Growing the Wealth of the Poor - World Resources Institute

SUCCESSFUL ECOSYSTEM-BASED ENTERPRISES: SELECTED EQUATOR PRIZE FINALISTS (CONTINUED)Ecosystem-BasedEnterpriseProduct orService ProvidedDescriptionBenefitsCenter for Empowermentand Resource Development(CERD)PhilippinesFounded: 19962006 Equator Prize FinalistSepik WetlandsManagement InitiativePapua New GuineaFounded: 19982006 Equator Prize FinalistFishCrocodile eggsand relatedproductsCERD began a program in Hinatuan Bay inSurigao del Sur called Fishery IntegratedResource Management for Economic Development(FIRMED). The program established a planamong local villages to rehabilitate and conservefishing resources.Communities around the wetlands developed awritten contract setting guidelines for sustainableharvest of crocodile eggs, as well asprotective measures for nesting crocodiles andtheir habitat. They have implemented a communalmonitoring and enforcement program tosecure the contract’s benefits.FIRMED established seven fish sanctuaries,restored 117 ha of mangroves, and successfullylobbied for reforms on local fishing laws. Between2003 and 2005 the number of families engaged infishing increased by a third while average fishcatches have increased by 50 percent. Averagehousehold income from fishing has doubled withinthe community, and income from seaweed farmingalso more than doubled.A strong rise in the crocodile population helpedSepik communities earn more than US$90,000 peryear from the sale of eggs, skins, and youngcrocodiles. Revenue goes into a communal fundthat is distributed among community membersand pays for school fees.L A T I NA M E R I C A - C A R I B B E A NAmazonLifeBrazilFounded: 19942002 Equator Prize Finalisthttp://www.amazonlife.comTreetap ® clothproduct line,including bags,garments, andfootwearAmazonLife markets Treetap ® , a cotton fabricdrenched in natural latex that is extracted fromwild rubber trees. The cloth producers are coownersof the patented process. The companycontracts third parties in Rio de Janeiro toproduce bags, backpacks, briefcases, hats, andfootwear with the fabric that are sold nationallyand internationally.As of 2006, some 200 families supplied therubber for Treetap ® , and AmazonLife was selling40,000 sheets of rubber laminates each year at10 times the price that local producers had previouslyreceived.AlimentosNutri-NaturalesGuatemalaFounded: 20012006 Equator Prize Winnerhttp://www.theequilibriumfund.org/Maya nuts andmaya nut productsIn this enterprise women harvest the high-proteinmaya nut from trees in the rainforests andprocess it at home into whole grain maya nutseeds and flour, drink mix, pancakemix, and cereal. They then jointly market the mayanut products. The group is just one of threewomen’s maya nut enterprises formed in CentralAmerica with technical support provided by aregional NGO.Alimentos Nutri-Naturales brings an annual incomeof US$24,000 to seven rural communities. Thebroader maya nut rejuvenation project helps 600families from 21 communities in Central Americato earn more than US$200 per year. The workershave conserved 90,000 ha of maya nut forests andplanted 400,000 new trees. Consumption of mayanut products has also improved local nutrition dueto its high protein content.Quibdo Women’s Network ofMedicinal Plant Producersand Marketeres(Red de Mujeres Productoras yComercializadoras de PlantasMedicinales de Quibdo)ColombiaFounded: 19972004 Equator Prize FinalistMedicinal plants,spicesThis community-based enterprise consists ofwomen who grow vegetables, herbs, and medicinaland aromatic plants in their home gardensand in a 2.25-ha community garden. Thewomen’s network uses sustainable agriculturalpractices, makes and markets compost, andcoordinates a seed bank. The women and theirhusbands have built a central storage facilityand a processing plant for their produce.Forty-two families directly benefit from thenetwork. The women’s average annual incomeshave grown from US$409 per year prior to theenterprise to US$2,863 per year.Source: UNDP 200759