Value Of Non-timber Forest Products Research Articles

Non-timber forest products: evolution, development and research

ABSTRACT A comprehensive review of the non-timber forest product (NTFP) sector from 1980 to 2022 was undertaken. The study employed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, incorporating explicit keywords. The results indicate that NTFPs underwent significant evolution, including research and development changes, particularly following the Rio de Janeiro summit. Most published research originated from the United States, accounting for 24% of the total; Brazil and India each contributed 10% of the published research. We included 316 potential research items: 262 articles, 19 book chapters, 27 review articles, and eight conference papers. The review analysis highlighted that NTFPs are crucial in meeting food requirements, obtaining specific medicinal resources, and acquiring material inputs for rural households, serving as a safety net during agrarian distress. NTFPs play a crucial role in promoting the development of the bio-economy. In low- and high-income nations with abundant bio-resources, NTFP value chains are increasingly pertinent for generating revenue, enhancing livelihoods, and reducing poverty in forest dependent communities. Further, the analysis emphasized that NTFP consumption, utilization, and sales occur at the household level, and its comprehensive assessment is challenging, leading to the need for a reevaluation of approaches that include value chain analysis.

Secondary vegetation provides a reservoir of non-timber forest products and agroforestry service options for forestry plantation systems, Maputaland, South Africa

Tree species providing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) have the potential to enhance the socio-economic value of forestry plantation systems and mitigate biodiversity loss associated with production landscapes in Southern Africa. This can be accomplished by integrating NTFP agroforestry systems with forestry plantation systems but raises questions around which species and products are suited to the different environments that exist within large plantation systems or plantation landscapes. These questions can be answered by assessing the NTFP and agroforestry system (AFS) value of native species that form part of secondary vegetation within forestry plantations by shedding light on the disturbance regimes and environmental conditions that NTFP species prefer. This study assessed the NTFP value of secondary vegetation growing within abandoned clear-felled and abandoned unharvested forestry compartments. It addressed differences between the NTFP value of secondary vegetation and natural forest while providing options for how native species could be integrated into a forestry plantation system using agroforestry. We found that secondary vegetation growing in abandoned compartments provided roughly two-thirds of the NTFP uses provided by natural forest. The state of the compartment at the time of abandonment influenced which NTFPs were available. Secondary woodland developing in clear-felled compartments contained NTFPs which were associated with fire-adapted woodland species (e.g. fruit and oils from Marula trees). Naturalising forest in unfelled plantation compartments contained a composition of NTFPs associated with the provision of wood products. Our results show that native vegetation growing as secondary vegetation in forestry plantation systems has the potential to guide the development of native species agro-forestry systems and, in general, can contribute to a more formalised approach for integrating NTFP supply in forestry plantation systems.

NILAI EKONOMI DAN KONTRIBUSI HASIL HUTAN BUKAN KAYU TERHADAP PENDAPATAN MASYARAKAT (STUDI KASUS PADA DESA HALABAN KECAMATAN LAREH SAGO HALABAN, KABUPATEN 50 KOTA, SUMATERA BARAT)

Community needs are increasing day by day. Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) has started to become one of the focuses of community development. If the local community understands the economic value and contribution of NTFP utilization, then the Halaban Village community will have the best potential and utilization of NTFPs. Remember the importance of forest resources for community income, then necessary to do a study related to the economic value and contribution of NTFPs. The purposes of research are to : (1) Calculate the economic value of non-timber forest products used by the Halaban village community, Lareh Sago Halaban District, 50 Cities Regency. (2) Analyze how the contribution of non-timber forest products to the income of the community in Halaban Village, Lareh Sago Halaban District, Lima Puluh Kota Regency. The data collection methods used in this research were observation, interview, questionnaire, and documentation. The results showed that the types of NTFPs that contributed to the Halaban village were rubber, cardamom, cinnamon, gambier, and areca nut. The total economic value of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) used by the Halaban Village community is Rp. 4,591,137,979,-/year. The total income obtained by the people of Halaban Village is Rp.7.304.337.979,-/year. The total economic value of NTFPs utilized by the community was Rp.7.304.337.979,-/year. NTFPs contribute 63% to community income.

The impact of commodified non-timber forest products on the livelihoods of San in Northern Namibia

ABSTRACT In Namibia, the commercialisation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is often promoted as a means to improve rural livelihoods, especially for vulnerable communities. This paper analysed how NTFP value chains are integrated into and contribute to the livelihoods of Khwe and !Xun San harvesters. Accordingly, the working conditions, employment and upgrading opportunities of the globally traded Devil's Claw were compared to those of regionally traded products, including Natal Oranges. A mixed-method approach was applied to collect data in Okongo Constituency and Bwabwata National Park. Findings revealed that while NTFPs contribute to the harvesters’ income generation, the income is insufficient to sustain their livelihoods. Interestingly, the results of both regional and global value chain integration do not lead to improved livelihoods. Further research is needed to analyse the synergies between the government, traditional and local authorities, NGOs, and other institutions in implementing laws that promote equitable sharing of benefits from NTFPs.

The hidden value of non-timber forest products: income contribution of the Basilicata wild truffle

The Basilicata region (South of Italy) is land of truffles where the gastronomic, economic and cultural awareness has developed for this non-timber forest product only in the past decade. Little is known about truffle production and its social, economic and environmental implications. In this article we investigate the Basilicata truffle sector by devoting particular attention to the truffle hunters who gather the truffles from the forests. The data for the analysis were collected through a survey with the aim of describing the gathering activity (people involved, specie and quantities collected, etc.) and assessing its significance as a source of income. Results show that truffles can provide local communities with earning opportunities. However, the truffle sector needs to be protected and enhanced.

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

This paper follows the transition from ethnobotany to a deeper scientific understanding of the food and medicinal properties of African agroforestry tree products as inputs into the start of domestication activities. It progresses on to the integration of these indigenous trees as new crops within diversified farming systems for multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. From its advent in the 1990s, the domestication of indigenous food and non-food tree species has become a global programme with a strong African focus. This review of progress in the third decade is restricted to progress in Africa, where multi-disciplinary research on over 59 species has been reported in 759 research papers in 318 science publications by scientists from over 833 research teams in 70 countries around the world (532 in Africa). The review spans 23 research topics presenting the recent research literature for tree species of high priority across the continent, as well as that in each of the four main ecological regions: the humid zone of West and Central Africa; the Sahel and North Africa; the East African highlands and drylands; and the woody savannas of Southern Africa. The main areas of growth have been the nutritional/medicinal value of non-timber forest products; the evaluation of the state of natural resources and their importance to local people; and the characterization of useful traits. However, the testing of putative cultivars; the implementation of participatory principles; the protection of traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights; and the selection of elite trees and ideotypes remain under-researched. To the probable detriment of the upscaling and impact in tropical agriculture, there has been, at the international level, a move away from decentralized, community-based tree domestication towards a laboratory-based, centralized approach. However, the rapid uptake of research by university departments and national agricultural research centres in Africa indicates a recognition of the importance of the indigenous crops for both the livelihoods of rural communities and the revitalization and enhanced outputs from agriculture in Africa, especially in West Africa. Thus, on a continental scale, there has been an uptake of research with policy relevance for the integration of indigenous trees in agroecosystems and their importance for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To progress this in the fourth decade, there will need to be a dedicated Centre in Africa to test and develop cultivars of indigenous crops. Finally, this review underpins a holistic approach to mitigating climate change, as well as other big global issues such as hunger, poverty and loss of wildlife habitat by reaping the benefits, or ‘profits’, from investment in the five forms of Capital, described as ‘land maxing’. However, policy and decision makers are not yet recognizing the potential for holistic and transformational adoption of these new indigenous food crop opportunities for African agriculture. Is ‘political will’ the missing sixth capital for sustainable development?

Policy and Governance Implications for Transition to NTFP-Based Bioeconomy in Kashmir Himalayas

Forests of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have a rich diversity of valuable non-timber forest products (NTFP) that local communities extract for their sustenance and income. The region is home to over 60% of species recognized for novel bio-medicinal properties in the Indian Himalayas. There is significant national and international demand for these species, providing income and employment for more than 60% of the population of J&K. Despite this, NTFP are not adequately recognized for their contributions to rural livelihoods and the regional economy due to the lack of appropriate policy and governance mechanisms. In this study, we embrace a bioresource vision to examine challenges and opportunities for transition to a sustainable bioeconomy in J&K. Selected NTFP were considered for valuation to showcase their bioeconomy potential using two approaches. First, we used the ‘market price method’ to estimate the contribution of NTFP to the local economy. Second, the ‘maximum willingness to pay method’ was used to project the bioeconomy potential of NTFP in the region. The analysis reveals that local communities’ revenues could increase by as much as 18 times their current price with appropriate actions to include NTFP. However, to realize this potential, policies and governance frameworks based on increased access and benefit sharing with inclusive institutional models would support the transition of the local economy into a bioeconomy. Fostering public–community partnership by improving the local participation of producers and processors in NTFP value chains for overcoming the existing governance barriers is needed.

Delineating the dynamics of growth and instability of different Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP’s) in Gujarat

The importance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and its contribution to rural livelihoods and alleviating rural poverty is well known in Gujarat and emerging as the source of income for the rural poor. Therefore, promotion of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) species, therefore, the present study aimed at to examine the growth rates and instability of different forest products. The secondary data on quantity and value of different wood and non-wood products from the year 1996-97 to 2017-18 were compiled from published sources. The results revealed that quantity of Mahuda flowers and Honey increased significantly while majority of NTFPs found to be decreased but it is statistically non-significant during overall period. Instability indices of both quantity as well as value of NTFPs found to be higher during overall period. The quantity of teak timber significantly increased in Valsad circle but it significantly decreased in Ahmedabad circle, while change in value found to be nonsignificant in all circles during overall period because of irregular and timely non-availability of NTFPs.

Factors determining upland farmers' participation in non-timber forest product value chains for sustainable poverty reduction in Vietnam

The development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) plays an active role in overall economic development and is considered a new direction for sustainable forestry development to help people escape poverty. From micro data collected by a survey of poor, rural households living in the mountainous region of Central Vietnam, a structural equation model (SEM) incorporating the six factors of household head characteristics, household characteristics, reputation statuses of households, forest characteristics, willingness to participate in NTFP value chains, and financial effects of NTFP value chains was established. An empirical study of the effects of farmers' behaviors on NTFP financial value chains was also conducted. The results showed that household head characteristics, household characteristics, reputation statuses of households, and forest characteristics were positively correlated with people's willingness to participate in NTFP value chains and increase the financial efficiency of the value chains. However, each factor has a different level of influence. Additional empirical factors affecting farmers' awareness of poverty reduction policies were investigated. It was found that the more farmers understand sustainable poverty reduction policies, the more willing they are to participate in the value chains. The willingness to participate in the value chains strongly affects the financial performances of the value chains. Farmers are expected to be willing to fulfill their obligations and their enthusiasm for participating in the value chains has increased the financial efficiency of the value chains. In the future, the government can cooperate with official financial institutions, policy finance institutions, and local rural intermediaries to increase public financial knowledge, poverty reduction policies and projects in poor areas, and the participation of poor farmers, as well as solve their credit problems. Meanwhile, in developing a financial model of new NTFP value chains, more attention should be paid to the needs of farmers and this model should be built with the aim of the sustainable development of NTFP value chains.

The Influence of Nontimber Forest Products Development on the Economic–Ecological Coordination—Evidence from Lin’an District, Zhejiang Province, China

The influence of the nontimber forest products (NTFPs) on the coordinated economic and ecological development has received considerable attention, where the results are mixed. This study took Lin’an District in Zhejiang Province of China as an example for analysis. Using long-term (more than 40 years) data, system coupling and autoregressive distributed lag models were combined to analyze the effect of NTFP development on coordinated economic–ecological development. The results show that large-scale commercial NTFP development positively affected coordinated economic–ecological development, and a long-term stable equilibrium relationship between them existed. The degree of regional economic–ecological coupling increased from 0.05 in 1978 to 0.98 in 2019, and both area and value of NTFP had a significant effect on the coupling degree at the 5% level. These findings indicate that NTFP development is an effective method to promote the coordinated development of the economy and ecological environment especially in mountain areas, and the government should encourage NTFP development by ecological management, strengthening policy guidance, and providing technological innovation support, etc.

Tangible economic value of non-timber forest products from peat swamp forest in Kampar, Indonesia

Abstract. Simangunsong BCH, Manurung EGT, Elias, Hutagaol MP, Tarigan J, Prabawa SB. 2020. Tangible economic value of non-timber forest products from peat swamp forest in Kampar, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5954-5960. Development of alternative economy based on non-timber forest products usage is an important means to prevent forest conversion and preserve the quality of a forest ecosystem. The main objectives of this study were to identify and calculate the economic value from tangible/marketable perspective of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provided by peat swamp forest in Kampar, Sumatra, Indonesia. This is one of the largest remaining peat swamp forest ecosystems in the country. Seven villages located around that forest ecosystem with total forest cover area of 201,224 ha were chosen as samples. A conversion return approach was used to estimate the economic value of non-timber forest products. The results showed 18 kinds of non-timber forest products were identified, but only seven were used commercially by community. They are jungle rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), sago (Metroxylon sp.), swiftlet nest (Aerodramus fuciphagus), honey, betel nut (Areca catechu L), Agathis resin (Agathis dammara), and pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.) The obtained economic value of NTFPs was very low, which was about Rp 9,367.4 (or US$0.68 ha-1 yr-1). Market development of non-timber forest products is then crucial, and the government should play an important role in promoting it in collaboration with private companies. Non-marketed non-timber forest products and various environmental services should also be taken into account to measure that peat swamp forest ecosystem value. Otherwise, concerns about the sustainability of that forest ecosystem in Indonesia due to undervaluation of forest resources will continue.

Non-timber Forest Products Value Chain Toward Sustainable Livelihood: Exploring Linkages and Trends Using Visual Optimization Network Analysis

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) contribute significantly to the livelihood, food, and nutrition security of rural communities and forest dwellers. Earlier studies on NTFPs emphasized the economic importance, sustainability aspects, and commercialization of NTFPs, and highlighted the importance of strong value chains if NTFPs were to fulfill their economic potential for communities and people who rely on them. Formulation of proper policy and commercialization of NTFPs through their value chain will require a thorough review of existing research to identify the policy loopholes. A review of literature sought to determine whether research on NTFPs links to sustainable livelihood, policy, and value chains using clustering and visual network visualization. The results of the study reveal four domain clusters indicating a mix of traditional and evolved approaches toward strengthening of the NTFP value chain. Policy issues on NTFP have also evolved as one of the important clusters of research. The study recommends the mapping of value chains in the NTFP research to guide the pursuit of holistic and sustainable livelihood security.

Contradictory impact of the natural forest closing policy and sanitary–phytosanitary measures on the export of non-timber forest products: a case study of Vietnam

The gravity model was used in this paper to clarify the influencing factors of the export value of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for Vietnam from 2003 to 2017. The estimates of this model indicate the importance of the size of economies, distance, common borders, exchange rates, average forest area, the natural forest closing (NFC) policy of the Vietnamese government, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and the interaction of SPS and importers’ GDP (SPS–GDP) as determinants of Vietnam’s NTFP exports. The main result of this study is the distinct and contradictory effects of the NFC policy and SPS measures. While the NFC policy increases the value of Vietnam’s NTFP exports, SPS measures significantly decrease the exportation. Using the SPS–GDP interaction variable yields a noticeable result: the negative impact of SPS on NTFP trade decreases with increasing income of NTFP importers. Furthermore, the NFC needs to continue to implement policies to increase investments in the NTFP trade and increase the quality of NTFPs from planting, to harvesting, to processing to meet the requirements of future importers. The findings offer several implications both in theory and in practice for trade policies and economic development theory based on Vietnam’s forest resources.

Non-timber Forest Product and its Impacts on Livelihood in the Middle Hill: A Case of Lamjung district, Nepal

Lamjung is highly rich in its vast and valuable Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) including different kinds of valuable medicinal and aromatic plants. Nepal is a mountainous country, where most of the people are depend on forest resources for their livelihood. Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFPs) plays a crucial role in the rural livelihood. NTFPs serve as a source for their primary health, nutrition, income generation, energy (fuel wood) and material for a social-cultural and religious ceremony. The research was carried out the specific objectives of identification availability NTFPs, Role of NTFP in local livelihood, prospects, and problems to develop NTFP in the study area. The study was carried out in Chiti, Jita and Taksar Village Development Committee (VDC) of Lamjung District. Primary data were collected through Focus Group Discussion, House Hold Survey, Key Informant Interview, use inventory sheet and direct field observation. Secondary data were collected from different DFO office, library, journals, published articles, reports, online reports etc. The quantitative data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tools. The qualitative data were analyzed by descriptive measure and presented in forms of charts, figure and tables. There were 52 major NTFPs identified in the study area and all respondents have knowledge about NTFPs, but they are not involved to collect NTFP for commercial purpose. They use only household purposes such as firewood for energy, leaf litter for religious purpose, and wild food and fruits are used for domestic use. The main problems of the development of NTFPs people are gradually leaving use traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. Slowly they became dependent at modern product and most of the people are depending on remittance. NTFPs play a safety net role to assist communities in adverse situation such as crop failure under the current change in climate and variability. Most of the people have knowledge about value of NTFPs and traditional knowledge about medicinal herbs, but such a valuable knowledge regarding use value of NTFPs seems to be disappearing into the younger generations.

The Processing of Non-Timber Forest Products through Small and Medium Enterprises—A Review of Enabling and Constraining Factors

Research Highlights: This study reviews the available literature on processed non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in order to comprehensively identify relevant factors enabling or constraining their potential to contribute to rural development. Background and Objectives: NTFPs, such as wild foods, medicinal plants, and raw materials for handicrafts, make significant contributions to rural livelihoods. NTFPs can help fulfil households' subsistence and consumption needs, serve as a safety-net in times of crises, and provide cash income. In particular, the processing of NTFPs has often been suggested to positively influence sustainable economic development in rural areas. However, despite rising interest and recognition of the potential contributions of such industries as key sources of employment and their strategic role in overall growth strategies of developing countries, many NTFP processing enterprises remain in the informal sector and an in-depth understanding of the underlying factors is lacking. This review aims to identify enabling and constraining factors affecting NTFP processing enterprises. Materials and Methods: Using systematic review methodology, studies investigating commercialized, processed NTFPs and their economic impacts have been identified and the current evidence base with regard to NTFP processing and small and medium sized enterprise (SME) development synthesized. Results: Despite the diverse nature of NTFPs, a number of constraining and enabling factors affecting NTFP processing and commercialization were identified. The former includes aspects such as the lack of resource access (finances, skills, technologies, etc.), market information, and basic infrastructure; the latter, amongst others, the role of key entrepreneurs; and cooperation across the value chain, amongst producers, and among members of the institutional environment or an abundant resource base. Moving from small-scale NTFP commercialization in local markets to more mature NTFP value chains reaching export markets, the increasing role of cooperation and having a supportive institutional framework in place, becomes apparent. Conclusions: Overall, successful NTFP processing strongly depends on the socio-economic and environmental context in question, requiring a holistic approach tailored to the respective context and value chain.

Non-timber Forest Product Use and Market Chains Along a Deforestation Gradient in Southwest Malawi

The importance of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to rural livelihoods is widely acknowledged globally, as is the income generated from casual or fulltime trade in NTFPs on village and urban markets. However, there is less understanding of how the condition or status of the neighbouring landscapes and vegetation influence the use of and trade in NTFPs. Here we report on the use and trade in NTFPs in four villages situated along a gradient of decreasing forest cover in southwest Malawi using a mixed-methods approach. Data were sourced via a survey of 286 households, value chain analysis of the four most commonly traded NTFPs (thatch grass, edible orchids, mushrooms and wild fruits), key informant interviews with NTFP traders and direct observations. All households used at least one NTFP, with the most widely used ones being firewood (100% of households), bamboo (96%), thatch grass (94%), and timber for construction (92%). Overall, 15% of households sold at least one NTFP and the prevalence of selling within a village was correlated with forest cover, whereas buying of NTFPs was inversely correlated with forest cover. There was a wide range in mean annual income per product (US$20 – 456) from selling NTFPs based on the product, whether the trader sold on a casual or full-time basis and the market. Of those households selling NTFPs, approximately two-thirds sold more than one NTFP product, which is rarely recognised in income studies of individual single market chainsNTFP products. The returns to labour were variable between villages and products, but were generally double or more than the national minimum hourly wage. The NTFP value chains were short, dominated by traders and some intermediaries. Most of the products were sold in local markets with little value addition other than sorting and grading. Overall, NTFPs were an integral part of the household economy, with multiple participants and users, partly shaped by the forest cover of the surrounding landscapes.

Economic value of non-timber forest products utilized by the households adjacent to the South Nandi forest reserve in Kenya

Many rural dwellers in tropical regions depend on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for their livelihood and income requirements. However, the link between the economic benefits of NTFPs and their...

Valor econômico e determinantes socioculturais dos produtos florestais não madeireiros na Reserva Transnacional W da Biosfera, Benim

This paper examined the economic value of non-timber forest products and their contribution to cash income of people living around the W Transbundary Bioreserve of W in Benin. 148 people among two ethnic groups were interviewed. Data were analysed using the indirect method of opportunity cost and raw margin estimation. Results showed that local people use to harvest mostly five products: one non-marketable product (firewood) and four marketable products (almonds of Vitellaria paradoxa, C.F.Gaertn, seeds and pulp of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don and leaves of Adansonia digitata L.). The mean contribution of marketable products to surveyed dwellers was estimated at XOF 255,484 ($US 510.968) (standard error: XOF 37,109), representing about 11.46% of the annual cash income per household. Age and sociolinguistic group were the main determinants of non-timber forest products harvesting. Given their value to the communities, those plants should be prioritized for domestication and conservation.

Assessment of Utilisation and Monetary Value of Non-Timber Forest Products in Kilombero District, Tanzania

Assessment of Utilisation and Monetary Value of Non-Timber Forest Products in Kilombero District, Tanzania

The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Creating Incentives for Forest Conservation: A Case Study of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia

The fundamental issue in this study is to confirm whether or not the extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) will encourage additional pro-conservation behavior from local people. This study clarifies three research questions as follows: what is the current activity of forest conservation in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary?; does the extraction of NTFPs create incentives for forest conservation?; and how much value do NTFPs have for incentives for forest conservation activities? Fieldworks were conducted in September 2015, March and April 2016, March 2017 in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary: participatory rural appraisals, key informant interviews, and structured questionnaire interviews with 288 households were randomly selected. Though this study confirmed that extraction of NTFPs is generally seen as the most positive influenced factors for local people’s participation towards forest conservation. Additionally, this study found that the annual value of NTFPs as incentives for forest conservation was around US$0.95/ha or US$95/km2 in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia.