GMS BCI Symposium 27 April 2006 1 “Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and rural livelihoods in Lao...

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GMS BCI Symposium 27 April 2006

“Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and rural livelihoods in Lao PDR: reducing poverty through

forest development and conservation interventions”

Andrew W. Ingles

1. Significance of NTFPs in rural livelihoods2. Relevance of NTFPs to both biodiversity conservation and

poverty reduction3. Evidence of livelihood benefits from the promotion of

sustainable NTFP development in Lao PDR4. Opportunities

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Significance in rural livelihoods: NTFP dependency

NTFPsfrom forests, shrublands, wetlands,re-growth from shifting cultivation

Income generation

Food security Other non-cash inputs to

Households •After rice, wild forest foods dominate the daily diet of rural people

More than 450 edible species

Provide the bulk of animal protein and micro-nutrient intake

•NTFPs provide a safety net in bad times

•On average, NTFP sales generate about 50% of cash income

•Allows for purchases of goods and services for consumption or investment, often where there are few alternative income sources

•Indirectly supports food security by funding rice purchases

Fuel wood

Medicine

Building material

Tools & handicraft

Resins & dyes

Valued at 12% of an average household budget

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Significance in rural livelihoods: NTFP dependency …

• 80% of the population have rural livelihoods

• 50 - 80% of households in remote, upland areas rely on NTFPs for income generation

• Poorest families and women are the most dependent on NTFPs

• Economic value of NTFPs consumed per (upland) household estimated at between $398 – 525 per annum (Sekong Province)

• Subsistence use of NTFPs estimated at 30 - 40% of Gross Domestic Product

HUAPHANH

VIENTIANE

XAYABURY

SAVANNAKHET

KHAMMUANE

PHONGSALY

LUANGPRABANG

BORIKHAMXAY

CHAMPASACK

OUDOMXAY

ATTAPEU

BOKEO

SEKONG

SARAVANE

XIENGKHUANG

LUANGNAMTHA

XAYSOMBOUN

VIENTIANE M.

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

Cambodia

China

100°E

10

0°E

105°E

10

5°E

15°N 15°N

20°N 20°N

Map Produced by WFP VAM-Unit Lao PDR 2004

Spatial Files from Global Discovery Digital Mapping by Europa Technology LTD 2001,& ESRI World Data 2002. In country files

produced by National Geographic Department. Forest Dependency Indicatordeveloped from Agricultural Census Data 1997/98, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry

Projected Coordinate SystemUTM, WGS 84, Zone 48N

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or accceptance by the United Nations

¯LegendImportance of NTFP's to Households

Villages Dependent on NTFP's

Villages Less Dependent on NTFP's

No Data

Villages Dependent on NTFP'sWorld FoodProgramme

0 110 22055 Kilometers

Forest & food security:

First attempt at a nationwide survey was undertaken by UN World Food Programme in 2004

80% of households have some dependency on forests for food

41% of villages dependent on food from NBCA and forests within a 20 km radius

24% of villages are dependent on forest foods but have degraded forests and are suffering food insecurity

HUAPHANH

VIENTIANE

XAYABURY

SAVANNAKHET

KHAMMUANE

PHONGSALY

LUANGPRABANG

BORIKHAMXAY

CHAMPASACK

OUDOMXAY

ATTAPEU

BOKEO

SEKONG

SARAVANE

XIENGKHUANG

LUANGNAMTHA

XAYSOMBOUN

VIENTIANE M.

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

Cambodia

China

100°E

100°E

105°E

105°E

15°N 15°N

20°N 20°N

Map Produced by WFP VAM-Unit Lao PDR 2004

Spatial Files from Global Discovery Digital Mapping by Europa Technology LTD 2001,& ESRI World Data 2002. In country files

produced by National Geographic Department. Agricultural Census Data

1997/98 from Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry

Projected Coordinate SystemUTM, WGS 84, Zone 48N

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or accceptance by the United Nations

¯LegendFood & Forest Analysis

Not priority intervention area

Area for potential intervention

National Biodiversity Conservation Areas

Food & Forests AnalysisWorld FoodProgramme

0 10 205 Kilometers

Potential Food Aid Intervention to Promote Forest ConservationFood security & forest conservation:

WFP has identified 2,482 villages that require a priority intervention in food aid as a result of declining forests (areas shaded red)

NBCAs are the cornerstone of forest conservation in Lao PDR (areas shaded green)

There is an overlap of food security concerns and forest conservation interests

A clear case exists for the promotion of sustainable use of NTFPs and a food for activity modality for identified villages in BCI sites

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Ban Nampheng (40 households): pilot site for an NAFRI/ IUCN NTFP Project (1996- 2001) …

The NTFP situation in 1996:• Poor prices from traders

– collectors lacked market information

– traders advanced loans against future sales

• Lack of secure access rights to wild resources• No grading and processing (cardamom)• Competitive selling by bundles (bitter bamboo shoots)• Lack of credit services• Limitations on development due to heavy workloads

for women

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NTFP Project interventions 1996 - 2001

What was doneBan Nampheng

Domestication of NTFPs

Forest Land Allocation & NTFP

resource management

planning

Marketing group & village fund Production/

processing of NTFPs

Rice Banks

Cardamom

Bitter bamboo shoots

Edible bamboo grubs

Broom grass

Rattan

Paper mulberry

Benzoin

Sticky bark

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Interventions by the NTFP Project

Village rice banks: Replaced the need to over-exploit NTFP resources and sell too cheaply to traders because of loans

Forest land allocation: Provided secure access and use rights for a defined user group, allowing for (better) harvesting rules and control

Marketing groups: Collusion, knowledge of market prices, selling by weight resulted in massive increases in income (income multiplied by 5 for limited additional inputs) and generated village development funds (10% tax on sales)

Cardamom grading and processing: Significant increase in incomes (quantity and quality of product increased through harvesting rules and resource management and drying and grading increased the returns)

Drinking water supplies: Reduced the time spent by women and children in fetching water to free up time for participation in NTFP collections and marketing groups

Women’s savings group: Provided credit for local initiatives and strengthened collaboration within villages

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Results on livelihoods … Ban Nampheng

Supported by project Funded by NTFP Fund Purchased by individuals (through

credit from NTFP Fund)

- Rice bank (1997)- 3 clean water taps- 2 room school (1998)

- Electric generator for village power supply (1999) and fuel to run it (ongoing)- Meeting room (2001)- Village food storage (2002)- Credit fund- Salary for 3 teachers- Corrugated roof for village market space- Fund balance $2,400

- 2 Dryers for mushrooms and other NTFPs (2000, 2001)- Rice mill- 2 Tractors- 1 small truck

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Changes in wealth ranking for households 1996 - 2006, Ban Nampheng

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

w ell-off middle poorest

Wealth Rank

Per

cen

tag

e o

f to

tal h

ou

seh

old

s

1996

2002

2006

Results on livelihoods …Ban Nampheng

1996-2002

13 HHs graduated one wealth class

2002-2006

7 HHs graduated one wealth class, previous gains held, 1 HH slipped a wealth class

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Results on livelihoods …Ban Nampheng

Development indicators 1996 2002 2006

Food security 25-30 households lacked rice for 3-4 months, during which time they had to leave the village to hire out labour or cut timber illegally

Now rice is “not much worry” and no longer need to hire out labour or cut timber

Secure

Formal education 30 children 67 children 67 children

Agriculture & forestry 0 ha of paddy rice45 ha of upland

cultivationForests not allocated

5 ha of paddy rice30 ha of upland

cultivation515 ha of allocated forest

10 ha paddy rice30 ha upland cultivation520 ha of allocated forest5 ha fruit orchards4 fish ponds

Animal husbandry 60 cattle10 buffalo13 goats30 pigs100 poultry

28 cattle12 buffalo55 goats40 pigs200 poultry

17 cattle19 buffalo12 goats120 pigs+1,000 poultry

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Opportunities

1. NTFPs as poverty “trap” or an “escape ladder”?In Ban Nampheng …• Proportion of cash income from NTFP sales is holding over time

(from initial increase)• Significant number of households graduated from the poorest wealth

class and (all but one HH) held the gain• Food security has been achieved, along with improvements in health

and education• New economic activities funded by private and common NTFP funds

2. Side-ways and up-ways spread from this and other pilot sites?

• Ban Nampheng is becoming very well known and receives GoL, project and privately sponsored visits to see and learn about the sustainable development that has occurred

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Opportunities in Lao PDR

3. More than a decade of experience with NTFP interventions, mostly in the context of NBCA and surrounding forest use - creating a wealth of experience about:– How to identify, qualify and quantify the role of NTFP use in local

livelihoods– How to facilitate group processes for NTFP production and

marketing– How to domesticate wild NTFPs– How to develop forest management rules and regulations,

focused on NTFPs, using participatory processes

4. A network exists of 60 organisations with interests in NTFPs

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Conclusions

• The BCI should:– be aware of the important role of NTFPs in rural livelihoods– recognise the significant opportunities for achieving both

conservation and poverty reduction objectives by supporting the sustainable development of NTFPs

– develop and support integrated efforts to achieve food security, increase cash income, and conserve forests through NTFP-related interventions

• More work is required to document the impact of NTFP interventions on:– forest biodiversity– social power and equity issues

THANKS

GMS BCI Symposium 27 April 2006 1 “Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and rural livelihoods in Lao...

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