Edition No. 12 - Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme

Basic UplandEcology. This bookdescribes how thevarious environmentalsystems work. It alsopresents several ofthe present problemswith the environmentand possible solutions.Accurately presentingenvironmental sciencein simple language,this is an invaluable resourcefor planners and farmers. Writtenby Delbert Rice. Published by NewDay Publishers. 2007. Please contactthe publishers directly at sales@newdaypublishers.com.ECO-TOURISM UPSIDE DOWNLogging giant Samling, in a little brochure on “the eco-tourism potentialof Ravenscourt Camp,” is advising nature lovers to “take a break fromtheir hectic lives and relax” in a logging camp operated by the companyin the Kelabit highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia. How much further canone stretch the eco-thing? {Jenne de Beer}The Plants of Bastar, Chhattisgarh:A Fieldguide. 2007. The bookdeals with the common plants ofthe region. In particular, the plantdescription emphasizes the vegetativecharacteristics of the plants in orderto make it useful in the field. Avernacular index of plant names andphotographs, along with a vegetativekey, caters to the amateur botanist orcurious lay person. The use of plantsin adivasi tradition – especially linkingcustomary harvesting techniques toconservation – could serve as a startingpoint for forest management plans, andcould encourage research in similarareas of indigenous peoples. ByMadhu Ramnath. For copies, contactthe author at madelly@gmail.comEDITORIAL BOARDAloisa Zamora-Santos, Jenne de Beer, Ma. Cristina S. GuerreroKudos & thanks to our CONTRIBUTORS for this issue!Femy Pinto, NTFP-EP (Cambodia), Sarim Heang, CAN-DO(Cambodia), Bebek Widhi, Dian Niaga (Indonesia), FredericoMachado, PESACRE (Brazil), Abi Aguilar, NTFP-TF (Philippines)DESIGN: Aloisa Zamora-SantosYour queries, comments and article & photo contributions aremost welcome. Please CONTACT US at:Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP)92-A Masikap Extension, Barangay CentralDiliman, Quezon City 1100 The PhilippinesTELEFAX: +63 2 4262757, 9293665EMAIL: info@ntfp.org URL: www.ntfp.orgThe NTFP-EP is a collaborative network of about 40non-governmental organisations and community-basedorganisations in South and Southeast Asia. We work with forestbasedcommunities to strengthen their capacity in sustainablemanagement of natural resources.Many thanks to MISEREOR and HIVOS for their generous supportfor the printing voices of Voices. from the forest no. 12Honey Trails in theBlue Mountains.Ecology, People andLivelihoods in theNilgiri BiosphereReserve, India. Theclose link of bees toadivasis is synonymousto linking ecology withlivelihoods. The bookattempts to put intofocus the interlayingcomplexities involving bees, forestsand stakeholders dependent uponand contributing to the diversity ofresources, forests provide. Publishedby Keystone Foundation. 2007. Forcopies, please contact kf@keystonefoundation.orgForest Plants of theNilgiris. EasternNilgiri BiosphereReserve. AnIllustrated FieldGuide. The bookcovers the dominantplant species inthe forest areasof the Kotagiriand Coonoorregion, India. Isparticularly usefulfor field workers, students andnaturalists, not only in the region, butin other similar forests of the Easternand Western Ghats. Containing theprimary work of adivasis or indigenouspeople – including local uses, andmyths and legends – the field guideis useful especially for the youngergeneration, to remind them of theirintricate forest knowledge. Publishedby Keystone Foundation. 2006.For copies, contact kf@keystonefoundation.orgSome useful plants onMt. Ta Kou, Ta KouNature Reserve. ThisEnglish-Vietnamesebooklet introduces 20common plants found onMt. Ta Kou in southernVietnam. The mountainis famous as a source ofhigh quality medicinal plants.Species are described by botanicalcharacteristics, distribution on themountain and economic importance.By Luu Hong Truong et al, Centerfor Biodiversity and Development.2007. For copies, please emailhongtruongluu@yahoo.com.MAY2-7: Dr. Hong Truong Luu, forestry and NTFPspecialist from the Centre for Biodiversityand Development, Ho Chi Minh City, willassist CAN-DO in Ratanikiri, Cambodia onan exploration and assessment of impact ofcurrent malva nut harvesting practices andprovide advice on its sustainable resourcemanagement8-11: Technical discussion & meeting onliquid resin harvesting and management inCambodia and Vietnam, to be held in PhnomPenh. Dr. Luu Hong Truong and Dr. KhouEanghourt (Ministry of Environment/WWFCambodia) will lead the discussions. To befollowed by a field visit and communityexchange on good practices of liquid resinharvesting in Preah Vihear, Cambodia17-20: Dr. Phung Luu Chinh of the BeeResearch and Development Centre, Vietnamwill facilitate a training session in honeyharvesting and handling for collectorscooperatives on the island of Sumbawa,Indonesia. The training and subsequentmeetings have been organised through theIndonesian Honey Network (JMHI) and aresupported by the local government29: Next meeting of the Cambodia NTFPWorking Group to be hosted by CommunityForestry International. Expected to be a biggergroup with updates on NTFP network activitiescoordinated by the different sub-groups(especially on malva nuts, resin, honey, crafts)JUNE4-6: A Pandanus Master Class Workshop, willbe held in Rumah Adat SPNS, Kg, Chang Lama,Bidor, Perak, Malaysia. Participants are 25weavers from Orang Asli ethnic groups whowill participate in an exchange of ideas onproduction, designs and dyeing knowledgeand techniques.SEPTEMBER30-31: The annual regional NTFP meetingwill gather the NTFP-EP network partners atDanau Sentarum, Kalimantan, IndonesiaNOVEMBER5-6: A multi-stakeholder meeting for CORDAIDKalimantan partners will be held in Pontianak,Indonesia to discuss concerns on NTFPdevelopment and other issuesLast week: Madu Dunia Conference, Ooty, India.Aimed at promoting and building a strongnetwork of honey practitioners in AsiaThe reprint for Rattanfor Life: The RattanCultivation Practicesof the Dayak Benuaqof Kalimantan,Indonesia (Englishonly) is now available!Please email us atpublications@ntfp.orgfor details.Publications and videos are distributed free ofcharge to our partners and contacts as far as stocksallow. For queries or to purchase, please contactus at publications@ntfp.org. For those purchasingbooks/videos at the full prices, rest assured thatproceeds go directly to distribution costs for thosewho otherwise could not afford to acquire thesematerials.