Combining tree planting with NTFP management has been an important part of local farmers’ livelihoods’ strategies for a long time, with each element playing a different role. Integration of improved production and marketing of smallholders’ timber and NTFPs is likely to improve livelihoods, particularly in the provinces of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT/ East Nusa Tenggara) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB/West NusaTenggara). Such integration, however, faces significant impediments: 1) insufficient understanding of the trade-offs between timber and NTFPs related to the cost of allocating household labour and financial capital; 2) ineffective silvicultural practices that do not optimise the production of timber and NTFPs; 3) insufficient understanding of market characteristics for different types of products (both timber and NTFPs) to add value in value chains and what the markets require to improve the products’ qualities; 4) there has been conflict with integrated uses and management of timber and NTFPs in the region; and 5) unfavourable policy frameworks governing farm and landscape management that prevent value chains from effectively providing fair profit margins for community producers. |
