In Mexico the regulatory system governing the extraction and commercialization or non timber forest products is creating a series of barriers forcing extractors and traders to stay outside of the process of legalization.

As a result of previous work, it was clear that there was a need to analyze this issue together with other people who have experience on the subject. With this in mind, a meeting was held in the “Jardín Etnobotánico” in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with the participation of four experts, mainly from the NGO sector, representing groups that have been working with NTFP extraction, trade and policy at the level of the community. This work was made possible by funding provided by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR.)

The meeting was attended by:

 

• Fabrice Edouard, from the NGO “Methodus” who have been assessing communities in the use and management of different resources in Oaxaca, in particular with pita fiber (Aechmea magdalenae) and wild mushrooms.
• Catarina Illsley, from the NGO “Grupo de Estudios Ambientales (GEA)” who have done extensive work in Guerrero, with community management of natural resources, as palm (Brahea dulcis), and mescal (Agave cupreata)
• Paul Hersch, from the “Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH)” working in Guerrero and Puebla with some of the social factors influencing the use and trade of medicinal plants and aromatic woods and oils.
• Silvia E. Purata, from People and Plants International, working with management and trade of several Bursera species in Oaxaca, who acted as organizer and coordinator of the meeting.

 

One goal of the meeting was to produce a policy brief, to illustrate the actual state of NTFP legislation and give recommendations, particularly to the forestry authorities, but also to groups of resource users and some groups from the NGO sector. A summary of the policy brief is presented here.

Another goal was to present the results of the meeting to the forest authorities, which has not yet been possible. However, the results of the analysis will be presented in a conference to be held in Aguascalientes, Mexico, later this year. 

All except one of the participants of the meeting belong to a Mexican network named RAISES (Red de Aprendizaje e Intercambios para la  Sistematización  de Experiencias hacia la Sustentabilidad). This network will continue collaborating with PPI’s NTFP policy project in Mexico.

Summary of the Policy Brief

The first section presents the main characteristics of NTFP in Mexico, such as the fact that there is great diversity in the number of products and species used, the management systems and the social contexts in which these occur. The lack of basic biological data for most of the species is also acknowledged, as well as the fact that there is overexploitation of some of the species, while for others there are customary rules of use that have been sufficient to ensure the sustainable use of the resource, in spite of external pressures and poverty.

In the following sectors some of the Positive impacts of NTFP are enlisted and illustrated, as are also some of the most important barriers imposed by an improper and insufficient normative framework.

Finally, the group offers some recommendations such as to Harmonize and simplify laws and proceedings, Train and give orientation to authorities responsible for authorizing extraction permits among other.