Nontimber Forests Products and the Bioeconomy: A U.S. perspective
A Presentation by James Chamberlain
Part of the "Unlocking the Bioeconomy for Nontimber Forest Products" Webinar Series
February 15, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. EDT
In the United States, the deep and long cultural connections to nontimber forest products are embedded in contemporary American society, yet the products often go unnoticed. While revenues generated from the sale of these “invisible” products support households in rural communities and contribute to local, regional, and the national economy, not much is known or understood about the economic importance of NTFPs in the U.S. The value chains and markets are diverse and for the most part enigmatic.
After giving a brief synopsis of the history of NTFP harvesting in the U.S. and describing the NTFP-based bioeconomy, the presentation will examine the latest volume and value data, and explore the economy based on these products through a bioeconomy lens. Based on recent scholarship, presenter James Chamberlain will discuss elements of frameworks that support transition to a NTFP-base bioeconomy. To make that transition will require addressing sustainability while promoting biodiversity and forest health.
Dr. James Chamberlain, a research scientist with the USDA Forest Service, is a global expert on nontimber forest products management, production, and valuation. His research focuses on the economic and ecological impacts of harvesting forest products that are not timber-based, particularly food and medicine. Jim is co-lead of the IUFRO Task Force that is hosting the webinar series. He received his PhD from Virginia Tech in 2000, with a focus on managing forests for nontimber forest products. He has published extensively on the subject, having recently produced a comprehensive national assessment of these products relative to climate change. In addition to his work on the U.S., Jim has extensive experience working in south and southeast Asia and central Europe. Prior to his employment with the Forest Service, Jim was president of the Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, a nongovernmental organization that promoted research and technology transfer of multipurpose trees to improve agroforestry productivity.
This webinar series is hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, The Forest History Society, Renmin University of China, and the IUFRO Task Force.
This event is made possible in part through funding from the Lynn W. Day Endowment.
