AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFP) IN LIBERIA By LARRY CLARENCE HWANG A dissertation submitted to the Graduate School-New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Program in Plant Biology Written under the direction of James E. Simon And approved by _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ New Brunswick, New Jersey October 2017 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION An Environmental and Economic Approach to the Development and Sustainable Exploitation of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) in Liberia by LARRY C. HWANG Dissertation Director: James E. Simon Forests have historically contributed immensely to influence patterns of social, economic, and environmental development, supporting livelihoods, aiding construction of economic change, and encouraging sustainable growth. The use of NTFP for the livelihood and subsistence of forest community dwellers have long existed in Liberia; with use, collection, and local/regional trade in NTFP still an ongoing activities of rural communities. This study aimed to investigate the environmental and economic approaches that lead to the sustainable management exploitation and development of NTFP in Liberia. Using household information from different socio-economic societies, knowledge based NTFP socioeconomics population, as well as abundance and usefulness of the resources were obtained through the use of ethnobotanical survey on use of NTFP in 82 rural communities within seven counties in Liberia. 1,165 survey participants, with 114 plant species listed as valuable NTFP. The socioeconomic characteristics of 255 local community people provided collection practice information on NTFP, impact and threats due to collection, and their income generation. ii Traditional and environmental sustainable harvesting methods on the collection of two leading NTFPs – Griffonia simplicifolia and Xylopia aethiopica – were conducted and assessed. Results show an environmental sustainable harvesting method that minimizes damage/destruction to plant species and population yet allows for efficient product harvest and yield procurement. Domestic value chain study for three leading NTFP in Liberia: Griffonia (Griffonia simplicifolia), West African Black Pepper (Piper guineense) and Country Spice (Xylopia aethiopica), investigated 140 stakeholders who were mainly agents and subagents through survey interviews to provide comprehensive knowledge on selected NTFP from collection to consumer. Resource inventory of Griffonia simplicifolia in Liberia concentrated on the distribution, abundance and the population structure of Griffonia, thereby providing full ecological inventory information on Griffonia as fundamental for assessing conservation status of wild populations. Enhancing germination of Griffonia simplicifolia seed for forest enrichment was assessed using simple tools for seed germination. Seedlings were also introduced in natural habitat to monitor growth habits of transferred plant into local habitat and found that Griffonia has high survival (92% - 95%) in new habitat. Developing quality standards and new products, physico-chemical characterizations of the Liberian spices were analyzed along with those from Ghana. These qualities could set standards for trading of individual product that are used as spices in Liberia and other West African countries. X. aethiopica seeds were chemically characterized for new product development. iii Dedication To my mother, Mother Nancy E. Masaline, for her untiring and steadfast support throughout my life, instilling in me the virtues of uprightness, integrity, respectability, hardwork, and love that made it possible for me to have reached thus far. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model. I love you mother; though being a single mother, you never gave up on me; you are highly appreciated. iv Acknowledgements I am profoundly gratified and indebted to my supervisor, Prof. James E. Simon, and co- supervisor, Prof. H. Rodolfo Juliani, who have been very generous with their time and knowledge in assisting me in each step of the way to complete my studies at Rutgers University. I thank them both for their guidance, untiring support, encouragement, insight, and mentorship throughout my studies. I am overly grateful to them for the opportunity to work with them and to be introduced a variety of instruments and laboratory techniques and field designs to gain such invaluable experience. My sincere thanks also to them for guiding me through the writing and completion of my dissertation; for without them, this dissertation would not have been possible. Overall, they have provided more than the parental guidance needed as graduate fellow from outside America. My thanks and appreciations also to Prof. Mark G. Robson, and Prof. Ramu Govindansamy, also committee members for their immense support towards my studies. I am very grateful to you all for your committed and tireless time to making my studies a success. I am also very grateful to Cuttington University for making it possible to obtain this fellowship to study at Rutgers University, and to USAID-Excellence in Higher Education for Liberia Development (USAID/EHELD) that is managed by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) for affording me this opportunity of learning through this fellowship; and the Rutgers University for accepting me into the Ph.D. graduate program in Plant Biology and supporting me. This study would have never been successful were it not this opportunity given me. Funds were v also provided by Rutgers University relative to tuition and fees for part of my studies, to the the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the New Use Agriculture and Natual Plant Products Program who each also provided additional resources in support of my research. I would like to thank the faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development (CASD) at Cuttington University, I am more than grateful to you all. To the students who provided assistance one way or the other during my field work, you are highly appreciated. I am very much grateful to all my field team members and local language interpreters who took up their time to be with me throughout the many trips to villages and communities in various counties; you all are highly appreciated. I would also like to thank Mr. Amadu Daniels from Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia, Mr. Richard Sambolah, and Mr. J. Festus Lahai from Cuttington University, for their contributions towards my data collection, especially the identification of local plants and providing the scientific names thereof. I am very grateful to Professor Getachew Eshete, an RTI EHELD contract faculty from Ethiopia at the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development (CASD) in Cuttington University who supervised my field inventory research work in Nimba County from start to end; I wouldn’t have done it without him; my sincere gratitude for his sincere assistance and training during the research work. I would also like to extend thanks and appreciation to the Zor community, Raymond Town community, and Lepula town community people for giving us the opportunity to use their forest for research work. Even those who participated in the process, I am highly gratified. vi My sincere gratitude and kandid appreciations to Professor Ramu Govindansamy and Dr. Surendran Arumugam for assisting in the analysis and interpretation of my data. Their assistance made this document a full success. A special thanks to my fellow graduate students and lab colleagues for their support, approach to team work, and encouragement which allowed me to professionally and personally grow and maximize my experiences in the lab. And finally, but not least, thanks goes to my entire family, who have been an important and indispensable source of spiritual support. vii Table of Contents ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION ................................................................................................... ii Dedication ..................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. xii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. xiv 1 Chapter I: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The hypotheses ............................................................................................................ 7 1.2 The Aim of this Research .............................................................................................. 8 1.3 Structure of the Dissertation ........................................................................................ 8 2 Chapter II: Traditional