Selamat pagi, apa kabar…terima kasih! Well, these were the three phrases that saw us through our stay in Bogor the “rainy city” where it rains every evening at 4 pm. Aloi from Manila and I from India arrived in Bogor, Indonesia on the 3rd of July to get together with the Mad Team from Gekko Studio, Telapak – Ridzki, Nanang and the gang, to edit ‘Voices from the Forest Part 2″ focusing on India.
The “mission:” to complete a 30-minute film from 60 tapes in 7 days. Our plan: to try our best. Our back up plan: a tri-nation dance choreographed by Aloi and soundtrack by Nanang. The next one week was a whirlwind – Nanang on the edit table, me on the script and aloi with a gun in her hands (sorry not a gun, it was a blow spear just like the NTFP-EP’s logo straight from Papua).
It was a fantastic time. all of us had not worked together before, but it turned out to be a great collaboration. In between the edits and huge mugs of tea we shared our experiences, countries, commonalities (the traffic and the food!), and even discussed the country heroes such as Iwan Fals (bob Dylan of Indonesia) to rajnikant (you have to see him to believe it).
The preview was done at the Telapak Cafe and involved various groups around Bogor (Een Irawan Putra)
The best times for us was the food breaks, mostly in the market around the studio. From satay, gurame, nasi goreng, padang…the list is endless! (I am still suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Our next collaboration is an Indonesian cuisine café in India.)
On the 11th, we were ready with our first cut! The venue was the Telapak Café in the centre of the town, and buzzing with energy. It is a space not just for coffee, snacks and free internet, but where people can gather for discussions, film screenings, education. There were about 35 people from varied groups such as filmmakers, students, NGO workers, activists. The screening was followed by a discussion and feedback; there was much curiosity about India, the people and also the difference in forest types, and at the same time many common issues.It was just 10 days, but in that time one forgot countries and borders, and differences….we had the same issues, the same diversity, and the same motivations. Aloi and I left Bogor as BOGORITES!
CONTACT:
Rita Banerji
Dusty Foot Productions
C-9 / 9037 Vasant Kunj
New Delhi 110070, India
Ph: 0981250260
Email: dustyfootindia AT yahoo.com
“We obtain three-fourths of our income from NTFPs,” Ms. Subbi Gowda, a tribal NTFP collector said without wavering. Appiko-Prakruti’s decade-long study and sharing knowledge with local communities also revealed the same. In Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state of India, forest dwelling communities earned a maximum of 95 percent of total income and an average 33 percent income from NTFPs. However, with the loss of habitat; overharvesting and limited knowledge regarding harvest, process, market, policy and cultivation aspects; the resource is depleting and collectors are not getting desired benefits.
As an alternate to conventional development activities Prakruti is promoting the sustainable use and development of NTFPs together with the forest dwelling communities.
Activities include resource mapping, nursery raising, cultivation, enterprise development and promotion of sustainable use of the resources.
Remote sensing and Geographic Information System
Remote sensing is the instrumentation, techniques and methods to observe the earth’s surface at a distance and to interpret the images or numerical values obtained in order to acquire meaningful information of particular objects on earth.
Geographic information is required for planning and management purposes of our infrastructure and natural resources. According to a FAO study, no country has carried out a complete assessment/inventory on the status of NTFP resources. Perhaps our study is the first attempt in the entire country to adopt a focused approach to map the resources using state-of-the-art technology and relates it with the issues on livelihood and gender. Extensive field work and mapping provided valuable information on status of various NTFPs, crucial limitations with respect to harvest, process, marketing and policy issues and to set the priorities for interventions.
Emphasis on women groups
Many NTFP production to consumption systems involve women, many times in a leading role. Most examples in this study showed clear division of tasks by gender within systems. The study seeks to make a special emphasis on the role that women play through the entire process of NTFP collection, processing, consumption, sale/marketing and income generation. It was identified that women are the major contributors in collection and processing of NTFPs. Women and children are involved to a greater extent than men in activities such as peeling, de-husking, descending, cleaning, drying, salting and packing in bags or gunny bags. While men emphasized the income they earned from selling it; the women spoke more about how they could use it at home. However, those NTFPs, which do not have commercial importance, are left out for the women to deal with them.
In marketing of NTFPs, women seem to participate only to a limited extent. Most of the women (from the lower economic classes) say that they do not venture into the markets, as they do not have any idea of markets by themselves. Most of the selling that women do is in the village itself. They sell handmade mats and brooms to people who come to buy them in the villages. Another way is by exchange or barter; some women also carry these items when they go to visit their relatives and give them in exchange for old clothes. Now we have prioritized the products exclusively collected and processed by women and in a sustainable way, thus improving their skill and capacities to manage these resources.
Product development
We have started product development based on the information gathered through resource mapping. For example, fruit rind of Garcinia gummigutta is harvested to extract the Hydroxy Citric Acid (HCA), which is said to have obesity controlling properties. Due to increased industrial demand price of rind and because of competition among the collectors, collectors have been harvesting unscientifically.
On the other hand, according our study it requires 22 kilograms of fuel wood to obtain one kilogram of fruit rind as the fruiting occurs in monsoon. Now we have installed fuel-efficient driers in the highly concentrated Garcinia areas in which only 4 kilograms of fuel wood is sufficient to obtain one kilogram of dry rind. Instead of fuel wood from the forest, collectors can use agriculture waste in these installed units.
We have started producing the butter from seeds (seed is rich in edible fat by up to 30%) by installing oil extracting units with women groups. This helped to promote sustainable use of the resource as no cutting of branches or trees and unripe fruits is involved – only the seed from the fallen fruits have to be harvested. This also helps increase the cash income of economically marginalized groups especially women of indigenous communities.
Vinegar, pickles and extracting of HCA from fruit juice are also being experimented on.
Domestication
To reduce pressure on forests and to increase the cash income of collectors we are promoting domestication of NTFP species and cultivation in Village Forest Committee areas. Farmers and collectors are cultivating in a small scale and many times they fail to select superior types. Now we are involved in identifying the superior types, standardizing the nursery techniques and cultivation practices.
Sustainable harvest and Community management
In order to bring sustainable harvest practices and community management several workshops were held from grassroot level to national level. It also provided an opportunity for collectors to interact with NGOs, the State Forest Department, scientists and traders. To strengthen capacity of these groups’ exposure visits, training workshops and regular meetings are organised.
With this, we aim sustainable use of the resources, stable market and assured price for the products and finally improve the livelihood conditions of poor forest dwelling communities.
CONTACT: Narasimha Hegde Appiko-Prakruti
Hulemalgi Building
Chowkinath, Sirsi, Karnataka
581401 India
Email: narasimha.yaman1@gmail.com
The Penan are one of the indigenous groups living in the Southern part of Sarawak, Malaysia with an estimated population of 10,000 people. Most of them have settled permanently in villages like other indigenous groups while about 300-400 are still nomadic within their own territory which they call Tana Kampung.
About 70 percent of the Penan living in the area of Apoh Tutoh, Middle Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia are settled. About 20 percent are semi-settled and the remaining 10 percent are nomadic. Because of continuous logging activities in this area, most of the Penan’s communal land has been destroyed. The nomadic Penan, who like their ancestors depend on the forest for their food and way of life, find their source of food in a particular sago palm being depleted, leaving them often with only one solid meal a day.
The reforestation efforts in Sarawak started with the planting of sago palm by some 13 families of the nomadic Penan in Ba Puak, Apoh Tutoh. The nomadic Penan have identified degraded areas on their land which is also part of the boundary of their native land. In the first phase they will plant about 1,200 palms. The nomadic are highly keen and involved in regenerating their food source and forest. However, they need intensive support or guidance as this would be their very first time cultivating as they have for generations depended on the forest for their food and living.
In March 2007, a workshop on the development of sago seedlings and nursery was held in Ba Puak in which eight settled Penan headmen including their Paramount Chief (Penghulu) was present at the workshop. In his words of advice, the Chief urged the Penan, especially the nomadics, to support and commit themselves seriously to learning how to cultivate and not to depend too much on outside assistance. As in the experience of the Penan, “NGOs may come and go but communities are there forever.”
Everyone pitches in to build the nursery to house seedlings of sago palm (Dominic Langat)
Working with the nomadic Penans these past four years has been a colourful experience. But I’ve realised that if the nomadic Penan’s forest had remained intact, they prefer the life they had always known of hunting and gathering to agriculture.
In a funny incident at the workshop on developing sago seedlings, some nomadics had to go and collect sago seeds from the forest. When they came back in the evening, they had with them two wild boars. When asked where the seeds were, they answered, “We forgot about the seeds. We were distracted by so many traces of wild boars in the forest and we went hunting instead. The seeds can be collected tomorrow.”
If only we were all so free and if only the nomadic Penans had their forest as large and in good form to depend for food and a life they had always known.
CONTACT: Dominic Langat, jarmock1@yahoo.com
Dominic is the Community Organiser for the Sarawak project entitled “Reforestation and Strengthening of Penans in Apoh Tutoh to Secure Food, Livelihood and Native Land” which is supported by the Ecosystems Grants Programme – IUCN
Yes, it all started with conference kits. Conference kits being sold from the back of a car. The conference kits fetched a lot of interest among the NGO world not just for the traditional textiles woven by indigenous communities that were used nor for the contribution it made to social development, but more importantly for the sophisticated design and high quality of the kits that were not common among products from communities. The interest for the said products also grew among private companies and government agencies.
Since then, the crafts program of the Philippines has diversified its product and has now grown from a one woman show to a team of five and is now known as the CustomMade Crafts Center (CMCC) with its own showroom. Its family is continuously growing as it goes through the process of being registered as its own organisation and is well on its way to being run as a full business.
The CMCC now provides marketing assistance to over 400 indigenous artisans all over the Philippine archipelago and still counting. A new board of trustees has also recently been convened in order to guide the CMCC to business success as it explores and engages the local and the international markets. The interesting mix of trustees is composed of leading personalities from the NGO, government and business community who share the same principles as those of CMCC. The board is a mix of advocates of the rights of the indigenous peoples and sustainable forest use and management as well as the preservation of cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples. It also includes representatives from the business and the market industries sectors.
The Philippine crafts program has indeed come a long way. But there is still a lot of growing and learning for the CMCC… not to mention the growing sales targets it still has to reach! The CMCC remains committed and optimistic. Equipped with direction from its winning board of trustees and continued support from international and local organisations, the CMCC looks forward to facing the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
CONTACT: Nola Andaya
CustomMade Crafts Center
92-A Masikap Ext., Bgy. Central
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel Nos. 63 2 929.3665 / 4262757
Email: info@cmcrafts.org
The Orang Asli are the indigenous minorities of Peninsula Malaysia and have long been harvesting NTFPs either for their own use or for sale to middlemen. However Aslian crafts are uncommon in the market due to various factors including lack of natural resources, accessibility and marketability. Pandanus-based crafts are particularly vulnerable as many villages have lost their pandanus clumps due to development. Many Orang Asli women also no longer weave as plastic mats and baskets are more durable and easier to obtain; and as processing and weaving pandanus involve considerable effort.
In order to revive and revitalise their pandanus crafts, Gerai OA has actively encouraged Orang Asli women from several ethnic groups to weave as a supplementary source of income. We also provide access to the lucrative urban market in Kuala Lumpur via our mobile, volunteer-run stall.
While working with individual weavers in different villages was vital, there was also a need to bring the different weavers together as each had different skills and variations in weaving styles.
With encouragement and funding from NTFP-EP, Gerai OA organised a centralised three-day Pandanus Masterclass to strengthen both the production techniques and resolve of Orang Asli women who are determined to maintain and profit from their indigenous craft heritage.
Held in Kampung Chang Lama in Bidor, Perak, this was the first time most of the women had met each other even though all were part of Gerai OA’s network. Twenty-four weavers from six Orang Asli ethnic groups attended the workshop. We also welcomed Margiolina, a masterweaver from Negros, Philippines and two facilitators from NTFP-EP to add to the learning mix.
Workshop participants studying indigenous pandanus weavings from Malaysia and the Philippines during the marketing and critique session. All items were subsequently sold. In the background are the mindmaps produced during the previous night’s discussions.
Many participants were masterweavers while the remaining were novices. All brought samples of their traditional and contemporary weavings to show, be reviewed then subsequently sold. The women soon settled into their new ‘village’ and were weaving at every opportunity – even during meal breaks and up to midnight.
There were no fixed teaching (or learning) methods so as to replicate communal knowledge sharing. The masterweavers who attended were the instructors, each specialising in different skills. They enjoyed sharing what they knew and were honoured to be ‘teachers.’ All weavers also managed to pick up new skills, notably in dyeing and production techniques.
The ‘teaching mat’ probably caused the most excitement as many were seen weaving copies of the motifs it contained. Weavers were also reminded to document their motif repertoire by weaving their own ‘teaching mat.’ Each village was also given a pandanus pattern book to learn from.
Basic lessons on marketing were introduced as was the importance of colours for different markets. Networking opportunities were also explored and also the importance of maintaining and replanting pandanus clumps.
Many problems were highlighted during a mind-mapping session and they were surprised to hear that weavers in different villages also faced similar problems, especially the lack of pandanus and disinterest in weaving among the young.
After three very productive days, these women returned to their villages armed not only with new production techniques but also a visible new resolve and confidence in their abilities. Some even went back carrying polybags of different pandanus seedlings which they obtained from fellow weavers.
Follow-up visits over the last two months have been very encouraging as many weavers have actively experimented with new colour schemes and dyeing techniques, while others have woven new or modified products. New products include pandanus earrings, pouches and lidded containers which have been well-received by urban buyers.
Some workshop participants have also actively encouraged others in their village to weave and this has resulted in several requests for village-level workshops, especially on dyeing and weaving techniques for novices. Others have begun replanting pandanus seedlings on pocket lands and are now very aware of sustainable uses of their forest resources.
CONTACT: Gerai OA c/o Reita Faida Rahim
1-3-3 Ixora Apartment, Lot 1106, PT6, Seksyen 62
Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Welcome! Our cover issue highlights the disappearing tradition and the intricacies of pandanus weaving. Master weavers from the Hma’ Meri tribe shared their expertise to younger novice weavers, in an effort to pass on this age-old tradition, as described by Reita Rahim (Gerai OA in Malaysia). Norli Colili (NTFP Task Force, Philippines) brought back her learnings to Palawan, Philippines, to much enthusiasm of the communities she works with.
As we move to Sarawak, Malaysia, Dominic Langat shares how the Penan tribe is gaining greater control over their livelihoods. Despite being a nomadic people, their leadership has come to realise that establishing nurseries for sago palm is a step towards food security.
Meanwhile in India, Narasimha Hegde highlights how tribal women are major contributors in collection and processing of NTFPs, and are thus key to NTFP management in the Western ghats. He also updates us on appiko/Prakruti’s exciting work, among them, the use of remote sensing as a tool for mapping and managing NTFPs.
Our 13th issue comes in early in time for this year’s regional meeting that is set to take place in one of the largest wetlands in Asia – Lake Sentarum in West Kalimantan, Indonesia – and home to the fast-growing Indonesian Forest honey Network.
And speaking of honey, in November, we will be holding the Madhu Duniya conference in India. madhu Duniya, which literally translates into “honey world,” will bring together a spectrum of honey practitioners in the region for an exchange of both old and new traditions and approaches in all things honey. Look for our special insert in this issue for more details.
Let us also welcome Panthom Priyandoko, our newest addition to the NTFP-EP. He comes in as coordinator for Kalimantan to our growing activities in Indonesia.
– Aloisa Zamora-Santos
Email me at aloi AT ntfp.org
Cambodia looks into malva nut issues
A case study on malva nut collection and trade in two villages in Ratanakiri Province, Northeast Cambodia conducted in 3-7 May revealed some common issues:
– cutting of malva trees or branches for harvesting their nuts or for rice field
– distance and irregular fruiting of malva nut
– threats by ethnic Lao cutters
– illegal traders of other forest products such as wildlife and logged wood.
The study, which was headed by Dr. Hong Truong Luu of the Center for Biodiversity and Development, recommended more intense involvement of the Cambodia NTFP Development Organisation (CaNDO) and NTFP-EP (and potential local collaborations) on further and more extensive research for malva nut conservation, community forest recognition and protection, proper enforcement of village and regulations and market assistance, and capacity building for the two villages.
Sustainable liquid resins management in Cambodia
A sharing of techniques, lessons learned & good practices on liquid resins in Cambodia and Vietnam was led by Dr. Khou Eanghourt from the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia and Dr. Truong Hong Luu of the Centre for Biodiversity and Development, Vietnam last 8 May.
Dr. Eanghourt shared tapping techniques and resin quality in Cambodia. Hong Truong Luu provided an overview of Dipterocarp resin in Vietnam: types, uses, tapping techniques and key problems facing liquid resin resource management in the country. Vietnam’s Resin Association depicted good practices on marketing which they plan to expand.
Several days after, a field visit and community exchange was held in an actual resin collection in Thmak Beoy village in Chom Ksan District, Preng Thom Commune in Preah Vihear Province. Some 30 village collector participants witnessed the various activities involved in resin collection, including chopping and making a collection hole, burning, water prevention, and resin collection. As each step was demonstrated, Eanghourt and Truong facilitated an active exchange among the participants of good resin practices based on their own experiences and knowledge.
Strengthening Penan leadership towards collective action
Penan headmen came together with the aim of strengthening the Penan community leaders to develop a platform for Penans in the Apoh Tutoh, Middle Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia to collectively address their issues. Among the foremost issues discussed was how to address the key threat of expansion of large-scale palm oil plantations.
These joint meetings have been instrumental in allowing conflicting leaders to come together and initiate peace, after conflicts arose due to border issues and mistrust. These leadership meetings have likewise addressed community threats and organisational issues. It was also a platform for the settled Penans to provide support and solidarity to the nomadic Penan groups.
In a recent meeting, a joint demand on the threat of expansion of large scale palm oil on their native customary land was written in a letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chief Minister of Sarawak and signed by 10 headmen and the Penan Chief from Middle Baram. The Star, a major Malaysian newspaper carried their plight as well as their demands (Sun 15 July 2007).
Gaining inspiration from crafts partners
NTFP Task Force Enterprise Development Coordinator, Beng Camba, served as resource person to the United Nations Development Program Small Grants Projects-Promotion of Tropical Forests to provide inputs in the area of NTFP-related livelihoods to its project officers and partners during their end of project conference in June 2007. Participants specifically learned about lessons in supporting community-based NTFP-work such as marketing strategies for crafts, ensuring sustainable supply of raw materials for the enterprises, and addressing market needs despite all limitations and challenges faced by indigenous and forests communities.
It was likewise an opportunity for the Philippine crafts program to informally linkage with NTFP-EP partners also involved in crafts. Beng met with Johnny and Sylvia Utama of Dian Niaga. Both parties coming away revitalized from the exchange, agreeing that joint marketing for crafts can also be a good strategy in market expansion.
Sumbawa local government support honey improvement
Last 17-20 May, a training was hosted by the newly established Sumbawa Honey Network (under the Indonesian Forest Honey Network or Jaringan Madu Hutan – JMHI) on the island of Sumbawa. Although Sumbawa is known for its excellent honey, the training focused on improving quality standards and harvesting methods for Apis dorsata honey. Facilitated by Dr. Phung Huu Chinh of the Bee Research and Development Centre (Hanoi, Vietnam), participants came from JMHI, EP, local cooperatives and Sumbawa government staff. Prior to this, a lively half-day exchange with the regent of Sumbawa Besar took place. The Regent, Drs. Jamaluddin Malik, stressed the importance of the link up with the JMHI and NTFP-EP, as he expected that this would offer better protection of the good name of the honey from Sumbawa and associated producers elsewhere in Indonesia could be better guaranteed.
Where Nature, Wealth and Power come into play
The NTFP-EP exchanged experiences with participants during the Translinks Workshop: Linking Nature, Wealth, and Power (NWP) which was hosted by Enterprise Works Worldwide-Vita (EWW-Vita) last June 20-21.
Together with its partners, Riak Bumi (as secretariat of the Indonesian Forest Honey Network) and the NTFP Task Force through its CustomMade Crafts Center shared how the NWP approach is effectively integrated into their projects. Similarly, other government organisations, NGOs and the private sector in the Philippines and Asia also presented how the NWP approach is integrated in their projects. There are plans to facilitate an exchange of organisational expertise in each of the three areas to better inform planning of projects and implementation activities.
Riak Bumi’s stay in the Philippines ended with a short visit to NTFP Task Force partner NATRIPAL and its community partners. There was a lively exchange and sharing on the Indonesian Forest Honey Network’s organic certification.
Indonesian partners share rattan experience in Cambodia
Yoga Sofyar and Ibu Patmawaty (P3R) shared their experiences in their rattan association during the Rattan Workshop held 17-18 July in Cambodia. Rattan harvesting and collection are not regulated and replanting is generally not practiced in Cambodia. The workshop was a vital opportunity for national rattan stakeholders to gather and discuss the formulation of a proper strategy for future sustainable management and trade.
Rationalizing Philippine NTFP Policies
“Ordinary minor forest products” is how the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources refers to NTFPs in relation to dollar earners like timber and minerals. Hence while extractive activities such as logging and mining get plenty of government attention, NTFP utilisation is generally overlooked in the policy making and planning process.
The policy forum entitled”When ‘Non’ means Everything” brought together NTFP stakeholders from national government agencies, legislators, industry players, community representatives, traders, academia and others in very energetic discussions towards more effective regulations and policies for sustainable NTFP use.
Leaders of the Penan tribe gather for a workshop in Ba Puak (Dominic Langat)
The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the panel discussion graced by Hon. Risa Hontiveros (AKBAYAN Party List representative of the House of Representatives), Undersecretary Teresita Samson Castillo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Mr. Nicolaas de Lange of the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council. There was an overwhelming show of support from the panelists after the participants put forth specific recommendations, among them: simplify the administrative requirements and processes for the extraction and marketing of NTFPs; provide adequate safeguards against abusive and unsustainable use of NTFPs; provide a incentives and rewards system (including financial and credit schemes for communities engaged in NTFP production and utilisation); support R&D and capacity building programs on NTFPs; and embark on legislative and policy reforms.
The NTFP-EP co-organised the event with the University of the Philippines at Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources through the Forestry Development Center.
Sowing “Nature-Friendly Seeds”
Last 22-24 September, Virtual Academy members Dr. Mary Stockdale and Dr. Citlalli Lopez (CIFOR & Universidad Veracruzana of Mexico), together with NTFP-EP staff and partners visited the PAMULAAN Center for Indigenous Peoples Education in Davao City, Philippines. With PAMULAAN staff and students, they developed a module for Forestry and Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP).
The first of its kind in the country, PAMULAAN (literally translated as “seedbed”) has as its main thrust to create culturally appropriate and relevant pathways of training and formation for indigenous youth, community leaders, and development workers.
The 78 students from 17 tribes around the country attended workshops, lectures and activity-based sessions covering topics on IP knowledge on forests; traditional ethno-ecological knowledge; sustainable and community-based NTFP Management; NTFP enterprise development and rainforestation.
These activities were timely, as PAMULAAN envisions offering ladderized and modular courses in the future, and short-term courses for community leaders and development workers.
PAMULAAN currently offers degree programs in Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development, Indigenous Peoples Education, Peace Building and Multi-Cultural Studies, and Agricultural Technology.
Towards forging partnerships for peace and development among IP communities
In the light of the 10th year anniversary of the implementation of Republic Act 8371, better known as the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) in the Philippines, the Forging Partnerships for Peace IP Conference last 7-9 August 2007.
This brought together 160 individuals from Luzon and Visayas – leaders of indigenous peoples organisations, individuals from various IP service providers, guests from government agencies and donor institutions – to discuss and assess the IPRA implementation, coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The conference was organised by the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID), Cordillera People’s Forum (CPF), Balay Rehabilitation Center, GZO Peace Institute, Anthropology Watch (AnthroWATCH), Inter-Peoples Exchange (IPEX), Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI), Cartwheel Foundation, NTFP-EP, and Assisi Development Foundation.
The largest global nature conservation network, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), founded in 1948, seeks to promote nature conservation in a just world. It brings together states, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organizations. IUCN is supported by six international commissions made up of technical and scientific experts. They form the largest volunteer network in the world, responsible for publications such as IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Through this, the IUCN contributes to the setting of global environmental standards and guides the actions of governments and civil society in sustaining the biological diversity and natural resource base on which human livelihoods depend. Member organizations within a country or region often organize themselves into National or Regional Committees to facilitate cooperation and help coordinate the work of IUCN.
In the Netherlands, the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL), first convened in 1978, serves as the platform of the Dutch members of IUCN, and the Dutch members of the six international IUCN commissions. IUCN NL, in close cooperation with their mother organization IUCN and its members, aims to promote the conservation and responsible management of ecosystems and natural resources in an international context.
One of IUCN NL’s objectives is to decrease negative effects of Dutch and European activities on ecosystems and biodiversity elsewhere, by collaboration, lobby, advice and analysis. Over the years IUCN NL has produced several publications concerning the ecological effects of the Dutch and European economy, such as: Mining in Tropical Regions (1996), concerning Dutch involvement in the mining sector and the environmental effects; The Netherlands and the World Ecology (2002), a map assessing the amount of land used internationally in connection with the needs of the Dutch economy and the impacts on global ecosystems; The map -The Netherlands, Nature & Tourism , (2003, in English and Dutch); The Netherlands and the World Ecology: Soy and Oilpalm ( 2004), Fisheries (2005), and Tropical Shrimps (2005); and the map -The European Union & the World Ecology (2004m).
Also, IUCN NL is carrying out a program on Biodiversity & Tourism with the aim of stimulating a more sustainable form of tourism that can make a contribution to nature conservation. As international tourism is growing rapidly and in many cases tourism development poses a threat to biodiversity, but under certain conditions tourism can be a means for conservation of biodiversity.
Aside from publications, through its small grants programme, funds are available for conservation projects, mainly in the tropics and implemented by NGOs. The funding programmes are based on the Ecosystem Approach Principles as adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Until 2006 IUCN NL distinguished 3 portfolios of small grants programmes funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Tropical Rainforest Programme (TRP); Small grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP); and Dry and sub-humid Areas Small grants programme (DAS).
As of 2007, the IUCN NL/ Ecosystem Grants Programme (EGP) integrates these small grants funds for projects of local organisations in the South that link nature conservation and poverty issues. The EGP contributes to the following overall goal: ‘To reverse trends of ecosystem degradation and loss in the South, and the subsequent impoverishment of vulnerable groups in society, through the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations.’
EGP finances projects that are developed and implemented by local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that contribute to one or more of the following objectives: (a) to mainstream ecosystem and biodiversity management in production environments, aimed at securing livelihoods of the rural poor;(b) to strengthen ecosystem and biodiversity conservation for future generations; and ‘to create an enabling environment at local, national and international levels for the aforementioned objectives a & b.
Through the EGP, a number of partners organizations of the EP network, who have exhibited proven commitment to ecosystem conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as the EP itselfm, are currently undertaking conservation projects that promote greater participation, empowerment, and accountability of all the communities, resulting to the formulation of comprehensive community-based solutions not only addressing environmental degradation but also responsive to poverty reduction. {Vince Docta}
