Commercialisation of Non-timber Forest Products: A Reality Check

doi:10.1111/j.1467-7679.2007.00374.x

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Wiley InterScience

Development Policy Review

Volume 25 Issue 3, Pages 355 - 377

Published Online: 4 May 2007

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Commercialisation of Non-timber Forest Products: A Reality Check

Brian Belcher* and Kathrin Schreckenberg*

*Respectively, Principal Scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia (b.belcher@cgiar.org), and Research Associate, Overseas Development Institute, London.

They would like to acknowledge the UK Department for International Development's support for the research that informs this article and thank the following for comments on an earlier version: S. Alexander, J. E. M. Arnold, A. Boaz, V. L. Borges, J. Chamberlain, F. Duran, P. Frazier, K. H. Gautam, J. Greenham, E. T. Jones, R. Hart, T. Hammett, N. Henning, M. Karki, G. Kutty, R. Leakey, J. Lonner, D. Mitchell, M. N. B. Nair, B. Richards, M. Ruiz Pérez, C. Sullivan, P. Vantomme and E. Zanetti.

ABSTRACT

This article challenges the pervasive view that commercialisation of non-timber forest products can (easily) achieve ecosystem and species conservation as well as improving livelihoods. Following a brief review of who and what is involved, it focuses on the main ecological and livelihood risks of unconsidered promotion of NTFP commercialisation, drawing on a wide range of case studies from around the world. It concludes with some recommendations, emphasising the lack of 'magic-bullet' products, and the importance - among other things - of not ignoring national policy, taking an integrated view of the value chain, considering the implications of different production options, and improving both quality and quantity.

first submitted January 2006 final revision accepted October 2006

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1467-7679.2007.00374.x About DOI