National and Regional Policies

Non-timber forest products have only recently been recognized for their ecological and economic value and are rapidly becoming an important issue affecting national forest management. Existing national legislation mandates management of forests for most natural resources, including fish and wildlife, water, timber, and minerals. Each of these recognized natural resources is provided a separate volume in the USDA Forest Service directive system which provides direction and guidance regarding policy implementation. Nontimber forest products do not receive similar level of attention. They are neither recognized as a natural resource in the legislation, nor are they provided dedicated coverage in the directive system that guides how national forests are managed. Management could be improved by providing a volume within the directive system that is dedicated to these products. Recent national policy developments are encouraging for improved management of these resources. This section presents the most current knowledge about the national legislation that guides management plans. It discusses the Forest Service policies and procedures that pertain to nontimber products. The section presents information on service-wide issuances as well as field issuances that affect management of southern forests. Finally, the section presents summaries of the recent policy developments that will affect how forests are managed for nontimber products.

Tables:

• National Level Direction from the Forest Service Manual (FSM) and Handbook (FSH) concerning NTFPs
• Saleable Products
• Regional Direction