Analysis On Non-timber Forest Products Development And Benefits Of Shengzhou

The exploitation and utilization of non-wood resources is the new growth point for households’ increasing incomes and rural economy development. With the deepening of forest ownership reform, the farmers’enthusiasm of managing non-wood resources has been improved, the area and output of Non-wood resources has been rapidly increased, the processing enterprises and consumer market have been gradually expanded. However, the sustainable development of the non-wood resources still faces challenges. Therefore, to research the development process of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and analyze the effects of them, what’s more, to propose some strategies for promoting the sustainable development of NTFPs that has great theoretical and practical significance for fostering the sustainable management of non-wood resources.This study takes Shengzhou city as the research object, to analyze the development process and features of non-wood resources in Shengzhou city. Through appropriate scale farmers questionnaires and interviews, analyzing Shengzhou city’s economic, social and ecological benefits of main NTFPs. On this basis, through analyzing the current problems to propose the strategies that can promote the sustainable management of NTFPs. The conclusions are as follows:(1) There are about three stages for the development of NTFPs in Shengzhou city:slow development stage (before mid1990); fluctuated development stage (from middle1990to2005around); steady development stage (after2005). The features like that, scale expanded, industrialization, systematization, intensive, standardization and the brand.(2) The development of NTFPs has achieved remarkable economic, social and ecological benefits:①economic benefit:increasing farmer incomes (The NTFPs are the main source of farmers’ income, the percentage of the NTFPS’income is gradually added); promoting the local rural economic development (increasing the village collective incomes, improving the industrial structure of village);②Social benefit:increasing farmers; employment, narrowing the income gap, enhancing the rural infrastructure construction and strengthening their market consciousness.③Ecological benefit:the forest area and ecological environment is gradually increased and improved respectively.(3) The problems existed in the NTFPs’development and countermeasures proposed.①The main problems:the ecological issues became clear. The industrial chain should be extended. Technology application and training needs to be enhanced. The plant area is scattered.②Strategies for sustainable development:Promote the concept of ecological business management of NTFPs. Extend the NTFPs’ industrial chain. Enhance The technology application and training of the NTFPs. Encourage the orderly transfer of forest ownership.