scholarly journals Conceptualising the Factors that Influence the Commercialisation of Non-Timber Forest Products: The Case of Wild Plant Gathering by Organic Herb Farmers in South Tyrol (Italy)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schunko ◽  
Sarah Lechthaler ◽  
Christian Vogl
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
South Tyrol ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Wild Plant Gathering ◽  
Support Mechanisms

The gathering and commercialisation of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in Europe has repeatedly been praised for its potential to support rural development. However, political support mechanisms explicitly targeting NTFP remain underdeveloped. In this study, we aimed to contribute to the design of support mechanisms by understanding the factors that influence the commercialisation of wild plants by organic farmers. We first developed a conceptual framework based on fifteen factors and then applied the framework to a case study in South Tyrol (Alto Adige), Italy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all fourteen members of the Vereinigung Südtiroler Kräuteranbauer (Associazione Coltivatori Sudtirolesi Piante Officinali), who commercialised wild plant species, and the data were then analysed using qualitative content analysis. Agricultural intensification, pesticide drift, limited access to gathering sites suitable for organic certification, legal restrictions, lack of consumer awareness about the additional value of organic wild plant certification, and limited product diversity were perceived as limiting factors; management techniques in organic farming, organic certification, a trend for wild, regional and healthy foods, the availability of training, and favourable cultural values and attitudes towards wild plant gathering were perceived as supportive. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the many diverse factors that may influence wild plant commercialisation in Europe and beyond and provides guidance on how political support mechanisms could unlock the much heralded potential of wild plant commercialisation for rural development.

scholarly journals Is the Commercialization of Wild Plants by Organic Producers in Austria Neglected or Irrelevant?

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schunko ◽  
Christian Vogl
Keyword(s):  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Regional Economies ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Commercial Activity ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Farm Diversification ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
Wild Plant Gathering ◽  
Design Databases

European countries are split over the appreciation of wild berries, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs. While some countries provide public statistics on wild plants, others seem to neglect wild plant gathering and commercialization. In this study, we aimed to understand if wild plant commercialization is neglected or irrelevant in Austria, a country that does not provide statistics. We focus on organic producers, because organic certification of wild plant gathering might have potential for countering frequent concerns about commercial gathering, including destructive gathering and overharvesting. Using a mixed-methods approach with a concurrent triangulation design, databases of six organic certification bodies were analysed concurrently with semi-structured expert interviews of their representatives. We found that organic certification for gathering was issued to 1.5% of organic producers in the year 2016 in Austria and is relevant for three distinct gatherer types: regular, diversified, and single-plant gatherers. Organic gathering is most frequently part of agricultural or horticultural farms and rarely an isolated commercial activity. It is related to mixed farming, deepening on-farm diversification, and contributes to maintaining traditions, as well as the local socio-ecological memory of wild plant products. Organic wild plants are directly marketed to consumers as traditional and innovative products, but also supplied to mass markets. We conclude that from a socio-cultural perspective and a focus on regional economies, organic gathering is neglected in Austria, whereas from an income perspective, wild plant gathering seems to be indeed relevant for few organic producers, although exhibiting potential.

scholarly journals Consumers' Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants: A Case Study of Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bixia Chen ◽  
Zhenmian Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Edible Wild Plants ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Ishikawa Prefecture ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Ntfp Extraction

This study explored the rural revitalizing strategy in FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan, using a case study of edible wild plants. This study assessed the current and possible future utilization of edible wild plants as one important NTFP by clarifying the attitudes of consumers and exploring the challenges of harvesting edible wild plants. Traditional ecological knowledge associated with edible wild plants and the related attitudes of consumers towards wild plants was documented. A questionnaire survey found that a majority of the respondents held positive attitude towards edible wild plants as being healthy, safe food, part of traditional dietary culture. Increasing demand of edible wild plants from urban residents aroused conflicts with local residents’ interest given that around 86% of the forested hills are private in Noto Region. Non timber forest products (NTFP) extraction can be seen as a tool for creating socioeconomic relationships that are dependent on healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. It was suggested that Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) and Forestry Cooperatives (FCA) could be involved with GIAHS process. As important traditional dietary and ecological system, edible wild plants should be a part of GIAHS project for rural revitalization.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from tribal inhabited localities of Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112
Author(s):  
Dinesh Jadhav ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Biological Materials ◽  
Madhya Pradesh ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Oil Seeds ◽  
Edible Wild Plants ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Human Use

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) refer to all biological materials other than timber, which are collected from natural forests for human use, viz. tannin, dyes, gum, resins, medicines, fodder, forage, oil seeds, edible wild plants, fibres, etc. The present article communicates information on importance of some potential Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from tribal inhabited localities of Ratlam district (M.P.)

scholarly journals Expect the unexpected: the vital need for wild plants in a Bronze Age farmer’s diet

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Van Amerongen
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Physical Anthropology ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Full Time ◽  
The People ◽  
Wild Plant Gathering ◽  
Nutritional Studies ◽  
The Bronze Age

Wild plant gathering and consumption has previously been described as being unimportant during the Bronze Age in the western Netherlands. It was believed that the people were full-time farmers and that the food produced on the settlement was enough for people to be self-sufficient. However, the analysis performed here to re-evaluate this statement has shown that wild plants were also essential to life in the Bronze Age. The combined information obtained from ethnography, ethnobotany, archaeology, ecology, nutritional studies, and physical anthropology has indeed indicated that wild plants, and especially their vegetative parts, would have had to have been gathered yearround in order for people to remain healthy.

scholarly journals Development of NTFPs Sector for Income Generation and Environmental Conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manju Sundriyal
Keyword(s):  
Construction Materials ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Environmental Benefit ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Edible Wild Plants ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are amongst the key global commodities and an important component of international trade. They are important in livelihoods of rural people all over the Himalayan region for meeting food, medicine, construction materials, and income needs of subsistence communities. The sector needs focused developmental planning that can bring substantial economic and environmental benefit in the Uttarakhand state. Based on an extensive analysis of three important categories of NTFPs, viz. medicinal plants, edible wild plants, and bamboo this paper highlights potential of this sector for food security, income generation and environmental conservation by adopting a pro-people approach in Uttarakhand state. Suggestions have been provided for improving the existing framework and programmes that can maximize economic, social, cultural and ecological benefits.

scholarly journals Application of Principal Component Analysis in distinguishing three species of ‘jernang’ (Daemonorops spp.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 918 (1) ◽  
pp. 012026
Author(s):  
R Andini ◽  
L A Yanti ◽  
S Rasnovi ◽  
M I Sulaiman ◽  
R Moulana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Morphological Variations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products

Abstract The province of Aceh at the northern tip of Sumatra has a total area of 5,75 million hectares. Its forest resources are considerably extensive as 60% of its total land area is still considered as ‘forest area’. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) are defined as any wild plant and animal products harvested from forests, e.g., ‘jernang’ or dragon blood (Daemonorops spp.). It is classified as one of the valuable NTFP’s harvested from the forests in Aceh. Its morphological features resemble that of rattan (Calamus spp.), both of which belong to Aracaceae. The red resin of Daemonorops spp. is highly valued in Chinese medicine and possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-hemostatic properties. Almost 112 species of Daemonorops spp. exist. However, only 10% produces the red resin. Daemonorops draco, D. mattanensis, D. didymophylla are considered to have significant economic values. Over the past decade, a farmer living in central and western Aceh has cultivated dragon blood plants in small farms and sold the seedlings. In this study, the morphological variations of dragon blood (N=11) from Kuta Panang in central Aceh were assessed, and the Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were applied in order to distinguish the three species. Up to 92% of total variations were significantly explained with PC1, while the remaining were explained with PC2. Among the three species measured with PCA, Daemonorops draco or known as super ‘jernang’, appeared to have more distinctive morphological characteristics, e.g., fruit-, and stem diameter, as well as a number of fruit per trunk. These characteristics would contribute to better yield and field performance.

Illegal rattan extraction trends in the Ankasa Conservation Area in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
R. Obour, D. Amankwaa, A. Asare
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
The North ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products

Protected Areas (PAs) are created for the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, but many of Ghana’s PAs are subjectto severe pressures and threats, the main pressures being the illegal extraction of natural resources. Rattans are indisputablyone of the most important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ghana’s Protected Areas that is without doubt one of thereasons for which it has drawn the attention of researchers. In this study the illegal rattan extraction patterns in the AnkasaConservation Area (ACA) in Ghana was inspected. Simple random sampling and Snowball sampling techniques were used. Datacollection employed the use of semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and field enumeration of rattans as well as an analysisof Effective Patrol Man-days (EPMDS) from 2004 to 2012. The results showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.75, p<0.05, r2 = 0.557) between patrol effort and rattan extraction encounters. In addition, there was a general reduction in illegalrattan extraction encounters from 2004 to 2012 at a rate of 4.3 per year. The highest illegal rattan extraction incidences wererecorded in 2006 (76 encounters), 2005 (35 encounters), 2008 (22 encounters), 2004 (18 encounters) and the least incidencewere recorded in both 2010 (3 encounters) and 2011 (3 encounters).The research also revealed that Eremospatha macrocarpawas the most extracted rattan species followed by Laccosperma secundiflorum. The major rattan extraction and trade routesoriginate in the northern parts and in the area east of the reserve and also south of Draw River Forest Reserve. Generally, rattanpoaching in Ankasa Conservation Area has declined, but there are still human incursions in the northern part of the reserve. Thestudy recommended an intensification of patrols in the north of the reserve. Also, enrichment planting and Agroforestry practicesof inter-cropping rattans with seasonal crops should be pursued vigorously for the local communities.

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