Analysis of Sale of Non-Wood Forest Products from Northern Serbia on the Domestic and Foreign Markets

Abstract

Although it is widely considered that the consumption of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) is the result of food industry innovations, from the historical aspect, the use of these products is most likely the first use of forest resources by human beings. The interest in NWFPs as alternative products in the forest sector has increased drastically throughout the world over the last decade. However, in many countries, the maximal commercial contribution of NWFPs has not yet been achieved. In addition to series of economic, social and environmental benefits to society, special emphasis was put on NWFP importance to local communities which rely on NWFPs as the only source of subsistence. The territory of the Serbian Northern Province is characterised by an exceptional richness in wild flora and fauna. However, it is questionable whether NWFPs as important resources are utilized adequately and commercially and consistent with the sustainable potentials and principles. The aim of this study was to identify the flows of the purchase of raw NWFPs and the sale of final products on the research area in Vojvodina. A hypothetical starting point was that an increase is present in the domestic sale of NWFPs. The purpose of the study was to assess the compatibility of the local and the global markets, with a drastic increase in the marketability of NWFPs as the derivatives of organic production. The subject of the study were the enterprises dealing with NWFPs purchase, processing and sale, purchased quantities of raw products, and the contingents of final products realised on the domestic and foreign markets. The applied methodology was based on the dynamic analysis and statistical methods by which the variations in purchased and sold quantities in the past period are defined and the future trend projects are devised.