Expert-Based Assessment of the Potential of Non-Wood Forest Products to Diversify Forest Bioeconomy in Six European Regions

Abstract

The forest-based sector plays a significant role in supporting Europe on its pathway towards a more integrated and bio-based circular economy. Beyond the supply of timber, forest ecosystems offer a wide range of products and services beneficial to human wellbeing. Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) play an integral role in provisioning forest ecosystem services and constitute a huge portfolio of species from various taxonomic kingdoms. As diverse as the resources themselves is the list of end-products that may be derived from raw non-wood materials. Multiple value-chains of NWFPs provide benefits to actors across all stages of the supply chain. Forest management has not yet directed full attention towards NWFPs, since timber production remains the main management objective, although multi-purpose management is recognised as a key principle of the sector’s sustainability paradigm. Lack of knowledge of the socio-economic relevance of NWFPs for European societies and diverse property rights frameworks increase the complexity in forest-based decision making additionally. In this study, the future potential of 38 NWFPs for diversifying the forest bioeconomy is investigated by means of multi-criteria analysis, including stakeholder interaction and expert involvement. The results for six case studies in different biogeographical zones in Europe indicate the latent opportunities NWFPs provide to forest owners who are willing to focus their management on the joint production of wood and non-wood resources as well as their value networks. This study intends to unravel perspectives for forest owners in particular, as they often represent principal decision makers in forest ecosystem management, act as main suppliers of NWFP raw materials, and thus can be understood as key stakeholders in a forest bioeconomy. Even though regional perspectives differ, due to varying socio-economic and ecological environments, there is huge potential to strengthen the economic viability of rural areas. Furthermore, sustainable co-production may foster the ecological integrity of forest ecosystems across Europe. Results show that wild mushrooms constitute the most widespread opportunity to increase additional income from forest management, but the most promising NWFPs can be found in the tree product, understorey plant and animal origin categories.

Tendencias de la bioeconomía en la búsqueda de un modelo económico sustentable

“…Así mismo, existen aún muchos vacíos en el desarrollo e implementación de la bioeconomía como es el caso del sector forestal, donde existe muy poco trabajo e investigación, pero un enorme potencial para fortalecer la viabilidad económica de las zonas rurales (Huber et al, 2023). Las plantas son cada vez más valoradas para la producción de distintos compuestos, como proteínas para la salud, la industria y sobre todo para los procesos metabólicos de las plantas sean mucho más eficientes; sin embargo, falta mucho por investigar en esta área (Hankamer et al, 2023).…”

Expert-Based Assessment of the Potential of Agroforestry Systems in Plain Regions across Bihor County, Western Romania

“…In this study, like in the one used to assess the potential of certain non-wood forest products in six European Regions [68], the Expert Choice Desktop (v. 11.5.1683) software package was used and three scenarios were proposed.…”

Consumption Preferences for Truffles and Truffle-Based Products: An Application of the PLS-SEM Model

“…In recent years, interest in truffles (valuable mushrooms) has increased, for both spontaneously grown truffles and those cultivated in artificial truffle grounds. In the latter case, new income opportunities are promoted for the various operators in the supply chain [6], supporting the recovery and valorization of marginal territories and inner areas [7], which can also happen through the promotion of the potential links with food and wine tourism.…”

“…Sustainability 2024, 16, 5002 2 of 24 Huber et al [6] argued that non-timber forest products (NWFP) play a fundamental role in the provision of forest ecosystem services, highlighting how, in the cases observed in Europe, NWFP products offer opportunities to forestry companies willing to manage a combination of woody and non-woody resources. Furthermore, sustainable co-production can support the appropriate management of agro-forest ecosystems across Europe.…”