Toward Empowering and Strengthening Indigenous Peoples Through Marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products

Keywords: indigenous practices, indigenous peoples, sustainable forestry, Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP), sustainable livelihood, Social Cognitive Theory
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 16

Abstract

Increasing demand for natural products from well-conserved forests poses a huge potential for Non-Timber Forest Products (NFTPs) to provide sustainable livelihood and address forest conservation. The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) living harmoniously in the forests are equipped with traditional knowledge and practices in extracting forest products. However, in some cases, NTFPs’ potential as a primary source of income among many low-income communities may lead to overexploitation of NTFPs in open areas which results to negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem. Factors that contribute to unsustainable harvesting of NTFPs are absence of government monitoring, unclear licensing policies, and costly permits (Carandang et al., 2012). But with guidance and support from government, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and private sectors, Filipino IPs traditional knowledge are incorporated in forest conservation and livelihood projects. Ideally, through this trade, IPs would be able to become potential traders of NFTPs which consequently, will lift their status in the society.

Using an ethnographic approach with the Agta tribe of the Sierra Madre in the Philippines and their honey enterprise, I employ Bandura’s (1991) Social Cognitive Theory to examine their existing practices in honey harvesting. Consequently, I analyze the influence of NGOs and private sectors’ assistance in the Agta’s existing conservation strategies, behavioral practices and honey enterprise development.