FOREST IS NOT ONLY WOOD: EVALUATING NON-TIMBER PRODUCTS FROM DÂMBOVIŢA COUNTY

• Main Authors: Cosmin Bragă, Lucian Dincă
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Universitatii din Pitesti 2019-07-01
• Series: Current Trends in Natural Sciences
• Subjects: analysis process; harvesting and management; non-timber products.
• Online Access: https://natsci.upit.ro/media/1797/11braga-and-dinca.pdf

During the last decades, the global interest towards non-timber products (NTp – forest fruits, medicinal plants, edible mushrooms, game products, etc.) has considerably increased, especially due to their curative qualities. Characterised by a varied geomorphology, Romania has at its disposal, besides its wood resource, a considerable quantity of NTp capitalized especially on the external market. Furthermore, this niche is not capitalized at its existent potential as the main used forest resource is wood production. The aim of this study was to identify the main NTp together with their management efficiency, focusing on Dâmboviţa County. In order to determine the most important NTp, a decision analysis process with multiple criteria was used (AHP), which means to assess both quantitative and qualitative criteria and to analyse the production of selected alternatives by mean of pairwise differentiation. Using eight NTp and nineteen criteria, for this region, we found that the NTp with the highest potential was the dog rose (Rosa canina L.) while the lowest potential was recorded by blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.). This process has offered substantial information regarding the possibility of exploiting forest fruits, as well as how to best manage their harvesting. The obtained results have shown that the methods used for harvesting NTp are complex so that their management can be improved in order to increase their source of income. In conclusion, we consider necessary the adoption of measures in regard with the efficiency of NTp production as a mean of future economic-ecologic advantage. Further, the non-timber forest products can have a favourable impact on the local community (generate profits) and positive effect for biodiversity and forests ecosystem functioning.