Commercialization of non-timber forest products - …

1 Lessons learned from Mexico and Boliviaand policy implications for decision-makersEditors: E. Marshall, K. Schreckenberg, NewtonCommercialization ofnon- timber forest productsFactors influencing success Lessons learned from Mexico and Boliviaand policy implications for decision-makersEditors: E. Marshall, K. Schreckenberg, NewtonCommercialization ofnon- timber forest productsFactors influencing success The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policiesof DFID, the United Nations Environment Programme or the UNEP WorldConservation Monitoring Centre.

2 The designations employed and thepresentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever onthe part of these organizations concerning the legal status of any country,territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of itsfrontiers or World Conservation Monitoring Centre219 Huntingdon RoadCambridge CB3 0DL, UKTel.: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Publication and CD-ROM contents downloadable from projectwebsite: WORLDCONSERVATIONMONITORINGCENTRE(UNEP-W CMC)is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm ofthe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world sforemost intergovernmental environmental organization.

3 TheCentre has been in operation for over 25 years, combiningscientific research with practical policy advice. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorousproducts and services to help decision-makers recognize thevalue of biodiversity and apply this knowledge to all that they do. Its core business is managing data about ecosystems andbiodiversity, interpreting and analysing that data to provideassessments and policy analysis, and making the results availableto national and international decision-makers and CITATION: Marshall, E.

4 , Schreckenberg, K. andNewton, (eds) 2006. Commercialization of non-timber ForestProducts: Factors Influencing Success. Lessons Learned fromMexico and Bolivia and Policy Implications for World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK. A BansonproductionGraphic design: John CarrodProduction editors: Karen Eng, Helen de MattosPrinted by Cambridge Printers, UK UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 2006 ISBN 92-807-2677-3 SponsorThis publication is an output from a research project funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development(DFID) for the benefit of developing countries.

5 The viewsexpressed are not necessarily those of DFID. (R7925 ForestryResearch Programme) Collaborating organizationsOverseas Development InstituteBournemouth UniversityCARE Grupo Mes filoGrupo de Estudios AmbientalesMethodus ConsultoraRed de Aprendizaje, Intercambio ySistematizaci n de Experiencias hacia la SustentabilidadAuthorsElaine MarshallUNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), 219 Huntingdon RoadCambridge CB3 0DL, UKE-mail: Schreckenberg, Dirk Willem te VeldeOverseas Development Institute (ODI) 111 Westminster Bridge RoadLondon SE1 7JD, UKE-mail.

6 NewtonSchool of Conservation SciencesBournemouth University, Talbot CampusPoole, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK E-mail: Rushton, Luis P rez, Cecilia ViscarraCEVEP, Casilla 10474, La Paz, BoliviaE-mail: Arancibia, Florencio Maldonado, C sar Enr quez, Isidro Rodr guez, Fausto L pez CARE, Casilla 6034, La Paz, BoliviaE-mail: Edouard, Raday QueroMethodus Consultora, Crespo 524 DCol Centro, Oaxaca, Oax CP 68000 MexicoE-mail: Illsley, Tonantzin G mez Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, Allende 7 Santa Ursula Coapa, Mexico DF CP 04650, MexicoE-mail: de los Santos, Juan Carlos Flores, Alvaro Gonz lezGrupo Mes filo, Pino Su rez 205 Centro Hist rico Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, MexicoE-mail: Bojanic E-mail: gratefully acknowledge the generous participation of the case study communities and market traders in theresearch process, without whom this project would not havebeen possible.

7 We thank community authorities and leadersof campesinoorganizations for helping us to obtain thenecessary many thanks for the encouragement andconstructive feedback from our reviewers: Mike Arnold and anonymous Forestry Research Programme externalreviewer; Hannah Jaenicke, Margaret Marshall, Neville Ashand Kaveh thanks also to the many participants at the inception workshops in Mexico and Bolivia in 2001,including Esteban Garc a Pe a, Emma Beltr n, CintiaAldana, Philip Bubb, Katrin Linzer, Ruben Leigue, FernandoGuadarama, Alvaro Gonz lez, Jorge L pez and DianaPritchard.

8 Thanks also to Charlotte Boyd for making thatinvaluable first contact point for working with ODI and SavitriAbeyasekera for reviewing and providing feedback on ourstatistical approaches. Corinna Ravilious prepared the casestudy maps and James O Carroll designed the CEPFOR project website; Katelijne Rothschild Van Look and JodySunley provided generous project administration thanks to Duncan Golicher for assistance with thedevelopment of the Bayesian belief network, and to OlivierCottray and Finbarr O Sullivan for designing the Javainterface for the decision support tool.

9 Last, but most certainly not least, the CEPFOR teamis especially grateful to John Palmer for his unerringsupport of this challenges of addressing global poverty in a sustainableway are greater than ever. The well-being of more than halfof the billion people who live in poverty depends to asignificant degree on the availability of non-timber forestproducts (NTFPs). Such products are used to meet dailysubsistence needs, making a significant contribution to foodsecurity, and also provide a valuable source of buildingmaterials and medicines.

10 In addition, trade in NTFPs oftenprovides an important source of cash income for the ruralpoor. Populations in forested areas are increasingly beingsubjected to changes brought about by economic growthand are being presented with new opportunities to engagein trade. This is transforming the way that forests are opportunities for low-income producers to use naturalassets to reduce poverty are significant, but this potentialcan only be realized if the right support is provided. The potential contribution of NTFPs to povertyreduction through sustainable trade and income generationis not being fully realized.