In recent years, non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have attracted considerable global interest. This is due to the increasing recognition that NWFPs can provide important community needs for improved rural livelihood; contribute to household food security and nutrition; help to generate additional employment and income; offer opportunities for processing enterprises; contribute to foreign exchange earnings; and support biodiversity conservation and other environmental objectives. The International Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products which met in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 17-27 January 1995, considered the relevant aspects relating to the development of NWFPs. The Consultation observed that the different roles and contributions of NWFPs are complementary to each other. This complementarity can be enhanced through community participation. It would call for clear policies and improved technologies. The Consultation further noted that: NWFPs can prove to be an important key to the sustainable management of forest resources; sustainable management and harvesting of NWFPs especially of those occurring among the biological diversity of natural forests is extremely complex; their post-harvest treatment involves complex technology; variation in the level of processing of NWFPs is considerable with corresponding variation in process technology; marketing of non-wood goods and services of forests calls for higher level of capabilities; quality standards for internationally-traded NWFPs tend to be rigid; sustainable management and utilization of NWFPs are highly demanding on scientific knowledge, statistical information, technology, skills and research support.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO

Region
Global

Biome
All

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
All