Non-Timber Forest Products Utilization in a Town in the Sierra Madre Mountains

Abstract

"The forests in the Sierra Madre Mountains are major source of income for the subsistence of many households within the uplands. They are the sources of sawlogs, fuelwood, and other products in various forms. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) , more commonly called 'minor forest products' in the past, abound in these mountains. Because of the great demand for NTFPs as raw materials for handicrafts (basketry, wood carvings, and wooven items) and furniture, and because of the recent restrictions in logging, exploitation pressures on them are becoming strong.

In the forest areas, the very survival of the people is inextricably tied to the productivity of these areas. Their dependency ends when the forest resources are depleted. It is therefore necessary to come up with policies so that forest utilization can be rationalized and be managed on a sustainable basis."