Browsing by Author "Taivalantti, Tuuli"

Non-wood forest products (NWFP) refer to wild berries, mushrooms, herbs and other special NWFPs gathered from forests. Finnish forests have been certified with forest certificates (PEFC and FSC) and as organic wild collection areas. The globally largest organic wild collection areas in Finland have provided organic NWFP raw material for the commercial trade. However, NWFPs are not certified in Finland within forest certificates, unlike in some other European countries. The aim of this study was to collect expert perceptions of NWFP certification, its possible benefits and creation of added-value, and qualifications for applying forest- and organic certificates to NWFP certification. This qualitative study was carried out in thematic interviews to Finnish experts in NWFP and forestry fields. The results indicate that both forest and NWFP experts see the importance of NWFP certification to increase in future. Majority of interviewees appreciate the forest origin as a differentiating factor, which is important to verify. Both expert groups were familiar with organic wild collection areas in Finland. According to experts, the organic wild collection areas are possibility in the exports of NWFPs, though in domestic markets, organic labeled NWFPs rarely create added value for the customers. Majority of interviewees viewed the application of forest certificates to certify NWFPs positively. However, opinions towards it were more divided among the group of forest experts.