Management of the Non-Timber Forest Product Industry in Manitoba
December 31, 2003
Prior to developing a management plan for the Non-Timber Forest Products Industry in Manitoba, it is essential that all parties (including government, educational institutions and communities) have an understanding of what the NTFP Industry is and how it is developing in Manitoba, Canada, North America and in other countries of the world. This understanding will allow a better appreciation of the benefits of this industry for Manitoba and residents of small forest communities. In rural and northern Manitoba there are communities where there may be little or no economic base, beyond the false economy of continual social assistance, and this industry would provide a portion of economic stability in those areas.
One of the major themes coming out of the 1998 Special Forest Product Conference in Minneapolis was the need to promote a better understanding of this industry and also to introduce additional curriculum and training into Universities and Colleges on the many values of the forest other than tree fiber. The continuing education of Government and municipal officials was identified as a critical first step.
The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations operates a Non-Wood Forest Products Program, promoting and documenting NTFP activities around the world (www.fao.org/forestry/fop/fopw/nwfp/nwfp-e.stm). While many countries do not offer their citizens any form of social assistance, it is important to note that there are many examples of “social forestry management programs” being promoted and developed, to allow forest communities to manage their surrounding forest resources to sustain themselves. In the Philippines, for example, large tracts of ancestral jungle forested lands have been turned over to local communities. These communities, aided by local government workers and international consultants, harvest, process, market, and manage Non-Timber Forest Products to create a new sustainable forest economy.
In the Western US and in BC, the harvest and production of NTFPs, especially wild mushrooms, wild medicinals and floral products is worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. In BC alone, the value of the wild edible mushroom harvest varies each year from 20 to 50 million dollars. Also in BC, the salal harvest (once considered a noxious weed) is worth over 40 million dollars each year.
These high values naturally attract many potential harvesters, and the west coast NTFP Industry has experienced some serious management problems. In Washington State, for example, where picking fees alone are worth over $600,000.00 each year, enforcement officials are faced with a serious problem of protecting the state forests from damage caused by the hoards of harvesters who wish to make a little extra money.
During the 1930’s and 1940’s, the over-exploitation of cascara bark, (as a laxative product for the drug industry) became a serious problem until regulations regarding its harvest were put in place, plantations were established, and the industry developed other types of laxatives. More recently, the development of the powerful anti-cancer drug taxol from the bark of the Pacific Yew Tree has lead to serious over harvest of this species, which was once simply cut down and burned as a “weed” tree in the course of clear cutting by the forest Industry. Again the BC Provincial Government stepped in with regulations, and is promoting the propagation of yew in plantations and efforts to synthesize taxol from its foliage.
While Manitoba may never experience the problems encountered by BC and the Western States because the vastness of our boreal forest and our small population, I believe that it is important to learn from their experiences. There can be no doubt that unregulated large scale harvesting anywhere, by uninformed people who are motivated by short-term gain, can lead to harm for both the species being harvested, and for others who rely on the species.
By providing education and training through KCC's community involvement, we will train rural and northern residents how to sustainably harvest, process, market, and manage those resources that surround their communities. This training in conjunction with improved communication with government and municipalities will ensure that NTFPs will be included in Manitoba's provincial mandate to manage resources in a sustainable manner.
This is what the Northern Forest Diversification Centre is about. The NFDC is a community economic development initiative focused on educating and working with forest communities to develop additional income streams and micro-businesses to stimulate local economies. The NFDC, a division of Keewatin Community College, has evolved over the past four years into the provincial training, research, & service Centre for the NTFP Industry. The NFDC vision is to create a network of community based and diverse micro enterprises supported by a 21st century packaging and marketing infrastructure.
The most important phrase used in the NFDC marketing strategy in the promotion of “Manitoba Wild Harvested Products” is Sustainable Harvesting. The practices of sustainable and ethical wild harvesting, plant identification and ecology, and proper harvest and handling techniques are an integral part of the community NTFP training courses delivered by the NFDC.
Managing these untapped alternative forest values is a critical step. Carefully thought out processes between government and harvesters is a necessity to ensure sustainable management practices while maximizing resource opportunities. Unfortunately, there are examples throughout Canada that show restrictive and uninformed management controls actually inhibit rather than promote opportunities
The Department of Conservation has a unique opportunity at this point in the development of the Manitoba NTFP Industry to work side by side with organized and trained wild harvesters to both promote and manage this economic opportunity/resource for the benefit of future generations. This cooperative approach will benefit all parties by increasing knowledge and information between government and harvesters and ensuring controls and management practices are in balance with the resource being harvested. Keeping people working and interested in living in rural and northern communities, is a primary goal for the province, KCC, municipalities and the NTFP program.
Recommendations:
Dave Buck
Northern Forest Diversification Centre
P.O. Box 509
The Pas, Manitoba, R9A 1K6
PH: 204-627-8681
Fax: 204-627-8686
Email: dbuck@nfdc.ca
Website: www.nfdc.ca
