Author
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ALEXANDER, SUSAN - Us Forest Service (FS) |
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FREY, GREGORY - Us Forest Service (FS) |
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BLATNER, KEITH - Washington State University |
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JACOBSON, MICHAEL - Pennsylvania State University |
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SILLS, ERIN - North Carolina State University |
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MERCER, EVAN - Us Forest Service (FS) |
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DOWNES, MEGHAN - New Mexico State University |
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EMERY, MARLA - Us Forest Service (FS) |
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GOLD, MICHAEL - University Of Missouri |
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GODSEY, LARRY - Missouri Valley College |
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Coffin, Alisa |
Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2017 Publication Date: 6/12/2017 Citation: Alexander, S., Frey, G., Blatner, K., Jacobson, M., Sills, E., Mercer, E., Downes, M., Emery, M., Gold, M., Godsey, L., Coffin, A.W. 2017. 25 years of economic research on non-timber forest products in the United States: History, trends, status, and future priorities [abstract]. Presented at International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 5 Conference 2017: June 12-16, 2017, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Interpretive Summary: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are one of many economic benefits that forests provide to society, and understanding their value helps us understand the total economic value of forests. In the early 1990s, economic research on NTFPs in the United States increased, in the Pacific Northwest and other regions including the Southeast, Northeast, and North Central U.S. Research has addressed markets, economic impacts, forest farming returns, recreational collection, and subsistence and personal use. However, a consistent understanding of how NTFPs benefit individuals, communities, and regions across the U.S. has been stymied in large part to the informal and even secretive nature of the “industry”. This presentation will discuss what we know and don’t know about NTFP economics, how we got here, and some priorities for future research and policy. This presentation is based on ongoing work for a national assessment of NTFPs through the USDA Forest Service, as well as work on ecosystem service valuation for the Southern Group of State Foresters. Technical Abstract: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are one of many economic benefits that forests provide to society, and understanding their value helps us understand the total economic value of forests. In the early 1990s, economic research on NTFPs in the United States increased, in the Pacific Northwest and other regions including the Southeast, Northeast, and North Central U.S. Research has addressed markets, economic impacts, forest farming returns, recreational collection, and subsistence and personal use. However, a consistent understanding of how NTFPs benefit individuals, communities, and regions across the U.S. has been stymied in large part to the informal and even secretive nature of the “industry”. This presentation will discuss what we know and don’t know about NTFP economics, how we got here, and some priorities for future research and policy. This presentation is based on ongoing work for a national assessment of NTFPs through the USDA Forest Service, as well as work on ecosystem service valuation for the Southern Group of State Foresters. |