non-wood forest products, examples from hungary

Non-wood forest products, Non-wood forest products, examples from Hungaryexamples from Hungary

Attila Hegedűs M. Sc. Forestry

University of West Hungary

Institute of Forest Assets Management, Sopron

INNO-FOREST IP, Iisalmi, Finland - 19 May, 2005


Overview of presentationOverview of presentation• Definitions • Raising the problem - Why NWFP are important?• History and developments of NWFP• Forest mushroom sector analysis in Hungary (case study)• Lessons learned

DefinitionsDefinitions

Non-wood forest products (NWFP)Non-wood forest products (NWFP) Wood productsWood products

Forest productsForest products


Non-wood forest products are goods of biological origin, other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and tree outside forests (FAO, 1995). NWFPs include wide range of products such as foods, medicinal plants, spices, resins, gums, mushrooms.

Suggestion for CHANGING the DEFINITION!


Definitions Definitions Forest based Goods and Services (FOGS) – U. Mantau, 2004

Forest based Wood Products (FOW)Forest based Wood Products (FOW)

• Energy wood,

• Industrial wood etc.

Forest based Plant Products (FOP)Forest based Plant Products (FOP)

• Plants,

• Plants products

Forest based Animal Products (FOA)Forest based Animal Products (FOA)

• Animal,

• Animal products

Forest based Recreational Services Forest based Recreational Services (FORS)(FORS)

• Parks, events,

• Sport activities etc.

Forest based Environmental Forest based Environmental Services (FOES)Services (FOES)

• Nature education etc.

Classification of non-wood forest Classification of non-wood forest productsproducts

Linked with parts of tree:

• Charcoal, • X-mas tree, foliage, • Cone, • Honey

Not linked with parts of tree:

Plant Animal Mineral• Mushroom• Med. plant

• Antlers• Game

• Stones from forest



• Contribute positively and significantly to improving rural households (additional income for rural people),

• Contribute positively to economic growth, both at the local, regional and national levels,

• Contribute to improve natural resource management (alternative income for traditional forestry),

• There is increasing demand for natural products, bioproducts.

Good balance between conservation of natural resourcesand improvement of rural economy!

Why NWFP are important?Why NWFP are important?


• 1980’s – research and development interests on NWFP in developing countries• Information is available on NWFP on the FAO website www.fao.org/forestry • mid of 90’s – more interests on NWFP in Europe: development projects for example in Nordic countries• at present, the systems directly relevant to NWFP certification include: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Fair-trade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), •FSC has certified corks in Denmark, wild deer in Scotland and there are several on-going or planned projects in the Mediterranean region in cooperation with WWF. NWFP field tests were undertaken by the WWF in Greece (for chestnut production) and Spain (cork).

Main steps in history of NWFPMain steps in history of NWFP

Labelling of forest mushrooms in Italy – innovation example

Since 1996 the trade name Since 1996 the trade name “Fungo di Borgotaro” has “Fungo di Borgotaro” has been appearing on been appearing on mushroom products as mushroom products as IGP trademark (Indication IGP trademark (Indication of Protected Geographic of Protected Geographic Area) according to EC Area) according to EC Regulation no. 1107/96.Regulation no. 1107/96.

“Fungo di Borgotaro”


Development of NWFP Development of NWFP in Central-Eastern Europe in Central-Eastern Europe

• Between II. World War and 1989 the management (harvesting, processing, sales) of NWFP was carried out by specialised state-owned companies. • After 1989, in the process of transition to market economy state companies were taken out of this economic area and their responsibilities were taken over by small dynamic private companies.• Behind of these companies partly there are investors from Western Europe.

Forest mushroom sector analysis Forest mushroom sector analysis in Hungaryin Hungary


• General facts about mushrooms• Products identification, harvesting level• Marketing channels, export-import activity• Policy framework: property rights regulations, incentives, taxation, information• Strenghts – weaknesses• Innovation areas

ContentsContents


• About 6000 fungal species (macromycetes) have been described in Europe,• ca. 500 of the species in Europe are edible, • In the Northern hemisphere trade in edible forest fungi is in excess of 20 billion Euros, using only a small number of species, and represents only a fragment of the potential economic value and uses, • There are large markets for forest mushrooms in the EU, particularly in Italy and France, which act as distribution centers for the rest of Europe.

General facts about mushrooms


Products identification, harvesting level

• In Hungary, the most important forest mushroom species are cep (Boletus edulis) and chanterelle (Chantharellus cibarius). These species cover 90% of the total mushrooms gathered in revenue value. Russula sp. and Cratarellus cornucopiodes have medium importance, while Morchella sp. and other Boletales sp. are indicated as insignificant forest mushrooms.

• Boletus export reached 378 tons and there was an app. 22 tons Chantarellus on the export market in 2001. The total value of forest mushroom production was 1,6 million US$ in 2001. • Product types: Fresh (frozen) 80% Dried 18% Canned 2%


Marketing channels, export-import activity


Marketing channels, export-import activity

Proportions of export market

I70%

D20%

A, CH, F10%


Policy framework• At present the forestry act declares that the mushroom picking is a free in all state-owned forests for personal need, but not for commercial purposes. For commercial need permission from the local forest manager is required. All in all, the mushroom pickers enter to forests without any permits and pick the mushroom without any payment for the owners. • Approximately 13-17 small-medium enterprises are involved in forest mushroom business. They are suitable to summit project proposal for investments. During the accession period it was accessible the Sapard program. One of the Sapard measures was indicated as improvement of processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products, including forest mushrooms. At present, there are open tenders for these companies supported by National Development Plan, National Rural Development Plan. • Concerning the taxation issues, these companies are under SME’s rules


WeaknessesWeaknesses– Lack of capital– No real

packaging, processing background

– No real product innovation

– Weak enterprise management

– Weak marketing knowledge

StrengthsStrengths– Flexibility– Reliability– Expert’s

knowledge– Stable picking-

network– Versatility

Strenghts - Weaknesses


Innovation areas

1. Labelling/certification issues (marked as Hungaricum)

2. Development of e-business3. Value-added processing on local level4. Improvement of home market5. Taking full advantages of resources: local

mushroom processing can be added the ecotourism services.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

[email protected] [email protected]


non-wood forest products, examples from hungary

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