Business opportunities and Non-Wood Forest Products

(Aromatic – medicinal plants & essential oils)

Key words: Non-wood forest products, Aromatic plants, Medicinal plants, Essential oils

Forester, Environmental Scientist (PhD) Etherio Research, Eratera, 50003, Hellas 1@etherio.gr

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are defined as products having a biological source originating from forests, woodland and/or individual trees outside forests and, by definition, not related to wood. They can come from the trees themselves, but also from plants of the undergrowth, fungi or even be of animal origin (FAO 1999). NWFPs exclude the harvesting of any wood and technical timber, but can include, for example, the harvesting of branches for handicrafts (e.g. basketry), fire-burning or charcoal production (FAO 1999).

According to the Millennium Environmental Assessment (MEA 2005) and Hassan et al. (2005), there are at least 150 high-value non-woody forest products and services in international trade, covering diverse human needs: from material to spiritual, aesthetic and recreational. Some of the most important non-wood forest products are: aromatic & medicinal plants, essential oils, Christmas trees, resin, heather roots, acorns, chestnuts, pine nuts, mushrooms, cork, recreation, hunting and grazing. Non-wood forest products, particularly in the Mediterranean region, are an important source of income (Merlo and Croitoru 2005, Croitoru 2007a). The harvesting and marketing of NWFPs is an alternative to forest exploitation, beyond wood production. Consequently, it reduces deforestation, especially of tropical forests, and thus plays a constructive role in forest conservation. In addition to their contribution to the rural economy, NWFPs contribute to the nutrition of traditional forest populations, especially in periods of crisis.

In this article we deal with the possibly most important and undoubtedly the most profitable sector of NWFPs: aromatic–medicinal plants (AMP). The financial annuity of AMPs amounts to tens of billions of dollars worldwide. Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, about 80% of the population of developing countries rely on traditional medicines, mainly derived from forest plants, for their primary health care (EFTEC 2005).