Non-Timber Forest Products
The following discussion is based on the proceedings from a meeting held in Kenora, Ontario, October 1-4, 1999 "Forest Communities in the Third Millennium: Linking research, business and policy toward a sustainable non-timber forest product sector", edited by Iain Davidson-Hunt, Luc Duchesne and John Zasada and published by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station.
View the full report: http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/other/gtr-nc217/index.htm
A straightforward definition of a non-timber forest product (NTFP) is a plant or animal found in a natural, forested landscape. Non-timber forest products are valued as a source of food, medicine, heritage and eco-tourism, and cultural and spiritual tradition.
There are an estimated 500 NTFPs in Canada, with 200 NTFPs currently recognized in BC and 50 used commercially in Ontario. Maple sap products and wild mushrooms make up the majority of NTFPs in consumed in Canada or exported. Wild berries, medicinal plants and other NTFPs are also consumed in Canada or exported, in smaller amounts. Click here to view a sampling of NTFPs marketed in Manitoba: http://www.nfdc.ca/ntfpproducts.htm
The Canadian NTFP industry earned 241 Million in 2000, making up 0.4% of the Canadian forest industry, which earned 58.7 Billion in 2000. The following table is a breakdown of NTFP estimated export value in 1997.
Estimated non-timber forest products in Canada
- value of annual shipments for 1997
Product |
Estimated Value (CAN) |
Maple Syrup |
$120,000,000 |
Mushrooms |
$100,000,000 |
Berries (Vaccinium spp., Amelanchier spp.) |
$20,000,000 |
Medicinal plants |
$1,000,000 |
Ornamentals |
$500,000 |
Essential Oils |
$50,000 |
Total value of shipments |
$241,550,000 |
Although a relatively small industry, it provides valuable supplemental income for families and rural communities. Families can earn an additional $8 000 to $10 000 per year harvesting and selling NTFPs. Given that NTFPs generally provide supplemental only, other sources of income are still necessary.
Non-timber forest products are especially attractive in communities where the forest industry is in decline or there are fewer forestry jobs due to increased use of technology. As a source of supplemental income, NTFPs can be very important for communities that harvest them. The development of harvesting cooperatives and processing facilities could further support and expand the NTFP industry.
For First Nations, NTFPs are considered a way of life. The ability to harvest medicines, berries, barks among other things are viewed as integral to cultural and spiritual heritage. For example, the harvesting of berries may be important expression of collective identity, and the use of medicines may be used in healing ceremonies.
Many NTFPs will appear in one region one year and in a different region the next year, and while some grow in mature forests, others thrive after a disturbance such as fire or harvesting (such as berries). This type of knowledge is critical for successful NTFP harvesting and yet very little is known scientifically about NTFP biology. Increased knowledge about NTFPs would help to ensure sustainable harvesting, to optimize harvesting over the short and long terms and to successfully grow and manage NTFPs. Harvesters whose communities have harvested for generations are a valuable source of knowledge about NTFPs and collaborations between harvesters, consumers and scientists is encouraged by members of the research community. Issues such as intellectual property rights and fair compensation still need to be resolved if collaborations are going to be successful.
A number of factors that affect the growth of NTFPs. Here are three:
Because of these factors, the location of NTFPs can change from one year to the next, as can abundance. Harvesters often adopt one of two strategies to adapt to changes in NTFP growth. One strategy is to move from region to region depending on where harvests are abundant. This requires the harvester to be very flexible and not tied to a specific location. A second strategy is to stay in one place and simply harvest whatever is abundant in a given year. This allows the harvester to be more stable. Some products do not vary as drastically, like wild rice, allowing local harvesting to occur year after year. Other similar products include maple and birch syrups, boughs, essential oils and resins.
The Northern Forest Diversification Center, located at The Pas, offers training in non-forest product business development to rural Manitoba communities. Given current optimism that non-forest timber products will expand significantly over the next decade, the center hopes to provide a solid grounding in business and specific NTFP related skills to forest communities, individuals, small enterprises and First Nations to capture the greatest value possible with the greatest chances of success. Ultimately, the center envisions an NTFP industry “composed of a network of community based and diverse micro-enterprises supported by a 21st Century packaging and marketing infrastructure.”
A 10-day training course offered to all ages and educational backgrounds focuses on local resources, plant identification and basic ecology, sustainable harvesting and handling practices, aboriginal issues, low-tech value added processing, and marketing.
The center also markets NTFPs, and last year marketed products from over 200 harvesters in 22 communities. To learn more about the products marketed by the center, click here… http://www.nfdc.ca/ntfpproducts.htm
You may also access the following documents produced by the Northern Forest Diversification Center (all web-documents):
Partnering in Community Development
Management of the non-timber forest products industry
Manitoba Wild Harvesters Association Code of Ethics Draft March 10, 2004
A Canadian non-government organization, the Falls Brook Center is a sustainable community demonstration and training center. Programs include appropriate technology, community development, forest stewardship, sustainable agriculture, an international program, and an education program. Visit their non-timber forest products website to learn about NTFPs in New Brunswick. http://www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/webmain/programs/Forest/NTFP%20Web/ntfp_main.htm
The North Island Non-Timber Forest Products Demonstration Project, sponsored by Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC investigates how to best manage non-timber forest products for environmental sustainability, economic viability and social equitability. The project involves a resource inventory, research and management and capacity building for First Nations and non-First Nations. To learn more about the project, visit their website: http://www.island.net/~ntfp/
The Center for Non-Timber Resources at Royal Roads College, grew out of the NTFP Demonstration Project previously mentioned. The center focuses on the “wise use of non-timber forest resources to diversify and sustain rural and resource-dependent economies”. The Centre is offering a Non-Timber Forest Product Certificate, beginning in August 2004. Visit website: http://www.royalroads.ca/Channels/for+learners/centre+for+global+and+executive+education/non-timber+forest+products/centre+for+non-timber+resources.htm
The Institute for Culture and Ecology maintains a website containing information about non-timber forest products in the United States such as current issues, research and a database of non-timber forest product species. http://www.ifcae.org/ntfp/
A second website is a collaborative venture which includes fact sheets about specific products found in the US, a database of buyers and sellers, tutorials on writing business plans and more. Visit website: http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/special_fp.htm
This website provides graphical information about the use of non-timber forest products in Alaska.
http://www.akborealforest.org/fus/ntfp.php
Environment Canada website: http://www.glfc.forestry.ca/frontline/bulletins/bulletin_no.28_e.html