Non-timber forest products and human health in the context of environmental change

Abstract

This paper discusses the nexus between non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and human health in the context of environmental change. Over the years, NTFPs have been noted to have a great potential role in improving nutrition and health, and for reducing poverty. More recently, there is increasing concern about the disappearance of several NTFPs as a result of unsustainable utilisation of these products and also because of environmental change. We highlight some of the key challenges to sustainable utilisation of NTFPs, and argue that such challenges are largely a result of the poor conceptualisation and operationalisation of NTFP projects. The role played by dysfunctional policies related to NTFPs, especially in developing countries, are discussed