Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), key to sustainable community-based forest management

Palawan, Philippines. 20 October 2015. If done using indigenous knowledge, NTFP-based enterprises can contribute not only to the income of local and indigenous communities but also to the sustainable management of natural resources. To achieve this objective, RECOFTC- The Center for People and Forests through the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) project in coordination with the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) is currently conducting a training on Participatory Non-Timber Forest Product Resource Management in Palawan, Philippines.

The regional training on participatory NTFP resource management focuses on the importance of non-timber forest product in livelihood development and forest management. Forest resources, particularly NTFPs, can be utilized and managed sustainably as demonstrated by the Palawan indigenous people of Brooke’s Point, who continue to manage their forest resources traditionally to this day.

The course is designed for participants to practice the process of community-based NTFP selection and resource management including the documentation, development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation of sustainable NTFP management system.

Some 13 participants, three of whom are women, working for government as well as civil society organizations from eight countries will learn how to develop NTFP-based enterprise projects that are not only sustainable but also in harmony with local communities’ culture as well as the overall well-being of forest ecosystems. The training kicked-off yesterday and will run until 24th October 2015 in Palawan, Philippines, home to the Tagbanua, Palawan and Batak indigenous peoples.