Indicator 6.31: import and export value of nonwood forest products, 2003–2022
| Authors: | Michelle J. Thompson, Stephanie Chizmar, Sonia Bruck, Jesse Henderson, Gregory E. Frey |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Other |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/FS-Indicator-6.31-2030 |
| Source: | FS-Indicator-6.31-2030. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. |
Abstract
This indicator evaluates the import and export value of nonwood forest products (NWFPs) in the United States. The United Nations has defined NWFPs as “forest products [that] consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests” (FAO 1999). NWFPs constitute a subset of nonconvertible products (i.e., products that are not convertible to units of measure relative to timber) grown in forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service categorizes NWFPs in the following groups, consistent with the United Nations definition: nursery and landscape; arts, crafts, and floral; regeneration and silviculture; edible fruits, nuts, berries, and sap; grass, hay, alfalfa, and forages; and herbs and medicinals (Chamberlain 2024). While there is a definitive categorical list defining NWFPs from U.S. forests, there is not a conclusive and encompassing list of specific products. As such, some products grown outside of forests may accidentally be categorized as an NWFP. For example, pecans (Carya illinoinensis) are typically grown and sold from monocultural orchards but can also be collected from U.S. forests, since the pecan is native to North America.