| Abstract: |
This study documents the importance and values of “Non-Timber Forest Products” (NTFPs) collected and cultivated from trees and forests in urban areas. Through field observations, market observations, and semi-structured interviews, we document that there are at least 103 non-timber forest products which are currently collected from the urban forest of Baltimore, MD. We have found that this situation is not unique to Baltimore.
These urban non-timber forest products include a variety of edible, medicinal, horticultural, and craft products. They are used for personal consumption, gifts, raw sale, and processed sale. These products are collected from street trees, yard trees, vacant lots, open park areas, forest edges, and closed-canopy forest areas. Collectors of urban forest products represent a wide diversity of socio-economic and ethnic groups.
We also quantified the net product value (price less collection costs) and the net annual plant value (net product value times estimated annual plant yield) of 60 product producing species. We conducted non-timber forest product inventories and valuations in three selected one-acre plots, two in park areas, and one in a high-density residential area to demonstrate the potential values of urban forest products. We discuss a number of critical issues, that should be considered, concerning urban non-timber forest product collection including lack of collector empowerment, collector conflicts, sustainable levels of harvest, health risks, and management issues.
We conclude that by overlooking the importance of urban non-timber forest products, we are ignoring the significant value that various individuals from a variety of ethnic groups place on the urban forest, and understanding the value of the urban forest.
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