ETHICAL WILDCRAFTING--A MANITOBA PERSPECTIVE

Presentation to the First Annual Herb and Spice Conference and Trade Show

Guelph University, February 17, 18, 19, 2004

The development of the Northern Forest Diversification Centre (NFDC) began about four years ago as a community development initiative of Keewatin Community College in Northern Manitoba.  The mission of the NFDC is to work with communities and individuals who are looking to develop economic opportunities that are aligned with local values and based on local resources, for the benefit of local people.  The Centre has identified Non-Timber Forest Products as a realistic, practical, income generating opportunity that can be developed by building on local skills and knowledge.  Based on a system of sustainable harvesting and use, the NFDC acts as a research, training, marketing, sales and service centre for the provincial Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) industry.  The NFDC vision is a NTFP industry composed of a network of community based and diverse micro enterprises supported by a 21st Century packaging and marketing infrastructure.

The NFDC offers a ten-day community based training course focusing in local resources, plant identification and basic ecology, sustainable harvesting and handling practices, aboriginal issues, low-tech value added processing, and marketing. The training includes a flexible combination of classroom, field, and value-added processing exercises. Additional specialty workshops have been developed to increase local opportunities in value-added products such as soap and salve making, wreath making, antler jewelry, and birch bark biting.  An important feature of this training is that there is no age or education restriction.

The NFDC now employs a full-time marketing manager and last year marketed products from over 200 harvesters from 22 communities. The general categories of Non-Timber Forest Products include wild crafts and floral supplies, wild foods, and wild medicinal products.  Included in our catalogue of over 100 products are wild tea blends, skin salves, senega root, labrador tea leaf, blue hyssop, sweet grass, sweet gale leaf, sweet flag root, bearberry leaf, black poplar buds, and high bush cranberry bark.  In addition to providing marketing services, the NFDC assists interested producers to develop their own markets and work directly with the marketing manager to develop these opportunities.

Aboriginal issues, especially those concerning the commercialization of traditional plants are an important focus of the training.  During the development of the ten-day course, a group of elders met for five days to review and discuss the content of the training.  In addition, Keewatin Community College employs an elder, Mr. John Martin, to provide counseling for aboriginal students.  John is also on the NFDC management team, and provides guidance in many areas.

The NFDC marketing strategy includes the phrases “A Manitoba Wild Harvested Product”, and “Sustainably Harvested by Members of the Manitoba Wild Harvesters Association”.  This type of marketing has great consumer appeal and must be authentic and defendable.  This concept is an important part of harvester training as local opportunities are being developed. 

During each community training session, a local wild harvester association is formed, and plans for a provincial association to provide an official voice for wild harvesters are being discussed.  On March 5, 6, and 7,2004, Tim Brigham, a NTFP consultant from Duncan BC will deliver a Code of Ethics workshop, in the Pas to 14 harvesters and NFDC staff.  The resulting document will be presented for adoption at the formational meeting of the provincial association later in the year.  A HACCP training workshop will be offered during this period as well.

Once the Provincial Wild Harvesters Association is fully functional, the Centre will implement a plan to turn over the business side of NFDC to this producer owned organization.  The time lines for this are expected to be three to five years.

With respect to the management of the emerging NTFP industry in Manitoba, the NFDC has recently presented a paper to Manitoba Conservation with the following recommendations;

• That a co-management agreement be developed between the NFDC and Manitoba Conservation to develop management policies and discuss issues that may arise in the area of NTFP management.
• That formal awareness presentations be made by the NFDC to the provincial resource management teams and then to all the Manitoba Conservation Officers to promote a clear understanding of the Industry and its progress in Manitoba
• That the need for regulations be reviewed after the Manitoba Wild Harvesters Association is formally established and its code of ethics developed.  This association, representing all Manitoba Wild Harvesters, would then formally sit down with the Department to develop any regulations needed for the sustainable growth of this industry.  If this can be accomplished, the Industry will regulate itself, and the harvester associations will work with the Department to stop any unethical or unacceptable harvesting practices.
• That Manitoba Conservation work closely with local organized “Wild Harvester Associations” attending their meetings, and acting as technical advisors for the developing NTFP Industry.  This will promote a better understanding and appreciation of the concerns of both the harvesters and the Department.

Formal awareness workshops for the Regional Resource Management Teams will begin shortly.

Research on sustainable harvesting practices, and the identification of plants that may be at risk is an ongoing effort.  A “best practices “ approach is promoted during harvester training, gathering as much information as is available on each plant.  The College Natural Resource Management Technology students have recently began to establish permanent sample plots to monitor several products and harvesting methods.  The University College of the North implementation team is considering the incorporation of the research needs of the development NTFP industry into their programs.  The Northern Forest Diversification Centre is working with the Centre for Non-Timber Resources at Royal Roads University in Victoria to develop a Canadian Consortium for Non-Timber Resources – Western Region.  This entity will promote areas of common interest in the development of the NTFP Industry including research on sustainable and ethical harvesting practices. 

“Ethical Wildcrafting” from our perspective, requires not only education and training, but also the empowerment of the forest communities to be able to protect and manage this resource for themselves and their children. Anything less is just not good business. 

Dave Buck

Manager, Non-Timber Forest Products

Northern Forest Diversification Centre

Box 509

The Pas, Manitoba  R9A 1K6

PH: 204-627-8681

Fax: 204-627-8686

Email: dbuck@nfdc.ca

Website:  www.nfdc.ca