Presentation An overview on non-wood forest products development in Europe by Sven Walter FAO NWFP Programme COFORD Seminar „Growing markets for non-wood forest products“ Tullamore, Co Offaly, 15 April 2005

Structure of Presentation 1. Introduction 2. NWFP in Europe – facts and figures 3. NWFP in Europe – outlook 4. Forest services 5. Current issues 6. Conclusions

1. Introduction to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations. FAO’s Mandate

1. Introduction Mission of the NWFP Programme To improve the sustainable utilization of Non-Wood Forest Products in order to contribute to the wise management of the world's forests, to conserve their biodiversity, and to improve income-generation and food security.

1. Introduction Key areas of the NWFP Programme Improving methodologies Supporting institutional capacity Strengthening global networking Promoting best practices

1. Introduction What are non-wood forest products? NWFP consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests.

1. Introduction Ants’ eggs Cork Fodder Christmas trees Medicinal plants Bushmeat Resins Nuts Mushrooms Birch sap Honey Foliage Fruits and berries What are the main European non-wood forest products?

1. Introduction NWFP statistics – Caution! No recognized standard classification Incomplete national/regional coverage Problems of comparability Problems to estimate production/consumption trends Problems of aggregation Interdisciplinary topic

1. Introduction Key literature Forest Resource Assessment, 2001 Temperate and Boreal Forest Resource Assessment, 2000

1. Introduction Key literature State of European Forests, 2003 European Forest Sector Outlook Study, 2005

1. Introduction Key literature Other specialized literature

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures Ants’ eggs Cork Fodder Christmas trees Medicinal plants Bushmeat Resins Nuts Mushrooms Birch sap Honey Foliage Fruits and berries What are the main European non-wood forest products?

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.1 Nuts Annual value: 3 billion EUR; 2 Mio t (2000) A street vendor selling fresh roasted chestnuts, Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.1 Nuts Annual value: 3 billion EUR; 2 Mio t (2000) Main products: Almonds Walnuts Chestnuts Hazelnuts Regional trends: Western Europe Eastern Europe CIS

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.2 Game meat and pelts Annual value: 466 million EUR (large underestimation) Meat of all hunted birds and mammals Pelt: Skin of fur

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.2 Game meat and pelts Annual value: 466 million EUR (large underestimation) Meat of all hunted birds and mammals Pelt: Skin of fur Issues: CIS: 1% of value but 59% of game and 99% of pelts harvested Significant income to private landowners and public agencies Unclear trends

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.3 Christmas trees Annual value: 444 million EUR, 43 million trees/yr (1990s)

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.3 Christmas trees Annual value: 444 million EUR, 43 million trees/yr (1990s) Major seasonal and significant export crop (e.g. Denmark) Forest or horticulture product? Trend unclear: Increased production in some countries, e.g. Ireland

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.4 Fruits and berries Annual value: 349 million EUR, t (1990s) Clusters of bright red fruits of the European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia). These berry-like fruits can be used for a wide variety of purposes.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.4 Fruits and berries Annual value: 349 million EUR, t (1990s) Main producers: Scandinavia, Albania, Czech Republic Supply >> demand Western Europe: Mainly subsistence use Commercial collection Eastern Europe: ?

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.5 Fungi and truffles Annual value: 262 million EUR, t (1990s) Fresh porcini being prepared for cooking and preservation in brine, prior to being sold.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.5 Fungi and truffles Annual value: 262 million EUR, t (1990s) Important fungi: Matsutake, chanterelles, boletes, morels Increased competition from cultivated fungi/truffles Regional disparity: Western Europe: 68% of value and 40% of production Eastern Europe: 26% of value and 48% of production Strong demand for wild fungi (subsistence & commerce ↑)

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.6 Cork Annual value: 209 million EUR, t (2000) Harvesting cork on a large Quercus suber tree in Portugal.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.6 Cork Annual value: 209 million EUR, t (2000) Bottle stoppers, floor covers, construction material, etc. Issues: non-wood substitutes, product quality Producing countries: Portugal (62%), Italy (6%) Spain (30%), France (2%)

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.7 Medicinal plants Annual value: 118 million EUR, t (1990s) A western yew, Taxus brevifolia, is the prime source of the anti-cancer drug taxol.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.7 Medicinal plants Annual value: 118 million EUR, t (1990s) World market: Europe main import market ( t/yr) European species used Wild gathering > cultivation (species/volume) Trend: Western Europe Eastern Europe

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.7 Medicinal plants Issues: Conservation (341 medicinal plants fully/partially protected) Substitution (e.g. Pacific yew/taxol) Cultivation (quality, price, demand – supply)

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.8 Decorative foliage Annual value: 49 million EUR, t (1990s) Juniperus procumbens bonsai in the shakan style (Photo taken at the Bonsai Nursery, Denver, Colorado).

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.8 Decorative foliage Annual value: 49 million EUR, t (1990s) Floral industry (tree branches, boughs, live plans, mosses, lichen) Increased cultivation of most popular species USA/North West Province: ¼ of decorative foliage exported to Europe

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.9 Honey from forests Annual value: 34 million EUR, t (1990s) Honey produced from the flowers of black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia. In Italy it is marked as Acacia honey.

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.9 Honey from forests Annual value: 34 million EUR, t (1990s) Trend: Increasing demand How much honey comes from the forest? → Total annual honey production in Europe: 518 million EUR, t

2. NWFP in Europe – facts & figures 2.10 Other NWFP Resins Eucalyptus oils Fodder/forage Bark Birch sap

3. NWFP in Europe – outlook 1.Collection of NWFP as recreational activity ↑ recreation → ↑ NWFP collection e.g. fruits, berries, fungi, medicinal plants Increase in Western Europe 2. Commercial collection of NWFP Decrease in Western Europe, increase in Eastern Europe More intensive management systems (truffles, cork, medicinal plans, foliage)

3. NWFP in Europe – outlook 3. Edible NWFP and medicinal plants Western Europe: Increasing demand for natural products Eastern Europe: NWFP perceived as inferior or high value products?? 4. Cork Stable and moderate growth Product must remain price competitive and reliable 5. Decorative foliage Strong demand and future growth in Western Europe

3. NWFP in Europe – outlook 6. Christmas trees Demand driven by population numbers Luxury item: innovative marketing and advertising required

3. NWFP in Europe – outlook Global Western Europe Eastern Europe CIS NWFP Wood NWFP/ Wood 24%24%37%4% Total annual value of NWFP in Europe in the mid- 1990s (in EUR million at 2000 prices and exchange rates) Source: FAO/UNECE European Forest Sector Outlook Study

4. Forest Services a)Recreation↑ b)Biodiversity conservation↑ c)Mitigation of climate change↑ d)Protection of soil and water e)Cultural and spiritual aspects

5. Current issues a)Access to forest resources b)Political and economic reforms in Eastern Europe and CIS c)Substitution d)Product quality e)Certification f)Statistical data g)…

6. Conclusions Non-wood forest products development in Europe Grading of dried bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) in Turkey

FAO NWFP Programme FAO Forest Products and Economics Division Forest Products Service Viale delle Terme di Caracalla Rome, Italy Fax: Homepagehttp:// Sven Walter Tel: ,

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