From Rotations to Revolutions: Non-timber Forest Products and the New World of Forest Management

Abstract

Non-timber forest resources (NTFRs) are increasingly recognized globally as important in supporting the livelihoods of forest-dependent, often Aboriginal communities, in fostering natural resource conservation, and in providing ecosystem services. As British Columbia faces forestry challenges related to factors such as the mountain pine beetle infestation, climate change, and global competition, NTFR development may benefit rural and Aboriginal communities as they diversify their economies and manage the impacts of changes affecting the forestry sector. This article highlights a number of British Columbia NTFR case studies using an adapted "production-to-consumption" approach with a particular focus on NTFRs in the context of sustainable forest management. Four general forest management scenarios are outlined and used to discuss the potential for incorporating NTFRs within forest management planning.