Non-Timber Forest Products Enterprise Development

Determining sustainability harvesting levels for most NTFPs is an evolving science. A Monitoring Programme that will continually assess the health and vitality of natural resources base should be implemented. Though there is some information on individual species ecosystem dynamics are still not well understood. Commercialization of natural products makes it imperative to manage proactively through monitoring, harvesting and replanting and tree succession plans. Important steps in sustainable natural product management include the following:Identification and demarcation of the resource base by ecosystem type (forest, pasture, farmland, rock outcrop, etc.) and map the locations of various ecosystems types; Identification of resource supply areas of the preferred products. Estimate the volume based on current harvesting and trade or use. Further identify potential threats to standing stock of natural resource base. In addition conduct group meeting to investigate where and how products have been harvested, extracted or collected over the last 3 to 5 years;Undertaking resource inventory of standing stock and also conducting user surveys; andEngaging resource collectors.

Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini (1988 Diploma, 1992 B.Sc., 1997 B.Sc. Hons., 1998, M.Sc., 2007, Ph.D.) and he has recently completed a Masters in Development Finance (2010). Research Fellow at the University of Swaziland.