Non-Timber Forest Products Stewardship Training Program

The Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG), a nonprofit conservation organization based in Port Townsend, has pioneered an innovative program to address the social and environmental issues associated with the floral greens industry. With the support of a $20,000 grant from Stewardship Partners, the organization educates harvesters about best practices and trains them in environmentally sensitive harvesting techniques. NNRG also teaches harvesters how to develop and maintain good relationships with landowners upon whose properties they work. "The program builds the credibility and accountability of an otherwise marginalized work force," says NNRG Program Director Larry Nussbaum. NNRG has continued to implement and further develop their Non-Timber Forest Products Stewardship Program aimed at improving the conditions of the Non-Timber Forest Products industry for both the landowner and the harvester.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP’s), often referred to as Special Forest Products, are forest products other than timber that are harvested for a variety of personal and commercial uses such as edibles, decorative items, and pharmaceutical extracts and floral greens Through the Non-Timber Forest Products Stewardship Program, NNRG has attempted to address the lack of oversight and unregulated ‘cash and carry’ nature of the industry which has resulted in over-harvesting and environmental degradation as well as social conflicts related to land access issues, labor disputes, and worker exploitation facing the mostly immigrant and low income workforce. This combination of over-harvesting, illegal activity, and increased liability concerns have resulted in many landowners severely restricting or terminating access to harvesters, cutting themselves off from this potential revenue source and placing more harvesting pressure on the forest landscape.

As a part of the program, NNRG has produced a set of Best Harvest Practices for specific species, developed curriculum and training materials (in both English and Spanish) in safe, effective, and environmentally responsible harvesting, and trained and accredited over 50 harvesters through the Stewardship Training Course. Those who have received the "Stewardship Harvester" designation have been given opportunities for land access. The idea behind this is that by working directly with "Stewardship Harvesters", landowners who wish to lease ‘brush’ and other products can be assured that harvesting will be done by trained, credible, and accountable harvesters. NNRG has also collaborated with Shorebank Enterprise Pacific, who is providing business development and marketing assistance to "Stewardship Harvesters".