Objectives and scope
Mr. J.H. de Beer, AID Environment, was commissioned by the FAO Rome to carry out a short study on non-wood forest products (henceforth called NWFPs) in Indochina, with a strong focus on Vietnam.
The primary objectives were to
a) select NWFPs with a significant potential for expanded sustainable output, but for which market intelligence is currently inadequate in the producer countries;b) identify the market potential of the selected NWFPs.
While in Vietnam, it was revealed to the consultant that in the light of current discussions in that country, a report with a somewhat broader scope was urgently needed.
However, basic information on the NWFP-sector is seriously lacking. In order to comply with this demand, this report aims at providing a prospective, along which the conservation and development of the NWFP sector can be approached.
If only because of the limited time available to the consultant, this report cannot pretend to be anywhere near comprehensive. From the plethora of products which can be considered, only a few were selected. Important aspects, such as the use of NWFPs on the household level, will receive too little attention.
The scope is Indochina as far as products occur in the whole region or as far as the aspects discussed are relevant for the whole of Indochina. However, a clear focus will be on Vietnam. Some specifics will also be discussed for Laos, whilst Cambodia is only referred to in passing.
The report is based on information gathered during travel to the region, supplemented by the study of literature and consultation with traders in Europe and with specialists in international market conditions. Also included is information gathered during earlier visits to Laos.
FAO commissioned the consultant to work altogether one month on this report. An invaluable source for the identification of products was Petelot's monumental four volume work "Les plantes médicinales du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam". Among the other literature consulted, from trade periodicals via case studies to more general publications, Dr. Luang Van Tien's "country paper Vietnam", prepared for the FAO regional expert consultation on non-wood forest products, in November 1991 in Bangkok, deserves special mentioning.
Trade statistics for the region, as far as they do exist, are to be handled with much circumspection, as a very large volume of NWFPs are being traded unregistered. Under-reporting, double counting and the use of unrealistic prices are among the systematic shortcomings of these statistics. Where statistics on volumes and prices of NWFPs produced and traded were available, these were used as a starting point, supplemented by qualified guesses made by local and international traders and experts familiar with the trade in specific products. In other cases these qualified guesses were the only source.
Concepts
The term 'non-wood forest product' encompasses all biological materials other than timber and fuelwood which are extracted from natural forests for human use. These include fibre products such as bamboo and rattan; edible plant products, such as condiments and fruits; animal food products such as bushmeat, bird's nests and honey; non-edible animal products such as live animals, feathers and horns; medicinal plants; and extracts and exudates such as essential oils, resins, gums and dyes.
By 'forest' is meant a natural ecosystem in which trees are a dominant component. However, the trees do not exist in an ecological vacuum but, together with other plants and with animals, are part of a 'web of life'. Forest products are potentially derived from trees, but also from all plants, fungi and animals (including fish) for which the forest ecosystem provides habitat.
This report will deal with NWFPs which are collected in natural forests and indigenous plant species which are grown under forest cover and under an agroforestry system in homegardens. Hence, whereas managed secondary or degraded forests are included as sources of NWFPs, plantations are not.