The proposed methodology for statistical data collection and analysis was developed after an evaluation of the current situation of the NWFP sub-sector in Suriname. With the existing institutional infrastructure as a basis and using the identified constraints and the desired output from interviews with relevant and potential users or providers of statistical data a proposal for improvement of the collection of statistical data was elaborated.
The following issues should be taken into account when proposing the new methodology:
• Statistics on NWFP should provide information for different end users. They are most important for planners and those involved in making decisions regarding NWFP, i.e. scientific and management authorities dealing with NWFP, endangered plant and animal species, forest services.
• Statistics are a tool for impact assessment, especially in identifying the overexploitation of natural resources, including NWFP. They are therefore useful for management authorities such as SBB, which enforces the Forest Management Act as well as related legislation and regulations.
• Most NWFP are collected by indigenous people and maroons who use these products on a daily basis. With the current points of data collection, it will be difficult to obtain information on consumption, production and local trade. Local trade involves a relatively small market (less than 500 000 people). Data on local trade can be collected at local marketplaces in all districts and at local animal pet shops and animal exporters, especially at the markets in Paramaribo. These data should be collected on a regular basis through (market) inventories.
• Taking into account the difficulties in monitoring local consumption of and trade in NWFP, the focus of the proposed methodology should be on NWFP that will eventually enter international trade. As for the exported NWFP, data on trade volume and values are essential for the Government (e.g. Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Finance).
The proposed methodology consists of 11 steps that should lead to an improved availability of statistical data on NWFP in Suriname:
• Step 1: Agree upon the institutional
infrastructure
• Step 2: Assign and agree upon clear points of data
collection
• Step 3: Identify data needed
• Step 4: Design a new NWFP
database
• Step 5: Establish linkages to relevant databases (i.e. ASYCUDA and
LOGPRO)
• Step 6: Develop data collection forms
• Step 7: Develop
identification guide
• Step 8: Convert data used for the NWFP database
•
Step 9: Establish working group
• Step 10: Train stakeholders concerned
•
Step 11: Develop Forest Management and Monitoring Plan
The proposed method for the improved availability of statistical data could not be fully tested due to the fact that basic decisions still have to be made. Once these basic decisions are made, the testing of the method could continue.
4.2 Institutional infrastructure
A clear decision should be made with regards to the institutional infrastructure for the collection, analysis and management of data on NWFP in Suriname. A model is given in Figure 3. The basis for this institutional infrastructure is the required flow of data on NWFP for sustainable management of NWFP in Suriname. It is proposed that all institutes involved in NWFP are involved in the `new' institutional infrastructure.
Figure 3: Figure 3. Proposed model for the institutional infrastructure and for dataflow on NWFP in Suriname
SBB, the Forest Management Authority, has the responsibility for the collection, analysis and distribution of data on NWFP and the monitoring of commercial production of NWFP (and wooden products). SBB should therefore be the lead organization to set up the institutional infrastructure.
The design of a NWFP database is proposed which would be managed by SBB. SBB should also be responsible for data processing and reporting and the correct flow of data on NWFP in Suriname. It is proposed that the institute, which will be in charge of the scientific analysis of research, should be responsible for issuing permits for the export of NWFP under the Ministry of Natural Resources. Part of this responsibility may also be delegated to another institution.
In this new institutional infrastructure, DNC will not be solely responsible for issuing export permits for NWFP. A decision should be made as to who will be responsible for the delivery of CITES permits.
For the collection of data on NWFP the following institutes are identified:
SBB
• Collection of field data via forest guards;
•
Collection of data on product volumes, value, location of collection, dates,
producers, exporters etc. from licenses and permits forms.
DNC
• Collection of field data (location, numbers, species, volumes, mortality etc.) trough wildlife personnel and from permits and licenses forms.
AdeKUS
• BBS: from field studies;
• NZCS: from research
and field studies;
• Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Technology: from
research and field studies;
• Department of Environmental Sciences: from
research and field studies;
• CELOS: from research and field studies.
Ministry of Agriculture
• Veterinary Department: from health certificates;
•
Department of Plant Protection and Quality Control: from health certificates.
Indigenous people and maroon communities
• via community scouts under the responsibility of the SBB (for example assigned forest guards for their community)
The following procedure for the export of NWFP is proposed:
1. The exporter, collector or producer registers at SBB.
2. The exporter, collector or producer applies for a permit at SBB to collect (produce) a NWFP or parts of a NWFP. Form to be filled out: Application form for collection (new)
3. The exporter applies for a license to export NWFP at SBB. Forms to be filled out by the exporter:
• Enig document form for customs service;
• CITES
permit form; or
• Wildlife application form (for CITES species).
4. SBB registers requests for permits for collection of NWFP.
5. SBB registers the request for a license to export NWFP.
6. From this point on the institute that does the analysis of the data on NWFP further handles the applications regarding NWFP and issues the permits and licenses. SBB is in fact responsible but could delegate this responsibility.
7. DNC co-signs permits and licenses with regards to CITES species, using the information from SBB.
8. SBB grants permits and/or licenses.
9. The H-99 form (for financial transactions) is filled out and submitted to IUD and the commercial banks with the CITES permit and the Enig Document form.
10. A health certificate or a phyto-sanitation certificate is required for export. The Veterinary Department or the Department of Plant Protection and Quality Control issue these permits.
11. The exporter submits the products to customs service.
12. For packing and handling of the live animal products, a CITES preparation of shipment checklist is checked by wildlife guards. The wildlife guards also check if the number and description of the products is in compliance with the information on the CITES-permit. They also check the SFS permit. All shipments must comply with IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulations.
13. The customs service officer checks packaging and documents everything on the H99-form. The products are inspected and then sealed.
14. The responsibility for the exported products is with the carrier until the product arrives at the country of import.
15. The customs service submits statistical data to ABS.
16. + 17. The Veterinary Department and the Department of Plant Protection and Animal Control submit statistical data to the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, which, in turn, submits it to ABS.
Based on the checklist for CITES, a general list of required data on plant and animal NWFP should be elaborated in order to assist scientific authorities in making non-detrimental findings for CITES. These data are required by scientific and management authorities in order to monitor the sustainable management of the resource. For financial analyses, data on trade volume, production, and local trade should be collected.
The desired database output that would support management activities for the scientific and management authorities are listed below.
Data for the management of the quota system
• Yearly quota and FOB values per species;
•
Allocation of yearly quota to the exporters;
• Consolidated quota per
exporter;
• Total requested quota and remaining free quota;
• Total
realized exports and potentially planned exports on the basis of allocated quota
and FOB values of total realized exports per animal species;
• Overview of
permit numbers and CITES security stamp numbers, country of destination, with or
without name and address of buyer (importer);
• Stock of animals in
captivity;
• Yearly report per exporter;
• Total requested and realized
quota per species;
• Percentage realized relative to the individual
quota;
• Total realized FOB values;
• Exported number per species per country of destination.
For conservation purposes and the sustainable use of forest resources
• Location of production/collection (extraction);
•
Type of production;
• Volumes lost;
• Volumes traded: weight/numbers;
•
Value of traded or lost volume;
• Population
• Size of the population at the location;
•
Distribution/range at the location;
• Age of animals
exported/collected;
• Sex of animals exported/collected;
• Structure:
number of males/females exported/year/season/location, number of siblings/year/location.
• Production and trade
• Local trade patterns;
• International trade
patterns;
• Local production and consumption: value and volume;
• Harvest type.
Data on NWFP should be kept for management of the main NWFP categories
• Class 1: Live animals or plants derived from the
forest;
• Class 2: Parts of animals or plants derived from the forest.
Examples for animal and plant products are shown below in order to give an idea of the data that is needed for the management and monitoring of NWFP.
Example 1: Macaws
Production/collection data
National harvest level: Location, where birds were captured (coordinates of the place of collection or production sectors based on logpro database):
• Forest type;
• Vegetation type;
• Habitat;
•
Demographic structure, village;
• Concession identification number.
Data to be collected during inventory/studies in the forest on a regular basis
• Population size: Estimated/counted total number of
macaws (subspecies included);
• Population distribution: Counted number of
macaws at location (see location);
• Population structure: Sex structure/reproductive age classes:
• Number of females: mature or immature (juveniles/sub
adults, youngsters/neonates);
• Number of males: mature / immature.
• Population trends:
• Mating season;
• Breeding season;
• Number of
animals captured at specific location;
• Number of animals exported per
exporter;
• Number of fatalities during collection;
• Number of
fatalities during captivity for export.
Data to be collected from the permit and license forms filled out by the collector, producer or exporter
• Harvest method: Legal (registered) or illegal (not registered)
• Selective or non-selective harvest (code), number of
birds captured;
• Shooting, number of fatalities;
• Captive breeding,
number of bred animals;
• Mortality (natural during harvest and during transport).
• Harvest type: Live capture or trapping
• Nets;
• Cages;
• Shooting; not killed;
•
Eggs collecting;
• Parts collected without killing the life form;
•
Captured but dead (shooting or poisoning).
• Number of NWFP collected: Total number of macaws
collected;
• Type of NWFP traded: Total number of macaws exported;
•
Number of products discarded: Total number of fatalities and total number of
rejected birds for export (sick animals etc);
• Trade patterns;
•
Season;
• Number of animals traded.
• Pests and diseases
• Species;
• Number of specimens;
• Recorded
pests in situ/at export;
• Recorded disease in situ/at export;
• Health
certificate identification number.
Possible question on the wildlife application form
a) Production:
• Concession id number;
• Coordinates of the location
(sector or concession) of collection/production of NWFP.
b) Harvest method used to acquire the NWFP at a specific location:
• Selective harvest of live animals;
• Total harvest
of live animals;
• Selective harvest of dead animals;
• Total harvest of
dead animals;
• Natural mortality.
c) Type of harvest used:
• Nets;
• Caging;
• Arms;
• Collecting (for
example eggs).
d) Number of NWFP collected/exported:
• Number of animals collected using the harvest method
described above;
• Number of animals to be exported;
• Animals bought from
another collector? If yes, please state name and address of the seller
(reseller);
• Date the animals were captured (day/month/year);
• Number of
animals bought;
• Exporter id.
(Note: No permit will be issued when this form is not filled out adequately)
Example 2: Plant product
Harvest method plants
• Number of plants collected;
• Legal/illegal collected:
• Selected harvest;
• Unselected harvest (total harvest).
Harvest type
• Removal of whole plants;
• Removal of living plant
parts (lethal or non-lethal for remaining plant):
• Bulbs;
• Roots;
• Shoots;
• Buds;
•
Flowers/or parts of flowers involved with reproduction (anthers, pollen,
ovule);
• Leaves;
• Plant juices (excretions);
• Seeds and
embryos;
• Wood (fuel);
• Bark;
• Fruits;
• Scions;
•
Artificial propagation (in vivo, in vitro).
Trade
• Local trade:
• Volume;
• Value.
• Export:
• Destination;
• Volume;
• Value.
Consumption
• Volume/value (data from studies at markets in the
districts and Paramaribo);
• Type of consumption.
A NWFP database should be designed and managed by SBB. SBB should also be responsible for data processing, yearly reporting and correct dataflow for NWFP in Suriname.
In this proposed database, the existing population analysis and development database currently used by DNC could be incorporated. In fact, the new database could be considered an extension of the existing database. Based on the importance of NWFP in the national economy, a decision should be made on investments required for the establishment of the proposed database.
In deciding what to include in a database on NWFP, the main issues to be considered are:
• What is the purpose of the information generated by
this database?
• Who are the end users of the database?
The main purpose of the information generated by the proposed database is to promote the sustainable management of resources providing NWFP. The end users of the database are involved in:
• natural resource conservation;
• natural resource
management;
• natural resource use planning (e.g. Ministry of Natural
Resources);
• policy planning (Ministry of Natural Resources) and development
(Ministry of Development Planning).
4.6 Linking existing databases
It is proposed that a link be established between the proposed NWFP database and the existing ASYCUDA and LOGPRO databases.
Initially, only a relationship of product similarity and corresponding codes will be established to the ASYCUDA system. This will facilitate communication between ASYCUDA and the proposed database on NWFP. Information should be exchanged on a regular basis. A periodical update of the database on NWFP to the ASYCUDA system should be carried out in order to verify if new product descriptions or codes were introduced. Depending on future developments, a direct (on-line) link could be considered.
A connection should also be established with the LOGPRO database. This database has been developed by SBB in order to monitor logging related activities and information. Control on logging by SBB is done through production planning and registered logging. A 100 percent inventory system is now being developed. Although licenses for wood logging are separately issued from licenses for the collection of forest by-products, both can take place in almost the same location. LOGPRO covers data on the concession holder (name, address and type of license) and on the concession itself (i.e. id no., location, logging plots, logged trees, tree dimensions and tree species). These data can be extracted from the mandatory inventory for a logging concession.
It is suggested that the format of licenses and permits for export of plants and animals and their products is reviewed in such a way that relevant items needed for management and monitoring purposes are added. Examples are given in step 3 (chapter 4.4).
Forms for data collection in the field must be developed to ensure coverage of relevant data by SBB. These forms should be kept as short as possible as there is little time or opportunity in the field for data collection.
For the purpose of standardization, an identification guide on NWFP exported from Suriname should be developed. This catalogue should be developed for field data collectors and customs services. This guide, which would be the result of a comprehensive study, should include information on:
• related ASYCUDA code;
• category;
• product
description (by use and/or type of product);
• physical description (picture,
photo or drawing to ease identification of the product, or identifiable parts,
ingredients of the product);
• common name;
• scientific name;
• origin
of the product;
• collection or production method;
• notes on packaging
and handling requirements;
• CITES animals and plants.
Eventually a data conversion must take place from the DNC database to the NWFP database, in particular for the purpose of monitoring and sustainable management of NWFP resources.
The following data is kept by the DNC from issued license and CITES permits:
• genus / species;
• CITES appendix number;
•
yearly quota;
• quota per exporter;
• used quota per year and
exporter;
• number of animals in stock at exporter facility.
No data are being gathered on the location and the number of collected animals or animals bred in captivity. Rather than existing on its own, in the future the data from the DNC could be included in the new SBB database.
It is proposed to create a working group, chaired by SBB, which will be responsible for the development of the identification guide and the establishment and coordination of the NWFP database.
It is proposed that SBB be responsible for the implementation of the above steps and related monitoring and training activities. Training should concern personnel and local communities who are dealing with data collection, data entry, data analysis and reporting of statistical data as well as with the execution and monitoring of forest management programs.
4.12 Forest Management and Monitoring Plan
An integrated Forest Management and Monitoring Plan should be developed under the responsibility of SBB.