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Non-Timber Forest Products in the Daniel Boone
National Forest Region Economic Significance,
Access Mechanisms and Potential for
Sustainability Dasharathi Hembram, William L.
Hoover
Introduction Rural America has a large share of
the nations poverty population. These areas lack
stable employment, opportunities for mobility,
diversity of social structure, and investment in
community (Tickamyer and Duncan 1990). Although
scholars and policy makers have explored the ways
for survival of rural communities in such
conditions (Duncan 1999)., they have paid limited
attention to non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
as in the developing countries (Belcher et al.
2005). We here present economic significance of
these resources, property rights regimes and
access mechanisms and the resource use practices
in the context of the eastern USA.
Conclusion NTFPs are economically and culturally
important to rural households in the central
Appalachian region. From policy perspectives, a
regulatory policy is not likely to succeed for
rural livelihoods and conservation of these
species. The resources necessary for an
enforcement programme are not available, and it
is unlikely that a strict enforcement programme
would receive the community support. On the other
hand, it is not apparent that the institutions
necessary for community self-governance to
regulate sustainable harvest levels are present.
This makes it appropriate to consider the
development of community programme leading to
increased self-enforcement of harvest levels,
stakeholders participation and sustained
livelihoods. We suggest that policies
considering rural livelihood in the Appalachian
region must take these resources into
consideration. However, such policies should
focus on more wider social and economic processes
that are likely to improve the long-run economic
welfare of people in the region.
Results Characteristics of Households The
participants we interviewed belonged to Native
American, European American and mixed lineage.
Generally households from low income group
reported use of NTFPs for cash income.
Traditional ecological knowledge was a key
characteristics of these households.
Non-Timber Forest Products There were wide
range of NTFPs in forest ecosystems in this part
of Appalachia. In aggregate participants
reported one hundred and five forest species that
were used by them as edible and beverages,
medicinal, ornamentals and decorative materials,
firewood, crafts and furniture, and oil, dye and
perfume agents. Livelihood use Edible and
medicinal products constituted bulk of NTFPs.
Household income from sale of NTFPs in 2005 was
found to be between 200 to 5,000. Few
harvesters might have earned about 10,000
annually. The root of American ginseng (Panax
quinquefolius) that had average price of 350 per
dry pound in last three years contributed the
most to household income. Access Households
gathered NTFPs more on private forestlands than
public forest. This was due to larger forests
under private ownership, restrictions on
collection on the National Forests and easy
access to private forestlands. Access to the
National Forest was mediated through permit
system while NTFPs proved to be social capital in
private forestlands where access was mediated
through social relationships. Harvesting
Practices There were some sustainable harvesting
practices such as restriction on time of harvest,
restriction on age-class, practice of re-sowing
of seeds, retaining of mature plants on
harvesting sites and rotational harvesting in
order to help regeneration. Although these are
considered sustainable resource use practices
(Berkes et al. 2000), participants reported that
they adopted these practices for individual
economic benefits. These practices were
self-enforced. There was no mechanism to enforce
these practices and no institution for
self-governance by local communities. Many
individuals especially the younger generations
did not follow these practices.
Methods We conducted a study in communities in
and around the Daniel Boone National Forest
(DBNF) in the state of Kentucky in the United
States (Figure 1). The region located in the
central Appalachia is known for its
geographically isolated communities characterized
by persistent and chronic poverty.
Figure 1 Counties of DBNF in the state of
Kentucky We used a mix of methodological
approaches with qualitative, inductive inquiry
and quantitative measurement. It was difficult to
identify and access NTFP harvesters was difficult
since commercial harvesting of these resources is
an informal economic activity. We interviewed 25
participants from different socio-economic
backgrounds.
References Belcher, B., M. Ruiz-Perez and R.
Achdiawan. 2005. Global patterns and trends in
the use and management of commercial NTFPs
Implications for livelihoods and conservations.
World Development 33(9) 1435-1452 Berkes, F., J.
Colding and C. Folke. 2000. Rediscovery of
traditional ecological knowledge as
adaptive management. Ecological Applications
10(5)1251-1262 Duncan, C. M. 1999. Worlds Apart
Why Poverty Persists in rural America. New Haven
Yale University Press Tickamyer, A. R. and C. M.
Duncan. 1990. Poverty and opportunity structure
in rural America. Annual Review of Sociology 16
67-86
Acknowledgments We thank participants of this
study, officials of Daniel Boone National
forests, and ASPI, Mount Vernon, Kentucky for
their support. Funding for this research was
provided by the ford Foundation and Purdue
University, Indiana, USA.

For further information Please contact 1. D.
Hembram IFS, Dy. Conservator of Forests, INRM and
Poverty Reduction Project, Van Bhawana, Sector
6, Panchkula, Haryana, India, e-mail
dhembram_at_gmail.com, phone [phone]. Pro
f. William L. Hoover, Purdue University,
Department of Forestry and Natural resources,
195 Marsteller Street, West Lafayette, IN
47907-2033, USA, e-mail whoover_at_purdue.edu,
phone [phone]