Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

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forest certification in developing and transitioning countries
Non-Timber Forest Products
Chamaedorea palms (Chamaedorea spp.), locally called xate, chicle gum (Manilkara
zapota), and allspice (Pimenta dioica) are the country’s commercially most important
non-timber forest products (NTFPs). According to CONAP statistics, 4.2 million lbs.
of xate and 300,000 lbs. of chicle are produced annually, worth US$660,000 and
US$309,000, respectively (FAO 2003). Similar to other countries, NTFP use and commercialization
largely escape official statistics. Nonetheless, NTFPs do play a critical
role in household economies, in particular in the broadleaved forest zone. The fibre
of bayal (Desmoncus spp.), for example, serves as a substitute for cane, palm leaves
from guano (Sabal sp.) and escobo (Cryossophylla argentea) provide roof thatch, and
a wide variety of forest plants serves as source of local medicine or food. In the
Carmelita concession, NTFPs like xate, chicle and allspice account for more than 50
percent of the household income in individual cases; in addition, wildlife constitutes
an important source of protein and income (Mollinedo et al. 2002). For the time
being, NTFPs have not been subject to forest certification. Currently, however, the
US-based SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance is elaborating certification
standards for NTFPs.
General Forest Sector Statistics
According to the Bank of Guatemala (BANGUAT), the forest sector contributes
approximately 2.5 percent of the GDP. An estimated 37,000 jobs are generated by the
sector, corresponding to 1.1 percent of the economically active population (PAFG
2000). Forest sector statistics are summarized in Table 3.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies