AMAZON BOTANY FOR PHYSICIANS
15-22 JANUARY 1994
This special programme under the auspices of the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER) Foundation featured the interaction of North American and Peruvian physicians, a local native American shaman, and several local naturalist guides in a study of the remarkable array of rain forest plants that are utilized in the local pharmacopoeia and the part they play in Western medicine. Participants were introduced to the sources of some 100 modern pharmaceuticals.
For more information, please contact ACEER Foundation, 10 Environs Park, Helena, Alabama, 35080 USA.
REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF INDIGENOUS FRUIT TREES OF THE MIOMBO ECOSYSTEM OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
MANGOCHI, MALAWI, 25-28 JANUARY 1994
The conference was organized by the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and cosponsored by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tree Seed Centre with a view to assessing the work being done in the area of indigenous fruit trees, as well as setting priorities, identifying implementing agencies and allocating responsibilities.
Participants at the conference represented a cross-section of interests and ranged from seed technologists, botanists, foresters, tree-breeders and horticulturists through to representatives from research institutes and NGOs. The meeting was divided into plenary and working group sessions. Working group topics were inventory, utilization, germplasm problems and field testing.
There was also a stimulating visit to the Makoka Agricultural Research Station, near Zomba, where experimental plantings of indigenous fruit trees were viewed.
For more information, please contact R.R.B. Leakey, ICRAF, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: +254 2 521001.
CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION ON THE BUSINESS AND SCIENCE OF SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS
HILLSBORO, OREGON, USA, 26-27 JANUARY 1994
Sponsored by the Western Forestry and Conservation Association and the Northwest Special Forest Products Association, the conference eminently served to provide and exchange information on new developments and potentials in the area of special forest products.
For more information, please contact Western Forestry and Conservation Association, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221, USA. Fax: +1 503 2262515.
ALL-INDIA CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
BANGALORE, INDIA, 23-25 FEBRUARY 1994
This meeting was organized by the Farmers' Development Agency to promote the pooling of expertise available in India for resource surveys, processing and marketing and the conservation of aromatic and medicinal plants, leading towards a positive plan of action.
The actual format of the meeting was in-depth discussions in different technical sessions to identify problems and issues and make recommendations. Some 90 persons from various institutions participated.
For more information, please contact L.S. Prahlada Rao, Programme Coordinator, Farmers' Development Agency, Chikaballapur-562 101, Karnataka, India.
THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATION ON NEEM IMPROVEMENT
JODHPUR, INDIA, 28 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH 1994
The consultation was organized by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) at the Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), in technical collaboration with FAO and with cooperation and support from CIRAD-For�t (France), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) Forest Seed Centre, the Regional Forest Tree Improvement Project (FORTIP) and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The following countries were represented: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso. Chad, Denmark, France, Ghana, India, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, the Niger, Senegal and Thailand.
Figure 24
The consultation recommended that an International Neem Network be established and that a costed project document be prepared by mid-1994 on the basis of the programme outlines that were discussed and approved by the consultation. The network programmes included a main component in provenance exploration, collection and testing and four research components of: phenology, seed physiology/technology, genetic diversity/reproductive biology using genetic markers, and variation in chemical compounds.
The consultation discussed and approved the work plan for 19941995. 1994 will mark the end of the pilot activities and the beginning of the activities of the main programme with the exploration, delineation and documentation of neem seed sources throughout the natural range and among land races and the organization of seed collection training courses. Full-scale provenance seed collection will be undertaken in 1995, for the establishment of international trials in 1996.
For more information, please contact Oudara Souvannavong, Forest Resources Division, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 6 52256661.
WORKSHOP ON MIOMBO AND SEMI-ARID WOODLANDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
HARARE, ZIMBABWE, 14-17 MARCH 1994
This workshop was sponsored by CIFOR with a focus on research related to woodland use and management. Participants included representatives of research institutions from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The main objectives of the workshop were to exchange information on current research activities within the region, to initiate collaborative research on socio-economic aspects of woodland use and management, and to formulate a research agenda. Nonindustrial products and markets emerged as the area of highest collective priority for research, followed by policy and legislation-oriented research and examination of local institutional resource-sharing arrangements.
For more information and proceedings of the meeting, please contact Officer-in-Charge, Policy Development Program, CIFOR, PO Box 6596, JKPWB, Jakarta 10065, Indonesia. Fax: +62 251 826433.
TRAINING COURSE ON MARKETING OF NON-TIMBER TREE AND FOREST PRODUCTS
REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORESTRY TRAINING CENTRE, BANGKOK, THAILAND, 21 MARCH - 8 APRIL 1994
This three-week training course was an intensive exercise that included not only lectures and guided reading, but also field trips to several ongoing projects in Thailand. The primary objective of the course was to develop comprehensive skills in identifying potential products, impact of policy on market channels, distribution of income generated by non-timber products, relationship between on-and off-farm trees resources and the impact of product marketing on forest conservation.
For more information, please contact Somsak Sukwong, Director, RECOFTC, PO Box 1111, Bangkok 10903, Thailand. Fax: +662 5614880.
WORKSHOP ON BIODIVERSITY OUTSIDE PROTECTED AREAS: THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL AGROECOSYSTEMS
SOTO DEL REAL, MADRID, SPAIN, 11-14 APRIL 1994
The workshop was funded by the Forest Conservation Programme of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and organized by the Department of Ecology, Universidad Complutense of Madrid. It considered the problems of conserving biodiversity both inside and outside protected areas. The objectives of the workshop were to examine the scope and potential of combining production and conservation of biodiversity outside protected areas. During the workshop, 12 representative cases from different parts of the world were presented by people who have been engaged in both conservation and development activities. The case-studies covered selected situations in Costa Rica, Bolivia, Mexico, the United Republic of Tanzania, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Egypt, Viet Nam, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
For more information, please contact Don Gilmour, Forest Conservation Programme Coordinator, IUCN, Rue Mauverney 28,1196 Gland, Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 9990025.
SYMPOSIUM ON BIODIVERSITY, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, 12-13 APRIL 1994
The symposium was organized by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). IICA and PAHO are part of the Inter-American System, which comprises several specialized regional cooperation agencies. The symposium gathered representatives of the different biodiversity-prospecting models for pharmaceutical and agricultural purposes, environmentalists and researchers from pharmaceutical companies. Rather than formulating recommendations or policy options, the symposium produced a map of positions, issues and warnings with respect to the development opportunities of biodiversity for developing countries.
For more information, please contact Julie Feinsilver, Program of Research and Technological Development in Health, PAHO, 525, 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 200372895, USA. Fax: +1 202 8618472.
WORKSHOP ON INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
HAVANA, CUBA, 14-21 APRIL 1994
A workshop was held at the Centre for Research and Development of Medicinal Plants (CIDEM), jointly sponsored by UNIDO, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the pharmaceutical section of the Ibero-American Programme for the Development of Science and Technology (CYTED) in collaboration with the Government of Cuba and CIDEM. Sixteen scientists from 13 Latin American countries participated. The programme included scientific information and practical work on industrial use of medicinal plants from raw materials to finished products, including propagation, cultivation, processing, analysis, activity and toxicity studies, formulation, clinical trials and packaging. Biodiversity conservation and the use of cleaner technologies were emphasized.
For more information, please contact Tuley De Silva, Special Technical Advisor, Chemical Industries Branch, UNIDO, PO Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Fax: +4312309615.
INTERREGIONAL MEETING ON AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION FOR AFRICA, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA
NAIROBI, KENYA, 3-7 MAY 1994
This was the first meeting ever to bring together scientists, development planners and educators from Asia, Africa and Latin America to discuss agroforestry development and potential. It was jointly organized and sponsored by the FAO Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network (APAN), the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).
Some 30 persons from varying backgrounds participated. Each region had country presentations, followed by discussions and group work to prepare recommendations. There were also two field trips to visit agroforestry activities.
For more information, please contact Ester Zulberti, Director, Training and Information, ICRAF, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: + 254 2 521001.
WORKSHOP ON EXTRACTIVISM AND POTENTIALITIES OF MULTIPLE-USE FOREST RESERVES IN AFRICA
NARO MORO, KENYA, 8-13 MAY 1994
The Commission of the European Union (CEU) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) jointly held a meeting to investigate the extent to which extractivism and the associated concept of extractive reserves can be a major force for the conservation of tropical rain forests in Africa, and their role in providing sustainable benefits to forest-dwelling and forest-dependent communities. The workshop was organized in plenary sessions and parallel working sessions. Informal presentations of case-studies were organized for the evenings. Important aspects of incorporating non-wood products into management plans were discussed, i.e. resources surveys; evaluation of non-wood products; impacts of the utilization of NWFPs on biodiversity; cultural values; policy, legal and institutional aspects; the role of community participation, etc. A number of suggestions and recommendations were made during the workshop on a wide range of issues. The results of the workshop will be published by IUCN.
Figure 25
For more information, please contact Guido Broekhoven, Coordinator, Eastern Africa Forest Conservation, Programme, IUCN, PO Box 68200, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: +254 2 503511.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CULTIVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
TRENTO, ITALY, 2-3 JUNE 1994
This represented the final meeting of the project financed by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Resources. The results of the project "Cultivation and improvement of medicinal and aromatic plants" as well as the general problems relating to the production and trade of medicinal and aromatic plants, were presented and discussed.
For more information, please contact A. Bezzi, Istituto sperimentale per l'assestamento forestale e per l'alpicoltura, Piazza Nicolini, 6, 38050 Villazzano, Trento, Italy. Fax: +39 461 914651.
JOINT MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR TROPICAL BIOLOGY
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, 14-19 JUNE 1994
The two societies held their first joint meeting at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico to promote the participation of Latin American members of the respective societies. The objectives of the meeting were to promote biological research and conservation in the neotropics.
For more information, please contact Bruce Benz, Laboratorio Natural Las Joyas, Universidad de Guadalajara, Apdo Postal 1-3933, Guadalajara, Jalisco, C.P., 44100 Mexico. Fax: +52 338 72749.
SOCIETY FOR ECONOMIC BOTANY 1994 CONFERENCE
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, 22-24 JUNE 1994
The 1994 SEB (Society for Economic Botany) Conference was held in Mexico City from 22 to 24 June 1994. The highlight of the meeting was the symposium: "Collected plants - the impact of people on plants, their use and commercialization".
For more information, please contact Lucy Kaplan, Dept of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ESSENTIAL OILS, FRAGRANCES AND FLAVOURS
AVIGNON, FRANCE, 3-7 JULY 1994
This very well attended conference was organized by Syndicat des Importateurs-Exportateurs de Mati�res Premi�res Aromatiques (SIEMPA). The meeting considered the situation and outlook of the industry. Apart from in-session discussions there were also field visits.
For more information, please contact Jose L. Adrian, Vice-President of SIEMPA, 89 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor�, 75370 Paris Cedex 08, France. Fax: + 33 1 47 424464
CONSULTA DE EXPERTOS SOBRE PRODUCTOS FORESTALES NO MADEREROS PARA AMERICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE
SANTIAGO, CHILE, 4-8 DE JULIO DE 1994
La tercera Consulta de Expertos fue financiada por el Servicio Forestal del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos de Am�rica. La Consulta permiti� a los participantes obtener una visi�n m�s clara sobre la situaci�n de la producci�n y utilizaci�n de los PFNM; la necesidad pare mejorar su producci�n y manejo, explotaci�n, procesamiento, mercadeo y comercializaci�n y las oportunidades pare el desarrollo de las comunidades rurales. La Consulta cont� con la presencia de 20 especialistas de la Regi�n as� como de representantes de instituciones internacionales relacionadas con el tema: National Resources Institute, NRI; Center for International Forestry Research, CIFOR; Instituto Internacional de Dasonom�a Tropical; Tratado de Cooperaci�n Amaz�nica; Programa de las Naciones Unidas pare el Medio Ambiente, PNUMA y la Uni�n Mundial pare la Naturaleza, IUCN.
El informe de la Consulta se puede obtener en la Oficina Regional de la FAO.
Contribuci�n preparada por: Torsten Frisk, Oficial Regional Forestal, Oficina Regional pare Am�rica Latina y el Caribe, FAO, Santiago, Chile. Fax: + 56 2 6961121
PACIFIC ISLAND HEADS OF FORESTRY MEETING
NADI, FIJI, 18-22 JULY 1994
The theme for this meeting was "People's participation and conflict resolution". It was attended by a total of 66 participants, consisting of representatives from 12 countries, 31 forestry-related institutions, 16 donor agencies and seven NGOs. Country reports, agency statements, and 11 papers were presented and discussed. A field trip which was arranged by Fiji Pine Ltd to Drasa, Lololo and Nabou Pine Stations.
For more information, please contact Tang Hon Tat, Chief Technical Advisor, South Pacific Forestry Development Programme, c/o UNDP, Suva, Fiji. Fax: +679 301718/305212.
THE SECOND ASIAN APICULTURE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, 26-29 JULY1994
Papers and discussions at the conference reflected the problems faced in apiculture. Research scientists presented new information on the biology of recently identified honey-bee species and their distribution.
Figure 26
The conference resolved to: encourage all concerned institutes and organizations in the region to initiate research in the biology and management of scientifically and economically important species of Asian honey-bees; establish a working group on the biology and management of Apis dorsata and Apis koschevnikovi; establish a working group on biometry, selection and breeding of Apis cerana; encourage research on the role of Asian bees in boosting the productivity of different agricultural crops through their pollination activities and work out the economic values of bee products and pollination; make zones in each country for beekeeping with Apis cerana and Apis mellifera respectively; include honey plant resources as an important component of forest farming and pasture ecosystem development programmes and promote hive products as non-wood products.
For more information, please contact Agus Sulistainto, Ministry of Forestry, Gedung Manggala Wanabakti, Jakarta 10270, Indonesia.
REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SAN DALWOOD
NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA, 1-11 AUGUST 1994
A regional workshop was jointly arranged by CIRAD-For�t and the South Pacific Forestry Development Project (SPFDP), with funding support and inputs from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the South Pacific Commission (SPC), the French Government, the South and Island Provinces of New Caledonia and GTZ. Participants from seven South Pacific countries attended the workshop. It included a high degree of practical demonstrations and field trips during which CIRAD-For�t staff and local landowners extensively shared information and experience with the participants. The aim of bringing the participants up to date with the latest developments in propagation and silvicultural techniques and to give a broad overview of the possible approaches to promoting sandalwood production was successfully achieved. The workshop provided an insight into the potential possibility of sandalwood for participating countries. Possible areas for collaboration on sandalwood were also discussed.
For more information, please contact Yves Ehrhart, CIRAD-For�t, Noumea, New Caledonia. Fax: +687 284927.
INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY, SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT
PARIS, FRANCE, 5-9 SEPTEMBER 1994
The forum was organized by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) in cooperation with the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), Unesco and the French Government and was held in association with the 25th General Assembly of IUBS.
The forum provided opportunity for dialogue and concertation among a broad mix of people concerned with biological diversity - key economic actors, opinion-shapers and policy-makers, scientists, educationalists, communications specialists and media experts, and non-governmental groups.
For more information, please contact IUBS, 51 Boulevard de Montmorency, 75016 Paris, France. Fax: +33 1 45252029.
GROUP TRAINING COURSE ON INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
ESKISEHIR, TURKEY, 5-28 SEPTEMBER 1994
This training course was held at the Medicinal Plants Research Centre of Anadolu University. Ten scientists from nine developing countries participated in the course, which is held annually and covers practical and theoretical training in the industrial utilization of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is designed to update the expertise of scientists engaged in activities in this area and to illustrate the multidisciplinary nature of these activities. Sixty-five scientists have been trained to date. The course was jointly sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Turkey and the Medicinal Plants Research Centre.
For more information, please contact Tuley De Silva, Special Technical Advisor, Chemical Industries Branch, UNIDO, PO Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Fax: +43 1 2309615.
WORKSHOP ON EVALUATION OF FOREST BENEFITS THROUGH A TOTAL EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS
JILOVISTE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 12-16 SEPTEMBER 1994
The workshop was organized by the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Department of Forestry Politics, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the ECE/FAO secretariat in Geneva, and in accordance with the Programme of Work of the Joint ECE/FAO Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics. The aim of the workshop was to review the trends of management of forests and their benefits with reference to the changing ecological conditions and changing demands of society, as well as to evaluate forest benefits through considering the overall role of production, environmental and social functions of forests. Participants from the eastern and central European countries in transition and some western ECE member countries took part in the workshop and presented papers on the value of non-wood goods and environmental services among other topics.
For more information, please contact Jiri Skoblik, Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jiloviste-Strnady 136, 156 04 Prague 5, Czech Republic. Fax: +42 2 591413.
SECOND BOARD MEETING OF THE INTERREGIONAL (EUROPE AND NEAR EAST) COOPERATIVE RESEARCH NETWORK ON NUT PRODUCTION
ADANA, TURKEY, 18-20 SEPTEMBER 1994
The meeting was held at the Agricultural Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. The subnetworks under the main network cover almond, chestnut, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan and walnut. The meeting considered the future programme of work. It stressed the importance of having a global approach to nut plant genetic resources conservation and underlined the need for awareness for germplasm conservation and documentation at national levels.
For more information, please contact J. Boyazoglu, FAO Regional Office for Europe, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 6 52255634.
EXPERT CONSULTATION ON REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES FOR THE USE OF BOTANICAL PESTICIDES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 25-28 OCTOBER 1994
The overall objectives of the Expert Consultation were to review the progress, problems and prospects of crop pest control with botanical pesticides in Asia and the Pacific and, based on this. to formulate a framework for regional cooperation in the use of botanical pesticides using selected plant species which have been identified as promising for the control of major crop pests (both in the field and storage) in the region.
The meeting suggested a coordinated international effort to promote research in technical, socioeconomic and policy aspects of the utilization of plant materials for pest control. The following botanicals were suggested for testing: neem, Curcuma longa (turmeric), Acorus calamus (sweetflag), Polygonum spp. (hydropiper), Vitex negundo, Ipomea spp., Artemesia spp., Annona squamosa, Cymbopogon mardus, Corchorus capsulares (jute), Pongamia glabra (karanja), Parthenium hysterophores, Agratem conyzoides, Madhuca indica (mahua), Derris elliptica, Lantana camera and Aglaia odorata.
For more information, please contact C.Y. Shen, Regional Plant Protection Officer, FAO Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand. Fax: +66 2 2800445.
SOUTH PACIFIC INDIGENOUS NUTS WORKSHOP
PORT VILA, VANUATU, 31 OCTOBER - 4 NOVEMBER 1994
A forum was provided by several sponsors to bring together many people from varied fields and backgrounds to compare past experiences with the harvesting and processing of South Pacific indigenous nuts (particularly ngali nuts of Canarium spp., cut nuts of Barringonia spp. and sea almonds of Terminalia spp.) and to explore future possibilities and market niches. Some 25 papers were presented at the meeting.
For more information, please contact Mike Brown, Marketing Coordinator, CAD/USAID, PO Box 609, Apia, W. Samoa. Fax: +685 26845; or Barry Evans, WWF South Pacific Program, Suva, Fiji. Fax: +679 301758.
ASIA MEETING OF GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS (GIFTS) OF HEALTH
JAIPUR, INDIA, 9-11 NOVEMBER 1994
The meeting brought together policy-makers from health, environmental and economic development, and traditional medical practitioners and NGOs from selected Asian countries to exchange policy experiences with a view to learning from other countries' experiences. Four major policy areas covered were: affordable health care, biodiversity, women and health and economic development.
One of the main discussion topics was medicinal plants in health care with reference to conservation, cultivation and trade issues, including focus on national and international markets in medicinal plants and their impact on biodiversity conservation and economic development.
For more information, please contact Gerard Bodeker, Chairman, GIFTS of Health, National Museum of Health and Medicine, PO Box 59748, Washington, DC, USA. Fax: +1 202 5763573.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON MANAGEMENT OF MINOR FOREST PRODUCTS
DEHRA DUN, INDIA, 13-15 NOVEMBER 1994
This seminar, organized by the Centre of MFP and sponsored by the Ford Foundation and supported by FAO, was a follow-up to a previous seminar held in 1993. Some of the discussions were related to practical solutions to the problems of sustainable forest management. Some interesting case-studies regarding successes and failures of actual attempts to manage forests or plantations for these products were presented. Discussions featured innovations as well as new technologies introduced through local communities. Technical papers covered several topics: medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and insecticides, edible nuts and fatty oils, gums and resins, bamboos and canes, bidi leaves, platters, honey, silk and lac. The meeting made several recommendations.
For more information, please contact M.P. Shiva, Managing Director, Centre of MFP, HIG-2/8, Indirapuram, Gen. Mahadev Singh Road, Dehra Dun 248001, India. Fax: +91 138 23539.
MEETING OF THE TEAM OF SPECIALISTS ON THE OUTLOOK FOR NON-WOOD GOODS AND SERVICES OF THE FOREST
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 14-16 NOVEMBER 1994
The above meeting of specialists was organized by the joint session of the ECE Timber Committee and the FAO European Forestry Commission to study the problems of supply and demand for the non-wood goods and services of the forest. An outcome of the meeting was the identification of details to be covered in the study on outlook for non-wood goods and services, which is expected to last five years.
For more information, please contact Alex Korotkov, Timber Section, ECE FAO Agriculture and Timber Division, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10. Fax: +41 22 9170041.
REGIONAL EXPERT CONSULTATION ON NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS: SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 28 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER 1994
This meeting was organized by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. A total of 72 persons participated in the consultation. Its purposes were to explore the unknown elements regarding NWFPs, the economics of their production and marketing, demand and the future of NWFPs, potential benefits and risks for forest-dependent people as NWFP production is intensified and the research needs for developing sustainable utilization of NWFPs. The role of FAO and other international agencies in enhancing the development of NWFPs was also discussed. Some 28 technical papers were presented at the consultation.
Figure 27
For more information, please contact Patrick B. Durst, Regional Forestry Officer for Asia and the Pacific, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, Maliwan Mansion, Phra Atit Road, Bangkok, Thailand. Fax: +662 2800445.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON DEPENDENCY ON FORESTS AND TREES
HANOI, VIET NAM, 4-6 DECEMBER 1994
This meeting was organized by the Ministry of Forestry, Viet Nam and the Forest, Trees and People Programme (FTPP). The purpose was to discuss the outcome of the pilot studies carried out by FTPP teams in Bolivia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Thailand and Viet Nam. Lessons learned through field studies in terms of the nature and extent of dependency and the strengths and limitations of the methodology used were shared. Based upon these reports, guidelines for priority actions for continued work with dependency issues in research, training, management and policy were discussed and established.
For more information, please contact Britta Ogle, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7005, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden. Fax: +46 18 671209.
WORKSHOP ON NON-TIMBER TREE PRODUCTS MARKET RESEARCH
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, USA, 12-14 DECEMBER 1994
The meeting was jointly sponsored by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF). The objective was to bring together researchers and policy analysts to explore emerging themes with regard to markets for NWFPs, specifically with regard to finding ways of tapping into these markets to encourage forest and woodland conservation, and to support the development of improved farming systems that incorporate trees in agroforestry strategies.
The meeting discussed some 15 papers focusing on the various topics.
For more information, please contact Stephen A. Vosti, Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI, 1200 17th St NW, Washington, DC. Fax: +1 202 4674439.
FAO/GOI INTERNATIONAL EXPERT CONSULTATION ON NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, 17-27 JANUARY 1995
The above meeting was organized by FAO and hosted by the Ministry of Forestry, Government of Indonesia. It was attended by 56 experts and 42 observers from 44 countries/organizations. The discussions at the meeting covered a wide range of topics grouped under four different theme areas: Socio-economic benefits; Processing and marketing; Resource management and environment; and Institutional considerations. Discussions were focused on issues related to the theme areas.
The consultation emphasized the importance and major role of NWFPs for: meeting the basic needs of indigenous and rural communities for a variety of goods and services; supporting environmentally sound management of forest resources; providing income and employment to local communities: contributing to value addition through downstream processing and foreign exchange earnings. It noted that the development of NWFPs is a challenging field, because it involves a fundamental change in approach to ecological, silvicultural, socioeconomic and trade issues associated with forestry. In fact, NWFPs are not just a group of products. They are the basis of a concept of integrated and sustainable management of forest resources. They should therefore be given adequate recognition in the system of national accounts.
The consultation focused on concrete actions for realizing the potentials of NWFPs. It underlined the need for managing NWFPs as part of the total ecosystem; the rational use of biodiversity, including biodiversity inventories and information management; and ensuring "eco-efficiency", social equity and sustainability. These have to be achieved through rational policy measures and strategies, economic incentives, cost-effective technology and community participation.
Accordingly, the consultation made recommendations addressed to government policy-makers, international organizations, donor agencies, NGOs and financial services, in order to enhance the socio-economic benefits of NWFPs; promote their sustainable management and utilization; improve scientific knowledge, technology and skills relevant for developing NWFPs; develop appropriate policies and strategies to support their development; improve and expand basic statistical information on production, value addition, and trade in NWFPs; establish networks for the exchange of information; introduce rules and regulations to promote decentralization of resource management through active community participation; establish other institutional mechanisms, including access to resources and credit; and strengthen research capabilities. The consultation also identified priority areas for research and development of NWFPs.
For more information, please contact C. Chandrasekharan, Chief, Non Wood Products and Energy Branch, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 6 52255618.