Because NWFPs receive little economic recognition, there is a lack of policies, rules and regulations supporting their development. There are harvesting rules for some products, but they are not strictly followed. For other products there are no rules and regulations. Restrictions on collecting are mostly non existent, there is no effective management of NWFP resources, and little effort goes to replenishing the resources. The present system of clear-cutting does not support the plant diversity and forest structure needed to conserve and protect a wide range of NWFPs.
In the case of government lands, GOB has to identify and delineate suitable areas for NWFP collection and be ready to allow public and private groups and communities to use the land on agreed terms and conditions. Since there are no guidelines yet on the granting of forest lands for NWFP development, these require definition and approval.
