Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) in Arasbaran Biosphere reserve, Iran

Abstract

NWFPs contribute significantly to the livelihood of local people and as an important source of cash income for rural households in or near forests. There is little information on the important NWFPs in the forest regions, production, value, the processing situation of them, and etc. Information on the main woody species, medical uses, processing situation, processing industries, and market level was collected in eight times field visits during May to November 2012, through interviewing 17 local persons and ten researchers and key informants to verify the information obtained from interviews. Criteria used and discussed for listing the main woody species are: abundance, importance as a food resource, economic importance, and existence of their products in markets, and other benefits for the local people. There are 22 forest woody species where NWFPs are obtained and subsequently processed and sold in the markets. Processing situation of these fruits was in little or no processing class. Most of fruits were locally processed and then consumed or sold. The results showed that just two species are sold in the regional and international market and others have local and national markets.