Assessing the business potential of four non-timber forest products from the tropics
Based on our recent study “Not only timber: managing non-timber forest products in tropical production forests – A comprehensive literature review” (Not Only Timber) Precious Forests Foundation is excited to present this follow-up study exploring the economic potential of four non-timber forest products (NTFP) in the tropics. The study was commissioned by the Foundation from Form International.
For this work various NTFPs in the tropics have been analyzed based on a set of success factors and following four promising products were selected:
- African walnut (Coula edulis)
- Aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa)
- Dammar gum (various species)
- Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis)
Care was taken in the selection process to ensure that the three tropical regions of Africa, South America and Southeast Asia were represented. Factors such as availability, sustainability, legal aspects and certification were also examined.
Here you can learn more about this exciting study and the possibilities to support sustainable forest management and local communities in the tropics through sustainable harvesting of non-timber products.
In order to put the results of the study into practice, Precious Forests Foundation is now supporting a pilot project for various investigations on the African walnut (coula edulis). A first batch of nuts from Gabon have been sent to various traders for testing their market potential and further steps are under development
