Challenges facing forest production value addition and implication on economic development

There is need for forest policies to include value addition in the production and marketing of timber forest products, TFPs and non-timber forest products, as well as NTFPs to promote forest activities and to improve the livelihood of both, rural and urban people and further enhance the trade and marketability of these products. Processing of forest products is imperative to their marketability. This review identifies the challenges facing forest products production and their implications on the economy. It draws upon different case studies from around the world. The paper concludes that value addition will go a long way in enhancing its acceptability.