Non-Wood Forest Products in Asia
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Page 1 of 4 Non -Wood Forest Products in Asia RAPA PUBLICATION 1994/28 REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (RAPA) FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS BANGKOK 1994 EDITORS Patrick B. Durst Ward Ulrich M. Kashio The designations and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO. COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Mr. K. J. Joseph PHOTO CREDITS: Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Sial Mr. A.L. Rao Mr. Urbito Oncleo Mr. Michael Jensen Mr. K. J. Joseph EDITED BY: Mr. Patrick B. Durst Mr. Ward Ulrich Mr. M. Kashio TYPE SETTING AND LAYOUT OF PUBLICATION: Helene Praneet Guna-Tilaka FOR COPIES WRITE TO: FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Page 2 of 4 Table of Contents Foreword Bangladesh Introduction Major NWFPs Collection and processing of NWFPs Economic and social benefits from NWFPs Promoting NWFPs References China Introduction Production and utilization of non-wood forest products Prospects for NWFP development in China India Introduction Status of various categories of non-wood forest products Export of non-wood forest products Organization for collection and processing Employment generation and social benefits Future directions to promote NWFPs References Indonesia Introduction NWFPs production and status Trends in NWFP use Conclusions References Malaysia Introduction Rattan Bamboo Medicinal plants Promotion of non-wood forest products References Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Nepal Introduction Important non-wood forest products: Production and value Exports of NWFPs Collection and processing of NWFPs Employment and social benefits from NWFPs Future directions to promote NWFP Pakistan Page 3 of 4 Introduction Food products Medicinal plants Industrial products Fibers Silk cocoons Miscellaneous products Conclusions and future directions Bibliography Philippines Introduction NWFPs and their uses Contribution of NWFPs to the national economy Collection and processing Future directions and prospects Summary and conclusion References Sri Lanka Introduction Classification of products Export quantities and values Collection and processing Employment generation and social benefits Future directions to promote non-wood forest products Literature cited Thailand Introduction Official classification of NWFPs Benefits and importance of NWFPs Future directions for developing NWFPs References Vietnam Introduction Current status of forests and NWFP resources Utilization of NWFPs Guidelines and objectives for NWFP development Research and training Literature cited Foreword Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have been vitally important to forest-dwellers and rural communities for centuries. Local people collect, process and market bamboo, rattan, beedi ( Diospyros melanoxylon ) leaves, resins, gums, lac, oil seeds, essential oils, medicinal herbs, and tanning materials. Rural communities also draw upon forests for food such as honey, mushrooms, fruits, nuts, tubers, leaves, bush meat, and numerous other forest foods. Although foresters never completely ignored NWFPs, for decades their management received only secondary or tertiary attention relative to timber management. Increased concern over the degradation and loss of forests in recent years, however, has brought new attention to NWFPs. NWFPs are increasingly being seen as offering new alternatives to timber extraction, forest conversion, and more destructive forms of forest exploitation. Page 4 of 4 Recognizing that successful conservation of forests will depend on developing alternatives or complements to timber harvesting in many areas, conservation-minded foresters and scientists are "rediscovering" the non- timber products of the forest. Renewed emphasis is being placed on managing forests for a multitude of products to directly benefit those people whose actions might otherwise destroy the forest. Multi-purpose forest management is being complemented with improvements in the processing, marketing, and commercialization of NWFPs. New forest policies and strategies are likewise being promulgated to enhance the development of NWFPs. FAO has recently stepped up its support for the development of NWFPs by improving data collection, compiling case studies on the successful management of NWFPs, facilitating information dissemination, organizing workshops and consultations, and formulating new projects related to NWFP development. This publication is a product of FAO's enhanced attention to this long-neglected area of forestry. It contains reports describing the status, management, and importance of NWFPs in eleven Asian countries. These reports should be useful in supporting the efforts of foresters, conservationists, and rural development workers in helping local communities increase their benefits from nearby forests. A.Z.M. Obaidullah Khan Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO Page 1 of 6 Bangladesh Shafique A. Khan Deputy Conservator of Forests Forest Utilization Division Introduction In a developing country like Bangladesh, non-wood forest products (NWFPs) play a vital role in the economic and socio-political arenas of the country. Though branded as "minor forest products" in old forestry literature and departmental records, they are certainly not "minor" products in the context of the feeble Bangladeshi economy. They deserve to be given due attention in their own right. Major NWFPs Bamboo ( Melocanna baccifera , Bambusa tulda , etc. ) is often called the "poor man's timber" in Bangladesh and in other Southeast Asian countries. Although officially grouped as a minor forest product, it plays a crucial role in the rural economy of Bangladesh. It earns a handsome revenue for the Forest Directorate at home and abroad, but also is an essential material for construction of temporary housing for the rural people, especially the hill tribe people. The qualities of bamboo can not be overemphasized. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, and grows well on a variety of sites. Over 20 species of bamboo grow in Bangladesh's natural forests and village homesteads. Bamboo is used for hundreds of purposes. It can honestly be said that bamboo is required from the cradle to the coffin in parts of Bangladesh and other developing countries. Table 1. Production of bamboo in Bangladesh Year Quantity (1,000 culms) 1975-76 47,268 1976-77 62,579 1977-78 73,586 1978-79 60,135 1979-80 78,115 1980-81 74,028 1981-82 77,865 1982-83 92,335 1983-84 92,061 1984-85 76,989 1985-86 75,786 Source: Statistical Year Book of Bangladesh 1989 Sungrass ( Imperata spp. ) is the most common roofing and thatching material for temporary low-cost housing in the villages and forests of Bangladesh. Sungrass grows naturally, especially in the forests of low-lying areas, or around the denuded and barren hills unfit for growing high-quality timber trees. Table 2 summarizes the production of sungrass in Bangladesh during the years 1975-76 to 1986-87. Stone is one of the most important NWFPs, available only in some areas of Bangladesh, such as Sylhet, Hill Tracts, and Dinajpur. Stone is required for construction of highways, buildings and other infrastructural needs. Page 2 of 6 Table 2. Production of sungrass in Bangladesh Year Quantity (1,000 bundles) 1975-76 1,772 1976-77 6,831 1977-78 1,784 1978-79 1,534 1979-80 3,795 1980-81 6,706 1981-82 2,432 1982-83 1,390 1983-84 1,279 1984-85 1,295 1985-86 859 1986-87 1,710 Source: Statistical Year Beak or Bangladesh 1989. In Dinajpur alone, there is said to be a deposit of 115 million cubic feet of hardstone. The Government of Bangladesh earns substantial revenue from the sale of stone. Sand is also an essential material for all major construction, found in large quantities in forest areas. Medicinal plants: The leaves, bark, and fruit of many plants are commonly used as medicines in Bangladesh. Among the most common are: kurus pata (Holarrhene antidysonberica ), horitaka (Terminalia chebula ), amlaki (Phyllauthus emblica ) and bohera (Terminalia belerica ). Cane ( Calamus viminalis , C. guruba ) is a climbing plant, mostly grown in homesteads and the low-lying areas of reserved forests. Canes are used for domestic purposes by the rural population, and for sophisticated furniture and luxury souvenirs suitable for export. Recently, attempts have been made to grow these species from seed imported from Malaysia. In some areas of Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong, domestic varieties of canes are grown. Pati pata or Murta ( Clinogynae dichotoma ) grows naturally in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and also in rural areas of Tagail and Dhaka districts. It can be grown artificially in other areas of the country using suitable planting material. Pati-pata is an excellent material for floor mats, and is extensively used by rich and poor alike. Finished products are commonly exported. Honey occupies an important position as a foreign exchange earner. It is internationally known and is used as food, drink, and medicine in many parts of the world. Honey is produced naturally in the beehives of the Sundarbans forest where it is collected in large quantities every year (Table 3). Honey is also grown in the forest regions of Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, and Mymensingh. Recently, apiculture (artificial bee-keeping) has been introduced in some areas of North Bengal and Mymensingh district with considerable success. Honey is probably the most promising NWFP in Bangladesh in terms of export potential, provided its production can be better organized. Table 3. Honey production in Bangladesh Year Quantity (1,000 tons) 1975-76 156.02 1976-77 239.78 1877-78 228.47 Page 3 of 6 1978-79 176.33 1979-80 213.36 1980-81 310.93 1981-82 225.26 1982-83 232.65 1983-84 260.35 1984-85 255.80 1985-86 224.52 1986-87 229.11 Shells, Conch Shells, Oysters , etc.