The project Data Collection and Analysis for Sustainable Forest Management in ACP Countries - Linking National and International Efforts (GCP/INT/679/CE) was carried out in the context of the European Commission (EC) - FAO Partnership Programme in order to promote the sustainable use of trees and forests in African and Caribbean countries. The project aimed to contribute to the development of policies which would integrate in a balanced way the socio-economic and ecological aspects of the forestry sector.1
The use of non-wood forest products (NWFP) was studied through two main activities:
1. The documentation of information on the socio-economic importance and ecological impact of the use of NWFP in African and Caribbean countries. The results are presented in various working papers (FAO, 2001; FAO, in prep.) and on the Internet.2
2. The development of methodologies for improved collection, analysis and maintenance of statistical data related to NWFP. These methodologies should:
• provide reasonable estimates on the production, consumption and trade in NWFP;
• be widely applicable and relevant to other Caribbean countries;
• be cost effective, flexible and feasible given the limited human resources available.
Pilot studies on NWFP were carried out in Cameroon, Madagascar, Uganda, Suriname and Zimbabwe.
This study was carried out in Suriname by Mrs Caroline M. Rahan-Chin, Faculty of Technology, Adek University of Suriname, Paramaribo with the support of students of the University of Suriname. At FAO headquarters, the study was coordinated by Sven Walter, Programme Promotion and Development of NWFP, and Johan Lejeune, Forestry Planning and Statistics Branch. In addition, Jamal Bahdon, Tina Etherington, Daniela Mercuri, François Ndeckere-Ziangba, Marco Perri, Melly Preira, Patrick So and Paul Vantomme contributed to the implementation of this study. In Suriname, the study was coordinated and supervised by Fritz Horsten, Technical Advisor to the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme Project Forestry Advisory Assistance to the Ministry of Natural Resources in Suriname (GCP/SUR/001/NET). Support was also provided by the FAO Representation in Trinidad and Tobago, which is in charge of Suriname. Their efforts are appreciated.
Furthermore, we would like to thank the European Commission for the financial support given for this work through the Tropical Forestry Budget Line B7-6201/97 and B7-6201/98-08/VIII/FOR. It is hoped that readers will find this publication useful and that it will be a start to the continuous update of information on NWFP.
1 More information on the project is available at http://www.fao.org/forestry/foris/page.jsp?page_id=2324&lang_id=2&start_id=2711.
2 The country profiles are incorporated into the Forest Resource Information System at http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/country/nav_world.jsp?lang_id=2&geo_id=none.
FAO (2001) is available at http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/y1515b/y1515b00.HTM.