Products from the wild, also known as non-timber forest products (NTFPs), are used as medicines, foods, spices, and a multitude of other purposes. They contribute substantially to rural livelihoods, generate revenue for companies and governments, and have a range of impacts on biodiversity conservation. However, there is little information available for those seeking to develop effective policy frameworks and regulation. This book addresses that shortage with information and recommendations on the drafting, content and implementation of NTFP policies, and the broader issues of governance associated with these products. It reviews the diverse elements that combine to create laws and policies that promote sustainable and equitable management, trade and use of species. Drawing on a wealth of unique case studies from around the world, this volume examines experiences with NTFP regulation, including its sometimes unintended consequences. It looks at economic factors, the interface between traditional and western knowledge and legal systems, and relationships between NTFP regulation, land tenure and resource rights, as well as power and equity imbalances. The volume includes a review of available literature and resources, plus an annotated bibliography linked to the People and Plants International website (www.peopleandplants.org). Published with People and Plants International

Balance the culture of wildcrafting with the demands of sustainable forest management!This comprehensive book addresses the issues that arise when the primeval practice of gathering wild plants, fungi, leaves, and bark occurs in a post-industrial world. Non-Timber Forest Products: Medicinal Herbs, Fungi, Edible Fruits and Nuts, and Other Natural Products from the Forest provides a unique analysis of the laws, sociocultural factors, competing political and economic interests, and environmental issues related to wildcrafting. The implications of harvesting non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are usually considered in the context of the Third World, but this unique book offers an analysis of current conditions in North America. Non-Timber Forest Products focuses on the forests of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. These areas offer a diverse array of commercially valuable forest products and fiercely contentious debates about environmental, sociocultural, and legal issues. Non-Timber Forest Products documents the core issues of this complex topic, including: the special rights of indigenous peoples consequences of increased demand for harvested products stewardship of public and private forests economic and public policy concerns review of historical and contemporary wildcrafting current research on economically useful forest products sustainable development strategies sociopolitical and environmental considerations for NTFP management Non-Timber Forest Products offers a clear picture of the historical, social, ecological, and policy aspects of NTFP use. It is an essential resource for private and public forest managers, environmental activists, economists, policymakers, andwildcrafters.

A quiet revolution is taking place in America's forests. Once seen primarily as stands of timber, our woodlands are now prized as a rich source of a wide range of commodities, from wild mushrooms and maple sugar to hundreds of medicinal plants whose uses have only begun to be fully realized. Now as timber harvesting becomes more mechanized and requires less labor, the image of the lumber-jack is being replaced by that of the forager.

This book provides the first comprehensive examination of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) in the United States, illustrating their diverse importance, describing the people who harvest them, and outlining the steps that are being taken to ensure access to them. As the first extensive national overview of NTFP policy and management specific to the United States, it brings together research from numerous disciplines and analytical perspectives -- such as economics, mycology, history, ecology, law, entomology, forestry, geography, and anthropology -- in order to provide a cohesive picture of the current and potential role of NTFPs.

The contributors review the state of scientific knowledge of NTFPs by offering a survey of commercial and noncommercial products, an overview of uses and users, and discussions of sustainable management issues associated with ecology, cultural traditions, forest policy, and commerce. They examine some of the major social, economic, and biological benefits of NTFPs, while also addressing the potential negative consequences of NTFP harvesting on forest ecosystems and on NTFP species populations.

Within this wealth of information are rich accounts of NTFP use drawn from all parts of the American landscape -- from the PacificNorthwest to the Caribbean. From honey production to a review of nontimber forest economies still active in the United States -- such as the Ojibway "harvest of plants" recounted here -- the book takes in the whole breadth of recent NTFP issues, including ecological concerns associated with the expansion of NTFP markets and NTFP tenure issues on federally managed lands.

No other volume offers such a comprehensive overview of NTFPs in North America. By examining all aspects of these products, it contributes to the development of more sophisticated policy and management frameworks for not only ensuring their ongoing use but also protecting the future of our forests.

Balance the culture of wildcrafting with the demands of sustainable forest management!This comprehensive book addresses the issues that arise when the primeval practice of gathering wild plants, fungi, leaves, and bark occurs in a post-industrial world. Non-Timber Forest Products: Medicinal Herbs, Fungi, Edible Fruits and Nuts, and Other Natural Products from the Forest provides a unique analysis of the laws, sociocultural factors, competing political and economic interests, and environmental issues related to wildcrafting. The implications of harvesting non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are usually considered in the context of the Third World, but this unique book offers an analysis of current conditions in North America. Non-Timber Forest Products focuses on the forests of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. These areas offer a diverse array of commercially valuable forest products and fiercely contentious debates about environmental, sociocultural, and legal issues. Non-Timber Forest Products documents the core issues of this complex topic, including: the special rights of indigenous peoples consequences of increased demand for harvested products stewardship of public and private forests economic and public policy concerns review of historical and contemporary wildcrafting current research on economically useful forest products sustainable development strategies sociopolitical and environmental considerations for NTFP management Non-Timber Forest Products offers a clear picture of the historical, social, ecological, and policy aspects of NTFP use. It is an essential resource for private and public forest managers, environmental activists, economists, policymakers, andwildcrafters.

Products from the wild are used as medicines, cosmetics, drinks, foods, decorations, and for a multitude of other purposes. These products are used for subsistence, are traded locally and regionally, and comprise an important and growing commercial sector world-wide. Known as non-timber forest products (NTFPs) they contribute substantially to rural livelihoods, generate revenue for companies and governments, and have a range of impacts on biodiversity conservation. Although there are many commonalities in experience with NTFP regulation around the world, there is little information available to harvesters, companies, policy makers, NGOs, and others seeking to develop effective policy frameworks, and the lessons learned in this field are often not easily accessed.This guide and manual addresses the shortage of technical information available on the drafting, content, and implementation of NTFP policies, and the broader issues of governance associated with these products. It also develops an analytical framework for understanding the diverse issues and elements that combine to create laws and policies that promote sustainable and equitable management, trade and use of species. The book presents 13 country or regionally-specific case studies that examine experiences with NTFP regulation, including its sometimes unintended consequences, the effect of different policy approaches, the influence of globalization and macro-economic factors, the interface of traditional and scientific knowledge, and the relationships between NTFP regulation, land tenure and resource rights, and power and equity imbalances. Geographic coverage includes Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, East and CentralEurope, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Southern Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each chapter draws out lessons and recommendations that can be more broadly applied and an overview chapter synthesizes these and other experiences and provides a framework for the development of NTFP policy. A final section makes recommendations for various stakeholders. The volume also includes a review of available literature and resources and an annotated bibliography, including key articles, laws and other resources, linked to the People and Plants International website.Published with People and Plants International