Contribution of Sri Lankan forests to non-wood forest products

Contribution of Sri Lankan forests to non-wood forest products

Abstract of a seminar presentatation

Padmi Gunarathne

Non-Wood forest products (NWFPs) have an important role in the rural economy of Sri Lanka and they also provide benefits of considerable importance at the national level. They have a major impact on the social and economic conditions of village communities by providing a wide array of materials which enrich and diversify rural life. The knowledge, skills and social customs relating to NWFPs have been passed from one generation to the next and form part of traditional culture.

There are various categories of NWFPs available in Sri Lanka. The most important are rattan and bamboo, medicinal plants, the products of hunting, tapping, honey and grazing etc. Around 40% of the rural population in the Dry Zone is forest dependent and derives some benefits from NWFPs. The annual income from NWFPs per forest dependent household in some parts of Dry Zone of Sri Lanka is around Rs 15,000.

Kitul (Caryota urens) is the most significant NWFP in the Wet Zone and it contributes over 70% of the total income of the household engaged in this activity.

Lack of policy guidelines, a shrinking resource base and inadequate knowledge on cultivation, management, harvesting, processing and storage are identified as the major issues which hinder the development of the NWFPs sector. Major reforms in policy, legislation and management strategies, together with a coordinated effort in research on cultivation, utilization and product development, should be undertaken for sustainable development of the NWFPs sector in Sri Lanka.