Abstract

TAPIA-TAPIA, Estrella del Carmen  and  REYES-CHILPA, Ricardo. Mexican non-wood forest products: economic aspects for sustainable development. Madera bosques [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.3, pp.95-112. ISSN 2448-7597.

The importance of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) has increased along with growing concern on deforestation, and the need to diversify and increase the value of forest resources. The NTFP include a number of products which are important in the daily life of local communities, because they contribute to obtain additional earnings and employment. In the present investigation, the available NTFP information for Mexico is reviewed, in order to identify production patterns, and to contribute to generate sustainable management proposals. According to governmental sources, in Mexico there are 20 000 plant species, 950 of them provide NTFP, but only 10% of this last figure has commercial value and is subjected to regulation. Currently, NFTP are classified in seven categories. In the period 1985-2003, NFTP mean annual production was 135 667,158 tons. The category "other products" was the most important, followed by "resins", "fibres", "waxes", "gums" and "rhizomes". During this period, the production of "resins" tended to be stable, "fibres" and "waxes" tended to decline, but "gums" and "rhizomes" fall down. In 2003, the NFTP national value was $498 098,712 pesos. The categories "other products" and "resins" accounted for 68,9% and 22,5%, respectively of total value. In contrast, "forest soil" (used for gardens) represented 62,3% of production in tons, but accounted only for 2,63% of the total PFNM value. It is concluded that NTFP official information is scanty and incomplete. Because of this, it is necessary to develop a new classification, especially to divide "other products", since it includes a number of important products not properly quantified, such as medicinal plants.

Keywords : Economy; Mexico; Non Timber Forest Products.