IFCAE Project:
Bringing Local Knowledge to the World Forestry Congress’ NTFP Workshop
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| Timeframe:
Fall 2003 |
Principal
Investigators:
Rebecca J. McLain (IFCAE)
Marla Emery (USDA-Forest Service NE Experimental Station)
Rebecca Richards (U of Montana, Depts of Sociology and Forestry)
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| Funding Organizations:
Ford
Foundation |
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In-Kind
Contributors:
IFCAE, USDA-FS NES,
U of MT, Hawk Mountain Trading Company, and Goods from the Woods, Inc. |
| Publications:
Bringing Wildcrafters to the International Policy Table
(downloadable .pdf report) |
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Project Overview:
In the1990s,
global trade in NTFPs expanded rapidly. Many forest managers started to
limit access to these resources or prohibited harvesting altogether.
Because of their often marginal economic status and, in some cases, their
ethnic minority status, NTFP harvesters to-date have had limited input in
new regulations and policies. The absence of harvesters in global forest
policy debates has two negative consequences. First, harvesters have no
voice in establishing the principles underlying global forest, labor, and
trade policies, all of which affect the ability of harvesters to derive
their livelihoods or maintain cultural traditions. Second, their absence
in international policymaking means that the emerging principles for
fostering sustainable forest management may fall wide of the mark due to
the absence of critical pieces of local NTFP knowledge that only
harvesters possess.
To expand the
capacity of NTFP harvesters to influence international forest policy, we
supported the participation of harvesters from the U.S. in the 12th
World Forestry Congress in Quebec City during September 2003. The World
Forestry Congress, which meets every seven years, is one of the most
influential international forest policy gatherings. Participants include
forest policy-makers, scientists, land managers, and forest
practitioners.
Project Objective:
Our
project had two objectives: (1) To expose WFC participants to NTFP
harvesters and their issues and knowledge, thus providing an opportunity
for policymakers and forestry professionals to recognize the importance of
strengthening their ability to seek out and learn from harvesters, and (2)
To build the capacity of the NTFP harvester community to participate
effectively in global level policymaking.
For further information, please contact Rebecca McLain.
Updated May 01, 2004.
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