Indigenous Plants: Opportunities for Communities Presented to National CBNRM Conference by Sheehamandje Ipinge, IPTT Chairperson 26 October 2004.

Indigenous Plants: Indigenous Plants: Opportunities for CommunitiesOpportunities for Communities

Presented toPresented to

National CBNRM ConferenceNational CBNRM Conferenceby Sheehamandje Ipinge, IPTT Chairpersonby Sheehamandje Ipinge, IPTT Chairperson

26 October 200426 October 2004

Money does grow on trees…Money does grow on trees…International trade in natural products is International trade in natural products is more than US$40 billion a year, growing more than US$40 billion a year, growing rapidly, markets interested in noveltyrapidly, markets interested in noveltyTrend predicted to continue as consumers Trend predicted to continue as consumers become more aware (LOHAS)become more aware (LOHAS)Namibia’s lower agricultural potential is a Namibia’s lower agricultural potential is a global competitive advantageglobal competitive advantageNP production is highly compatible with NP production is highly compatible with other land uses (e.g. eco-tourism)other land uses (e.g. eco-tourism)African products are currently under-African products are currently under-represented in world marketsrepresented in world markets

… … but withdrawals are not freebut withdrawals are not free

Creating trade channels for new products Creating trade channels for new products requires investment in R&D and marketing requires investment in R&D and marketing Primary producers need support to ensure Primary producers need support to ensure harvesting is sustainableharvesting is sustainablePrivate sector will usually only invest when Private sector will usually only invest when both supply and demand have been both supply and demand have been demonstrated and are judged reliabledemonstrated and are judged reliableEnabling policy and legislation crucially Enabling policy and legislation crucially important for win-win partnershipsimportant for win-win partnerships

To simplify the issue:To simplify the issue:

How do we get from this…How do we get from this…

to this…to this…

……or from this…or from this…

to this…to this…

……in a way that is:in a way that is:

Environmentally sustainable?Environmentally sustainable?

Commercially and technologically realistic Commercially and technologically realistic under Namibian conditions?under Namibian conditions?

Beneficial to the livelihoods of rural Beneficial to the livelihoods of rural Namibians, especially women, the very Namibians, especially women, the very poor and other marginalised people?poor and other marginalised people?

Compatible with Namibia’s national Compatible with Namibia’s national sustainable development policies?sustainable development policies?

Fair and equitable?Fair and equitable?

National efforts to promote IPsNational efforts to promote IPs

Indigenous Plants Task Team (IPTT) – multi-Indigenous Plants Task Team (IPTT) – multi-stakeholder group, to coordinate national stakeholder group, to coordinate national strategy:strategy:- Ministries- Ministries- Research and academic - Research and academic - NGOs (incl. NACSO)- NGOs (incl. NACSO)- Farmers’ union- Farmers’ union

Establishing Eco-regionalEstablishing Eco-regionalSatellite CentersSatellite Centers- CBNRM interface?- CBNRM interface?

National efforts (cont.)National efforts (cont.)

Promoting Indigenous Fruit (PIF) project – Promoting Indigenous Fruit (PIF) project – MAWRD fundingMAWRD funding

Useful Plants Development Project Useful Plants Development Project (UPDP) – US funding(UPDP) – US funding

National Agricultural Services Support National Agricultural Services Support Project (NASSP) – EU and GRN funding – Project (NASSP) – EU and GRN funding – includes indigenous plants componentincludes indigenous plants component

National efforts (cont.)National efforts (cont.)

Devil’s Claw Working GroupDevil’s Claw Working Group

Hoodia Working GroupHoodia Working Group

Directorate of Forestry/FAO project on Directorate of Forestry/FAO project on indigenous fruit treesindigenous fruit trees

Community Forestry (NFFP) Community Forestry (NFFP)

Access to Genetic Resources legislationAccess to Genetic Resources legislation

Southern African perspectivesSouthern African perspectives

PhytoTrade Africa – the Southern African PhytoTrade Africa – the Southern African Natural Products Trade Association: R&D and Natural Products Trade Association: R&D and market development on behalf of members in 7 market development on behalf of members in 7 SADC countriesSADC countriesIUCN (SA) NATPRO: Aims to raise N$22 million IUCN (SA) NATPRO: Aims to raise N$22 million for primary producer support, policy and for primary producer support, policy and advocacyadvocacyRegional cooperation around cross-border Regional cooperation around cross-border resources is crucial (e.g. Devil’s Claw Range resources is crucial (e.g. Devil’s Claw Range States Working Group, Hoodia listing on CITES States Working Group, Hoodia listing on CITES App. II)App. II)

Of serious interest…Of serious interest…HoodiaHoodia and other succulents and other succulents

Indigenous vegetablesIndigenous vegetables

Medicinal species, e.g. Medicinal species, e.g. Terminalia Terminalia and and CombretumCombretum

Gums and resins, e.g. Gums and resins, e.g. Commiphora Commiphora andandAcaciaAcacia

Kalahari trufflesKalahari truffles

Essential oilsEssential oils

Fruit productsFruit products

Lipid oilsLipid oils

A few examples…A few examples…

Devil’s ClawDevil’s Claw

Namibia produce 80+% of world’s Devil’s Namibia produce 80+% of world’s Devil’s Claw – in 2002 Claw – in 2002 ± 1000 tons (dry, sliced)± 1000 tons (dry, sliced)Very NB source of income for extremely Very NB source of income for extremely poor, marginalised harvesterspoor, marginalised harvestersHardly any value-adding inside NamibiaHardly any value-adding inside NamibiaThe current trade resulted from 50 years The current trade resulted from 50 years of industry investment in research trials of industry investment in research trials and product developmentand product developmentSustainability concerns have arisen and Sustainability concerns have arisen and are being addressed (harvesting are being addressed (harvesting guidelines, cultivation)guidelines, cultivation)Value retention remains low due to lack of Value retention remains low due to lack of cooperation between producerscooperation between producers

Marula oilMarula oil

Long cultural tradition, Long cultural tradition, but but ondjove ondjove not not suitable for formal suitable for formal marketsmarketsTMOP started ’96 TMOP started ’96 (EWC, OoP, CRIAA (EWC, OoP, CRIAA SA-DC, Namdeb SF)SA-DC, Namdeb SF)Cold-pressed marula Cold-pressed marula oil incorporated into oil incorporated into The Body Shop’s The Body Shop’s whole make-up range whole make-up range (launched 2002)(launched 2002)

Develop system to Develop system to collate kernels – flexi-collate kernels – flexi-time home-based time home-based income for womenincome for womenDesign and build Design and build suitable presssuitable pressINCI registration and INCI registration and regulatory complianceregulatory complianceQuality controlQuality controlProduct developmentProduct developmentOn-going researchOn-going researchGrowing the marketGrowing the marketPatent?Patent?

Eudafano Factory, OndangwaEudafano Factory, Ondangwa

Gearing up for the future…Gearing up for the future…

Kalahari Melon SeedKalahari Melon Seed

Very different from marula – annual weed, Very different from marula – annual weed, lower oil content, tough seed coatlower oil content, tough seed coatLow extraction rate with available Low extraction rate with available technology – seeds exported to develop technology – seeds exported to develop market and justify investment; oil now market and justify investment; oil now processed in Namibia (Oontanga)processed in Namibia (Oontanga)NB source of water in Kalahari – currently NB source of water in Kalahari – currently not sourced from wild harvest, guidelines not sourced from wild harvest, guidelines neededneededMajor potential as alternative cropMajor potential as alternative cropNBRI selecting superior oilseed strainsNBRI selecting superior oilseed strainsEven just trading KMS seeds required Even just trading KMS seeds required technology developmenttechnology development

King Nehale ConservancyKing Nehale Conservancy

Major KMS supplier – facilitates intakesMajor KMS supplier – facilitates intakes

40 tons/a = N$80’000 directly to producers40 tons/a = N$80’000 directly to producers- very good for KNC’s image in - very good for KNC’s image in community, institutional and organisational community, institutional and organisational capacity, sustainability (N$10’000 capacity, sustainability (N$10’000 commission for expenses)commission for expenses)

Provides alternative income while Provides alternative income while revenues from wildlife and tourism are lowrevenues from wildlife and tourism are low

HoodiaHoodia

Appetite suppressant properties patented Appetite suppressant properties patented by CSIR and licensed to Phytopharmby CSIR and licensed to PhytopharmBenefit-sharing deal with the SanBenefit-sharing deal with the SanCITES Appendix II listing allows CITES Appendix II listing allows government-certified materialgovernment-certified materialNamibia and Phytopharm are negotiating Namibia and Phytopharm are negotiating terms of collaborationterms of collaborationWild-harvesting (?) vs enrichment planting Wild-harvesting (?) vs enrichment planting on range land vs smallholder cultivation vs on range land vs smallholder cultivation vs large plantations large plantations Illustrates the value of being pro-active Illustrates the value of being pro-active about useful plant resourcesabout useful plant resources

Schinziophyton rautaneniiSchinziophyton rautanenii

MankettiManketti

Available in very large quantities, but no Available in very large quantities, but no significant market yetsignificant market yetCan procurement through conservancy Can procurement through conservancy networks lower the oil price enough to networks lower the oil price enough to make paint/varnish markets feasible?make paint/varnish markets feasible?20% of trees bear double nuts; truncheons 20% of trees bear double nuts; truncheons grow easily – if market warrants grow easily – if market warrants production can be increased in ways that production can be increased in ways that benefit the environment and preserve benefit the environment and preserve landscape valueslandscape values

Ximenia spp. Ximenia spp. (sour plum)(sour plum)oil for cosmetic useoil for cosmetic use

Berchemia discolor Berchemia discolor (bird plum, eembe)(bird plum, eembe)

Adansonia digitata Adansonia digitata (baobab)(baobab)Kigelia africana Kigelia africana (sausage tree)(sausage tree)Hyphaene petersiana Hyphaene petersiana (makalani palm)(makalani palm)Strychnos Strychnos sppspp. . (monkey orange)(monkey orange)Diospyros mespiliformis Diospyros mespiliformis (jackal berry)(jackal berry)Vangueria infausta Vangueria infausta (wild medlar) (wild medlar) GrewiaGrewia spp. (brandybush) spp. (brandybush) Ziziphus mucronata Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn) (buffalo thorn) Tylosema esculenta Tylosema esculenta (Gemsbok bean)(Gemsbok bean)Cucumis metuliferusCucumis metuliferus (African horned (African horned cucumber)cucumber)Guibourtia coleosperma Guibourtia coleosperma (false mopane) (false mopane)

NB points to think about:NB points to think about:

Many communities have a large pool of Many communities have a large pool of “natural capital” in the form of useful plant “natural capital” in the form of useful plant resource endowments resource endowments Some resources (e.g. marula in the NCRs) Some resources (e.g. marula in the NCRs) are more private than communalare more private than communalSecurity of tenure is fundamental to Security of tenure is fundamental to sustainable management (and CBNRM)sustainable management (and CBNRM)Traditional knowledge adds value and Traditional knowledge adds value and enables benefit sharing, but benefits must enables benefit sharing, but benefits must be created before they can be sharedbe created before they can be shared

An ecosystem approach to CBNRM An ecosystem approach to CBNRM implies that indigenous plant resources be implies that indigenous plant resources be monitored and managed routinelymonitored and managed routinelyBy definition CBNRM can only become By definition CBNRM can only become sustainable once it passes the “break even sustainable once it passes the “break even point” where the revenue from resources point” where the revenue from resources exceeds the cost of managing themexceeds the cost of managing themPlant products are typically harvested in Plant products are typically harvested in small quantities by large numbers of small quantities by large numbers of people – income is distributed more people – income is distributed more directly and evenly than when centralised directly and evenly than when centralised through hunting or tourismthrough hunting or tourism

Community-level processing ventures Community-level processing ventures often fail due to bad management, lack of often fail due to bad management, lack of scale economies, poor quality control scale economies, poor quality control

The fundamental strengths of communities The fundamental strengths of communities in the market are their ownership of the in the market are their ownership of the primary resources, and their ability to primary resources, and their ability to organise the collation of commercial organise the collation of commercial quantities at reasonable transaction costquantities at reasonable transaction cost

Options for community-private sector Options for community-private sector partnerships must be fully explored before partnerships must be fully explored before investment decisions are finalisedinvestment decisions are finalised

Finally: A Quiz…Finally: A Quiz…Spot the natural productSpot the natural product

Duwweltjies!Duwweltjies!

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!