Regulating Complexity: Policies for the Governance of Non-timber Forest Products

Abstract

Products from the wild, also known as non-timber forest products (NTFPs), are used as medicines, foods, spices, fibers, and fuel and for a multitude of other purposes. They contribute substantially to rural livelihoods and generate revenue for companies and governments, and their use has a range of impacts on biodiversity conservation. However, throughout the world, NTFPs have been both overlooked and poorly regulated by governments. Inappropriate policies have not only led to over-exploitation but also generated new forms of inequity. Drawing upon cases from around the world, this chapter reviews these experiences and provides information to support new policy approaches toward NTFP regulation and the broader issues of governance associated with these products.