Forests, poverty and livelihoods in the Congo Basin. Ingram afrikastudiedag poster nov 2011Forests

1. Forests, poverty and livelihoods
in the Congo Basin
Verina Ingram
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and University of Amsterdam
v.ingram@cgiar.org
Dacryodes edulis
Bush plum
Yushania alpina
Mountain bamboo
Riches
The Congo Basin contains the world’s second largest tropical humid
forest. Rich in biodiversity, the forests are well known for their timber, contributing
up to 6% of GDP. Over 700 non-timber products, ranging from barks, fruits, nuts,
stems, resins, saps and animal based commodities are less well known, but
common sights in homes and markets. Many have been used and traded for
centuries as food, medicines, materials and tools. The role of forests providing
diverse products for use and sale is important given the low development levels.
a chain of value is created when NTFPs are traded, flowing from forest
harvesters, to wholesalers, transports, retailers and ultimately consumers.
Poverty
Prunus africana
Pygeum
The Democratic Republic of Congo is classed as a low income
country and Cameroon as lower-middle income. Nearly 80% of the population in
DRC and 44% in Cameroon subsist on 2 US$ a day. Just over a third and twothirds respectively live in rural areas. The states are fragile, doing business is
difficult, corruption is rife and both countries rank at the bottom of most worldwide
governance indicators.
What do non-timber forest products contribute to the
livelihoods of people involved in their value chains?
High value
Socio-economic values of the nine NTFPs vary widely, but
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Following the fruits of the forest
Cola acuminata
Cola nuts
by tracking nine non-timber
forest product chains (photos left) from 2007 to 2009, from forest to consumer,
conducting questionnaires with 3590 people across the chains, meetings and
observations, the multiple economic, social-cultural and environmental values of
these products were revealed.
Most species have multiple uses (average 6), mainly food and
medicinal, many also culturally important
When traded are sold for mainly one use
Big business on a small scale: over 28,500 people directly involved
Indirectly trade benefits over 211,0000 people
Excluding consumers, most are harvesters (72%) and retailers (13%)
High annual market value estimated 39.3 million US$
Long term source of cash: on average 7 years
55% stakeholders female, particularly in harvest and retail
Over 80% NTFP incomes used for basic needs (school, food, health)
Mainly small scale, informal individuals and businesses & unorganised
Under the regulation and policy radar, with low political visibility, low
enforcement , little monitoring particularly trans border trade and high
corruption costs
Major trade routes vary from local and urban markets (bamboo, raffia),
to national (safou, bush mango), regional (bush mango, cola, eru) and
international (honey, pygeum, gum arabic)
Annual market value NTFP chains DRC & Cameroon
AVERAGE RDC
39,73,855
Apiculture
Safou
opportunities decrease
AVERAGE CAMEROON
NTFP chain
Beyond the forest....
Fumbwa
Irvingia spp.
Bush mango
Harvester
Processor
Wholesaler
Exporter
Bamboo
Gum arabic
Gnetum spp.
0
in 9 NTFP chains in DRC & Cameroon
6
5
4
2
Further from the forest.....
Processor
Wholesaler
4
income increases
Exporter
Retailer
Averaged (2007-2009) contribution of 9 NTFPs in DRC & Cameroon
to annual household income (US$)
382
416
Outside the forest....
2293
9715
1276
dependence increases
Acacia spp.
Gum arabic
Processor
Wholesaler
Exporter
Retailer
% ranking specfic NTFP as primary source of actors’ annual
household income
38%
23%
37%
42%
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,
Challenging assumptions of forest reliance, the
chains show how dependence extends far beyond the forest edge.
Whilst these products can lift people out of poverty, and provide
safety nets, they also form poverty traps. Stakeholders further from
the forest are largely uninformed and un-engaged in value chain
custody to ensure long term, sustainable product supply. In 5 chains
over 55% of products are unsustainably harvested and in the last 5
years have become scarcer, with decreased harvest volumes, and
longer harvest distances.
Short term profit seeking and unsustainable harvest practices
threaten long term livelihoods, ultimately of all actors along the chain.
Profits and the distributional equity depend on how product ecology,
market forces and chain governance combines. A mix of incongruent
legal frameworks, customary practice and regulatory voids means
that most stakeholders operate illegally. The high level of informality
avoids state interference but is a barrier to fully valorise the positive
impact of NTFPs contribution to national economies, livelihoods, food
security and health.
Can NTFPs contribute to sustainable poverty
reduction? Ensuing lasting livelihood benefits maybe possible if :
• Sustainable harvest techniques are promoted and enforced
• Cultivation in preference to wild harvest is strongly stimulated
• Sector supported and professionalised, collective action enhanced
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Harvester
5,000,000
Average annual market value 2007, 2008, 2009 US$
Gnetum spp.
Eru, fumbwa
Harvester
Prunus africana
Apiculture
Retailer
. Averaged (2007-2009) number of sources of income for actors
Apis mellifera
Honey, wax, propolis
Cola spp.
Irvingia spp.
.
Raphia spp.
Raffia, palm wine
35,384,095
Rhapia spp.
52%
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and market information systems expanded to empower harvesters
Processing and storage technologies disseminated to reduce losses
and add-value
Bottlenecks of access to capital, legal framework and technical
support are eased
Acknowledgements Research was financially supported by CIFOR, FAO, SNV, the
European Commission and INBAR. Many thanks to Mirjam Ros-Tonen, Ton Dietz, Ousseynou
Ndoye and Sheona Shackleton.