Community-based NTFP Enterprises (CBNE) Forum
1-5 June 2021
REGISTER HERE
Community-based Non-Timber Forest Product Enterprises (CBNEs) will take the spotlight for the inaugural Forest Harvest CBNE Forum taking place this 1-5 June to highlight their untapped potential in contributing to community well-being and forest conservation,
The five-day online forum is co-organized by the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme, the Green Livelihoods Alliance, the Forest and Farm Facility, the International Forestry Students’ Association, RECOFTC and the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development.
Featuring expert speakers in the field of community forestry and enterprise development, the Forest Harvest CBNE Forum will host a variety of sessions focusing on three key streams: Capacity, Connectivity & Creativity, and Conducive Environment.
The Capacity stream features talks, roundtable sessions, coaching clinics, master class sessions, and a storytelling competition. The Connectivity & Creativity stream explores problem-solving opportunities in an interactive way including a panel talk show, a branding clinic, and a hackathon competition. The third stream, Conducive Environment, promotes policies and research findings that support CBNEs through talks and sessions with ASEAN bodies on protocols and government policies.
AFA member Lao Farmer Network (LFN) will participate as a collaborator while other AFA members will join as presenters. Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) partner farmers’ organization KAMMPIL is also among the presenters during the 5-day forum. View the schedule here
Participants from communities, CBNE practitioners, policymakers from the forestry, social, and MSME sectors; and the private sector in the field of natural products are all welcome to participate in the forum. The youth, international and national donors, local organizations, researchers, scientists, and non-government organizations are also all welcome to participate and represent their sectors.
Students and members of CBNEs can register for the forum free of charge. Aside from English, interpretations for Thai, Filipino, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, and Vietnamese will be provided.
To learn more about the Forest Harvest CBNE Forum and register as a participant, visit www.forestharvestforum.com.
ABOUT THE FORUM
NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS AND COMMUNITIES
More than a quarter of the world’s forests are managed by indigenous and local communities and smallholder forest users, yet their efforts often go unnoticed. This is quite alarming, considering that approximately 1.3 billion people depend on forests resources for employment, forest products and contributions to livelihoods and incomes.
Global studies have shown that income from natural forests and other natural areas accounted for 28 percent of total household income, nearly as much as crops. Similar studies have also underscored how community forest enterprises (CFEs) can add value to local forest economies and help to reduce poverty, which in turn, encourages local people to invest time and money in their forests and in a range of other assets.
Below the forest canopy, many products are harvested and traded by communities and their community forest producer groups. These products are known as non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
When we talk about the crucial task of managing forests, we also talk about the minute details of managing NTFPs. The crucial tasks of keeping forests and its components intact are done mainly by indigenous and local communities based on their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).
In a forest ecosystem, often timber products only comprise 10% of all products whereas 90% are NTFPs. NTFPs play an important role in the livelihoods of rural and forest people as a source of food, medicine, construction materials, and income. These products are estimated to account for as much as 25% of the income of close to one billion people. Unfortunately, NTFPs are still barely recognized for their importance in rural livelihoods and in forest conservation in general.
Community-based NTFP Enterprises (CBNEs) have the potential to stimulate income generation for sustainably produced forest products, whose values can provide incentives as well for forest protection and for the maintenance of cultures. NTFP-EP and its partners in South and Southeast Asia have been supporting over 1,000 CBNEs over the last two decades supporting over 25,000 individuals. But considering Social Forestry Programs in South and Southeast Asia are growing, the potentials of hundreds of thousands of CBNEs are a largely untapped resource to improve community well-being, protect forests, maintain local cultures and traditions, and increase incomes.
CBNEs are often considered “small’ players in the industry with little capacity, scale and market access to benefit enterprise owners. In reality, these enterprises contribute significantly to the health and beauty industry, food industry, cosmetics, furniture and craft, and textile industries, just to name a few. But, CBNEs often lack the organization and consolidation capacities that allows them to approach the market strategically and capitalize on their unique points of leverage. Though community forestry and social forestry programs in ASEAN have been gaining ground, a dynamic and supportive political environment is still to be seen for these enterprises to become successful. However, the coronavirus pandemic has made the situation more challenging, with regular markets and exhibition opportunities closed or postponed.
NTFP-EP and partners take the opportunity to channel the public’s focus towards information exchange, capacity enhancement, market engagement, and political action in support for CBNEs.
In June 2021 we will be launching the Forest Harvest Forum on CBNEs: Valuing the Understory.
During these unprecedented times, we are taking to online media forms to draw on energies and strategies from promising CBNEs, to create a venue for sharing, exchanging, partnering, and bringing the NTFP understory to cross over into more familiar ground for more sectors, more segments, and more generations to solicit attention and action to ultimately provide opportunities for CBNEs to grow, connect, and navigate in the new normal.
OBJECTIVES
NTFP-EP intends to hold a three-day online event as a platform for
- Learning and Improving Skill and Knowledge in CBNE management and Development – by sharing best practice while highlighting the
innovations made during the pandemic, CBNEs can draw inspiration from each other and mentors. - Meeting and forging better understanding and collaborations among CBNE Value Chain Players – accelerating the pace of strategic engagement between players in the sector, especially players in NTFP value chains, requires stimulating discussion with innovators and leaders in the digital realm. Increasingly innovative ways to market products online are constantly being developed. Tapping broader digital markets will help CBNEs in their breakthroughs.
- Advocating for a better enabling environment for CBNEs – the pandemic has only exacerbated the uneven playing field these small producers have been working with. Discussing ways to bridge gaps and provide solutions, NTFP-EP has spearheaded guidelines with ASEAN on better management of NTFPs and is working on ways to mainstream CBNEs into the small-medium enterprise sector plans of ASEAN.
TARGET AUDIENCE
- CBNE Practitioners
- Forestry, social sector and MSME policymakers
- Private sector in the field of Natural Products
STREAMS
| Capacity
This stream will focus on sharing experience and practices in CBNE Capacity Building and Incubation drawn from over 20 years of experience, getting up to speed on adapting to the New Normal and highlighting the role CBNE women leaders as well as the engagement of the different sectors in scaling and the future of CBNE.
CBNE Online Gallery featuring Best Practice Experience and Videos Online coaching clinic and EXCEED Incubation tester sessions Masterclasses to bring on board some “gurus” in the field, especially those navigating the new normal Online marketing tips |
Connectivity and Creativity
This stream will feature topics such as Participatory Certification and Blockchain Technologies will be broached and explored for their benefits to CBNEs. Exploring opportunities for the youth, especially in seeking technological solutions and strategies to bridge gaps and create value, is also a target of the forum. Approaches like boost[1]ed crowdfunding models and hackathons will also be explored.
Sustainable Brands and Wholesalers Panel Online marketplace which provides incentives to first batches of buyers get free delivery in country Crowdfunding for CBNE initiatives Hackathon for problem-solving or concept ideas, targeting millennials Forest Harvest Collective Mark consultations |
Conducive Environment
This stream focuses on the importance of government partnerships and scientific evidence in how CBNEs have gained prominence in the past. Furthermore, a supportive research and science community is also important to assist in differentiating CBNE products from others. Fostering a conducive environment is all the more critical as small producers struggle through the pandemic.
Advancement in Policy Development in CBNEs – National, and Local Levels Presenting Cutting Edge Research In adding value to NTFPs ASEAN level CFE MSME guidelines discussions and inputs and the rollout of NTFP protocols |
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Private sector representatives to be panelists or participate in matching sessions with CBNEs
- Youth sector to organize youth events, participate in innovative contests and events (crowdfunding, hackathons, etc.)
- Community-based NTFP Enterprises to be featured, receive tips, and have the opportunity to ask questions and develop strategies with experts
- International and national donors to scope possible partners and co-sponsor sessions and events
- Local organizations to have projects supporting promising initiatives featured or launch products
- Researchers/scientists to present cutting edge NTFP research
- NGOs to link up producer partners with other CBNEs and learn from the resource persons and experiences shared by stakeholders as well as learn about emerging trends in the field
Translation is provided for main sessions. For more information, contact info@ntfp.org or visit the CBNE Forum website at https://www.forestharvestforum.com/
View or download the concept note here: CBNE_Forum
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