definition for non-timber forest products

The socio-economic contribution of forests to livelihood and the impact of their use on the environment are essential components of modern concepts for sustainable forest management

(MCPFE, 2003)

Definition for Non-Timber Forest Products

The term ‘Non-Timber Forest Products’ (NTFPs) encompasses all biological materials other than timber, which are extracted from forests for human use.

De Beer and McDermott (1989)

Definition for Non-Timber Forest Products

Goods Things, articles, objects worth attaining; movable properties; merchandise; wares; services of valve. An economic good is defined as any physical object, natural or man-made, or service rendered, which could command a price in a market. Services Provision of assistance; act of serving; work done to meet some needs; intangible, non-transferable economic goods, as distinct from physical commodities. Products Things/substances/articles produced by a process; output of goods and services resulting from the input of resources or factors of production used to produce them.

Chandrasekharan (1992)

Major services provided by forests

• Protection of water resources, soil and other ecosystem functions

• Protection of infrastructure and other managed natural resources

• Influence on the local climate and reduction of gas emission impacts.

• Conservation of the natural habitat and biological diversity.

• Recreational and other social functions of forests.

• Protecting the cultural and spiritual values. Gottle and Sène, 1997, MCPFE 2003

A Proliferation of New Terms

• ‘non-wood goods and benefits’ • ‘non-wood goods and services’• ‘other forest products’• ‘secondary forest products’• ‘special forest products’• ‘wild crafted products’• ‘biodiversity products’• ‘natural products’• ‘minor forest products’• ‘non-timber forest products’• ‘non-wood forest products’• ‘forest products other than wood/timber’ and ‘tree-crops’

Vantomme, 2003

Main categories of NWFP

(FAO, FRA 2005)

Other Classification Systems for NWGS

• End use and plant use classifications• Classification based on life forms and plant

parts• Classification according to management

characteristics (supply and demand characterisitcs)

Problems in Assessing NWGS• Seasonality: some of the functions, variables or attributes can only

be observed during specific seasons (e.g. fruits, partly protection)• Area reference: some of the functions relate to sample plots, others

to specific small areas, some to large areas (e.g. wind protection will extend far beyond the forest itself)

• Assessment is only indirectly possible during the inventory, such as recreational use, which can be assessed from other indicators

• Attributes are qualitative (e.g. conservation)• Suitability vs. actual use of the function (e.g. recreation – a forest

might be suitable for recreation, but the actual use depends on the proximity to settlements or accessibility)

• The assessment is very costly (e.g. measuring herbaceous vegetation or faunistic diversity)

Pelz, 1995

Sources for Reporting on NWGS

• Biodiversity inventories (list of species)• Cultural studies• User, market or product surveys• Resource inventories

Lund (1995)

Assessment of NWGS

Wong, 2000

Assessment of NWGS

Volk and Schirmer, 2004

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 3.3: Non-wood goodsFull text: Value and quantity of marketed non-wood goods

from forest and other wooded landRationale:Non-wood goods (NWGs) are e.g. game meat, pelts, fruits

and berries, mushrooms and truffles, cork, medicinal plants, Christmas trees, honey or nuts. Non-wood goods have an important economic value with regard to SFM. However, it has to be considered that depending on national laws the income of e.g. berry picking might belongs to the berry picker and not necessarily to the forest owner. This indicator is mainly linked to indicator 3.2, 3.4 and 6.11.

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 3.3: Non-wood goods International data provider:TBFRA Eurostat: IEEAF on progressMeasurement units:Status: kg Changes: kg/yr.Status: National currency/kgChanges: National currency/kg/yr.Current periodicity of data availability: 10 yearsReporting notes:Separate figures to be reported on: Value of marketed NWGs from forest land, Value of marketed NWGs from other wooded land, Quantity of marketed NWGs from forest land, Quantity of marketed NWGs from other wooded landThe NWGs should be confined to the three most important goods

(value) per country

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 3.4: Services

Full text: Value of marketed services on forest and other wooded land

Rationale:

Marketed services include, for instance, hunting licences, fishing licences, managed outdoor recreation areas or trails for mountain biking, horse riding, skiing and other recreational activities. Also environmental services like private contracts for conservation should be indicated here. These marketed services of the forest contribute directly to increase the income of the forest owner. This indicator is mainly linked to indicator 3.2, 3.3 and 6.11.

International data provider: TBFRA

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 3.4: Services Measurement units: Status: National currency/haChanges: National currency/ha/yr.Current periodicity of data availability: 10 years

Reporting notes:Separate figures to be reported on: Value of marketed services on forest landValue of marketed services on other wooded landThe marketed services should be confined to the three most important services (value) per country

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 6.4: Expenditures for servicesFull text: Total expenditures for long-term sustainable services from

forestsRationale:Forest owners, public and private, incur additional expenditures for

producing a range of services that are demanded by the public free of costs. These are, for instance, expenditures to maintain protective forests against natural hazards, for preventing soil erosion or for protecting water quality as well as social services. These services are an important contribution to the quality of life and safety of humankind. It is essential to ensure that these services are maintained and that adequate public funding is provided to cover the necessary related expenditures. The total national expenditures for services from the forests should provide quantitative information on the efforts of countries to provide such forest services.

The MCPFE’s Indicators on Non-Wood Goods and Services

Indicator 6.4: Expenditures for servicesInternational data provider:

-

Measurement units:

€ for status and changes

Current periodicity of data availability: n.a.

Reporting notes:

Currently information on data availability is weak and data collection mechanisms have not yet been established.

This indicator needs to be further elaborated before implementation.

Problems

• Categories of non-wood goods and services are not specifically mentioned. – Reference is made to a selected list of goods and services,

namely “game meat, pelts, fruits and berries, mushrooms and truffles, cork, medicinal plants, Christmas trees, honey or nuts” and “hunting licences, fishing licences, managed outdoor recreation areas or trails for mountain biking, horse riding, skiing, and other recreational activities” as well as “environmental services like private contracts for conservation”.

– Rametsteiner (2005) recommended to use the FAO classification of NWGS

• Specifying the quantity of non-wood products will result in a mixture of units of measurements (e.g. weight, volume, length)– even for the same product different measurement units can be

applied (e.g. honey reported in kilogram or litre).

Problems• The value of marketed non-wood goods and services (indicators 3.3

and 3.4) is to be given in terms of national currency. – For indicator 6.4. reporting in € is requested. – For a consistent approach reporting should be done in national

currency. – Appropriate average exchange rates should be utilised for

reporting years.– The reference to national currency needs special attention when

results are interpreted, as results may not be comparable due to differences in local incomes or gross national products. Deriving the importance of NWGS for national markets may not be easily derived from the figures specified in national currency unless the individual national figures are standardized, e.g. by presenting them in relation to GNPs.

– Changes reported in national currency may be influenced by inflation rates or drop-off in prices due to substitution processes

Problems• The financial beneficiary of marketing a good or a service may not in

all cases be the forest owner. – Mentioning that it “… has to be considered that depending on

national laws the income of e.g. berry picking might belongs to the berry picker and not necessarily to the forest owner” and that “…marketed services of the forest contribute directly to increase the income of the forest owner” does not provide a consistent guidance on how to handle income for non-forest owners.

• The background documents notice that for indicator 6.4 “information on data availability is weak and data collection mechanisms have not yet been established.” In addition “this indicator needs to be further elaborated before implementation.”

1. Marketed Non-Wood Goods

Information available

No

Yes

1a. Current Status of Non-Wood Goods

-Plant Products-Animals and Animal Products

2b. Average Annual Changes of MarketedServices

1b. Average Annual Changes of Non-Wood Goods

-Plant Products-Animals and Animal Products2. Marketed Services

Information available

No

Yes 2a. Current Status of Marketed Services

3. Expenditures for Services

Information available

No

Yes

3b. Average Annual Change of Expenditures for Services

3a. Current Status of Expenditures for Services

4. General Questions

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS

Draft Enquiry for NWGS