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NWFP-Digest-L
No. 4/12
Welcome to FAOs NWFP-Digest-L, a free e-mail journal that covers all
aspects of non-wood forest products. Back issues of the Digest may be
found on FAO's NWFP home page: www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en.
You can take part in contributing to the continued success of this newsletter
by sharing with the NWFP community any news that you may have
regarding research, events, publications and projects. Kindly send such
information to [email protected]. We also appreciate any
comments or feedback.
A special thank you to all those who have sent me links to information and
to Giulia Muir for her help with this issue.
===============================================
===============
IN THIS ISSUE:
PRODUCTS
1. Acmella oleracea yields miracle cure for dental pain
2. Baobab: A most nutritionally amazing fruit
3. Berries: Indian berry, kokum, takes aim at obesity
4. Ecotourism: Bird-watching can help boost ecotourism industry: UN
5. Ecotourism has spinoff for ethnic villagers in Vietnam
6. Edible insects: Bugs for dinner?
7. Fungi: Scientists developing DNA Barcode for mushrooms
8. Honey in Nepal: More honey, more money
9. Honey in New Zealand: Is Kanuka better than Manuka?
10. Honey in the USA: Local, sustainable honey wine creates a buzz
11. Maple Syrup: Why this years maple syrup will leave a poor taste in
the mouth
12. Shea butter: Alleviating poverty among rural women producers
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13. Spices: Cardamon cultivation impacting tropical forests
14. Turpentine: Goodbye to turpentine?
15. Wildlife: Frankenstein taxidermist sentenced to 20 months
16. Wildlife: Elephants and Rhinos act as gardeners of the forest
COUNTRY INFORMATION
1. Armenia: Regardening of Eden Partnership in Northern Armenia
2. Brazils congress approves controversial forest law
3. Cambodia: App to fight wildlife trafficking
4. Canada: Habitat matters for wildlife species
5. China: Giant Panda-friendly medicinal plant harvesting project wins
Equator Prize
6. Ghana: Growing Forest Partnerships documentary for national TV
7. Indonesia: Forests remain a source of conflict
8. Kenya: Farmer overcomes odds to thrive in bamboo farming
9. Mozambique: Illegal hunting undermining food security and wildlife-
based land uses
10. Myanmar: Biodiversity could be casualty of Myanmar openness
11. New Zealand: Scientists complete epic natural history of NZ
12. Thailand: As the government plans reforestation, local voices must be
heard
13. Thailand: Saving wild medicinal plants
14. UK: Six reasons to become an urban beekeeper
15. Vietnam: Sustainable wild harvested medicinal plant project launched
16. Vietnam: Beneficiaries of forests need to pay forest keepers
NEWS
1. 9th World Bamboo Congress kicks off
2. Forests and Women some encouraging trends
3. Global Guidelines on Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries adopted
4. Map of Life goes live
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5. Network of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services in
Europe
6. New agricultural biodiversity project to improve nutrition and food
security worldwide
7. Pesticide linked to honeybee deaths
8. Report: Global biodiversity down 30 percent in 40 years
9. Study links biodiversity and language loss
10. Why taxonomy is important for biodiversity-based science
EVENTS
1. International Workshop on Drylands Restoration
2. Investing in locally controlled forestry at Rio+20: Fair Ideas
3. Forest: The Heart of a Green Economy at Rio+20
4. The 8th roundtable at Rio+20: Integrating forests into the global
agenda on sustainable development
5. Rio+20: The UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012
6. International Sandalwood Symposium 2012
LITERATURE REVIEW AND WEBSITES
1. Forest Peoples: Numbers across the world
2. A Handbook of Medicinal Plants: A Complete Source Book
3. Other publications of Interests
4. Web sites and E-zines
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Coconut and Mango waste could help power Asia
BACK TO TOP
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PRODUCTS
1. Acmella oleracea yields miracle cure for dental pain
Source: mongabay.com, 14 March 2012
The world may soon benefit from a plant long-used by indigenous people in
the Peruvian Amazon for toothaches, eliminating the need for local
injections in some cases. Researchers have created a medicinal gel from a
plant known commonly as spilanthes extract (Acmella oleracea) which could
become a fully natural alternative to current anaesthetics and may even
have a wide-range of applications beyond dental care."We could be looking at the end of some injections in the dentists surgery.
We have had really clear result from the tests so far, particularly for
peridodontological procedures such as root scaling and planing, and there
are many other potential applications. The native forest people described to
me exactly how the medicine could and should work and they were
absolutely right," Cambridge University anthropologist, Franoise Barbira
Freedman, said in a press release.
Freedman was the first westerner to live with the Keshwa Lamas indigenous
tribe in Peru; they introduced her to the power of spilanthes extract, which
is grown ornamentally around the world but native to the Amazon. In 1975
one of the tribe alleviated pain in Freedman's wisdom teeth by having her
bite into the plant.
"During the time I have spent with the Keshwa Lamas I have learnt all
about the different plants and leaves they use for everyday illnesses and
ailments. I first went to Peru as a young researcher hoping to learn more
about what was a secretive community who were experts in shamanism.
Along the way I have learnt a great deal about natural medicines and
remedies; everything from toothache to childbirth," Freedman says.
Freedman has now founded pharmaceutical company Ampika Ltd., which is
linked to Cambridge University's commercial arm. A portion of proceeds
from the company will also be shared among the Keshwa Lamas people,
who Freedman still visits.
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Beyond dental operations, the gel may also alleviate infant pain during
teething. "There are a range of mucous tissue applications it could benefit,
and may even help bowel complaints such as IBS (irritable bowel
syndrome)," says Freedman.
The medicinal gel is currently in trials, but Freedman says she expects it to
be on the market by 2014 or 2015.
Although the world's tropical rainforests are under assault by logging,
agriculture, monocultures, cattle, and fossil fuel industries, scientists believe
the forests contain an untapped medicine cabinet that could provides cures
for many of the world's ailments. Currently less than five percent of the
world's tropical forest plants and less than 0.1 percent of its animals have
been tested for medicinal properties.
For full story, please see: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0314-
hance_acmellaoleracea.html
BACK TO TOP
1. Baobab: A most nutritionally amazing fruit
Source: West Africa Trade Hub, 7 May 2012
Recently, a chef who designs recipes for giant food companies was
dumbfounded after analyzing a cream-coloured powder provided to him by
the USAID West Africa Trade Hub.
The baobab tree is perhaps the most recognizable tree in Africa. It is the
most nutritionally amazing natural product I have ever seen, he said. He
had discovered baobab, which is aptly called a superfruit. With over five
times as many antioxidants as pomegranate and over seven times the fibre
of leading superfruits, acai and gogi berry, baobab is starting to make a big
impression on brands looking for functional, healthy and delicious
ingredients.
The possibilities are endless. Baobab has a delicate sweet and citrusy taste
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best described as grapefruit sherbet.
Once you try it, it speaks for itself, said Dave Goldman, founder of Atacora
Essential, a baobab producer in Benin who recently connected with several
interested natural food brands at the Natural Products Expo. Companies like
Atacora, based in Benin and the U.S., produce baobab powder and oil.
This year 15 African specialty food companies will showcase their products
at the largest food and beverage show in North America; The Fancy Food
Show, which runs from 16-19 June, creates a great opportunity for African
food manufacturers to connect to the worlds largest buyers.
Baobab is also being recognized as an effective, natural ingredient for
weight management (one of the largest growing segments in the specialty
foods sector).
Sold on the health benefits, companies have been asking how does it
taste? About one month ago, the USAID Trade Hub conducted a series of
taste tests with health conscious consumers. They compared the taste of
baobab fruit powder with acai, gogi, maca root and pomegranate powder.
The results were clear and compelling: baobab ranked No.1 among the
highest number of consumers.Looking at the progression of other superfruits into the mainstream, baobab
is where acai was about ten years ago. However, with a bit more marketing
backbone, baobab could be hitting the mainstream in the next couple years.
In the meantime if you want all those natural fibres, vitamins, and
antioxidants with a taste of grapefruit sherbet, start pushing your favourite
brands to add it to their lines.
For full story, please see:www.watradehub.com/activities/tradewinds/may12/baobab-most-
nutritionally-amazing-coming-fancy-food-show
BACK TO TOP
1. Berries: Indian berry, kokum, takes aim at obesity
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Source: www.bikyabasr.com (India), 11 May 2012
Kokum, a dark red wild berry like fruit, grown specifically in the Konkan
region of India is now being touted as one of the most vigorous fat-fighters
by experts and botanists.
A sour fruit and standard ingredient in fish curries served along Indias
south western coast, kokum also known as Garcinia indica, is poised to
make it big on the global health scene.
One consistent celebrator of the kokum fruit, Miguel Braganza, organizer of
the Konkan fruit festival (KFF) in Goa told Bikyamasr.com that the humble
kokum is fast gaining reputation as a credible fat fighter. The humble
jokum or Bhirand Sol has already made an impact after it was found to
contain the anti-obesity HCA (Hydroxy Citric Acid) in its rind, Braganza
said, adding that the three day festival which opened on 11 May exhibited
and sold several varieties of the sour fruit, among other platter of fruits
from the region.
The aim of the Konkan Fruit Festival is to promote the preservation of the
rich diversity of fruits in the Konkan, both native and naturalized, through
their cultivation, processing and marketing as the driver for research and
improvement, Miguel said, adding that the civic authority in Goas capital,
Panaji, the Botanical Society of Goa as well as the Western Ghats Kokum
Foundation were the driving forces of the unique initiative.
Apart from being used as a staple food ingredient, the dried rind of kokum
fruit is used as a medicinal and culinary agent. The different parts of the
kokum tree such as the bark, rind, pulp, juice, root and seeds havenumerous health benefits and are utilized in many Ayurvedic preparations.
Kokum has also been long used in Ayurveda to prevent infection, treat
sores, cure ear infections, heal stomach ulcers, improve digestion, lessen
arthritis pain and alleviate diarrhoea and constipation.
For full story, please see: http://bikyamasr.com/68498/indian-fat-fighting-
berry-kokum-takes-aim-at-obesity/
BACK TO TOP
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1. Ecotourism: Bird-watching can help boost ecotourism industry:
UN
Source: www.newkerala.com (India), 11 May 2012
Bird-watching, a popular hobby around the world, can present significant
economic opportunities for countries through sustainable tourism, UNEP said
on Thursday, stressing that States should increase efforts to support this
growing industry.
"Birding plays a significant and growing part in the tourism industry, andcreates direct and indirect economic benefits for many countries and
communities, also amongst developing countries," said the Acting Executive
Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of
Wild Animals (CMS), Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, in a news release ahead of
World Migratory Bird Day, which is observed on 12-13 May.
Initiated in 2006, the Day is an annual campaign organized by CMS and the
African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) two
intergovernmental wildlife treaties administered by the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP), which also backs the campaign and devoted to
celebrating migratory birds and promoting their conservation worldwide.
In a news release, UNEP highlighted that global spending on all areas of
ecotourism is increasing by about six times the industry-wide rate of
growth, and underlined the potential economic benefits of bird-watching in
particular.
In the United States, for example, a survey by authorities puts the economic
value generated every year by bird and other wildlife watchers at around
US$32 billion in that country alone. This amount corresponds to the gross
domestic product of Costa Rica, which is also a popular destination for US
birdwatchers.
In Scotland, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds found that last
year, between US$ 8-12 million is spent annually by tourists wishing to see
White-tailed Eagles on the Isle of Mull alone, and that four per cent of jobs
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in Scotland are associated with wildlife tourism.
World Migratory Bird Day seeks to spotlight these benefits while also raising
awareness of the importance of protecting birds, which face a series of
challenges each year in their journeys.
For full story, please see: www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-
18585.html#.T7CP6uj9MYs
BACK TO TOP
1. Ecotourism has spinoff for ethnic villagers in Vietnam
Source: Vietnam News Service, 15 May 2012
Tourism will ensure stable incomes for residents in buffer zones around
national parks and will ensure better protection of the parks and the wildlife
they shelter.
The Long House. located near the new ethnic Stieng resettlement area in TaLai Commune, Tan Phu District, in the southern province of Dong Nai, was
built in five months with bamboo, wood, rattan and other natural materials.
It opened to visitors in the middle of February.
The house is the first community-based tourism guesthouse in the area. It
was built under a project, funded by the WWF, that promotes community-
based ecotourism in Viet Nam's national parks. The project has been
carried out by the WWF in collaboration with the Nam Cat Tien National Park
since 2008.
It directly benefits the livelihoods of local communities while conserving
nature, WWF Vietnam Director Tran Minh Hien said. "Ecotourism planning in
and around the park is carried out through a participatory multi-stakeholder
process and is incorporated into development plans at commune, district
and provincial levels," she explained.
According to the chairman of Ta Lai Commune, Dang Vu Hiep, the house
offers not only cultural meaning but also economic value to ethnic groups
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living in the region. "Community-based tourism will create stable livelihoods
for local people by helping reduce pressure on natural resources, raising
people's awareness of environmental protection and promoting cultural
characters of ethnic communities," he said.
The house is all set to receive visitors now. To introduce the Long House to
travel agencies including adventure tour operators, project managers
organized a trip few weeks ago to the national park. The community-based
tourism model applied here had the participation of around 30 households.
"There are a few Vietnamese tourists who like adventure and ecotourism.
But the potential to attract foreign customers is huge," said Jean-Luc Voisin,
Director of the VietAdventure company. The company is major partner with
the park in the project. "I believe the model will develop better in the near
future. Tourists will enjoy a night in the forest, taste special food and
traditional art performances by local residents," he added.
From Ta Lai Commune, 12 km from the head-office of Nam Cat Tien Park's
management board, tourists can trek or go cycling through the forest. "If
permitted, we would like to reopen the 60 km cycling route through the park
and Ta Lai will be our stopping place," said Le Van Sinh, CEO of SinhBaloAdventure Travel company.
Project managers hope that around 4 500 visitors would visit Ta Lai each
year.
For full story, please see:
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Sunday/Features/224729/eco-
tourism-has-spinoff-for-ethnic-villagers.html
BACK TO TOP
1. Edible insects: Bugs for dinner?
Source: PBS (USA), 7 May 2012
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80 percent of the world's population eats insects as a regular part of their
diet. Insects are rich in protein and hardly have any fat. Nevertheless,
Americans' antipathy to bugs as food is well-entrenched.
Yet a fledgling movement is encouraging us to cultivate, harvest, cook and
eat insects, partly as a way to save the world. Edible-insect advocates have
set up food carts in San Francisco, conferences in Rome and food fairs in
Bozeman, Montana to promote the idea that insects can help solve food and
protein shortages and reduce the huge, expensive efforts to grow beef and
pork. Insects, they point out, are much easier to grow than large animals.
And there are plenty of them. Of the 1.1 million species of insects scientists
have identified and named, 1 700 are edible. They are cold-blooded
creatures, which makes them much more efficient in converting energy to
protein no wasted heat.
Bugs do not use much water the way cows do. They have a hard
exoskeleton and a shell with little holes used for breathing. They can also
shut those holes and seal up their bodies so they do not lose water when it's
hot. Other animals, including us, cannot do that; we sweat to cool our
bodies. Insects are more efficient and do not waste much water.But the big advantage of eating insects is that they are generally healthier
than meat. A six-ounce serving of crickets has 60 percent less saturated fat
and twice as much vitamin B-12 than the same amount of ground beef. You
do not have to sell the idea to the people of Madagascar; they eat about
15 different species of insect. And other countries including Thailand and
China consume vast quantities of bugs.
Bugs also do not spread disease to humans the way cows think mad cowdisease or pigs can.
California Academy of Sciences entomologist Brian Fisher put it this way: I
do realize that insects have a bad rap. Most people see insects as pests or
as dangerous. But it is just the opposite. Insects are less dangerous and less
of a problem for humans in terms of disease. We do have concerns about
disease jumping from animals like pigs and cows to humans. But there are
no worries about a disease jumping from an insect to humans. The moreevolutionary distant we are from our food source, the less danger there is...
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There is almost zero chance that any disease that affects an insect could
actually impact a human after it is cooked.
The edible-insect movement in the U.S. appears to be gathering converts.
At Montana State University in Bozeman, entomologist Florence Dunkel edits
The Food Insects Newsletter (www.foodinsectsnewsletter.org) and makes
frequent appearances promoting the idea of eating bugs. University of
California entomologist Lynn Kimsey also promotes edible insects. And
others in the U.S. and other developed countries especially the
Netherlands are pushing hard.
So far, their success is limited. No one knows exactly how many people eat
insects or how many insects are consumed in the U.S. Though it may not be
a lot, attention seems to be pointed their way.
For full story, please see: www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/05/bugs-
for-dinner.html
BACK TO TOP
1. Fungi: Scientists are developing DNA-barcode for
mushrooms
Source: www.freshplaza.com, 18 May 2012
Mushrooms and fungi come in many varieties. According to estimates there
are more than 1.5 million different species, with only 0.04 percent having
been named. Even experienced mushroom and mould experts can only
identify a small fraction of the 60 000 described species. Scientists have
now developed a DNA barcode with the help of the Karl-Franzens
University in Graz, Austria to classify mushrooms and fungi.
Comparing a short-variable part of the whole genome provides a simple
possibility to classify the fungi and mould, on the basis of their DNA
sequence. The researchers, by using the DNA barcodes want not only to
classify fungal species hitherto unknown, but also to detect mushrooms and
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fungi which are harmful to humans, animals or plants.
For full story, please see: www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?
id=96404#SlideFrame_1
BACK TO TOP
1. Honey in Nepal: More honey, more money
Source: Reuters Alert Net, 10 May 2012
Until recently, Shover Singh Praja often went to bed without dinner and had
to work on an empty stomach, barely able to feed his family. Born to a poor
family in Makwanpur district, central Nepal, Shover now earns far above the
national average and has become a role model among his fellow Chepang,
an indigenous ethnic group who depend on wild yams. The secret of
Shovers success? Bees.
For the last two years, Shover has looked after 55 hives and last year henetted US$1 000 selling honey, as well as hives to other keen beekeepers.
Right away, the money was put to good use. "I did not get the opportunity
to get an education when I was a child, but I send all my children to school
now," he said.
Shover has been so successful with his bees that he has become a model
entrepreneur among the Chepang, who number only about 52 000.
The Chepang often miss out on education and healthcare and parents
struggle under the burden of taking care of their children, few of whom
make it to school. Of those who do get to class, the drop-out rate is
alarmingly high as most families just cant afford it. Further adding to the
misery, most Chepang have no legal documentation of their land ownership
and live in isolation from the rest of the country.
Projects like this can be part of the solution. The potential for beekeeping in
Makwanpur is huge: the flora is very supportive of natural honey production
and many key species grow in abundance.
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The project Shover is part of launched in 2009, when Plan Nepal
(http://plan-international.org/nepal), with funding from Plan Germany, took
steps to increase food security and income among 330 Chepang families by
training them up on the ways of the bee and giving them 550 beehives. The
novice entrepreneurs learnt all about how to connect with the local markets
and a small industry was born.
For the Chepang, bees are nothing new. Many families raise bees in
traditional hives made of mud or logs, but the poor quality honey this
produces is difficult to sell, even at rock-bottom prices. Today, however, a
new honeybee processing centre buys the raw honey from the villagers for a
tidy sum and whips it into to shape to sell locally.
Man Sing Ghalan, a technician at the centre, is proud of the success. Since
our establishment we have produced 5 000 kg of honey worth US$14 471
and we are operating at a profit," he added
Having a brand name also helps. Nilejam, a well-known organization
comprising four local Chepang honey cooperatives, has given its name to be
used on the labels.
The increase in income means more students are in school armed with allthe right stationery, said local teacher Sameer Praja.
The honey production also encourages youths to stay within the community
instead of jetting off to another country to work as labourers.
Ramesh Praja, 28, cancelled his plans to go overseas. At home, living with
my family, I can earn around US$120-300 during the honey production
season and US$60-180 in the off season. When I realized this, I wondered
why I should go abroad to earn a wage no more than the amount of moneyI can earn in my very own community," he said.
Other stakeholders also see a positive future. Hem Poudyal, livelihood
coordinator from Plan Nepal, says it is likely the programme will be
extended to other areas.
Meanwhile, Beekeeper Hira Praja has even bigger ideas. With more
technical skills and support, Chepang honey producers could market their
honey abroad.
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For full story, please see: www.trust.org/alertnet/news/nepal-more-honey-
more-money
BACK TO TOP
1. Honey in New Zealand: Is kanuka honey better than manuka?
Source: New Zealand Herald, 5 May 2012
Kanuka honey may have even more beneficial properties than its better-known cousin, manuka. Medical researcher Shaun Holt says kanuka has
twice as much of the bug-killing manuka factor, than manuka itself.
His team at HoneyLab are looking at whether honey could be a useful
treatment for skin conditions. "Like acne, psoriasis, eczema, you name it.
Anything that bug is causing a disease in the skin, we are going to see if we
can cure it because we think we should be able to."
Professor Holt says early results show honey can be very effective withthose conditions.
For full story, please see: www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?
c_id=6&objectid=10803703
BACK TO TOP
1. Honey in the USA: Local, sustainable honey wine creates a
buzz
Source: ABC News (USA), 4 May 2012
A Beverly beekeeper makes enjoying a glass of wine an eco-friendly activity.
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The bees are abuzz on the roof of the Downtown Marriott Hotel. These are
just a few of the 100 hives Greg Fischer keeps across the city. Some of this
honey will be used by the chefs in the hotel's restaurants. Fischer will take
most of it back to his small store in the Beverly neighbourhood, The Wild
Blossom Meadery and Winery.
"Mead is basically wine made from honey," Fischer said.
In addition to being locally produced, the process of making the wine also
benefits the earth. "Honey wine is the most sustainable wine on earth . . .
because bees, to make just one bottle of honey wine, will pollinate over two
million flowers. When they pollinate two million flowers, that causes those
bees to germinate seeds which can turn into 20-40 million new seeds which
produces that many new flowers. So it is the only one that kind of
completes the cycle of nature," Fischer said.
While grape wine is by far the most popular, mead dates back to the earliest
days in history. "Mead was basically the first fermented beverage on earth
and it became very popular during wedding ceremonies. The bride and
groom would drink mead for one moon, one lunar cycle and that is where
the 'honeymoon' came from," Fischer said.For full story, please see: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?
section=resources/lifestyle_community/green&id=8649168
BACK TO TOP
1. Maple Syrup: Why this year's maple syrup will leave a poor
taste in the mouth
Source: Daily Mail (UK), 17 May 2012
Record high temperatures in March are being blamed for bad-tasting syrup
and a fall in supplies of up to 40 percent. Producers in the U.S. say warm
weather has given their maple syrup a poor taste.
Scientists said the average March temperature of 51.1 F in the U.S. was 8.6
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degrees above the 20th-century average for the month.
Some sugar maple trees, which need freezing temperatures at night to
sustain sap production, have dried up early while others have produced
syrup with a poor taste.
In northeastern parts of the U.S., where nearly all the country's maple syrup
is produced, sugarmakers traditionally gather sap during a six-week season
from late February to early April before buds appear on the trees.
But the 2012 season was cut short by the warmest March since records
began in 1895.
Denise Marshall, owner of syrup distributor D&D Sugarwoods in Glover,
Vermont said trees that did not dry up prematurely ended up producing
poor syrup. It was kind of a disaster, Marshall said.
Maple syrup production has been increasing in the U.S. over the past decade
as a result of new technology and a rising number of trees in production.
It takes about 40 gallons of sap, usually gathered from the tapped trees
through plastic tubing using a vacuum system, to yield one gallon of syrup.
Syrup unsuitable for the breakfast table is typically sold for industrial
purposes such as flavouring chewing tobacco or salad dressing.The U.S. is expected to produce 18 million pounds of syrup this year, down
from 30 million pounds in 2011, according to a crop estimate report by
Arthur Coombs of Bascom Maple Farms. Vermont, New York and Maine are
the states which produce the most. Quebec produces about 80 percent of
the world's maple syrup.
For full story, please see: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145832/Why-
years-maple-syrup-leave-bad-taste-mouth.html#ixzz1vOwF8Itn
BACK TO TOP
1. Shea butter: Alleviating poverty among rural women producers
Source: http://thewip.net, 10 May 2012
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Marie Yoro, a shea butter producer, confirms that the backbreaking routine
of producing shea butter in Burkina Faso is the same as it is in Ghana. For
every product that contains a trace of shea butter, every shea nut bearing
shea fruit has first passed through the hands of women like Marie. These
women are literally the first link in the supply chain of shea butter.
Marie begins the process by gathering ripened fruit from her husbands farm
and the communal bush lands surrounding the village. She speaks of the
fatigue and muscle soreness she experiences from lifting and carrying heavy
headpans of shea fruit, weighing as much as 80 lbs. It often takes two
women to load a full pan on the head, which is the way it is carried from the
field back home.
Marie says that processing the nuts into butter is difficult. She must fetch
large buckets of water, handle heavy branches of firewood, crush nuts with
immense pestles, lift cauldrons, and beat pan- fuls of heavy paste with her
hands and arms to separate the fat from the residue.
Even though collecting shea nuts and processing shea butter is strenuous
work, it is also a source of pride for a craft that has been passed down
through generations of rural African mothers to daughters. The women whoproduce shea butter have inherited a skill that turns sweat equity into food
and income.
Marie not only works hard, but she and her fellow producers have proven to
be ambitious and business savvy. The women of Lan village have formed an
association to help each other with everything from labour to financing.
When word got out of a womens shea butter union supplying a local
exporter in the regional capital, the women inquired how they could join. In2002, their association officially became members of the union and suppliers
of handcrafted shea butter to Federation Nununa.
Working with Federation Nununa gives the women of Lan village a near
guarantee that they can sell a large quantity of shea butter at a competitive
price, year after year. Marie emphasizes that it is better than walking two
hours to the regional market every week with no guarantees of income and
adds I like selling to Federation Nununa because it is more profit for me.[They] are reliable and I can be sure to sell all my butter to them.
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With the extra income from the bulk sale of butter, Marie now provides
extra food security for her family, is able to assist with medical expenses,
and can afford to send all five children to school. Life has also become easier
for her since Federation Nununa supplies the association with tools to
facilitate processing easier a mill, roaster, borehole to access ground
water, storage room and toilet.
Since its inception in 2001, Federation Nununa has grown to a membership
of over 4 500 rural women shea butter producers.
Federation Nununa is alleviating poverty by providing steady incomes to
rural shea butter producers, by improving gender roles through the support
of female workers, and by subscribing to environmentally sustainable
business practices. This is backed by their Max Havelaar Fair Trade and Eco-
Cert Organic certifications.
Recent initiatives include increasing production capacity and delivery
timeliness through a semi-mechanized village production processing facility,
diversifying into sesame production, turning organic waste into fuel, and
launching a water reclamation project with assistance from the University of
Ouagadougou.While Federation Nununa may be enterprising for Burkina Fasos local shea
industry, it helps only a small fraction of the estimated 16 million women
who produce shea butter. Africas shea belt, the only place on the planet
that the shea tree grows, spans 21 countries. Improving upon, expanding,
and replicating Federation Nununas model across the shea belt could create
quite an impact, although there is not yet an easy-to-follow blue print for
Federation Nununas success.For full story, please see:
http://thewip.net/talk/2012/05/alleviating_poverty_among_rura.html
BACK TO TOP
1. Spices: Cardamon cultivation impacting tropical forests
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Source: Scidev.net in Environmental News Network, 14 May 2012
Cultivation of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) a high value spice crop,
can take a toll on evergreen forests in tropical countries, independent
studies in Sri Lanka and India have shown. Apart from disturbing
biodiversity, cardamom plantations affect water and soil quality in tropical
forests, the studies said.
Researchers from Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom studying abandoned
cardamom plantations in the Knuckles Forest Reserve (KFR) in the uplands
of central Sri Lanka found adverse effects lingering decades after cultivation
was banned.
Cardamom grows best in the shade and humidity beneath tall trees in
tropical forests. But planters may thin out the canopy and clear natural
undergrowth to improve yields.
While India and Bolivia lead the world in cardamom cultivation, the spice is
a major foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. Before cardamom cultivation
was banned in KFR in 1985, plantations there accounted for more than half
of Sri Lanka's total production.
"We visited most parts of KFR during our three-year project period and
observed very little natural forest without planted cardamom," said Balram
Dhakal of the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Aberdeen
and lead author of a paper that appeared online in Forest Ecology and
Managementon 28 March.
For full story, please see: www.scidev.net/en/south-asia/news/cardamom-
crops-affect-forests-studies-say.html
BACK TO TOP
1. Turpentine: Goodbye to turpentine
Source: The Huffington Post, 5 May 2012
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Many artists today link oil painting with the use of turpentine, commonly
called "turps". Turpentine is the strong smell that is associated with an oil
painter's studio. But turpentine causes problems for many people. As the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes, "turpentine is
a skin, eye, mucous membrane, and upper respiratory tract irritant in
humans. It may also cause skin sensitization and central nervous system,
gastrointestinal, and urinary tract effects."
Often, artists will substitute odour-less mineral spirits for turpentine on the
assumption that since the smell is not so strong it might be safer to use.
However, turpentine, mineral spirits, and odourless mineral spirits are all
regulated by several federal safety agencies. Basically, you shouldn't inhale
the fumes of any of them.
There are many historical forms of turpentine, all made from the resin of
trees. Perhaps the oldest, dating from the 14th century, was made from the
terebinth tree (Pistacia terebinthus), a member of the cashew family. Later,
various turpentines were made from pine and fir trees, including Canada
balsam, made from the balsam fir (Abies balsamea), and Venice turpentine,
made from the western larch tree (Larixgenus). Artists valued these formsof turpentine for their resinous sap, not for their use as a solvent.
Today, what we call "turpentine" is made from distillation of the sap of pine
trees, and as such it is sometimes added to cleaning products, or used as a
substitute for gasoline. Turpentine solvent, sometimes called "spirits", has
the opposite effect in painting from the earlier turpentines used by historical
painters, thinning the paint rather than adding clarity and brilliance.
In contrast to turpentine solvent, non-toxic linseed oil has been used inpainting for centuries. Linseed-flax oil has a mild odour, and in its purest
form is sold in health food stores as a nutritional supplement. The odour of
linseed-flax oil disappears quickly, and is not offensive. Historically, artists
have also used other oils such as oil of spike lavender, which is not toxic and
has a strong, but wonderful smell. Oil of spike lavender works as a solvent,
but also as a diluent in the paint.
During the Industrial Revolution, turpentine was produced for much lesscost than spike lavender, and artists begin to use it as a cheap alternative.
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Later, mineral spirits was introduced as a dry-cleaning chemical, and then
artists and commercial painters begin to use it. Since that time, research
has shown that mineral spirits, marketed as less-toxic than turpentine,
actually causes chronic toxic encephalopathy with professional painters. In
fact, the disease is called Chronic Painters syndrome. However, spike
lavender does not have these problems. It has been used by artists for
centuries.
As we become more aware of environmental and health issues, more artists
will no doubt choose this approach, saying goodbye to the fumes.
For full story, please see: www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-maynord/art-
practice-goodbye-to-turpentine_b_1479346.html
BACK TO TOP
Wildlife: Frankenstein taxidermist sentenced to
20 months
Source: TRAFFIC Bulletin, 9 March 2012
A taxidermist based in Miami Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to
20 months in jail for his role in trafficking endangered wildlife. Between late
2009 and February 2011, Enrique Gomez De Molina had attempted to
import a range of wildlife species into the US without the required permits.
He used the parts to create bizarre Frankenstein hybrids he sold as art.
The wildlife included a wide range of species including skins of kingfishers,
birds-of-paradise, skulls of babirusa and orangutans, a King Cobra, a
pangolin and hornbills.
After receipt, De Molina would incorporate the various wildlife parts into
taxidermy pieces at a studio in downtown Miami. He offered these pieces
through galleries and on the Internet for prices ranging up to US$ 80 000.
De Molinas trafficking included numerous species and shipments, involving
contacts in Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Canada and China. The
imports were in contravention of both CITES (the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) and
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federal laws.
Despite the interception of two shipments in late 2009 that were ultimately
forfeited by De Molina and abandoned, he continued to solicit protected
wildlife from his suppliers via the Internet, and to select specific animals
from photographs to be provided to him.
Mr. De Molina trafficked in highly endangered species in violation of the
law, disguising commercial exploitation of endangered species as artwork,
said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and
Natural Resources Division. Today, Mr. De Molina has been held fully
accountable for his illegal actions, which are prohibited by both U.S. and
international law.
De Molina was also sentenced to one year of supervised release to follow his
prison term, a US$6 000 fine and ordered to forfeit all of the smuggled
wildlife in his possession.
The Department of Justice and US Fish & Wildlife Service are both to be
congratulated for bringing this criminal to justice and for the severity of his
sentence, which will send out a strong signal to others that trafficking in
endangered species will not be tolerated, said Crawford Allan, Director ofTRAFFIC North America. Using endangered wildlife to create hideous art
pieces was a crime in every sense of the word.
For full story, please see: www.traffic.org/home/2012/3/2/frankenstein-
taxidermist-sentenced-to-20-months.html
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Wildlife: Elephants and rhinos act as gardeners of
forests
Source: http://zeenews.india.com (India), 12 May 2012
The progressive disappearance of seed-dispersing animals like elephants
and rhinoceroses is putting the structural integrity and biodiversity of the
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tropical forest of South-East Asia at risk, researchers have warned. With the
help of Spanish researchers, an international team of experts has confirmed
that not even herbivores like tapirs can replace them.
Megaherbivores act as the gardeners of humid tropical forests: They are
vital to forest regeneration and maintain its structure and biodiversity,
Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, the lead author of the study, and researcher at the
School of Geography of the University of Nottingham in Malaysia explained
to SINC.
In these forests in East Asia, the large diversity of plant species means that
there is not enough space for all the trees to germinate and grow. As well as
the scarce light, seed dispersion is made more complicated by the lack of
wind due to the trees that are up to 90 m high. Plant life is then limited to
seeds dispersed by those animals that eat pulp. They either scatter seeds by
dropping their food, regurgitating it or by defecating later on.
In the case of large seeds, plants need a large animal capable of eating,
transporting and defecating the seeds in good conditions, as outlined to
SINC by Luis SantamarIa, co-author and researcher at the Mediterranean
Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) of Spains CSIC Scientific ResearchAgency. This is where elephants and rhinoceroses come into play because
they can scatter large quantities of seeds thanks to the fact that they slowly
digest very little of their food.
However, habitat loss, poaching, and the conflict between elephant and man
has caused a 95 percent loss in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) historical
distribution range and has left the rhinoceros just a step away from
extinction: there are less than 50 Java rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros sondaicus)and 200 Sumatra rhinoceroses (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
According to the red list of the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN), elephants are in danger of extinction and the two
rhinoceros species are critically endangered.
In light of the situation, the research team evaluated the seed-dispersing
capacity of another large herbivore weighing 300 kg. For cultural reasons it
is not hunted and has a similar digestive system to that of elephants andrhinoceroses: the Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus).
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The study allowed researchers to analyse the effect of dispersion by tapirs
on the seed survival of nine different plants. This included some large plant
species such as the mango tree and durian, as well as other smaller species
like the elephant apple (Dillenia indica).
Among other outcomes, the results show that tapirs defecated 8 percent of
the tamarind seeds ingested (none of which germinated) compared to
elephants, who defecated 75 percent of the 2 390 ingested seeds
(65 percent of which germinated).
The Asian tapirs spit, chew or digest the majority of large seeds. This either
destroys them or leaves them in the same place. As a result, they are not
good dispersers for plants with large fruits and seeds, confirmed Campos-
Arceiz. In this sense, given the role that they play they belong to a
different group to elephants and rhinoceroses.
If these megaherbivores disappear from the ecosystem, their contribution
to ecological processes will too be lost and the path of the ecosystem will
change irreversibly, explained the lead author, who goes on to state that
the most probable consequences are the change in the structure of the
undergrowth and the forest and the loss of certain species.The study was published in the journal Biotropica.
For full story, please see: http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-
news/elephants-and-rhinos-act-as-gardeners-of-forests_774917.html
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COUNTRY INFORMATION
Armenia: Regardening of Eden Partnership in Northern
Armenia
Source: Armenia Tree Project Press Release, 7 May 2012
The Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and the Acopian Center for the Environment
(ACE) are joining together to initiate a new project in Margahovit Village,
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which is located in the Lori region of northern Armenia, and will hold a
fundraising event on 6 June 2012 in New York City. Titled Regardening of
Eden, the project is an unprecedented partnership between two of
Armenias environmental organizations.
Focusing on the importance of trees, the protection of wildlife habitat, and
proper waste management, the partnership will engage local youth and
community residents in the creation of a new park, environmental
education, trash collection, and recycling programs.
Since Margahovit Village does not have a park or a green zone where
residents can gather and relax, ATP will establish a green territory for the
community as part of this partnership. We will organize tree plantings with
local residents, schoolchildren, and other young community members,
explains ATP Director Jeff Masarjian. In the future, we expect the
community to bring benches and establish a playground, thus developing
this territory into a real recreational resource.
In addition to hands-on tree plantings, ATP and ACE will also assist with the
establishment of an eco-club at the public school in Margahovit and
education programs for the adult population focusing on planting and treecare, recycling, and waste composting. An important element will be a
series of trainings presented by ACE on Appreciating Birds and Protecting
their Local Habitats for schoolchildren at ATPs Michael and Virginia Ohanian
Center for Environmental Studies. Lessons will address bird identification,
wintering and breeding birds of Lori, ways to preserve bird habitats, and the
impact of waste on nature and the environment.
These types of educational training sessions will help to form a soundunderstanding of the environment in children. It is especially significant as
these training sessions are delivered to the younger generation who will one
day become Armenias future decision makers, explains Acopians nephew
and ACE volunteer, Alex Karapetian. The goal is to implement a strong
understanding of nature and its value and the role human beings play in
natures cycles. As a result it will be possible to create a new generation of
children who have environmentally friendly behaviour, lifestyle, and values.
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For more information, please see: www.RegardeningOfEden.org.
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Brazils congress approves controversial forest law
Source: BBC, 26 April 2012
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has approved controversial legislation
that eases rules on how much land farmers must preserve as forest. Brazil's
powerful farmers' lobby argues that the changes will promote sustainable
food production. But environmentalists say the new forest code will be a
disaster and lead to further destruction of the Amazon.
The bill now goes to President Dilma Rousseff, who may use her veto to
remove some clauses. Wednesday's 247-184 vote in favour of the new
forest code capped a year of political wrangling. Brazil's farmers have long
pushed for changes, arguing that uncertainty over the current legislation
has undermined investment in the agriculture sector, which accounts for
more than five percent of GDP.
Severe environmental restrictions have also forced many smaller farmers off
their land, they argue. Rural producers would have "more stability and
political support," said Deputy Paulo Piau, who drew up the Chamber's
version of the bill. "Production and the environment will only benefit from
that. With a confused law there is no benefit," he said.
But opponents said the new law was a step back. "Over the years, we have
slowed deforestation and intensified production. Now we are going to modify
all the things that resulted in the decrease of deforestation by changing the
legislation," said Deputy Sarney Filho.
Greenpeace urged President Rousseff to veto the changes, saying: "It is
unbelievable that the forest code is being eroded weeks before Brazil hosts
the Rio summit (on sustainable development)."
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and plant species, showcases the forms in which endangered wildlife is most
frequently traded, which are the most threatened and how to pick them out
by their unique features.
It also features a built-in system that allows users to report the suspected
illegal sale of wildlife and wildlife based products directly to Wildlife
Alliances Rapid Rescue Team.
The app is designed to aid the ongoing efforts to preserve the regions
wildlife. It raises the profile of many wild plant and animal species that are
trafficked for traditional medicine, exotic meat and pets. The information
enables tourists to make responsible choices about their purchases while on
holiday and gives them the opportunity to play an active role in preserving
Cambodias natural heritage.
The app opens with an introduction by Jeff Corwin from the Animal Planet
and features maps, photographs and a list of markets where visitors might
see wildlife in trade. It is free to download.
For full story, please see: www.traffic.org/home/2012/5/9/app-to-fight-
wildlife-trafficking-in-cambodia.html
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Canada: Habitat matters for wildlife species
Source: The Sacramento Bee, 7 May 2012
Thirty-five Canadian wildlife species, from whales to mosses, were assessed
as at risk at the recent COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada) meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, 29 April-4 May 2012.
Once again, habitat loss emerged as the most common threat to Canadian
wildlife, underscoring that all species, not just our own, need a healthy
home in order to thrive.
Habitat loss and degradation are the most common cause of species decline
worldwide and Canada's freshwater fishes are no exception. It is not just
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freshwater fishes that rely on streams and rivers; a very large fraction of
Canadian biodiversity including birds, insects, plants and amphibians rely on
healthy aquatic habitats.
Few species can match the Grizzly Bear as an emblem of Canadian
wilderness. While grizzlies are at least twice as strong as the average
human, in reality they are likely to pay with their lives when our two species
interact. Over the past century, human-caused mortality and declining
habitat have reduced the Grizzly Bear's global range by more than
50 percent. Today, Canada has a major responsibility for safeguarding
remaining grizzly populations. In the southern part of their range, where
they are in regular contact with humans, many populations are declining. In
the north, the impacts of ongoing and escalating extraction of natural
resources are a cause for concern. Considering these threats, the Grizzly
Bear was assessed as Special Concern by COSEWIC. This assessment
concludes a two-year process incorporating science and Aboriginal
Traditional Knowledge.
While nearly all Canadians can recognize the North American Beaver, its
distant relative, the Mountain Beaver is probably unknown to most.Mountain Beavers occur in Canada only in the Coast Mountains and south of
the Fraser River in British Columbia. Mountain Beaver, the last living
representative of an ancient lineage of rodents, was assessed as Special
Concern. These beavers live in underground dens built in deep, loose soil
along the edges of cool, forested streams. These sites can be degraded by
forestry practices that compact the soil. Mountain Beavers are highly
intolerant of heat and drought, and are especially sensitive to climatechange. The Magnum Mantleslug, another wildlife species assessed as
Special Concern, is similarly restricted to edges of cool streams and
seepages and also faces threats from logging and climate change.
For full story, please see: www.sacbee.com/2012/05/07/4472173/habitat-
matters-for-canadian-wildlife.html
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China: Giant Panda-friendly medicinal plant harvesting
project wins Equator Prize
Source: Asian Scientist, 17 May 2012
A project to promote sustainable harvesting of wild medicinal plants in the
mountains of Chinas Upper Yangtze ecoregion has won the prestigious
Equator Prize 2012.
The Equator Prize recognizes outstanding local initiatives working to
advance sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient
communities in countries receiving support from the UNDP.
Over-harvesting of wild medicinal plant species is a serious conservation
concern aside from problems caused by the harvesting itself, the
collectors can also have serious secondary impacts through camping within
reserves, hunting, and gathering fuelwood to dry commercial quantities of
medicinal plants.
Such habitat destruction and disturbance also threatens endangered wildlife,
including the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the Takin
(Budorcas taxicolor).
Due to a 1998 logging ban and a 2000 Grain for Green program which
discourages farming on steep slopes, households compensated for a loss of
income through the collection of medicinal plants in the Upper Yangtze.
To help alleviate the environmental damage, an initiative was developed
through a comprehensive collaboration between WWF, IUCN, and TRAFFICas part of the EU-China Biodiversity Program (ECBP), which led to local
producer association members, harvesters, and governmental officials
receiving training in the implementation of organic wild crop harvesting
practices and certification procedures, as well as application of the FairWild
Standard principles.
A survey of project sites in March 2011 found incomes from medicinal plant
collection had risen, thanks to the certification schemes; in one village byalmost 18 percent over 2007 levels.
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In the case of Schisandra berries (Schisandra sphenanthera), international
and local buyers paid at least 30 percent above normal market prices for
certified produce.
In 2010, more than five tons (dry weight) of Schisandra fruits were
sustainably harvested of which more than three tons were sold to Draco
Natural Products (DNP Shanghai) for production of a concentrated dry
extract specified by U.S.-based Traditional Medicinals Inc (TMI).
The project has also scaled up from one village in the 2008 and 2009
harvests up to 22 villages in the 2011 harvest.
This project is proving that local harvesters from villages surrounding the
Giant Panda conservation area can successfully implement meaningful
sustainability standards, said Josef Brinckmann, VP of Sustainability for
TMI.
For full story, please see: www.asianscientist.com/topnews/giant-panda-
friendly-harvesting-wild-medicinal-plants-equator-prize-2012/
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Ghana: Growing Forest Partnerships documentary for
national TV
Source: FAO, GFP, 4 May 2012
Ghana's Growing Forest Partnerships (GFP) has been reaching out to
audiences beyond the forest sector with a brand new documentary.
Sustaining the forest and its resources, which was aired by Ghana
Television (GTV) during prime time on 30 March and Easter Monday
(6 April), potentially reaching close to a million viewers.
The film takes a look at the wider socio-economic context in which Ghana's
forest sector is working and explores some of the motivations (and results)
of the partnership-building that has been taking place through GFP. You can
read some of the quotes from the film and watch the documentary online.
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For more information, please see:
www.growingforestpartnerships.org/sustaining-forest-and-its-resources-
growing-forest-partnerships-approach-ghana-tv-documentary
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Indonesia: Forests remain a source of conflict
Source: The Jakarta Globe (Indonesia), 14 May 2012
The worlds largest producer of teak, an Indonesian state-owned company
on the island of Java, has again been awarded sustainable forest
management (SFM) certification. But the company has a long and
sometimes contentious relationship with forest communities in the area, and
the forest rights of indigenous communities remain a potential cause of
conflict.
Land rights have long been a source of violence on Java, Rhett Butler, a
leading environmentalist and creator of a leading environmental news
website told IRIN. Perhutani, an Indonesian state forestry company, exploits
2.4 million ha of forests in Java 7 percent of the island area with
earnings of around US$400 million in 2011.
Although Perhutani agreed in 2011 to the voluntary process that promotes
eco-friendly management in order to obtain certification, it controls a huge
area of forest once used by indigenous communities, many of whom still
depend on the forests for their livelihoods.
The company needs FSC certification to access high-value wood markets in
the United States and Europe, said Muhammad Firman, director of the
Forest Utilization Department under Indonesias Ministry of Forestry.
SFM balances the present use of forests with their preservation for future
generations. Certification started in the 1980s and is granted to forest
companies by around 60 independent organizations under two main
umbrella groups Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
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(PEFC), the worlds largest forest certification system, and the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) with 20 to 30 percent of North American and
European forests having certification, and Asia lagging far behind with only
2 to 4 percent.
However, many activists believe SFM certification is geared less toward local
communities than toward the environment and facilitating trade between
forest companies and Western wood buyers
When indigenous people have been denied the right to use forests in the
traditional way, no inclusion programme can fully match their loss. It is not
a question of exclusion or inclusion, said Deddy Raith, from the Jakarta-
based NGO, WALHI-Friends of the Earth Indonesia.
Today, Perhutani still has full responsibility over the forests, said
Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto, president of local NGO, Telapak. What we want is
to mainstream community logging as the new trees-management regime in
Indonesia.
Martua Sirait, a policy analyst in Aceh Province for the Nairobi-based World
Agroforestry Center, maintains that the management of forests has ignored
the customary land rights of some 40 to 60 million people since the 1960s.Large-scale illegal loggers were often active in the forests, and local
inhabitants were exposed to danger by sometimes becoming involved, or
being caught in the crossfire. Between 1998 and 2008 Perhutanis armed
patrols were accused of killing 32 people and injuring 6 in the fight against
illegal timber operators, The Forest Trust (TFT), a Geneva-based
international charity, reported.
Perhutani lost its SFM certification in 2002 and required TFTs assistance todefine a course of action to regain it, said Scott Poynton, TFTs Executive
Director. The program, Drop the Guns, began in 2003, with Perhutani
providing a share of timber sales and NTFPs to forest communities. In
exchange, villagers took on a new role as guardians of the forests. But both
parties only laid down all their weapons in 2009, which explained why the
deadly fights continued until 2008, Poynton said.
Providing greater forest rights to indigenous people is a growing trendacross Asia, aimed not only at safeguarding the livelihoods of villagers but
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also at improving environmental protection.
For full story, please see: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesia-
forests-remain-a-source-of-conflict/517948
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Kenya: Farmer overcomes odds to thrive in bamboo
farming
Source: Business Daily (Kenya), 15 May 2012
In 2004, Juvenales Njuguna bought a 50-acre piece of land in Isinya. When
I was going about looking for someone to lease the land, a neighbour
advised me to try bamboo farming. That was how the seed of his current
venture at Kitil was planted.
Finding bamboo seedlings turned out to be Njugunas biggest challenge. I
realized that there are no bamboo seedlings around since not just anyone is
authorized to transact in seeds, he told the Business Daily.
The challenge of procurement was made worse by a ban on bamboo trading
which enforced stringent penalties for those found dealing in bamboo.
Unbeknownst to Njuguna, the directive made bamboo growing a preserve of
the government.
Unable to find seeds and documentation on bamboo farming locally, Mr
Njuguna went online. There he found a wealth of information. With
adequate information and a market where he could secure seeds, he was
ready to start his privately-owned bamboo farm.
The farm now employs 15 workers including some who work in a laboratory
that Njuguna has set up to carry out research on bamboo farming. Today,
he has bred five million seedlings and sells them mostly to farmers who
grow the trees as windbreakers around greenhouses.
Njuguna grows the Oxytenanthera abyssinica variety, which is the scientific
name for solid bamboo which is a drought resistant shrub and can thrive
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with minimum annual rainfall of between 350 and 800 mm. One acre of land
can grow 100 shrubs.
Each clump consists of a full grown bamboo that sprouts up to 300 stems
measuring 9 m tall and 10 cm in diameter.
Bamboo is used as fencing poles and for construction, as well as in the
manufacture of tooth picks and matchsticks. It can also be used to make
furniture. Bamboo foliage can be used as fodder for animals while young
bamboo shots can be cooked and eaten as food. Its juice is used to make
vinegar. In Western Kenya, the sap is used to make ulanzi, a local brew.
Bamboo is also good source of charcoal and makes a great hedge.
For full story, please see:
www.businessdailyafrica.com/Farmer+overcomes+odds+to+thrive+in+bam
boo+farming+/-/1248928/1387574/-/view/printVersion/-/ctfxsiz/-/index.ht
ml
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Mozambique: Illegal hunting undermining food security
and wildlife-based land uses
Source: TRAFFIC, 9 May 2012
A new TRAFFIC study finds that illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade have
resulted in a major decline in wildlife populations in Central Mozambique,
significantly undermining potential for viable wildlife-based land uses and
resulting in the loss of a traditional source of protein for local communities.
The study in Coutada 9 hunting reserve found that wildlife populations in the
4 450 km protected area in Manica province are currently less than
10 percent of what the area could support, with several species, including
rhinoceroses, roan antelopes, and African wild dogs locally extirpated
through illegal hunting.
Significantly reducing such illegal hunting and allowing wildlife populations
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to recover would allow the generation of significant economic benefits
through trophy hunting and potentially ecotourism. In addition, an
additional 86 tonnes of wild meat could be generated if hunting was limited
to regulated harvesting based on a quota system.
The implications for the food security of local people are obvious, while
restoring wildlife populations would have clear conservation benefits too,
said David Newton, Director of TRAFFICs East and Southern Africa
programme.
According to the report, Illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade in Central
Mozambique, illegal hunting over time is now costing local communities an
estimated US$ 308 000/yr in lost opportunities, while the current annual
cost of anti-poaching measures amounts to US$60 000. The estimated
annual loss of potential income from safari hunting totals
US$1.62 million/year.
Illegal hunting is an extremely inefficient use of wildlife resources because
it fails to capture the value of wildlife achievable through alternative forms
of use such as trophy hunting and ecotourism, said Peter Lindsey, author of
the new study. By undermining earnings from wildlife-based land uses, andreducing the supply of legal game meat, illegal hunting is costing local
people dearly.
The report makes a number of recommendations, particularly aimed at both
government and the hunting operators who lease coutadas in Central
Mozambique. The Mozambique government is