The Russian Far Eastern Association for the Use of Non-Timber Forest Products

US Contact:
The Siberian Forests Protection Project
Pacific Environment and Resources Center
1055 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA 94965 USA
Tel: (415) 332 8200
Fax: (415) 332 8167
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Sarah Lloyd

Founded in the summer of 1995 at an international conference on the "Practical Uses of Phyto-resources," the Association was officially registered with the Khabarovskii Krai Administration in October 1996. The Association is working to unify enterprises and organizations which are involved in NTFP use in Primorskii and Khabarovskii Krais in order to coordinate activities towards the sustainable use of natural resources. Their primary goal is to promote the stable development of forest communities and support the traditional means of indigenous peoples through the use of NTFPs. In itself the sustainable use of plant resources presents a potential alternative to industrial timber harvest and allows for the conservation of the taiga and its biodiversity. Development of community based NTFP industries can provide remote forest communities work and access to necessary means to survive. Members of the Association produce ecologically clean products from the unique plants, many of which are found only in the Russian Far East.

Fifteen species of plants recognized in the pharmacopoeia of Russian and Eastern traditional medicine grow in the forests of the Russian Far East including the legendary Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and Schizandra chinensis. The riches of the taiga also include other NTFPs such as; mushrooms, berries, ferns, birch juice, honey, and more.

At present, members of the Association offer a wide range of products. This list includes: birch juice, Schizandra berry juice, Schizandra berry syrup, syrup of Snowball tree fruit, Clusterberry syrup, dried and marinated mushrooms, dried and marinated fern, Wild Siberian garlic, prescription juices, herbal tea, medicinal preparations, mineral water, liqueurs, liquid and dry botanical extracts, essential oils, and honeys with botanical flavor additives.

The Association and its member enterprises are looking for partnerships, joint venture and investment opportunities with United States firms. The Association is open for all interested enterprises and organizations who share their goals and aims and have a sincere interest in long-term work on the issues. They currently receive some support from the Pacific Environment and Resources Center and the Environmental Policy and Technology Project of USAID.

Last updated:    January 1997

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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