Forest Management: More than Timber
by Wendy Cocksedge and Tim Brigham

In the last 2 decades, the term “non-timber forest products” has entered the lexicon of forest resource managers in Canada and many other parts of the world. The term refers to all of the botanical and mycological species of the forest and their associated services, such as ecotourism. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) can be considered a sub-set of the larger concept of ecosystem services, as defined by the UN’s Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005. The relatively recent appearance of the term has often led to the misconception that these are ‘new’ products representing a new use of forest resources. In fact, the harvesting and use of these resources represents the first human use of forest resources, and they remain a key part of livelihood strategies for hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Apart from their significant commercial value - in BC, the non-timber forest products industry is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually - these resources also make essential contributions in meeting subsistence needs as well as playing important roles in cultural practices and recreational activities. Although the use of non-timber forest products is globally widespread, their value is often under-recognized, under-reported, and, many would argue, under-appreciated by mainstream society.
Given the significantly greater economic value of timber compared to other forest resources, it comes as no surprise that much of the management of our forest resources in BC and elsewhere has been more about the management of timber than it has been about the forest as a whole. Where they enter into the discussion at all, NTFPs generally receive at best only secondary or incidental consideration.

However, the situation is gradually changing. As communities become aware of and/or are compelled to explore alternative forms of economic development, the demand for greater recognition of non-timber values in forest management is beginning to be heard. While many of the tools and methods remain to be developed, the push towards a more holistic form of forest management provided by different stakeholders as well as national and provincial policy commitments, is leading to the development of new approaches in forest management. 
What is “compatible management”?

Compatible management refers to an approach to forest management that recognizes and seeks to enhance a range of forest values, including both timber and non-timber resources. The concept behind compatible management is not a new development, nor is it necessarily restricted to NTFPs. In that sense, a better term would be integrated forest management, as forest management goals focused on maintaining biodiversity, preserving wildlife habitat, and ensuring access for cultural purposes, all overlap nicely with maintaining a range of opportunities for NTFP harvesting. 

Many current and emerging forest practices incorporate non-timber values, including ecosystem-based management, adaptive management and potentially forest stewardship plans. Managing for non-timber forest products often complements the management for other non-timber values – and vice-versa – with only minimal extra effort and planning. In the final assessment, the most important tools for incorporating NTFPs into management plans will be awareness of the opportunities and communication between forest managers and users. In order to realize these opportunities and to practice truly holistic and sustainable forest management, resource managers and others who utilize forest resources require a solid base of knowledge about incorporating NTFPs into resource management plans. 

The continuum of compatible management
According to Brian Titus, a research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, compatible management is best viewed as a continuum of possible activities. This continuum ranges from inactive compatibility (i.e., taking advantage of already existing forest management tools to increase NTFP values) to active compatibility (i.e., applying forest management with the explicit objective of increasing both timber and non-timber values). In between are incidental management scenarios, where management for one value happens to benefit the other, although this is not a clear objective of the management approach. Some examples of this continuum are provided below.

Before forest managers assess the investment required in moving towards an active compatible management approach, there are a number of relatively easily implemented actions that will benefit harvesters and could be considered immediately. Providing NTFP harvesters with access to maps (road networks, inventories, and ecological classification) and aerial photographs will help knowledgeable harvesters become more efficient in their harvesting activities. Similarly, effectively communicating with harvesters/buyers about the timing of forest management practices that can impact NTFP resources may create opportunities for product salvage before road building and timber harvesting commences. Providing secure gates and long-term leases (where possible/practical) would enable NTFP harvesters to benefit from their own stewardship of the NTFP resource.
What are some of the practical steps forest resource managers can take towards implementing compatible management? 

• Get to know local NTFP harvesters and buyers. They can help managers develop an understanding of the commercial quality of plant species, provide local knowledge of NTFP habitat, and help with understanding the impacts of forest management on NTFP resources.
• Establish good communication avenues with NTFP harvesters. Many compatible management opportunities require coordination of timing, the communication of forest management plans, and understanding the timing of NTFP harvester needs.
• Train NTFP harvesters in proper silvicultural techniques if applicable. For example, bough harvesters trained in appropriate pruning techniques can assist land owners/managers while obtaining their products.
Questions often arise about the rationale for companies to practice compatible management. With no clearly delineated rights to understory species, it is difficult for either timber companies or NTFP harvesters to justify investment into these species when someone else could benefit from these investments. This situation is a source of frustration for both parties and of great concern to First Nations who rely on these resources to meet subsistence, cultural, and other needs. 

Although forest companies cannot collect revenue from non-timber forest products permits or leases within their timber licences on Crown land, they still have a number of incentives for including them within forest management plans, such as:

• Recognizing the rights of Aboriginal access to resources
• Meeting certification requirements such as biodiversity maintenance
• Increasing the value/health of some timber stands with the assistance of harvesters (i.e. through pruning boughs to control white pine blister rust)
• Providing additional income generating options that support the goal of community stability and diversification
• Practicing true forest stewardship that recognizes the broad range of goods and services forestlands can provide

The wide range of examples of compatible management already existing across North America suggests that there are many imaginative ways that NTFP values can be increased within our forests as part of forest management. Some of these ways will also increase the value of our forest timber products, and some may help forest managers realize financial returns early in a rotation. The next decade promises to be an exciting one, as the recognition of NTFP values increasingly becomes a part of mainstream sustainable forest management.

Wendy Cocksedge and Tim Brigham work for the Centre for Non-Timber Resources, at Royal Roads University. They can be reached at 250-391-2600.