Month: November 2016

BOGOR, Indonesia – The ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF), formerly known as ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) organized the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Bamboo Utilization as mandated by the ASEAN Senior Officials in Forestry (ASOF). Bamboo utilization development in ASEAN contributes both to the Strategic Action Plan (SPA) for the ASEAN Working Group on Forest Products Development (AWG-FPD) as well as the AWG-SF. The objectives of the workshop were 1) to provide a venue for the ASEAN Member States to share and update on the current status of bamboo utilization development, its challenges and opportunities in each country and at the regional level and 2) to provide the opportunity to identify potentials in bamboo utilization development in ASEAN, and the areas of common interest to develop further in contributing to the SPA of the ASEAN Cooperation in Forestry 2016-2025. The workshop was attended by over 50 persons with representatives from 7 ASEAN member states namely Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Participants of the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Bamboo Utilization held in 16-18 November 2016 at Bogor, Indonesia

Presentations on the first day were made by the Forestry and Environment Research, Development and Innovation Agency (FOERDIA) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF) of Indonesia on the status of bamboo silviculture, tissue culture, lamination and socio-economic and climate change research in the Indonesian context.

Dr. Eri Indrawan of the Directorate General of Social Forestry and Environment Partnership of MOEF also presented on the issues facing bamboo product development such as land conversion, limited technology at the community level and the lack of integrated policies. This is despite the fact that Indonesia is one of the largest suppliers of bamboo in the world and that, according to Dr. Anto Rimbawanto of FOERDIA, that 1.5B people in the world depend on bamboo. Dr Rimbawanto stressed the importance of the creative economy in the bamboo industry and the importance of innovation.

In the afternoon, presentations from the ASEAN Member States (AMS) were made by participants from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Dr. Sapol Boonsermsuk of the Royal Forestry Department of Thailand underscored the various uses of bamboo from activated charcoal, and bamboo fiber among other products while Dr. Phan Van Thang of the Vietnamese Research Centre for Non-Timber Forest Products shared the limitations of bamboo development in Vietnam but also stressed possible remedies on tax and credit policies as well as promotions in handicraft villages and international cooperation.

The second day of the workshop was spent at the Indonesian Bamboo Foundation (YBI) in Cibinong, West Java where Mr. Jatnika, the founder of YBI provided inputs in 30 different species of indigenous Bamboo found on the Foundation grounds as well as on proper timing of harvest amount other points.

Mr Jatnika of the Indonesian Bamboo Foundation (YBI) shares about proper harvesting time of bamboo stands

On the third day of the workshop, AMS presentations continued from the Philippines and Myanmar with Dir Romulo Aggangan presenting trends in the bamboo industry as well as progressive policies in the Philippines where 25% of all government elementary school chairs and tables are required to be made of bamboo. Unfortunately, the bamboo production in the country is not enough to meet this requirement so efforts in production are important. Mr. Aung Zaw Moe of the Forest Research Institute Myanmar presented that bamboo plantations should also be encouraged by the government and also rural communities. He also stressed that the traditional artistic skill of making bamboo products should be preserved.

Professor Elizabeth Widjaja, Principal Scientist, also presented on bamboo mapping and Mr. Pon S. Purajatnika, Honorary Chairman of the Indonesian Architects Association-West Java Chapter amazed the audience with examples of bamboo architecture in resorts as far as the Maldives.

Maria Cristina S. Guerrero of NTPF-EP presents the results of the ASEAN NTFP technology study as well as the impact study of the
ASEAN Economic Community on the forestry sector

NTFP-EP Senior Adviser, Maria Cristina Guerrero, closed the last panel session by sharing the results of NTFP technology scoping study lead by Dr Ramon Razal of the University of the Philippines –Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR). She stressed that there was much potential and opportunity to exchange across the region to share learnings through an expert group and learning network on NTFP technologies. She also shared the possible opportunities and impacts of forestry within the liberalization of the ASEAN Economic Community and stressed that ASEAN countries should not fear collaboration as that would be one of the keys to success in competition with larger economic blocks and nation states outside ASEAN.

In the closing session Dr Dede Rohadi of FOERDIA stressed that concerted effort was needed to determine why the efforts to expand bamboo planting among local farmers in the region are still lacking despite mature technologies and demand. He encouraged research in that area.

The meeting ended with further discussion and inputs on the Strategic Plan of Action for ASEAN Cooperation on Social on Social Forestry.

Article by Crissy Guerrero, NTFP-EP Asia
Photos by Sagita Arhidani, AWG-SF

ASEAN Economic Community or AEC embodies the aspiration of regional economic integration by the 10 member states1 of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by 31 December 2015. The AEC will have the following key characteristics: a) a single market and production base; b) a highly competitive region; c) a region of equitable economic development; and d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

It is envisioned that the ASEAN region will become one ASEAN Community that is founded on strong economic, political, and socio-cultural partnerships among the ASEAN member states (AMS). Thus, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is one the pillars of the ASEAN Community alongside the Political-Security Community (APSC) and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The economic aspects of integration will entail liberalization of trade among the AMSs including measures that will eliminate all tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhance interconnectivity, and other measures that will allow free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor.

The study was conducted by the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) with support from the ASEAN Swiss Partnership for Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC). It determined the impacts (both positive and negative) of the planned economic integration on social forestry stakeholders in the ASEAN member states.

ASEAN Economic Community or AEC embodies the aspiration of regional economic integration by the 10 member states1 of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by 31 December 2015. The AEC will have the following key characteristics: a) a single market and production base; b) a highly competitive region; c) a region of equitable economic development; and d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

It is envisioned that the ASEAN region will become one ASEAN Community that is founded on strong economic, political, and socio-cultural partnerships among the ASEAN member states (AMS). Thus, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is one the pillars of the ASEAN Community alongside the Political-Security Community (APSC) and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The economic aspects of integration will entail liberalization of trade among the AMSs including measures that will eliminate all tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhance interconnectivity, and other measures that will allow free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor.

The study was conducted by the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) with support from the ASEAN Swiss Partnership for Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC). It determined the impacts (both positive and negative) of the planned economic integration on social forestry stakeholders in the ASEAN member states.

BACOLOD, Philippines – It all started during the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week (APFW) last February 2016 at Clark Pampanga, Philippines. Our host Ramon “Chinchin” Uy Jr. attended a few sessions in his capacity as one of the NTFP-EP Philippines Board of Trustees, and owner of Fresh Start Organics[1]. Among others, he met Ms. Nuning Barwa[2], currently a freelance consultant from Indonesia who was previously President of the ASEAN Cosmetics Association, in addition to handling the CSR activities of Martha Tilaar Group. She had been invited as a speaker to talk about Lansium domesticum, otherwise known as langsat or lanzones, a fruit common in Southeast Asia and used in Martha Tilaar cosmetics. He invited her to visit Bacolod, a progressive city in the Visayas region of the Philippines to check on their organic initiatives.

The visit finally happened in October, with the writer tagging along as a companion. Upon arrival in Bacolod, we were met by Francine Uy, owner of Fresh Start Organics and wife of Ramon Uy Jr. We were immediately brought to May’s Organic Garden where we would stay for the duration of our trip. May’s Organic Garden is an experience in itself. Over 4 hectares in size, the property includes an organic farm that grows various plants and livestock, a man-made lake, a restaurant and events place, as well as the foundry and machine shop. We rode the golf cart to take a quick tour of the place and visited the manufacturing facility for Fresh Start, where the scent of distilled lemongrass permeated.

We visited the Fresh Start Organics store located at Robinson’s Place Bacolod where they sell organic food and products. We were too full to eat anything solid, but a cool smoothie to counteract the afternoon heat was just what we needed.   Even then, we had difficulty choosing from the selections. I personally wanted to try everything!

Shots of the farm and the events venue.

The following day was a session with Cynthia the chemist, who was in the process of exploring new product lines for Fresh Start. In the afternoon, we went to Mamabel’s Home Garden located in Purok Inday Oya, Barangay Vista Alegre. It was a delight to visit the garden with a profusion of herbs and plants. It was also good surprise to see the tea tree plant being grown locally. In addition to growing fruit trees, plants and herbs, Mamabel’s also distills and sells tea tree oil, other essential oils, prepares gotu kola balm for wounds and bites, and others.

The Fresh Start store from the outside and the inside wall featuring a collage of organic products and initiatives. The writer with Nuning Barwa, Francine Uy (the owner), and Cynthia the Fresh Start chemist.

The 3^rd day was a whole day session on marketing segmentation for the future that was conducted by Ibu Nuning for key people of Fresh Start Organics. We capped the day by visiting The Ruins, a mansion built in the middle of a sugar plantation early in the 20^th century, which was torched by the American army to prevent the Japanese from using the place as their headquarters. This took 3 days to burn, and yet the structure remains intact.

The Bacolod trip would not have been complete without a visit to the Fresh Start Organic farm in Silay, just before going to the airport for our flight back to Manila. Notice the rows of organic lettuce, the herb garden, a peek into the greenhouse and plant processing area which is a single story structure made from mud.

[1] Fresh Start Organics is a privately owned company that is committed to providing organic food and improving the lives of small farmers, while developing a sustainable agricultural food system and preserving the environment.

[2] Nuning Barwa is a Board of Trustee of NTFP-EP Indonesia and of NTFP-EP Asia.

Article and photos by Llana Domingo, NTFP-EP Asia

HANOI, Vietnam – The potential roles of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in climate change adaptation and mitigation have been part of on-going discussion not just ASEAN region. In Vietnam for example. NTFPs such as bambusa (bamboo) and pine resin are key to the livelihoods of many forest-dependent communities. Based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, the Department of Forest Development/Department of Forest Production Management (VNFOREST) in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Vietnam have organized the National NTFPs Forum in Hanoi last 10 November 2016.

The “National Forum on NTFPs Development in Social Forestry for Poverty Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation” was organized to elucidate issues, challenges, and lessons around NTFP development and conservation. NTFP-EP and the Southern Institute of Ecology (SIE) shared to the forum evidences from case studies highlighting the importance of NTFPs in protecting the livelihood and income of local communities depending on forests not just in Vietnam but also in neighboring countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.

Nguyen Duc To Luu of PanNature Vietnam presented results from the analysis of the cardamom value chain in the districts like Xin Man, where they faced challenges in the unsustainable forest cultivation of resources and the limited access to NTFPs due to existing regulations. The case recognized that key policies surrounding the development and conservation of NTFPs have yet to be strengthened at the national level to establish  stronger linkages between stakeholders and some related policies that ensure sustainability in terms of profit and resource management.

By Autopilot – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

This pivotal opportunity to mainstream NTFPs into the country’s forestry sustainability agenda could prove to be advantageous not just for resource management, but also for the recognition of ethnic rights in Vietnam. Madame Truong of Centre for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM) that in promoting sustainable management of natural resources, it is important to recognize the duality of indigenous knowledge and modern techniques. She adds that by providing support to the communities and increasing their capacity, the premise of poverty alleviation could be a contingent strategy towards climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Article by NTFP-EP Asia
Photos by Femy Pinto and Tanya Conlu, NTFP-EP Asia

Abstract:

Improving livelihoods and income of forest dependent communities is important in the context of poverty reduction efforts, food security, and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). In this regard, many countries in Asia have initiated forest tenure reform programmes. However, the outcome of such reform is mixed and potential benefits to rural people are not fully realised. Restrictive and weak regulatory frameworks, tenure insecurity, and insufficient institutional capacity are key factors limiting the impacts of forest tenure reform. FAO initiated a regional programme on Strengthening Forest Tenure for Sustaining Livelihoods and Generating Income in Cambodia, Nepal and Viet Nam in 2014. These three countries are referred to pilot countries. The main objective was to strengthen regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity of these countries on forest tenure to ensure better income and livelihoods for forest dependent communities. These briefs present key results of the forest tenure policy assessment based on the review of over 130 policy documents in three pilot countries (29 in Cambodia, 37 in Nepal, and 76 in Viet Nam. The country specific brief provides the current status; gaps of regulatory framework related to forest tenure in the selected pilot country and provide policy recommendations to address gaps. The regional brief provides a comprehensive and comparative scenario on forest tenure and draw learning from each other (what works where and why?)

To download the publication, click here.