En el noroeste de Argentina, provincias de Salta, Jujuy, La Rioja, es común la utilización de tintes naturales, principalmente negros, provenientes del tintitaco (Prosopis torquata) y del algarrobillo (Acacia atramentaria), principalmente para los tejidos de lana. Además, el fruto del género Prosopis es utilizado para alimentación del ganado y la elaboración de bebidas fermentadas.
En la provincia de Misiones, es común entre los descendientes de las tribus indígenas, el consumo de las semillas del pino de Misiones (Araucaria angustifolia), y las semillas del pehuén (Araucaria araucana) como complemento de su dieta.
En la región andinopatagónica, los hongos, que crecen espontáneamente en el suelo forestal de los bosques de coníferas, son cosechados por la población que los utiliza para la cocina, llegando en algunos casos a comercializarlos en el mercado interno y externo.
Un caso particular, que merece especial consideración, es la "yerba mate" (Ilex paraguaiensis), que ha pasado de su hábitat natural, como integrante habitual de la selva, a ocupar extensas superficies destinadas a su aprovechamiento. A partir del año 1903, fecha que se realiza la primera plantación racional, se ha expandido notablemente su cultivo, alcanzando en la campaña 91-92, una producción de 482 000 t, siendo los rendimientos aproximados de 1 800-2 400 kg/ha. La variación obedece al grado tecnológico y dimensión de las explotaciones, oscilando desde los grandes establecimientos a nivel de empresas al pequeño colono. Esta actividad se ha desarrollado no sólo en la provincia de Misiones, donde constituye uno de los principales rubros económicos, sino también en el noreste de la provincia de Corrientes, donde ha contribuido a consolidar un importante polo económico-social en la zona de Gobernador Virasoro.
De los ejemplos mencionados, el único que ha sido cuantificado con precisión es este último. Los demás, al obedecer a la recolección espontánea por parte de los pobladores, no poseen mercado fijo, responden a variaciones estacionales y, muchas veces, a la ocurrencia de determinados eventos. (Fuente: Consulta de Expertos sobre Productos Forestales no Madereros para América Latina y el Caribe. FAO, 1994.)
| DYE-PRODUCING PLANTS OF BANGLADESH | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| COMMON NAME | BOTANICAL NAME | PART USED | COLOUR |
| Catechu | Acacia catechu | Wood extract | Brown/maroon |
| Jackfruit | Artocarpus integrifolia | Sawdust | Yellow ochre/light yellow |
| Annatto | Bixa orellana | Seed | Orange |
| Pomegranate | Punica granatum | Rind | Khaki |
| Wild mangosteen | Dyospiros peregrina | Fruit | Grey/pink |
| Sheuli/Coral jasmine | Nyctanthes arbortristis | Petals | Yellow |
| Marigold | Tagetes erecta | Petals | Mustard |
| Babul | Acacia arabica | Bark | Beige |
| Myrobolan | Terminalia chebula | Fruit | Grey/gold |
| Madder | Rubia cordifolia | Stem | Rust/red |
| Arjun tree | Terminalia arjuna | Bark | Mauve/pink |
| Goran | Criops roxburghiana | Bark | Light salmon pink |
| Toon | Cedrela toona | Sawdust | Light pink |
| Sundari/Mangrove | Heritiera minor | Bark | Deep pink |
| Indigo | Indigofera tinctoria | Leaf extract | Deep blue |
| Betel nut | Areca catechu | Nut | Deep pimk |
| Raintree | Albizia lucida | Sawdust | Old gold/gold brown |
| Eucalyptus | Eucalyptus spp. | Leaves | Deep gold/grey |
| Cardamom | Elettaria cardamomum | Leaves | Pink |
| Casuarina | Casuarina equisetifolia | Leaves | Deep pink |
| Lemon grass | Cymbopogon citratus | Leaves | Light green |
| Onion | Allium cepa | Peel | Orange gold |
| Henna | Lawsonia inermis | Leaves | Gold |
| Croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Bark | Pink |
| Gulmohor | Caesalpinia pulcherrima | Petals | Light green |
| Garjan | Dipterocarpus turbinatus | Sawdust | Beige |
| Dahlia | Dahlia indica | Petals | Peach gold |
| Basil | Ocimum sanctum | Leaves | Lime green |
| Tea | Camelia sinensis | Leaves | Beige |
| Frangipani | Plumeria rubra | Leaves | Light olive green |
(Source: Sayyada R. Ghuznavi, Natural dyes of Bangladesh.)
NWFPs in Bhutan are used as roofing materials, fencing, fodder, beverages, fibres, edible oils, incense, medicinal plants, foods and crafts. Shingles of Castanopsis and Borinda grossa mats are the main roofing material used in wet temperate areas. Shingles of Pinus roxburghii are used by villagers near dry subtropical chir pine forests. In the wet subtropical areas, roofing is done with Musa and Phoenix leaves. With heavy demand for roofing materials, the resources in almost all forests near villages have become scarce. People use stem cuttings as live fences (Erythrina, Datura suaveolens, Phlogacanthus, Adhatoda, Jatropha and Salix), which also provide fodder, medicine and vegetables. Farmers use various plant materials as vegetables: shoots of Elatostema, fern, Calamus, Dendrocalamus, flowers of Cymbidium, Oroxylon, Adhatoda, Phlogacanthus, mushrooms such as Pleurotus, Auricularia, Lentinus; for spices: Elsholtzia, Zanthoxylum, Cinnamomum; and for mastication (Piper sp.). The collection of Cymbidium flowers has caused great damage to the original orchid flora. Several fodder plants are lopped during the winter months, including even unpalatable ones such as Castanopsis. Dendrocalamus, Borinda, Neomicrocalamus, Calamus and Girardinia are used for household implements. With continuous extraction, Neomicrocalamus and Calamus are becoming scarce in natural forests.
The traditional tea leaf is commonly made from Viscum and Scurrula mistletoes. The traditional alcohol, ara, is commonly fermented with yeast from Buddleja and Leucas herbs. In times of severe droughts, farmers use the starch from forest root species such as Cythea. Canna sp. is now planted for ara production and is also used as fodder. Cords and fibres are commonly produced from Calamus, Borinda, Dendrocalamus, Girardinia, Cannabis and Daphne. People keep private woodlots for leaf litter collection or they collect leaf litter from nearby forests. Without these, agricultural production could not be sustained. Oil-producing plants commonly used by local people include: Bassia, Gynocardia, Juglans, Symplocus, Lindera spp., Rhus and nomshing. A rough estimate indicates a potential of about 800 000 kg of edible oil that could be extracted from the seeds of oil-bearing plants in different parts of eastern Bhutan. The traditional method of extracting oil is tedious and has a low recovery rate, so there is an immediate need to test improved oil-extracting machines. Burning of incense (collected from the forest or manufactured incense sticks) is important in every Bhutanese household. Incense material include Cannarium resin, Durka heartwood, woodchips of Aquilaria (very rare), Daphne, Cupressus and shrubs of Rhododendron and Juniperus. Some NWFP activities earn cash income for the farmers. These include lemon-grass oil distillation, resin tapping, collection of Swerthia cirata and Piper sp. (pipla). Both these activities have potential for commercial use. (Source: Tenzin Dorji, Consultancy Report, FAO/Government of Bhutan Third Forestry Development Project.)
Las exportaciones de castañas (Bertholletia excelsa) crecieron en el período de 1979 a 1993 de 3 864 t (2,8 millones $EE.UU.) en 1979 a 7 900 t (10,3 millones $EE.UU.) en 1993. En el mismo período, las exportaciones de l tex (Hevea brasiliensis) pasaron de 2 301 t en 1979 (1,9 millones $EE.UU.) a 1 048 t en 1991 (1 millón $EE.UU.) a 51 t en 1993, con un valor de 48 782 $EE.UU. (Fuente: Banco Central de Bolivia, y Cámara de Exportadores de Castaña Riberalta.)
In Brazil, extrativismo vegetal (extractivism) indicates the process of exploitation of native vegetable resources and includes the collection of products such as wood, latex, seeds, fibres, fruits and roots.
| NWFP PRODUCTION FROM "EXTRACTIVISM" IN BRAZIL IN 1992 | |
|---|---|
| Product | Tonnes |
| Rubber | |
| Caucho | 4 |
| Hevea (coagulated latex) | 18 468 |
| Hevea (liquid latex) | 1 108 |
| Non-elastic gums | |
| Balata | 14 |
| Maçaranduba | 71 |
| Sorva | 248 |
| Wax | |
| Carnauba (wax) | 6 531 |
| Carnauba (powder) | 12 861 |
| Fibres | |
| Buriti | 899 |
| Carnauba | 2 667 |
| Piaçava | 77 716 |
| Other | 388 |
| Tannins | |
| Angico (bark) | 923 |
| Barbatimao (bark) | 1 012 |
| Other | 6 |
| Oleaginous | |
| Babaçu (nut) | 168 717 |
| Copaiba (oil) | 34 |
| Cumaru (nut) | 14 |
| Licuri (shell) | 10 958 |
| Oiticica (seed) | 6 898 |
| Pequi (nut) | 2 149 |
| Tucum (nut) | 3 860 |
| Other | 1 022 |
| Food | |
| Açaí (fruit) | 124 555 |
| Castanha de caju | 9 827 |
| Castanha do pará | 25 303 |
| Erva-mate cancheada | 208 298 |
| Mangaba (fruit) | 541 |
| Palmito | 21 003 |
| Pinhão | 6 429 |
| Umbu (fruit) | 19 285 |
| Aromatic, medicinal, toxic and colouring products | |
| Ipecacuana or Poaia (root) | 3 |
| Jaborandi (leaves) | 1 257 |
| Urucu (seed) | 504 |
| Other | 2 861 |
| NWFPs from plantations | |
| Acacia negra (bark) | 175 838 |
| Eucalyptus (leaves) | 48 683 |
| Resin | 26 798 |
(Source: Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE, 1994.)
In December 1994, FAO, with funds from Belgium, started a project in Cambodia that focuses on the sustainable conservation, management and integrated use of the forest and fisheries resources of the Tonle Sap Lake. The lake ecosystem (with the inundated forests) provides products essential to the livelihood of local communities. From it they obtain 60 percent of their source of protein, fuelwood and a variety of other forest products. The project, entitled "Participatory Natural Resource Management in Tonle Sap Region", will address the problem of the fast degradation of the lake resources. Through rapid rural appraisal and participatory rural appraisal, the project will mobilize selected communities to address the acute shortage of fuelwood and also to apply a diversified management of the inundated forest and fishery resources. On the supply side, the project will define, on a participatory basis, measures for the management and rehabilitation of natural inundated forests and other forest-related activities such as the introduction of multipurpose trees. On the demand side, the project will promote efficient wood/biomass energy use and improved artisanal fisheries practices. (Contributed by: J. Malleux, Chief Technical Adviser, GCP/CMB/002/BEL.)
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano and the highest mountain in West Africa (4 095 m). The massif and surrounding foothills represent the last area in Africa where natural vegetation remains unbroken from lowland forest at sea level to the subalpine grassland at the summit with all the vegetation gradients in between. Mount Cameroon is very important for the conservation of biodiversity but its resources are also a significant source of subsistence and cash income within the regional economy. With rapid population growth and continued migration to the area around Mount Cameroon, clearance of natural vegetation for subsistence agriculture has been the greatest threat to the forest. Plants are exploited for timber (although the existing forest around the mountain is no longer attractive to industrial timber companies, many local entrepreneurs still extract timber for local consumption in large quantities), and non-timber forest products. The availability of many economically important plants has diminished significantly in the past decades. The collection of products from the forests and montane grasslands, such as honey (the collection of honey often involves the use of fire which, when uncontrolled, destroys large areas of forest and grassland each year), medicinal plants, vegetables and herbs and spices has a considerable economic impact locally. The marketing of many of these products is often along a complex chain of traders and the resulting cash income, although comparatively small, is important. At least two plants of the area, Prunus africana and Gnetum sp. are part of an extremely lucrative international trade and overharvesting is severely threatening the wild population of the two species.
Hunting for bushmeat is also a major activity around farms in the forest. Although some bushmeat is intended for subsistence, it is also a source of cash supplying a lucrative market in Douala and other urban centres.
The current project, the Limbe Botanic Garden and Rainforest Genetic Conservation, started in 1988, with Overseas Development Administration (ODA) funds, to carry out a programme of conservation and development in the Mount Cameroon region. In 1994, the larger Mount Cameroon Project was started. It is a multilateral initiative funded by ODA, the Government of Cameroon, German Technical Cooperation and, soon, the Global Environmental Facility. The role of the Limbe Botanic Garden, now a component of the Mount Cameroon Project, is to establish itself as a centre of science, education, conservation and recreation. Research undertaken by the Limbe Botanic Garden on non-timber forest products not only entails collection of field data but also a major programme, including propagation and cultivation experiments with special regard to endangered species, named the Conservation through Cultivation Programme.
For more information, please contact
Terry Sunderland, Botanic Garden Management Adviser, c/o FCO (Yaoundé), King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, UK.Fax: +44-10-237-428896; or Noudhou Ndam, Conservator, Limbe Botanic Garden, BP 437, Limbe, Cameroon.La corteza de quillay (Quillaja saponaria) tiene un valor económico bastante importante debido al contenido de la saponina que tiene un uso doméstico e industrial (empleo en fotografía, cosméticos, espumante de bebidas, dentífricos y líquidos para el cabello). Adem s, la saponina extraída del quillay resulta imprescindible como antidetonante en los proyectiles que impulsan las naves de los vuelos espaciales. El aprovechamiento del quillay se desarrolla principalmente entre la V y VIII Región. Algunas estimaciones indican que la superficie involucrada con estas labores es del orden de 4 000 ha/año.
La explotación de la corteza de quillay se hace con técnicas sencillas. Normalmente una cuadrilla de tres obreros, que se distribuyen las faenas de volteo, descortezado, peladura o raspaje y el tendido al sol de la corteza útil y limpia, puede preparar entre 150 a 200 kg de corteza por día.
(Fuente: Consulta de Expertos sobre Productos Forestales no Madereros para América Latina y el Caribe. FAO, 1994.)
Yunnan is one of the major world producers of essential oils, pine gum naval stores and a range of other non-timber forest products; for essential oils and gum naval stores, the annual production value (calculated at current international market prices) is in the order of US$20 million and US$21 million respectively.
The Yunnan Flavour and Fragrances Research and Development Centre (FFRDC) was established in 1983 by the Yunnan Science and Technology Commission in order to facilitate the development of the province's flavour and fragrance agro-industries. Funding for research is obtained from the Yunnan Government and the National Science and Technology Commission. The Research Group of the Centre undertakes research and development work on essential oils and spice plants and their downstream-processed products. The major current project concerns vanilla. For this purpose, the Yunnan Vanilla Production Company was created in 1994. In the commercial wing, the Flora and Fragrance Company has as a major activity the purchase and trading of essential oils and aroma chemicals from farmers and factories. The FFRDC's commercial activities have recently expanded to involve development on essential oil production in Myanmar.
The Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, based in Jihong, Xixhuangbanna was established in 1932. Its function is to carry out research, development and extension work on crops for the tropical/subtropical regions of Yunnan. The Institute collaborates with FFRDC in the vanilla development programme. Other current work includes the development of macadamia. The major recent activity has been the development of rubber production in Yunnan. Earlier work has involved essential oil crops, particularly high- yielding ylang-ylang. (Source: C.L. Green, Report of a visit to China, February 1995.)
Durante la colonia fueron explotados en forma comercial productos como zarzaparrilla (Smilax spp.), vainilla (Vanilla sp.), hule (Castilla elastica), chidra (Carludovica palmata), añil (Indigofera sp.), bálsamos y resinas; pero lamentablemente se posee escasa información y a veces fragmentada, sobre las estadísticas de producción y su impacto en la economía. La ipecacuana o raicilla (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) fue, en un principio, aprovechada a partir del extractivismo, pero se domesticó de forma empírica posteriormente. En la actualidad esta especie es el producto no maderable del bosque económicamente más importante para el país.
La utilización por la población de aproximadamente 500 plantas medicinales, 133 de ellas en forma comercial (167 t por año), contribuye a la seguridad alimentaria y de salud del costarricense. Otros PFNM son también importantes para la economía local, como son las fibras naturales empleadas en la confección de artesanía. (Fuente: Consulta de Expertos sobre Productos Forestales no Madereros para América Latina y el Caribe. FAO, 1994.)
| PRODUCTOS FORESTALES NO MADEREROS EN CUBA Y SUS PRINCIPALES USOS | |
|---|---|
| Producto | Recolectado de¹ |
| Semillas | |
| Pino macho (Pinus caribaea) | 1A |
| Pino de la maestra (Pinus maestrensis) | 1 |
| Teca (Tectona grandis) | A |
| Eucalipto (Eucalyptus sp.) | A |
| Majagua (Hibiscus elatus) | 1A |
| Cedro (Cedrela odorata) | 1 |
| Otras (varias especies) | 1 |
| Frutales | |
| Guayabita del pinar (Psidium guayava) | 1 |
| Otras frutas silvestres | 2 A, B |
| Resinas | |
| Pino macho (Pinus caribaea) | 1A |
| Pino hembra (Pinus tropicalis) | 1 |
| Pino de mayarí (Pinus cubensis) | 1A |
| Materiales de construcción | |
| Guano cana | 1,2 |
| Guano real (Roystonea regia) | 1,2 |
| Otros (varias especies) | 1,2 |
| Fibras | |
| Guaniquique | 2 |
| Yaguas (Roystonea regia) | 1,2 |
| Taninos | |
| Mangle rojo (Rhizophora mangle) | 1 |
| Alimentos para cerdos | |
| Palmiche (Roystonea regia) | 1,2 |
| Artesanías | |
| Semillas (diversas especies) | 1 |
| Guano yarey | 1,2 |
| Polymitas | 1 |
¹Indices: 1. Bosque natural 2. Areas abiertas A. Plantaciones B. Huertos familiares.
(Fuente: Consulta de Expertos sobre Productos Forestales no Madereros para
América Latina y el Caribe. FAO, 1994.)
La totora, especie de la familia Cyperaceae crece en forma espontánea en lagunas o pantanos a lo largo del callejón interandino. Existen varias especies en la sierra ecuatoriana (Scirpus californianus, S. inundato, S. ripaius, S. triqueter, S. americana). Las comunidades rurales la usan como alimento, como junco para elaborar objetos tales como esteras, aventadores, tazas (canasto utilizado como medida para la venta de granos), y otros.
En 1991, CENAPIA identificó 284 talleres que elaboraban esteras, rodapiés, canastas, aventadores, abanicos y otros, localizados en las provincias de Azuay, Ibarra y Chimborazo. Un gran mercado de esteras se encuentra en San Rafael (Imbabura) y una parte de la producción va al exterior y al mercado del turismo. Los productores no disponen de terreno propio o suficiente para sembrar, en ocasiones las "cochas" son arrendadas por los dueños. El producto que tiene mayor demanda es la estera y los lugares de venta están en Saquisili, Latacunga, Otavalo e Ibarra. Existe una cadena de intermediarios que compran de los artesanos, pero que a su vez son también tejedores de tazas o sea que utilizan la totorilla. El artesano vende las esteras según el tamaño. En 1989 (1 $EE.UU. = 800 Sucres) los precios eran de 300 Sucres las grandes, 200 las medianas y las pequeñas alrededor de 80. Los comerciantes ganaban 20 Sucres más. El precio de las tazas era de 80 y 600 Sucres. Para el artesano productor de esteras su trabajo significaba un ingreso mensual de 12 000 Sucres, y por tazas o canastos 10 000. Este trabajo en la zona de Cotopaxi es cada vez más reducido. El surgimiento de fábricas en la zona ha motivado al artesano a emplearse como jornalero, descuidando la actividad artesanal. (Fuente: Consulta de Expertos sobre Productos Forestales no Madereros para América Latina y el Caribe. FAO, 1994.)
Une étude sur l'utilisation des arbres fruitiers a été effectuée entre juillet 1990 et octobre 1993, à Kakokou dans le nord-est du Gabon. L'étude fait partie des programmes du Centre national de la recherche scientifique et technologique du Gabon (CENAREST), avec le financement de l'UNESCO et de PRO/NATURA, une organisation non gouvernementale basée à Paris.
Les résultats des enquêtes sur les fruits consommés montrent que les fruits à graines comestibles rentrent dans l'alimentation de base des populations. Les graines de Irvingia gabonensis sont consommées dans les sauces et celles de Scyphocephalium ochocoa dans les paquets de poisson. Beaucoup de fruits sont utilisés soit de façon épisodique, ou selon les habitudes alimentaires des différentes populations. Par exemple, Ricinodendron heudelotii est utilisé au Gabon par les Fang du Nord pour jouer au Walé (jeu de calcul) alors que ses amandes oléagineuses sont appréciées de la Côte d'Ivoire au Cameroun; de même, Pentalechtra macrophylla, très recherchée par les Fang du Nord pour les graines riches en protéines consommées dans les sauces, sert aux enfants des Bapunu du Sud à confectionner des semelles de chaussures avec les valves des gousses.
Les espèces d'arbres fruitiers dans les jachères ont été inventoriées au cours de l'étude. Coula edulis, Irvingia gabonensis, Antrocaryon klaineanum, Panda oleosa, Pseudospondias longifolia, Gambeya lacoutina et Mammea africana sont les espèces les plus fréquentes. Irvingia gabonensis est de loin l'espèce la mieux préservée par les paysans. Ces observations confirment l'importance de cette espèce au Gabon et révèlent la nécessité d'essayer de la domestiquer.
Bien que les arbres fruitiers sauvages soient très connus et utilisés par les paysans gabonais, les principaux arbres cultivés près des villages sont exotiques. Le CENAREST travaille actuellement sur la domestication d'espèces prometteuses de la forêt gabonaise. (Source: Nature et Faune juil.-sept. 1995.)
(Pour de plus amples renseignements, prière de contacter:
Dr Bourbou Bourbou ou Dr Paul Posso, c/o IRET/CENAREST, B.P. 13 354 Libreville, Gabon.)La riqueza y diversidad vegetal de Guatemala se refleja en la cantidad de especies útiles que desde tiempo inmemorial han sido conocidas y utilizadas por pobladores nativos maya. Las investigaciones etnobotánicas han permitido hacer una lista de PFNM que todavía no se puede considerar completa.
Es interesante notar que los árboles son la forma de vida que presenta mayor cantidad de usos populares.
Desde hace más de 50 años, Guatemala ha exportado tres especies de plantas originarias del bosque tropical húmedo, a saber: el látex de Achras spp. (chicle), el fruto de Pimenta spp. (pimienta) y las hojas de Chamaedorea (xate). Para 1989, se estimó que cerca de 6 000 personas dependían de la extracción de estos productos de la Reserva Biosfera Maya, la cual ocupa 1,5 millones de ha en el Departamento de Petén. Para el mismo año, las exportaciones de estos tres productos sumaban alrededor de 5 millones de $EE.UU. de lo que representa un 24 por ciento de las exportaciones de productos forestales y sus derivados a nivel nacional.
Guatemala exporta también plantas ornamentales del género Cyathea y la resina de Pinus spp. En los últimos años los rizomas de Smilax spp. y Polypodium spp. constituyen los componentes principales de los medicamentos en venta en la CEE. Estos rizomas se obtienen de la extracción, sin que exista un control en su manejo, en los bosques tropicales de diversas regiones del país.
En función de su uso tradicional, en el mercado nacional de productos naturales y por la demanda de algunas especies en los mercados internacionales, los géneros botánicos más promisorios para introducirlos como cultivo que justificarían un análisis de bioactividad y una investigación agronómica son:
Plantas medicinales: Callichlamys spp., Cassia spp., Eysendhartis spp., Lippia spp., Neurolaena sp., Simarouba sp., Smilax sp., Tagetes spp., Polypodium spp., Uncaria sp.
Plantas biocidas: Quassia sp.
Plantas alimenticias: Amaranthus spp., Crotalaria spp., Cnidoscolus spp., Escobedia sp., Fernaldia spp., Solanum spp., Pimenta sp.
Plantas artesanales: Desmoncus spp., Monstera spp.
| USO POPULAR | ARBOLES | ARBUSTOS | LIANAS | PLANTAS ANUALES | PLANTAS PERENNES | EPIFITAS | PARASITICAS |
| Medicinal | 118 | 44 | 34 | 39 | 61 | 10 | 1 |
| Alimenticia | 79 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 41 | 2 | - |
| Biocida | 46 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 16 | - | - |
| Colorante | 40 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Artesanal | 32 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| Tanífera | 29 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ritual | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Ornamental | 14 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 8 | - |
| Construcción | 9 | - | 13 | - | 7 | - | - |
| Saponífera | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | - |
| Aceite | 7 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Cosmético | 6 | 4 | 3 | - | 3 | - | - |
| Alucinógena | 5 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | - |
| Cera | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
(Contribución del Ing. J.M. Duro, Consultor, Plan de Acción Forestal para Guatemala. Avda. de las Américas 20-12, zona 13. Guatemala. Fax: +502-2-318309.)
La recolección de frutos y/o semillas de pino es una actividad que tiene un gran impacto económico en las comunidades que viven aledañas a los bosques. Esta actividad genera empleo para 400 campesinos al año y un ingreso promedio diario de 170 lempiras (21 $EE.UU.). La recolección de frutos y/o semillas de árboles en pie es una actividad difícil y peligrosa (implica escalar el árbol) por lo que se requiere un buen estado físico, habilidad y destreza. Se recolectan semillas de tres especies de pino (Pinus caribaea, P. maximinoi y P. tecunumanii) y 60 especies latifoliadas en todo el país. La demanda de especies latifoliadas ha aumentado en los últimos años como producción de leña, maderas finas y actividades agroforestales. De la producción anual de semillas, el destino final es de 55 por ciento para la exportación y del 45 por ciento para el mercado nacional. Los principales países importadores de semillas hondureñas son Venezuela, Colombia, República Dominicana y Panamá y aproximadamente 30 países localizados en las regiones tropicales y subtropicales del mundo.
Las recolección del Banco de Semillas de la Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales está orientada a la producción de semillas bajo las categorías siguientes:
Various research institutions in India have recently given particular attention and emphasis to NWFPs as an area with high potential for development.
The Kerala Forestry Research Institute (KFRI) is an autonomous research institution established in 1975. The activities of the Institute cover all aspects of forestry with a strong programme on non-wood forest products, including bamboo, rattan, medicinal plants, orchids and many others. The Bamboo Information Centre of KFRI was established in 1989 with support from IDRC/Canada (see Non-Wood News 2). The objectives of the Information Centre include: development of a database on bamboos; compilation of a bibliography on bamboos; compilation of information on scientists working in the area of bamboos; preparation of monographs on bamboo species; preparation of extension materials; and dissemination of information. With the support of NRI/ODA (UK), the Institute is implementing an integrated rural bamboo project for the benefit of rural homesteads.
Intercropping of bamboo in agroforestry plots is also encouraged. KFRI is involved in promoting the conservation and development of rattan (Calamus spp.). There are about 25 species of Calamus in southern India. During recent years, large-scale extraction of rattan coupled with deforestation have caused an alarming depletion of the natural populations of these valuable plants. Conservation, protection and multiplication are some of the activities needed to maintain a sustainable resource base. KFRI has been surveying and studying the rattan resources of southern India for over a decade and has recently published a comprehensive taxonomic account of Calamus in Kerala.
KFRI is also implementing a project on the biodiversity of the non-wood forest products of Western Ghats. This project is supported by the Ford Foundation and also involves ethnobotanical surveys of tribal knowledge on the utilization of non-wood forest products.
Another project related to the assessment of demand and biodiversity of medicinal plants is implemented by KFRI in collaboration with other institutions interested in medicinal plants (for example, the Foundation for the Revitalization of Local Health Traditions).
The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, is a pioneer research institution started as a private initiative some 75 years ago. Its current status is as an autonomous body under the general guidance of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development of the Government of India. The Institute provides facilities for postgraduate research in all branches of engineering and science. The Biochemistry Department is carrying out research on active ingredients of plant extracts, their pharmacological properties, and so on. This department, through its laboratory of immunology and allergic diseases, has undertaken projects on allergic and toxic manifestations of plants, immunochemical characterization of allergens, occupational asthma in sericulture, and others; these will have an impact on the future development of NWFPs. The Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology has been working on tissue culture of forest plants, some of which provide NWFPs. The department has successfully applied cell and tissue culture to sandalwood, eucalyptus and mulberry.
The Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science was established in 1982. The major areas of interest of the centre are: behaviour and sociobiology, conservation biology, biodiversity and forest dynamics, ecodevelopment, environmental history, environmental policy and human ecology.
The Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation (VMSRF), Bangalore, was established in 1987 as an independent centre for fundamental and applied research in biotechnology integrating biological, chemical and engineering science to develop processes and products for industrial applications. VMSRF pursues research and development in natural products chemistry, energy-efficient organic reactions, molecular biology and enzyme catalysis. Research is also aimed at discovering the presence in plants of active principles, taking cues from Ayuverda and other ethnic medical sciences (e.g. Azadirachta indica, Garcinia camboja). VMSRF is able to generate high value added pharmaceuticals from plant materials and microorganisms.
The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Madras, Tamil Nadu State, is a non-profit scientific trust, registered as such in 1988. MSSRF established the Centre for Research on Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (CSARD) in 1990. The thrust of CSARD is to promote an economic growth strategy based on pro-nature, pro-poor and pro-women orientation to research and development. The main areas in which CSARD is involved are: coastal systems research, biodiversity, biovillages and sustainable agriculture, reaching the unreached, education communication and training. In all these programmes there are components relevant to NWFPs. (Source: Travel report by C. Chandrasekharan, April 1995.)