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INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP: ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH18-19 March 2002 Mohal-Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India The Indian Himalayas are a rich reservoir of plant diversity and medicinal plant diversity is an important component of that. As one among the top repositories of medicinal herbs, the state of Himachal Pradesh in Himalaya is one of the major sources of raw material to the global market. Unsustainable extraction of medicinal herbs has led to the endangerment of several of its high-value taxa. Ex situ cultivation through community involvement is regarded as a probable solution to meet the raw material market demand while diluting in situ extraction pressure. There is an urgent need for committed action by the different groups involved to conserve this valuable medicinal resource. The workshop took place against this background and also that of the International Year of Mountains 2002. Forty experts from India and abroad and from diverse disciplines attended the workshop. The major funder of the workshop was the World Resource Foundation through Rothamsted International (IACR, UK), together with sponsorships from G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Almora, India, and the Centre for Advancement of Sustainable Agriculture, New Delhi. Participants deliberated on various issues under technical sessions: i) Endangered species diversity, characterization and evaluation; ii) Production through cultivation; iii) Trade, linkages and ethics; and iv) Conservation approaches. In addition there were presentations in the inaugural and plenary sessions. In the plenary session, participants prioritized endangered medicinal plant taxa for immediate action for conservation through ex situ cultivation. Key factors, such as technological feasibility, economic viability, ensured marketing and farmers' acceptance available for each of the prioritized taxa, were taken into consideration. Steps were identified and agreed to be taken up by various partners. At the end of the workshop, a coordinating group finalized the actions necessary to carry forward the conservation programme in Himachal Pradesh. This workshop was highly productive and the forum specially stressed the involvement and crucial role of the indigenous community in the conservation of endangered medicinal plants. The proceedings will be made available for global release. For more information, please contact the workshop convener: Dr Hemant K. Badola, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and
Development, Himachal Unit, Mohal-Kullu 175 126, Himachal Pradesh, India.
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International Colloquium on Medicinal Plants, Health, Environment and Development and International Workshop on Sustainable Trade and Conservation of Medicinal Plants
Rabat, Morocco
2-4 May 2002
The meetings were convened and organized by the Moroccan Network of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, University of Rabat/Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy; the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM)/University of Oslo (UiO), Norway; Conserve Africa International, London and Denzil Phillips International, London, United Kingdom.
The symposium focused on R&D issues relating to medicinal plants for traditional human and veterinary medicine, aromatic and cosmetic plants, phytomedicines and other plant-derived natural products.
For more information, please contact:
Ernest Rukangira, Executive Director, Conserve Africa
International, 24 Carterhatch Road, Enfield, Middlesex, London EN3 5LS,
UK.
Fax: +44 20 89482673;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.conserveafrica.org
Glouster, Ohio, USA
8-9 June 2002
Participants had the opportunity to learn from national experts about ways they can diversify the income they earn from their land by the use of special forest products. Topics included: woodland plants and mushrooms, agriculture, business development and stewardship, with numerous subtopics within each group including wild simulated ginseng, mushroom cultivation, composting, speciality crops, markets and trends, business and marketing planning, watersheds and agroforestry.
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Brunty, PO Box 21, 87 1/2 High Street, Glouster,
Ohio, USA.
www.forestrycenter.org/cfrc/Calendar/detail.cfm?whichevent=374
Paro, Bhutan
2-5 September 2002
Presentations at the V South East Asian Countries NTFP (non-timber forest products) Network (SEANN) workshop covered a wide variety of subjects, including medicinal plants, edible mushrooms, fruit products, etc.
For more information, please contact:
M.K. Bhattacheryya, General Manager, Bhutan Tourism
Corporation Ltd, c/o RCPL Travel Services, 61 Shivalik Apts, Alaknanda, New
Delhi 110019, India.
Fax: +91 11 6437561; e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
www.cog.ca/ifoam2002 or www.rcplonline.com/bhutan
Lisbon, Portugal
4-7 September 2002
Plenary lectures covered: Scents from rain forests - new results; Essential oils: sample preparation and analysis; Biosynthesis of essential oils; Biological activities of the essential oils; Essential oils biodiversity; Volatile signals: chemical structures and ecological aspects; and New trends in intellectual property relating to perfumery materials.
For more information, please contact:
Organizing Committee, 33rd ISEO, Faculdade de Ciκncias de
Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, C2,
Piso 1, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal.
Fax: +351 21
7500048;
e-mail: [email protected]
Rome, Italy
11-13 September 2002
This meeting built upon the discussions and results of the first meeting. Some 60 international experts discussed a draft analytical framework on some core definitions.
This process on harmonizing forest-related definitions is closely linked with the Kotka process led by FAO, as well with the UNFCCC process on developing definitions for afforestation and reforestation under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, and with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC)-led processes, such as those on Good Practice Guidance, IPCC task 2.
The proceedings of the First Expert Meeting, which took place in January 2002, are online (www.fao.org/forestry/ climate). The full report including the analytical framework and annexes, can be found at: www.fao.org/forestry/fop/fopw/Climate/climate-e.asp
For more information or for hard copies, please contact:
Dr Wulf Killmann, Director,
Forest Products Division,
FAO Forestry Department,
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome,
Italy.
Fax: +39 0657055618;
e-mail: [email protected]
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
16-20 September 2002
The theme of the congress was Peoples and Biodiversity, emphasizing the role of ethnobiology in promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity. The congress contributed to the core goals of ethnobiological research and the empowerment of traditional and indigenous peoples to maintain and manage biodiversity for better livelihoods, while conserving biological and cultural diversity around the world. It builds upon a strong body of cross-cultural understanding and research that has been documented at the seven earlier congresses.
Topics covered included: Ethnobiology and food security; Ethnobiology and regional development; Sustainable development of biodiversity; Participatory biodiversity conservation; Ethnobiology and the "Reconstruction of Afghanistan"; Traditional knowledge protecting the values of indigenous and traditional peoples and local communities; Intellectual property rights and ethnobiological research; Ethnomedicine and public health; and Medicinal plant ethnoecology.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Fassil Kebebew, Liaison Officer,
ICE-Congress
2002, PO Box 30726, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
Fax: 251 1 627730;
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
;
http://guallart.dac.uga.edu/ISE/
Thimphu, Bhutan
1-4 October 2002
The conference was an opportunity to articulate concerns and share experiences and ideas about the future of mountain women's livelihoods and cultures. Five thematic areas were the basis of the conference's activities: Natural resources and environment; Health and well-being; Entrepreneurship; Legal, political and human rights; and Culture and indigenous knowledge.
For more information, please contact:
Ms Ojaswi Josse, Coordination Unit of Celebrating
Mountain Women, IYM 2002 Secretariat, ICIMOD, PO Box 3226, Kathmandu,
Nepal.
Fax: +977 1 524509;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.mtnforum.org/calendar/events/0205mwaa.htm
Port McNeill and nearby forests, Canada
5-6 October
(Module 1); 26-27 October (Module 2) 2002
Organized by The North Island Non-Timber Forest Products Project.
Module 1: Introduction to Wild Mushrooms (identification, harvesting, handling, preparing)
Module 2: Wild Mushrooms for Commercial Pickers and Buyers.
For more information, please contact:
Diane Carley,
Communications Coordinator, NTFP Demonstration Project, Sointula, British
Columbia, Canada.
E-mail: [email protected] ;
www.island.net/~ntfp
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
25-26 October 2002
The purpose of the conference was to enlighten landowners on the numerous ways to earn income from their woodland other than just growing trees for timber production, and to give them some good background information on what is involved in marketing these products.
Marketing is the dominant constraint for most special forest products (SFP) producers, either owing to a lack of understanding about how to market or simply a failure to realize that developing a market is part of the process. Presentations explored SFP market opportunities for the food, floral, medicinal and crafts sections and addressed the questions: How does one market SFPs? How does marketing differ for each type of SFP?
For more information, please contact:
Dr Gene Garrett, Director, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry,
203 ABNR-Forestry, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
E-mail: [email protected] ;
http://ilvirtualforest.nres.uiuc.edu/Conferences/SFP_Marketing_Conference.html
Rothamsted, Hertfordshire, UK
5-7 November 2002
Advances in molecular biology give us new opportunities to draw judiciously upon the rich natural product resource base provided by the world's diverse flora and fauna and to use the associated expertise to develop novel practices and products that can be more efficient, cost competitive, better targeted and generally more sustainable.
The BioMarket meeting brought together entrepreneurial groups from around the world to help initiate successful partnerships between those who are involved in the research, development and commercialization of innovative products and services from plant and microbial sources.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Roger Atkin or Amanda King, Rothamsted International
BioMarket, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ,
UK.
Fax: +44 1582 760981;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.bioproduct.info/index.php
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
14-15 November 2002
Governance plays an integral role in biodiversity management and trade in NTFPs is perennially a key issue in the Mekong region. A group of 35 independent researchers and civil society advocates from Cambodia, Viet Nam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, Myanmar and China met at the First Annual Regional Environmental Forum (REF) for Mainland Southeast Asia. The purpose of the REF, organized by the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), and the World Resources Institute (WRI), was to discuss environmental governance challenges in the Mekong region.
After two days of deliberations, participants agreed on a joint statement providing concrete recommendations to governments, multilateral institutions, private corporations and civil society groups for strengthening environmental governance in the region. The REF Consensus Statement is available on the Web (www.ref-msea.org/consensus_statement.doc ). A compilation volume of papers from the REF will be available in 2003.
For more information about the REF, please visit:
www.ref-msea.org or contact:
Kao Kim Hourn,
Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), PO Box 1007, Phnom Penh
12202, Cambodia.
Fax: +855 23 362520/722759;
e-mail: [email protected]
London, UK
14-16 November 2002
Lectures included: Propolis - future medicine?; Household poverty reduction through beekeeping amongst Uganda rural women; and The gender issues in beekeeping.
For more information, please contact:
Rev. H.F. Capener, Honorary General Secretary, 1 Baldric
Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2NR, UK.
Fax: +44 1303 254579;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.honeysow.co.uk
Oaxaca, Mexico
22-26 November 2002
One of the side meetings organized by FSC members was the Non-timber Forest Products Focus Group Meeting organized by the Falls Brook Centre. The focus group has members from more than 20 countries and is being reinvigorated after two years of dormancy. It serves as a general information network for NTFPs and has focused specifically on the certification of NTFPs within the structure of the FSC certification programme. As part of the work coordinating these meetings, the Falls Brook Centre is assembling a database of individuals and organizations active in the NTFP field. To be included in the database on a new NTFP listserve and to be informed of events, publications, etc., please contact Ramsey Hart ([email protected]).
For more information, please contact:
FSC Secretariat, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),
Avenida Hidalgo 502, Oaxaca 68000, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Fax: +52 951
5162110;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.fscoax.org/ga_2002/default.htm
Kathmandu, Nepal
10-13 December 2002
In recognition of The International Year of Mountains (IYM) 2002 and The International Year of Ecotourism, 2002, this conference was organized by the Himalayan Resources Institute, Nepal, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Research Group, Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, the Ecological Association of Nepal and Nepal Biotechnology Association.
The conference theme was "Conservation of Himalayan Biodiversity for Human Welfare". The following major topics were covered: Himalayan flora and fauna; Biodiversity conservation; Indigenous knowledge on biodiversity conservation; Trade-related property rights (TRIPs); and Ecotourism.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Ram Bhandari, President, Himalayan Resources Institute (HIRI), New
Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: [email protected]
Leuven, Belgium
13-15 January 2003
The symposium focused on the effects of history on the species composition and richness of forests. It showed how the integration of historical work, vegetation science, zoology, ecology and others result in an added value for understanding forests, their management, conservation and expansion.
For more information, please contact:
Sofie Bruneel, Laboratory for Forest, Nature and
Landscape Research, Catholic University of Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102,
B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Fax: +32 16 329760;
e-mail: [email protected] or
[email protected]
;
www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/lbh/lbnl/forestbiodiv/
Rome, Italy
3-5 February 2003
Convened at FAO headquarters and bringing together 73 participants from 26 countries, representing government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, the expert consultation provided a forum to debate how current developments in trade policies and market development affect the sustainability of forest management, and how sustainable forest management is changing trade patterns and market share.
The expert consultation meeting constitutes one of the activities within FAO's international project on the Impact Assessment of Forest Products Trade in the Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management. The project is financed by the Japanese Government. FAO will publish the results of this process and will convene a second expert consultation meeting later this year which will include trade policy-makers and trade specialists involved in debates on a new International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Declaration, regional trade agreements and national trade policy-making.
Participants at the expert consultation met in a plenary session on 3 February to hear presentations on trade and forest management, global trends in trade of forest products and services, public policies and initiatives; trade agreements and restrictions, governance and trade in forest products and services, cross-sectoral policy impacts and new markets for environmental services. On 4 February, participants debated the issues in four working groups: trade measures and policies; trade, finance and industrial structure; governance and trade; and extrasectoral influences and the environment. A closing plenary session was held on 5 February to hear the results of the working groups' debates and comments on the draft Co-Chairs' Summary Report of the meeting. (Source: Earth Negotiation Bulletin, 79(01), 7 February 2003 www.iisd.ca/linkages/sd/tsfm/ )
For more information, please contact:
Dr Christian Mersmann, Trade and Marketing in Forest
Products and Services, Forest Products Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di
Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
Fax: +39 0657055137;
e-mail: [email protected]
; or visit:
FAO's Forest Products Trade programme: www.fao.org/forestry/foris/webview/forestry2/index.jsp?siteId=1141&langId= 1
Chiang Mai, Thailand
3-7 February 2003
For more information, please contact:
Congress Secretariat WOCMAP III, Department of Biology,
Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University,
Chiang Mai 50200,
Thailand.
Fax: +66 53 944934/892259;
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] ;
www.wocmap3.org
Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
17-21 February 2003
Ecosystems and species do not recognize political boundaries. In the many cases where borders between countries bisect tropical forests, transboundary conservation programmes can make an important contribution to biodiversity conservation while supporting regional integration and economic development. At the same time, transboundary conservation programmes present many challenges.
These challenges were addressed at this international workshop. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) brought together people with experience and knowledge of protected area issues to discuss opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of transboundary conservation areas in tropical forests. The workshop also contributed to the IUCN World Parks Congress regarding the role of cooperation across borders in tropical forest conservation and management.
For more information, please contact:
TBCA Meeting Secretariat, Attention: Dena Cator and/or
Sonja Canger,
Forest Conservation Programme, IUCN - World Conservation
Union, rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.
Fax: +41 22
9990025;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/activities/transboundary1.htm
Rome, Italy
10-14 March 2003
COFO-16 brought together heads of forest services, senior government officials, international organizations and NGOs to identify emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise FAO and others on appropriate action.
The major forestry policy issues that were presented and debated at COFO included:
The role of the Regional Forestry Commissions in
implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action
Forests and freshwater -
issues and options
National forest programmes (NFP) as a mechanism to
implement the key outcomes of the World Food Summit: five years later and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
In addition, the following FAO programmes in forestry were presented to member countries for discussion and advice:
The future of forests: implications of the Forestry
Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA)
Review of FAO programmes in the forestry
sector, including follow-up to the requests and recommendations of the Fifteenth Session of the Committee, as well as the Programme Implementation Report:
a) Developments in Forest Resources Assessment
b) Harmonizing forest-related definitions: key to successful monitoring and reporting on forests
Defining work objectives for FAO in key cross-cutting areas identified by countries and the FAO medium-term planning process:
a) Forests, poverty and food security
b) Forests and water
c) Forest governance
d) Forest biological diversity.
COFO members were invited to advise FAO on the emphasis it should accord to these work areas and the roles FAO is expected to have in terms of policy development and provision of technical expertise to member countries, in collaboration with partners such as NGOs and international agencies.
During COFO there were side meetings on the following topics: FAO support to member countries; Forests and water; Developments in forest resources assessment; Harmonizing forest-related definitions; NFP Facility; World Forestry Congress 2003; Silva Mediterranea; International Year of Mountains, as well as FAO-hosted Satellite Events led by other major forest organizations and a Poster Session, illustrating some of the field and normative programmes of FAO and partners.
COFO documents detailing the above topics and papers can be downloaded in PDF format from:
www.fao.org/forestry/foris/webview/forestry2/index.jsp?siteId=1400&langId=1&sitetreeId=3282
For more information, please contact:
R. Michael Martin, Chief, Forestry Information and
Liaison, Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome,
Italy.
Fax: +39 0657055137;
e-mail: [email protected]
Rotorua, New Zealand
11-15 March 2003
This conference, which was organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), served as a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in forest products research at the national and international levels. Participants discussed recent research progress, exchanged information and collaborated on research related to the conference theme "Forest Products Research - Providing for Sustainable Choices".
Discussions considered scientific progress towards meeting the rapidly increasing demands for forest products of all kinds, while maintaining the forest as the source of such products and a resource for the social, economic and environmental benefits.
This conference included a session on non-wood forest products under the IUFRO Group 5.11, chaired by Dr Jim Chamberlain. The session focused on research needs for sustainable management of non-wood forest products.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Jim Chamberlain, Non-Timber Forest Products Research Technologist, US
Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Coordinator, IUFRO Research Group
5.11 (Non-wood Forest Products), 1650 Ramble Road, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061,
USA.
Fax: +1 540 2311383;
e-mail: [email protected] ;
www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu or www.forestresearch.co.nz/