Search

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forestry together with the industry based on wood and non-wood forest products (NWFPs) represents an important activity and branch of the national economy. In accordance with that, the work is divided into two chapters, one of which analyzes wood, and the other of NWFPs. Therefore, the aim of the research is to examine the market trends and potential of forestry in the part of central Serbia (Central forest area). The purpose of the research is to identify trends in the categories of felling, production and sale of wood assortments of beech, oak and poplar and to analyses the commercial aspect and the way of organizing the marketing mix in companies that deal with the purchase, processing and placement of NWFPs. The Mann-Kendall test was used for the analysis of trends in wood products, while a survey was created for the analysis of companies in the field of NWFPs, which included 29 open and closed questions, with conceptual units related to the marketing mix. For the purposes of the research, primary and secondary data were used and the time period 2008-2017 was covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the role of distribution, as an instrument of the marketing mix, in companies dealing with the purchase, processing, and marketing of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) in the territory of Serbia. Considering the specificity of NWFPs, choosing appropriate sales channels for delivery to customers is of great importance. Primarily for perishable and unprocessed products, such as forest fruits (wild raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc.), but also different types of mushrooms (boletus, chanterelles), fast and effi­cient distribution channels are imperative in the context of product quality preservation. In this sense, the research included 49 companies from the territory of Serbia, which operate in the field of NWFPs. For the research, a questionnaire was created with 29 questions related to the marketing mix, and the organization of distribution flows in the analyzed companies. The period considered includes the period 2008-2017. The goal of the research was focused on the role of distribution in the analyzed companies, as well as the identification of factors that contribute to decisions regarding its forms and way of organization.

Copyright of Bulletin of the Faculty of Forestry / Glasnik Šumarskog Fakulteta is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forestry together with the industry based on wood and non-wood forest products (NWFPs) represents an important activity and branch of the national economy. In accordance with that, the work is divided into two chapters, one of which analyzes wood, and the other of NWFPs. Therefore, the aim of the research is to examine the market trends and potential of forestry in the part of central Serbia (Central forest area). The purpose of the research is to identify trends in the categories of felling, production and sale of wood assortments of beech, oak and poplar and to analyses the commercial aspect and the way of organizing the marketing mix in companies that deal with the purchase, processing and placement of NWFPs. The Mann-Kendall test was used for the analysis of trends in wood products, while a survey was created for the analysis of companies in the field of NWFPs, which included 29 open and closed questions, with conceptual units related to the marketing mix. For the purposes of the research, primary and secondary data were used and the time period 2008-2017 was covered.

Abstract In recent years, there has been growing interest in public valuation for forest ecosystem services in policymaking. This paper investigates the public’s perception of the Czech forest ecosystem services, i.e., provisioning, regulating and cultural services, with associated factors (changes in forest cover, production, and respondents’ characteristics). The performance perception of forest ecosystem services was gathered from a nationwide survey in 2020. The Coordination of Information on the Environment Land Cover information in 2000 and 2018 was used for observation of forest cover changes. Coniferous and non-coniferous (broadleaved) roundwood, mushroom, and bilberry production data from the observed years were acquired from the Czech Statistical Office and the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual nationwide surveys. The Bohemia vs. Moravia study areas were also statistically compared. Predictor analysis of the high score of performance perception from individual and cluster forest ecosystems was also performed to answer the research objectives. The group of forest provisioning services received high scores in public evaluation (from 3.9 to 4.2), followed by regulating services (mean range: 3.7–4.1). The highest score was found in forest as a natural habitat for wild animals and plants (mean: 4.6). However, the lowest value was the esthetic value (mean: 2.3). Both are categorized as forest cultural services. The broadleaved and mixed forest areas in 2018 were significantly higher than in 2000, especially in Bohemia. Meanwhile, the total coniferous forested region in 2018 declined substantially compared to 2000 (p = 0.030), especially in Moravian areas. A significantly higher total production of the coniferous and broadleaved roundwood removals in 2018 than in 2000 was reported, in contrast to a marked decrease in collected mushrooms and bilberries. The high score of performance perception of forests as the wood provisioning service was positively and significantly associated with the changes in broadleaved roundwood removals. Older-age and female respondents were the primary predictors of the studied cluster and individual forest ecosystem services. The findings indicate that the social value of the individual forest provisioning services supports the implementation of multi-species and multi-purpose forests; hence, it encourages the implementation of the current Czech forest policy.

Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), one of the important medicinal and aromatic plants of our country, is a non-wood forest product with high economic value at local and national level. The fact that laurel is the subject to export has resulted in becoming a tool for reducing rural poverty and increasing economic development. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the profile of laurel producer and contribution of the laurel to the rural economy, to determine the problems in the laurel production process and to reveal the expectations of the forest villagers in Bursa, where laurel is produced. Correlation analysis was conducted in order to determine the variables that affect the incomes of the households from laurel. In order to estimate the income of the households from the laurel through the factors affecting these incomes, the stepwise regression analysis was used. A one-way anova was applied to investigate whether the income from laurel was significantly differed by the sales method and the laurel production stage in which the villager took part and to test whether the prices differed according to the intermediaries. In 2021, laurel contributed an average of 10680 Turkish Lira (TL) (1205 US$) per year to the households dealing with laurels in Bursa and made a total economic contribution of 6,1 million TL (688488 US$) to the forest villagers.

Copyright of International Forestry Review is the property of Commonwealth Forestry Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, there has been growing interest in public valuation for forest ecosystem services in policymaking. This paper investigates the public's perception of the Czech forest ecosystem services, i.e., provisioning, regulating and cultural services, with associated factors (changes in forest cover, production, and respondents' characteristics). The performance perception of forest ecosystem services was gathered from a nationwide survey in 2020. The Coordination of Information on the Environment Land Cover information in 2000 and 2018 was used for observation of forest cover changes. Coniferous and non-coniferous (broadleaved) roundwood, mushroom, and bilberry production data from the observed years were acquired from the Czech Statistical Office and the Ministry of Agriculture's annual nationwide surveys. The Bohemia vs. Moravia study areas were also statistically compared. Predictor analysis of the high score of performance perception from individual and cluster forest ecosystems was also performed to answer the research objectives. The group of forest provisioning services received high scores in public evaluation (from 3.9 to 4.2), followed by regulating services (mean range: 3.7–4.1). The highest score was found in forest as a natural habitat for wild animals and plants (mean: 4.6). However, the lowest value was the esthetic value (mean: 2.3). Both are categorized as forest cultural services. The broadleaved and mixed forest areas in 2018 were significantly higher than in 2000, especially in Bohemia. Meanwhile, the total coniferous forested region in 2018 declined substantially compared to 2000 (p = 0.030), especially in Moravian areas. A significantly higher total production of the coniferous and broadleaved roundwood removals in 2018 than in 2000 was reported, in contrast to a marked decrease in collected mushrooms and bilberries. The high score of performance perception of forests as the wood provisioning service was positively and significantly associated with the changes in broadleaved roundwood removals. Older-age and female respondents were the primary predictors of the studied cluster and individual forest ecosystem services. The findings indicate that the social value of the individual forest provisioning services supports the implementation of multi-species and multi-purpose forests; hence, it encourages the implementation of the current Czech forest policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of non-wood forest products is especially important in the context of rural sustainable development. Nevertheless, their perceived economic and environmental value remains low. The lack of an explicit and effective marketing strategy for NWFPs tailored to local mountain communities' needs may lead to their restricted access to the market and underestimation of their value. The aim of this paper is to gain knowledge regarding the components of a marketing mix that could support the local markets of NWFPs, in Greek mountainous areas. The paper presents an analysis of the marketing mix for NWFPs, following for the first time the S.A.V.E. approach. The research contributes to the existing literature as we seek to "meet" groups of NWFPs' consumers, in order to develop a customer-centric value proposition in Greek local mountain communities. The findings indicate that the marketing and promotion of NWFPs requires not only knowledge of the relative products and the market, it requires analysis and knowledge of the specific needs of local mountain communities and the ways that needs are met by the attributes and characteristics of the NWFPs as part of the solution that they can offer. Local mountain communities in Greece, through the exploitation of NWFPs, are trying to face challenges regarding the improvement of their income and their general wellbeing level. Also, we propose as a part of the marketing mix for NWFPs, their promotion as products with a distinct spatial, local identity, by associating them with local "culture economies". Finally, we argue that a customer-centric marketing mix of NWFPs, which focuses on customers' needs, desires, and resources as the starting point of the planning process, involves a higher level of mixing and synergies creation along the whole value chain, than simple personalization, with customers to interact with suppliers using ICT and by personal time disposition connected to nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pine nuts from stone pine are important non-wood forest products produced in Turkey. Thus, cooperative organizations engaged in the production and marketing of pine nuts play an important role in the development of forest villages in Turkey. This study reports and evaluates the effect of Kozak Subdistrict Agricultural Development Cooperative on economic development of the township. In this regard, a survey was conducted with 190 participants, and data were evaluated statistically. After villagers participated in this cooperative, forest villagers' income from pine nuts increased and constituted 59.8% of total household income. Although the cooperative has no effect on the animal production of forest villagers, it has positive effects on migration, income level, agricultural production, land used for pine nut cultivation, fuel use and standards of living. Therefore, the number of cooperatives utilizing non-wood forest products should be increased, and efforts should be made to conserve non-wood forest products to increase their added value and sustainable use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Forests provide an immense range of benefits to people, many of which are not prioritized by forest policy because they are difficult to quantify. Wild foods from forests enhance the quality of diets for those who consume them and provide income for those who sell or trade them. The quantity of wild food collected is challenging to measure because of non‐standard units, seasonal differences in collection patterns and large numbers of species. To provide initial estimates of collection volume in Zambia and pilot new methods, we surveyed 209 households across 14 villages randomly selected within 5 study areas covering all four agro‐ecological areas between 6 August and 27 October, 2019. For each study area, we conducted a focus group to identify the most commonly collected species within each of nine food product types (mushrooms, insects, green leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, nuts, wild meat, wild fish, and aquatic plants). All but one surveyed household collected some wild foods; on average, each household collected five types of food product, most commonly mushrooms, fruits and green leafy vegetables. Volume collected varied markedly by household, product type and study area. Rural households in Zambia are estimated to collect over 380 million litres, 380,000 m3, of wild foods annually. We estimate that 88% of these wild foods are collected directly from forests. Accounting for uncertainties, we estimate the volume of wild foods collected from forests to be at least 238,000 m3 per year, 125% of the volume of sawnwood produced, or about 12 million large (20 L) collecting buckets. Volume collected was not strongly correlated with metrics of wealth, indicating ubiquitous consumption of wild foods; however, the most food insecure collected particularly high volumes of wild food. Pilot market surveys found local value chains for wild foods, indicating a potential for economic contribution. Our results underscore the value of data that can be disaggregated locally and indicate that national estimates of quantities of wild food collected from forests would be highly useful for designing forest policy and management strategies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Angola has an extraordinary plant diversity and a great ethnobotanical potential. However, there is a general lack of information about the first botanical explorations in the country and their contribution to the knowledge of the medicinal flora. The main aim of this study was to unveil the ethnobotanical legacy of José Maria Antunes and Eugène Dekindt, priests of the first Catholic mission in Huíla (Angola) and shed light on their contribution to the knowledge of medicinal wild plants of the country, including information on the uses, plant parts used, and preparation methods documented in the late 19th century. The findings are discussed considering recent ethnobotanical studies to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the historical and traditional uses of plants in Angola over the last two centuries. Based on the information available in manuscripts and on the study of botanical collections preserved in herbaria of Portugal and Angola, we extracted relevant information about the species used in traditional medicine by the rural population of Huíla, the health conditions treated, and the mode of preparation and application. Our results revealed that Antunes and Dekindt conducted the first ethnobotanical study in Huíla, and documented a large number of medicinal wild plants. From these, we report 191 medicinal species, including 25 endemic and four introduced species, belonging to 56 plant families and 146 genera. Fabaceae family presents the highest richness of medicinal plants (39 taxa), followed by Rubiaceae (13), Asteraceae (10), and Apocynaceae (9). The illnesses reported were classified into 15 different categories, with the highest number of species (49) corresponding to unspecific conditions, such as general pains, chills, and fever. Thirty-seven species were reported for respiratory diseases, 31 for musculoskeletal problems, and 30 for digestive issues. Leaves were the most used plant part for medicinal purposes (84 species). Infusion was the most frequently described preparation method (40 species), followed by maceration (24 species), and powdering (36 species). The legacy of Antunes and Dekindt's work improves our understanding of Angola's botanical richness and traditional uses of plant resources. Our findings highlight the presence of unique medicinal resources in Angola, especially among endemic species, which hold the potential to improve the quality of life of rural communities. Moreover, our research underscores the lack of knowledge of medicinal species, emphasizing the risk of losing valuable historical information. [Display omitted] • Angola has great plant diversity and ethnobotanical potential. • The ethnobotanical legacy of the first Catholic mission in Huíla (Angola) is reported. • The traditional uses of 191 medicinal plants over the last two centuries are revealed. • The risk of losing valuable historical ethnobotanical data is emphasised in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entire operation of an enterprise is carried out through business processes. They represent a set of business activities, which transform available resources into results (outputs), such as a product or service. When it comes to non-wood forest products (NWFP), the business of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is based on procurement (col­lection and buying), processing and/or selling of these products. A very important aspect of SME business is cooperation with other enterprises. Cooperation can be achieved in procure­ment, production, placement, research, training, etc. This research aims to study business processes and activities, with a focus on the cooperation of NWFPs-based in the Topličko and Moravsko forest regions. The methods of analysis and synthesis and the statistical method were used. Data collection was conducted using face to face survey with representatives of 28 NWFPs-based enterprises in March 2022. Research results indicate that the majority of SMEs perform business processes related to the procurement, processing and selling of NWFPs. The most common form of purchase is at own purchase stations (96.4%) and with collectors coming to companies (92.9%). Most enterprises do not perform secondary processing of products, but neither do they export. The most common form of placement is to “other processors”. All analysed SMEs cooperate with other companies, but their representatives are also interested in improving that cooperation. There is a need for the improvement of business processes and the development of cooperation between NWFPs-based SMEs in selected forest regions, to increase their competitiveness.

Aim of study: The local ecological knowledge shared in rural communities shapes their norms for using their nearby open-access natural resources. We suggest a method to analyse this form of cognitive social capital with an application to a mushroom picking permit. Area of study: Poblet forest in Catalonia (NE Spain). Material and methods: We applied semi-structured questionnaires to pickers in four municipalities and to the governing body of the protected area. Our methodology assesses cognitive social capital combining three instruments: (i) inter-quartile ratio indexes for community cohesion, (ii) pair-wise comparisons across social groups: pickers and decision-makers (DM), and (iii) correlations for mental models linking perceived ecological, social and economic challenges with foreseen solutions. Main results: Analogous perceptions between DM and local pickers were found in most mushroom-related problems, which align with most picking permit design features. The perceived dissimilar behaviour between local and foreign pickers, the need for forest tending –addressing the wildfire risk–, and trash left in the forest are shared among pickers and DM. Moreover, some mental models of the DM showed statistically consistence. At the individual picker level, mushroom eco-literacy relates to family learning and proximity to DM, while links between pickers and DM correlate with increased forest profitability expectations. Research highlights: Strong convergence in cognitive indicators aggregated at the town level indicate a single hermeneutic community among local pickers, which seems to underlie the large permit acceptance but did not explain the differential permit uptake –thus, structural social capital emerges as complementary predictor.

Key message: Slant incisure tapping yielded the highest resin production. Resin production was proportional to tree size, tapping intensity, and frequency. Resin production was higher during hot dry season than cold dry season. Boswellia dalzielii Hutch. is an African frankincense tree species with high medicinal and economic values mostly derived from its resin. In Burkina Faso, it has potentials to be the source of significant income for local communities, but it is currently neglected and underutilized. This study aims to assess the species resin production in relationship to tree size, tapping technique, season, intensity, and frequency of harvesting in natural stands of Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. Two independent experiments were conducted on resin yield: (i) experiment 1 combined the tapping technique (six techniques) and tree stem-diameter (10–20 vs. 20–30 cm) using 120 trees; (ii) experiment 2 used the slant incisure tapping technique (best from the first experiment) and combined five tapping intensities (number of grooves: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10), period of tapping (cold vs. hot dry season), and tree stem-diameter (10–20, 20–30, and > 30 cm), using 90 trees. For each experiment, resin production was collected every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Analysis of variance and linear mixed model on longitudinal data were used for data analyses. All trees had exudated resin and the average resin yield per tree was 36.28 ± 8.62 g (experiment 1) and 40.43 ± 3.82 g (experiment 2). Tapping techniques and intensity, and tree stem-diameter had significant (P < 0.001) effect on resin yield. Slant incisure tapping yielded the highest resin production, followed by tapping in E-shape cut, V-shape cut and circular tape (intermediate yield production), whereas thin deep vertical incisure and node tape gave the lowest resin production. Larger trees exuded higher quantity of resin. Higher tapping intensity and frequency (wound renewal) also gave higher resin production. Trees tapped during hot dry season produced 1.23 times higher quantity of resin (44.58 ± 7.51 g) than in cold dry season. The findings of this research could help design better harvesting strategies for the sustainable management of B. dalzielii resources in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests provide an immense range of benefits to people, many of which are not prioritized by forest policy because they are difficult to quantify. Wild foods from forests enhance the quality of diets for those who consume them and provide income for those who sell or trade them. The quantity of wild food collected is challenging to measure because of non‐standard units, seasonal differences in collection patterns and large numbers of species.To provide initial estimates of collection volume in Zambia and pilot new methods, we surveyed 209 households across 14 villages randomly selected within 5 study areas covering all four agro‐ecological areas between 6 August and 27 October, 2019. For each study area, we conducted a focus group to identify the most commonly collected species within each of nine food product types (mushrooms, insects, green leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, nuts, wild meat, wild fish, and aquatic plants).All but one surveyed household collected some wild foods; on average, each household collected five types of food product, most commonly mushrooms, fruits and green leafy vegetables. Volume collected varied markedly by household, product type and study area. Rural households in Zambia are estimated to collect over 380 million litres, 380,000 m3, of wild foods annually. We estimate that 88% of these wild foods are collected directly from forests. Accounting for uncertainties, we estimate the volume of wild foods collected from forests to be at least 238,000 m3 per year, 125% of the volume of sawnwood produced, or about 12 million large (20 L) collecting buckets.Volume collected was not strongly correlated with metrics of wealth, indicating ubiquitous consumption of wild foods; however, the most food insecure collected particularly high volumes of wild food. Pilot market surveys found local value chains for wild foods, indicating a potential for economic contribution. Our results underscore the value of data that can be disaggregated locally and indicate that national estimates of quantities of wild food collected from forests would be highly useful for designing forest policy and management strategies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural pine resin, produced from coniferous species with different techniques is a very valuable and ancient biochemical product. It has wide uses in the chemical industry, paper, road paint, plastic, medicine and cosmetic industries. In recent years, legal restrictions all over the world on consumption of synthetic resin lead the industry to biodegradable products. Although there are suitable forests for natural resin production in Turkey, commercial manufacturing and scientific studies on this subject are not at the desired level today. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of different solvent types on the yield and chemical properties of crude wood resin. As a result of the analysis, extraction yields were found between 16% and 22%, and the highest yield was obtained in the ethanol-benzene solvent system. Collaterally to the yield, the highest acid and saponification numbers were found in alcohol-benzene extracts as 174,87 and 180,33 mg KOH /g, respectively. In order to evaluate our national resources and our current potential in crude wood rosin production, more detailed and effective studies should be carried out on the physical and chemical factors that affect the yield and quality of crude wood rosin .

Wild fungi are one of the most characteristic and diverse non-wood forest products from native and planted forest environments and grasslands in the Patagonian Andes. Through the technological and scientific platform “Patagonia Fungi, trails and tastes®”, we work to promote mycotourism and mycogastronomy as sustainable identity and inclusive economic and educational activities that promote local development, taking advantage of the outstanding regional tourist profile. We also work on the development of functional foods and promote the cultivation of edible and medicinal fungi. The main objectives of this research were to define novel edible species and evaluate them for sustainable uses, including: environmental characterizations of their fruiting niches and ‘mycosilvicultural’ managements to increase their productivity; documentation and analysis of the ancestral uses and their processes of change; determination of the nutritional and nutraceutical profiles; studies of molecular genetic diversity of various genera; protocols for the domestication of wild species; evaluation and selection of lignocellulosic substrates for cultivation from available residues in Patagonian Andes; economic aspects related to the marketing and use in local gastronomy; evaluation of postharvest preservation techniques. Most relevant actions include the design and implementation of mycotourism trails, the promotion of an identity mycogastronomy; the inter-institutional management of protocols for sustainable harvesting and food safety practices; the incorporation of 21 new species in the Argentinean Food Code. We also work for food sovereignty through a spawn production laboratory fostering edible and medicinal fungi cultivation through courses and assistance to producers from family to productive scales.

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ciência Florestal (01039954) is the property of Ciencia Florestal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim of study: Wild mushrooms are among the most widespread non-wood forest products in the Mediterranean region contributing to the rural economies. However, the wild mushroom sector still faces problems along its supply chain that can compromise its future in a scenario of increasing demand. The aim of this study was to analyse the current epigeous wild mushroom sector. Area of study: Representative countries of the Mediterranean region: Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece. Materials and methods: The analysis was carried out through a structured Delphi survey conducted in two rounds, with a questionnaire divided into four groups: 1) supply chain description, 2) sectorial SWOT analysis, 3) future challenges and 4) sectorial resilience increase. The Delphi survey started with the selection of an expert panel that included 14 representatives of the wild mushroom supply chain such as forest owners, mushroom pickers, processing industry and consumers. Main results: The results obtained from the expert panel confirmed the complexity of the wild mushroom supply chain with the following sectorial challenges: i) Traceability and sustainability is fundamental for the final consumer, ii) Sectorial administration should be more coordinated, iii) Mushroom picking should be regulated, as the grey market will decrease. Research highlights: The study identified the most important actions that will strengthen the links among sectorial actors and interconnect gastronomy with mushrooms sector. The creation of a common EU list of commercial mushroom species and the development of a taxation system together with the product traceability were also addressed.

In Mediterranean forests, many species of fungi produce fruiting bodies every autumn, some of which are of great social and economic interest as NTFPs. In addition, these fungi are an essential part of the biodiversity network that ensures the proper functioning of natural ecosystems and that is currently in check due to global change. Therefore, understanding the biogeographic patterns of species-specific fungal productivity is fundamental to anticipate possible changes in the socioeconomic value of our forests and to understand the role they play in the functioning of ecosystems in terms of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. In this study we estimate the future impact of climate change (in Catalonia region, between 2023 and 2100) on five fungal species with high socioeconomic interest in a broad bioclimatic gradient representative of the Mediterranean basin using high resolution at the landscape scale. To achieve this, we use predictive models based on machine learning algorithms and a fungal database resulting from the sampling of more than 100 permanent sampling plots over 20 years. We estimate that current and future productivity patterns differ among species, under different climate change scenarios and bioclimatic regions. Our results suggest that optimal productivity areas may be shifted to higher elevations, making those species with higher productivity at higher elevations the most affected by climate change. This would mean that some species with high socioeconomic value, such as Lactarius deliciosus and Boletus edulis , could be negatively affected in their total productivity in the study area. This study highlights the need to anticipate the potential effects of climate change on fungal productivity and in particular on high socioeconomic value species and to develop management policies oriented to maintain the important role of fungi in natural ecosystems. • We used random forest to assess biogeographical patterns in edible fungal species productivity. • Climate change will reduce annual productivity of high-elevation mushroom species. • Lower and mid-range elevation species may shift fruiting optima to higher elevations. • Climate change may reduce Lactarius deliciosus and Boletus edulis production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing evidence for the significant value and potential of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) worldwide. Among other non-wood forest products, MAPs are considered a key element of sustainable forest management and economic development. As part of Mediterranean cultural heritage, these plants are a major driver of rural tourism, in many areas representing an important raw material for various bio-based industrial sectors. Besides their economic value, MAPs enhance social integration and maintain gender balance as harvesting and processing MAPs is clearly a female dominated task. Despite the prominent contribution of MAPs to local development, conservation of biodiversity and the development of the traditional Mediterranean food system, many challenges and knowledge gaps could potentially place the sector's development at risk. The aim of this work is to examine the present situation of the MAPs sector in the most productive countries around the Mediterranean and to identify future challenges and priority actions to develop the MAPs sector in the region. To do so, a supply chain analysis was performed to identify the main stakeholders involved. Various experts from Croatia, France, Greece, Spain, and Tunisia participated in the SWOT analysis and the Delphi approach employed in this study. The results highlight the main challenges facing the sector in Mediterranean countries. Five groups of challenges are identified, related mainly to certification and labelling, life quality and wellbeing, market development, research development, and transforming and processing. To overcome these challenges, a set of actions is validated by the interviewed experts with the aim of improving marketing strategies and including various innovations related to political, legal, organisational, and institutional frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The most important honeydew-producing insect in Greece is Marchalina hellenica (Coccoidea: Marchalinidae), which is a parasite on pine trees. The current work is part of an ongoing research project aiming to provide knowledge on honeydew-producing insects and the impact of critical factors (climate, beekeeping manipulations, honeydew-producing insect phenology) on honeydew honey production. Empirical evidence indicates that among the weather factors, the most important one, at least for spring honeydew secretions, appears to be temperature and, more specifically, the existence of cold winter days. Presently, we investigate the effect of cold periods in February on the life cycle of Marchalina hellenica. Our primary goal is to help beekeepers plan the timely exploitation of honeydew secretions of pine trees. Such a potential will be beneficial for beekeepers, the rural economy, and forest protection. It should be noted that current results highlight the impact of climate change in the field of entomology, and they indicate that the life cycle of Marchalina hellenica is expected to be drastically shorter. Climate change is considered a major factor affecting honeybees' behavior and productivity with major consequences in both honey and agricultural production. Many research studies have expressed serious concerns about the mass losses of bee colonies and the role of bees as pollinators, while others have underlined important issues for the impact of the increase in temperature on honeybee abundance and honey yields. In the present work, we draw our attention to Marchalina hellenica, which is the most important honeydew-producing insect in Greece. A statistically significant forecasting model for the effect of cold periods in February on the life cycle of the insect is constructed, with the aid of the Cumulative Logit Model and the theory of runs. The forecasting model may help beekeepers plan the timely exploitation of honeydew secretions of pine trees, which will be beneficial for beekeepers, the rural economy, and forest protection. The new suggested model also indicates that, in view of the climate change scenarios seen in the literature, the life cycle of M. hellenica is expected to be drastically shorter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The use of plants in rituals is a little explored corner of biocultural diversity which has developed through time within a complex socio-ecological system. Indeed, rituals are complex interactions between humans and biodiversity shaped by history, culture, and ethnic belonging. Yet, in Western Ukraine, such rituals were forbidden for over 50 years (1939–1991). The current revival of rituals by rural inhabitants is an untapped reservoir of local ecological knowledge. The aim of the present study was to identify the ritual use of wild and cultivated plants in two regions of Western Ukraine, Bukovina and Roztochya, and to compare the findings with historical data. Moreover, we analyzed attitudes toward the ritual use of plants and interactions with the local environment. Methods We conducted 31 in-depth semi-structured interviews among Orthodox Hutsuls of Bukovina and 16 interviews among Greek Catholic rural inhabitants of Roztochya during summer 2018 focusing on the ritual uses of plants. Results We documented 28 plant taxa among Bukovinian Hutsuls and 58 plant taxa among inhabitants in Roztochya that were used in 7 religious festivals (of which two were celebrated differently in the two communities). Plants were mainly used in bouquets, but also for decorating churches and houses or in fruit baskets. In both communities, almost 25% of the interviewees could not name the plants they collected for bouquets, but rather referred to “just beautiful green herbs” one can get in meadows, forests, and gardens. Comparison with historical data shows a smaller number of taxa currently used (wild taxa have been lost), yet the persistence of 18 taxa used both now and a century ago. Conclusions Contemporary practices concerning the use of plants in Christian rituals in Bukovina and Roztochya can be contextualized in the broader phenomenon of the revitalization of traditional environmental knowledge and practices that have characterized Europe over the past 30 years and in particular Eastern Europe after socialism. The current religious use of plants is to a certain extent the revitalization of historical rituals supported by various internal (knowledge from older generations) and external (church authorities and fashion in the region) drivers. Further research should address changes in regions with longer and more severe prohibition of religious practices and their revival.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the demand for medicinal plants from the perspective of herbalists who trade these plants in Istanbul and to reveal the relations among the variables affecting the demand. For this aim, the results of the face-to-face survey with 200 herbalists in 20 randomly selected districts of Istanbul were analyzed. In this scope, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and Chi-Square independence test were used. The analyses were carried out with SPSS 22.0 statistical package program. According to the results of the study, the top three medicinal plants which are most in demand are linden, ginger and sage, respectively. The most plant sales occur in winter and the most important criterion for consumers when purchasing plants is price. It was found that herbalists mostly sell the medicinal and aromatic plants which are good for respiratory diseases.

Forest ecosystems provide numerous services that contribute to the wellbeing of societies. However, the lack of knowledge about the benefits of non-wood forest ecosystem services, such as non-wood forest products (NWFPs), hinders efficient forest policy decision-making processes. This study proposes a new extension of the Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs) to capture both the private and the social component of NWFPs. By means of a literature review, we show how extended SAMs can be a suitable approach to explain the causal relationship between the supply of forest ecosystem services, forest-based value chains, and the European bioeconomy. The literature analysis shows that the number of research studies calibrating or using SAMs has been increasing over the last decades. Recent extensions of the SAMs made it possible to evaluate the relationship between human wellbeing and the environment. Moreover, we found applications to the forest sector (limited to timber) and to the supply of some non-wood ecosystem services. We believe the extended SAMs will support decision-makers to design forest strategies that properly account for the benefits NWFPs provide to both the economy and the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the present paper is to highlight the most important non-wood forest products (NWFPs) from Sălaj County. For this purpose, a set of 19 criteria was taken into consideration and the analytic hierarchy process was applied to establish criteria weights. Subsequently, the method was tested by using Expert Choice software. The selected NWFPs were: honey fungus [Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P.Kumm.], parasol mushroom [Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer], acorns, Tilia flowers, wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.), St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and European pine marten (Martes martes L.). The two NWFPs with the highest potential were European roe deer and honey fungus, while the less important ones were Tilia flowers and St John’s wort. Sălaj County has great potential, diversity and distribution of the NWFPs, but this sector is underdeveloped and disorganized. This approach provides forest managers with information to develop further NWFP management strategies.

Global trends towards the bio-economy and a rapid change in value production caused by an awareness of climate change and the importance of forests and the environment overall, as well as of the demographical change in modern societies suggests a potential for increasing the role of non-wood forest products (NWFP) in future forest-based natural resources systems. The change of production-based societies to service-based societies has opened opportunities for the growing heterogenic group of forest owners as well. As new value production models have been identified, many forestry sector managers and owners are still in their infancy in seizing opportunities related to the service-based forest value production as well as in the need of conceptual clarity and understanding of the phenomena. This paper aims to study those factors influencing forest owners in diversifying value production into non-wood based products. The focus is on identifying those factors that attribute to the non-industrial private forest owner's decision to engage in NWFP production alongside traditional forestry. The results provide an overall picture of drivers and barriers which forest owners encounter while engaging and operating in the natural products sector. This study was based on in-depth interviews collected from twenty forest owners in Finland. The results revealed that drivers for engaging in NWFPs production are principally internal whereas barriers are mainly external. According to results increased knowledge, more effective communication, cooperation and networking between forest owners, forest professionals and NWFP suppliers are needed to support the supply chain, and consequently to develop the NWFPs production.

Economic importance of non-wood forest products (NWFP) has been increasing over the last decades, and is now holding a respectable share in the global bioeconomy. The importance of bioeconomy is not yet fully recognized in many country policies, therefore, a well-defined and sustainably managed forest and wood industry could play an important role in implementing and boosting bioeconomy aims, especially in rural areas. The aim of the paper is to present recent research on characteristics of NWFP’s and their value for Croatian bioeconomy. Data obtained from collectors and processors (1001 respondents April-May 2018) was analyzed using descriptive statistics tools on the value of the most common products (mushrooms, medical and aromatic plants, berries and other fruits). The average road distance that respondents cross between their home and the forest is about 10.5 kilometers. They spend 14 days per year collecting, and collect around 2 kg per day. The average prices that nonwood forest products achieve on Croatian, and even on the international market (5.3 EUR/kg) are higher than expected. Medicinal, aromatic and edible herbs achieve the highest price (6.24 EUR/kg mostly influenced by immortelle prices in the last few years), as well as mushrooms whose prices are higher than average (5.90 EUR/kg, mostly influenced by the price of white and black truffle). Sustainable forest management with focus on NWFPs could have a positive influence on employment, creation of added values and the share of forestry in national bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uses and traditional knowledge (TK) are essential for the protection and management of natural resources. There are extensive records of traditional uses involving mainly vascular plants, while for mosses are scarce. This study documents the TK and uses of Dendropogonella rufescens in San Juan Luvina, Oaxaca, Mexico. Questions: For what purpose and how D. rufescens is used in San Juan Luvina? Can TK provide ecological information for this species? How is TK maintained among the members of the community? Studied species: Dendropogonella rufescens (Schimp.) Britt. (Bryophyta). Study site and dates: San Juan Luvina, Oaxaca, Mexico. March 2020. Methods: We conducted interviews with inhabitants from three age categories (15-41, 42-68, and 69-95 years). Interviews included questions about the length of time the community has used the plant, harvesting practices, traditional use per se, and plant recycling after traditional use. Results: Results include historical information about the use of the plant and TK grouped in seven categories (ceremonial, construction, craft, environmental, fuel, medicinal, and ornamental). These results include new reports of TK of bryophytes in Mexico. Conclusions: For the uses and TK reported, D. rufescens is essential for the cultural identity of the community of San Juan Luvina. D. rufescens TK could use to develop conservation strategies for bryophytes. As our findings suggest, TK and uses of bryophytes should be recorded because they are likely to disappear.

Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study was carried out to make potential distribution modeling of dog rose (Rosa canina L.) species found naturally in the Nur Mountains of Gaziantep District, Turkey. In this study data obtained from 79 sample sites was used. Interspecific correlation analysis (ICA) was applied to define indicator species of dog rose. The results of the applied ICA showed that Abies cilicica Carr., Pinus nigra Arnold. and Rubus caesius L. were positively associated with dog rose whereas Pinus brutia Ten. had a negative association, becoming an indicator species. Classification and regression tree technique (CART) and maximum entropy approach (MAXENT) have been used to obtain the distribution models of the species. The optimum model obtained from CART was built by altitude, aspect and heat index. The variables found in the MAXENT model were altitude, slope % and topographical position index. According to the results of ten-fold cross validations, AUC (Area Under Curve) values of the models were found to be higher than 80%. The obtained model-based maps pointed out that habitat as the most suitable sites of dog rose are the lower and middle parts of the valleys found in the upper zone of the Nur Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Predictive models shed light on aboveground fungal yield dynamics and can assist decision-making in forestry by integrating this valuable non-wood forest product into forest management planning. However, the currently existing models are based on rather local data and, thus, there is a lack of predictive tools to monitor mushroom yields on larger scales. Results This work presents the first empirical models for predicting the annual yields of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms and related ecosystem services in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster stands in northern Spain, using a long-term dataset suitable to account for the combined effect of meteorological conditions and stand structure. Models were fitted for the following groups of fungi separately: all ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, edible mushrooms and marketed mushrooms. Our results show the influence of the weather variables (mainly precipitation) on mushroom yields as well as the relevance of the basal area of the forest stand that follows a right-skewed unimodal curve with maximum predicted yields at stand basal areas of 30–40 m2∙ha− 1. Conclusion These models are the first empirical models for predicting the annual yields of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster stands in northern Spain, being of the highest resolution developed to date and enable predictions of mushrooms productivity by taking into account weather conditions and forests’ location, composition and structure.

In this study, the foreign trade of some plant based non-wood forest products are investigated. Firstly, the changes in the export and import values of chestnut, thyme, bay leaf and pine nuts, which are non-wood forest products, have been examined in the last ten years (1998-2017) using "external trade statistics published by the Turkey Statistical Institute. Afterwards, the amount and revenue projections of thyme and bay leaves were made by using export amounts and export revenues between 1990 and 2017. Estimated values were obtained for projections based on moving averages, exponential smoothing, linear and exponential trend. According to the results of the study, it is estimated that the export quantities and revenues of thyme and bay leaf will increase in 2019-2023.

The aim of this article is to determine the factors affecting the purchasing preferences of consumers for non-wood forest products. The study was conducted in Burdur province. The data were obtained by survey method. Percentage and frequencies were used for data analysis and chi-square test was used to determine differences according to socio-demographic characteristics. Purchasing preferences were determined by fuzzy paired comparison method. According to the results of the study; (a) Products are mainly supplied from seller of medicinal herbs, (b) The most important factors in consumers' purchasing preferences are natural and reliable products, health and nutritional values, (c) Among consumers, the rate of obtaining non-wood forest products by collecting from nature is very high. The most important reason for choosing this supply is the desire to consume the natural ones.

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is one of the species which is grown naturally in Anatolia, has been put into of rehabilitation activities in order to ensure sustainability for this species, as a result of unplanned and excessive exploitation. In this study the rehabilitation practices on the cranberry in the areas of Dursunbey Forest Management Directorate were examined and determination of the idea that, how the forest villagers were affected from the practices and their aspects, was made. For this purpose, a questionnaire was applied with face to face interviews with 173 people in the study area and the data were analyzed by using SPSS 20 statistical package program. According to the results of the study, socio-economic problems such as low income and migration affected the villagers negatively, the rehabilitation practices contributed significantly to the yield of cornelian cherry trees and it was stated that the rehabilitation activities were welcomed by the local people. However, the continuation of the maintenance activities after rehabilitation is important for the success of the studies. Another important point is the use of cornelian cherries should be done in a planned way.

Brazil has a vast diversity of natural resources, which are important in the economic and social context of many families, identified through non-wood forest products (NWFP), among them chestnuts, in the north, and pine nut, in the south of the country. Thus, the objective of the work was to analyze the productive chain of the Brazilian chestnuts in order to establish and identify potentialities existing in its productive chain that can be used to promote the pine nut productive chain in the social, economic and environmental spheres. The study was carried out through the application of an open questionnaire, having as target audience representatives linked to the commercialization and research of both forest products. As a main result, it is evident that the pine nut has an incomplete production chain, presenting itself as a product with secondary representation in the formation of farmers' income, which contributes to the structure of pine nut commercialization being incipient. In addition, the lack of social organization for extractivism is responsible for the non-consolidation of the chain, coupled with the incipient process of industrialization and processing of the pine nut. which limits the added value of the product. There is a need for greater interest and attention on the part of the government with actions involving entities that can assist in the most different spheres, as well as providing technical assistance, research, and financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is considered a major factor affecting honeybees’ behavior and productivity with major consequences in both honey and agricultural production. Many research studies have expressed serious concerns about the mass losses of bee colonies and the role of bees as pollinators, while others have underlined important issues for the impact of the increase in temperature on honeybee abundance and honey yields. In the present work, we draw our attention to Marchalina hellenica, which is the most important honeydew-producing insect in Greece. A statistically significant forecasting model for the effect of cold periods in February on the life cycle of the insect is constructed, with the aid of the Cumulative Logit Model and the theory of runs. The forecasting model may help beekeepers plan the timely exploitation of honeydew secretions of pine trees, which will be beneficial for beekeepers, the rural economy, and forest protection. The new suggested model also indicates that, in view of the climate change scenarios seen in the literature, the life cycle of M. hellenica is expected to be drastically shorter.