6:02 p.m.
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #63. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 27, 2018 at 10:10 AM
Subject: IUFRO Spotlight #63 - What's in the future for Non-Timber Forest
Products?
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Spotlight #63 - What's in the future for Non-Timber Forest Products?
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO officeholders and member
organizations to a worldwide network of decision makers, policy makers and
researchers.
IUFRO will encapsulate, and distribute in plain language, brief, topical
and policy-relevant highlights of those findings, along with information on
where/how to access the full documents. The *IUFRO Spotlight* findings will
be distributed in a periodic series of emails as well as blog postings.
*________________________________*
*What's in the future for Non-Timber Forest Products?*
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/download/file/29924/6727/spotlight63-non-wood-forests-products_pdf/>
*The roots of many forest plants are harvested for their medicinal values.
Changes in climate and lack of management may imperil their long-term
sustainability and the people who depend on them. Photo credit: James
Chamberlain, USDA Forest Service.*
The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently
published "…the most comprehensive assessment covering the production and
management of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and resources – as well as
the cultural, social, economic, and policy dynamics that affect them." The
assessment covers every state in the U.S.
But the findings can be utilized far beyond the U.S. borders.
"Every country that has non-timber forest products can take advantage of
the findings in this report," said Dr. James Chamberlain of the U.S. Forest
Service and one of the report's authors. He is also a Deputy Coordinator of
the IUFRO Research Group on Non-wood forest products.
Sixty scientists and non-timber forest products experts across federal,
state, tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, corporations,
research institutions, and universities contributed to the report.
"Non-timber forest products are used for myriad purposes, providing
cultural, social, and economic functions around the world. People harvest
and use these products for food, medicine, arts and crafts, and religious
and cultural rituals.
"They also harvest, trade, and sell NTFPs in local to global markets. This
is a comprehensive report that can be used by other countries to help
inform and shape policies that balance sustainable use and conservation of
these natural resources, alongside ensuring benefits for harvesters and
producers," he said.
Think of edible fruits, nuts, berries, mushrooms, maple syrup and other
saps, fuelwood, forage, wooden baskets, decorative wreaths, plant-based
medicines and Christmas trees – that's not an exhaustive list, but it gives
an idea of just how ubiquitous non-timber forest products are.
In 2013, Dr. Chamberlain said, the Forest Service recognized the
possibility that climate changes could affect these products and resources
and initiated a national level comprehensive assessment of the effects and
their implications.
The report finds that it is difficult to determine whether the trends or
changes in ecological phenomena are the results of climatic variability or
other factors.
However, the report states, NTFPs of the United States at the end of the
21st century may be significantly different than those of today due to
changes resulting from stressors such as drought, fire, insects, disease
and climatic variability.
It goes on to say that variability in temperature and in seasonality will
alter the growing environment for plants and fungi harvested for non-timber
forest products. This may reduce the range and abundance of some while
increasing those for others.
Physical and phenological characteristics of plants and fungi will change
in response to altered climatic conditions, which in turn affects their
availability and suitability for use. (Phenology is the study of cyclic and
seasonal natural phenomena – flowering, breeding, etc. – especially in
relation to climatic conditions.)
Non-timber forest product species that occur in specialized habitats or
climatic conditions likely will be more vulnerable to variability than
those that grow across a range of conditions, the report notes.
Most models project that U.S. species habitat will move up in elevation or
northward in latitude as suitability at lower elevations and latitudes
declines. Populations of species that do not keep up with the pace of
change will decline, be extirpated, or go extinct. Responses to climatic
change along with harvest pressure may increase risk for some populations
and species.
To give just two examples of potential changes foreseen in the report: loss
of mangrove forest and arable land in Caribbean and Pacific coastal areas
due to sea level rise; and decreasing habitat suitability for sugar maple
and inconsistent temperature swings in the northeastern U.S., adversely
affecting the production of maple syrup.
"Non-timber forest products need the same recognition that is given to
other natural resources," Dr. Chamberlain said. "We have to develop
adaptive management strategies that conserve the resources and support the
harvest of the products, along with public-private partnerships that
reinforce this approach.
"As well, we should invest in accelerated research that will lead to
knowledge sufficient to support active management and work with harvester
communities to improve their understanding and incorporate local and
traditional ecological knowledge.
"This report speaks specifically to the situation in the United States and
shows us that non-timber forest products are significant to a large segment
of our population. They are integral to our society and the many cultures
that make up the nation," he said. "They contribute significantly to local,
regional, and national economies and require management similar to other
natural resources, particularly timber.
"But other countries can use it to help inform and shape policies that
balance sustainable use and conservation of their natural resources,
alongside ensuring benefits for harvesters and producers," Dr. Chamberlain
said.
To Dr. Chamberlain, the key takeaway from the report is that NTFPs are
important to the economy, to culture and to society and should receive the
same understanding and management that exists for other forest resources.
*The full report can be found at*: https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-232
*For more information on the IUFRO Research Group, visit*:
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-5/50000/51100/
<http://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-5/50000/51100/>
*________________________________*
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Visit: https://www.iufro.org/
*________________________________*
*IUFRO Spotlight #63, published in November 2018*
*by IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria.Available for
download at: **https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
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