BLAŽKOVÁ L., JENÍČEK V.
Abstract
The forests are a significant economic renewable natural resource. They play an important role in protecting the environment,
and are of great importance for socio-economic development of the rural areas of the least developed countries.
In addition to wood products, they are a major source of fodder, protein, fruits, gums, resins, dyes, bamboo, rattans,
mushrooms, medicinal plants and many other non-wood forest products (NWFP).
FAO estimates that 80% of the developing world relies on NWFPs for some purpose in their everyday life.
NWFPs also play an important role in the international marketplace with over US$1.1 billion in trade.
Although many NWFPs are collected on a local level by peasants,
some NWFPs have been successfully domesticated for large scale production.
In this text are discussed importance of rattans in regions of South and South East Asia and
problems with sustainable forest management.
Key words:
non wood forest products, rattans, sustainability, international trade, forest conservation, rural development.