WOOD AND NON-WOOD PRODUCT CHAINS OF PLANTED FORESTS AND THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TROPICS

摘要

The proportion of people living in extreme poverty, on less than 1 dollar a day, in developing countries dropped by almost half between 1981 and 2001 and a faster rate of poverty reduction is projected to the year 2015. The predicted roundwood supplyfrom plantation forests for over the same period will increase significantly from the current level of 35 % of global supply, with a major share of 61% from the Asia Pacific Region. Citing teak and bamboo/rattan as case examples from major tropical countries, the paper explores opportunities for improvement of wood and non-wood product chains, including those outside forests, in contributing to poverty reduction and trading of eco-labeled products with an ultimate goal of sustainable development. Further, critical needs of inputs in terms of knowledge exchange and technological interventions were addressed in prioritizing research in the chain of custody with management plans, codes of harvesting/processing practices and certification. Greater challenges are ahead in improvement of non-wood product chains that provide traditional livelihood to the poor in Asia, Africa and Latin America.