Since April 1995 the Network remained active with its Coordination Committee (CC), Sharing Meeting (SM) members, earlier known as NNN Advisory Group, Task Forces, and general members. In 2001, the NNN meetings and workshops deliberated on several important issues relating to strengthening NNN itself as well as NTFP policies and programs of wider relevance. Several Task Forces delved into specific issues and explored options.
The Network activities have contributed to sharing of knowledge and information, collaboration among NTFP actors and minimization of duplication of efforts. Through serious deliberations, it has identified some strategic NTFP promotion intervention nodes: training, marketing, policy review, and they are being addressed by several organizations. Overall, NTFP as a conservation and development agenda has been highlighted at national as well as international levels.
A total of four (tenth to thirteenth) NNN Sharing Meetings (NNN-SM)) were held in 2001.The Task Force on National register of Medicinal Plants prepared the comments on the Register published by IUCN which was shared in the meeting. The Register was found to miss many popular plants. Suggestions were made for inadequate information on use, indigenous technology and medicinal values.
The meeting formed a NNN Task Force comprising 10 members on Current Regulation in NTFP Royalty Rates to look after the issues on behalf of NNN. It was noted that a set of criteria was developed for fixing of royalty rates, and that current rates were being reviewed. This sharing meeting discussed on issues of multiple taxation and cases of contradictions on implementation of tax laws.
A NNN Task Force on Providing Policy Feedback for Tenth Five-Year Plan was also formed comprising of professionals from diverse backgrounds and submitted policy feedback to National Planning Commission. Follow-up matters of government initiatives were discussed and the need to disseminate only the proven information on NTFPs was pointed out
Considering the need of compiling relevant information on NTFP technologies, a NNN Task Force on Technological Information was formed. Outcomes of the Task Force on Technological Information were also reviewed. Discussions and recommendations of Himali Jadibuti Sarokar Samuha (HJSS) were also considered in the meeting. The formal registration of HJSS is in process.The NNN Task Force for NNN Operational Policy, having completed its job of finalizing the Operational Policy has now been ipso facto terminated.
NNN Task Force on Providing Policy Feedback for Tenth Five-Year Plan was formed at the thirteenth NNN Sharing Meeting held on November 30, 2001 and was to submit recommendations to National Planning Commission (NPC) in a great rush. Task Force members interactively worked out mission for NTFP sub-sector. Following policy recommendations have been forwarded to the National Planning Commissions.
The ninth NNN Sharing Meeting (NNN-SM) held on August 31, 2000 gave attention on National Register of Medicinal Plants, published by IUCN Nepal. The meeting identified the need to improve the book to meet its objectives. A task force was formed to review the book. The tenth NNN sharing meeting held on January 26, 2001 shared the outcome of the work of task force.
This publication is a valuable contribution of IUCN Nepal towards the implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Despite all the qualities and valuable efforts, there is sufficient room to improve the book such as by including the missed out popular plants and their varieties and adding adequate information on various uses, indigenous technology and medical values, and correcting anomalies in taxonomic identity.
As the presentation cum discussion session for the book review was postponed due to national tragedy, it will be organized through the Task Force decision in 2002. The main objective is to present the outcome of work of the task force and develop strategy and plan of action for the future.
The NNN Task Force on Current Regulation in NTFP Royalty Rates was formed through a decision of NNN Sharing Meeting held on July 6, 2001. Through a series of meetings, the Task Force worked out a set of criteria that should be used to determine the royalty rates for individual NTFPs.
· Parts used; Market price at local levels; Regeneration (life cycle- long, medium and short); Domestication potential; Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) category and Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Nepal listing; Scale of consumption; and Resources availability, availability and distribution
The Task Force also listed and verified the NTFPs included in the list of royalty in Forest Regulations by their vernacular name, common name, Latin name, prevailing royalty rate, recommended rates and current market price. A number of contradictions were observed such as different rates for same species in one hand and same rate for quite differentiated.