Non-Timber Forest Products in Southern US Phil Araman For Jim Chamberlain USDA, Forest Service Blacksburg, VA

Non-Timber Forest Products Originate from forest plants and fungi, not timber- based, may be tree-based Fungi, moss, lichen, ground covers, herbs, shrubs, trees Roots, tubers, leaves, barks, twigs, fruits, fungi, sap and resin, wood From within and on edges of natural, manipulated or disturbed forests

Other Names Special Forest Products Forest Service (National Strategy) Forest Botanical Products U.S. Congress Any naturally occurring mushrooms, fungi, flowers, seeds, roots, bark, leaves, and other vegetation (or portion thereof) that grow on National Forest System lands. Other Names Non-Wood Forest Products (UN, FAO) Non-traditional Secondary Minor

outline A little history Definition – what are we talking about Market segments – a little bit about the markets What is the FS doing – our focus How can we work together?

Native plants with economic value Non-Timber Forest Products – what are they?

Early Accounts 1603 – Martha’s Vineyard First export back to England 1733 – Charleston, SC 60 tons Lignum vitae 27 tons for sassafras 8 chests of skins 348 barrels turpentine 2802 barrels pitch 1748, Charleston, SC 10,000 barrels turpentine 134,118 pounds indigo 200 Beaver skins 1700 pounds wax

Fredericksburg Distiller pays $0.30 per 100 lbs. Processes 175 tons of root Final Product sells for $0.75 per lbs. Produces 200 lbs of oil each week Dye

1900 Georgia, Florida and Alabama major producers of pine rosin and turpentine

Medicinal Plants -- Ginseng

Volumes of NTFPs from National Forests

Permitted Value of NTFPs from National Forests

Categories of NTFPs Edible & Culinary Mushrooms, berries, ramps, nuts Crafts Walking sticks, bowls, jewelry Floral Decoratives fresh/dried flowers, aromatic oils, greenery, basket filler, wreaths, and roping Landscaping Transplants and pine straw Medicinal & Dietary Supplements Roots, bark, leaves, Tinctures, pills, etc.

Edible & Culinary

Mushrooms shiitake, maitake, lion’s mane Grow for Local Foods Market Grow Organic

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) Spring ephemeral Edible leaves, bulb Festivals, community groups Internet, farmers markets, restaurants Possible grow in raised beds Important point – find markets before starting

Crafts

Smokevine, Grape, Kudzu Wood, vines used for decorations and crafts Smokevine root used as medicinal tea for digestion May be pests Vines

Under-Utilized Trees Sassafras Root bark used as flavoring, aromatic, and medicinal Wood used for furniture, decorations Wood and bark used as yellow dye

Fringe Tree

Floral & Decoratives

Decorative Plants Curly WillowCorkscrew WillowKuwa BranchesGoldleaf Birch

Landscaping – transplants & mulch Native Plants Evergreen shrubs with spring blooms Popular in landscape plantings Rhododendron Mountain Laurel Flame Azalea

Pine Straw for mulch

Medicinal & Dietary Supplements

Distribution of Ginseng Harvest

Latin NameCommon NamePlant part Average Annual Harvest a Average Annual Harvest a Percent Change Actaea racemosablack cohoshRoot 224,072284, % Aletris farinosawhite colicrootRoot 1, % Aristolochia serpentariaVirginia snakerootRoot % Caulophyllum thalictroidesblue cohoshRoot 6,6515, % Chamaelirium luteumfairywandRoot 4,6884, % Cypripedium spp.lady's slipperWhole plant % Dioscorea villosawild yamTuber 33,42237, % Hydrastis canadensisgoldensealRoot & Leaf 73,61974, % Panax quinquefoliusAmerican ginsengRoot 62,29463, % Sanguinaria canadensisbloodrootRoot 24,8235, % Serenoa repenssaw palmettoFruit 3,293,3772,432, % Trillium erectumred trilliumWhole plant 1,0991, % Ulmus rubraslippery elmBark 182,435304, % Major Medicinal Plants from Southern US

Forest Service Research Non-Timber Output Assessment Ecosystem Valuation Methods Sustainable Harvest Levels & Methods Forest Farming

Non-Timber Product Output NTPO Goal Survey mechanism to report NTFP harvest volumes Similar to Timber Product Output Report according to FIA unit (compatability) Improve reporting for International Commitments Analytics illustrate status and changes Institutionalize Process Develop on-line reporting and summaries

Medicinal Forest Products Harvest by FIA Zone Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 2 Zone 1 Total – 26,263 Pounds 99 % < 1 %

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) Bark Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 1 Total – 14,000 Pounds 100% Zone 2

Inventory of Medicinal Plants Log (root mass) = 3.33 – 0.02 (July harvest) – 0.42 (August harvest) log (crown area) log (plant height) Black cohosh

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Edible Forest Products Value to Communities Inventory Optimal Harvest Timing

Maximum Edible Biomass Mar. 22 Mar. 29 Apr. 5 Apr. 13 Apr. 19 Apr. 26 May 3 May 10 May 17 Optimum Harvest - Two weeks before full leaf-out of canopy - Canopy leaves at 52% development Optimal Harvesting of Ramps

Forest Farming

Final Thoughts Long history of use of NTFPs Lots of products and opportunities Need to think beyond typical forestry Forest Service has active research on these products But … How can we work together to address your opportunities

Thank You!! Blacksburg, VA