Newsletter Number
13
June 2003
Beyond People and Plants
What will happen to the momentum, profile and products of the WWF/UNESCO People and Plants Initiative when the programme ends as scheduled in December 2004?
Following over a year of consultation, during which a draft concept note and brochure were developed, the first regional meeting of 'People and Plants International' was held in Oxford, UK (5-7 May 2003). Very ably facilitated by Paul Hannam, the aim of this first in a series of small regional meetings was to develop a coherent vision and practical set of steps for development of a post-People and Plants 'knowledge network'.
The workshop, at Linacre College, Oxford University, was attended by Chuck Peters (New York Botanical Garden), Tony Cunningham (People and Plants), Mary Stockdale (LAPIS (Land and People Information Sharing)), Cyril Lombard (CRIAA), Paul Hannam (University of Oxford), Miguel Alexiades (University of Kent), Susanne Schmitt, Alan Hamilton and Ros Coles (WWF), Will McClatchey (University of Hawaii), Sarah Laird (Consultant on biodiversity and forest conservation), and Danna Leaman (Chairperson, IUCN SSC Medicinal Plants Specialist Group).
Instead of the interim name 'People and Plants Working Group', we decided on the catchier title --
People and Plants International -- and upon a vision which reflected our goals:
'Creative solutions for conservation and sustainable plant use'.
The aim of People and Plants International (PPI), which is a new, independent body, is to assist communities and organisations to adopt more effective strategies to manage plant resources sustainably for the benefits of local livelihoods and conservation. As a group of experts in collaborative inter-disciplinary work with local communities, PPI will be a 'one-stop shop' which will:
act as mentors to young professionals from developing countries in action-orientated research, and teach in short courses for wider groups of students, resource managers and local scientists;
evaluate strategies and methodologies under six broad themes of global conservation and development, with the aim of identifying those that are more effective;
disseminate recommendations and provide advice for more effective practices to communities, managers of resources, policy-makers, and scientists;
interface with other programmes where PPI can complement them for more effective training and capacity building.
Through these processes, PPI aims to promote fair and workable balances between conservation and use, and thus contribute to a reduction in conflicts over the use of land and to the achievement of more effective long-term conservation practice.
Further small regional workshops will take place in Indonesia, China, and Africa over the next few months.
Publications
The next books to appear are the following, both scheduled for publication in 2004:
Forests, Livelihoods and the International Woodcarving Trade: carving out a future
Edited by: Anthony B. Cunningham, Brian Belcher and Bruce M. Campbell
Plant Identification: user-friendly guides for biodiversity management (provisional title)
Edited by: Anna Lawrence & William Hawthorne
Some reviews of recent titles:
Uncovering the Hidden Harvest: valuation methods for woodland and forest resources
Edited by: Bruce M. Campbell & Martin K. Luckert
'Uncovering the Hidden Harvest provides an overview of the methods that can be used to calculate the value of forest resources...it will assist researchers in considering which methods or approaches may be applicable to particular communities and locations.'
NEW AGRICULTURIST
'...It is a valuable contribution to forest resources management that should span greater sense of sustainability and conservation of the ecosystem. The publication makes you learn who is involved, what is at stake, what is involved, and how to contact them. It creates an atmosphere for a change of attitude with respect for local practice and appreciation of indigenous knowledge. It has a rich bibliography. The book offers refreshing new perspectives and original well-informed scholarship on a topic of global significance'
JOURNAL OF THE CAMEROON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge: equitable partnerships in practice
Edited by: Sarah A. Laird
'The primary aim of this outstanding book is to provide a broad overview, synthesis, and open discussion of practices and processes concerning fairness and equitable partnerships between north and south biodiversity research and bio-prospecting...
This book is eminently practical and succeeds in its intended purpose. It treats the subject matter with holism, with not-overly-specialized text, and with specific examples and case studies that make it interesting and informative....
Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge is an excellent work that should be required reading for everyone involved in these fascinating and complex issues.'
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY
'The book [thus] provides a valuable and comprehensive overview of the relationship between the research on biodiversity and the potential legal and economic issues associated with it. Many of the chapters provide excellent insights into this very complex topic and will further stimulate the discussions in this field and the complexity of the topic and the diverse strategies are highlighted in the case studies. They are a particularly useful feature of the book, in which scientists, representatives of NGOs and other people involved in research relating to biodiversity present issues surrounding the convention on biological diversity (CBD).'
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
'Just recently published, Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge is a spectacular contribution from the People and Plants Conservation Series. The authors and contributors, all 75 of them, are leaders in their fields of expertise. They bring a broad range of backgrounds to this complex topic, including law, ethnobotany, conservation and environmental sciences, and the perspective of local communities. This book also provides an invaluable directory of useful contacts and resources.'
HERBALGRAM
Tapping the Green Market: certification & management of non-timber forest products
Edited by: Patricia Shanley, Ian R. Pierce, Sarah A. Laird & Abraham Guillén
'This book is easy and enjoyable to read with much fascinating historical background to the rise and fall in popularity of the featured plants'
NEW AGRICULTURIST ON-LINE
Meanwhile, the following title has been published by Editorial Nordan-Comunidad, making five now available in Spanish:
Evaluando la cosecha oculta de los bosques: métodos de valuación para bosques y recursos forestales
Editado por: Bruce M. Campbell y Martin K. Luckert
This will be followed, later this year, by:
Biodiversidad y conocimiento tradicional: sociedades equitativos en práctica
Editado por: Sarah A. Laird
Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants continue to be a central focus of our work.
Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants
At a recent meeting organised by the WWF-UK International Plants Conservation Unit and the Species Section of WWF-Germany, representatives from WHO, IUCN, TRAFFIC, and WWF discussed the need to revise the 1993 'Guidelines on the Conservation of Medicinal Plants'. These are global guidelines that were published by WHO, IUCN and WWF following the historic 1988 Chiang Mai Declaration 'Saving Lives by Saving Plants'.
All participants recommended the revision of the 1993 guidelines in light of significant new developments in the field of medicinal plant conservation and use over the past decade (e.g., community involvement in conservation, incentive-based approaches, certification). The usefulness of an up-to-date global framework document was strongly highlighted. Apart from governments and NGOs, a new key audience for the revised guidelines will be the commercial sector (e.g. herbal medicine industry, traders). This sector can contribute significantly to conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants through socially and environmentally sound sourcing practices.
Dr Claude Martin, DG of WWF International, Dr Achim Steiner, DG of IUCN, Dr Zhang, Head of Traditional Medicines Department at WHO, and Steve Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC International, have given this initiative their full approval.
To achieve maximum buy-in, the revised guidelines will be developed through a global consultation process, which should be completed by December 2004. TRAFFIC becomes the fourth author of the revised document.
Susanne Schmitt, WWF-UK, and Susanne Honnef WWF Germany are the interim co-ordinators of this work.
For further details on the rationale behind the revision contact Susanne Schmitt or Susanne Honnef.
Medicinal plants and conservation: issues and approaches
A reminder about this important overview article by Dr Alan Hamilton. It can be found on the WWF research centre site.
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The newsletter, reflecting the activities of People and Plants, is compiled
by:
Martin Walters
People & Plants Editor and Web-manager
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