Certification undeniably opens up new markets for NTFPs. For Riak Bumi, a West Kalimantan-based NGO and also the national secretariat of the Forest Honey Network Indonesia, getting the organic seal on their honey is becoming closer to a reality.

The network now covers eight sites in Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra. Network partners are looking at about 200 tonnes of honey from the wild honeybee species Apis dorsata.

It was wonderful news when Bogor-based BIOCert, an organic certifying body in Indonesia, announced that it had selected the network to be its pilot for organic certification. BIOCert met with Riak Bumi and NTFP-EP last January 17 to discuss developing Local Standards and an Internal Control System (ICS) for the Honey Producer Groups of the Wild Honey Harvesters in West Kalimantan.

Also present was Dr. Mary Stockdale, who provided input based on principles and process for community-based NTFP management, as outlined in the manual she authored called Steps to Sustainable Community-Based NTFP Management.

Biocert and organic certification
BIOCert is an accredited certifier under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

Its objectives include
– providing a guarantee on organic and sustainable processes and products,
– promoting equality, democracy, transparency, accountability for small farmers and,
– promoting an appreciation for indigenous knowledge, and
– stimulating the integration of organic farming and fair trade.

During the meeting, BIOCert presented the Organic Certification Standards specifically for wild harvested products and public lands, and non-timber forest Products. BIOCert also discussed  how the ICS is developed and implemented.

Sustainabilty of the wild honey production system in West Kalimantan
Various aspects of the management system need to be scrutinised to determine whether the honey produced by the network qualifies for organic certification. Here are some areas looked into:

1. Sustainable harvest technique
The production of wild honey in West Kalimantan already has very high potential for sustainability. The harvesting technique involves harvesting only the “head” or honey part of the hive rather than destructively harvesting the entire hive, including the part where the bee larvae are found. Motivating the farmers to use this method has been quite easy because its use results in better quality and quantity of harvestable honey. Farmers can actually harvest more honey per hive in a year because they can return to harvest the hive every 20 days until the season is over.

2. Tenure system in place
While the forest is public land (a conservation area), the tikung or artificial branches are owned and marked by individual harvesters. The honey bees return to the tikung seasonally to make their hives. The branches used to come from the medang (Lauraceae sp.) tree species. As this is now a protected species, farmers now use tembesu (Fagraea fragans).

Also called the rafter method, tikung are length-wise split poles which are placed in the crowns of trees at an angle to facilitate run-off. The poles are attached at both ends in a shady place.

3. Local institutions are in place, encouraging and monitoring sustainable harvest methods
The honey harvesters are organised into groups called priau, which have existed for about 100 years. The priau plan where to put the tikung, who puts them up, how they are to be harvested, etc. The presence of priau is positive as these are already in place to manage the ICS.

4. Culturally appropriate sanctions are in place to ensure compliance to regulations
Riak Bumi representatives mentioned the importance of applying sanctions that are culturally appropriate, and that maintain harmony in the priau.

5. Bulk of the honey is harvested from tikung  or “managed forests”
About 80 percent of honey is harvested from tikung and the remainder from lalau (or wild) tall forest trees. Unmanaged honey is of a lower quality as harvesters are apt to harvest the entire hive because of the difficulty of harvesting from a tall tree. However, the tenure and management systems for the lalau honey is another issue that should be addressed as well.

6. Processing and quality control has been established at the household level
This is done by each honey harvester at the household level. Communities want to retain this system so each harvester has control over quality, particularly purity (no other substances are added to the honey, especially post-harvest).

Concerns about certification
Dr. Stockdale expressed other concerns vis-a-vis certification:

– The forest ecosystem needs to be protected, because certain tree species provide the flowers for the honey bees. This situation is positive for organic certification in that the harvesters are motivated in favor of forest protection. As the forest is part of a conservation area, government policy is thus in agreement with the objectives of the honey harvesters. The main problem would be illegal logging, which is done by outsiders, not community members.

– Certification cost should be affordable so communities do not become dependent on external financing.

– There is a need to prepare a market campaign for organic honey though there is already an increasing market (e.g., Malaysia cities and restaurants, supermarkets in Jakarta).

Pushing towards certification
Although it seems that getting certified is a tedious business, BIOCert stressed the importance of keeping the Internal Control System very simple, so as not to cause too much added work for the harvesters. They added that it should be in the local language, and should build upon existing institutions, processes and methods.

Dr. Stockdale stressed paying attention to the principles of sustainable, community-based NTFP management namely: community participation, adaptive management, respecting local knowledge, and considering the entire management system. In support of the setting the ICS, she also recommended the use of the NTFP manual, especially:
– integrating community goals with that of organic standards,
– documenting the existing honey production system (ecological, social and economic),
– possibly using mapping tools or other tools to determine if any changes are necessary,
– establishing a community-based monitoring plan (ICS).

The network seems well on its way to setting up its ICS and eventually getting certified. With a number of factors already working in its favor – sustainable management system and strong, established institutions in place who can manage the certification process – it may not be too far in the future that we see the Forest Honey Network Indonesia’s madu (honey) bearing the organic seal and breaking into worldwide markets.

Forest Honey Network Indonesia
c/o Riak Bumi, Jl. Putri Dara Hitam Gang Tani I No. 26
Pontianak 78116, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Tel/Fax: +62 561 737132
Email: riakbumi@pontianak.wasantara.net.id
URL: www.earthisland.org/borneo/dsnp/danausentarum/riakbumi

Read more about BIOCert and their work in their Bulletin Organis (in Bahasa Indonesia) or visit their website www.biocert.or.id