| Ce qu’on peut retirer d’une forêt
sans la détruire La forêt peut produire autres choses que des arbres.
Autrement dit, il y a moyen d’aller chercher dans la forêt des produits sans couper
les arbres. Chaque acre de forêts qui est détruit aggrave d’un cran le
réchauffement climatique. Un moyen de freiner à la fois la destruction des forêts et le
réchauffement planétaire se trouve dans les produits de la forêt.
L’Institut internationale d’écologie (EII), situé à Hatfield Point, au
Nouveau-
Brunswick, tente de s’attaquer au réchauffement climatique en faisant la promotion
de produits forestiers autres que le bois. Ces produits pourraient éventuellement être
commercialisés et rentabiliseraient les terres forestières de divers propriétaires.
Donc, plus besoin de couper les arbres pour faire des sous. Des produits comestibles, des
vernis et des huiles comptent parmi les produits pour lesquels il pourrait y avoir un
marché.
Other CIDA funded articles:
The Kyoto Protocol
Climate Change
Pedal Power in El Salvador |
|
Non-Timber
Forest Products:
A Conservation Tool
Emily McMillan,
Ecological Institute International (www.eiii.org)
September 1998
 ropical
rainforests cover just 7% of the earth's land area, yet they provide a substantial part of
the earth's oxygen and absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Since 1960, 25% of Central
America's forests have been destroyed to create grazing for cattle, a plight also common
in Amazonia. Here in Canada, large tracts of our natural forests are being cut for timber
and paper products and subsequently being replaced with an industrial forest. With every
acre that is destroyed, the global warming problem is made that much worse. The Ecologic
Institute International (EII), a non-profit organization based in Hatfield Point, New
Brunswick, Canada, is taking on the problem of climate change in its own unique way. EII
thought that a multi-lateral cooperative investment was needed to bring about improved
methods of truly sustainable land use.
|
==========
As part of this initiative EII has been developing a program, entitled "Research and
Development of Non-timber Forest Products"
========== |
Working together with many collaborative organizations, EII is developing conservation
projects that work toward a more equitable and sustainable future within forest-dependent
rural societies. One such initiative is focusing on maintaining the forest canopy by
promoting non-timber forest products with the goal of changing the "pulp
mentality" into a "conservation mentality". As part of this initiative EII
has been developing a program, entitled "Research and Development of Non-timber
Forest Products", which has components in Mexico, Bolivia and Canada. The Mexican
portion of this program has three components: forest foliage as animal fodder, utilization
of forest fruits, and utilization of forest oils, waxes and resins as wood finishing
products. In Bolivia the focus is toward the development of various projects, including
the commercialization of "algadon de la selva" (jungle cotton), improving
artisan products and research with copaiba oil. And in Canada, EII has started an
innovative program of planting wild-simulated ginseng. Expanding upon the successes of
non-timber forest products currently realized (i.e., chicle latex tapping in S.E. Mexico,
rubber and copaiba tapping in Bolivia, and maple syrup tapping in Eastern Canada) would
only serve to create new opportunities.
In Central America, the use of fodder trees and shrubs, such as ramon, is being
promoted as an alternative to pasture feeding. This would cut down on the need to clear
forest for grazing land, a practice which has not proven to be effective.
Fodder trees and shrubs have many benefits to farmers: besides providing fodder year
around, these trees provide good shade and windbreaks, increase soil fertility, and help
to conserve soil and water. Wildlife management, supplemented with tree foliage as forage,
can be an attractive economic possibility to the local communities, and at the same time
offer a way to slow climate change through preserving the forest canopy.
EII will also study another non-timber forest product: forest fruits. Research will be
conducted on the potential of fruits from selected tree species (i.e., zapote, ciricote,
etc.) for use in a number of products. These may include home-made marmalades, jellies,
fruit juices, and, sun-dried, for the ice cream and yogurt sectors. Known throughout this
region as one of the most flavorful forest fruits, chicozapote has been long enjoyed by
residents of this forest region. However, the limited shelf-life ( two days) of this
delicate treat prohibits its commercialization for sale in nearby markets. The zapote
tree, which produces both the chicozapote fruit and the chicle latex resin (used to make
chewing gum, known as "chiclets"), is the most commonly occurring tree in this
region. It holds strong promise to aid in the well-being of both the people and the forest
canopy, if the economic potential can be translated into a sustainable reality.
(photo: Ecologic Institute
Interntaional)
|
==========
Chiclero extracting chicle latex from a zapote tree (manilkara zapote) in
the dry-tropical rainforest of S.E. Mexico
========== |
Utilization of local resins and oils as raw materials for such products as varnishes or
finishing oils is another area where EII noticed a locally producible sustainable
opportunity. Extensive research has begun into the possible use of resins and oils
extracted from selected forest products. Contacts have been made by EII with various
research institutions, and a collaborative project has been initiated. The project will
analyze the potential raw materials which are suitable for use in developing such
finishing oils/varnishes (i.e., copal resin, pimienta gorda waxes, bees wax, seed &
nut oils, orange terpines, etc.). Raw materials will be collected by local residents for
our Mexican laboratory, and analyzed for such properties as stability (anti-rancidity),
inner-compatibilities, drying and durability, toxicity, and adaptability to current
product demand (i.e., ease of use, acceptable sheen, pleasant odor, etc.). One of our
Institute’s goals is to replace the current use of imported toxic two-component
urethane-type finishing oils, presently in wide use throughout the region by local
woodworkers and artisans, with a natural plant-based finishing oil, that has been sourced
by local residents from renewable resources and in a sustainable manner.
In Bolivia, our Institute has been invited to co-develop various non-timber forest
product projects, with national organizations (such as the Aboriginal Artisans Cooperative
and the University of Santa Cruz0, and other non-governmental and governmental
organizations. At present we are working on developing three such projects: Aboriginal
Artisans Design, Creation & Marketing Forum, and R&D on the copaiba oil on algadon
de la selva (jungle cotton). All three of these projects may have positive effects on
maintaining natural forests (the source of the raw materials used) while enhancing the
social, economic and environmental sustainability of the region.
The Canadian portion of this non-timber forest products research and development
program evolved in part due to EII's detection of the progressive deterioration of the
natural wooded areas throughout Atlantic Canada. This situation is caused by: the
unsustainable appetite of the pulp and lumber industry; the economic necessity of
generating income from the wood lots of the area; and a lack of educational tools which
would better enable woodlot owners/operators to select a more appropriate approach to
their management plans. The cultural harvesting practices often utilized rely heavily on
the clear-cut method followed by either natural regeneration or replanting of monocultural
species. This tends to create industrial forests and plantations rather than natural
forests. EII's intention is to create a new method of utilizing our natural forest
resource base, by encouraging the planting of ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). Ginseng is an
economically viable and ecologically sound alternative.
==========
3 to 4 year old wild-simulated grown ginseng plant in NB woodlot
========== |
(Photo: Ecologic Institute International)
|
EII will coordinate programs which will identify and implement these and other
sustainable non-timber forest product options. Partners in thse programs will be
Universities, Centers of Investigation, Local Forest (Ejido) Organizations, Government
Departments and other NGO's throughout SE Mexico, Bolivia and beyond, This will lead to a
more sustainable way of life, environmentally, economically and socially. Once these newly
identified non-timber forest products are proven to be sustainable, EII is confident that
promoting land use such as this would prevent the farmers/woodlot owners from succumbing
to the temptation to clear-cut their land. This is good for the forest, good for the
forester and good for the climate.
For further information on these and other programs, please contact the Institute,
at:
Ecologic Institute International
Hwy.124, #2874
RR 1, Hatfield Point, New Brunswick, Canada
E0G 2A0
Tel: 506 485-2967; Fax: 506 485-1088
Email: kentrose@nbnet.nb.ca |
