A National Management Plan for a

protected non-timber species:

Prunus africana

Verina Ingram1, Henri Charles Akagou Zedong2,

Nouhou Ndam3, Abdon Awono1, Yanek Decleire4,

Narcisse Mbarga5

1 Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), BP 2008, Yaounde, Cameroon2 Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife3 TRAFFIC Central Africa4 GTZ ProPSFE5 ANAFOR

Introduction

• Cameroon largest exporter of Prunus africana

worldwide (>50%)

• Traditional multiple-uses timber, fuel-wood

and medicine.

• Local, low volume trade for medicinal use

• Raw material prostate drugs and health

supplements.

• Major income source for forest based

communities and enterprises

• Protected species IUCN and CITES

The problems……..

• Prunus availability reduced by:– Bush fires

– Grazing

– Unsustainable harvested quantities

– Insufficient regeneration in wild &

domestication

• Unsustainable exploitation: – Lack or insufficient local management

– Unsustainable harvesting techniques

– Quota based permit system unrelated to actuality

– Difficult regulatory system for SMEs

– Inadequate regulatory controls

– High local and international demand

• Government capacity:– Insufficient capacity and financial allocation to Prunus

to respond to CITES obligations

• Poor market and information:– Little info exchange at all levels

– No processing (added value) in Cameroon since close of Plantecam

• Inventories Mt Cameroon, 2000 & Adamoua, 2001

• Cameroon request to maintain quota for areas not inventoried re livelihood implications 2005

• IRAD/Uni Dschang/Biodiversity International: 3 studies genetic diversity/ planting materials, survey participatory regeneration, 2005 - date

• Conflicts re revenue distribution & massive illegal harvesting, Kilum, 2005

• Uni Yaoundé: Phd on genetic characterisation, 2007

• FAO/SNV/CIFOR NTFP SME project started, Feb 07

• WHINCONET/SNV survey: unsustainability Kilum-Ijum, March 07

• Institute Ethnobotany Stewart: massive degeneration, Kilum Ijum, June 07

• CITES questions status of Prunus, July 07

• GTZ: monitoring Mt Cameroon November, Nov 07

• Cameroon government response to EU‟s Oct concerns, Nov 07

• “Ban” on imports to EU a reality, Nov 07

• MINFoF introduced Circulars, 15 & 22 Nov 2

• No Prunus harvested in NW or SW since Nov 07 (1 seizure SW, Jan 08)

• Exploiters verifying status of plantations & “non-forest” Prunus, Jan 08

• “Prunus Platform” stakeholders & 6 meetings Nov 2007 - 2009

Developments …..

January 2008

• Prunus secondary source of income forest users

• 1985 - 1991 ≈ 9,309 tons exported from Cameroon ≥ 143 million CFA (290,976 US$)

• Plantecam turnover 1998 = 4,000,000 US$.

• Export value in 1999 = 700,000 US$. Export prices for dry bark (chips):

– in 2000 = 2000 CFA per kg

– In 2006 = 660 CFA to 1000 CFA per kg

• In 2005 & 2006, 1500 - 2000 t harvested annually:

– Valued at ≈ 260 million CFA (540,000 US$) to producers (harvesters, community organisations and individuals)

– Export value ≈ ≥ 2,649 million CFA (5,470,000 US$), based on an average export price of 660 CFA (1.34 US$) per kg

• Market chain in Cameroon ≈ 60,000 people in CF communities, unknown individuals with plantations, 500+ harvesters, 11 exploitation permit-holding small scale enterprises and 5 SME exporting enterprises.

• Revenues to government – Estimated between 1.5 to 16 million p.a. from Regeneration

Tax

– Estimated up to 22 million CFA form Permit sales p.a.

Pygeum: Economic value

But it’s an NTFP!

Prunus revenues are nothing compared to

timber revenues…..

September 2008

• Cameroon Highlands chain of volcanic mountains

• Habitat ranges from sub-montane to montane forests and subalpine grasslands.

• Largest remaining patches of Afromontane forest in West Africa.

• One of top 200 worldwide Ecoregions (35 bird species, 10 reptiles, 55 amphibians, 6 mammals & around 100 rare/endemic plant species).

• Human activities have fragmented, degraded and isolated remaining forest –, unsustainable harvesting, fires, agriculture and bushmeat poaching.

• Huge losses forest:

– 1958 = 37% of province forest covered

– 2000 = 3.5% largest montane forest is approximately 98km2 in Bamenda Highlands

• Role of traditional conservation & management by Traditional Authorities increasingly less successful and un-enforced

• 38 Community Forests, up to 5000 hectares each = 72,681 hectares (2007) - conserving biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods

• Adamaoua largely unpopulated and no community forests – not traditionally used

• Highlands forests provide other essential services and benefits: water, water catchments, fuel wood, medicine, fertile land, animals, sacred shrines and ecotourism.

Conservation importance

highlands forests

West Province

• Prunus africana used locally as important traditional medicine

• 4th most popular medicinal plant collected around Mt Cameroon by 14% of households. 1st or 2nd most popular medicinal plant in Oku.

– Human use: barks/leaves/roots/seeds powdered or tea, 45+ uses:– Anti-inflammatory - Analgesic

– Stomach ache - Genito-urinary complaints

– Allergies - Kidney disease

– Malaria - Fever

– Parasites - Aphrodisiac

– Menstruation problems - Infertility

– Animal use: – Pox, cholera, diarrhoea, purgative, wounds gastric problems for fowls & small livestock

• Bark is dried, chipped or powdered and pharmalogically active compounds chemically extracted (ratio wet 2 kg:dry 1kg: extract5g-0.05g). Extract also contained in roots & leaves. Forms the raw material for internationalpharmaceutical industry: Italy, France, Spain, Madagascar & USA for drugs to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a non-cancerous glandular disorder affecting mainly older men, also excessive hairiness and aging.

Pygeum: Health importance

January 2008

• Prunus africana, well known species internationally as:

– African Cherry

– Iron Wood or Stinkwood

– Pygeum

Locally as:

– Kanda stick

– Kirah (Lamnso)

– Elouo (Kom)

– Eblaa (Oku)

– Bi‟beh‟kemb‟oh‟ (Fulfulde)

– Wotangu (Bakweri)

• Durable wood is used locally for:

– Axe handles

– Poles

– Hives

– Door frames

– Charcoal

– Fuel wood

– Carving

• Bee-loving tree for local “Oku white” honey

Pygeum: Social functions

• Prunus secondary source of income forest users

1985 - 1991 ≈ 9,309 tons exported from Cameroon

≥ 143 million CFA (290,976 US$)

• Plantecam turnover 1998 = 4,000,000 US$.

• Export value in 1999 = 700,000 US$. Export prices for dry bark (chips):

– in 2000 = 2000 CFA per kg

– In 2006 = 660 CFA to 1000 CFA per kg

• In 2005 & 2006, 1500 - 2000 t harvested annually:

– Valued at ≈ 260 million CFA (540,000 US$) to producers (harvesters, community organisations and individuals)

– Export value ≈ ≥ 2,649 million CFA (5,470,000 US$), based on an average export price of 660 CFA (1.34 US$) per kg

• Market chain in Cameroon ≈ 60,000 people in CF communities, unknown individuals with plantations, 500+ harvesters, 11 exploitation permit-holding small scale enterprises and 5 SME exporting enterprises.

• Revenues to government – Estimated between 1.5 to 16 million p.a. from Regeneration

Tax

– Estimated up to 22 million CFA form Permit sales p.a.

Pygeum: Economic value

But it’s an NTFP!

Prunus revenues are nothing compared to

timber revenues…..

Sustainable?

How much is available? > 30 DBH average 55 – 68kg per tree, every 7-11 years (Hall 2000, GTZ 2000)

• Inventory: GTZ Mt Cameroon = 209 t. pa average (2000-2005)/ 0.369 m3/ha

(2008-2013)

• Inventory: MINFoF Samba Pelmali Boudounga = 28.21 m3/ha (?)

• Inventory: ANAFOR Tchabal Mbabo = 493 t. pa (2001-2011) *

• Inventory: ANAFOR Tchabal Gang Daba = 8.8 t. pa (2001 -2011)*

• Inventory: CIFOR Kilum-Ijum = 1.036 m3/ha (2008-2013)*

• Inventory: CIFOR Kupe Muanenguba = 0.248 m3/ha (2008-2013)*

Natural forests current inventories = 735 t p.a.

(*adjusted for prior & unsustainable harvesting in Mt Cameroon, Kilum Ijum, Mt

Manengouba and Adamaoua Tchabals)

Perhaps 343 t. in private and community based plantations

Differentiation for Kilum-Ijum CFs and Mt Cameroon

Rest of Cameroon?

Approach

• Science and pragmatic guidance to develop

national management plan for the sustainable

exploitation of Prunus africana in short & long term

• Innovative for Cameroon and Africa

• Culmination of 2 year process:

– Scientific evidence

– Regulatory study

– Negotiated policy

– indigenous knowledge

– Stakeholder participation

• Plan has general consensus from majority of

stakeholders.

Context

• Draft plan financed by EU, CIFOR and

GTZ

• Close collaboration ANAFOR & MinFoF

• Consultations with CITES - Prunus

Working Group, TRAFFIC, EU and

scientific experts

• Output: Guidance & norms for a national

Prunus Management Plan adopted by

governmentActors believe in the sustainability of plan

incorporating a combination of measures;

Shared knowledge, technical, scientific & regulatory

Proposed Plan

Key elements 1

Replaces annual, non-quota based, multiple permit

holder, non-specific geographic areas system with:

1. National quota for commercial, large scale = ∑ PAU stock

(Inventory + MP) + registered planted Prunus africana

2. Distinctions;

• Commercial, large scale exploitation different from

small-scale, traditional use

• Planted different from wild

3. 6 major landscapes containing Prunus divided into Prunus

Allocation Units

Key elements - 2

4. Exploitable quantity Prunus in a PAU over 10 year period Determined by inventory

Approved by Cameroon CITES authorities

Commissioned and financed by the PAU holder

5. Inventories according to „Inventory Norm‟*

6. Harvesting according to „Harvest Norm‟*

Planted different from wild

7. Trained and certified harvesters

8. Regeneration obligation in PAU

9. Controls, monitoring & traceability strengthened - role

national and regional authorities

Includes cross-border trade Nigeria

10. Coordination & roles Management and Scientific

Authorities clarified

Permanent Forest Non-Permanent Forest

Protected areas

excluded *Mt Cameroon NP

Council Forests Communal or

Community Forests

Private land

Leased

Concession Unit

CF CF Registered

Prunus

Single exploiter

(Enterprise or GIC)

Council CBO, Council or FMI Owner

Regeneration

obligation

Regeneration

obligation

Regeneration

obligation

Open bidding Respective

Council

Relevant Council,

CBO or FMI

Owner

Zoned Zoned Zoned Registered

Inventory and

Management Plan

Inventory and

Management Plan

Inventory and

Management Plan

Certificate of

Origin

Key elements - 3

Adamaoua 1

Adamaoua 5

Adamaoua 2

Adamaoua 4

Adamaoua 3

NW 1

NW 2

NW 3

NW 4

SW1

LB2

CH1

SW2

W1

CH1

Figure 1 Monitoring Scheme

Schéma 2 : Visualisation du système Prunus de la région.

Transporters

ANAFOR

Sci. Authority

MINFoF

RDs

CITES Secretariat

PAU permit

holder

MINFOF Mgt Authority

Exporters

Scientific Committee Research institues & NGOs

Importers

Advice on PAU Mgt Plan

Monitoring Checklist

Monitoring Form D

Monitoring Form A

Private

owner

Monitoring Checklist Annual report CITES species

EC CITES Secretariat

Approved PAU Mgt Plan

Harvesters

Transporters

Monitoring Form B

Advice on Harvest & inventory

norms

Inter-Minsiterial Cmmttee

Annual

DExploitation Permit

Monitoring Form E

Monitoring Form C

Registration prunus

CITES species

Monitoring Checklist

PAU Management

Plan Approval

PAU Annual report

Addressing CITES and EU concerns

Short term (2009 to 2010)

1. CITES 2006 Lima meeting (this Management Plan)

2. Location 2007 stock traced

3. Current availability est. 1078 t. of wet weight bark annually*;

• 735 t. current inventories of natural forests (adjusted for prior

and unsustainable harvesting in Mt Cameroon, Kilum Ijum, Mt

Manengouba and Adamaoua Tchabals)

• 343 t. in private and community based plantations

4. Actual quantity only known with PAU inventories/Management Plans +

when Prunus on private land is registered

5. No harvesting in protected areas = conservation of genetic resources &

regeneration stock

6. Distinction between ‘wild’ and domesticated Prunus embedded in

exploitation regime via Certificate of Origin

7. A new permit system devised and agreed by stakeholders as

sustainable alternative to current system.

8. Consensus on scientific & practical inventory method.

9. Conservative harvesting technique and certification

agreed.

10.Revised monitoring & control government and

communities agreed

11.Ongoing research needs consolidated & being

addressed. ANAFOR coordination & dissemination.......

12.Coordination mechanisms e.g. Prunus Platform......

13.Awareness raising & education on CITES & regulations

started

14.Need to promote domestication and planting +

regeneration program in wild.

Addressing CITES and EU concerns

Short term (2009 to 2010)

Addressing concerns

Long term (2011 +)• Further exploitation continue to be quota based

• PAUs emerge in response to market demand and

bidding

• Gradually inventories and PAU Management plans

conducted for MinFoF approval

• Ongoing capacity building of CITES Scientific authority

(ANAFOR) will bear fruit (ITTO Project)

• Results of ongoing projects on Prunus africana sector

(Domestication, support to small enterprises, changes in

the legal framework of NTFPs, domestication & ongoing

research) become available and incorporated into

national policy as appropriate.

Regulatory

authorities

Pharmaceutical

companies

Government Projects / NGOs Permit Holders Owners of

trees/

Plantations

Communities /

CBOs

CITES Adapt

regional

regulations

Needs to regulate

trade through

certification

Country

implementation of

CITES

recommendation

s

Feedback on

scientific

information on

CITES species

Create & sustain

awareness on CITES

issues

Motivation for more

planting.

Create & sustain

awareness on CITES

issues

Pharm

companies

Support

sustainable

forest

management

Agree to support &

champion

sustainable

management

Support policy

development

Fund development

projects

Buy only from

responsible Permit

holders (certification)

Long term link for

direct supply.

Support long term

partnership

Government Support

participation

in

international

fora

Provide framework

for certification

Develop regional

strategies

Feed back on

relevant field data

& information in

exchange for

respecting Project

recommendations

Issue permit after

agreed inventory &

Prunus Management

Plan

Provide

planting/regeneration

incentives

Incentive for

cultivation

Provide planting/

regeneration

incentives

Establish a favourable

policy

& provide technical

support for

sustainable

management

Development

Projects /

NGOs

Promote

Project

achievements

at national &

international

levels

Continuous

awareness raising

Set enabling

environment for

Projects to

support Prunus

sustainable

management

Support Prunus

related workshops

& networking

Collaborate for

sustainable

management

Support tree

planting

Advocacy for best

practices (e.g.

sustainable

management, fair

price, regeneration)

Permits

Holders

Raise

awareness to

respect

CITES

Fair prices to fight

poverty

Issue a single

long term permit

per permit

allocation site

Organise & train

community based

harvesters, Fund

regeneration

Support sustainable

Prunus management

and regeneration

Fair price Buy from organised

villagers with training

in harvesting skills

Owners of

trees/

plantations

Promote

domestication

Registration

of trees

Promote large

scale production

Set enabling

environment for

private planting

Capacity building

for propagation

Offer fair prices to

encourage large scale

production

Networking, setting

common price,

exchange of

information

Collaborate in

regeneration and

marketing of Prunus

Communities /

CBOs

Raise

awareness to

respect

CITES

Support

sustainable forest

management

Issue permit to

organised

communities (e.g.

MOCAP, FMIs)

Support capacity

building

&sustainable

Prunus

management

Establish a fair price

for equitable benefit

sharing

Collaborate for

inventory and

protection.

Networking, setting

common price,

exchange of

information

Table 9 Matrix of Prunus stakeholder responsibilities roles and actions

What next? A road map Annex 1 & 4

1. Gaps - Nigeria transboundary trade, Reforestation plans

2. Revise and appropriate Management Plan

3. Send Plan to CITES and EU CITES

4. Include Harvest & Inventory Norms

5. Revise and adopt the Management Plan (Ministerial

Decision?)

6. Translation

7. Diffusion Plan - (CIFOR print)

8. Training MinFoF and ANAFOR national & regional on control

monitoring

9. Set up Scientific Committee

10. Implement e.g. Bids for PAUs, open registers for private

prunus