guiding conservation and sustainable use through a national prunus africana management plan,...

THINKING beyond the canopyTHINKING beyond the canopy

BioversityWorkshop

“Development of

strategies for the

conservation and

sustainable use of

Prunus africana to

improve the

livelihood of small-

scale farmers”

25-29 October 2010

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Guiding conservation and sustainable use through National Prunus africana Management Plans

Verina IngramCentre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Central Africa

[email protected]

THINKING beyond the canopy

Prunus africana• Afromontane evergreen tree patchy

distribution at 600-3000 m a.s.l. particularly ≥ 1700 - 3010 m. Montane forests scarce (1.4% of all African forests: 1% Cameroon & 1.1% Eq.Guinea forests)

• Cherry like fruit eaten & dispersed by 20+ species; 50% are Afromontane endangered &/or endemic e.g. P. Africana one of 13 critical species in Cameroon montane forests.

• Major harvest areas have high degradation & deforestation rates e.g. Cameroon (0.37% pa [0.0017 ha/pa], with 52% forest loss in last 52 years [Kilum Ijum]), Madagascar & Kenya

• Multiple timber (fuel, tools, carving ) & NTFP uses (bark for human & veterinary medicine)

• Major international trade: 9622 tons worldwide 2001-2007. Principal ingredient in prostatic hyperplasia pharmaceuticals (Europe) & health supplements (US & China)


Background: over-exploitation, respite & action

Cameroon example : worlds largest exporter (2007) after 15 years of intense harvesting

Self-imposed moratoriums and suspensions following 2007 EU trade suspension.

Allows an ecological respite but also adverse effects on livelihoods of unknown impact

In response to these changes, lobbies reflecting the diverse and conflicting interests

emerged across African exporting nations.

A participatory developed national management plan has been the route chosen to

respond to concerns by actors in the Cameroon trade chain

The route from an endangered species towards domestication, analysing the planning

process for conservation and sustainable management is presented for

Cameroon, Madagascar and Equatorial Guinea.

Paradoxical context in which this non-timber species is found, traded and used, means

that risks and opportunities for successful conservation and trade through proposed

National Management Plans need to be critically examined.


Problem: international trade leads to endangered status

Photo: K Stewart

• Regulated since 1974 in Cameroon and 1972 in Madagascar but for revenue maximisation, rather than conservation logic

• Despite long lived & ability to withstand repeated bark harvest – demand increased dramatically 600% in last 40 years

• The shift from subsistence to international trade raised concerns about overexploitation of wild stocks

• Leading to – Appearance on the IUCN Red List (Endangered) in 1998– Trade restrictions (CITES Appendix II listed ) in 2005– ‘Special Forestry Product’ classification in Cameroon in 2006– EU suspension of international trade November 2007– CITES suspension of DRC, Eq. Guinea & Tanzania as non compliant with

Article IV. Others countries implemented voluntary suspension February 2009

• But national stocks of wild P. africana largely un-quantified and cultivated stocks completely unknown in Cameroon

• Conflicting interests; conservation vs. immediate livelihood needs

• Regulations not enforced nor harvest monitored, and market arrangements counterproductive to sustainable trade


Prunus

africana

range and

trade

= former trade & % world exports 1995-2007

= border trade

= traditional medicinal use & trade

= main importers & % world imports 1995-2007

= Management plan

Source: Cunningham 2008, Hall et al .2000, CITES WCMC 2008

21%

49%

66%

4%

7%

27%>1%

16%

1%

1%

1%

1%

6%

0.2%0.1%

Main harvest zones


Hypothesis

1. International, lucrative trade of a wild resource is inherently unsustainable given livelihood pressures.

2. Management impossible without knowledge of resource availability and sustainable post harvest regeneration period

3. Actors and issues in chain unknown to each other → market arrangements with conflicting interests & leading to (unknown) unsustainable harvests.

4. A participatory developed management plan involving all actors in the chain could respond to pressures to create a sustainable Prunus africana commerce and reconcile conflicting pressures.

Kongo CF,

Kilim CF, December 2008


Madagascar

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Tons im

port

ed 2

001-2

006

Source WCMC CITES Database 2008

• Exploitation since 1972; periods of centralisation & decentralisation, many and few companies

• Sofia Northwest area overexploited by 1984, shift to Eastern reserves; by 1994 to many scattered sites, by 1999 returned to Sofia, injunction 2002

• Both importer and exporter- due to Indena SpA factory in 1995

• 2003: finalised and valided ‘Plan d’action national pour la gestion durable du Prunus africana’: ecological (inventory & harvest guide), socio-economic, genetic & legal measures

• Resulted by 2005 in limited permits• Average 200t pa 2000-2007 • 2007: Trade suspended• 2008: World Bank project proposed for

regeneration and to develop management plan, expected end 2009

• Plan not yet finalized


Equatorial Guinea•1998 inventory (Sunderland & Tako 1999)indicated high levels unsustainable harvest•Historic ties Spain & Equatorial Guinea + barkexports to Spain, lead to a pilot project onBioko Island, promoted & funded by theGeneral Directorate for Biodiversity, Ministry ofEnvironment (CITES scientific AuthoritySpain), June 2004• Exported from 1992 to 1998, ceased 1999-2002, 2005 last unsustainable harvest. 1992 –1998 = average 210 tons pa exported

• 2006 ‘’Evaluation of the Harvest of Prunus africana Bark on Bioko (Equatorial Guinea): Guidelines for a Management Plan’’ (University Cordoba), Spain conducted remote sensing, inventory , bark yield estimate, proposed a quota and harvest guidelines•This model promoted for other countries andareas (at CITES meeting Lima 2007 & Kenya2008)• Plan not adopted- political reasons


Aims1. Increase revenues of small and medium enterprises involved production

and commercialisation of Prunus africana

2. Manage resources sustainably for both current and future generations

Build NTFP sector actors capacity in production and

commercialisation

Improve production and harvestingtechniques of NTFPs

Develop sustainable market chains

Promote favorable legal &

institutional environment for small & medium

enterprises


Meth

odolo

gy: C

am

ero

on

Background• Harvest zone selection – stakeholder interviews (2007)

Field work

• Inventory - transects 3 zones (2007-2008)

• Bark regeneration post-harvest study – 4 zones (2009)

VCA

2007-2009

• 193 semi & structured interviews actors in chains & 5 market surveys (2007-2008)

Action data collection

• Participatory action research: SWOT, stakeholder analysis, 6 working sessions stakeholder groups & 1 all stakeholder workshop, participatorily developed management plan

• Capacity building events; group organisation

Analysis

• Data analysis SPSS and Excel, TIAMA, interpretation satellite images, SWOT, GISmapping

• Preliminary findings verified in meetings & peer cross-checked

Outputs

• Value chain maps: Visualisations

• Reports: Problem analysis workshop report, Inventory in NW & SW Cameroon, Guidelines for a National Management Plan for Prunus africana in Cameroon, Assessment sustainable harvest methods, Baseline study of Prunus africanachain, Domestication Guide (ICRAF), Harvest and inventory norms GTZ + CIFOR)

• Actors’ grouping: Prunus Platform, Scientific Group supporting CITES Authority,

• Policy brief: NTFPs in Cameroon & Product sheet: Prunus africana in Cameroon

Lit. review• Literature review


• Responds to CITES 2006 Lima meeting requirements: based on CITES Secretariat (2006) & Clemente Muñoz et al 2006)

• Innovative for Cameroon and Africa

• Pragmatic national management plan for the sustainable exploitation of Prunus africana in short & long term

• Culmination of 3 year process based on:

– Scientific evidence

– Regulatory study

– Negotiated policy

– Indigenous knowledge

– Stakeholder participation

• Plan has general consensus from majority of stakeholders.


Research locations

West Province

Bamenda Highlands


• Understand demand & supply, volumes & values • Map and analyse actors interactions, power relations, governance

arrangements and pressures• Comprehend institutional and customary and legal framework and

influence and implementation in practice• Understand livelihood and cultural aspects• By participating in developing the VC, actors validate , own and

understand chain & issues

Why use a participatory market chain approach?


Results

SCALE OF CULTIVATION GREATER THAN PREVOISULY KNOWN •Plantations ≥ 100 trees: average age 13 years (exploitable age)•Approximately 70% of planted trees never harvested•Nurseries more common in NW•Majority of plantations small (average 3 hectares)•≥22,280 trees known in 31 plantations, approximately 24% survive

MORE TREES STANDING THAN PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED•Current national availability from 4 inventoried zones estimated 1078 tons of wet weight bark annually•Significant variation in forest exploitation & land use between sites, mainly forest converted to pasture & agricultural use

REGENERATION•≥ 1,900,000 trees, multiple sites planted from1976 – 2009, average survival rate 32%, average 10 years old•2 categories: <30cm diameter = ‘regeneration stock’ and >30cm = ‘exploitation stock’• Stocks differ widely: human impacts major threat. More smaller trees on Mt Manengouba means less stock available for exploitation

DENSITY IS LOCATION SPECIFIC •Stocking densities vary from 15% Mt Cam to 95% Kilum-Ijum total stock 4 zones•Density varies significantly 1.6 – 11.4 stems/ha & heterogeneous across sites, related to vegetation type altitude a limiting distribution factor, size differences due to exploitation, human interventions and land use

INVENTORY 961466 trees surveyed in transects in 4 zones


ResultsPOST HARVEST BARK REGENERATION STUDY

• Critical data lacking on tree recovery post harvest & sustainable rotationperiod for repeat harvests, seedling regeneration in exploited zones, treestatus & health in plantations and wild at different altitudes.

• Results indicate >60% of harvested P. africana trees over-exploited & 9.2% well harvested (current harvest good practice).

• Bark recovery rates significantly affected by agro-ecological origins.(Ad=.12 .05; NW=.1 .03; SW=.06 .02cm/yr), indicating humid highlandsin Adamaoua and NW optimal zones.

• Bark recovery rates reached 15% of original bark thickness in 1st & 2nd

years after exploitation, & progressively dropped to inflection point (7%)between 7th & 8th year. A seven year rotation period therefore consideredsustainable for repeated harvesting. Regional adjustment needed.

• Harvest from breast height diameter (30 cm) judged sustainable due tohigh bark recovering rate (8%/yr) and good mean bark thickness (1.3cm)upwards to the first branch.

• Growth rate faster (14 .5m compared to 9 .2m) at altitude <800m a.s.l.,however insect attacks (94%) severe <1000m a.s.l.. Optimum zone forplanting = ≥1000 m a.s.l..

710 trees at 14 sites in 4 zones: privately owned, permanent forest and Community Forests


ResultsPARTICPATORILY DEVELOPING A

NATIONAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Highlighted:

• High livelihood importance in adjacent NW & SW villages

• Weak chain governance: Corrupt officials, unclear regulatory system & enforcement lacking

• Breakdown of traditional forest management regimes

• Little information exchange & market knowledge - uninformed harvesters & no controls

• Unknown resource quantity hindered management with pressures to supply and scares in

international community – but based on little evidence

• Available stock only known with PAU inventories/Management Plans + registration private stock

• Protected areas harvest ban = conservation genetic stock & for regeneration

• Distinction between ‘wild’ & domesticated Prunus africana via Certificate of Origin

• Need for a new permit system devised and agreed as sustainable alternative to current system

• Consensus on introducing a scientific & practical inventory norm

• Conservative harvesting technique and certification agreed

• Revised monitoring & control by government and communities agreed

• Ongoing research needs consolidated & being addressed

• Coordination mechanisms e.g. Prunus Platform & Scientific Authority Group

• Awareness raising & education on CITES & regulations started

• Need to promote domestication and planting + regeneration program in wild.


ResultsBASELINE & HOUSEHOLD VALUE CHAIN STUDY

• Since 1970s Cameroon major exporter, 48% of worldwide trade since 1995

• Average 1700 ton exported annually to international pharmaceutical and health businesses.

• Since 2000 exported to France (53%), Spain (31%) and Madagascar (11%), and small quantities to Belgium, China, India and the United States.

• Needs of pharmaceutical industry (chemical/genetic composition) not well understood

• Significant (up to 80% 40) proportion of household incomes in 2 main harvest areas from P. africana

• 98% of harvest sold, 2% own or local consumption

• Benefits to approximately 70,000 people, direct income to around 700 (Community forests, plantation holders, harvesters) & 11 small & medium enterprises

• Source of foreign exchange currency for Cameroon with export value ≈ 2,010,000 US$ in 19999

• Producer level value annual average trade value (2007) 540,000 US$

• Average price = harvesters 0.12-0.5 US$ kg, intermediaries 0.5 – 1 US$

• Average export price 1.34 US$ kg, one company dominated market with 50% share

• About 25% of harvesters organised and trained in harvesting

• Predicted growing demand for prostate medications in Europe & US world indicating long term potential commerce, given continuation of trade and market retention despite the trade suspension


The reality now.....

• Implementation of the Cameroon Plan now ongoing

(operational plan, harvest norms)

• Stakeholders shown openness to participate in formulating policy options

• Policy and regulatory extremes and inappropriate legal framework ripe for

rationalisation

• Reflecting tree and land tenure is critical for sustainable exploitation & equity

• Employment and profitability increased by professionalising sector

• Importance of business, infrastructure & technical support

• Processing & storage important to add value locally (vertical integration)

• Domestication seen by all actors is key to sustainable supply

• Farmers generally maintaining stocks ‘ don't know basis’ but no significant

planting occurring since 2008

• Sustainable harvest techniques & domestication technologies offer potential

to increase profits – but needs wide scale disseminating and enforcement

• NTFP Market Information System and actor Platforms initial positive results

?


Learning points• Prunus africana like other NTFP trade in Cameroon is under appreciated &

insufficiently captured in statistics

• Governance arrangements have major impact on income equity &

distraction, access, control profit margins,

• Level of domestication provides good sustainability indicator for future

• Questions about which genetic resources to domesticate – given

pharmaceutical industry preferences

• Promoting cultivation will be a decisive factor for long term success

• Long lived tree = need to wait for long term conservation & management

results

• Power and relationships (lobby and government contacts) important in

determining equity and access to resource

• Awareness and enforcement of new policy regime will be critical

• Roles of traditional, regulatory and devolved authorities need to be

resolved to clarify management and governance responsibilities

THINKING beyond the canopyTHINKING beyond the canopy

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

is one of the 15 centres supported by the Consultative

Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

Thank you!

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

guiding conservation and sustainable use through a national prunus africana management plan,...

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