The “Certificate of Origin/Source/Legal Provenance”in the African ABS Discussion

A workshop hosted by theInstitute for Biodiversity Conservation (IBC)

28th to 30th March 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Case of Prunus africana

Cameroon

Augustine B NjamnshiBioresources Development and Conservation

Programme-Cameroon (BDCPC)

• Pygeum (Prunus africana) a Rosaceae is an afromontane canopy tree of about 10 to 40 meters in height, and a diameter of between 40 to 120 cm at maturity

BACKGROUND• Traditionally (called wotango) it has been used

for the treatment of malaria, general fever, chest pain and stomach ache.

• In modern medicine it is used for treatment of prostrate disorders

• Studies show that international demand for Pygeum for medicinal purposes is currently 6500kg of extract annually

BACKGROUND (SUITE)• Although the species is found in about 21

African countries, in 1972 to 2000 Cameroon alone supplied about half of the world’s total raw material (bark).

• In the Mount Cameroon the first permit (valid for 1 year, renewable) for commercial exploitation of pygeum was granted in 1976 (No 536/MINAGRI/DEFC of 8/10/76) to the company PLANTECAM

Actors Before 1994

PLANTECAM

CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR

HARVESTER

HARVESTERHARVESTER

Actors Before 1994

PLANTECAM

CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR

• Unsustainable, Illegal & competitive harvesting

• Harvesters received unstable and insignificant per kilo price to ranging from 40cfa (1972) to 70cfa and finally 80cfa

HARVESTER

HARVESTER

HARVESTER

Effects of 1994 Laws• PLANTECAM commissioned a feasibility study,

executed by the forestry service to look into ways of legally involving the villagers in their licensed area

• Out of 38 Villages 12 villages were pre-selected and Trained on sustainable harvesting

• Because of their activeness and demonstrated interest, Prunus Harvesters Unions were formed in Mapanja (in 1996) and Bokwango (in 1997) and these were to become pilot communities

Prunus Harvesters Union

PLANTECAM

HARVESTERUNION

Mapanja 1996

HARVESTERUNIONHARVESTER

UNION

Bokwango 1997

Prunus Harvesters Union (suite)

PLANTECAM

• PLANTECAM decided to offer them 100 tons from her total permitted quota for that period

• Harvesting performance was monitored by joint teams of Unions, MCP & MINEF

• PLANTECAM directly paid to the unions rose to between 210cfa and 215cfa and from that amount the union paid the individual harvesters 150cfa per kg.

HARVESTER

UNION

HARVESTER

UNION

HARVESTER

UNION

Prunus Harvesters Union (suite)

• Services in the Unions’ management boards

• Democratic Decision Making Procedures, Transparent by-Laws and Effective Sanctions Mechanism

• Joint Monitoring, Exchange Visits and Reciprocal Mentoring

Closure of PLANTECAM• In 1999-2000 a second inventory revealed

that the sustainable yearly quota in Mt Cameroon is 300tonnes

• PLANTECAM found this unproductive for the company and closed

• The leaders say even at closure, the relationship between was still cordial

Birth Of MOCAP 11/08/2000 Mount Cameroon Prunus Management Common Initiative

Group abbreviated (MOCAP-CIG) made up of 14 villages the support of MCP

• Sustainable exploitation and regeneration of prunus

• Improve the socio economic life of each and every member of the group and the community as a whole through the support of income generating activities (eco-tourism, bee farming etc)

• To promote savings and loans schemes• To re-enforce the control of illegal exploitation • To monitor exploitation of forest resources in the

region in collaboration with MINEF.

MOCAP• MOCAP applied for a forestry professional

licence better known in French as “Agreement “ and was refused for they paid no taxes.

• 2000-2003 were difficult years and in August 2003 MOCAP was given a special exploitation permit of 100 tonnes

• CEXPRO Sarl finally agreed to buy their produce for 260 cfa/kg.

Benefit SharingMOCAP had the break down of the 260frs as

follows:

• -Re-generation -10frs per kilogram• -Monitoring -10frs per kilogram• -MOCAP management -20 frs per kilogram• -Village development fund 40 FRS per kilogram• - Individual Harvesters -180 FRS per k’gram

Total 260 FRS

MOCAP Village Development Fund

Project Identification Procedure The procedure for project selection included:

• Rallying of the entire village • Open up the topic of MOCAP-CIG funded project• Listen to suggestions• If many projects are short listed allow the villagers to

priorities them.• Communities should identify the priorities project.• Carry it to the Traditional Council for endorsement.• Channel it to MOCAP-CIG management.

MOCAP Village Development Fund Project (suite)

MOCAP’s Exploitation License (Agreement)

and Challenges In October 2004, MOCAP’s exploitation license was signed but they

faced the following challenges

- Price of prunus dropped to 240 per kg, high taxes and social insurance.

- Unfair Competition And Unsustainable Exploitation Practices by Other Exploiters

- Limited Exploitation Quotas Given to MOCAP (eg between 2005-2006, MOCAP requested 200tonnes only had 70 while another company had 500 tonnes)

- Frustration with the Weak Control of MINEF on Illegal and/or Unsustainable Exploitation Activities in the Mount Cameroon.

- Lack of Transformation Equipment And lack of Access to the Market

THE WAY FORWARD (National Level)1. Legislative Reforms

2. Institutional Reforms

3 Capacity Building– Infrastructural and human capacity– Bioprospecting contracts Negotiations– Marketing– Financial management and – Conflict resolution.

THE WAY FORWARD (Int. National Level)The certificate of ????? in particular and the

International Regime should consider

• Sustainable use

• Fair treatment of local communities and Traditional Knowledge

• Technology Transfer

• Mandatory Disclosure of source of origin

THANK YOU