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The issue of NTFP certification

The FSC18 is in the process of investigating ways to incorporate NTFP management into its accreditation program. So far, FSC has concentrated in certification of timber coming for natural and plantation forestry. The issue of NTFP certification is complex and will require much effort, reflecting the variety of extraction methods and the socio-economic environment that define NTFP production.

Awareness of NTFP certification shall shed light to the mistaken impression that NTFPs are «inherently green» products, because logging is not involved in their production. As it was previously mentioned the fact that NTFP extraction is compatible with forest conservation, does not mean that care should not be taken, especially when the target is rather intensive NTFP commercialisation than simple production to meet subsistence needs. Also, many times «green consumers» confuse organic products with NTFPs and ignore the damage that unsustainable gathering does to forest resources.

NTFP biology and ecology is complex and many times poorly understood. Some NTFPs are produced irregularly or are highly seasonal making is quite difficult to develop certifiable management plans. As commercialisation of NTFPs will result in intensification of production, there is a need to investigate its effect on forest function. Also, as demand for NTFPs is inelastic for locally traded products, cost of certification may interfere with the ability to pay of rural consumers. Thus, in the Mediterranean the best candidates to start NTFP certification initiatives would be internationally traded NTFPs, such as nuts or cork. Any certification initiative, especially for medicinal plants, should be done in collaboration with other initiatives such as TRAFFIC.

Overall, NTFP certification has negative and positive sides.

The negative aspects can be summarised as:

· intensification of production to satisfy green consumerism
· creation of a real or perceived impediment to NTFP access by rural poor
· disruption of traditional social and economic structures in subsistence communities
· failure to address sustainability issues for many locally consumed NTFPs, for which no certification will be undertaken
· over-exploitation of herbs through over-commercialisation as «inherently green» products

while positive aspects of NTFP certification include the following:

· creation of management plans for NTFP production
· diversification of income sources for rural people
· direct linkage of green consumers to local producers
· acquisition of legal titles of local producers (address of equity issues)
· promotion of multi-management of forest resources
· enhancement existing legislation, such as the CITES convention
· promotion of awareness on forest issues

Overall, there are a lot of cases that the prospect of NTFP certification is positive, such as the developing «gourmet» market, which will enhance the economy of Mediterranean rural populations and conservation efforts in the regions where they reside. However, certification efforts should proceed with caution as many of these population subsist on NTFPs (argan oil is such an example) and any increase of the demand for the product outside local markets could negatively interfere with sensitive subsistence patterns. An important positive aspect of any certification initiative is that it shall increase the knowledge level of landscape ecology in the areas it will be attempted. Finally, putting an emphasis on NTFP certification will be a way to concentrate efforts for a real evaluation of the worth of non timber producing Mediterranean woodlands, which in the past has been neglected or not given the deserving attention.

Example: Testing certification of chestnuts in Parnon mountain

The generic guidelines for assessing the management of NTFPs in Natural Forest were tested for the case of the chestnut woodlands of Castanitsa. These guidelines were produced by the "NTFP Marketing and Certification Project" of the Rainforest Alliance and were based on the framework of FSC Principles and Criteria #1-10, and the Draft Principle #11: Non timber Forest Products. Similar answers would apply for the Cosmas forest, although with modifications. The forests of Aghios Petros are clearly agroforestry systems and the produced guidelines do not apply for agroforestry (although there are plans for future extension).

Overall, the results of the testing were very encouraging. Chestnut (NTFP) certification through the FSC principles can be applied for the case of the chestnut woodlands of Parnon. Some issues that should be noticed are:

1. For the case of Parnon where the woodland can be treated as a large unit under communal property, certification is feasible in terms of cost. In the case of small properties the cost of certification could present a hindrance.

2. For the case of Parnon, eco-labelling, signifying sound forest management could sensitise the "green consumer" in the issue of sound forest management and especially, sound forest management of protected areas. Thus eco-labelling, apart from ensuring that chestnuts are produced with the most acceptable way "environmentally", can contribute to awareness on what is a protected area and on the type of human activities that could be included in a protected area and enhance its management.

3. Certification can be a vehicle for chestnut producers to organise their production in a professional way and meet the needs of a more demanding market.

18 Forest Stewardship Council

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