Unfortunately there are no data available with regard to the past trend of NWFP, although the effort made for having its access. Angola was during the colonial era a self-sufficient country in crop production, and the access of products such as meat and fish was not a big concern to the population during that time. However, that was not a factor pushing them to do not make use of Non-Wood Forest Products, mainly for food and traditional medicine.
What is still remembered until the present date, is the place of Angola in honey and wax production, trading and with emphasis to the export of these two products in the past. Everything went down with the ascension of the country to the independence.
Due to the current situation characterised by the permanent unrest, the government as well as the private sector are not in a good position to satisfy the various basic needs of the population, commonly based on food and medicine, especially where the war was/is intensive. However non-wood forest products are seen as one of the sources of providing these basic needs and at the some time, a source of income for many families living in the rural areas.
As early mentioned, data regarding the use of these products continue to be a serious problem to the sector responsible for the administration of forest resources. Data presented in this paper are non-consistent and non-representative, therefore, it is not advisable to be taken into account, as reference data for a country like Angola, unless if there is need to assist the sector for developing and improving the statistics sector.
The survey conducted in three markets of Luanda has shown that non-wood forest products are playing a significant role for the diet and treatment of people. In one market located at above 10 Km of the main city of Luanda, there are more than 100 generally composed of women trading traditional medicine originated from plant and animal. The market is one of the centre where these products are abound.
It is the same to the bushmeat sellers, the huge number of women engaged to this activity is also important. It is very impressed to see the quantity of bushmeat sold in at least in Kwanza market. There is almost all variety of bushmeat reported in the Table 4, including crocodile and boa meat. Also to point out that insects are contributing to the diet of many people, once there a diversity of bush-insects sold in those markets visited (see Annex 1).
Seems to do not possible to foresee the progress country in crop production if the unrest will persist. However, changes in consumption will not be too much significant as well as in trade and export. Changes are probably expected in terms of massive consumption when inhabitants of rural areas resettle to their original communities, i.e. peace is the only factor able to reverse the trend.
Regarding trade and export, the solution must be found first of all from the decision-makers and secondly from the entire society by recognising the economical value of Non-Wood Forest Products and its contribution to the welfare of the society. It will be, of course, an important step to attract investors in this field.
