 400130 Balata, gutta-percha, guayule, chicle and similar gums 26 726 13 605 130214 Pyrethrum, roots containing rotenone, extracts 27 865 26 173* 140110 Bamboos used primarily for plaiting 37 562 50 054 140120 Rattan used primarily for plaiting 118 987 51 327 140210 Kapok 11 920 2 826* 170220 Maple sugar and maple syrup 43 632 116 202 200891 Palm hearts, otherwise prepared or preserved 16 082 67 514 320110 Quebracho tanning extract 51 938 45 173 320120 Wattle tanning extract 63 877 34 168 320130 Oak or chestnut extract 8 653 917* 450110 Natural cork, raw or simply prepared 7 874 110 702 530521 Abaca fibre, raw (Musa textilis) 15 221 20 374

TABLE 1. Global import values of key NWFPs for which HS code refers to a singleproduct, 1992 and 2002

* 2001 value (as no longer in HS 2002). Notes: n.a.: not applicable as this code did not exist in the HS 1992 version. n.e.s.: not elsewhere specified. Source: UN, 2004.



8

HS code Commodity description Global import value(’000 US$)

1992 2002 010600 Animals, live, except farm animals 183 922 404 633030110 Ornamental fish, live 137 886 240 965 040900 Honey, natural 268 184 657 612 041000 Edible products of animal origin n.e.s. 80 389 175 770 051000 Ambergris, civet, musk, etc. for pharmaceutical use 134 088 93 942 060491 Foliage, branches, for bouquets, etc. - fresh n.a. 587 689 060499 Foliage, branches, for bouquets, etc. - except fresh n.a. 103 998 071230 Mushrooms and truffles, dried, not further prepared 134 205 286 661* 200390 Mushrooms n.e.s., preserved, not pickled n.a. 82 848 080290 Nuts edible, fresh or dried, n.e.s. 222 915 403 243 090610 Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers, whole 95 626 81 332 090620 Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers, crushed or ground 8 531 18 606 110620 Flour or meal of sago, starchy roots or tubers 18 063 10 060 120799 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, n.e.s. 62 297 161 428 130232 Mucilages and thickeners, from locust bean, guar seeds 141 335 254 683 130239 Mucilages and thickeners n.e.s. 138 579 374 674 140190 Vegetable materials n.e.s., used primarily for plaiting 39 670 38 181 140200 Vegetable materials for stuffing/padding n.a. 3 751 140300 Vegetable materials for brush/broom making n.a. 23 519140410 Raw vegetable material primarily for dyeing and tanning 31 063 33 855 140490 Vegetable products n.e.s. 63 859 127 767 320190 Tanning extracts of vegetable origin 20 515 50 450 320300 Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin 152 082 384 133 330129 Essential oils, n.e.s. 312 524 533 464 330130 Resinoids 61 359 37 282 380510 Gum, wood or sulphate turpentine oils 31 232 35 418 380610 Rosin and resin acids 166 133 224 360 410320 Reptile skins, raw 11 252 78 366 430180 Raw fur skins of other animals, whole 44 025 88 240 460110 Plaits and products of plaiting materials 17 198 38 927 460120 Mats, matting and screens, vegetable plaiting material 215 957 196 784 460191 Plaited vegetable material articles not mats or screen 44 732 120 719*460210 Basketwork, wickerwork products of vegetable material 789 991 968 044 660200 Walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, etc. 10 769 44 369

TABLE 2. Global import values of selected commodities for which HS codeincludes NWFPs among others, 1992 and 2002

* 2001 value (as no longer in HS 2002). Notes: n.a.: not applicable as this code did not exist in the HS 1992 version. n.e.s.: not elsewhere specified. Source: UN, 2004.

• The term is not included ininternational commodity descriptionsor in product classification systems.

• Listings that describe or categorizeNWFPs within commodities varyconsiderably, as does theiraggregated value, since there is noagreement among countries, agenciesor authors on terminology.

• International commoditynomenclature and productclassification schemes are silent as towhether products originate fromfarms or the forest.

• Several NWFPs are traded asprocessed or semi-processedproducts or as ingredients in othercommodities and cannot easily beidentified.

• Changes in product nomenclature ininternational statistical systems –with codes deleted, merged, split oradded – make comparisons difficultover time.

• Not all countries report accurately ontheir trade.

(Source: State of the World’s Forests2005.)

DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITHCOLLECTING, COMPILING AND

ANALYSING TRADE DATA ON NWFPs



9

increased by 50 percent, from US$5.5billion to $8.3 billion. However, the totalglobal import value of all commoditieslisted in the 1992 and 2002 HS, asrecorded by trading countries, increasedalmost two and a half times, fromUS$2.24 trillion to $5.56 trillion. Inaddition, the share of global trade of the55 commodities decreased from 0.25percent to 0.15 percent, mostly as aresult of a decline in the price of rawmaterials and because other materialsgained in popularity.

Products that saw no real increase intheir traded values are shea nuts, gumarabic, balata, gutta-percha, kapok,tanning extracts of quebracho and blackwattle, Brazil nuts, sago flour and

wickerwork. These originate indeveloping countries and were traded asraw materials. Commodities that sawtheir import values sharply increase aremosses/lichens and foliage for flowerbouquets, truffles, other mushrooms,maple syrup, cork, mucilages andthickeners from locust bean (carob),essential oils not elsewhere specified,live animals other than farm animals,natural honey and raw reptile skins. Theyrepresent semi-processed products andare mainly produced and traded bydeveloped countries (Europe, NorthAmerica) and China.(Source: State of the World’s Forests2005.) Trade figures for 2004 will be givenin the next issue of Non-Wood News.

Public-private partnerships and global tradein NWFPsPoverty reduction stands out as one of theUnited Nations’ most important goals sinceits creation. However, several decadeslater, poverty still persists. UN agenciesnow recognize that working with the publicsector alone is insufficient and over thepast decade they have been activelyencouraging the participation of the privatesector in development initiatives.

Typically, this involves the private sector,civil society and the public sector with a UNagency or other developmental non-governmental organization (NGO) actingas a neutral broker to ensure that a targetpopulation benefits from a given activity.These activities could either be aimed atimproving the general economicenvironment (e.g. advocacy on issuessuch as human rights and peace, andservice delivery such as provision ofelectricity and water) or aimed at specificeconomic subsectors.

A few partnerships are known to havetargeted the NWFP subsector, with theaim of ensuring improved livelihoodsthrough sustainable market developmentfor NWFPs. These initiatives include thefollowing.

• The Swiss pharmaceutical companyNovartis is in partnership withChinese state-owned pharmaceuticalcompanies and rural households inChina in order to secure availabilityof the medicinal plant Artemisiaannua. This plant contains the activeingredient used in the production ofthe malaria drug Coartem. Because

of high demand, plantations ofA. annua have been established,thereby reducing reliance on wildplants. Novartis has also initiatedplanting trials in Africa with a view todiversifying the source of rawmaterial. The World HealthOrganization (WHO) has played amajor role by assuring tropicalcountries as to the effectiveness ofthe product and also ensuringcontinued demand for the Novartisproduct.

• The Shea Butter Production Initiativeis a partnership between the UnitedNations Development Fund forWomen (UNIFEM), the Governmentof Burkina Faso, a French cosmeticcompany (L’Occitane), a CanadianNGO (Centre canadien d’étude et decoopération internationale, CECI)and local partners. In the partnership,CECI played a major role in thetechnical aspects of productdevelopment and UNIFEM supportedthe development of producer groupsand educated women producersabout new market opportunities.Producer groups were also assistedin sourcing new outlets for theirproducts, especially in internationalmarkets. Shea trade fairs have beenorganized annually and one of theparticipants, L’Occitane, nowpurchases directly from the womenproducers. The women have equallybenefited from improved processingtechnologies, saving time andenergy.

• In Ghana, a public partnership existsbetween a timber company(Samartex), landowners, tenants andstate authorities, with the technicalsupport of the German DevelopmentService. The ensuing project aims tocultivate on a sustained basis formerareas of forestry clearance for thepurpose of preserving biodiversityand creating additional sources ofincome for the rural population. ThisOda-Kotoamso CommunityAgroforestry Project is run withfinancial support from DeutscheInvestitions und Entwicklungs-GmbH.

A major outcome has been thedevelopment of a patented methodpermitting the extraction of a naturalsweetening substance from the fruitof an indigenous tree,Thaumatococcus daniellii, with higheconomic potential. A factory iscurrently under construction for large-scale production and at the sametime, cultivation of T. daniellii is beingencouraged.

While not exhaustive, these threeexamples illustrate a diversity of drivingforces behind the partnerships. In the firstcase, the driving force is to produce anaffordable malaria treatment for ruralhouseholds. In the second, it is theimprovement in the living conditions ofwomen who are the dominant labourforce in the shea trade. The Ghana caseis driven by sustainable forestmanagement. There are, however, anumber of issues worth mentioning thatcould undermine the potential success ofsuch initiatives with respect to povertyalleviation.

• In the case of T. daniellii and A. annua, there is an ongoing attemptto synthesize chemically the activesubstances that make these plantseconomically important, which couldmean that initiatives focused on themmay be unsustainable in the longterm.

• There is much talk on the economicgains for participating populations.However, there is far less informationavailable about the consequences onexisting plant populations whendemand rises suddenly.

• Another issue is that of supply. Theseplants all have a harvesting season of afew months in the year. The A. annuapartnership is the only one that hasattempted to address this issue byencouraging planting in differentgeographic regions. Furthermore, theshea project, in a drought-prone region,could mean that another potentialuncertainty factor has been added to thelong-term risks of the project.(Contributed by: Okwen TenjohOkwen,Via Iberia 66, 00183 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected])



10

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Trade data on NTFPs in IndiaTrade data on NTFPs compiled frommonthly statistics of the foreign trade ofIndia (exports) prepared by theDirectorate-General of CommercialIntelligence and Statistics, Kolkata (India)reveal that the share of NTFP exportshas been significant when compared withwood products.

NTFP exports from India wereapproximately US$154.18 million (Rs6 784crore) from 2000 to 2001, as comparedwith the approximately $5.50 million(Rs242 crore) of wood products exportedduring the same year (Rs44 = US$1).

For figures covering the past eightyears, please contact Ms Alka Shiva,President and Managing Director, Centre of Minor Forest Products(COMFORPTS), HIG 2, No. 8B,Indirapuram, GMS Road, PO Majra,Dehra Dun 248 001 (Uttaranchal), India.E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Trade measures – tools to promote thesustainable use of NWFPs? An assessment of trade-relatedinstruments influencing internationaltrade in NWFPs and associatedmanagement and livelihood strategies.Through the Norway PartnershipProgramme (NPP) “Forests forSustainable Livelihoods”, funding wasprovided in 2004 and 2005 to enableFAO to analyse trade-related instrumentsinfluencing trade in NWFPs and theirapplications and impacts on povertyalleviation and sustainable forestmanagement. The NPP complementsand accelerates implementation ofongoing activities of the FAO Programme“Promotion and Development of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs)”.TRAFFIC, an international NGO focusingon trade in wild plants and animals, wasselected to carry out the global analysisbecause of its knowledge on andexperience in international trade issuesand their social, economic andenvironmental impact on sustainableforest management. Case studies onspecific NWFPs in international tradewere carried out in Cameroon, Boliviaand Papua New Guinea and the resultsof these studies were incorporated intothe global analysis. A comprehensivereport, summarized below, has beenproduced and is to be published in thenear future by FAO.

NWFPs have an important role to playin the livelihoods of many ruralcommunities, particularly in developingcountries, where they provide a broadrange of subsistence and commerciallivelihood opportunities. While most ofthe trade is domestic, for some NWFPspecies and products, international tradeis significant and generates income for

resource harvesters and collectors aswell as for many other actors in thecommodity chain. The patchiness ofinformation on trade in wild plants andanimals makes it difficult to estimate totaland relative levels of use for bothdomestic and commercial purposes, andthis is complicated by the difficulty indistinguishing between subsistence useand trade for commercial purposes. Thevalue of international trade, for whichdata are comparatively better, hasrecently been estimated at US$11 billionper year.

Effective NWFP trade faces practicalchallenges as NWFPs are often small insize, come from many different sites anda far larger range of species andproducts exists than for the two keytraded resources – timber and fisheries.NWFP trade is, accordingly, far morecomplex and difficult to understand andregulate, since NWFPs cannot besuccessfully regulated as a uniformcommodity.

International trade in NWFPs isregulated through a broad range of trade-related instruments that imposemandatory trade controls. Some of these,such as the Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of WildFauna and Flora (CITES) and certainnational species conservation measures,have their basis in the conservation ofbiodiversity, while others, such as importtariffs or phytosanitary certificates, areused for capturing revenue or for foodhealth and quality control. There are alsomany trade-related instruments such astrade rules within the World TradeOrganization (WTO) that are based onenhancing trade liberalization, covering abroad range of products in internationaltrade. For these instruments NWFPs arenot the key commodities being targetedand impacts are not always supportive ofsustainable use and trade.

NWFP trade is also affected byvoluntary trade measures developed bythe private sector, such as certificationand ecolabelling schemes that generallyaim to achieve the dual aim ofbiodiversity conservation and theequitable distribution of benefits to the


Rattan comprises about 600 speciesin 13 genera and is widely distributedin tropical Asia and the Pacific, aswell as in Africa.

The International Network forBamboo and Rattan (INBAR) estimatesthe global trade of rattan products tobe in the range of US$4 billion and thedomestic trade to be $2.5 billion.Thesefigures show the importance of therattan economy, which has become, interms of export value, almost 40percent of the $10 billion trade ofprimary tropical timber productscovered by the International TropicalTimber Organization (ITTO).This hugeeconomic importance results from thefact that rattan cane has long beenused as one of the most popularmaterials for furniture. (Source:Chinese Academy of Forestry.)(Please see pp. 44 and 73 for moreinformation.)

GLOBAL TRADE OF RATTANPRODUCTS


11


communities for whom such trade plays akey livelihood role.

Trade-related instruments, such asCITES, which aim to ensure biodiversityconservation, do not always achieve thisgoal and, in certain cases, have had anegative impact on the speciesconcerned and on those whoselivelihoods are linked to the trade. Thereare, however, a number of examples ofwin-win situations and there is increasedrecognition within the biodiversityconservation sector of the need toincorporate determination of livelihoodimpacts into decision-making processesfor the regulation of trade in wild plantsand animals.

Tariffs are used by both importing andexporting countries as a means ofgenerating revenue and, normally in thecase of developing countries, as aprotectionist measure. Excessive taxrates can be counterproductive sincethey may encourage illegal trade in theproducts in order to avoid tariffs. Thissituation often results in a lower pricebeing paid to collectors and harvesters.

While tariff-based trade measures canhave an impact on trade in NWFPs, theimpact of non-tariff measures is probablygreater. For instance, phytosanitarycontrols can become a trade constraintwhere they cause delays and they arenormally more onerous on smallcooperatives and local communities thatmay lack the resources to meet therequired standards. Non-tariff importcontrols can prove restrictive as well ascomplex and overlapping, creatingunnecessary burdens on bothenforcement personnel and traders.Furthermore, such a regulatoryenvironment is frequently more open toexploitation.

Certification and labelling schemeshave focused mainly on timber products;the certification of NWFPs has largelybeen available though forest-relatedcertification schemes for the last fiveyears. Consequently, it is difficult toassess the performance of certificationfor NWFPs since insufficient case studiesand sources of information exist. Ingeneral, NWFPs are not considered ideal

for certification programmes because theproducts are generally traded on a smallscale in local markets and where they aretraded internationally, it is frequently for aspecific industry and on a relatively smallscale. Therefore, only some of the morepopular products are considered suitablefor certification and related initiativesshould be carried out on a case-by-casebasis.

There are a number of areas whereinadequate research has been carriedout and insufficient literature exists todetermine the impact of trade-relatedmeasures. These include internationaland regional trade agreements, regionaland bilateral biodiversity-relatedagreements and tariff and non-tariffmeasures. In the latter case, the existingliterature needs to be updated.

It is clear that NWFPs play a criticalrole in the lives of millions of peoplearound the world and that trade-relatedinstruments do have an impact, bothpositive and negative, on the sustainableuse and conservation of NWFPs and onthe livelihoods of those dependent uponthem. Resource users, regulators, NGOs,policy-makers and all other stakeholdersaccordingly need to continueemphasizing the important role ofNWFPs and advocating the adoption oftrade-related measures that aresupportive of their conservation andsustainable use. (Contributed by: MarkusBurgener, Senior Programme Officer,TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa, c/o TheSouth African National BiodiversityInstitute, Private Bag X7, Claremont,7735, Cape Town, South Africa. Fax: 2721 797 7186; e-mail:[email protected]; www.traffic.org)

PhytoTrade Africa: adding life to tradePhytoTrade Africa is the Southern AfricanNatural Products Trade Association,representing over 50 members acrossthe southern African region in order todevelop a viable, sustainable and ethicalnatural products industry.

PhytoTrade Africa is unique in the wayit is tackling business, poverty alleviation,environmental sustainability and benefit-sharing in one practical package. Itreaches marginalized producers all oversouthern Africa and seeks to combineboth organic and fair trade standards.

Southern Africa is rich in biodiversitythat has contributed to the fabric ofdomestic life for centuries. The demandfor raw materials produced byPhytoTrade’s members is growingrapidly, as the results of generations oftraditional use and refinement becomeglobally recognized.

PhytoTrade Africa is a member of theInternational Federation for AlternativeTrade. In addition, some members willachieve organic certification this year.While all members are signatories of thePhytoTrade Africa Fair Trade Charter,PhytoTrade is currently developing waysto apply these standards to the cosmeticindustry.

All products from PhytoTrade Africa’smembers can be defined as follows.

Wild harvested. Through extensiveresearch, PhytoTrade Africa has chosenseven indigenous tree species, eachproducing fruits containing valuableconstituents for the cosmetics industry.These fruits are naturally organic andhave been sustainably harvested bymarginalized rural producers forgenerations. By creating viable andethical markets for these products, localvalue is added, and the traditional cultureassociated with their usage is secured. Inthis way, rural producers’ livelihoods andfood security are enhanced and the treesare conserved.

From educated and empoweredproducers. PhytoTrade Africa’s membersare supported by a dynamic managementteam that provides advice and training on awide variety of key topics including qualitystandards; export procedures; market


12


penetration strategies; business planning;certification criteria; health and safetyissues; cosmetic formulation; oilprocessing; supply chain management;and regulatory environments. In addition,the welfare of each producer is consideredwith fair prices paid and long-term buyerrelationships nurtured.

Within equitable relationships. Thecommunities that harvest these productsare organized groupings of rural producerswho have a proven business capability tomanage production. The roots of everyproduct are firmly planted within thesecommunities and for this reason allintellectual property and genetic rights areprotected, and any patents that may arisefrom research and development are co-owned through the supply chain. Throughthe creation of coordinated partnershipslinking producers, regional organizations,governments and industry, benefit-sharingas envisaged under the Convention onBiological Diversity is ensured.

Implications for the cosmetic industry• Quality ingredients.• Every ingredient has a rich African

cultural heritage.• Every producer has been fairly treated.• Every material has been sustainably

harvested.• By purchasing PhytoTrade Africa

products, customers will be providingsupport to communities that will reinvestthe money for themselves, from payingfor school uniforms, to school fees, oreven a school.

(Contributed by: Dr L. A. Welford,Information Services Manager,PhytoTrade Africa, 9 Lezard Ave, PO Box BE 385, Belvedere, Harare,Zimbabwe. Fax (263) 4 723037; e-mail: [email protected];www.phytotradeafrica.com)

Aggressive strategy for MFP exportsplannedWith competition in the minor forestproduct (MFP) export sector hotting up, agovernment-sponsored body hasplanned an aggressive strategy fortapping virgin markets.

The Shellac Export Promotion Council(SEPC) has launched an MFPinformation centre, which will build acommunity of stakeholders by bringingproducers, traders, cooperatives andexporters under its umbrella andproviding them with a platform tohighlight problems vis-à-vis supportmeasures needed for exportdevelopment. To realize its goal, SEPC isalso conducting market surveys anddeveloping an export promotion strategyto nurture and groom new and upcomingexporters, promote internationalcompetitiveness and identify scope andexport potentials.

India’s MFP exports at present amountto US$362 million, comprising only 4 percent of global trade. Global importsare estimated to be $9 billion. New andemerging global markets such as SouthAsia and some western countries in thissector remain largely untapped.

MFPs include bamboo, medicinalherbs, cane, honey, tamarind (both driedand seed), lac, shellac, amla, tendu leafand others. According to a study, some50 million tribals in the country dependedon MFPs for meeting their subsistenceconsumption and income needs.

Northeast India is home to a widevariety of economically importantNWFPs, including medicinal plants, withvast potential for exports all over theworld. With 35 percent of India’s forestsin this region, it is identified as the richestbiodiversity habitat. However, for lack offocus and cohesiveness among growers,the trading community and governmentpolicies, this sector has not seen itsoptimum growth.

Major markets for Indian MFPs are theUnited States, United Kingdom,Germany, France, Japan, China (HongKong SAR) and United Arab Emirates.(Source: Press Trust of India, 2November 2005.)

Exports of Korean ginsengExports of Korean ginseng have been onthe rise for the third year in succession. Ifthe increase in exports continues, theRepublic of Korea expects the amount tosurpass US$100 million in 2005, a featthat has not been repeated since 1996.

The Korea Agro-Trade Corporationsaid that ginseng worth $33 million wasshipped overseas between January andJune in 2005, up almost 11 percent fromthe same period in 2004. Ginseng iswidely consumed around the world for itseffects in boosting vitality. (Source:Chosun Ilbo, Republic of Korea, 22August 2005.)

High sales boost plant extract drugcompany Phytopharm, which develops drugsbased on medicinal plant extracts, saidits sales had grown to £7.4million for theyear ending 31 August 2005, comparedwith £1.1 million the previous year.Losses before tax had dropped to £3billion from £6.8 billion.

Chief executive Richard Dixey said thehighlight of the year had been signing aworldwide licence agreement withUnilever to develop a cactus extract to beused in slimming products. The hoodiacactus is used by the San bushmen ofthe Kalahari as an appetite suppressant.(Source: The Guardian, 3 November2005.)


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ALASKA PAPER BIRCHTREE WOODS HOLDSPOTENTIAL FOR NEWDRUGS

Saplings of the Alaska paper birch tree(Betula neoalaskana) produce a stickyresin on new branches that discouragessnowshoe hares from eating them. Somescientists think that such chemicaldefences could be useful drugs and anew natural resource for Alaskans to tap.Two American researchers thought sohighly of birch trees’ promise that theytook a 600-mile (approximately 966 km)journey up and down the Porcupine Riverto clip birch twigs from different locations.They found that new twigs were moreheavily encrusted with resin nodules thefurther north they went.

In the late 1970s, researchers noticedthat Alaska birches seemed to protectthemselves from hares by producingresinous glands on saplings and stemsgrowing close to the ground. Thesestems are stubbled with tiny beads ofpapyriferic acid, a sweet compound witha bitter aftertaste. Twigs growing higheron mature trees do not have the glands.

The papyriferic acid on sapling twigscauses snowshoe hares to pass moresodium with their urine. This loss ofsodium indicates birch defences, such aspapyriferic acid, which are potentialhypertension drugs.

The north has a bumper crop of birchand other trees and shrubs that seem tobe loaded with papyriferic acid and otherpotentially valuable chemicals.

Since the birches with the highestconcentrations of the chemical arebetween Fort Yukon and northwestCanada, there is potential for villagers tostart a new industry of harvesting youngbirch and other woody plants. This sort ofsmall industry is already under way inMinnesota, where researchers from theUniversity of Duluth have joined abiotechnology company to harvest birchbark for betulin, a chemical effective as aherpes and skin cancer drug and as acomponent of cosmetics.

Plant/mammal interactions can lead tothe identification of potential drugs andone of the strongest plant/mammalinteractions is between hares and thetrees and shrubs of northern Alaska andnorthern Canada. (Source: AnchorageDaily News, 7 August 2005.)

ARSENIC-EATING FERNSHOLD HOPE FOR TAINTEDSOILS

State pollution fighters planted a smallpatch of pitiful-looking plants inside a wirecage in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park(Washington, United States) and labelledthem poison. The 100 subtropical fernsinside the test plot near Fort Nisqually arepart of a two-year, US$30 000 experimentin pollution control that began in April

2005 on Vashon and Maury Islands withthe primary objective of finding outwhether the ferns take arsenic from thesoil.

Four years ago, scientists in Floridafound that Chinese brake ferns (Pterisvittata) thrive on arsenic, sucking thepoison out of the soil and concentrating itin their fronds. A company now marketsthe ferns as a pollution solution forarsenic-plagued communities. Scientistsin the Florida laboratory experimentsmeasured arsenic concentrations in theferns that were as much as 200 timeshigher than in the soil where the plantsgrew. “The fronds themselves willbecome poisonous,” said Marian Abbett,an environmental engineer who overseesthe Ecology Department’s Tacomasmelter project.

Ecology Department officials decidedto test whether the ferns will grow locallyand reduce soil contamination in areasaffected by windborne arsenic from theformer Asarco smelter. Its smokestackand buildings have been demolished butthe site, adjacent neighbourhoods andnearby shoreline are the focus of afederal Superfund cleanup. Beyond that,elevated concentrations of arsenic, leadand cadmium still taint soils in a 1 000square mile (2 590 km2) area aroundPuget Sound.

Chinese brake ferns resemble nativesword ferns but they are consideredinvaders in Florida, where they dominatetheir habitat. “We don’t think they will bean invasive here,” Abbett said. “They likethe warmer, tropical climate.”

Bhaskar Bondada, a Washington StateUniversity plant physiologist who studiedthe fern in Florida, said that the beauty ofthis plant is that it only accumulatesarsenic in the fronds, which are easilypicked. But in the process the fern alsoconverts arsenate to arsenite, which ismore toxic, he said.

The Institute for EnvironmentalResearch and Education on VashonIsland believes that the ferns should bestudied, but urged caution since theycould prove to be invasive. Moreover, thefronds might have to be buried in ahazardous waste repository.

N E W S A N D N O T E S

“Non-wood forest products (NWFPs)consist of goods of biological originother than wood, derived fromforests, other wooded land and treesoutside forests.”

«Les produits forestiers non ligneuxsont des biens d’origine biologiqueautres que le bois, dérivés des forêts,des autres terres boisées, et desarbres hors forêts.»

«Productos forestales no madererosson los bienes de origen biológicodistintos de la madera derivados delos bosques, de otras tierrasboscosas y de los árboles fuera delos bosques.»

(FAO’s working definition)


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“We have to harvest the leaves,”Abbett said. “They can’t just fall back onthe ground.” Nor does the EcologyDepartment plan to compost them, shesaid. The plan is to test the arsenicconcentrations and decide whether thefronds are hazardous before dumping.Regular soil testing also is planned.(Source: Environmental News Network[ENN], 21 June 2005.)

BARK PAINTINGS

Lake Sentani, near West Papua’s capitalJayapura, is home to traditional Sentanibark paintings. The bark from the komboutree is soaked for a few weeks, thenpounded until flat and dried in the sunbefore being painted, using charcoal,lime and ochre. The designs signifymutual harmony in social relationships.Common motifs include the fish, whichrepresents people’s livelihood and thelizard, which is believed to have oracularqualities. (Source: Green Left Weeklyonline [Australia], 9 November 2005.)

BIOPIRACY,BIOPROSPECTINGAND TRADITIONALKNOWLEDGE

Traditional knowledge: a legal and marketconundrumProtecting biological or genetic diversityis an investment for the future of anysociety. Genetic diversity is useful for thedevelopment of new products andprocesses such as for crops andpharmaceuticals. Genetic information is

contained in a seed and is what isrequired for tracing the genome of aspecies. Significant quantities ofbiological material are not required. A“few seeds” from a location can give allthe information about the genome, thusmaking biopiracy very simple. (Source:The Financial Express [Mumbai, India], 7September 2005.)

India’s digital library will stop biopiracyThe Traditional Knowledge Digital Library(TKDL) is a US$2 million researchproject to cull medicinal information fromthe literature of doctors who practiseAyurveda, Unani and Siddha, andproduce a fully illustrated andexhaustively referenced database thatwill secure this traditional wealth in thepublic domain. The BBC reports,“according to WHO, 70 percent of thepeople living in India use traditionalmedicine for primary health care”.

Protecting this vital health informationfrom patents will also benefit consumersof alternative medicines from India in therest of the world. So far, 36 000formulations have been published in aretrievable source in five internationallanguages, so that patent examiners canreadily access records transcribed fromAyurvedic texts.

This library will prevent biopiracy andcan be copied by indigenous rightsworkers around the world. (Source:Guerrilla News Network [United States],12 December 2005.)

African women against biopiracyDespite recent court rulings, “biopiracy”– non-locals patenting treatments basedon plants used by indigenouscommunities – continues to be aproblem. The construction of databasesand knowledge archives about nativegroup uses of local plants is anincreasingly popular way of combatingbiopiracy (by establishing “prior art” andblocking patents), but such projects arenot easily accomplished. Indigenousknowledge is often an oral tradition andremote communities in the developingworld may not be willing to share thisknowledge with outsiders.

The Management of IndigenousKnowledge Systems Project is a SouthAfrican effort to identify and protect theunique local biosystems used by localcommunities as medicines, based on theauthority – and knowledge – of femaletraditional leaders. The result has beeneven greater than a knowledge archive.

Female traditional leaders from theEastern Cape said that the initiative tomanage indigenous knowledge systemswas community-driven. Beforeembarking on the Management ofIndigenous Knowledge Systems Project,female traditional leaders from theRharhabe Kingdom focused on howcommercial exploitation of traditionalfoods could help develop theircommunities. However, they laterrealized the need to link themanagement of indigenous knowledgesystems on traditional foods with that oftraditional medicines in order to maketheir promotion of rural livelihoods ordevelopment effective. The sources oftraditional foods and medicines arelargely indigenous plants and grains.Some medicines are also acquired fromanimals and reptiles.

The female traditional leaders saidthat they intended to uplift the socio-economic well-being of theircommunities through the establishmentof community business enterprises thatproduced, marketed and sold traditionalfoods and medicines.

One notable aspect of the project isthat it aims to stop not just institutionalbiopiracy (from pharmaceuticalconcerns, for example) but also casualbiopiracy from local city dwellers.Apparently, a number of useful plantsare being overharvested by SouthAfrican urbanites looking for medicinal ornutritional supplements. (Source:WorldChanging [United States], 25 July2005.)

Curbing biopiracyTo control biopiracy, many developingcountries are demanding disclosurerequirements as a positive obligation bypatent applicants, making it mandatory todisclose the source or country of origin of



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Amazon countries team up to tacklebiopiracyRepresentatives from patent offices in sixLatin American nations that share theAmazon Basin have agreed to worktogether against biopiracy – theunauthorized commercial exploitation oftheir native species.

According to the Rio Declaration signedon 1 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Surinamand Venezuela will share information andjointly develop policies to tackle thephenomenon. Together with Colombiaand Guyana, the countries are membersof the Amazon Cooperation TreatyOrganization, which was created in 1978to promote sustainable development inthe region and which organized the Riomeeting.

The countries are concerned thatresearchers could patent drugs and otherproducts derived from their nativespecies, including products based ontraditional knowledge such as herbalmedicines, without sharing the benefitsfairly. To tackle this threat more efficiently,they agreed to harmonize their intellectualproperty laws and share technicalinformation included in patents.

The Amazon Basin is one of the mostbiologically diverse regions on earth, withmany species found nowhere else on theplanet. (Source: SciDev.Net [UnitedKingdom], 18 July 2005.)

Patenting of Peruvian plantsAround 500 products based on plantsnative to Peru are registered in patentoffices in the United States, Europe andJapan, but many of them may have beenproduced by breaking Peruvian laws onaccess to biodiversity and traditionalknowledge.

This complaint was voiced by SantiagoRoca, the president of Peru’s NationalInstitute for the Defence of Competitionand the Protection of Intellectual Property,at the first meeting of intellectual propertyofficials from the eight Amazon Basincountries that took place in Brazil from 30June to 1 July 2005.

These hundreds of products werederived from just seven native plants from

Peru. The statistics on the number ofproducts based on native Peruvian plantscame from a study by a commission setup by the Peruvian Government toexamine patent registries in Europe,Japan and the United States. The report,which was completed in January 2005,laid the foundations for verifying whetherthe applications for patents were legal.

Roca said authorities from his countrywill now investigate whether patentapplications infringed Peruvian legislationon access to genetic resources, whichrequires prior consent from andcompensation for the indigenouscommunities that possess the traditionalknowledge used in developing theproducts. Peru’s “regime for the protectionof indigenous peoples’ knowledge relatedto biological diversity”, which was adoptedin 2002, regulates these questions in thecountry and orders remuneration inexchange for access to traditionalknowledge; these monies go into a fund tobe distributed to the communities involved.

Of the 500 products, two or threecases of proven legal infractions will beselected, to demand the revocation of thepatents and “the success of this first stepwill set a precedent” that will pave theway for a broad offensive againstbiopiracy, said Roca.

Biopiracy is defined as biological theft,or the unauthorized and uncompensatedcollection of indigenous plants, animals,microorganisms, genes or traditionalcommunities’ knowledge on biologicalresources by corporations that patentthem for their own use. Countries withgreat biological diversity such as those ofthe Amazon jungle must protect thetraditional knowledge and wealth held bytraditional indigenous peoples, just asindustrialized nations apply pressurearound the world to fight the piracy oftheir products, such as software, filmsand CDs, Roca argued.

The meeting of intellectual propertyofficials was a first step towards thesharing and exchange of information onbiopiracy and cooperation andinternational negotiations on patents.Achieving effective recognition of“collective rights” requires an effort by all

genetic resources and associatedtraditional knowledge (TK).

This requirement ensures that thepatent applicant will comply with theaccess and benefit-sharing legislation ofthe host country. It will also enablepatent offices to be more vigilant whenexamining patent applications. Moreover,it will serve as a critical tool for gene-richcountries to track down applicationsbased on genetic resources and relatedTK, and enable adequate challenges tospecious patents. (Source: The RisingNepal, 29 July 2005.)

Moves to protect devil’s claw(Harpagophytum procumbens)Botswana, Namibia and South Africa areengaged in talks to protect the devil’sclaw plant (sengaparile orHarpagophytum procumbens) from aGerman company that wants to havepatent rights over it.

Botswana’s Deputy PermanentSecretary in the Ministry of Environment,Wildlife and Tourism, Tutu Tsiang, saidyesterday that the talks involvegovernment officials from the threecountries. She said that since the plantgrows in the three countries it would beunfortunate for the company to claimrights over it. She was not awarewhether there were plant speciesexported to other countries to beprocessed and patented. There wasconfusion in 2004 when CITES said thatit wanted to put sengaparile on its list ofendangered species. The plant grows insandy areas such as the Kgalagadidesert and is known to have medicinalvalue. (Source: Mmegi/The Reporter[Gaborone], 4 August 2005.)



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Harpagophytum procumbens

wild or cultivated over generations,” saidRenee Marlin-Bennett, chairperson ofthe Global Intellectual Property Project atthe American University in Washington.The proposed changes would “redirectthe rules to rectify some of theembedded imbalance” between rich andpoor, she said.

While it is difficult to quantify themagnitude of the issue, these nationsare moving to catalogue it. TheGovernment of Peru created acommission on biopiracy that hasidentified ten plant species of local originfor which patents have been granted orapplied for in the United States, Europeor Japan.

In 2001, New Jersey-based PureWorld Botanicals Inc. won a patent foran ingredient in the Peruvian plant macaand is now marketing it as a “naturalViagra”. The Peruvian commission ispreparing a legal challenge. ChrisKilham, a consultant for Avignon,France-based Naturex, which now ownsPure World, said the company’s patentsare legitimate. Still, he said that PureWorld had erred in not sharing thepatent rights with Peruvian communities.

The United States says that it hasinvestigated most of the frequently citedexamples of biopiracy and found littlesupporting evidence. It has “significantconcerns” about the explicit notificationproposal and instead is offeringcompromises that will guard againstpatent abuses, a trade official said.

Representatives of pharmaceuticalcompanies such as New York-basedPfizer and Whitehouse Station and NewJersey-based Merck oppose acceding tothe Andean nations’ demands, sayingtheir solution addresses a problem thatdoes not exist. “Right now there is noevidence of biopiracy,” said MarkGrayson, a spokesman forPharmaceutical Research andManufacturers of America inWashington, a lobbying and marketinggroup that represents drugmakers.

The Andean nations’ demands forprior notification and negotiated paymenthave been picked up by India and Brazil,which want similar provisions written into

countries, because national lawsgenerally only protect the copyright andintellectual property rights of individualsor companies, not of the communitiesthat developed the knowledge in the firstplace.

A pressing question now is to obtainreparation for indigenous communities forthe knowledge that they have collectedover centuries and that is being used todevelop food products, pharmaceuticalsand cosmetics. This will be a “longprocess”, and is a particularly sensitiveissue in the Amazon jungle regionbecause of its immense biodiversity,Roca said, pointing out that each hectarein this part of South America containsmore biological diversity than all ofEurope combined.

Peru’s experience could make asignificant contribution to Brazil’s strugglein the area, since many species areshared by both countries, such as thequiebra piedra (literally, “stone breaker”)plant used to make herbal tea for peoplesuffering from kidney stones orgallstones. (Source: Inter Press ServiceNews Agency, 4 July 2005.)

Andean nations seek United States patentprotection for native medicines Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are turningthe tables on United States tradenegotiators accustomed to winning toughsafeguards for drug patents bydemanding similar protection fortraditional therapies such as roots andleaves. Demands for protection againstwhat these nations call themisappropriation of traditional knowledgewill be one of the most contentiousissues during trade talks this week andnext in Washington.

The Andean nations want “minor”protection for their native plants and theways they are used, such as a rulerequiring companies to informindigenous tribes of any patentapplications based on traditionalknowledge and negotiate payment,according to Carlos Correa, a BuenosAires-based consultant to these nations.

“Existing rules protect things that aremade in labs, not things taken from the

a broader WTO agreement. (Source:Bloomberg [United States], 17 November2005.)

Is Brazil beating biopiracy or biodiversityresearch? Brazil’s Amazon rain forest is teemingwith life – an estimated 30 percent of theplanet’s animal and plant species – thatcould yield raw materials for newmedicines. Brazil fears that foreignresearchers may exploit its biodiversitywithout paying the country a fair share ofthe profits.

However, Brazilian efforts to deter suchbiopiracy risk stifling both local andforeign research. The Government’s strictrules controlling research on Brazil’s wildspecies have forced some scientists tomove their projects to neighbouringBolivia, Ecuador and Peru.

And although concerns about biopiracyare widespread in Brazil, a member of thecongressional committee investigatingbiopiracy says that the committee has notfound evidence for even a single case.

Brazilian researchers interviewed sayBrazil does not have enough knowledgeabout the very biodiversity it is desperateto protect. They agree that the best wayto protect the Amazon’s biodiversitywould be for Brazil to invest more inhome-grown research. (Source:Associated Press/mongabay.com, 1November 2005.)

Bioprospecting programme in MalaysiaMore minority groups are expected tocontribute plant species known to havemedicinal value to the SarawakBiodiversity Centre’s bioprospecting



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The Universities of the South Pacific(USP) and Papua New Guinea (UPNG)are playing leading roles in thedevelopment of biodiversity through theuse of biotechnology, having set up localenterprises to increase local ability toperform the work. Both universities havereceived a prestigious InternationalCooperation in Biodiversity grant givenby the United States Government topartnerships of United States andoverseas universities working to discoverdrugs and conserve biodiversity. USP isworking with the Georgia Institute ofTechnology and UPNG with theUniversity of Utah, with funding of about$3 million over a five-year period.

Collaboration such as this is helping tobring benefits to the people of the Pacificand, ultimately, to the people of theworld. (Source: Islands Business, Suva,Fiji.)

BIRD FLU IS ALSOA FOREST PROBLEM

Bird flu – known technically as avianinfluenza – is a highly contagious viraldisease that occurs naturally in birds. Itcan be caused by any one of about 20different strains of the influenza virus.

Besides the potential impact of thedisease on humans, its effect onlivelihoods is clearly devastating. In Asia,nutritional patterns, income-generatingactivities and even sociocultural patternshave been adversely affected. Animalbreeding has become an issue for theprivileged and, as a result, the poor, withlimited options, have become even poorer.Equally important are the economic lossescaused by fear of the disease; tourism,

programme. Those expected to do so inthe next few months include the Bisayasfrom Limbang, Kayan-Kenyahs fromSungai Asap, Melanaus from the Mukahdivision and Ibans from Selangau andBetong.

The State Planning and ResourceManagement Minister said the centrehad met leaders of these groups todiscuss taking part in its traditionalknowledge documentation programme.“The centre already has a collection ofsome 9 000 plant extracts in its naturalproduct library from over 600 plantspecies from the local communities,” hesaid. These species were contributed bythe Bidayuhs, Penans, Kelabits, LunBawang and Malays from the variousregions.

The Minister said the state had to buildup a critical mass of scientific expertise inorder to have access to research findingsand good research partners to jumpstartits biotechnology initiative. “When thenew laboratories are fully commissionedand the research team adequatelytrained, the centre will be on track tobring in some discoveries,” he added.(Source: Malaysia Star, 16 June 2005.)

Bioprospecting in the Pacific region: whowill benefit?In the Verata district of Fiji, people turnto their Community Trust Fund forscholarship support for local students. InFaleaupo, Samoa, the cost ofconstruction of a primary school wasdonated by a foundation in return for thecommunity’s conservation of their rainforest. Both the trust fund and theschool’s construction were madepossible by bioprospecting.

Plants that have been used fortraditional medicines, in many cases forthousands of years, are targeted.Evidence has shown that scientists havemore than ten times the chance of findingan active chemical in a medicinal plantthan in one collected at random.

The process of drug discovery takesabout 15 years from sample collection tohaving a marketable drug. It is estimatedthat only one in 10 000 chemicalsinvestigated ends up as a saleable drug

and the cost of coming up with one drugis US$800 million.

A major issue related to the work ofbioprospecting is who will benefit ifmedicines are found. In the past, plantsand marine organisms were oftencollected from developing countries bywestern researchers and the sourcecountry received little in return.

This neo-colonial “open access” policywas turned on its head by the 1993Convention on Biological Diversity, whichgave sovereign rights of biodiversity tothe source country but encouraged it toallow access to outside researchersunder mutually agreed terms.

Pacific countries have been slow todevelop this so-called “access andbenefit-sharing” legislation.

In the examples cited above, it was thecollecting group working with the localcommunity that ensured a wide range ofbenefits was made available to thesource area. Responsible scientistsunderstand the importance of preservingthe biological diversity from whichchemicals are derived and, to further thispreservation, they seek partnerships thatwill allow source communities toundertake conservation efforts.

No chemical derived from a Pacificorganism has yet been fully developedinto a marketable drug. But several areshowing promise.

• A medicinal tree from Samoa calledmalamala (Homalanthus nutans) hasbeen found to be active againstHIV/AIDS. United States scientists aretrying to identify the gene that tells theplant to make the chemical.

• A district in Fiji has licensed plantsand marine organisms for testing inJapan and set up a conservation trustfund of $30 000 with the proceeds.

• An orange sponge (Jaspis coriacea)and the makita tree (Atuna racemosa)in Fiji have produced chemicals formedical research. The United Statescompany involved is giving 2–5percent of the proceeds from sales tosupport further research in Fiji.

• A chemical from a medicinal tree inFiji has been patented as an anti-diabetes drug.


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international trade options and businesstravels are sectors that have beenseverely affected.

The introduction of the bird flu virus –H5N1 – into Africa has raised newquestions on an already complexinternational problem. How can Africangovernments, with limited resources,effectively monitor migratory birds? Withthe disease spreading simultaneouslythrough Africa and Europe will the worldpay enough attention (through awarenessraising, technical and financial assistance)to the needs of Africans? What is the bestmethod to control the disease forpopulations in which bushmeat is a non-negligible component of their daily diet?What impact will this have on livelihoods,progress towards MillenniumDevelopment Goals and the fight againstmalaria and HIV/AIDS in Africa?(Contributed by: Okwen TenjohOkwen,Via Iberia 66, 00183 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected])

BOREAL FOREST GARDEN

The Taiga Rescue Network (TRN), incollaboration with LandLab Ltd (a TRNparticipant organization), recentlypresented an exhibit at London’s 2005Chelsea Flower Show, arguably theworld’s most prestigious horticulturalevent. The show takes place annually,generates huge media coverage anddraws up to 34 000 visitors per day forfive days in May.

The silver medal-winning boreal forestgarden was designed as a boreal forestclearing with native plants. Everything inthe garden had some use, whetheredible or medicinal – thus promotingNTFPs. Not only did the garden

introduce thousands of people to theboreal/taiga forest, but it also promotednaturalized landscapes in urban settings.

TRN’s purpose at Chelsea was to raiseawareness about the boreal forest, thethreats it faces, and the indigenouspeoples and rural communities thatdepend on it for cultural, social andeconomic sustainability. To emphasizethe boreal forest’s importance for thesecommunities and to raise awarenessabout alternative economies, TRN choseto focus on the value of NTFPs. To thisend, TRN produced an NTFP factsheetfor distribution at the show and financedthree invited guests from the boreal forestto come to Chelsea and introduce thepublic to how their respectivecommunities use the forest, and whysustainable forest use is so important totheir lives.

The NTFP factsheet, entitled Our life,medicine path: non-timber forest productsof the boreal, introduced NTFPs andissues related to their management anddevelopment; briefly outlined themedicinal/cultural uses of six plants in thegarden; raised awareness aboutintellectual property rights related toNTFPs; and suggested options for citizenand NGO activism on the subject.

The boreal forest garden projectdefinitely raised awareness about theboreal forest and its sustainability in avery large and new audience forum,primarily within the United Kingdom, butalso in the Russian Federation, westernEuropean countries (e.g. Italy andSweden) and North America.(Contributed by: Damien Lee, InformationCoordinator, Taiga Rescue Network, Box116, 96223 Jokkmokk, Sweden. Fax: +46971 12057; e-mail: [email protected];www.taigarescue.org)

BOSWELLIA SERRATA: A TREE OF POSSIBILITIES

The salga or Boswellia serrata tree, ispart and parcel of everyday life in ruralJharkhand (India). It is also known assalahi-mann by the Oraon people andas salga daru by the Mundas.

The tree yields a type of Indianfrankincense or loban, which is a golden-yellow, transparent and fragrant resinthat oozes out of the tree. People of allreligions have used the salga tree resinas incense and villagers also often plantthe tree because of its numerous uses indaily life.

The most attractive aspect of the salgatree is its tenacity. It requires no specialcare or extra water to survive the oftenharsh climes of Jharkhand. The smalltree is often used as a fence aroundkitchen gardens and is popular amongfarmers to line their fields. It does notcast any shadow over crops, allowingadequate sunlight. In addition, it growsfaster than the rest of the local trees andthus fulfils the rural people’s need forfuel.

One of the tree’s major characteristicsis that it does not require a large quantityof water and it is therefore usuallyplanted in midsummer, using a verysimple process: a branch is cut andplanted in the soil. Salga can be grown inany type of soil and wherever there isminimum moisture. People often plant aforked and mature branch near thevillage well, which serves a dualpurpose: it can be used as the base forthe pulley used to draw water from thewell and, as time passes, the branchgrows into a live tree and acts as apermanent pillar.

Popular belief is that salga is notattacked by termites and insects and thetwigs are kept as hooks in cattle sheds toact as a repellent against flies andmosquitoes. Experts believe that thepresence of a particular chemical,boswellic acid, is partly responsible forthis characteristic.

Salga also has some medicinalproperties. A paste of its bark – salai

Bushmeat or edible wild mammals,reptiles, birds and insects that live inforests or trees can account for up to85 percent of the protein intake ofpeople living in or near forests.(Source: www.fao.org/forestry/site/28821/en)


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guggul – is used to treat normal wounds.Many medicine companies use this pasteas one of the ingredients in medicines forgout, rheumatism and other joint pains.Villagers use a salga twig as a toothbrush(datun) and as a cure for pyorrhea.

In spite of its numerous uses it isdisheartening to see that there are nosystems, as yet, in Jharkhand to collectsuch an important forest by-product. Hadit been given due attention, this plantwould have definitely proved to be aneffective source of employment andrevenue. (Source: Calcutta Telegraph[India], 23 August 2005.)

BUSHMEN’S QUIVERTREE THREATENEDBY CLIMATE CHANGE

A famed desert tree used for generationsby Africa’s bushmen to make quivers fortheir arrows is threatened by globalwarming, a conference heard today.

With a stocky trunk topped by a tangleof forked branches, the quiver tree (Aloedichotoma) has iconic status in Namibia,where its blue-green crown stands outvividly against a parched landscape.

“The quiver trees are in the early stageof a poleward (southward) range shift,”Wendy Foden, a researcher at the SouthAfrican National Biodiversity Institute, tolda conference on climate change sciencein Johannesburg. A shift towards thepoles and away from the equator isprecisely what one would expect as aresponse to warming conditions, Fodensaid. “If there is no expansion in thequiver trees’ range, then models forecasta 76 percent reduction in their populationover the next 100 years,” she said. “Evenwith dispersal its numbers could be downmore than 30 percent over the nextcentury,” she added.

For the quiver tree, any migration itmakes would have to come about as aresult of seed dispersal via the wind orfrom droppings from birds or otheranimals that digest the seeds. This mayhelp the species but not individuals, someof which are over 150 years old. (Source: Reuters, 18 October 2005.)

CHALLENGES INTHE CONGO BASIN

Surrounding the Sangha River, in thecentre of the Congo Basin, are morethan 3.5 million ha of unique forestedlandscape covering parts of Cameroon,the Republic of the Congo and theCentral African Republic. The area isunique because it houses not only agroup of large mammals such as theforest elephant, western gorilla andbongo, but is also home to more than 12 different ethnic groups of hunter-gatherers and farmers, who have beendwelling in these forests for years.

For many of these forest-dependentpeople, bushmeat is their most importantforest resource, both for subsistence andincome. Unluckily for them, mostbushmeat originates from verycharismatic mammals, often the focalpoint of conservation. In the past, thehunting of these animals was asustainable practice but today, withcommerce and guns, the situation hasbecome more complex and someanimals such as the gorilla are now onthe World Conservation Union (IUCN) redlist of species in danger of extinction. Thishas resulted in a strict anti-poachingpolicy in certain areas, banning huntingand trapping and only allowingagricultural practices on the outskirts ofvillages. Villagers, often living in extremepoverty, are not even allowed to put trapsin their fields and they see a substantialamount of their crops being destroyed byforest animals. Removing hunted animalsfrom their diet also has implications ontheir protein intake. For these people,conservationists are seen in the samelight as the previous colonizers whodeprived them of their natural resources.

The challenge for the World WildlifeFund (WWF), Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS), German Technical CooperationAgency (GTZ) and country governments intheir management of the national parks andsurrounding buffer zones in the Sangha Tri-National Region, is to conserve the greatbiodiversity while at the same timeimproving the well-being of forest dwellers.CIFOR has taken up this challenge and isworking with WWF on a new landscapemanagement strategy for the Sangharegion to achieve win-win outcomes forboth environment and livelihoods. CIFORand its partners will identify the trade-offsbetween development and conservation inthe region, explore where conservation anddevelopment can fruitfully coincide andidentify the so-called “best practice” for theregion. If CIFOR succeeds in helping WWFto find a way to integrate conservation anddevelopment, it would really provideresearch that makes a difference.(Contributed by: Marieka Sandker,Associate Expert, Forests and LivelihoodsProgramme, CIFOR-Cameroon, c/o IITA-HFC, PO Box 2008, Messa, Nkolbisson,Yaoundé, Cameroon. E-mail:[email protected])

CPF SOURCEBOOK FORFUNDING IN FORESTRY

The online Collaborative Partnership onForests (CPF) Sourcebook on Funding forSustainable Forest Management helpsusers to identify information on fundingsources, funding policies and deliverymechanisms of donor countries, withparticular focus on sustainable forestrymanagement projects in developingcountries. It covers a wide range of funds,from those supporting individuals and smallNGOs to those available to larger


Over one million tonnes of wildmeat/year is consumed in the CongoBasin, equivalent to 4 million head ofcattle. (Source: Center forInternational Forestry Research[CIFOR].)


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institutions, forest enterprises andgovernments. The entire sourcebook canbe accessed interactively via the Web siteat: www.fao.org/forestry/cpf-sourcebook.

One component of the sourcebook isthe “funding news alert” (electronicnewsletter) that is sent monthly tosubscribers. This news alert compilesfunding news related to forestry. Its goal isto cast the net wide so that fund seekersworldwide learn of funding opportunities ina timely manner. All back issues of theforestry funding news alerts can be foundon the sourcebook’s discussion platform:www.fao.org/forestry/foris/community/main/listthreads?forum=1

For more information, or if you wish to

subscribe or contribute to the next

issue, please contact: Edward Kilawe,

Consultant on International Forest

Policy, Forestry Department (FONL),

FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,

00100 Rome, Italy.

Fax: +39 06 5705 2151;

e-mail: [email protected];

www.fao.org/forestry/cpf

DOES BACOPA MONNIERIIMPROVE COGNITIVEFUNCTION IN OLDERAUSTRALIANS?

Recent research carried out by AnnetteMorgan of Southern Cross University,New South Wales, Australia investigatedthe efficacy and safety of Bacopa monnieriin improving memory in healthyAustralians over the age of 55 years. Areview of the literature showed that in thecurrent demographic climate of an ageingpopulation, memory impairment anddementia are increasingly prevalent. OlderAustralians are using complementarymedicines to enhance cognitive function.The evidence for many complementarymedicines is largely empirical and good-quality clinical trials are lacking.

Bacopa monnieri is a herbal medicinethat has been used in India since antiquityfor its cognitive enhancing effects. Anumber of preclinical and clinical studiessupport this traditional usage. However,

many of these studies are methodologicallyflawed; for example, by a lack of blinding,small sample sizes or the use of outcomemeasurements that have not beenproperly validated. A well-designed studyby Stough et al. (2001) demonstrated thepositive effect of Bacopa on cognitivefunction in healthy people between 18and 60 years of age; the current studywas employed to replicate and extendthese findings by assessing the efficacyof Bacopa specifically in the olderpopulation.

A clinical trial was carried out to assessthe effects of 12 weeks of a standardizedextract of Bacopa monnieri (300 mg/day)on memory in people over 55 years ofage. From the 126 people who elected toparticipate, 98 people met the study entrycriteria and commenced the trial. Of these,81 participants completed the trial andprovided evaluable data for the end-pointanalysis.

Primary outcome measures were well-validated neuropsychological tests tomeasure verbal and visual memoryobjectively, and a memory complaintquestionnaire to measure subjectivememory complaints. The resultsdemonstrated that Bacopa significantlyimproved memory acquisition andretention in older Australians. Thisconcurs with findings from previoushuman and animal studies, as well assupporting traditional Ayurvedic claimsand uses. The use of Bacopa wasassociated with gastrointestinal tract(GIT) side effects, particularly increasedbowel movements, nausea andabdominal cramping, findingsinfrequently reported previously. Theseeffects may have been a result of the GITirritant effects of the saponin componentof the herb, or possibly of the cholinergicstimulation of autonomic and motorresponses in the GIT, or both. (Contributed by: David Cameron,Wollongbar, New South Wales, Australia.)


Annette Morgan, Southern Cross

University, PO Box 157, Lismore,

New South Wales 2480, Australia.

E-mail: [email protected]

DOMESTICATION

Population preferences for local fruit-treespecies: implications for thedomestication of Dacryodes edulis andIrvingia gabonensis in Cameroon Since 1994, the World AgroforestryCentre (ICRAF), in collaboration with itslocal partners, has undertaken adomestication programme for local fruittrees and medicinal plants in Central andWest Africa. The domesticationprogramme consists in developingvegetative propagation techniques andpromoting the integration of the highergenotypes in agrarian systems.

From the participative investigations, alist of priority species was drawn up forthe region. These species, includingIrvingia gabonensis, Dacryodes edulis,Chrysophyllum albidum, Ricinodendronheudelotii and Garcinia cola, are used asmodels for the implementation of thedomestication programme. However, agreat variability in preferred species wasnoted among countries, even amongvarious localities of the same country.

Furthermore, the present study aimsat determining the priorities and choicesof the population for the integration offruit trees in four different localities inCameroon. From the results obtained, itwas clear that there is an important


Some 80 percent of people living indeveloping countries depend onNWFPs, such as fruits and herbs, fortheir primary health and nutritionalneeds. (Source: www.fao.org/forestry/site/28821/en)


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variation in fruit preferences according tothe sites studied and whether thechoices were made by men or women.

In localities where the population islarge and other income-generatingactivities are sought, farmers attach muchmore importance to exotic species, whilein the areas where forest cover is stillimportant, the preferences are for localfruits. The differences between thepriorities of men and women are especiallyof commercial, compatibility and facilitatedcultural values, which can be explained bythe differences in the strategies ofproduction according to gender.Preferences for the exotic as well as forlocal fruit species are also determined bythe following criteria: consumption,medicinal and compatibility with othercultures. To satisfy its numerous needs,the population prefers to retain a diversityof fruit trees on its farms.

An important stage in the domesticationof the trees is the mass multiplication ofthose having characteristics appreciatedby the population. Thus, the study showsthe importance of a participative approachin the identification of preferredcharacteristics, by using I. gabonensis andD. edulis as examples. The resultssuggest differences in the preferencesnoticed among communities and evenamong various groups of the same village.The desired characteristics are guided bythe principal objective of the producer(consumption versus commercialization),market opportunities and food practices.

These preferences should be used forthe selection of the “higher trees” and aimfor the development of varieties byvegetative propagation methods at a lowercost, practised by ICRAF in collaborationwith the farmers. (Source: Englishsummary of a paper by Mbosso, C.,Degrande, A., Schreckenberg, K.,Tchoundjeu, Z., Enyong, L. and Boyd, C.Préférences des populations pour lesespèces fruitières locales: implicationspour la domestication de Dacryodes eduliset de Irvingia gabonensis dans la zoneforestière du Cameroun.) (Contributed by:C. Mbosso, World Agroforestry Centre[ICRAF], BP 2067 Yaoundé, Cameroon. E-mail: [email protected])

Sustaining forest resourcesTree domestication has been identified asone of the major ways of preservingnatural forest resources and preventingtheir extinction. Given that human beingsacross generations have relied on forestsfor food, clothing, medicine, shelter andso on, it is incumbent on the variousstakeholders to look for ways ofsustaining forest resources as they comeunder pressure from a fast-growingpopulation. This means taking food,medicinal and other useful trees out of thenatural environment and adapting them,by either improving their quality or theirproduction cycles for wider cultivation.

This was the subject of a one-weekseminar – “Domesticating High-valueTrees for the African Humid Tropics:Propagation, Integration and Marketing” –that ICRAF organized in Yaoundé lastweek. The seminar brought togetherparticipants from the West and CentralAfrican subregions that are endowed witha wide variety of natural resources butparadoxically host some of the world’spoorest populations.

Participatory tree domestication inagroforestry is a farmer-driven andmarket-led process. The purpose of theregional course, therefore, was to teachand extend recent advances made in thedomestication of high-value trees in theAfrican humid tropics. The regionalcoordinator of ICRAF, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu,said the domestication of tree species andmedicinal plants remains an indispensableeconomic succour to the African humidtropics.

Following a survey carried out byagroforestry researchers in the Africanhumid tropics, various species wereidentified and are being domesticated,including two species of Irvingiagabonensis (bush mango), Dacryodesedulis (African plume), Ricinodendronheudelottii (the sauce spicing nut,njansang), Garcinia cola (bitter kola) andCola nitida (kola nut). Others arevegetables such as Gnetum africana (eru)and medicinal plants such as Prunusafricana and Pausinystalia yohimbe.

The ICRAF authorities say they haveregistered spectacular results in the

domestication of these species. (Source:The Post [Buea, Cameroon], 16 October2005.)


“Tree domestication – progresstowards adoption” is the focus of arecent issue of Forests,Trees andLivelihoods, Vol. 16(1). It coverscontributions to the tree domesticationsessions of the First WorldAgroforestry Congress held in Orlando,Florida, United States in July 2004,which was the fourth meeting lookingat the potential for domesticating theunderutilized tree species that areimportant for subsistence farmersaround the world.

Products from these species were inthe past gathered from natural forestsas NTFPs, but many of them are nowbecoming new cash crops producingwhat are called agroforestry treeproducts (AFTPs).This change hascome about in the short space of 14years since the first conference in 1992that highlighted the potential of theseoverlooked “Cinderella” species.

Articles included in this issueinclude: Domesticating indigenous fruittrees as a contribution to povertyreduction; Putting participatorydomestication into practice in West andCentral Africa;The cultivation of camucamu (Myrciaria dubia): a tree plantingprogramme in the Peruvian Amazon;and Towards the development ofmiombo fruit trees as commercial treecrops in southern Africa.


Michael S. Philip, Editor, Forests,

Trees and Livelihoods, Luton Cottage,

Bridgeview Road, Aboyne,

Aberdeenshire AB34 5HB,

United Kingdom. E-mail:

[email protected];

www.foreststreesandlivelihoods.co.uk/

index.htm)

TREE DOMESTICATION – PROGRESSTOWARDS ADOPTION


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EL CAMU CAMU LOGRACERTIFICACIÓN ORGÁNICA

Al haber aprobado los estándaresinternacionales establecidos, la firmaSKAL International ha decidido concederal CEDECAM la certificación orgánica deeste cultivo emblemático de la Amazoníaperuana. El certificado es válido para losmercados de EE.UU., Europa y Japón.

La certificación orgánica, conocidatambién como biosello, sello verde ocertificación ecológica es la garantía queel camu camu está exento de insumosprohibidos, pesticidas, agroquímicos ocualquier otra sustancia tóxica para elorganismo humano y que puede alterar elcarácter ecológico del producto. Losbeneficios son tangibles en diferentesniveles:

• Para los exportadores, la certificaciónse convierte en una poderosaestrategia de marketing que facilitarála internacionalización de esteproducto. Podrán ofrecer pulpa decamu camu, pulpa concentrada y/oliofilizada con el sello verde, lo queles permitirá incursionar con mayoréxito en un mercado tan competitivocomo el de bebidas nutracéuticas y laindustria farmacéutica.

• Para la región Loreto, esto es unhecho inédito, pues se convierte en elprimer recurso de la biodiversidadamazónica con esta distinción, con locual nos ubicamos a la altura de laactual tendencia mundial de producirproductos naturales. Constituirá, almismo tiempo, un incentivo para quela población ribereña se dedique mása este cultivo, generando empleoproductivo.

• Para los productores de camu camuque se orientan al mercadointernacional representa unaoportunidad para obtener mayoresingresos, que en opinión de losexportadores es del orden del 30%adicional al precio actual; pero almismo tiempo, significa un retoporque tienen el compromiso y laobligación de cumplir con las normasestablecidas.

• Para los consumidores a nivelnacional e internacional, el bioselloobtenido significa una garantía de lacalidad y el carácter orgánico de losproductos con camu camu.

Cómo fue el proceso y a quiénesinvolucraEl proceso de certificación ecológica seinició en enero del presente año cuandoCEDECAM contrató los servicios deSKAL International, empresa holandesade reconocida trayectoria, altamenteespecializada en certificación desistemas agrícolas y reconocida a nivelinternacional, siendo la certificadora másgrande de América Latina.

Javier García, Presidente ejecutivo deCEDECAM, manifiesta que lacertificación ecológica del camu camu seinscribe dentro de la estrategia deposicionamiento de este recurso en elmercado internacional de productosorgánicos en el marco del proyecto«Programa integral para elaprovechamiento racional del camucamu en cuencas seleccionadas deLoreto» que implementa CEDECAM conel apoyo de la Unión Europea, AgroAcción Alemana, CESVI de Italia e Hivosde Holanda.

SKAL analizó las parcelas de camucamu, los rodales naturales y el procesode transformación industrial de esterecurso de la biodiversidad amazónica,teniendo en cuenta las entradas y salidasde insumos durante este proceso.Visitaron 17 comunidades ubicadas enlas cuencas del Mazán/Napo yUcayali/Tapiche, que son las áreas deintervención del proyecto. Se garantizauna oferta sostenible de fruta de losrodales naturales de estas cuencasmediante planes de manejo que

actualmente están en proceso deimplementación por las comunidadesorganizadas con el apoyo de CEDECAM.

Se pueden obtener alrededor de 60 tde fruta en la cosecha 2005-2006 conuna proyección creciente.

Este logro de CEDECAM y de losactores de la cadena productiva del camucamu directamente involucrados en elproceso, trae consigo la responsabilidadde cumplir rigurosamente con las normasestablecidas para renovar el certificadoanualmente sin problema alguno. ElCEDECAM asume el compromiso devigilar estrechamente el cumplimiento delas normas, sistematizar, documentar losprocesos y capacitar permanentemente alos productores.

El CEDECAM es una asociación civilsin fines de lucro, que articula a losproductores de camu camu con elmercado; no produce ni comercializadirectamente. En este sentido, juega elrol de «bisagra» entre la oferta y lademanda del mercado. Se preocupa degarantizar la calidad y, a partir de ahora,de velar por el carácter orgánico en lafase agrícola y de transformación de lapulpa en la UNAP para los mercados deexportación.

Es probable que con la certificación yla creciente demanda del mercado, lasexportaciones de camu camu superen enesta cosecha las 150 t de pulpa. (Fuente:Revista Bosques Amazonicos virtual,junio 2005.)

ETHNOFORESTRYPARADIGMS

Recent research by John Studley ofLoughborough University, UnitedKingdom on ethnoforestry paradigmshas been presented in his doctoral thesisentitled “Sustainable knowledge systemsand resource stewardship: in search ofethnoforestry paradigms for theindigenous peoples of Eastern Kham”.

This study examines resourcestewardship from an alternative neglectedangle – that of knowledge sustainability andsynergistic bridging. The main outcomes ofthe study include the cognitive mapping of



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forest values among “Tibetan minoritynationalities” in Eastern Kham, theirspatial distribution and the coincidence ofchanges in forest values with cultural orbiophysical phenomena.

Abstracts of the research (in English,Tibetan and Chinese) are available fromthe Loughborough University Web site at:www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gyjfs/phd_study.htm


John Studley, 46 Sarsfeld Road,

London SW12 8HN, United Kingdom.

E-mail:

[email protected]

FOREST COSMETICSAND FRAGRANCES

Sourcing Brazilian rain forest ingredientsfor cosmeticsBrazilian personal care ingredientsspecialists Beraca Ingredients have beeninvolved in a government-led expeditionto search Amazonian rain forests foringredients that can be used in cosmeticformulations. The expedition headed tothe sustainable reserve of Cujubin, in thenorthern Brazilian municipality of Jutai,and included government officials and arepresentative from ConservationInternational.

Beraca says that it is hoping to explorethe rain forests for cosmetic ingredients ina way that is sustainable to theenvironment, while combining localresources in an effort to benefit theregion. “The production of the copaíba oiland of other forest products for thecosmetics industry has a great potentialto provide sustainable and economicmeans for this region.”

Copaíba oil is an oily resin that isextracted from the Amazonian tree,Copaifera officinalis. These dense treesgrow from 15 to 30 m high and the resinis extracted from the tree trunks. It iscommonly used as a fragrancecomponent in perfumes, as a preparationin soaps, creams and lotions, and as anemollient.

A seminar that focused on participativeplanning within the region was heldduring the first stage of the project andincluded 100 members of the localpopulation from Jutai. The discussionscentred on forming social structureswhereby the farming of the land foringredients could be better managed.

The aim is to maximize land utilization,while supporting a sustainable economicand ecologically balanced future. In turnthis should lead to improvements ineducation and the health services, whichwill be the responsibility of thegovernment. The next step will be for thecommunity to organize themselves in alocal association, with the aim ofproviding reliable supplies of copaíba oiland rubber to various industries,including the cosmetics industry. (Source:Cosmetics Design [France], 22September 2005.)

Shellac may combat skin disordersIvy Cosmetics announced on 5 Augustthat it has identified a unique property ofshellac, a natural resin secreted by theinsect Laccifera lacca.

In collaboration with Kitasato University,the company has confirmed that thepowder or extract of shellac can inhibit theproduction of interleukin-8, one of thecausal factors of skin disorders. Thecompany and the university haveconcluded that shellac-derived substancescan be used in external skin preparations.

Ivy has applied for patents for thesefindings. (Source: Japan Corporate News,8 August 2005.)

Forest berries find their way to cosmetics The Lumene company is a trailblazer inthe use of berries in cosmetics. Thecompany’s products now include arcticcloudberry extracts. Research to find new

raw materials from Finnish nature has ledLumene to using arctic forest berries suchas cloudberry, lingonberry and cranberry,as well as pine and birch extracts in itsproducts. For example, cloudberry,lingonberry and cranberry are used in facecreams, pine bark extracts in men’sproducts and birch sap and birch leafextracts in body care products. Cloudberryseed oil is used to protect skin from radicaldamage and to enhance regeneration.Pine extracts are used to preventpremature skin ageing and birch leafextract to boost circulation. Cranberry isan old, well-known medicinal herb inFinland.

Using Finnish ingredients is important toLumene since many arctic berry specieshave a high concentration of activeingredients because of the short but lightNordic summer. The fact that Finnishnature is considered to be pure is also animportant factor for Lumene and itscustomers.

Developing cosmetics from berries hasbeen ongoing for six to seven years. Ittook two to three years of developmentbefore Lumene had a product containingberry extracts on the market.

Lumene uses approximately 100 000 kgof berries each year, the major part ofwhich is cloudberry. In order to obtain 1 kg of cloudberry seed oil, 100 kg ofberries are needed. Although Lumeneuses only the oil from the seeds, otherparts of the berries do not go to waste andare made into juices and jams.

Lumene has not had problems withberry procurement so far, even thoughthere is a small risk since crops vary fromseason to season.

Face care products containingcloudberry represent Lumene’s mostsuccessful sales both in Finland andabroad. Lumene’s products are availablein Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, theRussian Federation and the United States.In the Russian Federation cloudberry iswell known, but in the United States it hasso far been unknown. Gaining UnitedStates markets is notoriously difficult.

In Finland Lumene is the leadingcosmetics brand with a 27 percent marketshare. (Source: forest-fi, 22 August 2005.)


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Aniba rosaeodora: a quest to save a tree Until the perfume Chanel No. 5 went on themarket in 1921, pau-rosa or Brazilianrosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) was justanother tree that grew in abundance in theAmazon. But the enduring popularity of thatfragrance, which includes rosewood oil asa main ingredient, began a process thathas led to a black market trade in the oil,and the tree itself being designated anendangered species.

Worldwide, demand for perfumes,soaps, balms and scented candles hasskyrocketed in recent years, helped byrising women’s incomes and aromatherapy.Because of rosewood’s cachet, demand forthe oil far outstrips the legal supply andsome fragrance manufacturers will payhigh prices to obtain it.

According to academic and industrystudies, legal rosewood oil production inBrazil is now barely one-tenth of its peak inthe late 1960s, when annual output was300 tonnes. The number of registered mills,which turn rosewood tree trunks into oilthrough an inefficient process that seems todevour trees, has also fallen drastically,from more than 50 in the 1940s to fewerthan eight today.

About six years ago, Avive, a communitygroup in a small island town in the middle ofthe Amazon River, began an effort to try torevive the industry, but this time on asustainable basis. Rather than simplycutting down trees and hauling away theirtrunks, Avive decided to prune branchesand leaves every five years or so, therebyextending the usefulness of individualrosewood trees for decades.

Today the project’s members, most ofthem rural women, have planted and aretending more than 3 000 rosewoodsaplings in the heart of the jungle. Theyalso distil rosewood oil and manufactureabout 1 000 bars of soap a month at asmall plant there. The group has begunharvesting other exotic fragrances from

trees for soaps and salves, always takingcare to replace what they take.

But Avive’s task has not proved easy.Jungle lots that the government has placedunder the group’s care have been razed byinvaders. The concentration of oil inrosewood leaves can be twice as much asthat in the trunk. But larger volumes ofbranches and leaves are needed toproduce the same amount of oil, and sincethis requires extra labour, it is moreconvenient and profitable for mill operatorsto stick to the old predatory system.

Higher labour and operating costs meana higher price for the finished product.Intermediaries have balked at paying thispremium so long as illegal supplies are stillavailable, but some users say they wouldgladly buy the environmentally friendlyrosewood oil if only it were made availableto them. (Source: Silves Journal via TheNew York Times, 30 August 2005.)

Sandalwood fragranceSniffing sweet fragrances not only soothesyour senses, but can also improve yourmood. A researcher has now developed a“medical perfume” which, when sniffed, canalso cheer you up. The sandalwoodperfume, which was unveiled recently,contains chemicals that hit the base of thebrain via the nose. They then regulate thedopamine levels that affect depression andanxiety.

Inventor Dr George Dodd said theperfume could be more effective thanprescription drugs. “One or two sniffs willbe enough. We’ve done trials withhundreds of people.” The perfume isexpected to reach the shelves in 18months. (Source: NewKerala.com [India],28 October 2005.)

INCENSE

The world of aromatherapy suggestsmany types of essential oils that are usefulfor healing. But incense can also beutilized as a remedy for certain conditions.Headaches are a common ailment manypeople face, but with the calming effectsproduced by certain aromas, symptomscan be relieved.

Incense and aromatherapy workbecause our sense of smell is a direct pathto the brain. This process activates ourlimbic system and is the reason whycertain odours trigger an immediateresponse. Particular aromas are known tostimulate the brain to produce essentialchemicals. Many of the ingredients used inincense contain phytochemicals, whichare chemicals found in plants that haveprotective, disease-preventing properties.

Incense or aromatherapy is not asubstitute for seeking medical attention.Once you have attempted to identify thecause of the discomfort (stress, hormones,sinusitis), you can find the particularingredient for your symptoms.

Incense recommended for headacherelief include the following.

Borneol (Dryobalanops camphora), aresin derived from the camphor tree, isrefreshing and cleansing. Its camphor-likearoma opens the nasal passages, so it isespecially beneficial for headachesbrought on by sinus problems. Borneolsmells wonderful even when it is notburning. It kills bacteria, purifies the air andstimulates the adrenal cortex of the brain.Borneol is a primary ingredient in Buddhistincense.

Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi), awoody herb found mainly in Nepal, isclosely related to valerian. The dried rootsare used, and have a musky aroma thathelps enhance contemplation.

Star anise (Illicium verum) comes froma small tree native to southwestern Chinathat produces a fruit that ripens into theshape of a star. It is well known for itsliquorice taste and an extract is used inmaking true liquorice. Star anise containscertain phytochemicals and angiotensin-

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converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, whichlower blood pressure. This can produce acalming effect and help reduce pain.(Source: Llewellyn Journal [United States],7 November 2005.)

LES SOURCESDE LA FERTILITÉ ETDE LA DURABILITÉ

Les rameaux des arbres, particulièrementdeux des feuillus dicotylédonescomposent la canopée tant en climattempéré que tropical. Ces rameaux sontfait de bois dont la composition protéiqueest très différente du bois des tiges (boiscaulinaire). Ces protéines sont associéesà des composés dont on ne parle peuque sont les polyphénols, eux-mêmesassociés aux sucres et aux celluloses.

Si l’arbre est stable, il en va autrementdes rameaux de la canopée qui offre unmilieu de vie extraordinaire que nousapprenons à connaître depuis unedécennie et qui n’a de cesse de nousémerveiller et de nous confondre. Nousconstatons tous les jours que des millionsd’enfants africains souffrent de gravescarences en protéines, alors que le feuservant à cuire de maigres rations estlargement disponible.

Ainsi, avons nous tiré leçon de cet étatde fait et utilisé les rameaux des arbresabattus pour l’exploitation du boiscaulinaire, et nous les avons employéspour le sol, où fongus et chaînes

trophiques ont tôt fait de transformer unsol pauvre à base de kaolinite en un soldiversifié biologiquement et structuréphysiquement. Ainsi, la diversitébiologique de la canopée s’esttransformée en un sol riche, fertile etd’une utilisation durable bien au-delàd’une année et ce en redonnant la fertilitéobtenue après une fragmentationdonnant des morceaux ne dépassant pas10 cm de longueur. En région tropicale,cela remplace la jachère qui, pourrestaurer la fertilité primitive, peutprendre des dizaines d’années.

Des augmentations de rendement del’ordre de 30 pour cent en matière sèchese sont manifestées tant en Côte d’Ivoirequ’à Madagascar, en Républiquedominicaine, au Sénégal, puis en enBelgique, au Canada, en France et enUkraine. Ainsi, l’utilisation des rameauxfragmentés est à la base d’unepédogenèse contrôlée et ne peut êtreassociée à un engrais ou à unamendement humique comme plusieursle proposent.

Ainsi les rameaux fragmentésbouleversent tous les paramètres du solet des cultures en éliminant des parasitestels les nématodes parasites des racines,augmentent les rendements à la récolte,diminuent de moitié la consommationd’eau, réduisant ainsi les méfaits de lasalinité tout en stabilisant le pH.(Contribution de: professeur GillesLemieux; Groupe de coordination sur lesbois et rameaux, Département dessciences du bois et de la forêt, UniversitéLaval, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada.Télécopie: (1) 418-656-5262; courriel:[email protected])

MANEJO DE SEMILLASFORESTALES NATIVAS DELA SIERRA ECUATORIANAY NORTE DEL PERÚ

Los Andes del Norte conforman laecoregión más biodiversa del planeta,considerando la cantidad de especies deflora y fauna y los tipos de ecosistemasque se encuentran en este rincónnoroccidental del continente

sudamericano. En muchas partes de lacordillera de los Andes, es posible viajarun largo día, desde la zona costera delPacífico hasta la cuenca del Amazonas,cruzando bosques tropicales húmedos osecos, bosques de montaña bajos,bosques de niebla de montaña alto,páramos o punas y una serie dehumedales. La región Andina también esel hogar de una gran diversidad cultural.Pueblos indígenas y mestizos habitandiferentes pisos altitudinales comosustento de su vida y para desarrollarsus actividades agrícolas, sociales yeconómicas. Todo esto hace de losAndes una zona privilegiada a escalamundial, ya que en ninguna otra regiónse encuentra tanta biodiversidad ydiversidad en capital humanoconcentrado.

La deforestación en los Andes y lapérdida de ecosistemas en general, soncasi tan famosos como su diversidad. Poruna serie de razones históricas,económicas y políticas, la convivencia, dela relativamente alta densidad depoblación con el medio ambiente no hasido siempre positiva, lo cual hapromovido una degradación ambientalmuy severa. Esta degradación esactualmente muy grave, pues resulta que:en la región con más alta biodiversad delmundo no hay suficientes áreas silvestrespreservadas para un funcionamientoecológico natural; en una regiónmontañosa, con suelos muy fértiles, faltatierra cultivable como resultado de laerosión; y en el continente mas húmedodel mundo, falta agua para vivir.

Entre las respuestas a los grandesproblemas ambientales presentes en losAndes del Norte, siempre ha surgido laforestación. En los últimos años ha tenidomucho éxito la reforestación social ocomunitaria, o sea la integración entrereforestación, agricultura y manejoforestal, y por la participación social queeste tipo de forestación promueve. Estamodalidad de forestación, además, utilizamuchas especies de árboles, ya que setrata de una actividad multipropósito yaprovecha los diversos fines de ladiversidad forestal andina. Es así que laforestación comunitaria ha revalorado


una gran cantidad de especies nativas delos Andes, y ha aumentado laagrobiodiversidad del paisaje culturalandino.

Sin embargo, el hecho de que este tipode forestación tiene un enfoque social ymenos industrial, no significa que puedaprescindir de bases técnicas yacadémicas de alta calidad. Esprecisamente éste, uno de los factoreslimitantes para que la forestación recibauna mayor acogida. No existe suficienteconocimiento de la taxonomía, de lasilvicultura, del uso y la comercializaciónde especies que las comunidadescampesinas usan o pueden usar en supráctica diaria. Un gran problema es lautilización de material genético decalidad. Si bien la incorporación de unadiversidad de árboles en el paisajeandino requiere altas inversioneslaborales, igualmente implica muchosbeneficios. Estos beneficios puedenaumentar –eventualmente– en más del50% con una semilla de buena calidad.Sería un desperdicio dedicar tantotiempo y esfuerzo a un árbol de malaprocedencia genética.

Con estos elementos la corporaciónEcoPar y la fundación EcoCiencia con elapoyo financiero y técnico del programaFosefor en los Andes, ejecutaron un plande recolección de información, deconocimientos prácticos y decapacitación con organizacionescampesinas y demás actores de lacadena forestal en el manejo de semillasforestales de calidad. Uno de losproductos de este programa es lapresente publicación, en la cual serecopila toda la información actualmentedisponible sobre el manejo de semillas, elmanejo en vivero y en plantaciones deespecies forestales nativa y exóticas.Esta información es producto de unainvestigación en fuentes primarias ysecundarias, refleja especialmente laexperiencia de la gente del campo:campesinos y campesinas, técnicos,viveristas y de los proyectos impulsadospor el Fosefor. (Fuente: Ordóñez, L.,Arbeláez, M. y Prado, L. 2004. Manejo desemillas forestales nativas de la Sierraecuatoriana y Norte del Perú [Com-Eds].)

MYRICA GALE

Myrica gale, also known as sweet gale orbog myrtle, is a small deciduous shrubwith reddish brown buds that grows inbogs, wet heaths and fens. It used to becommon throughout the United Kingdom,but as wetlands were gradually drained itshabitat was removed and it retreatedfurther north, finally making its home inthe Scottish Highlands. The leaves of thissweet-scented plant are resinous andwere used to flavour beer. Another well-known use was as an insect repellent.The bark was hung in wardrobes andstuffed into mattresses to repel fleas.

Recently, a Scottish company hasstarted harvesting this plant to extract theoil for its insect-repelling properties. With£750 000 of commercial and governmentfunding for research into the plant, there ishuge commercial potential for theHighlands.

Bog myrtle, like many plants, wasthought of as a medicine, and at one timewas the standard treatment for scabies.The leaves were made into “gale tea”,which was a cold remedy as well as beinga useful astringent for upset stomachs.

Belonging to the Myricacea family, thereare about 50 species of wax myrtlesworldwide. They are nearly all aromatic andhave a history of being used as a medicine.

They are found in soaps, stomachremedies and catarrh mixes and can stillbe found in many herbal dispensaries.(Source: Edinburgh Evening News[Scotland, United Kingdom], 8 October2005.)

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONSAND NGOS

Biodiversity Research and DevelopmentCentre (BIRD)The Biodiversity Research andDevelopment Centre is a government-registered NGO located in Kathmandu,Nepal, which aims at biodiversityconservation, environmentalimprovement, social services awarenessactivities and poverty alleviation, workingin an area with a diverse mix of ethnicgroups and cultural traditions and a highbiodiversity value of global importance.

BIRD’s main goal is to integrateconservation with development bysafeguarding the area’s biodiversity;improving the socio-economic conditionof the local people; and developing andstudying development models for socialenlistments.

BIRD’s objectives are to conductscientific field studies and research anddevelopment projects at different levels,from grassroots to national planning, topromote the biodiversity sector; promoteand facilitate development of naturalresource-based microenterprises toenhance the livelihoods of localcommunities; and facilitate and developphysical infrastructures for biodiversityconservation and the sustainablecollection, production and marketmanagement of medicinal and aromaticplants (MAPs) and NTFPs.

BIRD has been working to fulfil itsmission in the control and managementof natural resources and improvement inthe biodiversity sector. It works directlywith rural people and relatedorganizations at the grassroots level toimprove their socio-economic conditionthrough biodiversity development andcommercial utilization of local resources.BIRD also encourages local-levelinitiatives to manage NTFP-basedenterprises to improve rural livelihoods. Itcoordinates with relevant stakeholders todevise and facilitate policy formulation onbiodiversity management and NTFPconservation, utilization and marketing.


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Myrica gale


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Finally, BIRD acts directly in developingand disseminating the market priceinformation system of NTFPs/jaributi(MFPs) from local to national level forbetter information among relevantstakeholders.


Rana B. Rawal, Chairperson,

Biodiversity Research and

Development Centre (BIRD), GPO Box

23162, Mitranagar, Ramhiti Phant,

Boudha-6, Kathmandu, Nepal. E-mail:

[email protected]

Pragya, India Pragya is a non-profit organization thathas been engaged in the holistic andsustainable development of vulnerableneglected communities and ecosystemsin the high altitudes of the Himalayasthrough promoting the conservation andcultivation of endangered medicinal andaromatic flora together with the ethniccultural heritage of the area.

The organization facilitates appropriate,sustainable and stable development of theregion, empowerment of communities andthe conservation and revival of ethnicculture, including local languages, arts andcrafts and music and dance.


Dr Visvarup Chakravarti, Pragya,

A-212A Sushant Lok I, NRM-CTM,

Gurgaon-122002, (Haryana), India.

E-mail: [email protected]; www.pragya.org

Tree Aid Tree Aid, a well-established charity set upin 1987, has planted more than six milliontrees across Africa and has protectedmany more. “Not only do trees providewood for homes, food, medicines and fuel,but they allow communities to develop anincome from their products, such as shea

butter, soaps and gum,” says MirandaSpitteler, Tree Aid’s chief executive. Adonation of £18 covers the cost of azizyphus tree, which bears vitamin-packedfruit. For donations of £550 or over, youcan be linked with your own Tree Aidproject and the charity will keep you closelyinvolved with its progress.


Tree Aid, Brunswick Court,

Brunswick Square, Bristol BS2 8PE,

United Kingdom. Fax: +44(0)1179096617;


www.treeaid.org.uk

United Plant Savers United Plant Savers is a Vermont-basednon-profit organization with the goal ofpreserving North America’s nativemedicinal plants. It has about 2 000members nationwide and for each memberthe focus is on its “at risk” list, about 20plants in danger of disappearing as a resultof habitat loss and overharvesting.

Plants such as ginseng and bloodroot,which can be used to treat a number ofailments including stress and skin cancer,are of particular concern. The root of theplant is used to create remedies, butharvesting the plant kills it. Therefore,teaching harvesting ethics is crucial toensure that native medicinal plantscontinue to thrive in the wild. Rootdividing, pruning and seed planting are afew of the ethical harvesting methodspromoted by the organization.


United Plant Savers, PO Box 400 E.

Barre, VT 05649, United States.

Fax: +1 (802) 476 3722;


http://unitedplantsavers.org

NON-TIMBER FORESTRESOURCE ENTERPRISES:FATTY OILS FOR EDIBLEAND NON-EDIBLEPURPOSES

It has been emphasized many times thatno single non-timber forest resource(NTFR) enterprise offers adequatelivelihood opportunities and ensurespeople’s security throughout the year.Consequently, India and other countriesneed to select and manage five or sixNTFR species on the basis of theirharvesting times and biological calendar,i.e. time of planting, maturity of plantparts required for the enterprise, etc. inorder to guide NTFR management in theright direction.

Another important point is that in rawmaterial production for a particularcommodity, such as fatty oils fromoilseeds, more than one species shouldbe extensively propagated so that anyfailings can be averted. For example,although a massive campaign waslaunched to produce fatty oils for refinedcooking oil from palm oil (Elaeisguinunsis), the species could not meet theshortage of edible oil in India; otherspecies of the Palmae family should havebeen grown, in accordance with thesustainability of climate and ecology.

Similarly, Jatropha curcas was grownvigorously in different parts of India during2005 to produce fatty oils to be added todiesel at 20 percent as biofuel. It issuggested that other species such asPongamia pinnata and Mucuna prurensbe grown simultaneously, following trialson the use of their fatty oils as biofuel. TheCentre of Minor Forest Products(COMFORPTS) for Rural Developmentand Environmental Conservation, DehraDun has been preparing a project forundertaking such trials on about 12 plantsyielding oilseeds.

COMFORPTS has been specificallyworking for NTFR utilization andpropagation management and its servicesmay be obtained, through its MFPdatabase, by any country for the selectionof NTFR species for different enterprises.


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Ms Alka Shiva, President and Managing

Director, Centre of Minor Forest

Products, HIG 2, No. 8B, Indirapuram,

GMS Road, PO Majra, Dehra Dun – 248

001 (Uttaranchal), India.

E-mail: [email protected];

[email protected]

NWFP FABRICS

Bamboo charcoal textile productsTaitei. On 11 November the Ministry ofEconomic Affairs (MOEA) launched aseries of textile products made ofbamboo charcoal which the ministry sayscan make Taiwan’s textile industry morecompetitive on the world market.

MOEA took two years to develop thetechnology of bamboo charcoal textileswith the help of the Taiwan TextileResearch Institute and several textilecompanies.

To produce bamboo charcoal, thebamboo, which needs to be four to fiveyears old, is burned at 700–750°C. Thecharcoal is then finely graded and insertedinto fibres to create a new form of textile.

Clothing made of bamboo charcoaltextiles has the advantage of absorbingodours, retaining heat, blocking outelectromagnetic radiation and maintaininglow humidity.

MOEA also introduced a new Phyllotextrademark for its line of bamboo charcoalproducts which includes (besides clothing)soap, lotion, shampoo and pillows.(Source: BharatTextile.com, 13 December2005.)

Bamboo T-shirtsBamboo fibre T-shirts are the mostcomfortable and softest textile product.Made from a 21/1 ring spun yarn, thebamboo T-shirt is 70 percent bamboofibre and 30 percent cotton and ispreshrunk. Bamboo fibre T-shirts arenaturally antibacterial, biodegradableand extremely soft.

Bamboo clothing will never stick to thebody or skin, even on the hottest of days,and will always make you feel extremelycool under any condition.

The species used for bamboo fibre is

network of organizations that works withupland and rural communities on issuesof land tenure, resource managementand livelihood based on NTFPs, with thehope of establishing a regular demand forthese crafts and thereby ensuring astable source of income for the artisans.Modi was also established to preserveand promote the continuation of thetraditional arts and lifestyles of theseartisans and elevate the perceived valueof handmade and culturally relatedproducts.

NTFP-TF’s vision is to preserveindigenous crafts and raise them to amuch higher level where more value isplaced on the traditions and culture of thepeople who fashion them.

Modi will be featuring new designersyearly to present fresh design conceptsand an interesting product line. Andthrough design clinics organized by theNTFP-TF, the featured designers will allhave the chance to interact and consultwith the artisans, who are consideredcreative partners in this worthy endeavour.

Simply put, through Modi the NTFP-TFaims to spark a renewed interest in andappreciation of all indigenous crafts.(Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19August 2005.)

United Nations recognizes bark cloth asworld heritageUganda’s bark cloth has been named aspart of the world’s collective heritagerecognized by the United NationsEducational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO). Speakingyesterday, Augustine Omare Okurut, whoheads the Uganda National Commissionfor UNESCO, said the global body hadproclaimed the “art of bark cloth makingin Uganda as a masterpiece of theworld’s intangible heritage”. Theproclamation “is an honour to Ugandaand a recognition of the indigenous textileproduction skills of Ugandan craftsmen”.“It will strengthen the activities aimed atpreserving the bark cloth production skillsin Uganda as well as promoting the barkcloth and its use in Uganda andinternationally.”

Okurut said that bark cloth is used in

Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens,commonly known as moso bamboo. Thisis the largest of the temperate zonebamboo species and is the mosteconomically important species in China.It is generally used for constructionpurposes and as edible bamboo shoots.

Moso bamboo is prevalent throughoutChina. Bamboo Textile’s factory, however,owns and maintains its own plantationson a large mountainside located inZhejiang Province, which is south of thefactory in Suzhou.

Bamboo is known to be the fastest-growing plant on earth, making it naturallyhighly renewable. Bamboo’s growthcharacteristics enable it to spread rapidlyacross large areas and, consequently, it isknown to improve soil quality in degradedand eroded areas of land. In addition,bamboo’s natural growth habits allow it toreproduce in abundance without the useof fertilizers and without the need forpesticides.

The process to make bamboo fibre andyarn is similar to the process used tomake rayon. Stalks of bamboo areessentially crushed and pulped toseparate the natural fibres. These arethen mixed with chemicals such as causticsoda to convert the plant fibre into textilequality fibre. (Source: I-Newswire.com(press release) [United States].)

Modi: ethnic and exquisite Modi or “modern indigenous” is a fashionand home designer collection ofindigenous handmade crafts infused witha stylish contemporary twist. The line wasinitiated by the Non-Timber ForestProducts Task Force (NTFP-TF), a


various festivities, including burials, andhas invaluable commercial potentialwhen exploited for handicrafts.

He said research was beingundertaken on making bark cloth, whichis extracted from a ficus tree popularlyknown as omutuba in central Uganda.Okurut said that the tree was becomingendangered and that if it were to becommercially exploited the local peoplewould be encouraged to grow it forposterity and improve their welfare. Healso said bark cloth making had been leftto a few traditional artisans because ofthe lack of a market, adding that thiscould result in the tree’s demise.

Okurut said researchers had been tovarious places, including Busoga andBunyoro, but discovered that Bugandawas the only place where bark cloth iswidely used. (Source: New Vision[Uganda], 3 December 2005.)

Fabrics with a healing touchWith people becoming increasinglyhealth conscious all over the world,Ayurvastra fabric, which is dyed usingvarious Ayurvedic herbs, sandalwood,neem and turmeric, is climbing thepopularity chart.

Ayurvedic herbs have variousmedicinal properties and when they aredyed with the fabric, give it a coolingeffect. They are good for various skindisorders, asthma and other ailments.Clinical trials are currently under way atthe government Ayurvedic college in thestate capital. Some clothing materials arealso dyed using pomegranate andjaggery.

The Ayurvedic herbs are boiled at aparticular temperature and the fabric isdipped in it for at least four hours and, insome cases, a whole day. For makingsandalwood saris, first the yarn and thenthe cloth is dyed in sandalwood.

The Handloom Weavers DevelopmentSociety is at present exporting to Italy,Germany, United Kingdom, UnitedStates, Singapore and Malaysia; exportearnings last year amounted to Rs1 crore(Rs10 million).

The technology used in makingAyurvastra cloth is being utilized for

making coir mats, mattresses, doormatsand carpets. Delhi-based wool weaversfrom Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh andOrissa have entered into partnership withthe society to make Ayurvedic wool.Discussions have also been held withKanchipuram weavers to produceAyurvedic Kanchipuram saris.

However, the lakh weavers in thesociety are facing marketing problemsand efforts are consequently being madeto popularize these innovative products.(Source: Rediff, [India], 28 September2005.)

NWFP FUELS

Bamboo-fuelled power plants in IndiaIndian scientists have successfullydeveloped two unique power projectsusing bamboo to generate electricity.The plants, with a capacity of 1 MWeach, will be commissioned in Assam byFebruary 2006. “This would be the firstof its kind where we are using bambooand its wastes to generate electricity,”said the Director of the National Missionon Bamboo Applications (NMBA). “Itwould not only be cost effective but alsohighly ecofriendly.”

NMBA is an agency set up by thecentral government to promote valueaddition and commercialization of thecountry’s 80 million tonnes of annualbamboo crops.

India is the second highest bamboo-producing country after China. More than55 percent of India’s annual bamboo cropsare grown in the northeastern region.

“Bamboo grows in the wild abundantlyand all we need to do is to propagate

cultivation further so that we can use it asan alternative for wood in the near future,”NMBA said. (Source: Webindia123 [India],15 December 2005.)

Ipomoea fistulosa – the crisis fuel ofwetlandsFuel in rural Bangladesh is a problem, withfuelwood becoming more scarce every day.The problem is particularly acute inSunamganj, a northeastern district ofBangladesh situated in typical wetlands.Most of the district remains under water forat least half the year. The main fuelwoodcollected in the low-lying areas is koranch(Pongamia pinnata), hijal (Barringtoniaacutangulata), kadam (Anthocephaluskadamba) and sheora (Streblus aspera).People lop parts of these species duringthe monsoon season, while during the dryseason different reeds and shrubs meettheir fuel demand.

Fuelwood in these low-lying areas isdiminishing at an alarming rate and, facingthis acute fuel scarcity, people are nowusing cow dung, rice husks, etc. asalternative fuel sources, but they are notenough to meet demand. It is time toaddress the suffering of the people in thewetlands; government agencies andNGOs should come forward to solve theenergy crisis in these areas.

During my recent visit to Sunamganj, Isaw people planting ipomoea (Ipomoeafistulosa) along the sides of the road. Plantgrowth is luxuriant and once ipomoea isplanted it can be harvested year after year.It also has a soil-binding capacity andprotects the soil of the newly constructed“kacha” road in rural areas. The species isnow used as fuel during the monsoonseason and can survive under water for aconsiderable time. Thus, if properlyplanted, it will partially meet the demandfor energy. In the meantime, a well-planned system should be developed sothat poor rural people can have asustained supply of energy.

Planners are requested to keep ipomeain mind since it is very easy to grow andcan provide a sustained yield.(Contributed by: A.Z.M. Manzoor Rashid,Assistant Professor, Department ofForestry, Shahjalal University of Science



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and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh.E-mail: [email protected])

Mushrooms as fuel?New research could move shiitakemushrooms out of the kitchen and intothe petrol tank. These fungi grow onfallen logs in the forest. They digest thewood and turn it into sugars that they usefor food.

Now scientists with the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture (USDA)’sAgricultural Research Service areinvestigating whether this techniquecould be used to produce fuel. Theresearchers have discovered and copiedthe shiitake gene, Xyn11A, which givesthe mushroom the ability to produce theenzyme xylanase that dissolves woodinto sugar. Now that the researchers haveisolated the gene, they are looking intowhether it can be used to produce vats ofthe enzyme for digesting rice hulls orother harvest leftovers into sugars thatcould be used for making ethanol or otherfuel types.

This research was published in 2005 inProtein Journal. (Source: LiveScience, 2December 2005.)

POISON FROGPRODUCTIONAND EXPORT

Poison frog production and export arenew NWFP tools to keep rain forestsstanding and alleviate rural poverty inCentral and South America.

Many Central and South Americancountries have colourful poison dart frogsin their faunal listings. According to CITESAppendix II, most of these frogs areendangered and worldwide trade iscontrolled. Yet hardly anything is beingdone to preserve their original habitats in

order to prevent these outstanding frogsfrom terminal extinction. Several speciesare in fast decline – Dendrobatesarboreus, Panama; some Minyobates inColombia; and several D. histrionicusvariants in the Chocoan rain forest belt ofEcuador and Colombia. One species ispossibly already extinct in the wild (D.speciosus, Costa Rica) as a result of newdiseases (particularly chytrid fungus),devastating oil palm monocultures(Ecuador, Peru), cattle farming (Colombia,Ecuador, Peru), devastating monoculturesof soya and other crops (Brazil) and localor global climate change caused by large-scale deforestation.

Some species are protected in a fewnational parks or reserves, but are stillendangered there by the chytrid fungus,climate change and forest fires (Brazil).

In 2004, in a first unique rescueoperation, IUCN-SPN-NL helped tofinance in Peru the purchase andprotection of the last original habitats andrefuges of Dendrobates mysteriosus, aproject currently managed by three localNGOs. The tiny refuges will receiveinternational registering, while anintensive production process with markedreproductors will provide sufficient fundsto maintain the reserves by exportingsome juvenile frogs.

This shows that not in all cases dohundreds or thousands of hectares offorest need to be protected: for poisonfrogs or Atelopus, small areas of only afew hectares can make the differencebetween extinction and survival. Fundingagencies should, therefore, meet thisneed for small-scale funding for theselected original habitat conservation ofendangered species.

Another problem is that many wildcollected Dendrobatids are stolen in thecountries of origin by “professional”smugglers (Peru and Panama are mostaffected currently). These illegal frogsturn up in great numbers in Europe or theUnited States. Smugglers oftenconcentrate on stealing young poisonfrogs since they can be camouflaged andsold more easily than adults.

To fight this illegal trade and to install afunctioning network of protected original

habitats, the NGO INIBICO (located atTarapoto, Peru) has developedsustainable production methods for manyspecies of poison frogs. These methodsare applied in original forest and allowpoor forest settlers or natives to earn anextra or exclusive income. In 2004,INIBICO, together with INRENA,established Peru’s first Concession ofFaunal Management of 3 861 ha nearTarapoto (consisting of a buffer zone of anew regional park), where poor forestsettlers are trained to produce ninespecies of local poison frogs, two treeboa species, orchids (in vitro culturebased) and commercial insects forexport.

The producers are organized as anNGO (ASPRAVEP) and maintain abiological field station and recollectingcentre, where tadpoles and froglets areraised to juveniles. Since poison frog insitu production is only possible instanding original forest or high secondaryforest, producers learn to value theirforest plots. The ASPRAVEP project wasrecently featured in a Discovery Channeldocumentary entitled “Frogs of gold”.

ASPRAVEP is exporting its first frogshipments in 2006 and the financialoutcomes of this type of NWFP productionwill be available at the end of the year.

The experience gained in Peru will betransferred to those neighbouringcountries having the same severe rainforest loss.

The project’s success is also based onthe World Bank DevelopmentMarketplace Grant won in 2002 (Poisondart frog ranching to protect rain forestand alleviate poverty, project no. 1761).(Contributed by: Dipl. Biol. RainerSchulte, INIBICO, Jr. Ramírez Hurtado608, Tarapoto, San Martin, Peru. E-mail:[email protected]; www.inibico.org)



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TREES FOR HEALTHFOREVER

Traditional plant-based medicine is ofgreat importance for the health security ofpeople in southern Africa. It is basedalmost entirely on the collection of wildplants from increasingly fragmented andbeleaguered natural forest andconservation areas. In the past, collectionwas largely for personal use andundertaken by the healers themselves.However, in order to supply the growingurban populace collection is increasinglycommercial and, if left uncontrolled,threatens the future of species in highdemand and the forests andenvironments in which they live.Commercialization has generated awhole suite of trade-dependentlivelihoods that are in turn threatened byoverexploitation. Remedying thissituation requires concerted effort on thepart of foresters, national park managers,herbalists, traders and the public itself.However, although it is easy to say actionis needed, it needs to be evidence-based;in other words, it should be based ongood-quality information arising fromobjective research.

The Forest Research Programme(Department for InternationalDevelopment [DFID]) funded a three-yearproject in Malawi, Zambia and SouthAfrica with the intention of providing ascientific basis for the sustainablemanagement of medicinal trees insouthern Africa. The focus of the projectwas bark from indigenous species innatural forests and was based on

pioneering work by the CPWildconsortium in South Africa(www.cpwild.co.za) while consideration ofresource inventory issues developedwork initiated by the FAOGCP/RAF/354/EC project (see Non-Wood News 9).

Bark comprises around 60 percent ofthe mass of plant-based medicine for salein South African wholesale herb marketsand many of the species in high demandare becoming scarce within forests closeto the markets. As a consequence, 36percent of the bark material in the Durbanherb market originates from neighbouringcountries, especially Mozambique (19percent). A market survey undertaken bythe project indicates that although therelationship between traders andherbalists is quite different in southernMalawi and the Copperbelt province ofZambia, even here long-distance,crossborder trade of medicines is takingplace. Furthermore, the people engagedin the collection, trade and administeringof herbal medicines are often poor withvulnerable livelihoods heavily dependenton forest resources.

As a contribution to the scientific basisfor the sustainable management ofcommercial collection of medicinal barkthe project established a large-scaleexperiment on the impact of barkharvesting on the trees. The resultsindicate that there is a range ofphysiological responses and pathologicalconsequences of bark wounding. Miombospecies appear to be more sensitive tobark wounding than afromontane speciesbecause of termite activity and the dryingand lifting of bark remaining on the tree,which may be part of the reason why theroots are more often harvested in theseenvironments. Even within montaneforest species there has been a range ofresponses to bark wounding from rapidregrowth to no regrowth at all. Knowledgeof the species’ response to wounding istherefore required to provide a soundbasis for management prescriptions forcommercial harvesting. Sustainableharvesting also needs to be based onknowledge of the numbers, sizes andlocations of populations of the required

species. Obtaining such data for a singlespecies in a forest, especially when thespecies is often rare, is problematic. Theproject developed and tested severalmethods for medicinal bark inventory.

The findings of the project werepresented at the November workshop torepresentatives of ten countries drawnfrom forestry departments, ministries,research, education, traders andherbalists within the Southern AfricanDevelopment Community (SADC) region.The response was a resolutioncommitting participants to further actiontowards the sustainable management ofmedicines and NWFPs through theformation of a regional NWFP workinggroup. The project team are nowpreparing for the inaugural meeting of theworking group and completing ahandbook for sustainable bark harvestingfor use by local forest resourcemanagers. (Contributed by: Jenny Wong,Wild Resources Limited, RobinsonBuilding, Deiniol Road, Bangor, GwyneddLL57 2UW, United Kingdom. Fax: +441248 354997; e-mail:[email protected];www.wildresources.co.uk/treesforhealth/index.html)

TWIGS AND YOUNGTREES ARE FALLING PREYTO HUMAN HYGIENE

Of late the saplings and younger plantsfrom the saal forest reserve in the WestSinghbhum district are being cut beforethey can mature, to accommodate asimple and regular human need – dentalhygiene.


Every day, hundreds of tribal villagersbundle up young twigs or tadduns, whichare used for cleaning teeth. They sell thetwigs in various village haats (markets).Officials working for the vast stretches ofthe saal forest maintain that the twigs cutfor this regular use greatly disturb theproper growth of the plant. The twigsgenerally used are the newly formedones that grow immediately after therains. By cutting off the twigs, expertssay, the villagers are retarding the naturalgrowth of the plant.

This problem is especially rampant ashundreds of forest and revenue villagesin the district depend on minor forestproducts for their livelihoods. Although aconsiderable part of the tribal populationin the district has switched over to otheragricultural activities, the poorer tribalsstill feed their daily needs by selling forestproduce, of which the twigs are an easilyavailable option. Moreover, the LandSettlement Record gives a number ofrights to forest dwellers and villagers,including the right to exploit forestproducts for domestic use. Consequently,their use of the forest produce, althoughharmful in many ways, is completelylegal.

The demand for tadduns has latelyincreased since the numbers of truckdrivers in the area who shuttle betweenthe mine heads of iron ore and the steelplants have also risen. The truckers andothers, who follow traditional methods ofbrushing their teeth, still prefer this optionbecause of habit and easy availability.

The divisional forest officer (Saranda),however, feels that this trend is on thedecline; the forest department hasinitiated several schemes to divert tribalswho are engaged in cutting and sellingtwigs as tadduns. (Source: The Telegraph[India], 22 November 2005.)

VASAKA (ADHATODAVASICA NEES)

Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica Nees) is asmall gregarious evergreen shruboccurring throughout the plains ofBangladesh. The timber of the thickerstems is used for gunpowder charcoaland as a fuel for brick burning.

Vasaka is a well-known drug in theAyurvedic and Unani medicine systemsand is recommended for a variety ofailments such as bronchitis, asthma,fever, jaundice and consumption. Thepharmacological action and therapeuticproperties of A. vasica are attributed tovasicine and the essential oil. The fluidextract of the leaves is a useful remedyfor asthma, especially in combination withbelladonna. Compound preparationscontaining A. vasica are now availablefrom pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The leaf is excellent as manure and isscattered over the fields just before therainy season commences. It is thenworked into the soil by plough and left todecay with the moisture, thus formingmould.

As fuel it is almost exclusively used inthe process of boiling down cane juiceand is collected in large heaps somedays prior to cutting down the sugarcane.

A yellow dye obtained by boiling theleaves is used for dyeing coarse cloth. Itgives a greenish-blue colour whencombined with indigo. (Source: The NewNation [Bangladesh], 3 September 2005.)

“WILDLIFE INTERPOL”

Officials from ten Southeast Asiancountries gathered in Bangkok to launcha regional Wildlife Enforcement Networkto combat criminal syndicates thatsmuggle exotic wildlife across borders forimmense profits. The agency, heraldedas a “wildlife Interpol”, will ensure sharingof information between countries wherethe black market trading of items such asbushmeat, fur, pet birds, animal skins andreptiles is proving difficult to control. Theglobal illegal wildlife trade is estimated tobe worth at least US$10 billion a year,slightly less than the trafficking of armsand narcotics. (Source: WildlifeEnforcement Network [WEN], 2December 2005.)

Take advice from a treeStand upright and strongDefy the stormsRemember your roots

Author unknown


33


Adhatoda vasica nees

BAMBOO

Bamboo attracts global audienceDelegations from four nations – Bhutan,Cuba, Ghana and Timor-Leste – will visitGuwahati in the next six months underthe aegis of the Cane and BambooTechnology Centre (CBTC) to acquirebamboo technology in a bid to developthe bamboo sector in their countries.

A five-member team from the RoyalBhutan Forest Development Corporationwill arrive this week to chalk outmodalities for having their artisanstrained in bamboo technology. They willstudy bamboo plantations and bambooprocessing equipment. Altogether 31species of bamboo grow in Bhutan,probably the largest variety found in anyHimalayan country.

Cuba is also rich in bamboo and skillsin developing bamboo products would goalongside its tourism promotion policy.Bamboo provides good raw material formaking furniture and complementarybuilding materials; new technology,incorporated into existing enterprises,would help to boost tourism. The countryis especially interested in acquiring skillsin weaving bamboo mats. A two-membertechnical team from Cuba is expected toarrive next month.

Ghana is interested in clusterdevelopment (i.e. bringing artisanstogether in common facility centres todevelop products) in the bamboo sectorand would like to learn from CBTCexperiences.

Timor-Leste wishes to upgrade itsskills in building bamboo houses.Bamboo grows widely in the country andcan be used for several purposes.

Employment generation is the biggestconcern in all these countries anddevelopment of the bamboo sector couldmake a significant contribution towardsemployment. (Source: CalcuttaTelegraph, 14 October 2005.)

Bamboo flavone for prostate patentapprovedTramford International Ltd announced thatthe patent for “bamboo flavone application

in antiprostate disease drugs” developedby Future Solutions Development Inc.(FSD), the newly acquired subsidiary of thecompany, was approved by China’s StateIntellectual Property Bureau in November2005. Together with this approval, thesame patent also received approval fromPatent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), theinternational patent registration andadministration organization. The treatymakes it possible to seek patent protectionfor an invention simultaneously in each of alarge number of countries by filing an“international” patent application. FSD filedthis patent under PCT for China, the UnitedStates and Japan. The approval is the firststep for FSD to enter markets in the UnitedStates and Japan.

The scientists at FSD discovered thatbamboo flavone is effective in reliefsymptoms of inflammation caused byprostatitis, prostatic hyperplasia andprostate cancer. About 50 percent of allmen are affected by prostate illnessesduring their lifetime. The bamboo flavone,as a natural extract ingredient, poses nolong-term side effects and is a viableoption in fighting these illnesses. (Source:Tramford International Press Release, 23November 2005.)

Bamboo solution to lake pollution The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)has launched a bamboo project on theLake Victoria Basin as a solution to waterpollution. ICRAF was asked by theSwedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency to develop anecological wastewater treatment that wouldserve the dual function of filtration andpurification of polluted Lake Victoria waters.

The development comes in the wakeof reports by the Lake Victoria

Environmental Management Project(LVEMP) that Lake Victoria’s pollutionhas reached alarming levels. The LakeVictoria Basin supports a population of30 million people who depend on itswaters but only 30 percent have accessto clean water. Water-borne diseasessuch as cholera, typhoid and dysenteryare common in about 90 percent of thepopulation.

However, the report, written by ICRAFscientists Willy Kakuru and Chin Ong,says that bamboo is a promisingalternative since it can take up nitrogen,phosphorus and heavy metals. Thesemetals are attributed to pollution of someof the aquatic ecosystems.

The ICRAF project has already startedpilot sites in Kisumu to demonstratebamboo’s potential for wastewatertreatment. The main focus is to expandthe project to the whole Lake VictoriaBasin, including Uganda, Rwanda andthe United Republic of Tanzania. Pilotactivities are soon to be extended toKampala and Mwanza and later to othertowns on the lakeshore.

The project is expected to offer greatpotential for income and employment forcommunities around the Lake VictoriaBasin.

The report says that in China theannual export value from bambooproducts is estimated to be more thanUS$600 million, with the total value ofthe bamboo industry estimated at $12 billion, almost double the total grossdomestic product (GDP) of the threeEast African countries. According to thescientists, promotion of value addition inbamboo products will create an incentivefor planting bamboo.

Since indigenous bamboo is nowrestricted to mountainous areas and is agovernment protected resource, ICRAFsays that there is an urgent need todiversify bamboo species and products.

Further plans include the promotion oflinkages to markets for bamboo productsand improving the skills of local artisansin the efficient use of bamboo rawmaterials for high-value products.(Source: East African [Kenya], 7November 2005.)


34

P R O D U C T S A N D M A R K E T S


Dr Willy Kakuru or Chin Ong, ICRAF,

PB1752, Kampala, Uganda. E-mail:

[email protected] or

[email protected] or visit the LVEMP

Web site: www.lvemp.org/

Bamboo housesThe lean, tall and gracious bamboo is anecofriendly natural resource of greatutility that has been meeting the wide-ranging needs of human society fromtime immemorial.

Indonesia is the world’s largestproducer of bamboo. About half a millionpeople in Southeast Asia derive theiremployment directly from bamboocultivation, extraction and processing.From birth to death, bamboo plays acrucial role in the lives of millions. Chinahas succeeded in turning bamboo into alucrative foreign exchange earnerthrough the production and export ofmany innovative bamboo products.

India, which has the second highestresource of bamboo in the world(bamboo forests cover 10.03 million ha –12.8 percent of the country’s forests), isalso planning to exploit the global marketfor bamboo products. There is a hugedemand and supply gap insofar asbamboo is concerned: the supply ofbamboo at present is about 13.47 milliontonnes, while demand is pegged at 26.9 million tonnes. India hopes toovercome the gap by raising commercialbamboo plantations. According to theInternational Network for Bamboo andRattan (INBAR), the Indian bambooindustry is estimated to grow to aUS$5.7 billion sector by 2015, as againstthe $174 million sector in 2000.

A large proportion of the tribalpopulation in the country is dependenton bamboo for its livelihood. InKarnataka, Medhara tribals who havebeen making a living for centuriesthrough bamboo products are finding ithard to make ends meet on account ofan acute shortage of bamboo.

Possibly no other natural species isused to make as many products asbamboo. From the traditional weapons ofthe aboriginals to the scaffoldings of

modern high-rise buildings, bamboocontinues to play a role in humancivilization.

In recent years, there has been agrowing emphasis on promoting thecultivation of bamboo varieties. Bamboothat has traditionally been used in paperand rayon production is now being usedfor buildings in many parts of the world. InBangalore, the Indian Plywood IndustryResearch and Training Institute hasdeveloped the technological elements forbuilding dwellings with reinforcedbamboo. There is a move to popularizethe cost-efficient and ecofriendly bamboohouses in both the rural and urban areasof India. The Bangkok-based AsianInstitute of Technology (AIT) has played akey role in popularizing bamboo housesin rural pockets of Thailand, with a highdegree of success. (Source: CentralChronicle [India], 21 November 2005.)

(Please see pp. 29 and 30 for moreinformation on bamboo.)

CHESTNUTS

Just as sweet as a chestnutThe chestnut, also known as sweetchestnut, originally from Asia Minor, wasfirst introduced to Europe by the AncientGreeks. In the poorer, mountainousregions of the Mediterranean, where eventhe humblest cereals cannot be grown, thechestnut has long been a dietary staple:dried and ground into flour and made intobread or soup; and fed to pigs to give theirmeat a more nutty taste.

Chestnuts are the only nuts to containsignificant amounts of vitamin C;amazingly, 100 g of chestnuts contain asmuch vitamin C as 100 g of lemons. Theyare beneficial in building resistance toinfection, particularly the common cold,

and contain antioxidant nutrients that helpto protect against cancers, heart diseaseand stress and promote healthy gums andbones. It is no wonder that the seventeenthcentury herbalist John Evelynrecommended chestnuts for a goodcomplexion, while his contemporaryNicholas Culpeper suggested that theyprevent scurvy. Vitamin C is used in manyskin care products as it helps in theformation of collagen, the skin’s supportfibre, and improves skin texture.

Chestnuts also contain minerals –phosphorus and potassium in particular –which are essential for nerve function,muscle control, blood pressure control andheart health. They are rich in complexcarbohydrates and are, therefore, a goodsource of energy.

Grinding chestnuts into flour offers agluten- and cholesterol-free alternative formaking bread and pasta; ideal, not only forthose who are wheat-intolerant, but also foranyone looking for variety and a rich,distinctive flavour.

Chestnuts have a lower protein contentthan most nuts and, unlike other nuts, havelittle oil, making them lower in fat andcalories. They are also a good source offibre.

Absolutely nothing is “done” tochestnuts; they are an unadulterated wildfood and the spiky husks are discarded onthe forest floor to turn to mulch, acting asnatural compost. (Source: The Timesonline [United Kingdom], 19 November2005.)

Scientists trying to resurrect Americanchestnut treesChestnut trees used to be as plentiful in theeastern United States as oaks and maplesare today. About 25 percent of forestedland, stretching from Maine to northernGeorgia, was composed of chestnut trees.They were big, substantial trees, somesurviving 400 years, often measuring morethan 8 ft (2.4 m) in diameter and reaching120 ft (36.6 m) into the sky, filled with nuts,having long, thin green leaves and, startingaround mid-June, tiny blooms.

But the tree known as the “redwood ofthe East” because of its resistance to rotand its value as lumber is now an extremely



35

rare treasure in a region where it was onceabundant. Sometime in the late 1800s, adifferent variety of chestnut tree, perhapsfrom Asia, was imported into the UnitedStates carrying blight. The affliction was notdiscovered until 1904, and it was soondetermined that the American chestnut treewas not resistant to the disease.

Over the next 50 years, 4 billionchestnut trees, about 99.9 percent of theeastern population, succumbed.

The loss proved tragic on severalcounts. Residents of Appalachia lost asteady income from lumber and nuts –chestnuts at one time produced about 50 percent of the entire forest nut crop.Wildlife also suffered because the oncebountiful food supply all but disappeared.

However, more than 50 years after thetree bordered on extinction, an effort isnow under way to bring back the chestnut.Scientists are working to develop a blight-resistant strain in the rolling hills ofsouthwestern Virginia, and there is hopethat sometime towards the middle of thecentury the chestnut tree will come home.“Our goal is to restore the Americanchestnut to the eastern forest,” said thepresident and chief executive officer of theAmerican Chestnut Foundation.

Accomplishing that ambitious objectiveis going to take time. The foundation is inthe third year of what stands to be a 30-year project. But results thus far showpromise and there is optimism that theventure ultimately will become the mostsuccessful nature restoration programmein the nation’s history. (Source: ScrippsHoward News Service, 16 November2005.)

CORK

Wine company abandons cork stoppersConcerned by overwhelming proof that asignificant amount of wines sealed withtraditional tree bark cork are spoiled bycork taint, Don Sebastiani & Sons todayannounced that they will focus exclusivelyon using alternative closures for theirentire product line. With annual caseproduction approaching two million, thecompany is now the largest wine company

in the world to abandon totally thetraditional cork closure.

Cork taint occurs when natural mouldin corks causes a chemical reaction thatproduces trichloroanisole, commonlycalled TCA. The compound can give winean unpleasant, musty odour. (Source:Business Wire (press release) [UnitedStates], 8 August 2005.)

Alcan seeks to turn tables on cork diehardsMontreal-based aluminium giant Alcan Inc.is in the forefront of the movement toconvert cork diehards to the view thatscrew caps really are better,notwithstanding their hard-to-shakeassociation – in the minds of many – withcheap jug wine. The key reason for theswitchover is that inert screw caps are asuperior seal against oxygen, whereasabout 10 percent of wines stopped withcork are affected by cork taint. Cork taintcan deaden a wine’s subtle and complexflavours or leave it smelling musty and bad-tasting, according to the industry. Screwtops are also better at maintainingfreshness than either natural or syntheticcorks, according to studies. (Source: Globeand Mail [Canada], 7 November 2005.)

Conserving cork forests in theMediterraneanIn recent years, the use of corkalternatives, specifically plastic wine bottlestoppers, has been increasing. Their usethreatens the economy, environment andcultural traditions of the cork-producingregions of western Spain and easternPortugal where cork oak trees (Quercussuber) dominate large swaths of theIberian Peninsula. In the cork-producingareas of the Peninsula, cork oak forests(montados) represent around 21 percent ofthe forest area and are responsible for theproduction of more than 50 percent of thecork consumed worldwide.

Careful forest management provides forthe continued removal of the cork oak’sbark in a cycle of nine to fifteen years, whilehelping to maintain a unique ecosystem ofhigh biodiversity and creating theconditions for a diverse range of woodlandproducts. Villagers gather edible fungi fortheir own consumption, use rockrosebushes for firewood in their traditional stonebread ovens and tap local beehives forhoney flavoured with native lavender androsemary. On even a small patch of corkland a farmer can raise a herd of goats, afew cows and some pigs, which forage foracorns and graze beneath the trees.

The recent growth of synthetic cork hasprompted concern that by threateningtraditional cork production, these newstoppers could undermine the economicbasis of cork harvesting and thereby thecork-producing areas. Economic pressurescould force farmers to convert their forests,which would disrupt the natural ecosystem,increase erosion and lead to possibledesertification.

The Rainforest Alliance is working withthe cork industry and cork landowners inPortugal, Italy and Spain, helping them tomeet the conditions for Forest StewardshipCouncil certification. The SmartWoodcertification of cork forests paves the wayfor the conservation of one of the lastremaining natural forest ecosystems inwestern Europe and with it, theenvironmental, economic and culturalstability of the cork-producing regions. TheAlliance is also working to educateconsumers about the fact that cork can beharvested sustainably and in harmony withthe environment. (Source: RainforestAlliance, 2004 Annual Report andRainforest Matters [[email protected]].)

For more information about Rainforest

Alliance’s SmartWood programme,

please see: www.rainforest-

alliance.org/news/2005/cork.html?tr=y&a

uid=980992


36


EDIBLE INSECTS

Creature-eating source of income and nutritious foodAs Mexico’s centuries-old tradition ofeating insects becomes more lucrative,researchers are trying to convince poorcommunities to cash in on eating thecreatures as a source of income andnutritious food. With a protein contentalmost twice that of beef, some insectscould become a welcome diet supplementamong the estimated 20 million Mexicans who live in extremepoverty on incomes of US$1/day or less.

In many towns, especially in southernMexico, insects are a regular part of thediet and although many Mexicans are stillrepulsed by the thought, the insect-eatingmovement is winning converts in a varietyof ways. Consider the chocolate-coveredlocusts, locusts in sweet sauce, worm Jell-O and worms covered in clear, hard candyinvented by biologist Juan Garcia Oviedoof the National Polytechnic Institute ofMexico. They have been a big hit in testgroups and children love them.

Farmers on the outskirts of Mexico Citywere spending large amounts of money onpesticides to kill grasshoppers, GarciaOviedo said, until they found they could getmore money for the edible bugs at localmarkets than for their crops. It is also moreenvironmentally sound, researchers say,noting that in Aztec times, pest control wasaccomplished largely by eating rather thanspraying.

In Tlaxcala state, maguey worms areraised all year. Currently available only incertain seasons, farmers can now producethe worms throughout the year by using cutmaguey leaves and in vitro production oflarvae. Increased availability wouldimprove the market for the sought-afterwhite and red wrinkly worms – actuallycaterpillars – which are fried and sold withbutter and garlic for as much as $40 for 12at some upmarket Mexican restaurants,about 15 times the price paid to those whogather them.

The insect renaissance also seeks torevive ancient practices in Mexico, such as“hidden” insect ingredients, for those too

squeamish to swallow a locust whole. Insome villages in southern Mexico, insect“contamination” is hardly accidental. A fewground-up insects are added to hot chillisalsa in villages as a nutritional boost.Garcia Oviedo applies that same principleto modern products, such as grinding upgrasshoppers into hot dogs and enrichingtortillas by adding a high-protein powdermade from milling less commerciallyvaluable larvae. Nevertheless, Mexicanfood safety standards treat insect contentas contamination, rather than as a potentialmain ingredient.

The biggest challenge, however, isreviving an appetite for some of theestimated 360 insect species that theMexicans’ ancestors used to eat, such asstink bugs, honey ants, beetle grubs, waterbeetle larvae, bees and fly eggs. So far,Garcia’s test groups have been successful.(Source: EITB [Spain], 14 June 2005.)

Insectes comestibles au Sud-Bénin Plus de 500 espèces d’insectes sontconsommées par les humains dans lesrégions tropicales et subtropicales. Lapratique de l’entomophagie contribue àcompenser les carences en protéines et enlipides par rapport à la viande de poulet etde porc. La demande mondiale de viandes’accroît et il devient important de trouverdes sources alimentaires ayant un meilleurrendement. Les insectes sont consommésdepuis plusieurs décennies au Bénin,renferment une source très importante enprotéines animales pouvant remplacervalablement certaines viandes et ainsilutter contre la malnutrition infantile. Uneétude préliminaire a été menée pourrépertorier sommairement les insectes dequelques régions du Sud-Bénin. Au total,quatre espèces sont comestibles:Ormesson spp., Rhynchophorusphoenicis, Brachytrupes membranaceus etMacrotermes falciger. Les espècesMacrotermes falciger et Oryctes spp. sontplus consommées que les autres. Lesdifférents résultats sont dus aux espèces

consommées, aux techniques de récolte,aux usages culinaires, aux communautésconsommatrices et à l’importanceéconomique. Les premiers résultatsobtenus nous permettrons de faire destravaux sur l’analyse chimique desdifférents insectes répertoriés et dedéterminer les taux de pourcentage enprotéine, lipides et la valeur calorique.

Cette première étude fait partie despriorités du Plan d’action pour labiosécurité en République du Bénin, laconservation et pour l’utilisation durabledes ressources biologiques (Article 6 b,page 7 de la Convention sur la diversitébiologique). (Contribution de: M. SévérinTchibozo, Centre de recherche pour lagestion de la biodiversité et du terroir 04B.P. 0385 Cotonou, Bénin. Télécopie: +229 21303084; courriel: [email protected];site Web: www.hyperinfo.de/arccona;www.web-africa.org/cerget)

Edible insects on sale in the UnitedKingdomAdd a chocolate coating and apparentlypeople in the United Kingdom will eatanything – even ants, scorpions andworms. London’s Fortnum & Mason storehas started stocking a range of noveltydrinks and nibbles containing the insects,as well as hornets and snakes.

The bizarre bites apparently boostenergy levels and the libido and are coatedin honey, chocolate or vodka in order tohelp the medicine go down.

Tom Dalton, the founder of Edible whichproduces the insect appetizers, said: “Weare shifting about 750 000 units a year andFortnum & Mason sold around 1 500 of ourgiant ants covered in chocolate in the lasttwo weeks alone”.

Animal rights activists claim that thetreats are twisted and cruel. (Source:DeHavilland [United Kingdom], 31 October2005.)



37

East Asia, where it has been prized forcenturies for medicinal properties.

Hunting ginseng to generate extracash – at least US$250/lb (453.6 g) –has long been a practice among someresidents of the Appalachian Mountains.Virginia is one of the largest exporters ofginseng in the nation and with WestVirginia accounts for approximately 18percent of the 60 000 lb (27 200 kg)annual national harvest. In the past threeyears, the state agriculture departmentcertified 4 000 lbs (1 800 kg), 5 000 lbs(2 270 kg) and 3 600 lbs (1 633 kg) ofginseng for export at an annual valueapproaching $1 million. (Sources:RedNova.com [United States], 12 August2005 and Southern Standard [UnitedStates], 25 September 2005.)

HONEY

Honey used as an antibiotic Australian researchers have found honeyto be effective as an antibiotic cream toprevent infections when applied tocatheter sites in kidney dialysis patients.Kidney specialist David Johnson saidhoney also had an advantage over thecommonly used antibiotic ointment,mupirocin, in that hospital “superbugs”such as Staphylococcus aureus,commonly known as golden staph, hadnot developed resistance to it. “There areno documented cases of honey-resistantbacteria,” Professor Johnson said.(Source: NEWS.com.au [Australia], 26August 2005.)

Honey’s healing qualities stump scientists A type of honey produced in northernNew South Wales has attracted interestfrom scientists and doctors for its healingproperties. Doctors are recommending


ginseng grows in the eastern regionsbetween 30° and 48°N latitude. Thisarea includes northeast China’s JilinProvince and the Korean Peninsula.

Today, authentic wild mountainginseng is very difficult to find. Peoplenow cultivate it in fields.

Korean ginseng is categorized intothree types, according to the processingmethods used: fresh or raw ginseng isunprocessed, with its original shapeintact; white ginseng is peeled and driedin the sun; and red ginseng is steamedand dried to a brown hue and can bekept for longer.

KGC’s sales reached 305 billionKorean won ($290 million) in 2004; 70 percent of its products are fordomestic consumption. Its exportsreached $55 million in the same year;approximately $27 million of which wereexports to Hong Kong SAR and theChinese mainland. (Source: ChinaBusiness Weekly, 7 November 2005.)

Ginseng export restrictions toughened in the United StatesThe United States Fish and WildlifeService issued a ruling this month that it isincreasing the age limit for ginseng(American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius)roots eligible for export from five to tenyears this season. The five-year agerestriction, enacted in 1999, was the firstever on ginseng exports. The change ismeant to halt the rapid disappearance –caused by overharvesting – of wildginseng on private land and in nationalparks and forests. The age restriction alsoapplies to ginseng grown under simulatedwild conditions unless the grower obtainsan exemption from the agency.

Ginseng is a slow-growing, long-livingperennial herb. The age of ginseng canbe determined in two ways: by countingthe scars on the plant’s undergroundstem caused by the yearly loss of itsabove-ground stem or by counting thenumber of above-ground compoundleaves, also known as “prongs”. Plantswith three prongs are five years old andthose with four prongs are ten years old.

The primary market for ginseng isoverseas. Most of the dried root goes to

GINSENG

Ginseng guidelines An international standard on ginseng willtake several more years to be adopted,as discussion at the Codex Commissionyesterday revealed a wide difference ofopinion on the scope of the standard. Thestandard proposed by the Government ofthe Republic of Korea a few years agohas made slow progress with Codexdecision-makers because of diverseopinions as to ginseng’s status and thesignificant number of different species onthe market.

In some countries, including withinEurope, ginseng is not listed as a foodingredient. A Codex guideline wouldrecognize its status at international levelas a food. (Source: Food Navigator[France], 5 July 2005.)

Root of the matter in the Republic of KoreaThe largest ginseng producer in theRepublic of Korea is poised to cash in onthe Chinese public’s increasing appetitefor health care products with Korean redginseng expecting to become the latest“Korean wave” export to hit China. TheKorea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) hasbeen producing red ginseng for morethan 100 years; Cheong-Kwan-Jang isthe top brand in the Republic of Korea.KGC expects annual sales in the Chinesemarket to reach US$30 million next year.

There are three main types ofginseng: “Asian ginseng”, a collectiveterm used to refer to the Chinese andKorean varieties, American ginseng andSiberian ginseng. The best Asian


38

jelly bush honey to help treat ulcers,burns and sores. But scientists cannotwork out the honey’s active ingredient.

Dr Craig Davis, from Queensland’sDepartment of Primary Industries, sayshe has spent years researching the jellybush honey’s antibacterial properties. “Ican’t put a name to it; it’s a floralchemical that the tree makes andsecretes into the nectar that the beescollect,” he said. “When the bees havecollected that nectar they put it into thehoney and when the honey is used itseems to have this additional factor.”(Source: ABC Regional online [Australia],10 September 2005.)

Honey production in Malaysia Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food IndustryMinister said local farmers shouldconsider venturing into honey productionto offset imports of related products. Hedescribed honey as a lucrativecommodity, which could provide at leastRM2 500 a month. Malaysia importedsome 2 520 tonnes of honey worthRM17.6 million last year and Sabahimported 49 tonnes worth RM1 millionduring the same period. TheGovernment’s aspiration is to makeMalaysia one of the major honeyproducers in the world, he added.

The honey bee species Apis cerena isunique, thriving on acacia trees, coconutplantations and pristine jungles for itsfood and nectar, available mainly inKudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas. In thisrespect, people were urged to refrainfrom indiscriminate felling of trees, anaction that could reduce the foodresources of these bees, he said.

The Government has allocated RM200 000 this year as start-up capital forfarmers in Sabah interested in promotingthe honey industry. (Source: Daily Express[Malaysia], 20 September 2005.)

Honey exports from Nepal to theEuropean Union likely to resume Exports of Nepali honey, once greatly indemand in Europe, are likely to resumesoon as a result of the latest efforts beingmade in quality testing for Europeanstandards.

The European Union banned theimport of Nepali honey in 2002, statingthat its quality did not meet Europeanstandards. The use of pesticides inbeekeeping and brood harvesting was amajor reason for halting honey exportscompletely for the last three years.

Nepali honey is famous in Europe,especially in Scandinavian countries,and about 100 tonnes of honey used tobe exported from Nepal every year.(Source: Xinhuanet [China], 26 October2005.)

Brazilian honey has flavours and coloursfor all tastesBrazil is the seventh largest producer andexporter of honey in the world. In 2004honey exports exceeded US$43 million,with a volume of 21 400 tonnes, i.e. 47.5percent of the yearly production of 45 000tonnes. This position was reached as aresult of the quality and variety of thehoney, mostly wild, and also to the spaceleft open by China, which faced salesrestrictions because of the use ofpesticides in production. In fact, in 2001China, the largest honey producer in theworld with 275 000 tonnes/year, wasprohibited from exporting because of thestrong presence of pesticides in theproduct.

According to the Brazilian ApicultureConfederation (CBA), around 70 percentof the domestic production is of wildhoney with 173 catalogued honey plants.

With the return of the Chinese to themarket, however, Brazil did not manageto maintain the rhythm of growth offoreign sales. From January to April

2004, Brazil exported 8 700 tonnes,which generated $20.4 million. In thesame period in 2005, exports totalledjust 3 300 tonnes, equivalent to $6.6million. This is a significant reduction interms of volume and revenue. However,because of the quality of Brazilian honey,one of the paths followed by the CBA isprospecting new importer countries tomaintain foreign sales.

The Arab market is consideredfavourable. Last year the countries in theLeague of Arab States imported 50 000tonnes of honey from China.

Apiculture may also be considered anexcellent option for diversification ofcultures and for farmers’ incomegeneration, mainly in the poorest regionsof the country, as is the case in the northand northeast of Brazil. According to theCBA, between 2002 and 2005, 150 000jobs were generated, guaranteeinggreater opportunities in the interior andthus avoiding a rural exodus by manyfamilies. Apart from providing incentivesfor production, regional associations andcooperatives were created for the honeyto be traded. (Source: ANBA (Brazil-ArabNews Agency) [Brazil], 29 June 2005.)

MEDICINAL ANDAROMATIC PLANTS

Artemesia annua shows “potential” in preventing breast cancer An extract of the sweet wormwood plant(Artemesia annua), used for centuries tofight malaria and shown to target and killcancer cells, may help prevent breastcancer, researchers have found. The twobioengineers with the University ofWashington in Seattle found that thesubstance artemisinin seemed to preventbreast cancer in rats that had swalloweda cancer-causing chemical. The studyappears in the latest issue of theresearch journal Cancer Letters.

Because artemisinin is widely used inAsia and Africa as an antimalarial drug, ithas a track record of being relativelysafe. The results “indicate that it may bea potent cancer-chemoprevention agent... additional studies are needed to



39

when they harvest the plant’s thickfoliage, compared with about $22.7 frommaize crops. Scientists are working on asynthetic version, but this has not yetbeen perfected. However, switching backonce the Artemisia annua market fadesshould not be a problem for farmers,since the medicinal plant takes less toilon the soil than maize.

In the meantime, increased Artemisiaannua supplies could bring down thecosts of artemisinin-based treatment,crucial in a poor country such as theUnited Republic of Tanzania. Artemisinin-based combination treatments costabout $2 a dose. Other antimalarialdrugs cost between 10 and 15 cents.

A cheaper alternative to artemisinin-based combination drug treatment formalaria is for people growing the plant intheir gardens to pluck and dry a fewleaves to make an infusion taken overseven days. There have been no widelyrecognized scientific studies of suchinfusions. (Source: Guardian Unlimited[United Kingdom], 17 June 2005.)

Fighting malaria with traditionalmedicinal plants East African scientists have translatednew findings regarding the antimosquitoproperties of indigenous African plantsinto a low-cost and effective mosquitorepellent that could play a role in reducingmalaria transmission. Their research,presented at the Fourth MultilateralInitiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African

investigate whether the breast cancerprevention property of artemisinin can begeneralized to other types of cancer”.(Source: World Science, 20 December2005.)

Artemisia annua fights malaria Artemisia annua, more commonly knownas wormwood or sagewort, has beenapplied for a variety of ailments, includinghaemorrhoids, coughs and fevers. Chinaand Viet Nam are the main sources of theplant native to Asia, but they have beenunable to meet a steep increase indemand. The World Health Organization(WHO) says demand for artemisinin-based combination drug treatment roseto 30 million courses in 2004, from just 2 million courses in 2003.

Last year, after trials in severalcountries, it was found that the plantgrows well in East Africa – fitting, asTanzanian health officials call malariathis country’s number one killer, withroughly 100 000 fatalities, mainlychildren, each year.

Resistance to other antimalarial drugshas grown over the years, leading WHOin 2001 to recommend artemisinin-basedcombination drug treatment.

Some farmers who have been growingmaize and beans for years are switchingto Artemisia annua, a medicinal herbfrom which artemisinin is extracted tomake a drug or a combination of drugsused to treat malaria. The treelike plant,which grows up to six ft (1.8 m) isextremely valuable and does not needas much care as maize, largely acting asits own pesticide and insecticide.Farmers expect to earn about US$36

Malaria Conference in November 2005, isindicative of a surge of scientific interestin the antimosquito properties ofindigenous plant life.

Scientists from Kenya, working withinvestigators from other East Africanresearch institutions, tested oilsextracted from 150 East African plantsfor their ability to repel malaria-carryingmosquitoes and found that 20 of themappeared to be effective. They thenformulated a mixture of the oils into acream that is now being sold under thebrand name Mozigone. Tests showedthe cream was more effective thanDEET, the chemical found in most widelyused consumer brands of mosquitorepellent and was also less expensive toproduce.

Scientific efforts to derive new malariamedicines from indigenous plants haveintensified since artemisinin, an extractof the wormwood plant (Artemisiaannua) emerged as the leading drug forfighting the disease.

Scientists have also discussed: • the potential for a Brazilian plant

known as “Indian beer” to preventmalaria. Laboratory studies haveshown that the plant can kill themalaria parasite early in its lifecyclebefore it matures and does the mostdamage to the human body;

• two plants used by traditional herbalpractitioners in Burkina Faso to treatmalaria. Used in combination,Pavetta crassipes and Mitragynainermis exhibited antimalarialproperties when tested against alaboratory culture taken from a drug-resistant form of the malaria parasite;

• the antimalarial activity of methanolextract of Adansonia digitata (Africanbaobab tree) in mice infected with arodent form of malaria. Thetraditional use of baobab as amalaria treatment is well knownthroughout the West Africa region.The results of the test indicate that A. digitata bark extract was able toreduce malaria parasites in themouse.

(Source: The Fourth Multilateral Initiativeon Malaria [Dakar], 14 November 2005.)


Recognizing the antimalarialproperties of Artemisia annua, theFoundation of Italian Doctors forAfrica (Fondazione Italiana Medici perl’Africa – FIMA ONLUS) has prepareda project covering its cultivation andfree distribution in Burundi.


FIMA, piazza Monte Grappa 9,

00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy. E-mail:

[email protected]; www.fimaonlus.it/


40

Boswellia ovalifoliolata (Bal. et Henry) Boswellia ovalifoliolata (Bal. et Henry), anarrow endemic and endangered plantfrom the hot spots of India’s Tirupati-Tirumala-Nallamalai hills, belongs to thefamily Burseraceae, and is vernacularlyknown as konda guggilum in Telugu. Thismedium-sized deciduous tree is narrowlydistributed on the foothills of the easternparts of the Tirumala hills up to an altitudeof about 300 m.

The plant flowers from December toFebruary and the fruits appear betweenApril and June. Leaf fall occurs fromDecember to February and new foliageappears in April to May. The plant trunksecretes oleoresin, a secondarymetabolite that is a pale yellow liquidand hardens on exposure. Amyrins arethe chief constituents of this gumtogether with resin acids and volatileacids. The tribals of the Tirumala hills(Lambadi, Sugali and Nakkala) and thelocal healers of surrounding villages usethe gum extensively to cure a number ofdiseases. They make deep incisions onthe main trunk to extract the gum butunknowingly cause damage to immatureplants, leading to the depletion of theplant in its natural habitat. It has nowbecome endangered and is listed in theCITES red data book under medicinalplants.

The gum and fresh leaf juice are usedfor mouth and throat ulcers. Shade-driedgum is powdered, dissolved in water,mixed with curd and given orally to cureamoebic dysentery. The gum powdermixed with sour milk is taken on anempty stomach for stomach ulcers and,mixed with the plant Pedalium murex, ismade into paste and applied on theaffected parts of the body to curehydrocoele. A decoction of the stem barkis used for joint or rheumatic pains.(Contributed by: Dr (Mrs) N.Savithramma, Associate Professor,Department of Botany, S.V. University,Tirupati 517 502, India. E-mail:[email protected])

Mappia foetidaThe Western Ghats are home to themedicinal plant Mappia foetida,


Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs)are offered in a wide variety ofproducts on the market. An estimated40 000–50 000 plant species are usedin traditional and modern medicinethroughout the world. The greatmajority of MAP species is providedby collection from the wild. This trendis likely to continue in the long termas a result of numerous factors,including the high costs ofdomestication and cultivation.Moreover, cultivation is notnecessarily the most beneficialproduction system for some MAPspecies. Wild collection securesvaluable income for rural households,especially in developing countries;may provide incentives forconservation and sustainable use ofimportant habitats; and canstrengthen local economies.Approaches to sustainable wild MAPcollection that engage local, regionaland international collectionenterprises and markets are urgentlyneeded to provide specific guidancefor industry, collectors and otherstakeholders on sustainable sourcingpractices.

The German Federal Agency forNature Conservation (BfN) hasprovided start-up funding for thedevelopment of an InternationalStandard for Sustainable WildCollection of Medicinal and AromaticPlants (ISSC-MAP). The project isimplemented by the Medicinal Plant

Specialist Group (MPSG) throughIUCN-Canada and by WWF/TRAFFICGermany. This standard will bridge thegap between already existing butmostly very abstract guidelines andmanagement plans developed forspecific local conditions. Stakeholdersinvolved will receive an easy to handlelist of criteria, indicators and verifiersthat will enable them to prove thesustainability of wild collected plantmaterial. ISSC-MAP covers social andeconomic factors, but clearly focuseson ecological aspects addressing twoimportant elements that are often leftaside: the need for resourceassessments and the question ofannual sustained yields.

The development of ISSC-MAPbuilds on existing principles,guidelines and standards forsustainable forest practices, organicproduction and good agriculturalpractices, fair trade and productquality.

Drafts of the standard and otherdocuments related to the project areavailable on the project Web site(www.floraweb.de/map-pro).Comments on the current draft arewelcome and can be sent to [email protected]/(Contributed by: Susanne Honnef,Species ConservationSection/TRAFFIC, WWF Germany,Rebstöckerstr. 55, 60326 Frankfurt/M.,Germany. Fax: 0 69/7 91 44-213;e-mail: [email protected]; www.wwf.de)

DEVELOPING AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR THE SUSTAINABLE WILDCOLLECTION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS


41

commonly known as narakya or amruta.The alleged illegal international trade ofthis plant is now becoming an issue ofconcern. Mappia foetida is sought afterfor its high concentration of camptothecin– an agent used in drugs to treat cancerin countries such as Japan, Germany,Spain and China.

Besides Karnataka, Mappia foetida isfound in Satara, Pune, Kolhapur, Raigad,Ratnagiri and Jalgaon in Maharashtra.Interestingly, most of the land on which itgrows belongs to the forest department,yet the plant has been plunderedunchecked for the last eight to ten years.

Dr P.S.N. Rao, director of theBotanical Survey of India, Pune, whohas undertaken a study on this plantsays: “Of late, a worldwide search forplant- and animal-based anticancerousdrugs has gathered momentum and sothe plant is being regularly harvestedfrom reserve forest zones inMaharashtra. According to figures fromthe Forest Research Centre at Wada inThane district, about 16 lakh/kg of thisplant powder was exported to Japan andSpain from Maharashtra during 2002.While intermediaries sell it forRs1 700/kg, the villagers who supply thedried bark and wood to the dealersreceive just Rs2–3/kg.”

However, Rao feels that instead ofincluding the plant on the endangeredspecies list, it should be cultivated on alarge scale to procure foreign exchange.The debate now revolves aroundwhether its potential should be exploitedin a scientific manner or whether itshould be put on the endangeredspecies list. (Source: Indian Express[India], 3 July 2005.)

Stephania brachyandra shows capabilityto treat melanoma Researchers at New Zealand’sWellington School of Medicine areworking on a possible treatment formelanoma derived from a Vietnameseherb. This herb’s potential came to lightthrough a project that aims to saveendangered medicinal plants anddevelop sustainable incomes forVietnamese hill tribes, whose people areamong the poorest in Asia.

The company behind the project,Forest Herbs Research Ltd, hasregistered a provisional patent to protectthe intellectual property of the project forthe benefit of the hill tribes, and isexploring options for commercializing thediscovery.

The Director of Forest Herbs, PeterButler, says the find was unexpected.“We certainly weren’t looking for a curefor cancer. Our expertise is in naturalproducts to control Candida albicansoutgrowth.” Butler says the patent for themelanoma treatment will be assigned toa collective of the hill tribes in the Sa Padistrict, near the Chinese border. Theplant, with antimelanoma properties, is avery rare tuber found at high altitudes inthe forest. Methods have beendeveloped to propagate and cultivate itto protect the wild stock and to provide aviable base for an industry.

The tuber of the plant Stephaniabrachyandra has traditionally been usedfor many purposes, including as arelaxant and sleep aid. New researchhas shown that its antimelanomaproperties are untapped.

The Forest Herbs’ team in Viet Namhas some other exciting prospects forthe plants of the northern hills of Sa Pa.The aid project has funded a commercialessential oil still, set up on one of thecommunes to produce oils fromtraditional herbs that showed promise inearly trials. Mr Butler said that one ofthese, a fast-growing member of the mintfamily, Elsholtzia penduliflora, hasexcellent potential and that traditionally ithas been rubbed into sore muscles.There is also demand from internationalfair trade organizations, which will be

supplied when production increases.(Sources: Forest Herbs press release,13 October 2005 and All Headline News,9 November 2005.)


Forest Herbs Research Ltd, 142

Collingwood St, Nelson,

New Zealand. Fax: +64 3 545 6056;


Stevia rebaudiana to cure diabetes Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), a high-valuemedicinal plant whose dry leaves are farsweeter than sugar and can be used bydiabetics, has been successfullycultivated in the Debang valley district ofArunachal Pradesh and is ready forcommercial harvesting.

The Regional Research Laboratory(RRL) of Jorhat has adopted severalvillages at Roing in the Debang valley tomotivate 300 farmers to cultivate theplant. The particular area was selectedsince its climate was ideal for thecultivation of stevia.

RRL has provided technicalassistance to the villagers besides actingas a facilitator to help them findmarketing opportunities through linkswith businesses from as far away asHyderabad. Stevia plants yield 2 500 kgof dry leaves per acre (0.405 ha) peryear and 1 kg of green leaves can fetchRs125.

In Arunachal Pradesh, almost 30species of medicinal plants wereidentified as being commercially viablefor cultivation. Nearly 7 000 farmerscultivate various medicinal and aromaticplants in the northeastern states,including 30 to 35 large entrepreneurswho are mainly tea planters. (Source:Financial Express [India], 27 November2005.)


Natural products are the only sourceof medicine for 75 to 90 percent ofpeople living in developing countries.(Source: www.fao.org/forestry/site/28821/en)


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MORINGA OLEIFERA

The ultimate multipurpose tree The versatile moringa plant abounds innutrients and vitamins. The concept ofusing multipurpose trees has gainedpopularity in recent years and nodiscussion of these trees would be fittingwithout including moringa.

A measure of the versatility andusefulness of a tree is the number ofnames it has been given. One ofmoringa’s more common internationalnames is “horseradish tree” because ofthe flavour of the roots. Another is“mother’s best friend” because of thenutritional value of its fresh or dry leaves.Widely consumed to increase protein,calcium and iron in the diet, moringaleaves are also packed with vitamins A, Band C. Recent research has revealedthat moringa leaf powder may containseven times the vitamin C content oforanges, four times the vitamin A contentof carrots, and three times the potassiumcontent of bananas. When added as asupplement to a child’s diet, just 25 g ofthe leaf powder reportedly supplies allthe calcium and vitamin A daily needs,about half the protein and potassiumdaily needs, and about three-quarters ofthe iron daily needs.

Moringa’s value for human nutrition isnot restricted to its leaves. The flowersare cooked and used in many dishes,and the seeds are boiled, sautéed orfried before consumption.

The plant is also called “drumsticktree” on account of its long and slendernutritional fruits or pods, which look likedrumsticks. The immature green podsare probably the most esteemed and

widely used of all the tree parts. Manycountries throughout Asia use them intheir traditional dishes.

Several other uses of this versatiletree deserve mention: moringa seedsare the source of a fine oil called ben orbehen oil, prized for many years for itsculinary uses, its burn quality ofilluminating without smoke, and itslubricating capabilities for very smallmachinery, such as in watches. Moringaseeds are also effective in clarifyingwater.

No discussion about this tree would becomplete without mentioning itsmedicinal value. In India’s traditionalmedicinal practices, every part of theplant has been used since ancient timesfor the prevention of various diseases orto treat assorted ailments.

Moringa is easily propagated andestablished. Little or no attention isrequired to keep the tree thriving andgrowing well. In fact, stem growth of upto 10 ft (approximately 3 m) or more inone year is not uncommon. (Source:Thomas Marler in Pacific Sunday News,31 July 2005.)

Moringa tree production gets US$60 million boostFarming and propagation of the moringatree, referred to by medicinal scientists as“Africa’s wonder tree”, has gatheredmomentum in Zimbabwe with Tree Africadonating US$60 million towards thelarge-scale cultivation of the tree.

Moringa became popular recently aftertests conducted by scientists in WestAfrica and India revealed that it canboost the human immune system whilethe seeds can be used to process oiland for water purification.

Tree Africa programme adviser MrJacob Jepsen said the money would goa long way towards expanding moringatree cultivation and conservation projectsin Zimbabwe. “This exotic plant has a lotto offer and we would like people to haveaccess to it. It originates from India, butis cultivated in Binga, Mazowe and on asmall scale in the Matabeleland south,north and Nyanga areas,” Mr Jepsensaid.

Tree Africa encourages everybody toestablish nutrient herbal gardens thatwould see them improve their health.“The moringa tree is highly nutritious inVitamins A, B and C and it is also a goodsource of calcium, phosphorus, proteinand carbohydrates. The plant does notcure HIV/AIDS as people have beenspeculating of late,” Mr Jepsen said.

Moringa tree leaves and roots can bepounded differently into powder form andused to spice food or as herbal tea. Theplant is being processed into capsulesbut Tree Africa encourages people touse the unprocessed powders since notraces of other essentials are destroyed.The leaves can be chewed fresh whilethe flowers can be used as relish.

Tree Africa’s Harare offices also sellgenuine moringa tree seedlings for lessthan the exorbitant prices charged bysome unscrupulous dealers. (Source:The Herald [Harare], 30 June 2005.)

Farmers’ drumstick beats droughtIn a country where hundreds of debt-ridden farmers routinely take their livesafter their crops fail, growing drumsticksmay be a solution. The drumstick tree(Moringa oleifera) is one of India’s mostcommon trees, with a vegetable crop oftriangular, ribbed pods with wingedseeds. The tree’s bark, roots, fruit,flowers, leaves, seeds and gum alsohave medicinal uses including as anantiseptic and in treating rheumatism,venomous bites and other conditions.

Growing drumsticks makes eminentgood sense in a country such as Indiawith patchy irrigation systems.



43

Moringa oleifera

Drumsticks can be grown usingrainwater without expensive irrigationtechniques since the yield is good evenif the water supply is not.

While it takes only US$110–130 anacre (0.405 ha) to farm drumsticks,returns from the crop easily range from$440 to $1 550. (Source: BBCNewsroom, 28 November 2005.)

Zimbabweans living with HIV/AIDS turnto herbal medicinesMoringa powder is the latest medicalcraze for Zimbabweans battling with oneof the world’s highest HIV/AIDS infectionrates. Many of those testing positive forHIV/AIDS believe that herbs from thebaobab-like moringa tree, which grows inBinga in northern Zimbabwe, help boostthe immune system and fight off colds.

However, Zimbabwe MedicalAssociation (Zima) said the hype overmoringa was unwarranted and that therewas no evidence to support the fact thatthe herb helps reverse the symptoms ofHIV/AIDS. (Source: Mail and Guardianonline [South Africa], 26 August 2005.)

RATTAN

Silvicultural and sustainable managementof rattan production systems Rattan and NTFPs have rarely beenconsidered major forest products byforestry research institutes, which havenot paid enough attention to these plantsas a way of improving sustainablelivelihoods and reducing the impact oflogging overexploitation through theutilization of alternative sources ofincome.

This neglect changed in the 1970s asa result of supply shortages from thewild, which made several forestresearch institutes intensify their studiesin the taxonomy and biology of rattan inorder to develop methods for growing itin plantations. Several programmeshave been developed and theimportance of this product is nowrecognized. However, although greatadvances have been made in theunderstanding of rattan both in the wildand as a plantation crop, there is stillmuch that is unknown and manyproblems that could threaten thesustainable utilization of the canes stillremain unresolved.

A recent dissertation by EdoardoPantanella (resulting from cooperationbetween the University of Tuscia, Italyand FAO) describes the silvicultural andsustainable management of rattan.Through the review of several studieson ecological, managerial and economicissues, the main aim of the paperconsists in analysing rattan profitabilityand sustainability.

Rattan gross revenues show greateconomic potential in comparison withtimber. Rattan can be harvested withcontinuity and with shorter rotationcycles and does not require largefinancial investment for maintenance,machinery and harvesting equipment orprocessing machineries.

From an ecological point of view,rattan management systems, ifmaintained within a sustainable level,avoid damage to local fauna and florasince they do not disturb local habitatsin the same way as other forestutilizations.

Pantanella concludes that rattan is animportant means of livelihood in almostall equatorial and tropical countries andone of the most important NTFPsworldwide.

However, being considered a minorforest product, rattan is not a priorityissue on the political agenda on accountof its low visibility (no lobbies, regionalinstead of international markets,difficulty in monitoring, data ignored innational accounting schemes) in

comparison with other majorcommodities.


Edoardo Pantanella, Università degli

studi della Tuscia, Facoltà di Agraria,

Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100

Viterbo, Italy. Fax +39 761 357504;


SEA BUCKTHORN(HIPPOPHAERHAMNOIDES)

Breakthrough in the fight against acneand eczema Sea buckthorn is an extraordinary plantthat has been recognized for centuries inEurasia for its exceptional medicinal andnutritional benefits. Its berries are so richin vitamins and nutrients that it has beenspeculated that the plant must have beengrown by ancient plant cultivators.

The oil of sea buckthorn has generalnourishing, revitalizing and restorativeaction. It can be used for acne;dermatitis; irritated, sore, dry and itchingskin; eczema; skin ulcers; postpartumpigmentation; burns; scalds; cuts; andtissue regeneration. The stimulation oftissue regeneration is helpful in thetreatment of burns, bedsores and poorlyhealing wounds. Sea buckthorn oil helpsreduce the damaging effects of sunradiation and effectively combatswrinkles, dryness and other symptoms ofmalnourished or prematurely ageingskin. It is utilized in anti-ageing skincreams and lotions.

The berries appear to be anunsurpassed natural source of vitaminsA and E, carotenes and flavonoids. Sea



44

Hippophae rhamnoides

to grow the “wonder plant”. These colddeserts, where minimum temperaturesdip to -40°C during winter, are bereft ofany vegetation and are perpetually shortof fuelwood, food and fodder. The effortsmade earlier to provide green cover forthe cold deserts under desertdevelopment programmes resulted indeveloping green patches only in someisolated pockets but sea buckthorn is anideal plant for cultivation in such harshand hostile weather conditions.

Sea buckthorn is a deciduous shrub,widely distributed in the cold deserts. Ithas an extensive root system for soilstabilization; a nitrogen-fixing ability forfertility; high vitamin C content; providesbest-quality fuelwood and fodder; and itsfruits and seed oil have a high economicvalue for cosmetics, medicines andbeverages.

The plant can withstand extremetemperatures ranging between -43°Cand +40°C and can grow in dry, aridzones with 300 mm rainfall.

Except for China and the RussianFederation, which developed seabuckthorn as a major horticultural andagro-industrial crop, this wonder planthas remained neglected.

Three species of sea buckthorn,namely H. rhamnoides, H. tibetana, H. salicifolia and Hippophae rhamnoidesssp. turkestanica have been identified sofar and successfully cultivated in cold dryzones. The Baspa, Bhaga and Kazavalleys have unique plant species of seabuckthorn with fewer thorns, densefruiting and large fruits that can beidentified and selected for promotion ona commercial and industrial scale.

Sea buckthorn is used for fuelwood,fencing around fields and houses and forfodder, while herbal doctors use theplant for curing lung diseases andheadache. It is also used for makingwines and jams but these practices havenow become almost extinct as a result ofthe commercialization of agriculture andthe availability of other options.

A series of meetings has beenorganized with the tribal people topopularize sea buckthorn and make itscultivation compulsory in at least a 2-ha

buckthorn berries are second only torosehips and acerola in vitamin Ccontent. They are also rich in severalother vitamins, including B1, B2, K and Pas well as in more than two dozenmicroelements.

The restorative action of seabuckthorn oil may be in part a result ofits high content of essential fatty acids(EFAs), carotenes, tocopherols andphytosterols, which are all important forthe maintenance of healthy skin. TheEFA content in sea buckthorn oil is80–95 percent. Major EFAs are oleic andlinoleic. Others are pentadecenoic,palmitoleic, heptadecenoic, linolenic,eicosenoic, eicosadienoic, erucic andnervonic.

Among the carotenes found in seabuckthorn are alfa- and beta-carotenes,lycopene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin,taraxanthin and phytofluin. Tocopherolsare mostly vitamin E and gamma-tocopherol. Phytosterols of sea buckthorninclude beta-sitosterol, beta-amirol anderithrodiol. Taken internally, sea buckthorncan help prevent gums from bleeding;recuperate mucous membranes; healpeptic and duodenal ulcers; combaturinary tract and cervical erosion; helpsolar and cancer radiation injuries; and isa source of carotenes, phytosterols andEFAs. (Source: I-Newswire.com [UnitedStates], 7 July 2005.)

Tribes in India to grow wonder plant After years of experiments, thesuccessful plantation of sea buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides) in the colddeserts of Himachal Pradesh’s tribalareas of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districtsopened the doors for the prosperity oftribal people who are being encouraged



45

area in each desert development project.Experts and environmentalists feel

that keeping the Chinese experience inview, sea buckthorn’s potential should befully explored for developing it as anagro-industrial crop that would also helpin vegetation rehabilitation and more jobopportunities for poor tribal people withlimited options. (Source: Rediff [India],19 September 2005.)

Ladakh berry beverageDelhi-based FIL Industries Ltd todaylaunched the Ladakh berry premium seabuckthorn beverage in India. The Ladakhberry (also known as sea buckthorn,Hippophae rhamnoides) is extracted fromthe light yellow or orange sea buckthornberries that grow in the wild on thehillsides of Ladakh.

Sea buckthorn is a powerhouse amongfruits and vegetables, containing over 100nutrients, eight vitamins, 24 minerals and18 amino acids. The juice is highly stress-resistant as it contains natural vitamins C,E, A and beta-carotene and flavonoids. Ithas no preservatives and serves as anantioxidant that slows the ageing process,reduces cholesterol, boosts immunity,nourishes the brain and eyes andimproves memory. (Source:agencyfaqs.com [India], 24 October2005.)

SHEA BUTTER(VITELLARIA PARADOXA)

L’arbre à karité (Vitellaria paradoxa) Source d’une des plus anciennes huilesd’Afrique, l’arbre à karité (Vitellariaparadoxa) est un arbre indigèned’Afrique, semi-domestiqué, à croissancelente, présent sur une bande devégétation qui s’étend sur 5 000 km au

sud du Sahel, à travers 16 pays africains,du Sénégal à l’Ethiopie et l’Ouganda.L’utilisation du beurre de karité et del’arbre lui-même a été documentée il y aenviron 4 000 ans en Egypte antique.Dès 1354, l’arbre à karité a étédocumenté comme produit de grandevaleur commerciale régional de l’Afriqueoccidentale par le voyageur marocain IbnBattuta.

Le développement moderne de l’arbreà karité comme ressource économiqueet alimentaire a commencé en Afriqueoccidentale dans les années 50 et aconsidérablement augmenté cesdernières années. Environ 610 000tonnes de noix ont été rassemblées àtravers la zone africaine du karité durant2 000 récoltes. Environ 10 pour cent decette production ont été exportés,principalement vers l’Europe et le Japon,tandis que 545 000 tonnes ont ététraitées localement dont 131 000 tonnesenviron de beurre de karité.L’exploitation économique de l’arbre àbeurre de karité d’Afrique est devenuel’objet d’une industrie dynamique,essentiellement grâce à l’espritd’initiative, à la résistance physique et aucourage des femmes africaines deszones rurales

Les essais d’étude sur la productivité,étant donné la maturation lente del’arbre. (10 à 20 ans), le manque decontinuité dans la recherche et les effortsde développement, ont laissé d’énormeslacunes dans notre compréhension desfacteurs biologiques etenvironnementaux de la productivité dukarité. Durant les quatre dernièresdécennies, des technologies employéesau niveau des villages pour améliorer letraitement du karité ont été développéeset couronnées de nombreux succès enAfrique de l’Est et centrale. Source:

Atelier international sur le traitement, la valorisation et le commerce de karitéen Afrique. Actes du séminaire. CFCDocument technique no 21. FAO, Rome.


Peter Thoenes, Spécialiste des

produits, Division des produits et du

commerce international,

Département économique et social,

FAO, 00100 Rome. Courriel:

[email protected]

Shea butter becoming popular in EuropeWith its natural healing and moisturizingproperties and its ability to combat theageing process, shea butter is fastbecoming the answer to fighting skincomplaints. Although relatively new toAmerica and Europe, shea butter hasbeen used in Africa for centuries as a skinand hair care balm. Today it is used as acream, at various levels of refinement, bymen and women all over the world.

As we become aware of the effects ofchemicals and toxins in our bodies,organic products are increasingly viewedas the number one choice for our healthand beauty demands. Naturally rich inessential vitamins (A, E and F) and acidsthe skin needs, shea butter is 100percent natural. Vitamins A and E helpmaintain the skin and keep it clear andhealthy, preventing premature wrinklesand are especially good for sun-damaged skin and mild skin issues.Vitamin F acts as a skin protector andrejuvenator and soothes rough or dryskin.

Shea’s versatility makes it the newand more efficient alternative to cocoabutter. (Source: Fashion.ie [Ireland], 13December 2005.)

SHELLAC

Lac cultivation in Viet NamShellac represents the sole naturalresinous substance secreted by a smallinsect (Laccifer lacca Kerr) while it livesand develops as a parasite on some lachost trees and plants. The resin is inessence the nest of the Laccifer laccawhose product is termed as “sticklac”when just harvested, “seedlac” whencrushed and washed clean and “shellac”when processed and commercialized inthe form of very thin scales.

Shellac has several particular featuressuch as non-toxicity, insulation andadhesiveness, which are not present inartificial plastic, hence the use of shellacin the manufacture of superior qualitypaint for the electronics, aviation andcanning industries, among others.Pharmacologically, shellac is used as adetoxicant, an antidote and a toothanalgesic.

Shellac has long been produced in theSouth and Southeast Asian region,including Viet Nam and the Lao People’sDemocratic Republic. In 1937, the twolatter countries produced 357 tonnes ofsticklac, valued at approximately Fr.Fr.1million.

In Viet Nam, lac is cultivated mainly inthe northern provinces. The host treesand plants for lac insects to parasitizeinclude Protium serratum, Cajanuscajan, Dalbergia hupeana var. laccifera,Ficus racemosa, Pterocarya tonkinensisand Saraca dives, with the first threegiving highest yields. In the province ofNghe An, local people have longharvested natural sticklac and cultivatelac themselves. In 1964, their sticklacoutput topped 64 tonnes; by 1981, thisstood at 3 tonnes. Without incentivepolicies, there was a drastic decrease insticklac output. Only a few locals kept upthe trade, cultivating lac on natural treesand plants.

One of the main causes of lac’sdecline was that farming householdsfound it difficult to cultivate host trees,particularly perennial trees that couldgive high yields such as Protium



46

serratum and Dalbergia hupeana var.laccifera.

In early 2004, Nghe An ProvincialForestry Subdepartment launched asectoral scientific study on “Adoptingtechnical measures to propagate theDalbergia hupeana var. laccifera as a hosttree for lac cultivation”. As a perennialfound in natural conditions, distributedmainly in the districts of Ky Son andTuong Duong and a number of villages inQue Phong district, the Dalbergiahupeana var. laccifera is a medium-sizedtree usually growing on hillsides andfoothills; it is shade-demanding whenyoung and light-demanding when mature.

Mountain farmers have takenadvantage of natural Dalbergia hupeanavar. laccifera for lac cultivation. They go tolook for the trees in forests and markthem once found so that the trees thenbecome their own. One Dalbergiahupeana var. laccifera may nourish lacinsects for many years and yield 60 kg ofsticklac per year.

As it is difficult to propagate the tree,the locals often chop at its roots to getshoots for future nurseries and cultivation.Using this technique, the rate of survivalof seedlings is fairly low and it isimpossible to meet the local people’sdemand for lac host trees. Consequently,Nghe An Provincial ForestrySubdepartment and the research teamhave germinated 7 000 cuttings in anindoor nursery in Ky Son. In 2005, it isestimated that 2–3 ha will have been putunder Dalbergia hupeana var. laccifera byindividual households in Ky Son.

This success is expected to open upnew directions for lac-cultivatinghouseholds in the three districts of KySon, Tuong Duong and Que Phong, thushelping to restructure crops in themountain and highland districts with aview to accomplishing the target ofcultivating 5 000 ha of lac host trees forlac cultivation in Nghe An Province by2010. (Source: Extracted from: article byNguyen Tien Lam in NTFP Newsletter,2[4], October 2005.)

For more information, please contact the

author at: [email protected]

Growing lac insects for resin in anagroforestry system in IndonesiaLac is a natural resin produced by thescale insect Laccifer lacca, which is aparasite of certain host trees. Usedmainly to make lacquer and glossingmaterial, lac is a commodity that hasbeen traded in the international marketsince the early twentieth century. Lac isalso used today in electronics, printing,textiles, clothing, cosmetics and food.The United States and Japan are majorimporters of lac resin, while India andThailand are the leading exporters.

Because of the increasing marketdemand for resin, growing lac hasbecome an enterprise in Indonesia.Local governments have set up laccultivation projects in areas where a highpopulation of kesambi (Schleiceraoleosa) host trees abound. Today, policy-makers and business people in the EastNusa Tenggara Province continue topromote lac resin production.

Lac insects are found only in certainregions (Alor, Sumba, Flores and RoteIslands) of East Nusa Tenggara ataltitudes between 100 and 500 m. Manyof these places have no roads or evenbicycle trails. The first officially recordedlac production in Alor district was in1993, totalling 206 tonnes. Since then,accumulated production up to 1999 wasapproximately 1 610 tonnes of stick andscraped lac.

Most lac growers are traditional farmfamilies practising shifting agriculture.Expertise is passed on from father toson. Each family usually has only a fewbig host trees in the forest or in thegarden. With the government ban onwood exploitation, highland farmers areturning to non-wood products, such aslac, together with livestock as sources ofadditional income.

Lac growing involves the inoculation oflac insects into perennial host trees. Thefarmers take a few days to tie thebroodlac (mother cell with the female lacinsect) on to the hosts. After three to fourmonths, farmers return to harvest thebroodlac, which usually takes a week.

During harvesting, the branchesbearing lac are cut down and thebroodlacs are tied to new hosts. Theharvested host trees are left alone forone to two years for the regrowth ofbranches.

Lac yields depend on the weather. Ifthe weather is bad, especially during therainy season, there may not even beenough broodlac to inoculate the nextcrop.

Despite declining production, lacgrowing in East Nusa Tenggara hasgood economic potential because of lowlabour costs. It also requires only low-level investment (since sticklac isobtained from the empty broodlac amonth after inoculation and can covertwo-thirds of the cost); provides quickand regular income; is easilytransported; and trees as perennial hostscan be readily found or grown. (Source:Extracted from: article by M. KudengSallata and I. Made Widyana [inAPANews, Asia-Pacific AgroforestryNewsletter, 26, July 2005].)

TRUFFLES

White magicThe white truffle of Alba – the tartufobianco, which comes from the woods ofthe Italian province of Piedmont, where itis dug from the earth by specialist huntersand their dogs – is the king of all fungi,one of the world’s most sought-after and



47

most expensive delicacies, commandingprices which make it more valuable, pergram, than gold.

The white truffle is found in fivedifferent varieties, determined by thespecies of tree on whose roots itoriginates. Depending on whether it isassociated with, for example, the willow,oak, poplar or hazelnut, its colour canrange from white, sometimes veined withpink, to grey verging on brown.

Truffles are part of the vast family offungi, found all over the world. The tuberitself is born – like most fungi –underneath the leaf mould, in the earlysummer months, attaching itself to thetree roots like the parasite it is. Sufficientrain in August can swell the truffles insize. Attempts to grow themcommercially have failed.

Black summer and winter truffles alsogrow in parts of France, where they arehunted using pigs in the Perigord region,Italy, Spain and Croatia. Some blacktruffles have also been foundoccasionally in British woods and thereis clearly money to be made by anyonewho locates a large amount.

Alba itself has become the centre ofthe truffle trade, with a weekly marketwhere fungi from all over central Italy arebought and sold, while shops sell relatedproducts such as highly flavoured truffleoil or preserved truffles. (Source: TheIndependent [United Kingdom], 14November 2005.)

Secretive truffle growers in New ZealandSecond only to espionage as the world’smost mysterious occupation, trufflegrowing is taking off in Wairarapa, NewZealand. An industry insider revealedthere are at least nine truffle growers inthe region, but they like to keep theiridentities strictly under wraps.

The reason for the truffle growers’notorious secretiveness comes down tothe sheer value of their crops. Trufflescan fetch up to US$3 500/kg so thepotential for a grower who has ahundred or so trees in his truffle orchard– known in the business as a “truffiere” –is huge.

Truffles are the fruits of specificvarieties of fungi that grow underground,in a symbiotic relationship with treeroots. They usually grow with oaks andhazelnut trees, but they may also growwith sweet chestnut, some pines andother tree types.

In New Zealand truffles generally fruitbetween May and August, but growershave to be quick to harvest them sincethey are ripe for only a matter of days.They also have to have a well-traineddog that can sniff out the truffle’slocation.

There are two main varieties of trufflegrown commercially in New Zealand –the Tuber melanosporum, whichproduces the Perigord black truffleoriginally found in the south of France,northern Italy and northeastern Spainand the Tuber borchi, which produces anItalian white truffle called bianchetto.

The industry took off in the late 1980safter a mycologist began growing treeseedlings, which he deliberately infectedwith the Perigord black truffle fungus.Since then, would-be truffle growersaround New Zealand have boughtinfected seedlings from Crop and FoodResearch in the hope of making megadollars.

The oldest truffle plantations in theregion are eight years old, but it can takefive to ten years for the truffle fungi tofruit and even then there is no guaranteethat they will fruit at all. (Source:Wairarapa Times Age, 9 November2005.)

Hidden delicacy in Oregon’s forestsOregon’s forests are home to a treasurefor mushroom hunters in search oftruffles. They are the United States’largest source of truffles but lag behindFrance, Spain, Italy and other parts ofEurope. Oregon’s annual harvest isroughly 10 tonnes, compared with morethan 100 tonnes for all of Europe.

Truffles grow underground and rely ontrees to host them and animals eatingthem to distribute their spores. ManyOregon truffles grow near the roots ofDouglas firs, but they can also becultivated on hazelnut and oak trees.(Source: Seattle Times, 6 December2005.)



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ANGOLA

Forests play key role in country’sdevelopment Angola’s Deputy Minister of Agricultureand Rural Development said that forestsand fauna play an important role in thecountry’s development, as they are thesources of goods and services ofeconomic, social and environmentalcharacter. According to the deputyminister, who was speaking at today’sopening session of a seminar on regionalpublic consultation for the participativedrafting of policy and legislation onforests, fauna and forests play animportant role in the poverty reductionand food security of rural communities.

Angola has enormous potential inforests, wild fauna and huge protectedareas, a fact that gives the southernAfrican country a valuable basis for itseconomic, environmental and socialdevelopment.

Acknowledging the importance ofthese resources, the deputy ministersaid that forests are the sources ofsubsistence and income for the majorityof the rural population, as they contributeto the substantial reduction of poverty inthe country. (Source: Angola PressAgency, 6 December 2005.)

AUSTRALIA

Greenridge Health and Herb Festival This Festival is held in August each yearin the northern New South Wales city ofLismore. The area is subtropical, with anannual rainfall of about 1 400 mm andthe volcanic soils are krasnozems. Inpre-European times, the area supportedthe largest subtropical rain forest inAustralia but most has been cleared foragricultural purposes.

The festival is a no-profit, signatureevent that showcases the use of herbs incomplementary medicines and regionalcuisine and promotes healthy lifestyles,a healthy natural environment andcommunity participation. It provides ameans to stimulate, network and learn

new techniques and build expertise inthe use of herbs and complementarymedicine through a close link with andinvolvement of the School of Natural andComplementary Medicine of SouthernCross University.

This year’s festival featured a herbgarden area, a bush food cooking area,woodworking demonstrations and qualitycabinet work display, a bush food farmtour and demonstrations on the use ofherbs in natural medicine treatments.

Indigenous non-wood forest cropsgrown in this region are lemon myrtle(Backhousia citriodora), tea tree(Melaleuca alternifolia) and macadamia(Macadamia integrifolia).

Lemon myrtle is in increasing use as afood additive and as a flavouring (inconfectionery, tea, etc.) and the citral-type oils are similar to those found inlemon grass. There is some evidence ofinsecticidal properties but there areindications that some skins are sensitiveto its use.

Tea trees are planted extensively onmoister, lower-lying soil types. The treesare harvested periodically and the oilsextracted. These are used in creams andhave antifungal and antimicrobialproperties. Plantations are now based onhighly selected genotypes with verylarge yields of sought-after oils.

Macadamia is also planted extensivelyin this region, mainly for nuts for the foodindustry. However, the oil is valuable andthe chippings left from kernel extractionare used for the production ofmacadamia oil that is used in cosmeticsas well as in cooking.

Work on these products and otherpotential products is being carried out bythe Centre for Phytochemistry andPharmacology at Southern CrossUniversity. (Contributed by: DavidCameron, PO Box 5237, East Lismore,Wollongbar, New South Wales 2480,Australia. Fax: +61 2 6621 2917; e-mail:[email protected])

Leatherwood honey under threat by loggingLeatherwood honey is highly prized allover the world. But beekeepers insouthern Tasmania are sounding a

warning about their unique local product,saying logging of the leatherwood treesthat give the honey its distinctive taste isthreatening their industry. A new report iscalling for changes to timber harvesting insouthern Tasmanian forests to ensure thesurvival of the state’s unique leatherwoodhoney industry. Beekeepers havewelcomed the Forests and ForestIndustry Council study that has looked athow much leatherwood is needed tosustain their hives. The forestry industrysays that it is working to preserve thetrees and there is no cause for alarm.(Source: ABC online [Australia], 28November and 19 December 2005.)

Fungi and mosses in Australia’s forestsTasmania’s native forests could be a goldmine for new human medicines, says aleading mushroom expert. They mayeven hold the key to a breakthroughcancer treatment.

University of Tasmania fungi researcherSapphire McMullan-Fisher said theisland’s native forests were an untappedresource for new drugs. She said thatTasmania’s forests were full of fungi andmosses with active ingredients that couldbe useful for medicine.

Ms McMullan-Fisher estimates that only40 percent of Tasmania’s nativemushrooms have been scientificallynamed. The other 60 percent remain amystery to science. There is a major lackof research into Tasmania’s native fungiand in Australian fungi as a whole. “Thereare about 10 to 15 people Australia-widestudying fungi but there are 2 000Australian scientists investigating plants,”she said. The lack of information aboutthe native fungi has also seenbioprospectors all but ignore them.

Ms McMullan-Fisher said interest infungi and mosses had waned particularlyin the past 30 years. The lack ofunderstanding had serious consequences.She said most forest reserves inTasmania were based on large planttypes and did not take into account fungiand mosses, which may be becomingextinct without our even knowing it.

Ms McMullan-Fisher said theTasmanian Aborigines probably had a far

C O U N T R Y C O M P A S S


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altitudes show that there is no uniformforest policy on NTFPs.

The first case study was onCordyceps sinensis, a high-altitudevalued medicinal plant and a restrictedspecies as of 2003. The policy restrictionand the high value of the productresulted in revenue loss and was asource of “park-people” conflict.

There is however no such policyrestriction for Tricholoma matsutake, ahigh-value mushroom in the temperateregion. The government instead is fullysupportive of this industry. The regularincome from the mushroom has broughteconomic prosperity to the localcommunity and much-needed foreignexchange to the country.

The third case concerns Piperpedicellatum, a low-altitude medicinalplant, which has a very low cash valuecompared with Cordyceps andTricholoma, but is still a major source ofcash for people in remote poor ruraldistricts.

The future of NTFP commercialization inBhutan looks promising, particularly afterthe lifting of the ban on Cordycepscollection in 2004. This opens up a bravenew world for forest policy developmentfor NTFPs in the country. (Source: abstractof Ph.D. thesis of Namgyel, P. 2005.Forest policy and income opportunitiesfrom NTFP commercialization in Bhutan.International and Rural DevelopmentDepartment, University of Reading, UnitedKingdom. Contributed by: PhuntshoNamgyel, Ph.D., Council for RNRResearch for Bhutan, Ministry ofAgriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan,PO Box 119, Thimphu, Bhutan. E-mail:[email protected])

BRAZIL

Felling trees is prohibited – and the Paranut tree dies standing The legal prohibition against felling Paranut (Bertholletia excelsa) trees, a symbolof Amazonia, creates cemeteries of deadstanding trees that cover the Marabaregion in the southeastern Para state: allthe result of the deforestation of the

surroundings. The majority of the treesare those that have survived both legaland illegal felling.

The Para nut tree, under normalconditions, produces fruit continuouslyand can live for up to 500 or 600 years.The surrounding forest is essential for itssurvival, as it offers protection from thewind, nourishment from the ground anda route for the pollen-making bees to dotheir job. The progressive removal offorest from around the Para nut leaves itisolated as its genetic flow is interruptedwhen pollination does not occur.

Reforestation does not work if otherforestry species native to the area arenot planted as well. The Para nut tree isa forest tree. It is useless to protect onewithout the other. (Source: O Estado deS. Paulo, 25 September 2005.)

CAMBODIA

Improvement of the sustainablemanagement and utilization of NTFPs inCambodia This 36-month project (PD 275/04 Rev. 3[I]) will promote the sustainablemanagement of NTFP resources byimproving social, economic and legalaspects of NTFP production and trade.Specifically, the project will helpstrengthen the local management ofNTFPs in four provinces (KampongChhnang, Kampong Thom, Mondulkiri andRattanakiri) through the development ofvillagers’ associations in collaboration withlocal communities and NGOS; and buildlocal capacity to integrate local villagersbetter with NTFP markets by addressingthe socio-economic and legal aspects ofexisting market channels. (Source: ITTOTropical Forest Update, 15[1], 2005.)


International Tropical Timber

Organization (ITTO),

International Organizations Center,

5th Floor, Pacifico-Yokohama 1-1-1,

Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama,

220-0012, Japan. Fax: +81 45 223 1111;


www.itto.or.jp


more in-depth understanding of theisland’s fungi and which varieties wereedible, poisonous or beneficial in medicaltreatments. “Unfortunately not muchremains of what the TasmanianAborigines knew because we came in anddidn’t bother to learn.” (Source: HobartMercury [Australia], 2 October 2005.)


Ms Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, Hobart

Campus, Geography-Geology Building,

111, University of Tasmania, French

Street, Sandy Bay, 7005, Australia.

Fax: +61 3 6226 2989; e-mail:

[email protected]

BHUTAN

Forest policy and income opportunitiesfrom NTFP commercialization in Bhutan The forests in Bhutan, as in much of thedeveloping world, are state owned.Forests are seen today as central tosustainable development, but the forestbureaucracy, by mandate andinstitutional culture, is control-orientedand not predisposed to promote ruralpeople’s income opportunities. Theoverall aim of this research study isbroadly to assess the policy context forNTFP commercialization in Bhutan. Thedocumentary analysis shows that forestsin the country are a source of conflict ofinterest between the state and the ruralpeople. Exports of NTFPs can take placeonly with the express approval of thegovernment. A permit application cantake as little as one day or as long as128 days to process. There is anapparent move towards incorporatingNTFPs in forest policy. The three casestudies from different regions and


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CAMEROON

Boosting NTFPs Actors in the NTFP subsector wantactivities in the area organized. Meeting inYaoundé for two days, experts – most ofthem from the Ministry of Forestry andWildlife – discussed ways and means ofrendering the subsector more organizedby adopting a legal framework that willregulate it, reinforcing research andputting in place a perfect nationalmanagement synergy. All these are beingdeveloped within the framework of theProject for Institutional Support andSustainable Management of Non-timberForest Products in Cameroon, for whichthe Yaoundé workshop was organized.

Speaking at the workshop, the project’scoordinator, Jeanne Balomog stated thatNTFPs are diverse and include all forestresources besides wood. She said thenon-timber forest sector faces problemsbecause it is not well known andmastered, whereas the products thatrange from fruits, vegetables, medicinalplants, and building and furniture materialsuch as rattan constitute a source oflivelihood for millions of people. MrsBalomog said that almost everyoneexploits or uses NTFPs in one way oranother. She added that because of thevast nature of the subsector, it is difficult toquantify what it contributes to the nationaleconomy but disclosed that, fromstatistics, it injects more than CFAF300 million into the economy yearly.

The Yaoundé workshop was thereforeaimed at helping the government tomaximize the contribution of NTFPs to thesocio-economic development of thecountry through sustainable managementand promotion. Research has beencarried out on ways to boost the subsector

and the workshop was a forum to sharethe findings with other partners.

The major concern was about the stateof NTFPs in Cameroon, the criteria ofidentifying the diverse activities to ensureproper promotion, mastery of the areas tobe promoted, priorities in capacity buildingand instruments to be used that will caterfor problems arising.

The workshop took place with the helpof FAO; the outcome was a harmonizednational strategy to boost the contributionof NTFPs to the national economy.(Source: Cameroon Tribune, 5 December2005.)

Non-timber/special forest products inNdian division A study carried out by the World ResourceInstitute (WRI, 2000) concludes that it isextremely difficult to quantify the economicimportance of non-timber forest products(NTFPs) because of lack of statistics.

In Ndian division in the SouthwestProvince of Cameroon, many studies onNTFPs have been carried out by theKorup Project. These studies were basedessentially on a description of harvestingand processing techniques and not oneconomic importance.

However, it is important to note thatNTFPs play an important role in improvingthe living standards of the Ndian ruralpopulation.

NTFPs currently harvested in the areainclude the following.1. Chewing stick (Garcinia manii and

Masscularia acuminata) and hausastick (Carpolobia lutea).The woody parts of these plants areharvested and while chewing sticks arepredominantly used for personal dentalhygiene, hausa sticks are used mostlyby cattle rearers to facilitate themanagement of cattle herddisplacements. These products are themost exploited NTFPs in the area. Afterharvesting, the villagers arrange them inbundles of 40–50 sticks of about 1 mlong, which they sell at CFAF2 000 perbundle to intermediaries who come andbuy in the villages. Nigeria serves asthe principal market for these products.Chewing sticks are sold throughout

Nigeria while hausa sticks are limited tothe northern states of Nigeria andsometimes find their way to customersin Chad, the Niger and northernCameroon.Intermediaries are predominantlyNigerian traders who are not only wellorganized but also have preferentialaccess to other players along theproduct chain once it gets to Nigeria.Attempts by Cameroonians to accessthe Nigerian market have beenunsuccessful because of their lack ofunderstanding of the market structure.For example, some Cameroonianshave had bitter experiences when theydecided to transport chewing sticks toNigeria. They were obliged to abandonthe products there and return pennilessas no one was willing to buy at the pricethe sellers could offer.Because of the poor road network inNdian, the preferred period to exploit isthe rainy season (April–November)when rivers leading to the creeks arefull, enabling the easy evacuation of theproducts to Nigeria by boat.

2. Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensisand I. wombulu).This NTFP is highly consumed in Ndianand is used for preparing soup. Bushmango is sold at the local markets aswell as exported to neighbouringNigeria. The price varies depending onthe harvesting period and rangesbetween CFAF7 500 and 14 000 perbucket of 15 litres.

3. Njansang (Rhicinodendronheudolotii).Njansang seed is a very popularcondiment used in Camerooniandishes. It is mostly collected by womenand sold at local markets. A glass ofabout 0.2 litres costs between CFAF150and 200.

4. Bitter kola (Garcinia manii).Bitter kola is a fruit used both as astimulant and as a medicine. Productionvaries according to the season. Whenproduction is high, the price variesbetween CFAF8 000 and 15 000 for a15 kg bag and between CFAF18 000and 30 000 per bag during periods oflow production.



51

certain actions have to be taken. Theseinclude:

• the creation of one or two sale pointswith the institution of a sales ormarket day and a day for loading toNigeria;

• the regulation of this activity by theattribution of community forest andissue of exploitation permits forspecial forest products in the case ofchewing sticks; and

• providing the local forestry servicewith a motorized boat for efficientcontrol in the maritime area, which isthe principal outlet of the product.

(Contributed by: Liyong EmmanuelSama, Divisional Delegation of Forestryand Wildlife, Mezam, PO Box 4081,Bamenda, Cameroon. E-mail: [email protected])

CANADA

Quebec creates first boreal forest park The Government of Quebec is takingsteps to protect a huge swath of itsboreal forest. It announced that it wasteaming up with the Cree nation ofMistissini to create the 11 000 km2

Albanel-Témiscamie-Otish Park, the firstboreal forest park in the province andthe first park inhabited by a First Nationthat continues to practise its traditionalway of life. Mistissini is a Creecommunity of 3 460 on an arm of LakeMistissini, the largest freshwater lake inQuebec. The park will include LakeMistissini, Lake Albanel and surroundinglands.

The park contains three distinctecosystems, including boreal forest,taïga and subarctic vegetation at the footof the Otish Mountains, and patches oftundra that cover their peaks.

The First Nation will continue to haveits rights to fish, hunt and trap in thearea as well as other rights specifiedunder the James Bay and NorthernQuebec Agreement. The park’s creationwill also ensure protection of sites withinit that are sacred to Mistissini elders.“One of the main reasons we want tomake this park is to allow the Cree

hunters to continue the traditional way oflife and by that I mean hunting andgetting food from the land,” saidKathleen Wootton, the deputy chief ofMistissini. “There are also ancient treesin that area that are tall and very thickand we want to preserve those as well.Once this park is all set up and ready, nomining and no forestry or any otherdevelopment can ever happen on thatland.”

The government says tallymen willcontinue to play a role after the park iscreated. Tallymen, or traditionalgrassroots resource managers, arecustodians of a community’s land basein the region. (Source: CBC Montreal, 16November 2005.)

Aboriginal ecotourismRose and Ric Richardson are a Métiscouple living and working inSaskatchewan (www.culturalnative.com).At their business, they promote the prideand dignity of Métis people and work onensuring that cultural knowledge isshared with their own people and others.They work with traditional medicinesfound in the northern boreal forest andteach some uses of these in the“medicine walk” part of their ecotourismbusiness. They also lobby thegovernments of Saskatchewan andCanada to promote sustainable practicesin the use of the resources of the borealforest, as well as to gain support foraboriginal ecotourism.

They believe ecotourism can help topreserve the traditional knowledge ofnative people, as well as provide aneconomic basis from which they canoffer opportunities based on thesustainable use of natural forests.(Source: Taiga News, Issue 50, spring2005.)

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Forestry controls. The local forestryservice controls trade in NTFPs usingtwo main instruments:

Sensitization. With the assistance ofthe administrative authorities the forestryservice has so far organized numerousworking sessions with traditional villageauthorities during which they areeducated and encouraged not to allowany harvested NTFPs to leave thevillage without relevant documents fromthe service.

Exploitation control. This involvescarrying out spontaneous checks inforests and transport services to ensurethat harvesting and marketing arecarried out as required by the law.

Nevertheless, the results obtained todate have been far from satisfactory,because most transportation of theproducts takes place during the night.

It is forestry policy in Cameroon togenerate revenue for its activitiesthrough auction sales of illegallyharvested forest products. However,when the local forestry service succeeds in confiscating large amountsof illegally harvested chewing sticks, forexample, it is difficult to sell as there isno buyer. This is because trade isdominated by Nigerian business menwho show a great deal of solidarityamong themselves and would boycottthe auction of a fellow member’sconfiscated merchandise. Furthermore,anyone who dares purchase auctionedchewing sticks would find their goodsconfiscated once they enter the Nigerianmarket by members of the chewing stickunion.

Nonetheless, from January to June2003, the Delegation of Environment andForestry for Ndian division realized arevenue of CFAF117 100 from theauction sales of seized NTFPs.

Therefore, as can be seen, the exportof NTFPs is complex and almost totallyescapes control of the forestry service.Only the local populations, andespecially the Nigerian buyers, reapbenefits, leaving the state with practicallynothing.

We think that for this activity to bebeneficial to all stakeholders involved,

On estime que, dans l’ensemble duCanada. 2,5 millions de Canadiensvivent dans les 522 communautésdépendant de la forêt boréale.Source: Point de vue, Automne 2005,No 03.


CHILE

Towards development of the Chileanbasket willow sector About 300 species of Salix trees andshrubs, as well as many other varietiesand hybrids, are distributed at variouslatitudes in Europe, Asia, North America,and northern and southern Africa. Theonly species native to South America isSalix humboldtiana (Chilean willow),which grows wild along watercourses inArgentina, southern Brazil, Chile andUruguay.

Many shrub forms of Salix species –including Salix viminalis, S. purpurea, S. cinerea, S. caprea, S. triandra, S. albavar. vitellina and S. fragilis – are used inwickerwork and basketry. Chile has anoptimal climate and soils for growing S. viminalis, which is well known for itsqualities in the production of baskets,packaging and furniture. Introduced intothe country in colonial times, S. viminalis,also known as basket willow, now growswild, often along watercourses andaround springs, and has spread from thecentre of the country to the south.

The suitability of flexible shoots orswitches of S. viminalis for makinghandicraft items was discovered in thesmall town of Chimbarongo, 200 km fromSantiago, in the early twentieth century.People began to cultivate the species andartisans were trained to produce furniturethat reached the capital and elsewhere inthe country. In Chile, activities related tothe cultivation and manufacture of basketwillow products have remainedconcentrated in the Chimbarongo area.

By the end of the 1990s, 223 ha wereunder S. viminalis cultivation in

Chimbarongo, divided among 88plantations, most of them belonging tosmall-scale producers. About 1 200workshops were producing a wide rangeof willow articles, most of which weresold on the local market. However,producers and intermediaries had begunto export a large amount of basket willow(800 tonnes of dry material per year,valued at US$750 000), so that the localartisans lacked the raw material neededfor their products. (Source: extractedfrom Towards development of theChilean basket willow sector by M.I.Abalos Romero [in Unasylva, 221(56),2005/2].)

CHINA

Promotion of NTFPs in GuangxiAutonomous Region, China based onsustainable community development This three-year project (PD 73/01 Rev. 5[I,M]) aims to promote the sustainableuse and management of promisingNTFPs in order to contribute to thesocial and economic development of theproject sites in Fangcheng district,Shansi and Ninming counties, Guangxiregion. The project will conduct fieldsurveys of the three promising NTFPs todetermine their distribution, production,processing and markets and establishthree demonstration plots of 100 ha eachto enhance the participation of localcommunities in managing and utilizingthe selected NTFPs on a sustainablebasis. Training courses will be organizedfor key stakeholders involved inpromoting NTFPs and the project willalso establish three community-basedcooperatives to promote selected NTFPsat the project sites. (Source: ITTOTropical Forest Update, 15[1], 2005.)



Organization (ITTO), International

Organizations Center, 5th Floor,

Pacifico-Yokohama 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai,

Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012 Japan.

Fax: +81 45 223 1111; e-mail:

[email protected]; www.itto.or.jp

CUBA

Developing bamboo A project to develop bamboo in Cubaaims to obtain and multiply in vitro fourspecies useable as lumber in order toexpand the use of bamboo throughoutthis Caribbean island. The result will be“the production of laminate wood,artisanal items and the use of its wasteas an energy source,” said FernandoMartirena, deputy director of thestructures and materials research anddevelopment centre at the CentralUniversity de las Villas.

Some 1 200 ha will be planted withthe support of the Swiss agency forDevelopment and Cooperation. Theplantations are in addition to another 1 000 ha already developed in easternCuba.

Bamboo grows in the temperate zonesof Asia and the Americas, and is knownfor its structural resistance, lightness andperennial growth. Until now, its utilizationin Cuba has been very limited. (Source:Tierramérica [in CFRC weekly summary],29 September 2005.)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Bumper mushroom crop Millions of Czechs are taking to thecountryside after record rainfall in Julyand August produced a bumpermushroom crop. This year’s Czechmushroom season started three monthsearlier than usual and the crop may bemore than double the average of 20 000tonnes, according to the Prague-basedCzech Mycological Society. About 2 billion koruna (US$86.5 million) ofmushrooms are gathered annually, saysthe group, which estimates that as manyas six million people, or two-thirds of thepopulation, are gathering the plants.

The mushroom-picking season in theCzech Republic normally begins in lateSeptember and continues throughOctober. This year, gatherers say they arealready collecting as much as 60 kg ofmushrooms in a few hours in the dense



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forests that cover about a third of thecountry. In July, rainfall in the CzechRepublic was triple the average from1961 through 1990.

Measures to protect the environmenthave helped to improve the quality of themushrooms. Sulphur dioxide emissionshave fallen 90 percent and traces ofnitrogen oxide dropped more than 40percent between 1990 and 2003,according to the Czech EnvironmentMinistry, helping to reduce acid in the soiland allowing certain types of mushroomsincluding chanterelles to re-emerge aftera 30-year hiatus. (Source: Bloomberg[United States], 14 September 2005.)

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICOF THE CONGO

Beekeeping in Bas-CongoBas-Congo Province lies between thecoast and Kinshasa in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo. It covers an areaof nearly 55 000 km2 and has anestimated population of 3.9 million. Soilsare either deep sand or clay in thedistricts of Cataractes and Lukaya wherebeekeeping is practised and a system ofshifting cultivation is used to producecrops.

Traditionally, areas of thebush/savannah have been protected fromfire which has led to the establishment offorest reserves (called nkuunku inKikongo). After a certain number of yearsdecided by the village chief, they areallocated to families for growing their fieldcrops. These areas of forest werenormally left for between 15 and 20 yearsbut are now more likely to be cut downafter five or six years or less, because ofthe shortage of good fallow land. This hasled to the invasion of coarse grassspecies and Chromolaena odorata (Siamweed) which are generally burnt duringthe dry season, resulting in a further lossof forest species.

The forest fallow is the only practicalmethod of maintaining soil fertility andproviding the range of NTFPs thatmaintain rural life in Bas-Congo. Unlessland is returned to forest fallow after

cropping it becomes virtually uselessafter a relatively short time andconsiderable effort is then needed torehabilitate it.

Hunting for honey has been a traditionalactivity in Bas-Congo, as in much of Africa,but beekeeping has only been practised inthe area since the early 1980s. Thebeehive in common use is the top bar hiveintroduced from Kenya. Beehives arealways sited in areas of fairly thick bush orforest and therefore usually in thenkuunku. Beekeepers choose these areasto provide shade and seclusion and toenable them to get away from the hivewithout being followed by the bees afterinspecting or harvesting the honey.(Source: Some honeybee plants of Bas-Congo Province, Democratic Republic ofCongo by P. Latham, 2005.)

ECUADOR

El Ecuador posee una valiosa diversidadde ecosistemas que albergan unamultiplicidad de especies de flora yfauna, así como un variado paisaje. Larica biodiversidad está entre las másabundantes del planeta por unidad desuperficie territorial. Los bosques, conaproximadamente 11,45 millones dehectáreas ofertan a las comunidadeslocales y a la población en general unaamplia gama de recursos maderables, nomaderables y paisajísticos, además deotros valiosos servicios ambientales.

Las acciones de forestación yreforestación impulsadas históricamenteno aportaron significativamente a laconservación de los bosques. El limitadoalcance de esas acciones, favoreció elincremento de la presión extractiva de los

productos forestales maderables,contribuyendo al deterioro del importantepatrimonio genético contenido en la ricabiodiversidad forestal.

El Ministerio de Ambiente, ante laimportancia de proteger el patrimoniogenético forestal y su apropiadaadministración, impulsa la valoración delos productos que ofertan los bosques,apoya la iniciativa de forestación, la dereforestación y promueve elestablecimiento de plantacionesforestales.

En este contexto, con el propósito defavorecer la conservación de los bosquesy por ende, el de las fuentes semillerasde las especies forestales nativas,promulgó la presente publicación sobrela norma de semillas forestales,instrumento que fomenta la producción,la investigación, la comercialización, lapromoción y el uso de semillas forestalesde procedencia y calidad conocida. Conésta aspiramos mantener la reservagenética del país e impulsar elincremento de la cobertura boscosa, enespecial con las especies forestalesnativas. (Fuente: Fabián ValdiviesoEguiguren, Ministro del Ambiente. Normade semillas forestales. Ministerio delAmbiente, República del Ecuador. Sitioweb: www.ambiente.gov.ec)

FIJI

Bark paperBark paper is ecologically sound, perfectfor rural dwellers and sustainable. It is nowonder that handmade paper productionhas taken off in some parts of rural Fiji.

For centuries, Fijians have made abark cloth (masi) from the bark of themulberry tree that serves a multitude oftraditional purposes from clothing toceremonial decoration and offerings.Therefore, papermaking was a logicaladjunct to this existing skill. Thehandmade paper project in Fiji wasinitiated by Pure Fiji.

Paper is made from the cellulose foundin plant fibres, which are literally beatento a pulp and dispersed in water.Cellulose fibre, the main ingredient of

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paper, is available in a number ofdifferent forms, e.g. bast, leaf and grassfibres. All living plants contain cellulose,but some yield a higher percentage ofuseable fibre than others. Fibre fromginger, selected grasses, bamboo, sugarcane, banana stalks, pineapple leavesand hibiscus bark can all be used.

Realizing a golden opportunity, theWainimakutu Mothers’ Club wasdetermined to make a success of theproject. And they did. Particular attentionwas given to the use of the outer bark(kulina) from the paper mulberry tree,which is normally discarded in the masi-making process.

The papermaking project was almostentirely run by the women of these ruralcommunities, empowering them in waysthey had never experienced before.Together with training in papermaking,Pure Fiji provided the women with somebasic, simple business skills.

Today, papermaking is the majorincome earner for the village and bringsin between US$1 000 and $3 000 a week.With this money the women ofWainimakutu have been able to expandtheir papermaking facilities with a newdrying hut and generator, and create anongoing fund for improving health careand schooling.

In recognition of these village women’sbusiness acumen and vigilance, theywere given a Special Recognition Awardand $2 000 cash, prizes donated by theAustralian High Commission. The awardwas a surprise inclusion in the Westpac2005 Businesswoman of the YearAwards. (Source: Fiji Times, 22 October2005.)

GHANA

Bamboo, a good substitute for woodtimberGhanaians should embrace bamboo andrattan as substitutes for timber since thenation’s forest resources continue todiminish at an alarming rate. Mrs GiftyOhui Allotey, Programme Administrator,Bamboo and Rattan DevelopmentProgramme said bamboo could

effectively replace wood since it had beenfound to be the fastest-growing plant thatcould be a substitute for timber. “It could beused for almost all the wood needs of thenation including furniture, constructionwork, furnishings for buildings such asflooring and ceilings as well as handicraftsand household items,” she said. (Source:GhanaWeb, 13 September 2005.)

INDIA

Mizoram to give thrust to minor forest productsIn a bid to promote the export of minorforest products (MFPs) in Mizoram, thegovernment has worked out a strategyfor tapping virgin markets with the help ofthe Ministry of Commerce and severalmajor companies.

The project aims to set upmanufacturing units wherever it can, touse the resources, backing the existingones and bringing in new ventures fromoutside, in order to encourage variousminor forest producers across the state.

The industry department officialsstated that bamboo and cane would beused as the core raw material to increasethe production of MFPs in the region.

Financial assistance would beprovided to young entrepreneurs to setup their own units in their respectiveareas, where they would also be giventraining and marketing assistance.(Source: Webindia123, 18 November2005.)

The Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005The Bill lays down a simple procedure forrecognition and vesting of forest rights inthe forest-dwelling scheduled tribes sothat rights, which stand vested in forestdwelling tribal communities, becomelegally enforceable through correctivemeasures in the formal recording systemof the executive machinery. It alsoreinforces and utilizes the richconservation ethos that tribalcommunities have traditionally shownand cautions against any form ofunsustainable or destructive practices.

The Bill includes the right to hold andlive on forest land, under individual orcommon occupation, for habitation or forlivelihood. It also provides the right ofownership access to use or dispose ofMFPs. It provides for adequatesafeguards to avoid any furtherencroachment of forests and seeks toinvolve democratic institutions at thegrassroots level in the process ofrecognition and vesting of forest rights.

This Bill is a logical culmination of theprocess of recognition of forest rightsenjoyed by the forest-dwelling ScheduledTribes on all kinds of forest lands forgenerations. (Source: Press InformationBureau, Government of India, 13December 2005.)

Working with the real health experts: the traditional healers of ChhattisgarhOver 17 percent of the population of theIndian state of Chhattisgarh is affectedwith sickle cell anaemia. It is at presentincurable and modern medical systemsare searching for a cure. Patientsapproach the traditional healers ofChhattisgarh as a last hope and with thehelp of traditional medicinal knowledgethese healers give immense relief to suchpatients. Healers consider it a curabledisease if diagnosed at an early stage;they use medicinal herbs such as indrajau in their treatment.

Many patients with different types ofcancer come from different parts of Indiato the capital of Chhattisgarh. Whenmodern science surrenders, the treatmentof traditional healers begins. In addition,although the healers are not aware of theword “AIDS”, they use traditional medicineto treat HIV-positive patients. There aremany success stories.



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Chhattisgarh is rich in biodiversity.Native and traditional healers haveimmense traditional medicinal knowledgeof herbs and insects. Surprisingly,healers do not charge for treatment: theywere told by their ancestors that earningthrough knowledge would result in loss ofknowledge. Instead, they earn theirlivelihood from forest products andcultivation of agricultural crops.

Healers use traditional diagnosismethods, e.g. the healers of southernChhattisgarh use red ants to diagnosediabetes. Besides herbs and insects, thehealers also use medicinal soils andexcreta of wild animals, and over 500types of herbal glasses and bowls. Theuse of wooden glasses prepared fromkoha wood for heart patients is popularamong the traditional healers ofChhattisgarh plains. Traditional allelopathicknowledge is used to enrich herbs withmedicinal properties: there is a specifictime and collection method for each herb.

Although I do not have a formaleducation in ethnobotany, as anagronomist my interest in weeds andhomeopathy motivated me to documentthis traditional medicinal knowledge –without waiting for financial help. Initially Ipublished the results in national andinternational science journals, but laterfound this publication procedure costly,lengthy and time consuming. Afterpublishing over 100 research papers andattending over 70 conferences I decidedto disseminate this knowledge throughthe Internet.

Many years of extensive surveys haveresulted in a huge amount of information:over 13 000 research documents are nowavailable at www.botanical.com/. I am alsodocumenting this information in Hindithrough regional magazines, as well ascontributing articles and photographs toEcoport (www.ecoport.org), where over 10 000 photographs based on my surveyscan be found.

All this work is purely an individualattempt, without any financial assistance,and is really only a drop in the knowledgeocean. I trust that my ongoing work willmotivate young researchers worldwide todocument the traditional knowledge

present in their areas. Through my workone can imagine the quantum ofknowledge present in other parts of theearth.

The traditional healers, herb collectorsand natives of Chhattisgarh have richknowledge that is time tested and has noside effects. Unfortunately these traditionalhealers are still waiting for recognition andhonour from civil society. They are notlegally allowed to practise their knowledge;my dream is to provide them with a legallicence to practise. I believe that with thecombination of knowledge and experienceof these healers, as well as of modernmedical practitioners and researchers, wecan achieve a disease-free world. (Contributed by: Pankaj Oudhia, SOPAM,28-A, College Road, Geeta Nagar, Raipur– 492001 Chhattisgarh, India. E-mail:[email protected])

Revival of the silk industry in Jharkhand Once a hub for tasar silk, Jharkhand islooking for central assistance for revival ofits famous product. Before the state’screation, the region used to play a majorrole in enabling undivided Bihar tocontribute 50 percent of the nation’s totalraw silk production.

Mostly the tribals were the rearers ofsilkworms, producing about 438 tonnes oftasar silk and about 8 tonnes of mulberrysilk every year, benefiting from naturalraces such as laria, modia and sarihan inthe suitable agroclimatic conditions ofsouthern Bihar, now Jharkhand. This waslargely because a total of 2 325 km2 in theregion is covered by tasar food plants, 90 percent of which are saal trees, withthe rest arjuna and asan trees that attractsilkworms – although far behind southernstates such as Tamil Nadu and AndhraPradesh.

The story has been different sinceJharkhand’s emergence as a separatestate, with the production of cocoonscoming down to 9 tonnes and that ofmulberry to 2 tonnes per year, according toa report by the state sericulture directorate.

The state, however, recently receivedsome hope when the Central Silk Boardpromised to increase silk production inJharkhand by 640 tonnes, funding Rs383

crore over a period of ten years. (Source:Express Textile [India], 1–15 November2005.)

Sericulturists go natural, experiment withlac and neem With an annual silk production of about 15 000 tonnes, India trails behind China asthe major producer of silk with an outputexceeding 55 000 tonnes. India may belagging behind China in silk production butthat does not seem to deter the country inundertaking research and development toadd value to this sector. Both China andJapan are already developing newervalue-added products made from silkderivatives. The Bangalore-based CentralSericulture Technological ResearchInstitute (CSTRI) has experimented withnatural dyes and is looking at the prospectof commercializing this product.

“We have been experimenting with lac.Natural products including natural dyesare gaining ground globally. There is goodpotential to commercialize this kind ofproduct,” sources said. Lac is produced bythe insect Coccus lacca and hasapplication in numerous products such aspaint. CSTRI officials said that the realchallenge lay in identifying and developingmore natural dyes.

The challenge stems from the fact thatthere are not enough safe mardents(binding agents that are used for fixing thecolour on the fabric). Typical mardentssuch as dichromates are strictly prohibitedbecause of rising concern aboutenvironmental pollution. Interestingly,besides lac, natural dyes have beenproduced using a whole range of materialssuch as neem and even gooseberry(amla).

In the interim, both Japan and Chinahave already diversified intomanufacturing quality products using silkderivatives. One such product is fairnesscream, which has cericin as a rawmaterial, derived by degumming silk yarn.The process of degumming, which helpsto add lustre to the yarn, subjects the yarnto high pressure and temperature. Cericinis also used to manufacture toilet soap.(Source: Economic Times [India], 20December 2005.)



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INDONESIA

Promoting selected NTFPs based on acommunity participation approach tosupport sustainable forest management in East Kalimantan The International Tropical TimberOrganization (ITTO) has recentlyapproved a 36-month project (PD 277/04Rev. 3 [I]) that aims to increase thecontribution of NTFPs to forest sectorearnings in East Kalimantan through theestablishment of small-scale NTFPindustries focusing on medicinal plantsfrom the forests and an NTFP marketingsystem. Project activities will focus on theestablishment of plantations for selectedNTFPs on both state and private lands, aswell as on the development of technicalguidelines for the sustainablemanagement of NTFP resources, theestablishment of appropriate NTFPprocessing techniques and thedevelopment of small-scale NTFPindustries and business plans. (Source:ITTO Tropical Forest Update, 15[1], 2005.)



Organization (ITTO), International

Organizations Center, 5th Floor,

Pacifico-Yokohama 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai,

Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012 Japan.

Fax: +81 45 223 1111;

e-mail: [email protected]; www.itto.or.jp

ISLAMIC REPUBLICOF IRAN

Destruction rate of Iran’s forests worriesexpertsWith some 142 000 ha of forest landdestroyed annually, the Islamic Republic ofIran is considered to be among the topcountries not properly safeguarding itsnatural heritage. Forests are consideredan important factor in the ecotourismindustry. Based on the latest statistics,12.48 million ha of land in Iran are forests.

A report by Iran’s Department of theEnvironment does not present a hopefulfuture for forests. For example, Arasbaran

forests, designated a reserve by theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO) weresome 250 000 to 300 000 ha in 1976 buttoday destruction has left no more than164 000 ha of these forests.

Iran’s official body in charge of thepreservation of forests has announcedthat annually 100 000 ha of forests arerestored; nevertheless, as experts note,this is a very low number considering thearea destroyed. (Source: IranMania News,2 December 2005.)

KENYA

Game park wildlife at risk as farmers turnpoacherPoachers are once again stalkingKenya’s game parks, 30 years after theslaughter of whole herds in supposedlyprotected reserves.

Four years of drought are drivingKenya’s rural poor to switch fromsubsistence farming to animal trapping, inorder to supply a booming undergroundtrade in bushmeat. An estimated 20 000wild animals, including antelopes, zebras,buffaloes and giraffes, are dying each yeararound Tsavo National Park, the largestpark in Kenya.

A report for the Born Free Foundationfound that more than half the meat onsale in some Nairobi butchers’ shops wasnot beef or mutton, as advertised, butgame meat. The quality and taste of legalor illegal meat vary little. (Source:Telegraph.co.uk [United Kingdom], 15July 2005.)

Kenya launches new poaching crackdownto protect its wildlife The Kenya Wildlife Service is launching aUS$1.25 million (£700 000) scheme tobolster its wardens’ fight againstpoachers in the savannah land of Tsavo,where lions, elephants, rhinoceros anddeer are still falling to hunters. Somekillers are ivory traders, seeking a quickprofit selling elephant tusks, but othersare poor villagers, searching for meat toadd to the cooking pot. (Source: TheIndependent [United Kingdom], 23September 2005.)

LIBERIA

Community forestry practicable inLiberia?In an effort to include the respectivecommunities in the governance andmanagement of forest resources forcommercial and non-commercialpurposes, an international workshop oncommunity forestry aimed at sharing visionand an action frame for community forestryin Liberia is taking place in Monrovia.

While the Environmental Desk (EnDe)welcomes the Unity Party’s platformdeclaration on natural resourcemanagement as positive, EnDe considersthat the development of a communityforestry policy document aimed atincluding rural people in the managementof the nation’s rich forest resources isimperative. In the absence of a presentwell-defined and workable framework forcommunity forestry, the incominggovernment might not address thequestion of subsistence; livelihoodimprovement and poverty reduction; thesocial, cultural and religious significance oftimber and non-timber products; wildlifemanagement; the conservation ofbiodiversity; and maintaining the quality ofthe environment in a short period of time.

Community forestry is one aspect of theNew Forestry Law of Liberia. The othertwo aspects for which a policy orframework has been developed arecommercial forestry and conservation.

The idea of community forestry wouldbe workable in Liberia only if we are



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prepared literally to kick inequities out ofnatural resource management. The In-Country Coordinator of the Liberia ForestInitiative, John Woods, observed thatgenerally, communities have claims toland but they do not own it. He added thatif community forestry is to be establishedin Liberia, the participants must review theland tenure system and recommend howforest landownership can be conferred oncommunities.

He challenged the workshop also toconsider capacity building facilities forcommunities to build up sociocapital andskills to control and manage their ownforests. This would curtail uncontrolledaccess to forest resources, which has ledto the loss of an estimated average of 1–2percent of the forest every year. “Similarly,an estimated US$60 million is traded inbushmeat each year without taxes orfees.” (Source: The Inquirer [Monrovia], 13December 2005.)

MALAYSIA

Rare find in newly gazetted forestThe gazetting of 7 504 ha of forest at BukitBauk, Dungun as a recreational area hasled to an unexpected find – rare camphortrees (Dryobalanops aromatica) and theLivistonia endauensis fan palm.Researchers have also found 89 speciesof trees and plants endemic to Bukit Bauk.Most Dryobalanops species of camphortrees in the country were the result of morethan 40 years of replanting in logged-overforests but those found in Bukit Bauk wereendemic. The aromatic resins from thesespecies are highly sought after byproducers of camphor and camphor oil.(Source: New Straits Times [Malaysia], 13July and 7 August 2005.)

Orang Asli and gaharu (species of thegenus Aquilaria) The Orang Asli community needs to findan alternative source of income in futurebecause of the depletion in resources andthe need to practise sustainable non-timber forest resource management. DrLim Hin Fui of the Forest ResearchInstitute Malaysia said that most gaharuharvesters in Peninsular Malaysia wereOrang Asli and a good grade of gaharucould fetch RM5 000–6 000/kg while lowergrades fetch RM4/kg. He said thatinternational trade in gaharu was nowregulated and, as such, a permit wasneeded to harvest it but the communityhardly ever applies for such a permit.

Speaking at the InternationalConference on Indigenous People 2005,Dr Lim noted that, since 1985,encroachment by Thais on Malaysianforests to search for gaharu had alsoresulted in depletion of the resource. “TheOrang Asli’s continued dependence ongaharu remains doubtful; they need to findalternative sources of income.”

Gaharu, one of a few NTFP productswell known internationally (e.g. in theMiddle East for wealth, hospitality andmedicinal purposes), is produced from theresinous, fragrant and highly prizedheartwood of the Aquilaria species of thefamily Thymelaeaceae.

Dr Lim said that their study in 2003 inHulu Perak showed that of the 71households surveyed in seven Orang Aslivillages, 57 households (80 percent)generated a cash income from gaharuharvesting. The average monthly incomederived from the sale of gaharu was RM69or 20 percent of the monthly householdcash income. (Source: Bernama[Malaysia], 4 July 2005.)

MYANMAR

Alungdaw Kathapa National ParkAlungdaw Kathapa National Park islocated in a mountainous areaapproximately 100 miles (160 km) west ofMandalay. It was classified as a reservedforest as early as 1893 and, although itwas logged selectively for teak in the past,

it remains mainly undisturbed. Largemammals living in the park includeelephants, gaur, banteng, sambar and arelatively large population of tigers. Theexceptional management features includethe conservation of natural forests andwildlife, including tigers; ongoing research;environmental education; and thedevelopment of ecotourism.(Source: In search of excellence,exemplary forest management in Asia andthe Pacific, ed. P.B. Durst, et al.)

NAMIBIA

The humble mushroom turns money-spinnerMushrooms are said to be an idealsubstitute for meat and could provide relieffor meat lovers who live with the painfulcondition of gout as a result of eating beef.A handful of oyster mushrooms couldreplace a chunk of meat, while at the sametime reducing cholesterol because of thevitamins and proteins that they contain.Because mushrooms represent a highlynutritious food that is good for one’s health,a new trend has now begun where theseumbrella-shaped vegetables are beingfarmed commercially in different parts ofthe country.

The University of Namibia (Unam)’s newmushroom production house and Marineand Coastal Resources Research Centreassist communities through viablemushroom cultivation projects in order toimprove their living standards. Theseinitiatives are seen as a mechanism bywhich Namibians could tackle poverty andunemployment and ensure food security.Experts and agronomists say that not onlyis mushroom farming an easy and quickway of farming, compared with beefproduction, but people can also turnmushrooms into a money-spinner as wellas a food source.

Researcher and mushroom scientist atthe University of Namibia Pauline Kadhila-Muandingi said that awareness campaignsare being conducted to mobilize thecommunity on growing mushrooms as acash crop. Traditionally, many Namibiansknow and eat mushrooms, especially in thevillages where they are picked from the



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wild, but much needs to be done to turnmushroom cultivation into an agriculturalbusiness for the benefit of all the people.

While most locals know what amushroom tastes like, many of them find itstrange that such a vegetable can becultivated. Unlike other crops, mushroomscan grow all year round and can becultivated to fruition in a short span of fourto six months, while impressive results canbe achieved in the first nine weeks underhumid conditions.

Muandingi said that the mushroom is amedicinal relish that helps boost the body’simmune system, while at the same time itacts as a defence against various types ofcancer.

The production of oyster mushrooms,which could easily be cultivated from grainsof wheat, is easy to maintain with the righttype of humidity at a temperature of 22°C.

Project manager at the Centre, Flip vanVuuren said the projects are gearedtowards assisting the poorest of the poor tofeed themselves and earn some money.During the first few months, the coastalcommunity members at Henties Bay willearn N$300 a month and once this initiativebecomes fully operational, the cooperativewould pay each of its 15 members a salaryof between N$1 500 and N$2 000 a month.

Unam said the greatest danger ofpoverty is when Namibians overlook thefact that sustainable solutions to povertyand unemployment should come fromwithin the country. This statement stronglyechoes President Pohamba’s commentthat solutions to Namibia’s challenges mustbe “home-grown”. It is in view of this thattaking science to the people, like thecommercialization of mushroomproduction, and translating thesetechnologies into innovative income-generating enterprises would pave the wayfor socio-economic development for manyNamibians. (Source: New Era [Windhoek],26 October 2005.)


Mr Jansen van Vuuren, Marine and

Coastal Resources Research Centre,

University of Namibia, Private Bag

13301, Windhoek, Namibia.


NEPAL

Certification of NTFPsThe demand for environmentally friendlyproducts in Europe and America andawareness among consumers there tobuy these products has created anopportunity for Nepali NTFPs to gain afoothold in international markets throughthe certification of forests.

According to the Asia Network forSustainable Agriculture and Bioresources(ANSAB), about 602 865 kg of raw andprocessed NTFPs worth about US$500 000 (Rs35.1 million) wereexported in 2004.

Forest certification is carried out by theForest Stewardship Council (FSC) withcertification responsibility being given tothe Federation of Community ForestryUsers Nepal (FECOFUN). According toFECOFUN, 23 species of NTFPs havebeen certified by the FSC and Nepal isthe first country in Asia and fifth in theworld to obtain an FSC certificate.

Lack of proper management andmanufacturing companies in the countryis the major drawback. However, in aone-year period ten Nepalese companiesand Aveda Corporation, a United States-based manufacturer of NTFPs, havejoined ANSAB to manufacture thecertified products.

According to the Community ForestDivision, the concept of the certification offorests is evolving – an outcome of thedecline of the tropical rain forests.(Source: Gorkhapatra [Nepal], 16September 2005.)

NICARAGUA

Beekeeping as a sustainable use of therain forestFor the last three years, the Danish NGONepenthes (www.nepenthes.dk) incooperation with the Nicaraguan NGOFundación del Rio (FdR), has beenworking with a DANIDA-supported projecton environmental awareness amongyoung local people.

FdR owns part of one of the rain forest-covered Solitiname Islands. A mainactivity has been the construction of ElQuebrachio Rain Forest Centre, 50 kmeast of San Juan. The centre is situatedin the forest buffer zone of the Indio MaizForest Reserve, part of the CentralAmerican forest corridor. Here classes ofchildren and teachers from 48 schoolsspend a few days learning about theforest and how it can be used insustainable ways. There are footpathsthrough the forest where medicinalplants, spices and other useful forestproducts are demonstrated.

Beekeeping is a small part of theproject, but there has been great interestin learning the business. A Nicaraguanprofessional beekeeper has beenengaged to give regular training at thecentre. (Source: Extracted from an articleby Ole Hertz in Bees for DevelopmentJournal, 76, September 2005.)

NIGERIA

Nigeria to earn US$6 billion from neem treeNigeria may earn US$6 billion from theneem tree, popularly called dogonrayo, in afresh push by the federal government toexpand the nation’s foreign exchangeearnings through a consistentdiversification of the economy.


Every year villagers in Nepal gathersome 15 000 tonnes of medicinalplants from the wild, pack and drythem and sell them to traders forexport. The sale of these plants, oilsand resins provides most of theirincome, while they also rely on theplants for food, medicines and fuel.(Source: Rainforest Alliance, 2004Annual Report.)


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The Director-General of the NationalResearch Institute for ChemicalTechnology (NARICT) Zaria, Dr EbenezerOkonkwo, said that the production of awide range of products from the neemtree has commenced under a public-private partnership.

Annually, India exports as much as $2 billion worth of neem tree products,ranging from pharmaceuticals, fertilizers,germicidal bathing soap, antifungalcreams, toothpaste and oil. Nigeria’sneem potential has been put at threetimes more than India’s capacity.

Two plants are being established inKastina and Kebbi to mass produce arange of products from the tree. The“immediate task is the development of abiopesticide plant from the neem andimplementation of the establishment ofbiopesticide manufacturing plants inKastina and Kebbi states by NARICT”.

In addition to biopesticides, three otherproducts containing neem oil will beproduced for exports: for the productionof soap (neem oil has the addedadvantage of being germicidal); as analternative to palm kernel oil; fertilizers;and powdered grade azadirachtin.

Okonkwo said that each of the twoplants would be built in India at a cost ofN$50 million and that with successfulmodel projects in the two states, theplants would be extended to other statesof the federation.

Already 2 000 youths have foundgainful employment in the collection ofneem seeds for the institute and, giventhe fact that neem is readily availablethroughout Nigeria, the income-generating benefits of the tree shouldsoon spread across the nation.

Neem, which is known for its potencyin the treatment of malaria, was said tohave been introduced to the country’sflora in 1928 when it was established inBorno Province.

Until the partnership was set up, theeconomic uses of neem seeds were notknown to Nigerians and the seeds weretherefore left to waste; this initiativeshould turn neem into a huge foreignexchange earner for the nation. (Source:Vanguard [Nigeria], 16 September 2005.)

For more information, please contact

the author:

Dr (Otunba) S. Kehinde Sanwo, Head,

Department of Renewable Resources,

College of Agricultural Sciences,

Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2001,

Ayetoro, Yewa, Ogun state, Nigeria.


PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Agarwood and the perfumed forests ofPapua New GuineaWorldwide sources of agarwood(Aquilaria malaccensis, also referred toas eaglewood and aloeswood, and morelocally as gaharu) are dwindling, so thatits discovery in Papua New Guinea in1997 provoked intense harvesting.

To curb the rate of destruction, theWorldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) hasbeen working with local communities inthe country, who own about 97 percent ofthe land, offering workshops to help themmap their land, predict the location of theagarwood trees and develop ways ofmanaging their resources sustainably.WWF is teaching them how to extractagarwood resin without killing the treesand is ensuring that the localcommunities know its real value, so theyare not fooled by traders. WWF is alsohelping communities designate certainregions as official wildlife managementareas, which will help to protect themfrom being handed over as concessionsto loggers and mining companies.

Agarwood could provide a long-termsustainable livelihood for some of thepoorest people in the country and alsoboost the survival prospects of theworld’s third largest remaining rain forestand all the wonders it contains. (Source:WWF, 21 October 2005.)

PARAGUAY

Palmito (NWFP)El palmito, Euterpe edulis Mart., es laúnica especie de palmera productora depalmito comestible a nivel comercial delParaguay. Es endémica en el Brasil, el


Omo Forest Reserve: another opportunityfor ecotourismIn the southwestern part of Ogun state liesthe 1 305 km2 Omo Forest Reserve. Manyanimals that are being threatened by theactivities of loggers and tree takers can befound here.

A recent paper by Dr (Otunba) S. Kehinde Sanwo examines the attractionof the Omo forests for casual visitors andtourists and the possibilities of upgradingthe forest reserve to a wildlife park in orderto promote ecotourism within it and savethe rich biodiversity of this tropical rainforest. The paper recognizes the savinggrace (i.e. from total destruction), resultingfrom the participatory management of part(142 km2) of the Forest Reserve forelephants by the Ogun State Ministry ofAgriculture (Forestry Division) and theOmo Forest Conservation Foundation(OFCF), a community-based organization.The need to encourage further OFCF andsimilar private initiatives to complementthe work of the Government inenvironmental conservation and utilizationthrough sustainable ecotourism ishighlighted.

In the Omo Forest Reserve, otherattractive ventures can also beincorporated to generate funds and attracttourists, such as mushroom growing,apiary sciences, sericulture, wild ratdomestication, crocodile breeding, reptilehousing, a bird sanctuary and a snailery. Infact, it would be most desirable todesignate the entire Omo Forest Reserveas a wildlife park. The Ogun StateGovernment has already indicated that itintends to start profitable sustainablesericulture at the reserve in early 2006.

By investing in its conservation of thegene pool, its wild forests, animals andenvironment, a viable sustainableecotourism business will soon evolve thatshould bring in millions of dollars for theOgun State Government. In this way, theOmo Forest will regain its lost glory.

This paper therefore recommends thatOFCF be assisted in order to encouragefurther private participation and save thelast frontier of wild forests in Ogun state forthe future of our children and for revenuegeneration from ecotourism.


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Paraguay y la Argentina y se desarrollaen el estrato medio del Bosque Atlántico.Forma agrupaciones florísticasconocidas como palmitales, en sitios concaracterísticas particulares que aúnnecesitan ser mejor estudiadas desde elpunto de vista ecológico ymedioambiental. Se localiza únicamenteen los suelos arcillosos de la cuenca deRío Paraná y es muy exigente en cuantoa condiciones ecológicas. Habita ensuelos arcillosos y húmedos, y crecemejor cuando está protegido de la luzexcesiva por doseles altos de copas deárboles tropicales.

Su desmedida explotación comercial vaacabando con las reservas en el Paraguay,ya que cada árbol tarda de 10 a 15 añosen estar apto para el consumo. Presentaun tallo único, por esta razón la extracciónde la yema apical significa su muerte. Laexplotación netamente extractiva y elreemplazo del bosque nativo,principalmente por especies exóticas derápido crecimiento, ha reducidodrásticamente su área de distribución.

La mayor parte de las especiesalimentarias de la familia de las Palmáceasson apreciadas por sus frutos. Sinembargo, existe aproximadamente uncentenar de palmeras que dan lugar a unpalmito suficientemente grande como parasu comercialización y consumo humano.Los palmitos son los brotes terminalestiernos que según el país de origenpresentan características diferentes, porejemplo variando el sabor desde dulcehasta amargo.

En Europa, únicamente se obtiene elpalmito de la «palmera enana» o «palmito»(Chamaerops humilis), que no seencuentra cultivada, sino que crece deforma espontánea en el áreamediterránea, de donde es originaria. En laactualidad, la mayor parte del palmitocomercializado como brotes comestibles

en los mercados europeos proviene deespecies afines cultivadas en Américalatina, como por ejemplo el (Euterpeedulis) que producen un delicado, tierno yblanco manjar. Sin embargo, su usoresulta poco ecológico, pues la obtenciónde los palmitos supone la muerte de lapalmera. De ahí que se le conozcatambién como corazón de palmera. Surendimiento es muy bajo y para obtener unkilo de palmitos se requieren una o dospalmeras de 10 años. Debido a que suconsumo va en aumento es urgentemejorar el conocimiento de las técnicasque puedan asegurar su regeneración yutilización de una forma sostenible,principalmente en los países tropicales,incluido el Paraguay. (Contribuido por:Díaz Lezcano, Maura y de Pedro, J.L.(E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Montes, Madrid,España.)

Para más información, dirigirse a:

Maura Díaz y José L. de Pedro, E. T.

Superior de Ingenieros de Montes,

Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid,

España. Fax nº: 0034 91 336 63 86;

correo electrónico: [email protected];

[email protected]

PERU

Wildcrafting rhatany (Krameria lappacea)Rhatany (Krameria lappacea) is amedicinal and dye plant native to Ecuador,Peru, Argentina and Chile. The roots aretraditionally used against inflammation andminor injuries, and in dental care. The red

root extracts contain mainly tannins(catechins and proanthocyanidins).Recently more attention has been given tothe occurrence of neolignans and toantioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Despite its traditional use over the entiredistributional range, commercial sourcingmainly takes place in Peru. According tofigures facilitated by PROMPEX (Comisiónpara la Promoción de Exportaciones, April2005) Peru exported an average of 33 tonnes of rhatany per year between2000 and 2004 (see Table). Total exportsamounted to about 180 tonnes of driedrhatany since 2000. Some 96 percent ofthis amount (approximately 170 tonnes)was exported to Germany; the remaining 4 percent largely went to France, Spainand the United States. The plant is alsowidely sold on local markets but no dataare available on the total harvest of rhatanyin Peru. All rhatany is collected from naturalpopulations and no cultivation of thespecies has been attempted.


Familia: ArecaceaeGenero: EuterpeEspecie: Euterpe EdulisNombre común: Palmito

Annual exports of Krameria lappacea roots from Peru (tonnes)

Year Germany Other countries Total

2000 36 000 299 36 2992001 29 000 3 655 32 6552002 41 500 2 907 44 4072003 24 000 1 292 25 2922004 24 000 3 020 27 0202005 (March) 14 985 200 15 185Total2000–2005 (March) 169 485 11 373 180 858Average annualexports 2000–2004 30 900 2 234.6 33 135

Krameria lappacea


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(Source: Towards a standardization ofbiological sustainability: wildcraftingrhatany (Krameria lappacea) in Peru byM. Weigend and N. Dostert [in MedicinalPlant Conservation, 11].)


Maximilian Weigend, Institut für

Biologie – Systematische Botanik und

Pflanzengeographie Freie,

Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6,

14195 Berlin, Germany or Nicolas

Dostert, Botconsult GmbH,

Bergmannstr. 19, 10961 Berlin,

Germany.

Brazil nut concessionsOne hundred and thirty pioneering Brazilnut producers in the Amazonian region ofMadre de Dios, Peru recently won formalBrazil nut concessions from the PeruvianNational Institute for Natural Resources(INRENA). The establishment of theseconcessions effectively ensures legalprotection for 225 000 ha of primarytropical forest in the path of a plannedhighway connecting Brazil to the Pacific.

Supported by the Critical EcosystemPartnership Fund, the AmazonConservation Association worked with itsPeruvian counterpart, the Asociaciónpara la Conservación de la CuencaAmazónica and INRENA to establishformal, long-term contracts with localproducers. Under these contracts, Brazilnuts are harvested from mapped areas,according to management plans thatincorporate the highest standards ofsustainable forest management.

Brazil nuts are harvested from naturalstands, not plantations, because thetrees depend intimately on a complexweb of pollinators, seed dispersers andabiotic conditions. Even short-termproductivity therefore depends onmanaging these natural stands in anecologically sustainable fashion.

Most of the Brazil nut harvesters in thisregion are small-scale producers, withstands that are seldom larger than 1 000 ha. The project has successfullystabilized land tenure in collaborationwith other land titling initiatives in thearea, while also providing an

economically viable and sustainablealternative to logging.

Of the total area, 27 000 ha of Brazilnut concessions have also been certified– for the first time anywhere – by theForest Stewardship Council in recognitionof producers’ adherence to the strictestinternational standards for forestmanagement. The result is a benefit forgrowers, the forests and consumersseeking to use their purchasing power tosupport conservation. (Source: CEPF E-News, September 2005.)

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Oran – traditions and the nature of KamchatkaFrom 18 to 29 July 2005, the firstinternational ethno-ecological youthsummer camp “Oran – traditions and thenature of Kamchatka” took place in theMenedek settlement close to Anavgajnative village, Bystrinsky district, deepinside the Kamchatka Oblast.

The peninsula, located in the RussianFar East and composed of theKamchatka region and the Koriakiaautonomous district is home to almost 12 300 indigenous people (Itelmen,Koriak, Eveni and Chukcha) with 42percent of its territory covered by forests.

The camp was organized under theaegis of the Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA)-WorldConservation Union (IUCN) project“Building Partnerships for ForestConservation and Management inRussia”, by a partnership between IUCN,ProSibiria E.V., administration of theBystrinsky district, Bystrinsky InformationCentre, Dulipki Native People’s

Community, Kamchatka Herbal TeaNGO, Menedek NGO and many othervolunteers and organizations. A largenumber of local people from the villagesof Anavgai and Esso took an active partin achieving such a unique project.

Participants were selected from bothlocal and international youth, withparticipants from Canada (including ayoung First Nation man), France,Germany, Italy, Switzerland and theUnited States, as well as from otherRussian regions. Some members of thenative traditional dance group Nurgenekjoined the camp – as teachers of dancesand songs, and as participants to learnnative crafting skills.

One of the purposes of the summercamp was to share traditional knowledge,beliefs and ceremonies “through acoeducation of Russian youth and peoplefrom other countries”. Coeducationstarted by living under the same roof asvillage elders and the master crafters. Fornative participants, the camp provided apossibility to strengthen the awareness oftheir traditions; for internationalparticipants, it was an occasion to learnabout native culture by living it, as well asplaying an active role in its preservation.

At the same time, native cooperativesand associations, together withorganizers from the CIDA-IUCN project,provided information on their currentprojects and results, enabling them toexpand their knowledge of NTFPs andtraditional handicrafts.

During those ten days we livedtogether, cooking local meals, dancingand joining forces to help in theorganization of the camp, whilesimultaneously learning the life of theindigenous people through the manymaster classes and field trips organizedto show sustainable resources andproduction skills.

Examples of master classes includedbirch bark weaving, wood and bonecarving, fur and skin traditional treatmentand beadwork and ornaments, whichcovered the manufacturing of differentpendants and ornaments made withstones from the river, leather and wildsalmon skin discarded from lunch. Every



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class was given the possibility to practiseskills learned.

A field trip organized by the KamchatkaHerbal Tea NGO demonstrated theharvesting and preparation of herbal tea,showing how harvesting continues in thesame naturally sustainable and forest-caring way, and introducing the role ofcooperatives and projects inside the lifeand economy of today’s communities.Visiting the Sleeping Beauty Hill played akey role in expanding the participants’knowledge about the traditional naturalresource use that generations of Itelmen,Koriak and Eveni indigenous peopleharvest for mushrooms, roots, herbs,berries and nuts as food and formedicinal and cultural uses.

Personally, I joined the camp to learnabout the traditional way of life of theindigenous people and to proposepossibilities to local cooperatives as tohow to export their products in a fairtrade.

Every one of my expectations wasfulfilled thanks to the immensely warmand hospitable native people. The campwas a unique source of knowledge – ofnature and of NTFP resources and theimportant economic role they play in localcommunities. (Contributed by:Alessandro Toffoli, Via BartolomeoEustachio 4, 00161 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected])

UGANDA

Ugandan farmers take on mulberrycultivation to produce silkThe cultivation of mulberry plants(enkenene), used for rearing silkworms(Bombyx mori L.), is becoming a newincome venture worthy of seriousinvestment. Sericulture is the feeding ofsilkworms on the leaves of mulberryplants to produce silk cocoons from whichraw silk or silk yarn is produced. Silk is ahigh-value natural fibre for makingprecious textiles, carpets and otherproducts that are in great demand on theinternational market.

According to the agriculture minister,“Silk production in Uganda is a promising

agro-enterprise aimed at increasinghousehold incomes, reducing poverty inrural areas and diversifying sources ofthe country’s foreign exchange earnings”.

In the late 1990s, a number of farmerstook on the cultivation of mulberry plantsand later embarked on the rearing ofsilkworms but failed to exploit theirpotential. As a result, the Mobwe Factory,now farmer-owned, has been establishedby a group of various farmers engaged inthe sericulture business, funded by theAfrican Development Foundation and theDanish International DevelopmentAgency (DANIDA).

With the acquisition of the factory, anumber of farmers from Bushenyi,Kanungu, Mbarara, Kashongi, Isingiroand Wakiso districts have now beentrained on how to plant their mulberrygardens and on the techniques of rearingsilkworms for cocoon production.However, a total of 15 000 farmers arestill needed to supply cocoons to thealready established factories in Kawanda,Wakiso and Bushenyi districts.

The rearing of silkworms requires atleast 1 acre (0.405 ha) for mulberryestablishment and a rearing house of 30 x 20 ft (9.1 x 6.1 m) fitted with rearingbeds, silkworm eggs, spinning frames,spray pumps, disinfectants, herbicides,fertilizers/manure, polythene sheets,secateurs and pruning saws. In order tobecome a regular supplier of cocoons,sufficient land for the mulberry plantsshould be prepared by removingperennial weeds such as couch grass(lumbugu) and planting at the onset of therains, with cuttings taken from maturesections of the mulberry stem (8–10months old). After 21 days, farmersharvest the cocoons and sort them beforeselling them to rearing units. At the units,the cocoons are categoized into gradesA, B and C. One kg of grade A sells forUSh28 000, B for USh1 200 and for CUSh800. The cocoons are later boiled for15 to 30 minutes before being brushed incold water. This eases the removal of thethread from the cocoons.

The reelers dry or stifle the cocoonsand reel them into silk threads, which areused for weaving. The factory capacity is

1 tonne per day but because of thelimited number of farmers supplyingcocoons, the factory is unable to operateevery day.

China has placed an order of 6 tonnesof threads per month. India requires 8tonnes and Japan 100 tonnes per year;Egypt 200 tonnes per month andZimbabwe and South Africa 100 kg.Despite these requirements, Uganda onlyproduces 20 tonnes annually. (Source:New Vision [Kampala), 30 November2005.)

UNITED REPUBLICOF TANZANIA

United Republic of Tanzania bans exportof unprocessed sandalwoodThe United Republic of Tanzania hasbanned the export of unprocessedsandalwood trees. This action followedpress reports in recent months that thehighly priced tree was being harvestedindiscriminately and exported to Europe,the Middle East and Asia, especially toIndia where sandalwood is widely used tomanufacture expensive perfumes.

All institutions charged with protectingTanzania’s natural resources, includingthe Tanzania National Parks Authority(Tanapa), were directed to intensify anti-poaching patrols in national parks wherethe tree is illegally harvested. Stricterlaws would be introduced to regulatetrade in the tree and ensure that onlycrude oil extracted from the tree isexported.

The tree fetches up to US$5 000 pertonne. Hundreds of containers of all sizes



63

are believed to have been shipped out inrecent years.

Poaching of the tree in national parksfollows its depletion in areas whereharvesting is allowed by the Ministry ofNatural Resources. However, the ministryonly permits the cutting of the tree trunkfrom selected forests and not theuprooting of the entire stem. Theministry’s guidelines have been largelyignored. Several cubic metres of the tree,worth millions of Tanzanian shillings,were intercepted last year.

The Arusha Regional ForestrySecretariat confirmed that sandalwood isone of the 12 nationally protected trees. Itwas upgraded to the class A level ofhighly valued tree species last year toprotect it from extinction.

Apart from making perfumes,sandalwood is also an ingredient inlotions, soap and candles. Mashed into apaste, it is used in folk medicine andspread on the skin to purify thecomplexion and heal rashes. (Source:East African [Kenya], 10 October 2005.)

Bamboo trade and poverty alleviation inIleje districtA study was carried out recently toinvestigate the impact of the bambooeconomy on poverty alleviation in theIleje district, Mbeya region of the UnitedRepublic of Tanzania. The study, byMilline Mbonile on behalf of Research onPoverty Alleviation (REPOA),investigated among other things, therelationship between the bamboo tradeand sustainable resource management inthe district, which is one of the leadingdistricts in the bamboo trade in theMbeya region and probably in the wholecountry. The most popular bambooproduct marketed all over the country andabroad is the winnowing basket.Recently, however, some bambooweavers have been producing specialdecorated bamboo goods.

There are two major sources ofbamboo in the Ileje district: forestreserves in the highlands and along rivervalleys; and small plots, where mostbamboo is grown very close tohouseholds, particularly near river valleys.

Based on this study, recommendationshave been made to both the local andcentral governments. The researchshowed that the bamboo trade employs areasonable proportion of the population inIleje district and is a good source ofincome. (Source: IPPMEDIA-Guardian[United Republic of Tanzania], 21 May2005.)

For more information regarding

this study, please contact:

Dr M. Mbonile, Department of

Geography, PO Box 35049,

University of Dar-es-Salaam,

Dar-es-Salaam, United Republic

of Tanzania.


UNITED STATESOF AMERICA

Acorn abundance could significantlyreduce this year’s deer harvest Biologists cannot predict when bumpercrops of acorns will appear, but they doknow that hunters kill fewer deer in yearsof acorn abundance. Each year theMissouri Department of Conservationconducts a survey to determine theabundance or scarcity of acorns. Thisknowledge is important because a widearray of wildlife relies heavily on the fruitof oak trees for food. Acorn counts fromthousands of trees give biologistsvaluable information about how ducks,squirrels, deer and turkeys will fare in thecoming year.

The annual survey covers the portionof the state where forest dominates thelandscape, approximately half the state.The result is a series of acorn productionindices broken down by region and oaktree type – red or white. Over the past 46years, the overall index for all oak treesthroughout the survey area has been133. Last year, the number was 116. Thisyear’s overall index is 152 – producing abumper acorn crop.

The news is similar throughout most ofthe survey area. The only exceptions arewhite oaks in the west Ozark and theOzark border at the western edge of thesurvey area. Even in these areas, theoverall acorn crop is above average. In theeastern Ozark, white oak acorn productionis up 55 percent compared with theaverage of the last 46 years.

All this would be little more thanscientific trivia except for one thing – theupcoming firearms deer season. Inautumn, deer gorge on high-energy foodsin preparation for winter. In forested areas,this means acorns. When acorns arescarce, deer flock to trees that did produceacorns. This simplifies hunters’ work. Ifthey can find acorns, they will find deer.

Hunting is much tougher in years ofacorn abundance. Deer do not have totravel far to find their favourite food, sothey spend less time on the move and theyare scattered unpredictably throughout theforest.

This effect is already showing up inearly deer harvest statistics. AConservation Department’s deermanagement expert said he expects thisyear’s deer harvest to be low because ofthe superabundance of acorns.

The Conservation Department expertsdo not know all the factors that have led tothis year’s acorn bounty. Annual data pointto some correlations between weather andacorn production. The number of red oakacorns seems to be higher two years afterabundant spring rainfall, and white oaksare more productive in years with mildspring weather.

Oak trees are divided into white andred families. Acorns on white oaks maturein one year, so unfavourable conditionsduring the flowering or growing season



64

affect that year’s crop. Red oak acornstake two years to mature, so the results of bad conditions are not apparent untilthe following year. (Source: Jim Low,Kansas City infoZine [United States], 21 November 2005.)

Evaluating the role of forest managementin huckleberries Understorey species such as huckleberries(species in the genus Vaccinium) areimportant ecosystem components of forestcommunities in the Pacific Northwest(Oregon and Washington in the UnitedStates and British Columbia in Canada).Forest understorey species contribute tobiological diversity and long-termecosystem productivity, are well correlatedwith mammalian and avian abundance andare important for wildlife since theycontribute browse, berries and cover.

Often overlooked, however, in the long-standing and human extensive use ofNTFPs, huckleberries are currently used inthe Pacific Northwest in the floral market,as wild food and as medicinals and forlandscaping. (Source: Kerns, B.K.,Alexander, S.J. and Bailey, J. D. 2004.Evaluating the role of forest managementin huckleberries. Economic Botany, 58(4):668–678.)


Susan J. Alexander, Regional

Economist, Alaska Region, USDA

Forest Service, PO Box 21628, Juneau

AK 99802, United States. Fax: 907 586

7852; e-mail: [email protected]

Medicinal plants in the United States In the United States alone, medicinal andnutritional herbs are a US$4 billion-plusindustry and worldwide the figure is atleast $20 billion annually. The AppalachianMountains in western Maryland and WestVirginia support a unique andexceptionally diverse flora, including manyplants that have a long history of medicinaluse. In recognition of the need toconserve wild native plants, to explorescientifically and understand their truemedical efficacy, and to generateeconomic benefit for the people of theAppalachian region, the University ofMaryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI)and Frostburg State University, incollaboration with West Virginia University,have established the Appalachian Centerfor Ethnobotanical Studies (ACES).

The centre’s goal is to conductmultidisciplinary research and educationprogrammes on native plants withpotential medicinal properties,conservation of these plants andAppalachian ecosystems as a whole,preservation of Appalachian culture as itrelates to the harvesting and traditionaluse of medicinal plants, and theexploration of economic benefit to theregion that may be derived from themanaged development of botanicalresources.(Source: Newswise, 5 October 2005.)

For more information on the

Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical

Studies, please visit:

www.umbi.umd.edu/nande/

EthnobotanySymposium.html

Oregon’s chanterellesOregon’s chanterelle harvest is big – 500 000 pounds (227 000 kg) werecollected in 1999, the year that the Pacificgolden chanterelle was made the state’sofficial mushroom. Accurate statistics arehard to come by, because chanterellesgrow only in the wild, brought to marketby independent foragers and dealers whooperate on a cash basis. No one hasfound a way to cultivate them, eventhough they sprout up abundantly inmany parts of the world.

The chanterelle season in thenorthwest lasts throughout autumn andmay run into December, depending onthe rainfall. Unlike most mushrooms,chanterelles are bright in colour. Thecaps and stems are burnished orange, sothey match the hue of autumn leaves.Lighter-coloured and slightly meatierwhite chanterelles also grow in Oregon.

Chanterelles picked from Oregon’sconiferous forests are actually a distinctspecies from the chanterelles that grow ineastern Canada and Europe. Scientistsmade this discovery only recently, whichcreated the impetus for the official statemushroom designation.

Worthy as the chanterelle is, having anofficial state mushroom at all may seemsilly. It does, however, bring publicawareness to the unusual challenges ofthe foraging economy. Much collectingtakes place on federal and state landsthat are in the tug-of-war zone overwhere and how much timber should beharvested. Suffice it to say, fewer treesequal fewer mushrooms. (Source:Portland Tribune [United States, 23September 2005.)

VIET NAM

NTFPs and biodiversity conservationViet Nam is endowed with rich fauna andflora: 11 400 vascular plants, about 700sea and freshwater grasses, 826 large-size mushroom species, 310 animals,840 birds, 260 reptiles, 120 amphibians,2 038 sea fish, over 700 freshwater fish,



65

7 750 species of insect and thousands ofnon-vertebrates. It is for this reason thatthe country is recognized as one of thosewith the highest biodiversity in the world,constituting an important basis todiscover, select and develop its NTFPs ofhigh and distinctive economic values.

Up to now, Viet Nam has possessed agroup of traditional NTFPs, such ascinnamon, anise, cardamom Amomumaromaticum Roxb., pines, eaglewood,Monrinda officinalis, shellac and manyother prospective NTFPs such as Panaxvietnamensis, Scaphium macropodium,Canarium album, Ganoderma lucidum,Calamus tetradactylus and C.platyacanthus.

It is a great pity, however, that VietNam’s resource of precious NTFPs is nowon the verge of depletion in view ofprolonged poor management andexcessive harvesting and exploitation,specifically of Panax vietnamensis,eaglewood and Cupressus torulosusdriven to near extinction, Monrindaofficinalis, Anoetochilus setaceus andCoscinium fenestratum seriously on thedecline, which cannot meet domesticconsumption and export demands.

At this point, it is essential to findnecessary solutions to the rehabilitation ofNTFPs currently on the decline, and

simultaneously develop prospective onesfor domestic consumption and export, forhunger alleviation and poverty reduction,and for the improvement of people’s livingconditions, particularly those in mountains.

A recent issue of the NTFP newsletterfocused on “NTFPs and biodiversityconservation” with the aim of helping toconserve the biodiversity of Viet Nam’sforests. (Source: NTFP newsletter (VietNam NTFP Network,) 2(4), October 2005.)


Ms Nguyen Thi Bich Hue,

Communications Officer, IUCN Viet

Nam, Non-timber Forest Products

Subsector Support Project,

8 Chuong Duong Do Street, Hoan Kiem,

Hanoi, Viet Nam. Fax: (844) 9 320 996;

e-mail: [email protected] or

[email protected];

www.ntfp.org.vn

Bamboo coal and essence for export The Da Lat Urban ManagementCompany has succeeded in producingbamboo coal and essence for export afterone year of experiments with Japaneseexperts’ guidance. The products aremade from locally available materials withJapan technology.

Bamboo coal is used as activatedcharcoal for the medical sector and togrow clean vegetables in greenhouses,while bamboo essence is a biologicalproduct used in organic vegetable andpesticide production.

The company will export one 8-tonnecontainer of bamboo coal and essence toJapan per month and will graduallyincrease its exports based on the

Japanese partners’ demand. (Source:Viet Nam Economic Times, 20September 2005.)

Pine resin: first Vietnamese ink factorycreates local marketThe first-ever offset printing ink factory inViet Nam, Pacific Ink, opened recently inBac Ninh Province. Currently in its firstphase of production, the US$ millionfacility will produce 3 000 tonnes of inkper year.

Pacific Ink said that previously the localmarket has had to import 90 percent of itsink supply and the factory will now reducecost and time. Pine resin, the mainingredient in printer’s ink, is abundant inViet Nam and the factory makes use ofthis natural resource. Pacific would alsocooperate with Hanoi PolytechnicsUniversity to train students in the factory’slaboratory.

Pacific Ink is the first company in VietNam to join a newly formed NationalAssociation of Printing Ink Manufacturers(NAPIM). Pacific stressed that priceswould be much lower than those ofimported products. (Source: VietNamNet,25 October 2005.)


An initiative to form a working groupon NTFPs was raised during a recentNTFP network workshop. Thisworking group will consist of keyinstitutions and organizations activein the field of NTFP conservation anddevelopment, both national andinternational, and act as a core groupfor facilitating cooperation andinformation sharing among NTFPactors in Viet Nam. A tentative overallgoal is “to support the NTFP networkto initiate and implement networkingactivities more effectively and moresustainably”.

THE VIET NAM NTFP WORKING GROUP

An optimist takes the risk of losing.A pessimist misses the chance ofwinning.

Hazrat Inayat Khan


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TRADITIONALMEDICINES COULD HELPAFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

Growing plants used in traditionalmedicines could rescue Africa’s driestregions from total soil degradation andprovide much-needed income and healthcare for the rural poor, said the WorldBank in a report published last week.

It says that the global market fortraditional medicines and the plants theyare derived from is worth about US$65billion, partly because of demand for plantsused as raw materials in westernmedicines. Being able to capture even 1percent of this – $650 million – would meana significant injection of cash for Africa’sarid regions, says Warren Evans, the WorldBank’s director of environment.

Millions of people in sub-Saharan Africastruggle to make a living from arid land thatnot only gets little rain but has also beendamaged by overgrazing, deforestation andpoor irrigation practices. According to thereport, growing medicinal plants “can helpcheck runoff and erosion, control flooding,purify water and protect against wind”.

The report identifies 38 plants that couldgrow in dry conditions. One is a type ofacacia tree that is the source of gum arabic,used to treat inflammation of the throat andstomach. The Sudan’s dry savannahs are amajor source of the gum, with a globalmarket worth $90 million. Another of theplants, known as devil’s claw(Harpagophytum procumbens), is grown inthe arid grasslands of southwest Africa. Ithas anti-inflammatory properties and isused to treat arthritis.

The report stresses the need for growingindigenous plants. Although non-nativeplants might hold more commercialpromise, it says, they could threaten localbiodiversity. (Source: SciDev.Net [UnitedKingdom], 31 October 2005.)

CONSERVATIONOF THE CENTRALALBERTINE RIFT

Home to the world’s remaining mountaingorillas and many other endemic speciesof mammals, birds and plants, the CentralAlbertine Rift region has become thefocus of joint conservation efforts by thegovernments of the Democratic Republicof the Congo (DRC), Rwanda andUganda. On 14 October 2005 ministersfrom the three African nations signed theTripartite Declaration on thetransboundary natural resourcemanagement of this biodiverse region.

This declaration recognizes the need toconserve the unique ecosystem of theCentral Albertine Rift TransfrontierProtected Area Network through acollaborative management of eight parksand establishes a strategic managementsystem that will enable sustainableconservation of natural resources for thebenefit of the people of Rwanda, Uganda,the DRC and the international community.

The eight parks will be managed as onecollective ecosystem and the countrieshave pledged to collaborate further onresearch, monitoring, community-basedconservation, knowledge sharing andecotourism to ensure sustainablebiodiversity conservation. (Source: AfricanWildlife Foundation, 25 October 2005.)


P. Thomson, Communications Officer;

e-mail: [email protected]; www.awf.org

TRANSFRONTIERCONSERVATION AREAS

The World Bank has approved a US$10million credit for the conservation ofMozambique’s biodiversity and naturalecosystems through the promotion ofsustainable use and the development ofnatural resources by local communities.

The transfrontier conservation area andtourism development project, for which thebank approved the credit, represent thesecond phase of a 15-year initiative known

as the Transfrontier Conservation Area(TFCA) programme, the long-termobjectives of which are to conservebiodiversity in the southern Africa regionand emphasize regional collaboration in themanagement of transfrontier resources.

A World Bank press release said thefunds would be used to establish andmanage conservation in three areas on theMozambican border with significanttransborder biodiversity linkages withneighbouring countries. Public sector andlocal community capacity would bestrengthened to manage biodiversity andnatural resources, while the private sectoris to be engaged through the promotion ofecotourism.

Environmentally sustainable tourismdevelopment links the conservation anddevelopment objectives of TFCA byproviding an economic alternative to theunsustainable, destructive use of naturalresources, as well as a direct economicincentive to maintain the naturalecosystems and their biodiversity.

Further financing for the project willcome from a $10 million grant by the GlobalEnvironment Facility and a $3.7 milliongrant from the Japanese Policy and HumanResources Development Fund. (Source:IRIN [in Reuters Alert, 2 December 2005].)

BALTIC FOREST

Twenty-five partners from nine BalticSea countries (Denmark, Estonia,Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania,Poland, the Russian Federation andSweden) have agreed to cooperate toenhance sustainable regionaldevelopment based on the management

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and use of forests as a resource andestablish and employ multipurpose, cross-sectoral and transnational forest sectorcooperation.

The partners expect that the Baltic forestwill improve the economic, ecological andsocial optimization of the forest sector,ensure a broadened awareness andimplementation of current knowledge andhave a substantial and durable impact onmanagement of the forest resources.


Johan Svensson, Skogsvårdsstyreslen,

Västernorrland, Sweden. E-mail:

[email protected] or

Baltic 21 Secretariat e-mail:

[email protected];

www.baltic21.org

TWENTY PERCENTOF THE WORLD’SMANGROVES LOST OVERTHE LAST 25 YEARS

Approximately 20 percent of the world’smangrove forests have disappeared overthe last 25 years as a result ofoverexploitation and conversion to otheruses, according to a new FAO study.Mangroves today cover around 15 millionha worldwide, down from 18.8 million hain 1980, according to the study. However,during the same time frame the annualrate of mangrove deforestation droppedfrom around 185 000 ha per year in the1980s to 105 000 ha per year during the2000–2005 period, it added.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant forestecosystems commonly found along

EUROPEAN UNIONTO GIVE €30 MILLIONFOR BIODIVERSITYCONSERVATION IN CHINA

The European Commission (EC) said itwill give €30 million towards a technicalcooperation programme on biodiversityin China. “The programme will supportChina to manage its ecosystemsustainably and to contribute to theimplementation of the internationalconventions related to biodiversity,” theEC’s China branch said in a jointstatement with the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP) andChina’s State Environmental ProtectionAdministration (SEPA).

UNDP will contribute US$500 000 tothe project. SEPA, which will beresponsible for achieving theprogramme’s overall objectives, will makean in-kind contribution of US$265 000.

“This is an unprecedented large-scalegovernment-led initiative bringingtogether, for the first time, all relevantparties at national, subnational andcommunity levels to agree on a commonand innovative strategy to addressChina’s biodiversity conservationchallenges,” said the UNDP’s seniordeputy resident representative in China.

The five-year programme has a totalbudget of €52 million and will mainlyfocus on the western and southernprovinces of China, according to thestatement.

China has approximately 10 percent ofall species within its borders. (Source:Forbes – United States, 6 November2005.)

sheltered coastlines, in deltas and alongriverbanks in the tropics and subtropics.Millions of fishers, farmers and othersdepend upon them as a source of wood,medicinal plants and food. (Source: FAONewsroom, 9 November 2005.)

ASIAN NATIONS TOBUILD BIODIVERSITYCONSERVATIONCORRIDORS

The six Asian countries sharing theLancang-Mekong River have pledged tobuild Asia’s first biodiversity conservationcorridors for wild species movement andthe maintenance of viable populations.The corridors are unprecedented in Asiaand the news is a blessing to wildlife andplants struggling for survival in theirhighly fragmented habitats in theMekong River Basin, the state mediareported this week.

This is a timely and necessaryinitiative, said Jin Liqun, vice-president ofthe Asian Development Bank (ADB), themain sponsor of a decade-oldsubregional economic cooperationprogramme involving Cambodia, China,the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Habitat fragmentation, mainly causedby rapid economic development, poses agrowing threat to the rich animal andplant diversity in the greater Mekongsubregion (GMS). The initiative wasadopted at a recent conference of GMSenvironment ministers and is expected toget a nod from the heads of governmentof the six GMS countries, who are now inKunming, capital of southwest China’sYunnan Province for the second GMSsummit. (Source: Financial Express[India], 5 July 2005.)

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workshop on NTFPs in 2007 incollaboration with FAO and INBAR.Could we launch a unified initiative then?There is, of course, lots of groundwork todo, including potential funding.


Hikojiro Katsuhisa, Chief, Forest

Products Service, Forest Products and

Economics Division, FAO, Viale delle

Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.


Non-Wood Forest Products ProgrammeThere have been quite a few changeswithin the NWFP programme. PaulVantomme has taken a two-year leave ofabsence to work with ITTO in Japan,while Sven Walter is now working inCameroon for FAO as the TechnicalAdviser of a regional NWFP project (seepp. 71–72 for more details).

However, even with reduced regularpersonnel, the programme’s currentactivities cover trade issues andresource assessment guidelines.Information dissemination continuesthrough publications and other media,including translation of our material intoFrench and Spanish. However, becauseof current resource shortages, we areunable to update our Web page as oftenas we would like. We hope to addressthis shortcoming this year.

Evaluation of non-wood forest productsinformationAn evaluation of NWFP information (i.e.Non-Wood News and the NWFP Digest)took place from August to October 2005.A short questionnaire was sent to arandom selection of those in our Non-Wood News database. From 2 328questionnaires sent (either by e-mail oras a hard copy) we received 627 replies(an encouraging 27 percent return). Asynthesis of the results follows.

Where are our readers? Replies byregion can be seen in the table on p. 70and were divided equally (50 percenteach) between temperate and tropicalcountries. India is one of the mostimportant users (73 respondents)followed by Cameroon (22).

I N T E R N A T I O N A L A C T I O N

FAO

Global allianceIn the last issue I reported on theinitiative to create an NWFP globalalliance. Readers may be wondering ifthere has been any development since.The answer is unfortunately “nearlynothing”. At the International Conferenceon Non-Timber Forest Products inVictoria, British Columbia in August2005, Jim Chamberlain and I introducedthe concept in our respectivepresentations. I believe the idea wassupported in general terms by theaudience. It was discussed at the

ensuing NTFP subgroup meeting of theNorth American Forestry Commission.Most people agreed that it would be acommendable initiative. For any allianceor partnership to be truly meaningful, Ithink concrete activities to addresscommon interests rather than simplyexchanging information are crucial andthese require some funding support. Inthe meantime, INBAR proposed anNTFP global partnership and held ameeting in Morocco in December 2005. Ido not know if the partnership initiativegarnered strong support from a wideaudience and had an official kickoff.Some people may be a little confused bythe two initiatives.

What I personally propose is to join allthe forces to create synergy. The namecan be alliance, partnership or whatever.ITTO is planning an international

The first guarantee that you’ll have when entering FAO headquarters in Rome isthat you will become hopelessly and utterly lost in it, and the first days you’llbe begging for Icarus’ wings to make your way out of the labyrinth. But afterhaving successfully passed the challenge of assisting a meeting in the A-wingon the second floor while coming from the D-wing’s fourth floor, the sky clearsand sitting delighted in the great conference room you think you’ve really madeit. Your triumph lasts until the speaker begins and after hearing “FAO’s FOPlooking at the impact of the UNFCCC’s CDMs on LUCC” your head startsspinning and you find yourself tangled up again in a maze of confusion.

However, those brave and competent volunteers ready to struggle though thethresholds of acronyms and hierarchies, will find FAO a great place. It’s a placewhere experts from all over the world come together. It’s a place where you canhave lunch on the terrace with a spectacular view of Rome, while hearingconversations in Japanese, Arab and Spanish all around you (although payattention to the rude seagulls wanting to steal the food from your plate). It’s aplace where you can learn about the world’s strategies for fighting hunger andpoverty.

As a volunteer at FAO you are guaranteed to have a great and enrichingtime and it can open doors for you to the world. For example, I worked onFAO’s NWFP programme on synthesizing case studies from all over the worldfor a global study on how NWFPs contribute to poverty alleviation and thisexperience stood me in good stead because I now work on forests and povertyalleviation as a JPO for CIFOR in Cameroon. (Contributed by: Marieka Sandker,Associate Expert, Forests and Livelihoods Programme, CIFOR-Cameroon, c/oIITA-HFC, PO Box 2008, Messa, Nkolbisson, Yaoundé, Cameroon; e-mail:[email protected](Please see p. 20 for information on Marieka’s work with CIFOR.)

A VOLUNTEER’S EXPERIENCE AT FAO


69

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

Who are you? Seventy-six percent ofthe respondents to this question weremale and 24 percent female. This is aninteresting result since NWFPs aretraditionally more the domain of women(they carry out most of the collection anduse of these products).

Who do you work for? Forty percentof the respondents were from academicor research institutions, 18 percent fromNGOs and 14 percent from governmentor the public sector. A lower share ofrespondents came from the privatesector, mainly from herbalist oragroforestry plantation owners.

Use and impact. Seventy-eightpercent use our NWFP information“several times a year”. Information isused for different purposes, e.g.academic activities (projects, theses,scientific proposals, workshops) policyadvice; and NGO activities. Sixty percentstate that they quote our information.

Satisfaction. Ninety-eight percent ofthe 516 replies to this question rated ourNWFP information as either “very good”(49 percent) or “good” (49 percent).

Strengths and weaknesses.Respondents were asked to list the

strengths and weaknesses of our NWFPinformation products. As expected,readers did not all agree: for some theywere too long, for others too brief; usersfrom the academic sector criticized thelack of scientific approach of the articles,while those mostly from communitiesand NGOs found it excessive. Specificcomments include the following:

Non-Wood NewsStrengths

• Very good coverage of non-woodtopics around the world and often theonly source for this field of research.

• Detailed information and goodreferences to the source material.

• Information source is consideredreliable and authoritative.

Weaknesses• It should be published more

frequently (maybe in a shorterversion). Often news is already outof date when the publication reachesusers.

• Difficult to be used for topic-focusedsearch.

• It should be published in the threemain FAO languages (English,French and Spanish).

NWFP Digest Strengths

• Good overview of what is going on inthis field.

• Easy to access and deliveredfrequently.

• Up to date.Weaknesses

• Message may arrive truncated

• Lacks details and statisticalinformation.

Suggestions for improvement.Although many of you were satisfied withthe present format and content (“jam-packed with useful information”; “up-to-date news at the international level”;“excellent overview of NWFP news”; and“world vision plus local vision”), thefollowing general suggestions weremade: statistics are necessary (based onUN COMTRADE database statistics);fewer pages; pdf format (NWFP Digest);more trade/market issues; a morescientific approach; higher frequency(Non-Wood News), with most suggestingfour/year; better format, more pictures.

Importance to continue? Ninety-eight percent thought FAO shouldcontinue producing its NWFP informationproducts (78 percent “very important”, 20percent “important”, with “2 percent quiteimportant”.

How are we addressing yourcomments? All the comments andsuggestions have been reviewed and willbe taken into account in future issues.As mentioned in the editorial, there hasbeen an immediate response to theissue of frequency (which manyrespondents mentioned): Non-WoodNews will now be published twice a year.We also recognize that some more workneeds to be done on gender aspectsand NGO issues (which we are startingto address – see pp. 27–28). We arenow also including a specific section onindigenous knowledge (see pp. 15–18).We have included more statistics (seeCOMTRADE figures on pp. 8–9). Inaddition, we are currently indexing allpast issues of Non-Wood News. This willeventually be available on our homepage and will facilitate topic-basedresearch (one of the indicatedweaknesses).

Thank you to all those who respondedand who willingly offered theirsuggestions and comments.


Tina Etherington at the address on the

first page.

70


Responses by region (percentage)

Africa 18.5North and Central America 21South America 4Asia 31.5Europe 22Oceania 3Total responses 627

Is coverage adequate?

Yes No Don’t know Total response

Products 81% (389) 9% (45) 9% (45) 479Events 70% (329) 10% (46) 21% (98) 473Publications of interest 75% (359) 13% (64) 12% (56) 479Gender aspects 35% (162) 19% (88) 46% (212) 462Indigenous knowledge 57% (275) 24% (117) 19% (90) 482NGO issues 38% (173) 21% (95) 41% (187) 455Total respondents 488


70

FAO IN THE FIELD

Projet «Renforcement de la sécuritéalimentaire en Afrique Centrale à traversla gestion et l’utilisation durable desproduits forestiers non ligneux»(GCP/RAF/398/GER)En Afrique centrale, la consommation etle commerce des produits forestiers nonligneux (PFNL) contribuent à la sécuritéalimentaire de la population. Les PFNLimportants incluent les plantescomestibles, les plantes médicinales etles rotins. La valorisation des PFNL offreune opportunité pour les populationsrurales et les autres acteurs concernésd’accroître leurs revenus sur la based’une gestion durable des ressourcesforestières. Il a été demandé à FAO desoutenir les pays d’Afrique centrale,d’identifier et de mettre en œuvre desmesures politiques afin de promouvoir lagestion durable des PFNL et ladistribution équitable des bénéfices.

Objectifs• La prise de conscience et la

connaissance du rôle des PFNL pourrenforcer la sécurité alimentaire.

• Les bases sont établies pour uneintégration systématiqued’informations sur les alimentsforestiers dans les programmes etpolitiques pertinents.

GénéralitésLe projet «Renforcement de la sécuritéalimentaire en Afrique centrale à traversla gestion et l’utilisation durable desproduits forestiers non ligneux» contribueà faciliter les actions des gouvernements,des organisations non gouvernementales(ONG) et du secteur privé des six paysd’Afrique centrale (Cameroun, Congo,Gabon, Guinée équatoriale, République

centrafricaine et Républiquedémocratique du Congo). Il vise àrenforcer la sécurité alimentaire dans larégion à travers l’utilisation durable desPFNL des forêts denses humides et dessystèmes agroforestiers.

Le projet du Gouvernement allemandd’une durée de trois ans (2005-2008)supplémente et appuie le Programmerégulier du Service des produits forestiersde la FAO pour renforcer la contributiondes PFNL à la sécurité alimentaire etfavoriser la création des revenus etl’aménagement durable des forêts enAfrique centrale. Ce projet fait partieintégrante de la stratégie du Départementdes forêts de la FAO pour ledéveloppement «des forêts du bassin duCongo» et ses trois priorités stratégiquesd’appui à la gestion durable ces forêts quisont:

• améliorer les conditions de vie despopulations plus pauvres;

• renforcer la coopération sous-régionale;

• renforcer et organiser la collecte et lagestion pour harmoniser les forêts etleurs politiques sectorielles.

Le projet fonctionne dans le cadreétabli par la Conférence des Ministresdes forêts d’Afrique centrale (COMIFAC)et la Conférence sur les écosystèmesdes forêts denses humides d’Afriquecentrale (CEFDHAC). Il est élaboré surles conclusions des précédents projetsforestiers tels que ceux du Programmede partenariat Commission Européenne– FAO pour l’Afrique, et en liaison avecles projets régionaux en cours d’agencestelles que la Gesellschaft für TechnischeZusammenarbeit (GTZ), l’Organisationinternationale des bois tropicaux (OIBT),l’Organisation africaine du bois (OAB), leCentre international pour la recherche enagroforesterie (CIRAF), le Centre pour larecherche forestière (CIFOR), le Fondsmondial pour la nature (WWF) et lesONG locales.

Après la mise en place institutionnelleinitiale, une série d’études techniquesont été lancées pour analyser lepotentiel des aliments forestiers à lacontribution de la sécurité alimentaire enAfrique centrale. Des propositions, des

partenaires et des sites pour laréalisation des activités pilotes, afin detester les approches appropriées pour laproduction et la commercialisation desPFNL/aliments forestiers, serontidentifiés lors d’un atelier régional. Baséssur les résultats de cet atelier, des testssur le terrain, y compris le renforcementdes capacités, sont prévus pour laseconde année/phase du projet.Pendant la phase de consolidation de latroisième année, toutes les conclusionsdu projet seront validées lors d’un atelierrégional, et des actions de suivi serontidentifiées.

Ce projet contribue au renforcementinstitutionnel dans la région, àl’amélioration des connaissances sur lesressources forestières et sur lessystèmes de production agroforestiers,et assure une meilleure coordinationentre les acteurs gouvernementaux, lesbailleurs de fonds et les autres partiesintéressées à la sécurité alimentaire et àla conservation des forêts.

Les bénéficiaires immédiats sont lesagences gouvernementales et lesservices de vulgarisation responsablespour la conservation et l’utilisation durabledes forêts, ainsi que pour l’assurance dela sécurité alimentaire dans les pays.Indirectement, les populations locales, quin’ont actuellement pas accès à unealimentation adéquate, ni les moyens oules connaissances pour améliorer leursrécoltes et leurs méthodes de production/marketing des aliments forestiers,profiteront des résultats du projet.

Résultats• Contributions actuelles et potentielles

des aliments forestiers à la sécuritéalimentaire en Afrique centraleévaluées.

• Impacts de la gestion forestière surles aliments forestiers évalués.

• Contribution commerciale des PFNLcomestibles évaluée comme moyensde subsistance des communautéslocales.

• Elaboration de directives politiquespour la contribution des PFNL à lasécurité alimentaire et à la gestiondurable des forêts.



71

et M.H. Katsuhisa, Chef du Service des

produits forestiers, FAO, Viale delle

Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italie.

Courriel: [email protected]

SOUTH AND EAST ASIANCOUNTRIES NTFPNETWORK (SEANN)

SEANN was established in January 1995under the aegis of the Centre of MinorForest Products for Rural Developmentand Environmental Conservation, DehraDun with the overall objective of dealingspecifically with issues related to minorforest products (MFPs) and non-timberforest products (NTFPs), comprising 26categories of use, including medicinalplants.

The usefulness of SEANN dependsentirely on the active participation andresponsiveness of its member countries,which are Bangladesh, Bhutan, BruneiDarussalam, Cambodia, China, India,Indonesia, Japan, the DemocraticRepublic of Korea and the Republic ofKorea, the Lao People’s DemocraticRepublic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius,Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua NewGuinea, the Philippines, Singapore, SriLanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam.

SEANN’s more specific objectives areto popularize the concept and need forNTFP-oriented sustainable forestmanagement; motivate propagation andharvesting methodology of MFP speciesfor income generation; ensure social andeconomic changes with better utilizationof raw NTFPs; prioritize research areasand work out economics of MFP crops(pure and intercrops); promote small-scale NTFP-based enterprises for ruraldevelopment; investigate/promoteimproved marketing and trade of NTFPs;document NTFP information; strengthendatabase networks to ensureidentification of site-specific appropriatechoice of species for economic growthand environmental conservation; preparea global directory of NTFP organizationsand specialists; and organizemeetings/small focused workshops bynetwork members once a year.

SEANN has organized the following fiveworkshops.

• The first SEANN workshop, held inIndia, evolved a standard MFP/NTFPclassification and documentationmanual.

• The second workshop, held in India,on evolving mechanisms for NTFP-oriented need-based sustainable forestmanagement resulted in a bookentitled Approaches to sustainableforest management and biodiversityconservation with the pivotal role ofnon-timber forest products by Dr M.P.Shiva and Sri S.K. Verma, IFS,published in 2002.

• The third workshop, held in Nepal,focused on community-based NTFPmanagement. Six member countries ofthe SEANN network, India, Nepal,Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lankaand Thailand participated, withdelegates from the RussianFederation, the United Kingdom, theUnited States, Canada and Australiaalso attending. Topics discussedincluded: assessment of NTFPresources, constraints of NTFPdevelopment, people’s participation incommunity forest management andpolicy issues.

• The fourth workshop was held in thePhilippines with the theme of non-wood forest products and biodiversity:SEANN agenda for conservation anddevelopment in the twenty-first century.

• The fifth workshop was held in Bhutanand focused on the odyssey of naturalproducts.

Any member countries are invited toorganize a SEANN workshop in theircountry in the future.


Dr M.P. Shiva, Chief Patron or Ms Alka

Shiva, Patron SEANN, President and

Managing Director, Centre of Minor

Forest Products (COMFORPTS),

HIG 2, No. 8B, Indirapuram,

GMS Road, PO Majra, Dehra Dun –

248171(Uttaranchal), India.

E-mail: [email protected] or

[email protected]


• Série d’actions et de suivi au niveaurégional compilées, discutées etvalidées.

• Résultats du projet publiés etdisséminés.

Le statut des activitésDans la première phase du projet (juin2005-juin 2006), trois revues régionalestechniques sur la contribution des alimentsforestiers à la sécurité alimentaire serontélaborées, y compris l’évaluation de: i) laproduction, la biologie et le risque desurexploitation des espèces forestièrescomestibles; ii) le contextesocioéconomique, y compris les aspectsparité, l’impact du VIH/SIDA et la valeurnutritionnelle et médicinale des alimentsforestiers; et iii) la structure légalegouvernant l’utilisation des PFNLcomestibles. Les revues seront élaboréessur la base des informations existantes etles sources, à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur dela région, et seront complétées par sixétudes nationales sur l’utilisation des PFNLen Afrique centrale. Par ailleurs, des étudescomplémentaires sont réalisées sur lesthèmes suivants:

• étude sur l’impact de l’exploitation dubois dans les concessions forestièreset sur la disponibilité des PFNL enAfrique centrale;

• étude sur le cadre politique etinstitutionnel régissant l’utilisationdes PFNL en Afrique centrale;

• études sur l’analyse nationale desinstruments politiques relatifs aucommerce des PFNL: applications etimpact sur la réduction de lapauvreté et la gestion durable desforêts (Gabon, Guinée équatoriale);

• étude portant sur l’exportation desproduits forestiers non ligneux et desaliments traditionnels de l’Afriquecentrale sur les marchés régionauxet internationaux – état des lieux etstratégies de développement.


M. S. Walter, Conseiller technique,

Représentation de la FAO au

Cameroun, B.P. 281, Yaoundé,

Cameroun. Courriel:

[email protected]


72

NATIONAL WORKSHOPON SUSTAINABLE NTFPMARKETING IN VIET NAM:ECONOMIC, SOCIAL ANDECOLOGICALOPPORTUNITIES AND RISKSHANOI, VIET NAM28-–29 JUNE 2005

This workshop explored the opportunitiesand risks of a growing NTFP market andwas organized around four differenttopics:

• NTFP marketing worldwide and inViet Nam – an introduction toconcepts, opportunities andchallenges;

• NTFP market information; • NTFP marketing and biodiversity

conservation;• tools for market assessment and

analysis.


Mr Maurits Servaas, NTFP Project

Training Adviser, 8 Chuong Duong Do

Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Fax: 84 4 9 320 996; e-mail:

[email protected]

AFRICAN HEALINGWISDOM: FROMTRADITION TOCURRENT APPLICATIONAND RESEARCHWASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES6–9 JULY 2005

This conference focused on two keyquestions to evaluate African traditionalhealing practices in the context ofdelivering affordable, sustainable andculturally sensitive care.

• What can African traditionalmedicines contribute to theprevention and control of infectiousand chronic diseases and how cansuch contributions be validated andenhanced?

• What roles can traditional Africanhealth knowledge play in addressingissues of health disparities and

equity, both at home and abroad, andhow can these roles be enhanced?


The George Washington University

Medical Center, Office of Continuing

Education in the Health Professions,

2300 Eye Street, NW, Suite 313-D,

Washington, DC 20037, United States.

Fax: +1 202 9941791; e-mail:

[email protected];

www.africanmedicine.info/

REGIONAL WORKSHOPON SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT OF THERATTAN SECTOR IN ASIABEIJING, CHINA24–30 JULY 2005

This workshop was organized under theauspices of the International TropicalTimber Organization (ITTO)-fundedproject, “Capacity building for thedevelopment of a sustainable rattansector in China based on plantationsources” (PD 100/01 Rev. 3[I])) withtechnical support from the InternationalNetwork for Bamboo and Rattan(INBAR).

Topics discussed included• research and development (R&D)

issues in the rattan sector as well asdirections and strategies;

• business and investmentopportunities in the rattan sector inAsia; and

• new directions and strategies in theR&D of rattan.

In addition, it provided a platform forkey players in the rattan industry andgovernment officials to interact, networkand build strategic partnerships.


Huang Shineng, Ph.D., Assistant

Project Director and Secretary of the

Workshop Organizing Committee,

Research Institute of Tropical Forestry,

Chinese Academy of Forestry,

Long Dong, Guangzhou 510520, China.

Fax: (86 20) 8703 1622; e-mail:

[email protected]

THE SECONDINTERNATIONALNON-TIMBER FORESTPRODUCTS FAIR ANDFORUMMOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION24-–28 SEPTEMBER 2005

NTFP harvesting has a long tradition inRussian culture. Since the collapse of theSoviet era, small businesses havedeveloped but are still confronted by manyproblems. Their participation at the Fairand Forum helped them to overcome someof these, broadening their marketingcontacts and discussing problems such asbureaucratic and informational barriers.

The name of the fair, Gifts of the forest –culture of use, reflects its principal idea: toemphasize the sustainability of NTFP useand the importance of NTFPs in the revivalof many cultural and commercial traditions.In fact, Russian boreal forests arethreatened by illegal logging, overuse ofeconomically accessible stands, forest firesand pests. The sustainable harvest ofNTFPs is one of the possible alternativeways of using forest ecosystems, withoutdestroying them. NTFPs consist of anyresources of the forest other than timber,pulpwood or firewood. They include notonly food products, such as herbal teas,preserved and fresh wild berries,mushrooms and fruits, but also a widerange of health products, natural cosmetics,medicine and crafts. As well as being animportant source of additional income forforest-based communities these productshave a high cultural and spiritual value.Moreover, buying sustainably harvestedNTFPs helps local communities to maintaintraditional knowledge or rediscover it.

The fair’s participants were mostlyprivate businesses (double the number of

R E C E N T E V E N T S


73

2004), varying from an artist creatingpictures on birch bark, to a companyprocessing and canning wild mushroomsand plants. There were also nativecooperatives and groups such asAleskam, Esso Native People’sCommunity and Kamchatka Herbal Tea,which are supported by the IUCN-CIDAproject on Kamchatka and Sakhalin (seep. 62 for more information). They produceSiberian pine nuts, herbal teas, wild berryjams, birch bark crafts and other productsfrom the taïga forest.


Nikolay M. Shmatkov, Forest Programme

Manager, IUCN Office for Russia and the

Commonwealth of Independent States,

3 bld. 3, Stoliamy Per., Moscow 123022,

Russian Federation. Tel./fax: +7(095) 609

3411; e-mail: [email protected]; www.iucn.ru

or www.dary-lesa.com

INTERNATIONAL BAMBOOINVENTORY TRAININGWORKSHOPBEIJING AND ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA24 OCTOBER–4 NOVEMBER 2005

This workshop was jointly organized bythe International Centre for Bamboo andRattan (ICBR), the International Networkfor Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the Foodand Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations and the International Union ofForestry Research Organizations(IUFRO).

Although bamboo is an integral part ofthe tropical and subtropical forest, little isknown about global bamboo resources.The rapid technological development ofbamboo-processing technologiesincreases the importance of bambooresources for poverty alleviation andsustainable environmental and economicdevelopment in developing countries. It isessential to develop remote sensing andon-the ground inventory methods tofacilitate the global assessment of bambooresources.

Topics at the workshop included remotesensing inventory methods and bambooon-the-ground inventory techniques.

For further information on the workshop,

please contact:

Fu Jinhe Ph.D., Programme Officer and

Coordinator of IUFRO 5th November

2005 Bamboo and Rattan,

International Network for Bamboo and

Rattan (INBAR), Beijing 100102-86,

Beijing 100102, China. Fax: +86 10 6470

2166; e-mail: [email protected]; www.inbar.int

or www.iufro.org/science/divisions/

division-5

CONFERENCE ONFORESTRY AND FORESTPRODUCTS RESEARCHKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA22–24 NOVEMBER 2005

This biennial national conference wasdesigned to bring the latest findings inforestry and forest products to the privatesector, researchers, academicians, forestmanagers, industrialists and policy-makers.Discussions embraced issues pertaining tonatural and planted forests, improvedprocessing and utilization of wood and non-wood products, conservation ofbiodiversity, forest ecology, socio-economics and the potential for newdevelopments in forest industry.


The Secretariat, Conference on Forestry

and Forest Products Research 2005

(CFFPR 2005), Forest Research Institute

Malaysia, Kepong 52109,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attention

of Dr Lim Hin Fui; fax: 603 6280 4629;


www.frim.gov.my.

CAMEROON ETHNOBOTANYNETWORK (CEN), SECONDINTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM:PLANTS TO CURE HUMANSAND THE ENVIRONMENTYAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON6–7 DECEMBER 2005

The objective of this symposium was tocontribute towards the valorization ofplant diversity and, more specifically,

ascertain concrete strategies to ensureeffective application of research results.

Subtopics included medicinal plants,spice and aromatic plants, ornamentalplants and green species, valorizationtechnologies and intellectual propertyrights.

For more information please contact:

CEN secretariat [email protected] or

Pr. Bernard-Aloys Nkongmeneck; BP,

812 Yaoundé; e-mail:

[email protected]

WORKSHOP ONMEDICINAL PLANTSCULTIVATION,EMPLOYMENT ANDMARKETING (FORFARMERS AND BUYERS) INDIRAPURAM, DEHRA DUN, INDIA20–21 DECEMBER 2005

The workshop was organized by theCentre of Minor Forest Products in orderto improve the livelihoods of village andforest dwellers, including tribals andforest-based enterprises. Discussionswere held to find remedial measures foreconomic cultivation and harvesting ofmedicinal plants; sort out problems ofmarketing and equitable distribution ofprofits from farmers to entrepreneurs;develop methodologies to forge linkagesbetween farmers and buyers of medicinalplants raw material; and discussdifficulties of manufacturers of Ayurvedicmedicines and Ayurvedacharyas. Usefulrecommendations emerged for cultivationof medicinal plants for boosting theeconomy.


Ms Alka Shiva, President and Managing

Director, Centre of Minor Forest

Products, HIG 2, No. 8B,

Indirapuram, GMS Road, PO Majra,

Dehra Dun – 248 001 (Uttaranchal), India.

E- mail: [email protected] or

[email protected]

R E C E N T E V E N T S


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CONSERVATION ANDTHE AGRICULTURALFRONTIER: INTEGRATINGFORESTS ANDAGRICULTURE INTHE TROPICSNEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES7–8 APRIL 2006

Is agriculture responsible fordeforestation? In discussions of forestconservation, the debate over the impactof forest clearing by smallholder farmersis of long standing. While some arguethat the effects of traditional agricultureare mild and reversible, others suggestthat smallholder forest clearing –especially in the context of populationexpansion – has drastic negative impactson ecosystem integrity. Recently, thedimensions of this debate have expandedin the light of research showing thatlarge-scale agricultural developmentprojects, including plantation farming andranching, may be changing the world’sforest cover with previouslyunacknowledged speed and extent.Faced with the linked challenges oflivelihood maintenance, forestdegradation and sustainabledevelopment, what is a modern-daytropical forester to do?

Can initiatives along the agriculturalfrontier contribute to the ongoing andsustainable use of forest resources? Inrecent years, initiatives integratingagricultural production and forestmanagement have proliferated in thetropics. Projects grounded in agroforestryand the management and harvest oftimber and non-timber forest productshave been offered up as compromisesbetween the challenges of poverty,development and sustainable forestmanagement. However, challengesremain, not only in assessing theeffectiveness of these initiatives, but alsoin determining where, when, and howtheir lessons can best be scaled up inpolicy, legislation, and practice.

The Yale Chapter of the InternationalSociety of Tropical Foresters hopes that

the conference will stimulate debate on arange of topics, including but not limitedto such questions as the following.

• How can timber and non-timberforest product harvesting beintegrated into agriculturalmanagement schemes? What impactdo markets for these products haveon ecosystems and livelihoods?

• Do income-generation schemesintegrating agriculture and forestmanagement have the potential toreduce poverty? Or do they furthertrap resource users inside thepoverty net?

• What potential do agroforestrysystems hold as a “middle ground”between agriculture and forestconservation? What institutionalstrategies have successfullymotivated farmers to implementagroforestry systems?

• How does the legitimacy ofbiodiversity conservation inagricultural landscapes vary amongactors, across regions, and acrosssystems of government? What roledoes perceived legitimacy play inconflicts on the agricultural frontier?

• What methods exist to pinpoint thecollateral effects of agriculture-related activities indirectlythreatening biodiversity conservation,such as local development plans,market liberalization, and/or illicitcrop production?

• How do local communities measuresuccess at integrating conservationand agriculture? How do these

standards compare with guidelinesgenerated by policy-makers,researchers, conservationists orother communities?


Yale ISTF Conference c/o Tropical

Resource Institute, Yale School of

Forestry and Environmental Studies,

210 Prospect Street, New Haven,

CT 06511, United States. E-mail:

[email protected]; www.yale.edu/istf/

TRAINING WORKSHOPON POVERTY ALLEVIATIONTHROUGH BAMBOO-BASEDDEVELOPMENT: POLICIES,STRATEGIES ANDSTAKEHOLDERSLIN’AN AND ANJI COUNTIES, ZHEJIANGPROVINCE, CHINA18–28 APRIL 2006

Over the past 15 years, China hasachieved great progress in thedevelopment of the bamboo sector. Aseries of bamboo panel products of higherquality than wood have been developed.Bamboo curtains, mats and carpetsappear on the international market. Newproducts based on bamboo charcoal,vinegar and extracts of bamboo leaves,including medicinal products, naturalpesticides, beverages and daily toiletrieshave great development potential.Bamboo shoots also have huge marketpotential as a natural high-fibre food.

The workshop will be carried out jointlyby the International Network for Bambooand Rattan (INBAR) and the BambooIndustry Associations of Lin’an and Anjicounties in Zhejiang Province, China. Itwill focus on policies and case studiesfrom the two counties, where impressivedevelopments have taken place in recentyears.


Ms Jin Wei, INBAR Publications and

Training Officer, International Network

for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR),

Beijing 100102 86, China. Fax: +86 10

64702166; e-mail: [email protected]

F O R T H C O M I N G E V E N T S


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INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE ON THEROLE OF FORESTS INRURAL DEVELOPMENTAND ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITYBEIJING, CHINA 19–21 APRIL 2006

Forests are the world’s predominantvegetation and play an important role inrural poverty alleviation, ruraldevelopment and environmentalsustainability. Rural communities haveaccumulated considerable knowledgeand experience on managing and utilizingforest resources scientifically in order tocoexist harmoniously with nature. Theyhave also developed and establishedcreatively many technical models thathave produced good practical results.

The goals of the conference are toshare and exchange these experiencesand technologies, to promote thedevelopment of relevant disciplines andto enhance the sustainable utilization offorest resources.

The conference, sponsored by theChinese Society of Forestry, the KoreanForest Society and the Japanese ForestSociety, has as its theme “the role offorests in rural development andenvironmental sustainability”.

Topics to be covered include: • forests in developing rural economy:

renewable wood and non-woodproducts;

• forests and livelihoods, indigenousagroforestry, forestry trade andeconomy;


• social forestry: participatory forestry,information dissemination andcommunication technology andforestry policy;

• forest environmental services: soiland water conservation, biodiversityconservation and restoration andcombating desertification.


Ms Guan Xiuling or Ms Feng Caiyun,

Symposium Secretariat, the Summer

Palace, Beijing 100091, China. Fax: +86

1062889817; e-mail:

[email protected]

THE FIRST IFOAMCONFERENCE ONORGANIC WILDPRODUCTIONBOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA3–4 MAY 2006

There is significant trade in organic wildproducts, including products for directconsumption, such as berries,mushrooms and a wide variety of herbs.There is also a growing interest in organicwild products by the body care medicinalherb sector. Statistics for this type ofproduction are vague and parallel to theorganic market; other concepts such asthe NTFP scheme of the ForestStewardship Council and other company-specific schemes have been developed.

This conference will focus on theharvesting of wild vegetable productsfrom forests, natural lands, pastures anduncultivated land in the agriculturelandscape. It will concentrate on currentproduction that enters the organic marketstream, but will also extend to otherconcepts, such as fair trade, sustainableforest management certification and goodmanufacturing practices.

Wild harvested production as aconcept is very broad, and alsoencompasses commodities used forfibrous or industrial production. The term“wild” is not fully appropriate, since manyso-called wild products are collected inareas such as pastures, commons andmarginal or uncultivated agricultural land.

Additionally, the concept of “wild” impliesa lack of management, although in realityalmost all land is managed, and thecollection of wild products themselvesshould be subject to sustainablemanagement. Nevertheless, for lack ofbetter alternatives, the term wildharvested production is used here and isalso a term used in the InternationalFederation of Organic AgricultureMovements (IFOAM) basic standards.Other systems use other terms todescribe similar production, such asnatural/biodiversity products, NTFPs,NWFPs and MFPs. Some products thatare wild can also be cultivated. Thisconference will not focus on suchcultivation, although it will be addressedin a future session.

General objectives of the conference• Establishment of the state of the art in

organic wild production, the volumes,the participating countries andcommunities.

• Clarification of terms and definitions. • Increasing understanding of the

various initiatives for NTFPs, NWFPs,wild collection, etc.

• Exploring the possibilities of bringinginitiatives together.

• Identification of challenges andopportunities for the sector.

• Information exchange and networkingbetween actors in the sector,including forging commercial links.

• Increased visibility of wild production. • Addressing sustainability in wild

harvesting. • Initiating further development of

quality assurance and standards. • Assisting IFOAM to develop further

the concept of wild harvestedproduction.


76


Agriculture Institute Banja Luka at

[email protected] or Gunnar

Rundgren at: [email protected];

www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam conferences/

IFOAM_Wild_Conference.html

THE FUTURE FOR WILDHARVESTS IN SCOTLANDBEAULY, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM10–11 MAY 2006

This NTFP seminar will bring togetherland managers, collectors, buyers,processors, researchers, funders andpolicy-makers to develop a picture of thewhole sector and discuss what can bedone to help it develop.


Elizabeth Hughson, Cluster Support

Unit, Scottish Forest Industries

Cluster, Confederation of Forest

Industries Ltd, 5 Dublin Street Lane

South, Edinburgh, EH1 3PX,

Scotland, United Kingdom.

Fax: +44 131 538 7222; e-mail:

[email protected]

CULTURAL HERITAGEAND SUSTAINABLEFOREST MANAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF TRADITIONALKNOWLEDGEFLORENCE, ITALY8–10 JUNE 2006

This conference is being organized bythe IUFRO Research Group of Forestand Woodland History and the IUFROTask Force on Traditional ForestKnowledge.

Conference themes include thefollowing.

• History of traditional forestknowledge and its landscape.

• Historical context of scientific forestryand traditional forest knowledge withrespect to forest management.

• Conservation of traditionalknowledge and cultural landscapes.

• Planning, management andmonitoring methodologies for theconservation of cultural forestlandscapes.

• Objectives and actions in Europeanrural and environmental policies topreserve and support traditionalknowledge.

• Good practices for including bothtraditional and scientific forest-related knowledge in forestryeducation, research and forestmanagement activities in Europe.

• Exchange of information betweentraditional and formal (scientific)forest-related knowledge inEuropean forest management.

• Application of traditional forest-related knowledge to forestecosystems and biodiversityassessments and management.

• Conflicts regarding traditional forestknowedge in relation to forestscience and forest management, andlessons learned fromexperiences/case studies in Europeon ways to avoid/resolve theseconflicts.

• Benefits of social and culturaldimensions in sustainable forestmanagement by maintenance/development of the material (wood inarchitecture, medicinal plants,traditional practices) and non-material aspects (recreation, well-being and health).

For more information, please

contact: Dr Valentina Marinai,

Department of Environmental

Forestry Science and Technology,

University of Florence, Via San

Bonaventura 13, 50145 Florence, Italy.

Tel./fax: +39 055 30231282;


INTERNATIONAL TRAININGWORKSHOP ON BAMBOOAND RATTAN SUSTAINABLEMANAGEMENT INDEVELOPING COUNTRIESYUNNAN, GUANGDONG AND HAINAN,CHINA12–22 JUNE 2006

This training workshop will combinecourses with field visits and operationalpractices. The main courses will include:

• bamboo and rattan biodiversity andtheir utilization

• bamboo and rattan propagation andnursing technologies

• bamboo and rattan plantation andcultivation technologies, includingplantations for shoot purposes

• an outline of rattan processingtechnologies and industrialutilizations of tropical bamboospecies

• China’s policy system supporting thebamboo and rattan sector andsustainable development strategies.


Fu Jinhe Ph.D., Programme Officer

and Coordinator of IUFRO 5.11.05

Bamboo and Rattan, International

Network for Bamboo and Rattan

(INBAR), Beijing 100102 86, China.

Fax: +86 10 6470 2166;

e-mail: [email protected]; www.inbar.int or

www.inbar.int/news/tc0602.htm



77

SPIRIT OF HEALING:TRADITIONAL MEDICINE,FAIR TRADE AND HEALTHFOR ALLPENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES16–18 JUNE 2006

This conference is being cosponsored byHerbalists Without Borders and PennState’s Interinstitutional Consortium forIndigenous Knowledge. It will explore therole of herbal medicine in primary healthcare and poverty alleviation. How cantraditional medicine serve the primaryhealth care needs of the majority ofpeople who have little or no access toconventional medicine? How canmedicinal plants bring in more income forpoor communities? What type ofregulatory and policy approaches help orhinder the provision of health care and ahigher standard of living for the poor?


Jennifer Chesworth, Program Director,

Herbalists Without Borders,

153 South Allen Street, State College,

Pennsylvania 16801, United States.


www.herbalistswithoutborders.org

INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE ON FORESTS,TREES, HUMAN HEALTHAND WELL-BEINGCOPENHAGEN, DENMARK28–30 JUNE 2006

Traditional medical and public healthapproaches to illness and health areamong the successes of modernscience. However, society today is facedwith the increasing incidence of variousforms of poor health related to modernlifestyles. Contributing factors have beenidentified as an increasingly sedentarypopulation, levels of psychological stressrelated to urban living and contemporarywork practices, and exposure toenvironmental hazards such as airpollution. These problems encouragenew thinking about ways to prevent

disease and promote health. Naturalspaces and elements such as forestsand trees have been seen as providingopportunities to ameliorate such trends.


Dr Kjell Nilsson, Forest and Landscape

Denmark, Rolighedsvej 23,

1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Fax: +45 3528 1508; e-mail: [email protected];

www.e39.com.ee/en/m-main/c-

current/d-15/.

IX CONGRESOLATINOAMERICANODE BOTÁNICA19-25 DE JUNIO 2006SANTO DOMINGO, REPÚBLICADOMINICANA

Para más información, dirigirse a:

Sonia Lagos-Witte, Jardín Botánico

Nacional, Apartado Postal 21-9, Santo

Domingo, República Dominicana.

Fax: 001809/3850446; correo

electrónico: [email protected];

sitio web: www.botanica-

alb.org/index2.html

STUDY TOUR ONCOMMUNITY-BASED FORESTCOTTAGE INDUSTRIESPHILIPPINES20 JUNE–3 JULY 2006 (AND 19 JUNE–2JULY 2007)

The study tour aims to provideparticipants with the necessary exposureto the different community-based forestcottage industries and related projectsites in the Philippines.

The field visit to selected sites willfocus on the following subjects: currentstrategies of the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources(DENR) and recent developments in theimplementation of the community-basedforest management programme; small-scale handmade papermaking;household-based wooden noveltymanufacture; rattan craft, bamboo craft,vine craft and other forest-based craftindustries; small- to medium-scalefurniture industries; cottage-basedwoodcarving; community-based andmedium-scale industries for specializedwood products; and ecotourism.


The Director, Training Center for

Tropical Resources and Ecosystems

Sustainability (TREES), College of

Forestry and Natural Resources,

University of the Philippines Los

Baños, PO Box 434, College,

Laguna 4031, Philippines.

Fax: + (63 49) 536 3340 or 536 2639;


www.uplbtrees.ph



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Butaud, J.F., Rives, F., Verhaegen, D. &Bouvet, J.M. 2005. Phylogeography ofEastern Polynesian sandalwood(Santalum insulare), an endangeredtree species from the Pacific: a studybased on chloroplast microsatellites. J.Biogeogr., 32(10): 1763–1774.

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Hedychium coronarium Koering. MFPNews, 15(1).

Christensen, M. & Larsen, H.O. 2005.How can collection of wild edible fungicontribute to livelihoods in rural areasof Nepal? J. Forests and Livelihood,4(2). February.

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Coulston, J.W. & Riitters, K.H. 2005.Preserving biodiversity under currentand future climates: a case study.Global Ecol. Biogeogr., 14(1): 31–38.

Cowlishaw, G., Mendelson, S. &Rowcliffe, J.M. 2005. Structure andoperation of a bushmeat commoditychain in southwestern Ghana.Conserv. Biol., 9(1): 139–149.

Cruse-Sanders, J.M., Hamrick, J.L. &Ahumada, J.A. 2005. Consequencesof harvesting for genetic diversity inAmerican ginseng (Panaxquinquefolius L.): a simulation study.Biodivers. Conserv.,14(2): 493–504.

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Cunningham, A., Campbell, B. &Belcher, B. 2005. Carving out afuture. Forests, livelihoods and theinternational woodcarving trade.Indonesia, CIFOR, paperback ISBN1-84407-045-X. This book is part ofthe People and Plants ConservationSeries. More information about all thebooks in this series is available at:http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/ProductID/581/

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de Thoisy, B., Renoux, F.& Julliot, C.2005. Hunting in northern FrenchGuiana and its impact on primatecommunities. Oryx, 39(2): 149–157.

Diederichs, N., ed. 2005.Commercialising medicinal plants: asouthern African guide. African SunMedia. ISBN 1-919980 83 0.

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Durst, P.B., Brown, C., Tacio, H.D. &Ishikawa, M. 2005. In search ofexcellence: exemplary forestmanagement in Asia and the Pacific.RAP Publication 2005/02. Bangkok,FAO.

This book highlights the brighter side offorestry in a much-maligned region. Awidespread call for nominationsidentified 172 forests in 21 countries thatwere perceived to be “well-managed”.After careful vetting, 28 forests wereselected for detailed case studyanalysis. The result is a kaleidoscope ofideas, approaches, inspiration andperspiration that tell the stories of peoplededicated to building sustainablelivelihoods through careful managementof their forests. The entire book can bedownloaded in a PDF format fromwww.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/ae542e/ae542e00.htm For more information and to obtaincopies, please contact: P. Durst, Senior Forestry Officer, FAORegional Office for Asia and thePacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok,10200 Thailand. Fax: (66 2) 6974445; e-mail: [email protected](Please also see pp. 5 and 58 forcase studies from this book.)

El-Keblawy, A. & Ksiksi, T. 2005.Artificial forests as conservation sitesfor the native flora of the UAE. ForestEcol. Manage., 213(1–3): 288–296.

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FAO. 2005. Committee on Forestry,Seventeenth Session – Report.Rome, 15–19 March 2005. Availableat: www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/009/j4876e.htm/

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FAO. 2005. State of the World’s Forests.CD–ROM collection 1995–2005. FAO has published State of theWorld’s Forests – the Organization’sflagship publication presenting thelatest information on major policy andinstitutional developments and keyissues concerning the forest sector –every other year since 1995. Incoordination with the publication ofState of the World’s Forests 2005,FAO has released a CD-ROMcontaining the entire collection of thereport since its first edition. It containsall six issues of the publication inArabic, Chinese, English, French andSpanish. This unique resourceprovides a ready overview of thesituation and development of forestresources over the past decade.For more information, please contact:[email protected]. Availableat: www.fao.org/forestry/site/26161/en/

FAO. 2005. FAO participatory forestrypublications on CD-ROM.This CD-ROM contains 15 years ofpublications produced by FAO and itspartners, mainly under the Forests,Trees and People Programme(FTPP). FTPP, which started in 1987and ended in 2002, was aninternational community forestryprogramme designed to increasesocial and economic equity andimprove well-being, especially of thepoor, through collaborative andsustainable management of trees,forests and other natural resources.The CD-ROM includes more than 70publications on participatory forestryand related subjects, organizedaccording to series, theme andalphabetical order. It is hoped thatthese publications will contribute tostrengthening human and institutionalcapacities that are necessary for thesupport of locally based sustainable


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management of forest resources.For more information, please contact:Dominque Reeb, Senior ForestryOfficer (Participatory Forestry),Forestry Policy and InformationDivision, Forestry Department, FAO,00100 Rome, Italy. E-mail:[email protected];www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp

FAO et CFC. 2005. Atelier internationalsur le traitement, la valorisation et lecommerce de karité en Afrique. Actesdu séminaire. CFC DocumentTechnique no 21. FAO, Rome.L’Atelier international sur le traitementet le marketing des produits du karitéen Afrique, tenu à Dakar (Sénégal) du 4au 6 mars 2002, a constitué un forumpour l’échange et l’analysed’informations entre les experts du pointde vue des matières techniques et dumarché afin d’évaluer le potentiel desdemandes existantes et nouvelles detraitement et de marketing des produitsdu karité en Afrique.Copies de cette publication (en languefrançaise uniquement) sont fourniesgratuitement par le Programme sur lesPFNL de la FAO en contactant: [email protected]. Les versionsélectroniques des démarches (enanglais et en français) sont disponiblesau site: www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/008/y5952f/y5952f00.htm

Fazey, I., Fischer, J. & Lindenmayer,D.B. 2005. Who does all the researchin conservation biology? Biodivers.Conserv., 14(4): 917–934.

Fink, C. & Maskus, K.E., eds. 2005.Intellectual property and development:lessons from recent economicresearch. Washington, DC, World Bank.339 pp. Available at:www.worldbank.org/research/IntellProp_temp.pdf

Forup, M.L. & Memmott, J. 2005. Therelationship between the abundances ofbumblebees and honeybees in a nativehabitat. Ecol. Entomol., 30(1): 47–57.

García Rollan, M. 2004. Guía fácil delas mejores setas. Mundi-PrensaLibros, S.A.ISBN 8484762009.

Gilg, O. 2005. Old-growth forests:characteristics, conservation andmonitoring. ATEN/RNF. 96 pp.

Gillespie, T.W. 2005. Predicting woody-plant species richness in tropical dryforests: a case study from south Florida,United States. Ecol. Appl., 15(1): 27-37.

Giulietti, A.M., Harley, R.M., deQueiroz, L.P., Wanderley, M.D.L., &Van den Berg, C. 2005. Biodiversityand conservation of plants in Brazil.Conserv. Biol.,19(3): 632-639.

Glavonjic, B. et al. 2005. Forest andforest products country profile: Serbiaand Montenegro. UNECE Timber andForest Discussion Paper 40. Geneva.

Gordon, E. A. et al. 2005. Protectingbiodiversity: a guide to criteria usedby global conservation organizations.Report No. 5. Global Institute ofSustainable Forestry. Yale School ofForestry and Environmental Studies.Available at: www.yale.edu/environment/publications/index.html

Hammond, D. 2005. Tropical rainforestsof the Guiana shield. CABI. CABIPublishing HB. ISBN 0 85199 536 5.

Hecht, S.B., Kandel, S. Gomez, I.,Cuellar, N. & Rosa, H. 2006.Globalization, forest resurgence, andenvironmental politics in El Salvador,World Development, 34(2), February.

Hollingsworth, P.M., Dawson, I.K.,Goodall-Copestake, W.P.,Richardson, J.E., Weber, J.C.,Montes, C.S., & Pennington, R.T.2005. Do farmers reduce geneticdiversity when they domesticatetropical trees? A case study fromAmazonia. Mol. Ecol.,14(2): 497-501.

Hoyt, Reginald. 2004. Wild meatharvest and trade in Liberia:managing biodiversity, economic andsocial impacts. ODI Wildlife PolicyBriefing, No. 6, April.

Hurni, H., & von Dach, S.W. 2005.Biodiversity conservation to benefitmountain people. Mtn. Res. Dev.,25(3): 199.

IUFRO. 2005. Forests for the newmillennium – making forests work forpeople and nature.This policy brief, which is based on thework of over 100 authors, was preparedby the IUFRO Special Project, “WorldForests, Society and Environment”. Thereport can be obtained by e-mailing theIUFRO WFSE-Coordinator at:[email protected]/

Jáger, L., ed. 2005. COST E30. Economicintegration of urban consumers’demand and rural forestry production.Forest sector entrepreneurship inEurope: country studies. Acta Silvaticaand Lignaria Hungarica. ISSN 1786-691X (print), ISBN 1787 064X (online).The country studies includeconsiderable information on NWFPs.The hard copy of the book can beordered from Laszlo Jáger, Universityof West Hungary, Faculty of Forestry,Ady E. str. 5, Sopron, H-9400 Hungary.E-mail: [email protected]/For more information, please visit:www.joensuu.fi/coste30/ASLG_2005.htm/


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Jansen, P.C.M. & Cardon, D., eds.2005. Plant resources of tropicalAfrica 3. Dyes and tannins. 216 pp.(PROTA 3: Dyes and tannins.) ISBN90 5782 159 1.This handbook is published in bothFrench and English and gives acomprehensive up-to-date descriptionof 116 primary use dyes and tanninsin 73 clearly illustrated review articles.With the increasing awareness of theenvironmental and toxicity problemsassociated with the use of syntheticdyes, natural dyes may regain theirformer role in the tanning and dyeingindustry. Natural dyes and tannins oftropical Africa are highlighted.For more information, please contact:Backhuys Publishers, PO Box 321,2300 AH Leiden, the Netherlands(www.backhuys.com).

Kala, C.P. 2005. Indigenous uses,population density and conservation ofthreatened medicinal plants inprotected areas of the IndianHimalayas. Conserv. Biol., 19(2):368–378.

Kathiresan, K. & Rajendran, N. 2005.Mangrove ecosystems of the IndianOcean region. Indian J. Mar. Sci.,34(1): 104–113.

Keen, M., Brown, V.A & Dyball, R., eds.2005. Social learning in environmentalmanagement. Towards a sustainablefuture. Earthscan. ISBN 1 84407 183 9.

Kessler, M., Kessler, P.J.A., Gradstein,S.R., Bach, K., Schmull, M. &Pitopang, R. 2005. Tree diversity inprimary forest and different land usesystems in Central Sulawesi,

Indonesia. Biodivers. Conserv., 14(3):547–560.

Khumbongmayum, A.D., Khan, M.L., &Tripathi, R.S. 2005. Sacred groves ofManipur, northeast India: biodiversityvalue, status and strategies for theirconservation. Biodivers. Conserv.14(7): 1541–1582.

Konijnendijk, C.C. et al., eds. 2005.Urban forests and trees. Springer.ISBN 3 540 25126 X.

Kowarik, I. & Körner, S., eds. 2005. Wildurban woodlands, new perspectives forurban forestry. ISBN 3 540 23912 X.

Krüger, P. 2005. The role of ecotourism inconservation: panacea or Pandora’sbox? Biodivers. Conserv., 14(3):579–600.

Kumar, A. & Ram, J. 2005.Anthropogenic disturbances and plantbiodiversity in forests of Uttaranchal,central Himalaya. Biodivers. Conserv.,14(2): 309–331.

Latham, P. 2005. Some honeybeeplants of Bas-Congo Province,Democratic Republic of Congo. ISBN0 9546698 8 6.(Please see p. 54 for moreinformation.)

Lawrence, A., Phillips, O.L., Ismodes,A.R., Lopez, M., Rose, S., Wood, D.& Farfan, A.J. 2005. Local values forharvested forest plants in Madre deDios, Peru: towards a morecontextualized interpretation ofquantitative ethnobotanical data.Biodivers. Conserv., 14(1): 45–79.

Lewinsohn, T.M. & Prado, P.I. 2005. Howmany species are there in Brazil?Conserv. Biol., 19(3): 619–624.(abstract) www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00680.x

Linderman, M., Bearer, S., An, L., Tan,Y.C., Ouyang, Z.Y. & Liu, H.G. 2005.The effects of understory bamboo onbroad-scale estimates of giant pandahabitat. Biol. Conserv., 121(3):383–390.

Lynch, K.A. 2006. An interdisciplinarycurriculum on non-timber forestproducts. Portland, Oregon, UnitedStates, Institute for Culture andEcology. 450 pp.The workbook is an interdisciplinaryset of instructional materials thatincludes over 100 lesson plans andhandouts covering the ecological,cultural, political and economicimportance of NTFPs. The geographicfocus of the workbook is on the UnitedStates, although the exercises caneasily be adapted to scale up to theinternational arena or to scale down tofocus on species and issues ofregional or local importance. Theworkbook consists of seven modules– each including detailed lessonplans, activities, evaluation tools andready-to-use teaching aids, such asPowerPoint presentations andhandouts. Each module has a specificdisciplinary orientation (history,culture, economics, ecology, policy) tofacilitate easy adoption within thesedifferent disciplines. The curriculumencourages critical thinking aboutNTFP issues and their relationship tooverall forest health, sustainabilityand biodiversity conservation. This is



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accomplished through interactiveclassroom and field activities. Boththeoretical frameworks and researchmethods are introduced and there isan emphasis on building effectivecommunication and collaborationskills. Faculties are encouraged tointegrate individual lesson plans intotheir existing courses or use theworkbook materials as the foundationfor a new course or workshop. Inaddition, the Institute for Culture andEcology is available to facilitate a setof workshops and courses based onthe materials. This project was fundedby the National Commission onScience for Sustainable Forestry.For more information, please contact:Institute for Culture and Ecology, POBox 6688, Portland, Oregon 972286688, United States. E-mail:[email protected]/

Mackay, R. 2005. Atlas of endangeredspecies (revised edition). Earthscan,United Kingdom. Paperback ISBN1844072886.

Mahpatra, A. K. & Tewari, D.D. 2005Importance of nontimber forestproducts in the economic valuation ofdry deciduous forests of India. ForestPolicy and Economics, 7: 455–467.

Manoharachary, C., Sridhar, K., Singh,R., Adholeya, A., Suryanarayanan,T.S., Rawat, S. & Johri, B.N. 2005.Fungal biodiversity: distribution,conservation and prospecting of fungifrom India. Curr. Sci., 89(1): 58–71.

Mansourian, S., Vallauri, D. & Dudley,N., eds. 2005. Forest restoration inlandscapes. Beyond planting trees.XXVIII, 437 pp., 28 illustrations, hardcover ISBN: 0 387 25525 7.

Marshall, E., Schreckenberg, K. &Newton, A.C., eds. 2006.Commercialization of non-timberforest products: factors influencingsuccess. Lessons learned fromMexico and Bolivia and policyimplications for decision-makers.Cambridge, United Kingdom, UNEPWorld Conservation MonitoringCentre.

McLain, R.J. & Jones, E.T. 2005.Nontimber forest productsmanagement on national forests inthe United States. Gen. Tech. Rep.PNW-GTR-655. Portland, Oregon,United States Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service, PacificNorthwest Research Station. PDF files at: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr655.pdf or www.ifcae.org

McLain, R.J., McFarlane, E. M. &Alexander, S. J. 2005. Commercialmorel harvesters and buyers inwestern Montana: an exploratorystudy of the 2001 harvesting season.Gen. Tech Rep. PNW-GTR-643.Portland, Oregon, United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, ForestService, Pacific Northwest ResearchStation. Order free hardcopies ordownload at: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr643.pdf or www.ifcae.org

Merlo, M. & Croitoru, L., eds. 2005.Valuing Mediterranean forests:towards total economic value. CABIPublishing. ISBN 0 85199 997 2.

Mery, G. et al. 2005. Forests for the newmillennium – making forests work forpeople and nature. For more information, please contact:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland,Box 176, 00161 Helsinki, Finland.

Mittermeier, R.A., da Fonseca, G.A.B.,Rylands, A.B., & Brandon, K. 2005.A brief history of biodiversityconservation in Brazil. Conserv. Biol.,19(3): 601-607.

Murphy, M.L., Oli, K.P. & Gorzula, S.2005. Conservation on conflict: theimpact of the Maoist-governmentconflict on conservation andbiodiversity in Nepal. IISD.

Nagendra, H., Karmacharya, M. &Karna, B. 2005. Evaluating forestmanagement in Nepal: views acrossspace and time. Ecol. Soc.[online],10(1): 24.

National Forest Strategy Coalition.2005. Highlights of accomplishments:two years of progress – advancingthe National Forest Strategy(2003–2008). Ontario, Canada.Available at: http://nfsc.forest.ca/

Olsen, C.S. 2005. Trade andconservation of Himalayan medicinalplants: Nardostachys grandiflora DCand Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora(Pennell) Hong. Biol. Conserv.,125(4): 505–514.

Ordóñez, L., Arbeláez, M. y Prado, L.(Com-Eds). 2004. Manejo desemillas forestales nativas de laSierra ecuatoriana y Norte del Perú.EcoPar – Fosefor – Samiri, Quito,Ecuador.

Pain, D.J., Fishpool, L., Byaruhanga,A., Arinaitwe, J. & Balmford, A.2005. Biodiversity representation inUganda’s forest IBAs. Biol. Conserv.,125(1): 133–138.

Penn, Jr, J. W. 2006. The cultivation ofcamu camu (Myrciaria dubia): a treeplanting programme in the PeruvianAmazon. Forests, Trees andLivelihoods, 16(1), January.

Pethiyagoda, R. 2005. Exploring SriLanka’s biodiversity. Raffles Bull.Zool. Suppl., 12(14).

Pierce Colfer, C.J. & Capistrano, D.,eds. 2005. The politics ofdecentralization: forests, power andpeople. Indonesia, CIFOR. Earthscan.ISBN 1844072053.



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Predny, M. L. & Chamberlain, J. L.undated. Goldenseal (Hydrastiscanadensis): an annotatedbibliography. The Southern ResearchStation, United States Forest Service.Goldenseal, a member of thebuttercup family (Ranunculaceae), is aherbaceous perennial found in richhardwood forests throughout thenortheastern United States andCanada. Originally used by NativeAmericans as both a medicine and adye, the herb was eventually adoptedin the nineteenth century. The alkaloidsin goldenseal have been found to haveantibiotic, anti-inflammatory,antispasmodic and tonic effects.

The growing awareness of possiblemedicinal benefits has increasedworldwide consumption which,combined with a continual loss ofhabitat, has greatly reduced wildpopulations. Goldenseal has beenlisted under the Convention onInternational Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) Appendix II since 1997.Demand for cultivated roots hasincreased as wild populations becomescarce, motivating research intopropagation and cultivation techniques. More attention should be focused oneducating consumers about theappropriate uses of the herb in orderto reduce overconsumption; workingwith growers to increase theprofitability of cultivation and reducepressures on wild plants; andidentifying and tracking wildpopulations to determine the mosteffective management andconservation practices.

A searchable database and anelectronic version are available at:www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/prodarea/goldenseal.asp/Hard copies can be obtained from theSouthern Research Station, PO Box2680, Asheville, NC 28804, UnitedStates or from Jim Chamberlain,Ph.D., CF, Research Scientist, Non-Timber Forest Products Coordinator,Research Group 5.11 (Non-WoodForest Products), IUFRO UnitedStates Forest Service, SRS-4702,1650 Ramble Road Blacksburg, VA24060, United States. Fax: +1 540 2311383; e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Rawat, M.S. 2005. Medicinal andaromatic plant resources andpotential. Medplant Network News,5(2): 5–8.

Refisch, J. & Koné, I. 2005. Impact ofcommercial hunting on monkeypopulations in the Taï region, Côted’Ivoire. Biotropica ,37(1): 136–144.

Robinson, C.J., Smyth, D. &Whitehead, P.J. 2005. Bush tucker,bush pets and bush threats:cooperative management of feralanimals in Australia’s KakaduNational Park. Conserv. Biol., 19(5):1385–1391.

Robinson, J.G. & Bennett, E.L. 2004.Having your wildlife and eating it too:an analysis of hunting sustainabilityacross tropical ecosystems. Anim.Conserv., 7: 397–408.

Rojas, M. y Aylward, B. 2005. ¿Quéestamos aprendiendo de laexperiencia con los mercados deservicios ambientales en Costa Rica?Revisión y crítica de la literatura.IIED. ISBN: 1 84369 455 7.El uso de mercados y el pago deservicios ambientales es un tema queha venido ganando terreno entre loshacedores de políticas,ambientalistas y agentes dedesarrollo de todo el mundo. En el

mundo en vías de desarrollo, CostaRica ejerce el liderazgo en laaplicación de esos mecanismos. Estedocumento examina la literaturasobre la experiencia costarricensecon el fin de visualizar lo queestamos aprendiendo de esaexperiencia: ¿cómo ha calzadodentro de estas iniciativas lainformación técnica, científica yeconómica sobre los serviciosambientales? ¿Qué alcance tienen elmonitoreo y la evaluación de estasexperiencias iniciales? El objetivoprincipal de esta revisión bibliográficaes identificar y analizar los materialescomprendidos en la siguientetemática:• los orígenes locales del concepto de

pago y mercados de serviciosambientales y como estos hanevolucionado a través del tiempo;

• el tipo de iniciativas existentesrelacionadas con los mercados deservicios, y quien está participandoen estas actividades;

• el conocimiento base que soporta eldesarrollo de mercados;

• las iniciativas tomadas con respectoal monitoreo y evaluación de lasexperiencias con pagos y mercadosde servicios ambientales y hastadónde y con qué resultados laliteratura toma estas iniciativas entérminos de eficiencia económica,eficiencia ambiental equidad socialy/o reducción de la pobreza.

Sitio web:www.earthprint.com/go.htm?to=9247SIIED

Rowcliffe, J.M., Milner-Gulland, E. &Cowlishaw, G. 2005. Do bushmeatconsumers have other fish to fry?TREE, 20(6): 274–276.

Ruiz-Pérez, M., Almeida, M., Dewi, S.,Lozana Costa, E.M., CiavattaPantoja, M., Puntodewo, A., deArruga Postigo, A. & Goulart deAndrade, A. 2005. Conservation anddevelopment in the Amazonianextractive reserves: the case of AltoJuruá. Ambio, 34(3): 218–23. May.



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Sands, R. 2005. Forestry in a globalcontext. CABI Publishing PB. 272 pp.ISBN 0 85199 089 4.

Sayer, J., ed. 2005. The Earthscan readerin forestry and development. WWFInternational Forests for LifeProgramme. Earthscan. ISBN 1 84407153 7.

Schippmann, U., Leaman, D.J.,Cunningham, A.B. & Walter, S. 2005.Impact of cultivation and collection onthe conservation of medicinal plants:global trends and issues. In A.Jatisatienr, T. Paratasilpin, S. Elliott,V. Anusarnsunthorn & D. Wedge,eds. Conservation, cultivation andsustainable use of MAPs. Proceedingsof WOCMAP III. The Third WorldCongress on Medicinal and AromaticPlants, pp. 31–44, Leuven,International Society for HorticulturalScience (Acta Horticulturae 676).

Schnitzler, A., Hale, B.W. & Alsum, E.2005. Biodiversity of floodplain forestsin Europe and eastern North America:a comparative study of the Rhine andMississippi Valleys. Biodivers.Conserv., 14(1): 97–117.

Schreckenberg, K.,Awono, A.,Degrande, A., Mbosso, C., Ndoye. O.& Tchoundjeu, Z. 2006. Domesticatingindigenous fruit trees as a contributionto poverty reduction. Forests, Treesand Livelihoods, 16(1). January.

Schwartzman, S. & Zimmerman, B.2005. Conservation alliances withindigenous peoples of the Amazon.Conserv. Biol., 19(3): 721–727.

Shiva, A. 2005. Ayurved ke Chetra MeinPed-Paudhon ka Dharmic Mahattav(Hindi), (religious or sacred value ofmedicinal plants in Ayurveda). Centreof Minor Forest Products, Indirapuram,Dehra Dun, India.

Shiva, A., Bhatt, R. & Bartwal, M. 2005.Jari-Butiyon ka Krishikaran, Utpadan,evam Vyapar (Hindi), (medicinal plants

cultivation, production and trade forfarmers and buyers. Centre of MinorForest Products, Indirapuram, DehraDun, India.

Shiva, M.P. 2005. Types of gums andresins and their industrial uses. MFPNews, 15 (1): 6–8.

Shiva, M.P. 2005. Akashth VanSampada: Sampurna BahudrishtiyaSarvalokan (Hindi). (A forestrytextbook on non-timber forestresources.) International BookDistribution, Rajpur Road, Dehra Dun,India.

Sidaway, R. 2005. Resolvingenvironmental disputes: from conflictto consensus. Earthscan. ISBN1844070131.

Struhsaker, T.T., Struhsaker, P.J. &Siex, K.S. 2005. Conserving Africa’srain forests: problems in protectedareas and possible solutions. Biol.Conserv., 123(1): 45–54.

Sunderlin, W. D., ed. 2005. Livelihoods,forests and conservation. WorldDevelopment, 33(9): 1379–1544.

Tchoundjeu, Z., Asaah, E.K, Anegbeh,P., Degrande, A., Mbile, P.,Facheux, C., Tsobeng, A.,Atangana, A.R., Ngo-mpeck, M.L. &Simons, A.J. 2006. Puttingparticipatory domestication intopractice in West and Central Africa.Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 16(1).January.

UNEP. 2005. One planet many people:atlas of our changing environment.Nairobi, Kenya, United NationsEnvironment Programme, Division of Early Warning and Assessment. 322 pp. Available at:www.na.unep.net/OnePlanetManyPeople/index.php.

Vázquez-García, J.A., Cházaro, B.M.J.,Vera, C.H. y Berrios, E.F. 2005. LosAgaves del Occidente de México:

Sistemática, Ecología, Etnobotánica eImportancia Económica. Universidadde Guadalajara. Guadalajara.

Wilkie, D.S., Starkey, M., Abernethy,K., Effa, E.N., Telfer, P. & Godoy, R.2005. Role of prices and wealth inconsumer demand for bushmeat inGabon, Central Africa. Conserv. Biol.,19(1): 268–274.

Williams-Linera, G., Palacios-Rios, M.& Hernández-Gómez, R. 2005. Fernrichness, tree species surrogacy, andfragment complementarity in aMexican tropical montane cloudforest. Biodivers. Conserv., 14(1):119–133.



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NO. 17. LOS HONGOS SILVESTRESCOMESTIBLES

Wild edible fungi, no. 17 in FAO’sNWFP publications series, has nowbeen translated into Spanish: Loshongos silvestres comestibles.Perspectiva global de su uso e

importancia para la población. Copiesof this publication can be purchased

from FAO’s Sales and Marketing Groupat: [email protected].

An electronic version is available at:www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5489s/y5489

s00.htmThe French version will be available

later this year.

NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE FAO NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS SERIES

Global Forest Resources Assessment2005 (FRA 2005)New FAO data show progress towardssustainable forest management at theglobal level, but also that biologicaldiversity and forest ecosystems remainseriously threatened in several regions.

The main report of the Global ForestResources Assessment 2005, launchedat the Sixth Session of the UnitedNations Forum on Forests (UNFF6) inNew York, gauged progress towardssustainable forest management, definedand measured in terms of the extent offorest resources and their contribution tothe global carbon cycle; biologicaldiversity; forest health and vitality; andthe productive, protective and socio-economic functions of forests.

According to the report, there aremore positive than negative trends atthe global level, including a move inforest management towards multipleuses, including social and environmentalbenefits. Forests dedicated to theconservation of biological diversity haveincreased by 6.4 million ha per year toinclude 11 percent of all forests.

Forests for the protection of soil andwater and for recreation have alsoincreased significantly. Planted forestsare expanding and provide anincreasing proportion of the world’swood supply.

However, negative trends are stillalarming in some regions. Forests arerapidly being lost to agriculture in Africa,Central America, South America andSoutheast Asia, accounting for almost 90percent of the world’s deforestation of 13million ha per year.

Primary forests, crucial for maintainingbiological diversity, are converted toagriculture or degraded through logging at

a rate of 6 million ha per year, mainly inSouth America and Southeast Asia.

Significant progress has been made interms of political commitment, policies andlegislation, with a majority of countries inthe world taking steps to strengthen thepolicy and legal framework to improve themanagement and conservation of forests.

“There are positive and negative trendsin all regions towards the goal ofsustainable forest management whichvary even more at the country level. Tosay more about the progress of forestry, itis necessary to upgrade monitoring andreporting processes in many countries,”said Mette Løyche Wilkie, the coordinatorof this assessment.


Global Forest Resources Assessment,

Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle

Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.


www.fao.org/forestry or

www.fao.org/forestry/fra2005

Microfinance and forest-based small-scale enterprises This publication, funded by Norway,shows how microfinance can help low-income households living in forest areasto start up and run their own smallbusinesses. Such forest dwellersfrequently live in remote areas where alack of financial services is a majorobstacle to developing successfulbusiness activities. Microfinance is,therefore, crucial to alleviating poverty inforest communities.

Microfinance is a general termreferring to the provision of basicfinancial services such as credit,savings, leasing, equity financing,


KEY FINDINGS ON NWFPsINCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

One-third of the world’s forestsare primarily used for theproduction of wood and non-wood productsWood production continues to bean important function of manyforests and reported removals ofNWFPs are on the rise.Production of wood and non-wood forest products is theprimary function of 34 percent ofthe world’s forests. More thanhalf of all forests are used for theproduction of wood and NWFPsin combination with otherfunctions such as soil and waterprotection, biodiversityconservation and recreation.The value of wood removals isdecreasing, while the value ofNWFPs is increasing – andunderestimated.The forecasted value of NWFPremovals amounted to aboutUS$4.7 billion in 2005. However,information was missing frommany countries, and the reportedstatistics probably cover only asmall fraction of the true totalvalue of NWFP removals. Edibleplant products and bushmeat arethe most significant products interms of value. Trends at theglobal and regional levelsgenerally show a slight increasesince 1990. The key findings ofFRA 2005 can be found at:www.fao.org/forestry/fra2005/.


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insurance and remittance mechanismsby banks, NGOs and credit and savingscooperatives in both the formal andinformal financial sectors.

The publication includes a number ofsuccess stories, including one from theParbat district of Nepal, where 673small-scale enterprises were set upunder a microfinance enterprisedevelopment programme, creatingemployment in rural areas that dependon the trade of NWFPs such as honey,allo (traditional cloth made from nettles)and lapsi (a fruit used to make drinksand sweets). Some 669 of thebusinesses, or 99.4 percent of theprogramme participants, paid back theirloans in full.

This new publication suggests that inaddition to their regular services,microfinance institutions should providebusiness development counselling andsupport to small enterprises. It notes aswell that there is often a need to breaksocial barriers that can discourage ruralpeople from approaching financialinstitutions for help.

Microfinance and forest-based small-scale enterprises also warns against theimposition of artificial ceilings on interestrates and subsidizing targeted creditprogrammes, since these can distort themarket and make microfinance lesssustainable.


Sophie Grouwels, Forestry Officer,

Community-based Enterprise

Development (CBED), Forestry

Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme

di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.


www.fao.org/forestry/site/25491/en

Diccionario ForestalLa Sociedad Española de CienciasForestales (SECF) presentó en Madridel Diccionario Forestal (Mundi-Prensa),con más de 19 000 términos gracias altrabajo de noventa colaboradores.

Las entradas, recogidas en 1 336páginas, están divididas en sietebloques en los que se agrupan términosde materias relacionadas al temaforestal y cuyas definiciones a veces seextienden en la explicación casi «concarácter enciclopédico». Para don JoséAlberto Pardos, miembro de la RealAcademia de la Ingeniería y colaboradordel proyecto, con esta obra «de granenvergadura», en la que los términosfiguran traducidos al inglés, se cumplecon uno de los objetivos fundacionalesde la SECF, es decir «el estímulo de lacooperación entre sus miembros». Fuente: Revista Forestal Española, N° 38,septiembre 2005

Proceedings of the InternationalSymposium Guadua 2004The International Symposium Guadua2004 took place at the TechnologicalUniversity of Pereira, Pereira, Colombia,from 27 September to 2 October 2004,and was attended by 250 participantsfrom more than 20 countries. Thesymposium covered four main topics:silviculture and environmental services;harvesting and post-harvestingprocesses; applications and industrialuses; and institutions and socio-economic frame.


[email protected]

Women, forests and plantations. Thegender dimensionForests provide the source and means ofsurvival for millions of people, who findtheir firewood, medicinal plants, food,fibres, housing materials and a full rangeof other products. Forests are also vitalfor the healthy state of our globalenvironment. Although the historicalcontribution of women to forestconservation has often been made“invisible” – as in many other areas – it

has been they, the indigenous ruralwomen, with an intimate knowledge ofthe forest, who have been the principalcaretakers and guardians of the forests.

At present, the encroachment ofglobal commerce and “development”projects into the forests – such asplantations, oil exploitation, logging,mining, shrimp farming, dams and others– has not only destroyed nature but alsodistorted the ancestral relationships offorest peoples among themselves andwith the forest. Such forest change orloss has not been gender neutral andhas had a double and differentiatedimpact on women, depriving them oftheir traditional rights to and link with theforests while reinforcing a patriarchalsociety model.

With this book we aim at generatingawareness on the issue, as a way ofcontributing positively to the struggleswomen undergo to defend the forest andto highlight their positive role in forestconservation.


World Rainforest Movement,

Maldonado 1858, 11200 Montevideo,

Uruguay. Fax: 598 2 410 0985;




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W E B S I T E S

African Wildlife Foundationwww.awf.org

America’s national forestsVideo available online. A new documentary film about the manywonders of national forests and the threats they face is nowavailable online. This nine-minute DVD is an excellentintroduction to national forests and is a resource for educatorsand citizens interested in the environment and the clean water,wildlife and recreation our forests provide.Real Player Broadband: http://real.newmediamill.speedera.net/ramgen/real.newmediamill/ufdc/forestsbb.rm

AnswersA new search engine.www.answers.com

Biodiversity hotspotsAn informative Web site hosted by Conservation International. www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/

Career.eduJob board for the academic and research community.www.career.edu/index.php

CERPA (Centre for Research, Planning and Action)Information on medicinal plants and herbs.www.herbalcerpa.org

Chestnut linksContains many links to various aspects of chestnuts. www.utc.edu/Faculty/Hill-Craddock/chestnutlinks.html

Cost E30 An interesting Web site that includes information on NTFPs inEurope.www.joensuu.fi/coste30/ASLG_2005.htm

CP Wild – Commercial Products from the WildResearch on indigenous plant domestication andcommercialization in southern Africa.

This Web site aims at providing an information service topeople and organizations involved in natural productdomestication and commercialization.www.cpwild.co.za/Index.html

Databases

COMFORPTSCOMFORPTS has recorded 4 100 species in its database. Thedatabase provides detailed information on 70 parameters, suchas morphology, phenology, cultivation details, harvesting, post-harvest processing, silviculture requirements andcharacteristics, types of forest import-export statistics, policyand legal issues and pests and diseases. With the help of thisdatabase, users can retrieve exhaustive information on anyNTFP-related species based on these parameters. www.angelfire.com/ma/MinorForestProducts

PLANTS databaseThe PLANTS database is maintained by the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture National Resources ConservationService and provides information and generates reports inspecialized areas. It provides standardized information aboutthe vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichensof the United States and its territories. It includes names, plantsymbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts,characteristics, images, plant links, references, cropinformation and automated tools. http://plants.usda.gov/index.html

Eco earthThe environmental sustainability source.www.ecoearth.info/

EEA multilingual environmental glossaryhttp://glossary.eea.eu.int/EEAGlossary/

FAO facts and figures A new site from FAO’s Forestry Department. Do you know ... Which countries have the highest forest cover? Whichcountries are the major consumers and producers of forestproducts? How many people depend on drugs derived fromforest plants? How much deforestation contributes to globalgreenhouse gas emissions? How many countries have lessthan 10 percent forest cover? The annual deforestation rate inthe world? How many people are employed in the formalforestry sector worldwide? The total number of mountainpeople worldwide? What percentage of bioenergy accounts forthe energy consumed worldwide? Find out the answers tothese questions and many others at:www.fao.org/forestry/site/28679/en

FAO’s “historic archives” – 60 years of historySixtieth Anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations. In “historic archives” you will find rarely heard statements andinterviews of former FAO Directors-General, Heads of Stateand Government, Nobel Prize winners and other eminent worldpersonalities who have marked the history of the Organization,since its founding in 1945 (Quebec City, Canada), fromFranklin D. Roosevelt to Pope John Paul II.www.fao.org/audiocatalogue/index.jsp?category=5&lang=EN

ASKFAO

AskFAO is a service driven by user information needs, providinganswers to queries related to the Organization’s areas of expertise.Working with FAO offices around the world as well as with ourpartner organizations, it provides a mechanism to communicatedirectly with technical experts in a particular field of interest.www.fao.org/askfao/home.do?lang=en


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W E B S I T E S

FAO’s participation Web siteThis Web site is a place for studying and discussingparticipation in development. It is available in Arabic, English,French and Spanish. www.fao.org/participation/default.htm

Flora Celticahttp://193.62.154.38/celtica/flash/FCBOOK.htm

ForCons Co.Ecotourism in Hungary.www.forcons.hu

Herbs from naturewww.herbsfromnature.com

Honey healthThis newly launched Web site extols the various healthbenefits of natural honey, detailing its nutritive values andexploring its role as a primary food in traditional diets. www.honey-health.com/

Indian herbs and insect imagesOver 10 000 photographs of herbs and insects taken duringethnobotanical surveys in different parts of the Indian stateChhattisgarh are online at: http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=pdb&Author=pankaj&Thumbnails=Only

International Alliance Against Hungerwww.iaahp.net/

London wildwebhttp://wildweb.london.gov.uk/LW2/Welcome.do

Madagascar – fantastic forestswww.wbur.org/special/madagascar/

Mekong worldAll the latest information on tropical forest resources andenvironmental management in the Mekong region (Myanmar,China [Yunnan], Cambodia, the Lao People’s DemocraticRepublic, Thailand and Viet Nam).www.mekongworld.com/

Non-timber forest products in Scotlandwww.forestharvest.org.uk/

Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA)http://icserv.com/nnga/

Participatory Natural Resource Management (PNRM)www.prgaprogram.org.

Photographs

FAO forestry photos databaseThe FAO forestry photos database contains more than 1 000forestry-related images searchable by such fields as country,region, keyword, caption, human and forestry content and

photographer. A simple free text search is also available, whichsearches all text in the record. A useful thumbnail featureenables users to browse the contents rapidly. Photos can beeasily downloaded in high resolution for print and in lowerresolution for use on the Web. www.fao.org/mediabase/forestry

Forestry images Web siteA source for forest health, natural resources and silvicultureimages. A joint project of the University of Georgia and theUSDA Forest Service. Image categories include: forest pests(insects, diseases, other damage agents); trees, plants andstand types (trees, understorey and rangeland plants);silvicultural practices; wildlife; and people, places and scenes. www.forestryimages.org

Photographs of medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh, IndiaOver 500 photographs based on the work of Pankaj Oudhia inChhattisgarh and its herbal wealth. http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=pdb&Author=Pankaj%20Oudhia&AuthorWild=MA

Rain forests of the worldhttp://rainforestinfo.org.au/background/rainfwld.htm

Rain forest portalThe portal provides rain forest action, news, search andanalysis capabilities. www.rainforestportal.org/

SIAMAZONIA – Sistema de información de la diversidadbiológica y ambiental de la Amazonía Peruana Se trata de una red que ofrece amplios recursos informativoscientíficos y divulgativos, así como medios de comunicaciónpara las personas y organizaciones interesadas en elconocimiento, la conservación y el uso sostenible de labiodiversidad amazónica del Perú. Permite consultar y registraren línea conferencias, publicaciones, así como datos deprofesionales, instituciones y proyectos relacionados a laAmazonía andina. También ofrece herramientas deinformación para compartirlas con otros sitios web. Sitio web: www.siamazonia.org.pe/

The human footprint datasetwww.ciesin.columbia.edu/wild_areas/

The “man of the trees”This site is dedicated to the work of Richard St. Barbe Baker(1889–1982). www.manofthetrees.org

Venerable trees of the earthhttp://arbresvenerables.new.fr/

Wild resourcesMuch information available on NWFPs – from Wales to Uganda. www.wildresources.co.uk/projects_malawi.shtml


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""Non-wood or non-timber?I have the deep feeling that there is a profoundmisunderstanding over the term WOOD or NON-WOOD.

In my opinion you are dealing with NON-TIMBER instead ofNON-WOOD.

I have met FAO people in Rome in order to underline inwhich field we are working. In fact we are working over two-thirds of the total wood production in the world but not onTIMBER PRODUCTS.

We are working on the most valuable part of the trees: THEBRANCHES perceived as having no value and assessed byyou as being a non-wood product.

Please have a look at my article prepared for the WorldBank. (Professeur Gilles Lemieux, Groupe de Coordination sur lesBois Raméaux, Département des Sciences du Bois et de laForêt, Université Laval, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada. Fax: +1 418 656 5262; E-mail: [email protected])(Please see Prof. Lemieux’s article on p. 26.)

Reply from Dr Wulf Killmann, Director, Forest Products andEconomics Division, FAOAgreeably the borderline is sometimes difficult to draw.However, here are some definitional items.

Timber: wood prepared for use in building and carpentry(Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 1999).

Non-timber forest products include all products from theforest except timber. That is, they also include wood for woodfuels (ending up in fuelwood and charcoal).

Non-wood forest products: the term excludes all productsmade of wood from the forest, i.e. for carpentry, house andship building, and wood fuels.

About 50 percent of all trees felled worldwide are burnt aswood fuels. Any statistics on non-timber forest products wouldhave to include per definitionem wood fuels, which wouldtotally distort the values of traditional NWFPs such as berries,mushrooms, medicinal plants, fibres, nuts, fruits, gums, latex,leaves, roots and tubers, rattan and bamboo, only to name afew.

Therefore, FAO in its description of the subject-matterdecided purposefully for the term non-wood forest products,and against non-timber forest products.

Wood fuels are dealt with separately by FAO.(Wulf Killmann, Director, Forest Products and EconomicsDivision, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome,Italy. Fax: (39) 06 5705 5137; e-mail: [email protected])

Request for contribution of articles for special issuesCOMFORPTS plans to publish two special issues of theInternational Journal of Forest Usufructs Management (half-yearly) during 2006 and of MFP News (quarterly newsletter)during 2006 and 2007 on the following themes.For the International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management(JFUM).

• Non-timber forest products-based enterprises(June–December 2006).

For MFP News.• Gums and resins for trade (July–September 2006).• Pollution-retarding NTFPs (October– December 2006).• Edible and non–edible fatty oils, to avoid their imports

(January–March 2007).• NTFPs for improvement of soil and ecology (April–June

2007).• Fodder and forage, fibres and flosses (July–September

2007).• Policies and legal issues on rights and privileges for the

collection and production of NTFPs from forests(October–December 2007).

For more information, please contact:Ms Alka Shiva, Managing Editor, Centre of Minor ForestProducts For Rural Development and EnvironmentalConservation, HIG 2, No. 8B, Indirapuram, GMS Road, POMajra, Dehra Dun 248171, India. E-mail:[email protected]

Comments from our readers

“Thanks for your excellent work which helps us constantly to look fornew ideas and their application in Peru.” (Rainer Schulte, Peru)

“The bulletin is always very informative, full of interesting news,contacts, etc. – really a great initiative.” (Vera De Cauwer, Namibia)

“Recently I received your excellent information bulletin Non-WoodNews Vol. 12 March 2005. Thank you very much for providing thisworldwide view on NTFPs to a local practitioner.” (Marc G.A.C.Smits, Nicaragua)

“The publication is excellent and I am certain that this good workdelivers many benefits to poor people and cultures across the world.Keep up the good work.” (Binai Lama, Bhutan)

“Non-Wood News serves as useful material to our library clients.”(Remedios E. Abing, Philippines)

R E A D E R S ’ R E S P O N S E


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R E A D E R S ’ R E S P O N S E ""A selection of comments received through the evaluationexercise (see pp. 69–70)

▲More should be written on non-wood fibre esp. crops like Kenafwhich is environmentally friendly. However a lot has been written onother crops which would be useful to other scientists. Good job!

▲ The section “special features” and “the publications of interest”are of interest to me. However, there is a lack of quality referencematerial, say a research paper on a current topic of global interest.

▲ Absolutely brilliant publication with information that is hardlyanywhere obtainable. Useful both for practical application and as areference source for educational and campaign purposes. Thanks!

▲ There is insufficient highlight on the impact of NWPFs onlivelihoods and on communities.

▲ An annual copy is too long a gap; some information might loserelevance.

▲Little information about NWFP processing technologies, littleinformation about NWFPs of boreal forests.

▲La périodicité est très large et accentue l’information sur larecherche médicinale.

▲Very concise and extremely informative. This publication is quitesuitable for general community use as well as an educationalsource.

▲Comprehensive information, global research findings presentedin a concise form; sometimes too generalized and lacks focus.

▲ It is broad based and seems to strive to present “on the edge”uses vs. traditional uses.

▲ I really like some case studies. But I think it will be very valuable toalways include information on funding opportunities, trainings,scholarships, internships and so on.

▲ It focuses on a very important field, which has been under-estimated for decades; it tries to get feedback from the readers andothers in the world. Its weakness is that it remains +or- passive.

▲ If the Publications of interest part could be thematic, it would be ofmore interest for me.

▲Produce información valiosa pero es información muy resumida.

▲More emphasis should be laid on actual field projects.

▲We would love to see more information on sub-Saharan countriesin Africa.

▲ It has lots of good articles from reputable authors/organizations.The column layout is a little bit difficult to read and some articleshave no English translation.

▲Broad up-to-date compilation, short informative articles. It can bedifficult to use for topic-focused search.

▲ It covers almost all NWFPs around the globe which is remarkable.

▲ The briefness of the contributions is a strength and a weakness(one would not read longer ones, information often not detailedenough for citation, but contact to authors resolves this problem).

▲ I think the news is extremely useful in the form it is presentedand I don’t see any weakness with it but only information thatcould be utilized for the benefit of rural farmers.

▲ A large amount of information on many different NWFPs, howthey can be used and marketed and country information.Probably the great difficulty lies in extending this information.

▲The articles are good, but some are not complete publications. Ifcomplete publications could be published then it will be excellent.

▲ Keeps us informed on what is happening on NWFPs. On theother hand, because of the limitation of space, much informationis superficial.

▲ It gives very few addresses of donor organizations, somethinghighly needed by the poor subsistence peasant farmers.

▲ Country compass is useful ... the layout is strong, I have nocriticisms other than I wish it would come more than once a year(though I recognize the costs and time involved).

▲Too much emphasis on NWFPs in forest ecosystems withlittle attention to those on arid and semi-arid lands.

▲More information needed on medicinal plants in forests andtheir sustainable extraction models, the conservation ofunderstorey plants in forests is not receiving enough attention.

▲Forces: valorisation et diffusion du savoir sur les plantes.Faiblesses: informations scientifiques sue les plantes présentées.

▲Lack of information on economic aspect of NWFPs and theimportance of NWFPs to national/international development.

▲Tener la información ordenada por temas: plantas medicinales,utilizadas en cestería, en alimentación, especies vegetalessubutilizadas, bioinsecticidas. Orden por continentes y países.

▲ It carries information not readily available elsewhere but is silenton issues of practical benefits of research outputs. Action researchis meaningless if it cannot change the lives of the deprived.

▲ It gives a good overview of all FAO activities related toNWFPs. However, when looking for a specific product, noalphabetic order of product or country is provided.

▲ I really enjoy reading Non-Wood News. It is so informative andreadable and gives useful information. I find it very valuable.

If many little people, in many little places, do many littlethings, they can change the face of the earth!

African proverb


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Traditional knowledge of Non-Wood Forest Products

Traditional knowledge of the multiplicity of uses and benefits deriving from NWFPs is passed onfrom one generation to another. Forest-dependent communities have always recognized the

importance of NWFPs in their lives – whether as food, shelter or medicine.

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