Public presentation for doctoral thesis defence 18 March 2014

1. Win-wins in forest product value chains?
How governance impacts the sustainability of
livelihoods based on non-timber forest products
from Cameroon
Verina Ingram
PhD defence
18 March 2014, Agnietenkapel, University of Amsterdam,
The Netherlands

2. 2004
2008
2010….
AMSTERDAM
ZEIST
WAGNENINGEN

3.  Congo Basin 2nd largest
forest globally
 59% country forested
 40% live in/near forests
 Forests provide food,
cash, water, fuel, shelter,
forage, medicines………..
Cameroon

4. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
• Cola nuts - stimulant and flavouring
• Raffia palms- wine, food, poles, leaves
• Bamboo stems - poles, tools, construction, paper
• Honey, wax, propolis food, cosmetics, medicine
• Gum arabic - resin as medicine, food, dyes
• Pygeum bark- medicine, timber, fuel, forage
• Eru leaves - food, wine & hangover medicine
• Bush mango nuts - sauces & slimming medicines

5. Value Chains
Harvester WholesalerProcessor Exporter Retailer Consumer
Access to resources for
production
Access to
markets

6. Sustainable
• Development that meets the
needs of the present without
compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their
own needs.
• Cope with risks and shocks, and
improve way of living while not
undermining the natural
environment

7. Governance....
Way a society organises its
self
• Rules of the game
(formal & informal)
• Boundaries
• Umpires
• Supporters
• Winners and losers

8. Problems
 Population 19 million & growing
 People depend on NTFPs for
subsistence and cash
 Increasing deforestation and
degradation
 Unsustainable trade
 Contradicting governance
regimes
 High corruption

9. The question:
How does
governance
impact the
sustainability of
livelihoods
based on NTFPs
?
1. How do these chains work, can
people earn a living, both today and
tomorrow?
2 How is the trade governed?
3. Does this make the trade
sustainable?
4. How can it be done better ?

10. • Talking 2,195 interviews!
• Hassling officials trade data
• Walking observation
• Counting plants resource assessment
• Participatory action research
• Data analysis
Methods : Getting the answers

11. Results

12. Many laws, conventions &
projects,
Strong customs, corruption,
weak union governance
High value & demand
Unsustainable

13. New laws
Strong customs, unions &
market governance
High value & growing deman
Sustainable

14. Ineffective laws & customs
Strong union governance
High corruption
High value & demand
Not sustainable

15. Q1. How do these chains work
and can people earn a living,
both today and tomorrow?
• 710 NTFP species, 225 traded
• 34,000 people involved
• 8 NTFP markets worth over US$ 32 million
annually
• Average yearly incomes US$ 3,189 annually,
US$ 1.4 per day per person
• NTFPs not a way out of poverty for most
• Most dependence on NTFP incomes, with
fewer income sources are at end of chain

16. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Statutory
regualtion
Voluntary/m
arket
standards
Customary
regulation
Projects
Corruption
Involuntary
standards
Score
10 = strong governance
0 = weak governance
NTFP Chain
Apiculture
Gnetum
Irvingia
Prunus
Cola
Raphia
Bamboo
Gum arabic
Q2. How are the NTFP chains governed?

17. Q3. Are the NTFP chains sustainable?
Pygeum
Gum arabic*
Bamboo
Honey
Yes - Win No - Lose
Cola
Raffia
Bush mango Eru

18. Q4. Recommendations
and some results
• Change the law
• No one arrangement works best
• Plural arrangements work, if recognised and complementary
• And if govern forest species and markets
• Get people in chains talking
• Cultivation
• Know what NTFPs are worth
• Support the most vulnerable people
• Tackle corruption

19. Thank you!