In spite of the internal turmoil broiling in Central states of India, coming elections in Malaysia, violence over forest lands in Cambodia, the inconsistency in Indonesia’s forest policies, indiscriminate mining escalating in the Philippines, extreme weather events in Indonesia and the Philippines, NTFP-EP has made strides in its work in 2012 with support from various partners.
Key achievements during the year revolve around the 5 thematic focus of NTFP-EP’s work – conservation; climate change; food and health security; land rights, tenure and policy; and, enterprise development. There were advances in restoration activities, increased recognition and pride in wild foods and traditional knowledge, and active participation of local, national and regional government bodies, particularly in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on further mainstreaming social forestry and climate change agendas. Enterprise targets were also exceeded. Across the region, there was more openness in different levels and departments of government to work with NTFP-EP and partners on the issue of non-timber forest products.
Organizationally, country offices were registered in Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia; and more staff joined particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia and the regional offices. There were improvements on human resource policies and new institutional policies were adopted to enhance organizational functioning. A financial management improvement plan (FMIP) is being implemented. NTFP-EP expanded its online presence to reach a wider audience on its themes. Fundraising initiatives continued with the submission of various proposals to several donors.
For 2013, NTFP-EP plans to strengthen its conservation program by enhancing resource management tools, building up the NTFP species database, continuing planting NTFP species throughout the network, and regular participation in conservation alliances. It will develop an NTFP-EP climate change adaptation strategy. Focus and attention on subsistence/food and health security will be expanded through, among others, a regional training on food from forest research. Establishing or strengthening existing advocacy desk per country and developing a regional advocacy strategy is also planned. For2012-annual-report-web enterprise development, NTFP-EP will expand its work in the region on community livelihood appraisal and product/resource scanning, among others.
