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Project Record

Objectives:

To develop and promote strategies for improved sustainable livelihoods and income generation for artisans, traders and small-scale entrepreneurs.

Background:

This project aims to contribute to enhanced sustainable livelihoods of marginalised communities by analysing the constraints and opportunities for commercialisation of NTFPs.

In order to address the developmental opportunity, it is first essential to understand how successful commercialisation of NTFPs can contribute to the livelihoods of the poor. Some small-scale poor farmers and landless poor families have successfully alleviated poverty through commercialisation of NTFPs, whereas others have either chosen not to incorporate NTFPs into their livelihood strategies or have failed to do so successfully.

Existing research suggests that the main constraints to successful NTFP development are related to limited access to the following types of capital asset by small-scale poor farmers and landless poor families (especially women):

*Natural: secure tenure or usufruct rights over land and resources.

*Human: labour constraints (especially time spent away from home by women), awareness of the commercialisation potential of some products, knowledge of processing and storage, and market information and marketing know-how.

*Financial: to invest in improved physical capital.

*Physical: market access (especially transport), inputs for new processing/storage techniques.

*Social: negotiating power (especially for female producers with respect to male market intermediaries), and willingness to collaborate in order to secure improved marketing outcomes.

Available evidence indicates that marketing processes and structures are one of the most significant constraints to successful development of NTFP activities as part of livelihood strategies.

The project aims to contribute to sustainable livelihoods, but the increased commercialisation of NTFPs is inevitably accompanied by concerns about the effects of increased harvesting rates on the resource base, and boom and bust scenarios.

In addition, in a recent background paper for DFID, the lack of access to natural resources was identified as one of the two most important linkages between poverty and the environment. The main limits to poverty reduction, from an environmental perspective, are identified as social, institutional and natural constraints to sustainable commercialisation of NTFPs.

Whilst most Latin American countries are middle income, there exists greater income inequality than in any other region of the world with, on average, the poorest 30% of the population receiving 7.5% of the total income. The selection of two countries which differ in social and cultural structures will enable comparative analysis of the factors influencing NTFP commercialisation, thereby permitting implications to be drawn for other countries in the region.

Intended Outputs:

A methodology for comparative analysis of the factors influencing success of NTFP commercialisation.

A decision-support tool (manual) for local communities, developed and tested with their participation, for successfully developing NTFP resources.

A decision-support tool (Expert System) for use by decision-makers to evaluate the potential for successful NTFP commercialisation.

Progress and Impact:

Four UK-based meetings with ODI, 3 days overseas working with FFI Central America, and 3 weeks in Mexico meeting with overseas collaborators, and other target institutions (including CATIE), to plan, design and develop the project. Inception workshop held in Oaxaca, Mexico, with 56 participants from government and non-government organisations, research institutions, and local communities.

Meetings with ODI, FFI, FAO to develop collaboration; field visits to Mexico and Bolivia.

Inception workshop held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, with 63 participants from local communities, non-government and government organisations, research institutions, and the private sector.

Market methodology designed to meet research needs identified at project inception, and answer the hypotheses; collaborator training provided via workshops held in Mexico and Bolivia.

Data analysis workshop, Oaxaca, Mexico, March-April 2002; evaluate factors influencing successful NTFP commercialisation at community level from Mexican and Bolivian data.

Seven UK based meetings with ODI; discussion with Conservation International and IUFRO Research Group on NWFPs to explore potential review and uptake of project output; total of 16 weeks in Mexico and Bolivia, supporting collaborators with training and joint piloting of research tools; presentation of paper at two International Conferences.

Workshop Mexico, April 2002, with project partners from Mexico and Bolivia to consider case studies in light of project hypotheses and questions. Preliminary data analysis; agreed scope of market survey tool; identified and resolved partner priorities and difficulties, highlighting areas requiring technical support.

Trial data integration and analysis protocol workshop (London, June 2002). Detailed data analysis plans from all team members; collectively agreed data needs; finalised collection tools; planned sequential data analysis process. Methodology reviewed by external statistician.

Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation tools in conjunction with partner training, to provide internal review system; decision making instrument to assist NTFP promoters and traders in identifying appropriate intervention and improved production and marketing strategies; guidelines measuring participation of communities and producers in decision making processes.

Socio-economic and marketing research undertaken in 17 communities covering 10 NTFPs. Published and household level data collected and information held in database.

Design of research methodology (field tested March 2003) to enable communities to define successful in their own terms and develop a relevant monitoring and evaluation process. The results will help to determine the appropriate content of a decision-support tool for communities.

Data analysis review and integration Workshop (London, March 2003). Outputs will be a confirmed or modified data analysis procedure, to be undertaken during April.

Meetings: Seven UK team based; discussion with CIFOR to explore potential combined data analysis and methodology review; 12 weeks in Mexico and Bolivia, supporting collaborators in writing up research findings; presentation of findings to date at 2 International Meetings.

Methodological guidelines workshop: (London, May 2003). Presentation of data analysis to external statistician; collectively agreed data gaps and planned sequential data integration.

Data analysis workshop, Phase II: (Bolivia, May 2003). All case studies considered in the light of project hypotheses and research questions. Presented preliminary data analysis from all sources, explored and triangulated findings, identified areas requiring additional clarification.

Design of Expert System: Agreed structure for decision support tool based around a livelihoods impact model and a factors influencing success model, structured around the 5 capital assets.

Final Data

General Notes:

End date changed: 10/2/05
Budget changed 3/3/05

Read the ID21 article, Commercialising non-timber forest products: does it help poor people?, which concerns this project.

Publications:

NEWTON, A.C., MARSHALL, E., SCHRECKENBERG, K. AND TE VELDE, D.W. (2002) Commercialisation of non-timber forest products: definitions of success and analysis of the factors influencing success. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods.



MARSHALL, E. (2004). Pita: the revival of the most resistant natural fibre in the world. At: Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall, UK. In: Positive Developments. Siderman-Wolter, B. (Ed.). 16-25 May 2004. pp. 15. Natural Resources International Limited (NRInt). East Malling, UK. ISBN:0-9546452-0-0. 1,000 copies



MARSHALL, E. (2004). Rubber: the local economy is really bouncing back. At: Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall, UK. In: Positive Developments. Siderman-Wolter, B. (Ed.). 16-25 May 2004. pp. 16. Natural Resources International Limited (NRInt). East Malling, UK. ISBN:0-9546452-0-0. 1,000 copies.



SCHRECKENBERG, K. AND MARSHALL, E. (2004). What can the bushmeat trade learn from the commercialisation of plant NTFPs? At: Bushmeat and Livelihoods Conference, London, UK. 23-24 September 2004. ODI, UNEP-WCMC. Oxford, UK, Cambridge, UK

Associated References:

R6913, R7349, R6914, R7190