Forest Club model projects and sites

MUSHROOMS AND BERRIES TO COMPETE TIMBER HARVESTING?

Forest is not just a timber source - this idea has been gradually coming to businessmen's mind.

And it became even clearer for those who attended a workshop and an exhibition of Russian non-timber products at TRN conference. Producers brought samples of goods from Siberia, Far East, Tuva and other regions there. Variety of products was really impressive. According to independent experts everything from sweets to handicrafts was of good quality but most of the products were still unfamiliar to the most of the western people who were not experienced in non-timber forest culture. Luke Dushesne from Canadian Forest Service said that most of the products might have a great demand in western countries, they should be promoted wider among different consumers. A diversity of non-timber products is an opportunity for scientists to develop new technologies in food processing, medicine, cosmetology, etc. Non-timber forest use is a chance for many far distant Russian regions to develop stable local economies. It would also fit in sustainable forest management concept.

"We still do not consider non-timber production as an alternative for forest logging now. It is a very good economical opportunity which might be capable even to compete with timber harvesting in the future" - said Vladimir Zakharov, SEU forest campaigner.

"I appreciate the fact that here we are presenting not raw materials but goods for consumers. And the quality of the products can compete with western one. And maybe even better because we don't use artificial ingredients, all the composition comes from nature, - stressed Gennadiy Devyatkin, Director of The Khakasskiy Nature Reserve.