Eco-certification of non-timber forest products in China： addressing income generation and biodiversity conservation needs

Non-timber forest products（NTFPs） can play a key role in sustainable rural development due to their ability to support rural livelihoods while of their role and potential in conservation and development remains weak. Studies have pointed to important knowlidge gaps that may lead to serious exploitation and unsustainable use of the nanral resource ＂NTFP＂ in China. such as（I） lack of basic lknowledge on germplasm and non-existing or incomplete inventory.（2）no in-depth and long-term monitoring and institutional arrangements to ascertain sustainable extraction levels,（3）insufficient market transparency for communities.（4）incomplete knowledge of NTFP domestication and ist effects on product quality and price and the conservation of wild sources, and （5）no existing research on the full length of the commodity chain for major non-timber forest prochucts and the various actors in the chain. remote mountain regions through the sustainable management of NTFPs. The potential and challenges of oraanic,ecological and Fairtrade certification schemes in the context of smallholder farmers are discussed in more detall.

Eco-certification of non-timber forest products in China:addressing income generation and biodiversity conservation needs

Non-tinber forest products(NTFPs)can plav a key role in sustainable rural development due to their abitity to support rural liveihoods while contributing to environmental objectives,including biodiversity conservation.However,systematic understanding of their role and potential in conservation and development remains weak Studies have pointed to important knowledge gaps that may lead to serious exploitation and unsustainable use of the natural resource"NTFP"in China,such as (1)lack of basic knowledge on germaplasm and non-existing or incomplete inventory,(2)no in-depth and long-term monitoring and institutional arrangements to ascertain sustainable extraction levels,(3)insufficient market transparency for communities,(4)incomplete knowledge of NTFP domestication and its effects on product quality and price and the conservation of wild sources,and (5)no existing research on the full length of the commodity chain for major non-timper forest products and the various actors in the chain.This paper presents initiatives toward balancing poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation goals in China's remote mountain regions through the sustainable managemtn of NTFPs.The potential and challenges of organic,ecological and Fairtrade certification schemes in the context of smallholder farmers are discussed in more detail.