INTRODUCTION
Main Non-Wood Forest Products
The main non-wood forest products (NWFP) of Cyprus are medicinal and aromatic plants and carob (Ceratonia siliqua).
Other NWFP are exudates. The use of forest as for recreational purposes is a main forest service.
PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
Food
Ceratonia siliqua, the carob tree, is both grown in the wild and cultivated for its ripe fruit. It is widely cultivated in lowland areas. The carob tree is an inseparable element of the natural and cultural heritage of Cyprus. It is the dryland crop, friendly to the environment. Carobs have long been harvested as major crops called the `black gold' of Cyprus.
During the 1960's the low prices of the international market and the increase in labor cost gradually resulted in abandonment of the crop. From the data of 1977 and 1994 inventories, it seems that the total number of trees was decreased to 77 percent. According to the 1994 inventory, the total number of trees is estimated to be 265 764. As a result, the total crop production gradually decreased to 8 800t in 1996 (FAO, 1995).
Locust bean (or carob) gum is the whitish powder obtained from grinding the endosperm of the seeds of Ceratonia siliqua. Uses of locust bean gum are divided between food and other, miscellaneous applications. Exports of locust bean seed from Cyprus for 1988-92 are shown in Table 1. Apart from the United Kingdom, all other exports from Cyprus go to the three main gum producers, Spain, Italy and Portugal. The level of exports fluctuated but averaged approximately 1 000 tonnes/year. (FAO, 1995)
Table 1. Locust bean seeda: exports from Cyprus, and destinations, 1988-92 (tonnes)
|
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
Total |
1578 |
868 |
1199 |
752 |
466 |
Of which to : | |||||
UK |
na |
687 |
750 |
409 |
na |
Italy |
na |
80 |
308 |
184 |
na |
Spain |
na |
101 |
- |
159 |
na |
Portugal |
na |
- |
122 |
- |
na |
Source: FAO (1995b)
Note: a Includes decorticated, crushed or ground seed and non-decorticated seed
Yields of pods are extremely variable and depend very much on the cultivar in question, as well as climatic and other conditions where the trees are growing. Individual trees have been reported to yield up to 0.5-1.0 tonnes of pods but average yields in cultivated stands rarely exceed 2.5 tonnes/ha. Average yields in Cyprus for 1967 (based on 55 000 tonnes production) were equivalent to approximately 2 tonnes/ha or 22 kg/tree. However, higher yields were reported by Padulosi (1998): average yields in Cyprus, Israel and Mexico are stated to be equivalent to 10-17 tonnes/ha. Yields increase steadily up to 25-30 years of age, but may vary in alternate years, being high one year and low the next. Well cared for cultivated trees have a productive life of 80-100 years (Padulosi, 1998).
Medicines
Local people use scattered aromatic and medicinal plants in the forest but they do not represent an important economic activity.
In Cyprus, there are over 280 wild aromatic and medicinal plant species. The inhabitants in the villages bordering the forest gather and use them for both local and foreign trade.
However, this has been restricted to a minimum for two main reasons:
1. The persistent drought prevailing in Cyprus has restricted production.
2. Trade in aromatic plants cannot be carried out depending only on dry aromatic plants from the forest, which are restricted in quantity, quality and type.
For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment has launched the Project for the "Development and Cultivation of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants" in Cyprus.
Exudates
Pistacia lentiscus prefers an arid, sub-tropical climate and occurs in coastal Mediterranean regions of both southern Europe and north Africa, and some of the islands in the Mediterranean such as Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus. However, it is only cultivated for mastic on the Aegean island of Chios, where it occurs as P. lentiscus var. chia; it is often interspersed with olive trees. Although usually termed a gum, mastic is a hard resin, produced by tapping the stem bark of the small tree Pistacia lentiscus, which is cultivated on the Greek islands of Chios.
Mastic is produced in the form of small tears, pale yellow in colour, clear and glassy in nature and liable to fracture. Its age-long use in Arab countries has been for chewing, where it sweetens the breath and helps preserve the teeth and gums. Its aromatic properties also make it suitable as a flavouring agent for alcoholic beverages. In the past it was also used in the manufacture of high-grade varnishes for paintings, and for medicinal purposes.
An essential oil can be distilled from the gum and finds some use for fragrance and flavouring purposes.
Perfumes and cosmetics
Among Cyprus`s natural vegetation, a number of aromatic, medicinal and other useful plants are being exploited in their wild form in order to obtain essential oils.
Origanum spp. has long been valued as the source of a valuable aromatic oil. It is harvested, dried, packed and sold as an aromatic substance for food. Likewise the sage, Salvia fruticosa, is collected from the wild and used as a medicinal plant for tea preparation against sore throats and colds. Thymus capitatus is collected for use as an aromatic in cooking. The tender shoots, the buds and the fruit of the wild caper (Caparis spinosa),as well as the tender leaves of Eryngium maritimum, are consumed and preserved in vinegar as appetizers. Tender leaves or shoots of Silene spp., Asparagus sp., Malva sp.,and other species are collected from the wild and used for culinary purposes.
Rosa damascena, the Damask Rose, a very ancient garden rose, is also cultivated in villages at high elevations as an aromatic plant. Flowers are used to prepare rose water and also to prepare sweets in heavy syrup. Laurus nobilis (Laurel), is gathered or grown for its aromatic leaves and fruits. The leaves are used as aromatics and the oil from its fruits in cosmetics.
An interesting plant of economic importance is Rhus coriaria (Sumach) an erect or spreading shrub to about 2 m high which grows on stony mountainsides and in vineyards from 600 to 1 800 m. Leaves of this plant, which is an industrial plant rich in tannin, are collected every year and exported.
In Cyprus, there are over 280 wild aromatic and medicinal plant species. Tables 2 list the most important cultivated and wild aromatic plants in Cyprus and their production values.
Table 2. List of cultivated aromatic plants and their production values
Species |
Trade name |
Production (in tonnes) |
Value of production (in US$) |
Origanum dubium |
Oregano |
20 |
80 000 |
Salvia fruticosa |
Sage |
10 |
40 000 |
Thymus vulgaris |
Thyme |
30 |
60 000 |
Mentha viridis |
Mint |
100 |
400 000 |
Coriandrum sativum |
Coriander |
2 000 |
4 000 000 |
Ocinum basilicum |
Basil |
20 |
74 000 |
Artemisia dracunculus |
Tarragon |
12 |
72 000 |
Lavendula |
Veralavender |
5 |
80 000 |
Rosa damascena |
Damas rose |
6 |
60 000 |
Source: Georgio & Gavrilides (1999)
Initiatives related to the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants in Cyprus began in 1991. During this year the "Project for the Development of Aromatic and Medicinal plants in Cyprus" was set up.
Briefly, this project entails the following:
1. Establishment of trial plantations with both local and imported aromatic plants, such as Oregano, Sage, Lavender, Tarragon, Dictamus, Hyssope, Mint, Bay, Rosemary, Thyme, Sideritis, Melissa etc., with the intention of defining those areas of Cyprus where these plants grow best, and are economically viable.
2. Establishment of mother plantations for the production of propagating material.
3. Establishment of nursery and seedling stock production unit to meet the farmers' requirements.
4. Installation of a distillation unit for distillation trials.
5. Establishment of botanical collections.
6. Allocation of long-term, low interest loans to interested farmers up to L30 000 (US$1=L0.67) for the establishment of viable aromatic plantations.
7. Foundation of a sector in the department of agriculture of aromatic and medicinal plants to put into effect the above project.
This project can be split up into three categories:
· Production and marketing of dry and aromatic plants.
· Production and marketing of fresh aromatic plants.
· Production of essential oils by distillation.
The main aromatic plants that are promoted by the Department of Agriculture are: Oregano, Sage, Mint, Basil, Tarragon, and Lavender and to a lesser extent Marjoram, Bay, Dictamus, Rosemary, Mellssa, Thyme and Siderlitis. There is a great demand for such products in the countries of the E.U. and other countries because of their excellent quality, which is attributed to the favorable climatic conditions of Cyprus.
Ornamentals
Wild progenitors of ornamental species such as Tulipa spp., Narcissus spp., Anemone spp., Cyclamen spp., Orchis spp., Ophrys spp., Fritillaria spp., etc. exist among the wild vegetation of Cyprus. Unfortunately, their numbers are rapidly decreasing owing to continuous developmental activities, use of herbicides and inconsiderate exploitation.
REFERENCES
Enacarta Home. 2001. Cyprus Forests. Internet: http://encarta.msn.com., viewed on 1 June 2001.
FAO. 1995a. Natural colourants and dyestuffs. by C.L. Green. Non-wood forest products No. 4, Rome.
FAO. 1995b. Edible nuts. by G.E. Wickens. Non-wood forest products No. 5, Rome.
FAO. 1995c. Gums, resins and latexes of plant origin. by J.J.W. Coppen. Non-wood forest products No. 6, Rome.
Georgio G. and Gavrilides A. 1999. Non Wood forest products in Cyprus. Expert meeting on developing and coordinating the activities for non-wood forest products, FAO. Beirut, 1999.
Padulosi, S. 1998. Priority-setting for underutilized and neglected plant species of the Mediterranean region. Report of the IPGRI conference-February 1998- ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This report has been realized in support to the FAO Forest Resource Assessment 2000. The content is mainly based on available information at FAO Headquarters in Rome and on information collected by Ms Sabra, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Additional information on NWFP in Cyprus would be appreciated and duly acknowledged.
QUANTITATIVE DATA ON NWFP OF CYPRUS
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
||||||||
Category |
Impor-tance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Destination |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
|||||||
Plants and plant products | ||||||||||
Food |
1 |
Carob |
Ceratonia siliqua |
fr |
F |
W |
N,I |
Export worth 466 t in 1992 |
FAO, 1995 | |
Perfumes, cosmetics |
2 |
Oregano |
Origanum dubium |
fl,le |
F,P |
W,C |
N,I |
Production of 30 t worth US$140 000 |
Georgio & Gavrilides, 1999 | |
2 |
Sage |
Salvia fruticosa |
fl,le |
F,P |
W,C |
N,I |
Production of 15 t worth US$42 000 |
Georgio & Gavrilides, 1999 | ||
2 |
Thyme |
Thymus capitatus, Thymus vulgaris |
fl,le |
F,P |
W,C |
N,I |
Production of 33 t worth US$78 000 |
Georgio & Gavrilides, 1999 | ||
1 |
Caper |
Capparis spinosa |
pl |
F,P |
W,C |
N,I |
Production of 100 t worth US$20 000 |
Georgio & Gavrilides, 1999 | ||
1 |
laurel |
Lauris nobilis |
le |
F,P |
W |
N,I |
Production of 3 t worth US$18 000 |
Georgio & Gavrilides, 1999 |
Importance: 1- high importance on the national level; 2 - high importance on the local/regional level; 3 - low importance
Part used: an - entire animal; ba - bark; bw - beeswax; le - leaves; nu - nuts; fi - fibres; fl - flowers; fr - fruits; gu - gums; ho - honey; la - latex; oi - oil; pl - entire plant; re - resins; ro - roots; sa - sap; se - seeds; st - stem; ta - tannins
Habitat: F - natural forest or other wooded lands; P - plantation; O - Others: Trees outside forests (e.g. agroforestry, homegardens)
Source: W - wild, C - cultivated
Destination: N - national; I - international