ANALYSIS OF CURRENT POLICIES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCT CULTIVATION UNDER FOREST CANOPY

Abstract

This article aims to review and identify shortcomings in existing policies and propose measures to encourage the development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) under forest canopy. A review of over 19 legal documents reveals that while policies and regulations supporting under-canopy NTFP development already exist. However, the related regulations are scattered across various legal documents, making them difficult to understand and apply; insufficiently cover the list of NTFP species groups; lack specificity and hard to implement; and fail to facilitate the development of high-value NTFP species. Existing support policies do not specifically target under-canopy NTFP development. In the forestry sector, there are currently no specific policies regarding investment incentives, investment support, credit, or forestry extension to foster under-canopy NTFP development. In other sectors, NTFP development is not clearly addressed, and there are limitations regarding eligible beneficiaries, support levels, and application criteria. To encourage the development of under-canopy NTFPs, the study proposes three key policy recommendations: i) amending and supplementing regulations in relevant legal documents to establish a favorable legal framework; ii) developing a cohesive policy focused on supporting under-canopy NTFP development; and iii) adopting policies that support the procurement and market development for markets for NTFPs under forest canopy.