annual report - Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme

A Higaonon youth patiently waiting for hisbreakfast outside the long house inMintapod, Philippinesphoto courtesy of Earl DiazIn spite of the internal turmoil broiling in Central statesof India, coming elections in Malaysia, violence over forestlands in Cambodia, the inconsistency in Indonesia’s forestpolicies, indiscriminate mining escalating in the Philippines,extreme weather events in Indonesia and the Philippines,NTFP-EP has made strides in its work in 2012 with supportfrom various partners.Key achievements during the year revolve around the 5thematic focus of NTFP-EP’s work – conservation; climatechange; food and health security; land rights, tenure andpolicy; and, enterprise development. There were advances inrestoration activities, increased recognition and pride in wildfoods and traditional knowledge, and active participation oflocal, national and regional government bodies, particularlyin the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),on further mainstreaming social forestry and climate changeagendas. Enterprise targets were also exceeded. Acrossthe region, there was more openness in different levels anddepartments of government to work with NTFP-EP andpartners on the issue of non-timber forest products.Organizationally, country offices were registered in Indonesiaand Sarawak, Malaysia; and more staff joined particularlyin Cambodia, Indonesia and the regional offices. Therewere improvements on human resource policies and newinstitutional policies were adopted to enhance organizationalfunctioning. A financial management improvement plan(FMIP) is being implemented. NTFP-EP expanded itsonline presence to reach a wider audience on its themes.Fundraising initiatives continued with the submission ofvarious proposals to several donors.For 2013, NTFP-EP plans to strengthen its conservationprogram by enhancing resource management tools, buildingup the NTFP species database, continuing planting NTFPspecies throughout the network, and regular participationin conservation alliances. It will develop an NTFP-EPclimate change adaptation strategy. Focus and attentionon subsistence/food and health security will be expandedthrough, among others, a regional training on food from forestresearch. Establishing or strengthening existing advocacydesk per country and developing a regional advocacy strategyis also planned. For enterprise development, NTFP-EP willexpand its work in the region on community livelihoodappraisal and product/resource scanning, among others.