METHODS TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EXTRACTION OF NON-TIMBER TROPICAL FOREST PRODUCTS ON PLANT-POPULATIONS

Thousands of plant and animal species in tropical regions provide a va riety of non-timber products that are used by billions of people all o ver the world. Conservation and long term utilization of these species require that they be harvested on a sustainable basis. However, the e xtent to which non-timber forest products are exploited without advers e effects on natural populations is not known. There is in fact consid erable evidence for non-sustainable harvest of non-timber products. We outline methods that may be used to assess the impact of harvest on p opulation processes of the species that are being harvested. We presen t sampling protocols for rapid assessment as well as long term monitor ing of populations. We briefly consider the limitations of these metho ds and suggest that the monitoring protocols we outline should be part of an overall management plan designed to extract and utilize non-tim ber tropical forest products on a long term basis.