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International Conference, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa
Rica Report
Kingston May 23-26, 2006
INTRODUCTION
Through
the kind auspices of the Environmental Foundation of
Jamaica, the author participated in a three day
international conference which was held on the
campus of CATIE (the Tropical Agricultural Research
and Higher Learning Centre) at Turrialba, Costa
Rica. Organized by CATIE inconjuction with FAO, IDB
(Inter-American Development Bank), ICCO (Interchurch
Organization for Development Cooperation), CIFOR
(International Centre for Forestry Research),
Rainforest Alliance, MIF (Multilateral Investment
Fund), SNV (Netherlands Development Organization),
RUTA (Regional Unit for Technical Assistance), the
conference brought together some 180 participants
from 36 countries, representing the private sector,
forest-based communities, NGO's projects, research
centres and donor organizations to share their
experiences and useful information on the
possibilities for strengthening the viability and
sustainability of small and medium forest
enterprises, as well as community-based initiatives.
CONFERENCE THEMES The forum
was able to examine the nature of enabling
environments and issues critical to the success of
small-scale commercial forestry. These include the
institutional frameworks, the role of commercial
forestry in rural livelihoods and market analysis
and development as a strategy. Participants also
reviewed successful integration of small and medium
forest enterprises into global value chains and
considered the opportunities and challenges that
currently existed for timber and non-timber products
in various markets through forest certification and
value addition. Finally, the presentations and
discussions looked at enhance technical, business
and financial services and possibilities for
integration and enhancement, as well as the demand
for, and design and delivery of such services.
The conference clearly revealed that all countries
were faced with the harsh reality of globalization
and although free trade was not always good, the
forest industry would continue to grow by focusing
on the many niches that could be filled by small and
medium enterprises. The key was to begin with an
appreciation of the market, local and export, and to
keep up with current trends, while looking at
opportunities to match businesses with local and
indigenous cultures. In this regard, a case could be
made for providing subsidies to the poor as well as
incentives to the rich. LESSONS
LEARNT For Jamaica's private
sector which has been challenged by the national
forest policy "to increase production of wood
products on private lands so as to ease pressure on
the remaining natural forest" the lesson is that the
Government must take the lead in launching a
large-scale forest plantation program for small and
large land-owners and in empowering certain rural
communities by providing them with access to forest
lands that could support sustainable livelihoods. In
this regard, the author was impressed by the success
of small farmers growing Gmelina arborea in
the Philippines, by the industry of indigenous
communities managing their natural forest in Costa
Rica, and encouraged by the news that many more
countries were investing in Teak plantations.
Jamaica should also take a closer look at non-timber
forest products with the support of designers who
can appreciate the needs of the niche markets. The
CATIE campus and facilities were also particularly
impressive, not only the work being done in the
Forest Eco-Business unit that assists in developing
effective forest enterprises but also the Forest
Seed Bank which has taken responsibility for
supplying the Latina America and Caribbean Region
with improved seed sources. The author looks forward
to utilizing some of these contacts to assist in
building Jamaican forest enterprise capacity with
the support of donors like the Environmental
Foundation of Jamaica |
