March 22, 2024
TABI’s Special focus NTFPs have told about NTFP Facts that
The main benefit of biodiversity for rural population of Lao PDR is related to the use of forest products
757 plants and 150 animals have been identified as NTFPs, but the real figure is probably 4 or 5 times higher
The biodiversity of NTFPs is an essential part of rural food security, by direct consumption, as well as by selling in times of rice shortage
In the uplands NTFPs provide up to 50% of cash income of rural villages
NTFPs contributes to roughly US$ 6-7 million per year or 2% of total export volume of Lao PDR
Cardamom [Amomum sp.] and malva nuts [Scaphium macropodum] both used in Chinese medicine, are the most important export product, together representing 60-70% of the total NTFPs export value for Lao PDR
The main NTFPs export destinations are china, Thailand, and Vietnam
The local and macroeconomic values of NTFPs provide strong economic incentives for biodiversity management and conservation
The fast change from subsistence farming to marketing economic, with a rapid expansion of mono-culture plantation and the resulting transformation of the small-scale agriculture landscapes, lead to an increase pressure on the still rice NTFP resources and biodiversity
Conclusion
NTFPs are uniquely essential for food security and local as well as national economy. They are a key element in poverty alleviation, forest and biodiversity conservation
Source: TABI Update 2011
