Landscapes Forest and Global Change - ESA - Escola Superior ...

N. Stryamets et al. 2010. Role of non-wood forest products for sustainable development of rural communities
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However, the role of NWFP in the livelihoods of local communities in different contexts has not
been studied in detail. In particular there is a lack of comparative studies which show the
contribution of NWFPs in rural development in countries with different economic and socialcultural
conditions as well as systems of nature resource governance. Such knowledge is needed
for policy-makers and organisations involved in rural and economic development, which put
their efforts to promote new modes of forest use replacing or disrupting existing traditional
livelihood strategies (Hyde and Köhlin 2000).
Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine re-appeared as an independent new state in
1991. To promote sustainability on national as well as regional and local levels Ukraine has
joined the process of developing sustainable forest management principles. In Ukraine these are
oriented towards sustainable yield forestry, maintenance of forest biodiversity and socio-cultural
values (Forest Code of Ukraine 2006). The strategic objectives of the national forest policy are
related to those enumerated in international agreements of sustainable development (UNCED
1992), sustainable use and protection of forests in Europe (MCPFE 1995, MCPFE 2003,
MCPFE 2007). Ukraine has signed the 17 resolutions of the Ministerial Conference on
Protection of Forests in Europe.
The end of Soviet central planning caused a decline of jobs in industry including forestry and
agriculture (Nordberg, 2007). In many forest and woodland regions of Ukraine local people
therefore have had to go back to traditional land use practises due to difficult economic
conditions (Elbakidze and Angelstam, 2007). Different NWFPs have thus become a part of the
social fabric and livelihood (Bihun, 2005) in many rural areas. There is now often conflict
between increase of harvested timber and the emerging sustained yield forestry and vital
interests of local people in the sustainable production of NWFP.
The aim of this study was to analyse the policies with relevance for NWFP in order to define the
potential contribution of these forest resources to rural development in countries with different
economic and social-cultural conditions and systems of governance and government of natural
resources. We analysed national and international policy documents concerning sustainable
forest management, national and regional management regulations related to the use of NWFPs
and reviewed relevant literature.
As the next steps we will interview local forest stakeholders in villages located in our case study
areas in Ukraine, study the reasons, places and methods of NWFPs collection, amount of
harvested NWFPs by different groups of forest stakeholders, existing practices of NWFP
utilization, including traditional one.
2. Methodology
First we analysed national forest policy documents, management regulations concerning use of
forest resources in Ukraine. A comprehensive literature review was done about NWFPs,
management of forest resources and rural development.
3. Result
Sustainable use of non-wood forest products as a component of sustainable forest
management policies
Policies at global, international, EU and national levels clearly pronounce the importance of
NWFP. Indeed, NWFP as a relevant attribute to rural development and natural resource
conservation have increased globally (Janse and Ottitsch, 2005, Chandrasekharan 1995, Ticktin
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.