FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

Forest Products Division

The Non-Wood Products and Energy Branch of the Forest Products Division has launched a programme of work for the development of non-wood forest products (NWFPs), incorporating activities to support identification of development opportunities, carrying out feasibility studies, assessing technologies for harvesting and processing, studying markets and marketing of NWFPs, and exchanging information related to NWFPs.

During 1993, a number of case-studies were carried out to assess the role and potentials of NWFPs in the different regions of the world. These were: "Produits forestiers non-ligneux dans la r�gion m�dit�ran�enne"; Non-wood forest products in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Viet Nam; Selected species and strategies to enhance income-generation from Amazonian forests; Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: uses and economic benefits for people. Also in 1993, a consultancy study on international trade in non-wood forest products was completed and a report released.

With a view to increasing awareness on, and appreciation of non-wood forest products, the Forestry Topics Report No. 4 entitled More than wood: special options on the multiple use of forests was released in October 1993. This report describes and discusses the use and development of products other than wood derived from forests and forest lands in the overall context of multiple-use forestry for sustainable development. It presents a wide range of examples of these NWFPs in terms of their use and potential as sources of self-sufficient and sustained livelihoods for low-income rural communities, their commercial and industrial applications and their value in local or distant marketplaces.

A Regional Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products for English-speaking African Countries, jointly sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Commonwealth Science Council, was held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 17 to 22 October 1993. Twenty-five people participated.

The objectives of the meeting were:

a) to obtain a clear insight on the situation of production and utilization of NWFPs; the need for improvement of their management, harvesting, processing and marketing; and the development opportunities they provide for the benefit of rural communities;

b) to develop general guidelines for promoting NWFPs in the English-speaking African countries; and

c) to facilitate the exchange of ideas regarding the need for and feasibility of establishing a regional cooperative network on NWFPs.

The discussions covered issues related to definition and classification of NWFPs, integrated management of natural forests for wood and non-wood products, domestication of wild sources of NWFPs, harvesting and processing, trade and marketing as well as institutional aspects.

This was one of a series of regional expert consultations held by FAO. (Contributed by C. L�ger/FOPN.)

• • •

The Forest Harvesting and Transport Branch has prepared and released two technical publications on NWFPs, namely Small-scale harvesting operations of wood and non-wood forest products involving rural people (FAO Forestry Paper No. 87, 1989) and Cosecha de hongos en la VII region de Chile (1993) and is now working on several others. FAO Forestry Paper No. 87 is also available in French under the title Petites op�rations de r�colte du bois et d'autres produits forestiers par les ruraux. The Branch is currently involved in determining major harvesting and transportation problems associated with commercially important NWFPs, especially in tropical areas, in order to design appropriate interventions. (Contributed by D. Dykstra/FOPH.)

• • •

The Programme on Forest Products Marketing contributes towards the conservation and rational utilization of forest resources (both wood and non-wood), increased availability of economic and social benefits from the forestry sector and improvement of equitable distribution of benefits from national and international trade between producers and consumers.

The activities that are carried out under this programme include marketing studies; surveys of marketing training needs and provision of training materials; preparation of case-studies and guidelines; development of market information and market intelligence systems; and consultations on marketing of forest products.

In order to recognize the value and importance of markets and marketing in agroforestry and community forestry activities that produce a number of NWFP items, a marketing manual is currently being developed aimed at supporting field practitioners in planning production and marketing under agroforestry and community forestry systems. Implementation of this activity is a joint effort of the Forest and Wildlands Conservation Branch of the Forest Resources Division and the Community Forestry Unit of the Forestry Policy and Planning Division as well as the Non-Wood Products and Energy Branch and the Forest Products Marketing Programme of the Forest Products Division. (Contributed by L. Lintu/FOPD.)

Forest Resources Division

In 1993, the Forest Resources Development Branch prepared an annotated bibliography on the management of non-timber resources in tropical moist forests. The objectives of this activity were: to find out the present status of published information on the management aspects of non-timber resources in tropical moist forests; to select relevant cases where non-timber resources are effectively managed in natural forests, either exclusively or in combination with timber production; and to identify the critical gaps in the knowledge of enhancing the growth of non-timber forest resources through the implementation of silvicultural measures in tropical moist forests. Based on the findings, follow-up studies will be carried out in order to determine how to integrate the management of non-timber resources with timber-producing silvicultural systems in humid tropical forests. Recently, a study has been undertaken to document the integration of mahogany and chicle production in Mexico. Further studies on integrated management of wood and non-wood resources are planned for the Amazon region and for the Caribbean. (Contributed by Paul Vantomme/FORM.)

Forestry Policy and Planning Division

In 1993, the Planning and Statistics Branch published Forestry - statistics today for tomorrow, 1961-1991. This report contains statistical information on forest resources and various forest products including, for the first time, non-wood forest products.

The Community Forestry Unit (CFU) of the Forestry Policy and Planning Division is working on developing an understanding of the social, economic and cultural importance of non-timber forest products in different regions throughout the world. Recent activities have centred on the following topic areas: forestry and food security, dependence studies and local-level marketing information systems.

The CFU plays an active role in promoting the important links between forestry and food security. It has published a wide range of materials aimed at making these links more explicit and has also adopted a number of innovative strategies for raising awareness such as Earthbird, a series of cartoon booklets for schoolchildren. Earthbird III: I'm so hungry I could eat a tree, introduces children to a variety of nutritious foods supplied by trees and forests and to some of the forestry activities that help households purchase the right kinds of foods in sufficient quantities.

Dependency studies are being carried out in Bolivia, Thailand, the United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam by the Forests, Trees and People Programme (FTPP), a multidonor trust fund managed by the CFU. The objective of the studies is to develop a better understanding of people's dependency on forest and tree products for food security; to clarify who the people are that depend on trees and forests for food and income for food; how dependent are they; and how is this dependency changing with changing access to forests. A further objective is to determine how this information can be made more useful to forestry sector planning.

The Marketing Information Systems (MIS) Methodology Field Testing Programme is a global effort to redefine a methodology which the local people themselves can manage in order to collect and use marketing information. The approach was originally developed in the Philippines in response to a government request for collaboration. Field testing of the methodology is taking place in the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Uganda, Peru and Bangladesh. At the end of the field-testing period, the sites will be evaluated to see how the methodology needs to be revised and how a local level MIS can be helpful to local producers and traders of forest and tree products. (Contributed by M. Hoskins/FONP.)

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

The Plant Production and Protection Division of the FAO Agriculture Department, in particular the Industrial Crops Group, is involved in promoting crops of medicinal and aromatic plants and of those producing edible nuts, latex, gums, etc. A number of publications on aspects related to these crops have been issued.

The Agricultural Services Division, in particular the Food and Agricultural Industries Service, is involved in activities related to beekeeping, silkworm rearing, the use of ligno-cellulosic residues, essential oils, edible oils, etc. Relevant publications are available.

More about the activities of the FAO Agriculture Department in the field of NWFPs will appear in the next issue of Non-Wood News.

REGIONS

Africa

Even though some NWFPs have been used and traded at long distances within and outside Africa for a long time, it is still difficult to come across reliable data on production and export. Some of these products such as tree gums, shea butter, rubber, cola, tamarind and ivory were the first most important products traded between Africa and other continents.

Arabic gum (from Acacia senegal and other Acacia spp.) is still traded in Mauritania, Senegal and Mali, but data are now aggregated under miscellaneous items. Gum arabic is a very important commodity product for the Sudan with a total production of 26000, 28948, 25733 and 12061 tonnes for 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90 and 1990/91 respectively.

Shea nuts and butter (Butyrospermum paradoxa) have also retained their status as a traditional export commodity in most of the countries located in the Sudano-Guinean belt in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, 70000 tonnes of shea butter and nuts were traded in 1985/86, earning CFAF 4.9 billion (equivalent to US$175 million).

Official statistics mention cola in non-formal trade and only estimates are generally available. In Ghana, it was estimated that cola export amounted to 740 tonnes in 1990, which is far from reality. In Cameroon, estimates gave a production of 22500 tonnes in 1981 and an export figure of 1100 tonnes, earning CFAF 122.6 million. When it comes to locally traded NWFPs, it is even more difficult to obtain quantitative figures on production, export and value.

In the Central African Republic, surveys revealed that 197 traders (of whom 177 are women) are registered in Bangui as bushmeat traders; the total sale of bushmeat amounts to 730 tonnes per year. The national average consumption of bushmeat reaches about 25 kg per person per year. The contribution of bushmeat to the GDP is CFAF 37 billion (more than 10 percent). Another survey conducted in Bukavu, Zaire (1987) indicated that 72 percent of the population in the town consume bushmeat regularly and that the yearly bushmeat consumption of the town is about 400 tonnes. Similar studies have been conducted in Ghana, Nigeria and Botswana, and these have provided some reliable figures on the intake of wild animal protein in these countries.

Many other NWFPs are traded locally and their share in the local economies is significant, even though they are often products that are specific to the locality.

In a study in southern Ghana, for instance, it is noted that Marantaceae leaves play an important role in the Ashanti region for wrapping vegetables, fish, cola nuts, soap and salt. They are the only material used to wrap cooked foods.

Medicinal products from the forests are among the locally traded products with low value in monetary terms, but which play a fundamental role in rural production systems by providing people with almost the only health care "system".

NWFPs are obviously very important for rural communities but their relevance is undermined by lack of technical information. Unfortunately, most forest management plans have been based on the principle of sustained yield of timber production where NWFPs are secondary. A change in the pattern of forest management would entail a change in perception and an understanding of how the community uses the forest resources. The need for meaningful research is imperative in order to develop forest management systems that will ensure a sustainable flow of benefits to local people, as well as sharing knowledge and experience among countries and regions. (Source: extracted from J.D. Keita, "Non-wood forest products in Africa - an overview", presented at the Regional Expert Consultation on NWFP, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 17-22 October 1993.)

Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and Caribbean Forestry Commission

An important agenda item discussed at the 18th session of the Latin America and Caribbean Forestry Commission held in Maldonado, Uruguay, from 6 to 10 December 1993 was the development of NWFPs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Commission welcomed the fact that FAO was paying greater attention to promoting and developing non wood forest products because of the benefits resulting from their extraction and processing to local communities. Most delegations reported on the activities that their countries were pursuing in this area, although they pointed out that there were many obstacles to promoting these products, particularly lack of research, uncontrolled extraction, rudimentary processing and the fact that marketing gains largely bypassed the local communities involved.

One of the restrictions highlighted was the lack of information and the need for exchange of information between countries. The Commission recommended that FAO seek mechanisms to remedy this situation. Some delegations indicated that the Commission's Committee on Forestry Research could play a useful role in this area. It also drew attention to the need to obtain funds to draw up an inventory of non-wood forest products available in each country.

The Commission was informed that a Regional Expert Consultation on non-wood forest products would be held in 1994 and would provide an ideal opportunity and forum to discuss the promotion of these products. The conclusions of the consultation could be presented to the Commission at its next session.

Seminario de Estad�sticas Forestales pare Am�rica Latina y el Caribe

En la Oficina Regional de la FAO pare Am�rica Latina y el Caribe, del 19 al 30 de Abril de 1993, se organiz� el Seminario de Estad�sticas Forestales pare Am�rica Latina y el Caribe. Entre los diversos temas analizados en dicho evento se encuentran los aspectos relativos a la recolecci�n de estad�sticas del sector informal de los productos forestales no madereros.

El Seminario concluy� que: tradicionalmente a nivel nacional e internacional se recopilan datos de productos provenientes del bosque considerados de mayor importancia pare el conocimiento del sector industrial, pero por diversas rezones no han sido tomados en consideraci�n, con la debida importancia, la recopilaci�n de informaci�n, an�lisis y divulgaci�n, pare la tome de decisiones y definici�n de pol�ticas de desarollo en relaci�n a productos forestales no madereros, le�a y carb�n.

De acuerdo a la informaci�n obtenida de los participantes de los distintos paises presentes, se pudo apreciar la importancia de dichos productos. En t�rminos generales la mayor�a de los paises coincidieron en se�alar la importancia de conocer el mercado y su potencialidad.

En lo referente a los productos de mayor importancia, se mencionaron los siguientes:

• Frutas
• Semillas
• Resinas
• Nueces
• Fibras
• L�tex
• Material vegetativo

Los participantes se�alaron que estos productos se comercializan a nivel interno y externo y el suministro de informaci�n estad�stica, en un 95 por ciento de los paises presentes, es incompleta.

Entre las acciones pare mejorar la recopilaci�n de estad�sticas de productores forestales no madereros, se se�alaron las siguientes:

1. Definir e identificar los denominados �Productos Forestales No Madereros�, provenientes de los bosques;

2. Clasificar los productos seg�n la materia prima y los usos pare los cuales se destinan;

3. Definir sistemas de medida de los productos no madereros;

4. Normalizar la recolecci�n de informaci�n pare comparar informaci�n regional;

5. Identificar �reas con mayor potencial a nivel nacional pare la recolecci�n de informaci�n.

Los participantes presentaron las siguientes recomendaciones pare mejorar la recolecci�n, an�lisis y divulgaci�n de informaci�n sobre los productos forestales no madereros:

PRODUCTOS FORESTALES NO MADEREROS CON INTERES COMERCIAL PARA AMERICA LATINA

Fuente: Oficina Regional pare Am�rica Latina y el Caribe (RLC), Santiago, Chile.

A la FAO:

1. Promover campanas sobre la importancia y utilidad de contar con informaci�n sobre los productos forestales no madereros en los paises.

2. Establecer una Red Latinoamericana de Cooperaci�n T�cnica sobre Productos Forestales No Madereros, que proporcione informaci�n bibliogr�fica, material de apoyo y metodolog�as de investigaci�n para los pa�ses de la regi�n.

3. Promover la designaci�n de los Servicios Forestales Nacionales, como instancias responsables de la captaci�n, procesamiento y divulgaci�n de la informaci�n estad�stica sobre esta materia y donde no existen, promover su creaci�n. creaci�n.

4. Elaborar una encuesta cada tres a�os a nivel de todos los pa�ses, como la que se efect�a anualmente para los productos forestales madereros.

A los participantes del seminario:

1. Como paso previo al establecimiento oficial de una Red Latinoamericana de Cooperaci�n T�cnica en esta materia, constituirse en agentes promotores y de enlace para el intercambio de informaci�n sobre los productos forestales no madereros en la regi�n.

2. Analizar con relaci�n a la recolecci�n, an�lisis y divulgaci�n de los datos sobre productos forestales no madereros, la periodicidad con que ellos deben realizarse y promover a nivel regional su homologaci�n.

Europe

The forest resources of the temperate zones: benefits and functions of the forests, published in two volumes, provides the part of the assessment devoted to temperate zone forest forming a component of the "Global Forest Resources Assessment 1990". The assessment has confirmed the increasing importance of the temperate-zone forests as a source for environmental and other non-wood goods and cervices (NWGS), while wood production still remains the most important function of the forest in the industrialized countries.

In February 1993, an ad hoc meeting was held in Geneva to prepare a study on the outlook of forest NWGS. Subsequently, in June 1993, the FAO/ECE Joint Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics recommended that such a study be launched.

The Working Party considered that the NWGS were extremely important, and that ECE/FAO provided an appropriate forum to carry out what should certainly be a challenging and complex study.

The study should, at first, concentrate on the following intermediate objectives:

i) build a framework for NWGS by finalizing the preliminary classification;
ii) describe and quantify the present situation in a clear way;
iii) identify past trends and current policies on NWGS; identify factors that will determine future developments, notably those affecting demand for goods and cervices and review the forest's ability to supply them, as well as possible consequences. (Source: contributed by Ed Pepke, Forestry Officer, Joint ECE/FAO Agriculture and Timber Division, Geneva, Switzerland.)

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)

Several of the activities of Unesco related to research, information and culture have direct or indirect relevance to the subject of non-wood forest products. Unesco, through the Division of Ecological Sciences, is collaborating with the WWF and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK in the programme on people and plants: ethnobotany and the sustainable use of plant resources. Another Unesco global initiative is Botany 2000, which is an interdisciplinary programme linking botany, chemistry and pharmacology. The Unesco group on life sciences is promoting the establishment of information networks in specific areas. Thus, under Unesco initiative the Asian-Pacific Information Network on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants was established in 1987 with 14 countries participating.

The International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, within Unesco, is concerned with traditional knowledge and culture systems including ethno-medicine, cultural products, etc.

For more information, please contact Dr M. Hadley, Programme Specialist, Division of Ecological Sciences, Unesco, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France.

UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (UNIDO)

UNIDO is involved in the area of NWFPs in promoting and developing industries for phytochemicals/phytopharmaceuticals, aroma chemicals, essential oils, etc. and support-related research and training. Among these, industrial utilization of medicinal and aromatic plants is probably the most important.

The programme on medicinal and aromatic plants incorporates agrotechnology, harvesting, postharvest technology, process technology, quality assessment, clinical biological and pharmaceutical studies, marketing and trade promotion. The main thrust of UNIDO's activities is indicated as the provision of technical assistance. Technical assistance covers a wide spectrum with focus on process technology. Process technology for medicinal plants helps to isolate pure active compounds for formulation into drugs, isolate intermediates for the production of semi-synthetic drugs and prepare standardized galenics (extracts, powders, tinctures, etc.). It also involves screening methods and toxicity testing. Industrial use of aromatic plants for the pharmaceutical, food, flavouring and fragrance industries is also being promoted by UNIDO.

UNIDO has so far undertaken 44 projects on the industrial utilization of medicinal and aromatic plants and several are in the pipeline. It has also recently designed a polyvalent pilot plant that can be used for aqueous or solvent extraction, continuous extraction, the preparation of solid extracts and oleoresins, distillation of essential oils, fractionation of essential oils and the processing of other economic, plant-derived products.

In response to the recent revival of interest in the use of natural medicines, UNIDO has published guidelines for setting up a database on medicinal plants. UNIDO's industrial and technological information bank also serves as an information clearing-house, especially to help developing countries.

On the linkage between processing for value addition and conservation of forest resources, Dr Tuley De Silva of UNIDO writes: "Forests are rich sources of commercial products in addition to wood. These non-wood products could be sustainably exploited to support income-generating projects and forest conservation. The collection of these renewable products from barks, leaves, flowers and fruits can be done systematically in a sustainable manner, if the processing of these could also be rural-based so as to make protective harvesting feasible. At present the trees are either felled or damaged as a result of indiscriminate harvesting to meet the irregular but large demands of buyers of raw materials. This could only be prevented by establishing small-scale processing plants in the regions whereby rational harvesting schemes could be implemented as a result of the guarantee of a regular market for raw materials. These will assist in income generation and the involvement of women and youth in sustainable development. Where spontaneous flora are not in abundance, systematic cultivation of selected species has to be undertaken. Such projects can be implemented collaboratively by FAO and UNIDO where UNIDO can support the training and processing aspects related to post-harvest technology and small-scale processing of low-volume, high-value products."

For more information, please contact Dr Tuley De Silva, Special Technical Adviser, Chemical Industries Branch, UNIDO, D-1222, Vienna International Centre, A-1400, Vienna, Austria.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)

One of WHO's most important programmes is concerned with traditional medicines. This programme assesses patterns of health care that are safe and effective and encourages incorporation of traditional practices into primary health-care systems; it encourages the preparation of herbal inventories; promotes the use of medicinal plants to assist greater self-reliance and reduce the escalating cost of drugs.

Apart from preventive, curative and rehabilitative medicines from natural sources, the systems of traditional medicines are also concerned with food ingredients and use herbal potions as food additives or supplements.

WHO has estimated that 70-80 percent of the world's population rely chiefly on traditional medicines of plant origin for their health needs. Medicinal plants are commonly available in abundance, especially in the tropics. They provide safe, stable, standardized and effective galenic products for use in the treatment of illness by informed self-medication and in-health services.

WHO encourages its Member States to develop activities in promoting the use and manufacture of medicines of plant origin that could be added to the national list of drugs, and substituted for some that have to be purchased from abroad. Quality, safety and efficiency of medicines are important in that regard.

Traditional and industrial utilization of medicinal plants has emerged as an important area of activity and there are several agencies, international societies and groups involved in ethnopharmacology, photochemistry, etc.

Apart from its own programme on natural traditional medicine, WHO collaborates with other agencies and initiatives in the area of traditional medicine.

In 1988, together with IUCN and WWF, WHO organized an International Consultation on the Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Chiangmai (Thailand). This consultation came out with the Chiangmai Declaration: Save the Plants that Save Lives. Again in 1991 WHO organized a symposium on plants and health for all, in Kobe, Japan.

WHO has developed a series of guidelines for the research, assessment and control of herbal medicines. Some of the WHO Regional Offices have prepared guidebooks on the proper use of medicinal plants and for setting priorities at the interface between conservation and primary health care.

For more information, please contact Dr Xiaorui Zhang, Officer-in-charge Traditional Medicine Programme, WHO, CH-1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE, UNCTAD/GATT (ITC)

ITC is concerned with market development (of commodities, agrobased products, manufactured products), trade promotion, trade information and market services. Several of the activities of ITC cover NWFPs.

ITC has carried out market surveys on different non-wood commodities/products (e.g. medicinal and aromatic plants, honey, edible nuts, oleoresins, essential oils, flavours and fragrances). The ITC market survey on medicinal and aromatic plants is somewhat out-of-date, and a new survey has been delayed because of lack of resources. ITC also undertakes market studies for other agencies/institutions on contract. A study has recently been completed for the Andean countries to propose alternative crops as a replacement for coca leaf production. Based on an analysis of the situation in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, the study covered 33 products and for each a separate market report is available in English and Spanish. Of these 33, six items are clearly NWFPs.

Under trade promotion activity, ITC is providing support to countries producing gum arable, specially to the Sudan. The Sudan accounts for the bulk of production of gum arabic and it is of good quality, having been produced from trees raised without the use of chemical fertilizers. However, market manipulations take place through stringent quality (and other) specifications. The Gum Arabic Company of the Sudan exports the product through agents in Europe, the United States and Japan; selected grades of gum arabic are processed (e.g. granulating, powdering, spray-drying) in destination countries for further use in medicines, food, beverages, confectionery, etc. ITC provides training in aspects of marketing, including quality control.

The market research and market briefs programme of ITC is an effective means of disseminating market information. Market briefs are prepared based on demand for market information. Market research is also expected to look into sustainability and the ecological impacts of market expansion. As of June 1993, the list of ITC market briefs included such NWFP items as annatto seeds, basketwork, beeswax, cashew nuts, rattan furniture, medicinal plants, dried flowers, ornamental foliage/plants and dry culinary herbs.

A clearing-house function for trade information is provided by the ITC Trade Documentation Centre. The Centre collects, compiles, stores and publishes trade data under the headings of Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). The facility for isolating information depends upon the digit level at which a specific product or group is reported. Thus, data on groups reported at the level of four or five digits (e.g. gums, resins, essential oils, medicinal plants, edible nuts) can be isolated. It is, however, difficult to isolate specific information by sources, species, qualities, etc. and this is a major problem in compiling data on specific NWFPs.

For more information, please contact Dr A. Paradies, Head Trade Information Dissemination Unit, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

Tools, techniques, productivity, the safety of workers and related aspects fall under the purview of ILO. However, there has not been much activity relevant to NWFPs. Apart from work on tools and techniques for fuelwood and charcoal preparation, the only recent activity of ILO with some relevance to NWFPs was a workshop held in Peshawar, Pakistan, in April 1991 on the employment of women in forestry. This workshop, among others, considered the income-generation potential of NWFPs for rural women. From the point of view of safety and occupational health, ILO has carried out studies related to several industries. One recent study is related to the processing of an NWFP, cinnamon (Cinnamomum camphora and other species), where the dust is found to cause respiratory problems

For more information, please contact Dr P. Poschen, Forestry and Wood Industries Specialist, ILO CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN AGROFORESTRY (ICRAF)

ICRAF's activities are built around four research and three dissemination programmes.

Research Programme 1, Characterization and impact, deals with the environmental and economic characterization of land-use systems, the validation of technologies and the policy and impact issues related to their adoption.

Research Programme 2, Multipurpose tree improvement, deals with identification, evaluation and improvement of multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems.

Research Programme 3, Component interactions, focuses on process-oriented research and is designed to test hypotheses and to obtain scientific data on nutrient cycling, soil conservation, how trees and crops compete for light, water and nutrients, and how pests affect such processes.

Research Programme 4, Systems improvement, deals with the development and improvement of management systems and strategies. The three dissemination programmes are related to training, education and information.

ICRAF's Multipurpose Tree and Shrub Database contains information on more than 1000 species and some of these are plants yelding non-wood forest products. However, the species have been evaluated essentially for food, fodder, wood products and utilities and not for other economic products.

For more information, please contact Dr PH.D. Meka R. Rao, Coordinator, Component Interactions Programme - Experimental Agronomist, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya

IUCN - THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION

IUCN-The World Conservation Union brings together states, government agencies and a diverse range of NGOs in a unique world partnership. It leads initiatives on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biological diversity and the management of habitats and natural resources, as well as providing a range of related services.

The IUCN Forest Conservation Programme (formerly the IUCN Tropical Forest Programme) coordinates and strengthens the organization's forest activities. The programme focuses on the conservation of species and ecological processes, and promotes forest uses that are compatible with the conservation of biological diversity. Data on plant and animal species, and forest sites important for conservation are gathered by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC). The WCMC is a joint venture between the three partners who developed the World Conservation Strategy: IUCN-The World Conservation Union, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The programme deals with global and local policy issues, as well as on-the-ground projects, tackling the problems of managing forests, whether in tropical or temperate regions. Field projects put the philosophy of the World Conservation Strategy into action by reconciling conservation requirements and local needs. Special emphasis is given to promoting compatible uses of buffer zones around national parks and reserves.

In all these activities there are some components related to NWFPs. An example is the activities on extractivism in relation to forest conservation programmes and the potentialities of multiple use of forest reserves.

For more information, please contact the Programme Coordinator, Global Forest Conservation Programme, IUCN, Ave. du Mont-Blanc, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF)

Conservation activities of the WWF cover a wide range and include sustainable and equitable use of plant resources. In this regard the WWF is working with local people and ethnobotanists in various developing countries.

A joint initiative between the WWF, Unesco and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom, entitled "People and plants: ethnobotany and the sustainable use of plant resources", was launched in July 1992 for an initial period of four years. This is an approach that emphasizes the integral relationship of cultural and biological diversity. It is a programme that records traditional knowledge for the benefit of local people and the environment.

To local ethnobotanists and the people with whom they work, the people and plants programme can provide:

• training workshops on field methods for inventorying plant resources and assessing methods for the sustainable harvesting of plants;

• advice on specific conservation projects, particularly those that include activities currently supported by the WWF, Unesco or the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;

• scientific literature, training manuals and technical information;

• the opportunity to interact with ethnobotanists working in other regions.

Current activities under the programme include the following:

Bolivia: inventory of useful plants in the Beni Biosphere Reserve;

Brazil: sustainable use of local medicinal plants and forage crops for local people in the arid northeast of Brazil;

Cameroon: appraisal of the viability of harvesting Prunus africana bark;

Caribbean: assessment of the conservation status of medicinal plants;

Madagascar: recording and assessing medicinal plant use in the Manongarivo Special Reserve;

Malaysia: evaluation of the use of palms and medicinal plants in the environs of Kinabalu Park, Sabah;

Mexico: survey of useful plants in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca;

Uganda: surveys to plan for sustainable wild plant use in montane forest;

International: survey of economic plants for arid and semi-arid lands;

International: ethnobotany workshop in Mexico City.

For more information, please contact the Biodiversity Unit, Conservation Policy Division, WWF International, World Conservation Centre, Avenue du Mont Blanc, 1196 Gland, Switzerland. Fax: 41 22 3648219.

NATURAL RESOURCE INSTITUTE OF THE OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, UK (NRI)

The Natural Resource Institute (NRI) is the scientific arm of the United Kingdom's Overseas Development Administration (ODA). Its main aim is to alleviate poverty and hardship in developing countries by increasing the productivity of their renewable natural resources through the application of science and technology

NRI has three main areas of expertise, which are managed as strategy areas: resource assessment and farming systems; food science and crop utilization; and integrated pest management. The strategy areas are divided into operational programmes. The strategy area of food science and crop utilization has several programmes of which one is on forest products. The programmes are further subdivided into problem areas and projects.

Non-timber forest products is a problem area under the programme of forest products, which has several specific projects as, for example, on pines and eucalyptus, flavours and fragrances, NWFPs in Brazil, etc. The Non-timber forest products group draws on the resources of NRI's specialist, technical and commodity units: flavours and phytochemistry; oil seeds and edible nuts; and fruits.

For further information on current projects and activities, please contact Manager, Non-Timber Forest Products Programme, Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom. Fax: 0634 880066/77.

COMMONWEALTH SCIENCE COUNCIL (CSC)

The Commonwealth Science Council (CSC) within the Commonwealth Secretariat is an intergovernmental organization whose membership is open to all Commonwealth countries. CSC seeks to increase the capability of all Commonwealth countries to apply science and technology for economic and social development.

The CSC programmes are divided into seven areas: agriculture, biological resources, energy, environmental planning, science management and organization, technological and industrial support, and water and mineral resources.

Activities under the programme area of agriculture are now moving towards an approach that integrates all aspects of production from food and energy requirements to the development of value-added products, including non-wood forest products. Jointly with FAO, CSC organized and conducted the Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products for English-speaking African Countries, in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 17-22 October 1993.

For further information concerning the CSC programme of work on non-wood forest products, please contact Dr J.A.J. Perera, Project Officer, Science and Technology Division, CSC, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom. Fax: (44) 71-930 0827.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, CANADA (IDRC)

IDRC has a sizeable forestry programme and activities spread over Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. IDRC's forestry programme has a strong bias towards community forestry, agroforestry and non-wood forest products. Its involvement in the development of specific NWFPs such as bamboos, rattan and medicinal plants has been mentioned elsewhere in this issue.

For more details on IDRC's forestry programme, please contact Environment and Natural Resources Division, IDRC, PO Box 8500, Ottawa, Ontario, K1 G 3H9, Canada.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

There are a number of membership organizations interested in the specific products or aspects that contribute to the development of non-wood forest products through promotional activities, establishment of standards and quality specifications, dissemination of information and so on. Among these are: International Society of Ethnobotany, International Federation of Essential Oil and Aroma Traders (IFEAT), World Federation of Proprietory Medicine Manufacturers (WFPMM) and the International Society of Ethnopharmacology.

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