NWFP Report 2012
Eritrea
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http://www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/78836/en/eri/ Food and Agriculture Organization, FOPP
Hugo Lehoux & Anis Chakib
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This document is still under construction, please don’t consider it as an official FAO publication
CONTENTS
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Contents 1 Plants and plant products 1.1 Food . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Fodder . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 Medicines . . . . . . . . 1.4 Colorants and dyes . . . 1.5 Utensils, handicrafts and 1.6 Ornamental plants . . . 1.7 Exudates . . . . . . . .
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2 Animals and animal products 2.1 Living animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Honey and bee-wax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 Bush meat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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CONTENTS
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Context The population of Eritrea is estimated around 5.224 million people in 2010 [FAOSTAT]. The total area of the country is 117 600 km2 with around 1.53 million hectares of forests and 7.15 million hectares of other wooded lands in 2010 [FAO, 2010].
Introduction Main Non-Wood Forest Products The most important non-wood forest products (NWFP) of Eritrea are exudates (gum arabic, olibanum) and dried leaves of doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica). Other NWFP include edible and medicinal plants, fibres, tannins and oils.
General Information Bein et al. [Bein et al., 1996] identified 195 tree and shrub species that can be used as food and medicine (142 species), fodder (138 species), as well as for various other purposes (e.g. fibres, resins, tannins, oils - 127 species). In 1995, 22 commonly used species for non-wood purposes, were reported as being endangered [of Eritrea, 1995]. Among the NWFP producing species the most important ones include Boswellia papyrifera (frankincense tree), Acacia senegal (Gum arabica), Hyphaene thebaica (doum palm), Balanites aegyptiaca (Desert date), Zizyphus spina christi, and Adansonia digitata (Baobab) [Ogbazghi, 2001]. The cactus plant (Opuntia spp.) grows profusely in Eritrea, and has adapted perfectly to the semi-arid zones of the country characterized by drought conditions. It covers about 10 000 ha and thus contributes to counter drought hardships as it serves as a life-saving crop to both humans and animals [MAgri, 1998]. A study carried out in 33 villages of Gash-Barka region showed that 75% of respondents think that nowadays, it is difficult or moderately difficult to get NWFP from the surrounding vegetation. In this study, it was also discovered that the main traded NWFP in the area were the leaves and fruits of Doum palm (Hyphanea thebacia), the fruits of Tamarindus indica, Ziziphus spina Christi and Acacia nilotica but also gums extracted from Acacia Senegal and Acacia seyal and incense from Boswellia papyrifera [Ogbazgh and Bein, 2006]. Thus, in the study area, NWFPs contribute for 14% to the total annual average household income (43% from farming and 34% from livestock).
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PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
1 1.1
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Plants and plant products Food
During periods of drought, the vegetation serves as a source of emergency food for humans, livestock and wildlife. But fruits and wild vegetables are also daily consumed. Ogbazghi and Bein [Ogbazgh and Bein, 2006] documented fruits consumption of 29 wild species in Gash-Barka region. Those edible wild fruits are from : Adansonia digitata, Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia angustifolia, Boscia senegalesi, Capparis deciduas, Capparis tomentosa, Carissa edulis, Combretum aculeatum, Cordia Africana, Cordia monoica, Diospiros mespiliformis, Dobera glabra, Euclea schimperi, Ficus carica, Ficus glumosa, Ficus sp., Ficus vasta, Grewia ferruginea, Grewia flavescens, Grewia tenax, Grewia villosa, Hyphaene thebaica, Mimusops kummel, Opuntia ficus-indica, Sclerocarya birrea, Syzygium guineense, Tamarindus indica, Teclea nobilis, Ximenia Americana, Ziziphus spina Christi. Some species are also used for their edible leaves: Adansonia digitata, Balanites aegyptiaca, Hyphaene thebaica, Tamarindus indica, Ziziphus spina Christi, Ximenia Americana, Shankuk.
1.2
Fodder
No data available.
1.3
Medicines
Medicinal plants seem still very important in the Eritrean society. The Medicinal Plants and Drug Discovery Research Centre of the University of Asmara has listed 165 medicinal plants used in Eritrea. An enquiry has found at least 431 traditional medical practitioners (21% are women) all around the country who use medicinal plants to treat various ailments [Andemariam, 2010]. Ogbazghi and Bein [Ogbazgh and Bein, 2006] have documented uses of 32 woody plants in traditional human and veterinary medicine in GashBarka region. Different parts (leaves, roots, barks, fruits) of those plants are commonly used to treat many diseases for ages and traded in local and regional markets. Those quoted species are: Acacia laeta, Acacia mellifera, Acacia nilotica, Acacia oerfota, Acacia Senegal, Adansonia digitata,Balanites aegyptiaca, Barleria eranthemoides, Boscia angustifolia, Boscia salicifolia, Boscia senegalesi, Boswellia papyrifera, Cadaba rotundinfolia, Calotropis procera, Calpurnia awrea Capparis decidua, Capparis tomentosa, Dichrostachys cinerea, Eucalyptus spp., Faidherbia albida, Grewia ferruginea, Grewia villosa, Hyphaene thebaica, Lawsonia inermis, Meriandra bengalensis, Salvadora
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PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
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persica, Senna alexandrina, Tamarindus indica, Teclea nobilis, Terminalia brownii, Verbascum sinaticum, Ziziphus spina Christi. Authors documented as well uses of twigs for toothbrushes obtained from the roots and young twigs of some trees like Acacia mellifera, Acacia oerfota, Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia angustifolia, Capparis deciduas, Dobera glabra, Hyphaene thebaica, Salvadora persica, Olea Africana, Dodonaea angustifolia, Diospiros mespiliformis, Sida schimperiana. Exploited for domestic household consumption and for sale in the nearby markets, the toothbrushes generate a significant amount of income for the rural households.
1.4
Colorants and dyes
Ogbazghi and Bein [Ogbazgh and Bein, 2006] found that a large range of natural tannins and dyes are used to paint the various plant and animal-based artefacts in the market places, to soften the skins used to store grains and water as well as to make colourful bags, belts etc. The most used species for dying and tanning are Acacia asak, Acacia laeta, Acacia mellifera, Acacia nilotica, Acacia oerfota, Acacia seyal, Acacia tortilis, Adansonia digitata, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Boscia angustifolia, Boscia senegalesi, Boswellia papyrifera, Terminalia brownie, Ziziphus spina christi, Ximenia americana, Senna singuana, Acacia etbaica.
1.5
Utensils, handicrafts and construction materials
Dried leaves from the doum palm Hyphaene thebaica are considered as one of the most important Eritrean NWFP. A lot of commodities are manufactured with Doum leaves as prayer mats, baskets, chairs, beds, chicken baskets, hats, robs, brooms, tent roofs, etc. In 1997, 2 064 tons of dried leaves were exported to Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture, 1998). According to a study, there are also exports to Sudan but no data about quantities [Ogbazgh and Bein, 2006]. More recently, FAO FRA [FAO, 2010] estimated Eritrean exports of doum leaves in 2005 at 793 tons for a value of Nafka 2.78 million. In 1998, a report entitled "Eritrea Biodiversity: Economic Assessment" estimated the value of the potential sustainable production of doum leaves around Nfa 11.8 million [Emerton and Asrat, 1998].
1.6
Ornamental plants
No data available.
1.7
Exudates
Gum arabic (Acacia senegal) and olibanum resins, mainly derived from Boswellia papyrifera, are traditional NWFP of Eritrea. They are extracted by tapping the stem during the dry season from November to March. According
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PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 2005
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Doum palm leaves 30 14 374 526 709 2 064 793
Table 1: Exports of doum palm leaves (in tons) [FAO, 2010; MAgri, 1998] to Asmara Chamber of commerce data quoted in Ngara (2005)2 , between 1962 and 1974, Eritrea produced in average around 1500 tons of olibanum and 400-500 tons of gum arabic per year. Statistical information on these exudates are not available for the period 1975-1991. According to more recent data, from 1995 to 2002, exports of gum arabic were more important than others. Data presented in table 2 show that the average value of gum arabic exports between 1995 and 2002 was around Nafka 5.75 million and around Nafka 1.44 million for others gums (including gum olibanum, myrrh, opopanax, balsam). FAO FRA [FAO, 2010] evaluated official exports values of gum arabic and olibanum resins respectively around Nafka 2.062 million and Nafka 178,000 (underestimated) in 2005. According to "the National Action Program for Eritrea to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought (2002)" quoted in NGARA (2005), the current production of gum arabic is around 250 tons per year and the potential production is over 1000 tons per year. In the same time, current gum olibanum production is estimated to be around 450 tons per year and the potential production over 2500 tons per year. Year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Gum arabic 152 167 52 152 117 49
Olibanum 463 543
Table 2: Exports of gum arabic and olibanum from Eritrea (in tons)[FAO, 2010; MAgri, 1998] Since 1992, about 800 000 seedlings of Acacia senegal and 500 000 seedlings of Boswellia olibanum have been planted at the national level 2
Missig source
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ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS Period 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Average 1995-2002
Gum arabic exports (value in Nafka) 14 764 090 2 861 515 4 414 084 3 224 030 5 337 735 6 629 041 5 963 250 2 801 362 5 749 388
6 Others Gum resins exports (value in Nafka) 2 850 459 999 327 325 536 1 202 217 4 710 468 524 307 661 596 257 977 1 441 486
Table 3: Values of gum arabic and other gum resins (including gum olibanum, myrrh, opopanax, balsam) exports from Eritrea [MAgri, 1998].
2 2.1
Animals and animal products Living animals
No data available.
2.2
Honey and bee-wax
Annual value of honey production in Eritrea has been estimated around Nafka 39.9 million [Emerton and Asrat, 1998].
2.3
Bush meat
No data available.
REFERENCES
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References S.W. Andemariam. Legislative regulation of traditional medicinal knowledge in eritrea vis-à-vis eritrea’s commitments under the convention on biological diversity: Issues and alternatives. In Law, Environment and Development Journal, 2010. URL http://www.lead-journal.org/content/ 10130.pdf. E. Bein, B. Habte, A. Jaber, A. Birnie, and B. Tengnas. Useful trees and shrubs in eritrea. Technical Report 12, Nairobi Regional Soil Conservation Unit., 1996. L. Emerton and A. Asrat. Eritrea biodiversity: Economic assessment. Technical report, Department of Environment, Ministry of Land, Water and Environment and IUCN, 1998. FAO. Forest Ressources Assessment. FAO, 2005. FAO. Forest Ressources Assessment. FAO, 2010. URL http://www.fao. org/forestry/fra/fra2010/en/. FAOSTAT. URL http://faostat3.fao.org/home/. Ministry of Agriculture MAgri. Forestry data report on eritrea. In EC/FAO/UNEP. Proceedings of sub-regional workshop on forestry statistics - IGAD region, 1998. Government of Eritrea. National environmental plan for eritrea., 1995. W. Ogbazgh and E. Bein. Assessment of non-wood forest products and their role in the livelihoods of rural communities in the gash-barka region, eritrea. Technical Report 40, DCG, Dryland Coordination Group., 2006. W. Ogbazghi. The distribution and regeneration of boswellia papyrifera in eritrea. In Tropical Resources Management papers, number 35, 2001.
Global Report on Non Wood Forest Products COUNTRY
CLASS SPECIES
YEAR
PRODUCTION unit
VALUE unit
EXPORT uni t
VALUE unit
IMPORT unit
VALUE uni DETAIL t
COMMENT
Eritrea 5
7
Hyphaene thebaica 1992
30 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1993
14 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1994
374 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1995
526 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1996
709 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1997
2 064 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
2005
793 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
2005
793 t
Leaves
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1992
152 t
-
1993
167 t
-
1994
52 t
-
1995
152 t
-
Gum Arabic
1995
14 764 090,00 Naf
-
1996
2 861 515,00 Naf
-
1996
117 t
1997 1997
Gum olibanum
Gums
2 760,00 Milli
4 414 084,00 Naf
49 t
-
1998
3 224 030,00 Naf
-
1999
5 337 735,00 Naf
-
2000
6 629 041,00 Naf
-
2001
5 963 250,00 Naf
-
1996
463 t
-
1997
543 t
-
1995
2 850 459,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1996
999 327,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
1997
325 536,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
NWFP Classes : 1 Food 2 Fodder 3 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products 4 Colorants and dyes 5 Raw material for utensils, handicrafts and construction 6 Ornamental plants 7 Exudates 8 Other plant products 10 Living animals 11 Hides, skins and trophies 12 Wild honey and bee-wax 13 Bush meat 14 Raw material for medicine 15 Raw material for colorants 16 Other edible animal products 17 Other non-edible animal products 20 Mushrooms
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COUNTRY
CLASS SPECIES 7
Gums
YEAR
PRODUCTION unit
VALUE unit
EXPORT uni t
VALUE unit
IMPORT unit
VALUE uni DETAIL t -
COMMENT
1998
1 202 217,00 Naf
1999
4 710 468,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
2000
524 307,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
2001
661 596,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
2002
257 977,00 Naf
-
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
NWFP Classes : 1 Food 2 Fodder 3 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products 4 Colorants and dyes 5 Raw material for utensils, handicrafts and construction 6 Ornamental plants 7 Exudates 8 Other plant products 10 Living animals 11 Hides, skins and trophies 12 Wild honey and bee-wax 13 Bush meat 14 Raw material for medicine 15 Raw material for colorants 16 Other edible animal products 17 Other non-edible animal products 20 Mushrooms
Gum olibanum, myrrh, o
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