Benefits and potential of non-timber forest products and ecosystem services

B.Sc. Emmanuel Acquaye Kumi, BSc

Master's thesis

Abstract:

NTFPs have been part of man’s life since the beginning of his existence on earth. Most people living in rural areas have been obtaining food, medicines, fuel and several other items from the forest. Some parts of the world have advanced in their knowledge and use of these NTFPs but in contrast to this, most parts of Africa are yet to harness the full potential of these NTFPs for their own benefits. The research focuses on showing how well we can tap the full benefits of NTFPs to improve our livelihoods. The collection and marketing of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ghana are being promoted as a potential solution to the current high rates of malnutrition, the poor health of the rural population and the spread and intensification of poverty. Despite the high potential of NTFPs changing the lives of especially rural folk in Ghana, little knowledge is currently available about their proper way of cultivation, collection, processing, packaging, labelling, and storage and marketing. A proper knowledge about the benefits of NTFPs would go a long way to help us in our health and socioeconomic needs to mention but a few.The thesis seeks to explore the untapped benefits/uses of the forest other than timber for their socioeconomic purposes in the lives of especially rural communities in Africa. The thesis seeks to explore the untapped benefits/uses of the forest other than timber for their socioeconomic purposes in the lives of especially rural communities in Africa.

Keywords

FAO, Food and Agricultural Organization, Ghana, Marketing ASNAPP, Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Products, NTFP, Non-Timber Forest Products, Non-Wood Forest Products

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: RNDr. Marcel Riedl, CSc.
• Reader: Luděk Šišák, CSc.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences

Master programme / field:
Forestry Engineering / Forest Engineering