Compiling statistics on Non-Wood Forest Products as policy and decision-making tools at the national level

Although a considerable amount of information has been gained over the last decades to improve our understanding of the role of non-wood forest products (NWFPs), limited progress has been made in developing statistical data on production and trade of NWFPs at the country level. The paper presents the global NWFP assessment that was carried out recently by FAO, and describes the major constraints. Among the most important findings is the fact that NWFPs are still a major source of food and income in many countries of the world, but few countries monitor their NWFPs systematically. Statistical data on NWFPs are incomplete, scattered or not comparable among countries, and at the national level do not yet provide a solid base for decision-making.

A phased approach is suggested by addressing first those NWFPs that are of national relevance and for which monitoring and evaluation is needed for policy and forest/rural development decision-makers. Exported or widely used products in national markets should be addressed before NWFPs of minor importance or significance that are limited to a selected region. The selection of relevant NWFPs should help a country initially to focus its efforts on improved data collection. Countries can make NWFPs more visible in their existing national production and trade statistics by including specific product codes for major NWFPs into their existing national product classification system, with the aim of including them in international statistical classifications, such as the HS, in the future.