A Study of Improving the Marketing System of Major Non-Timber Forest Products : Using an Analysis of Distribution Channel

The marketing system of non-timber forest products has been criticized as it mainly depends upon private local dealers, having too many steps between producers and consumers, we believe, which makes it less efficient. Meanwhile, there were only a few empirical studies of how they are delivered to consumers. In order to devise and implement targeted forest policies efficiently, it is quite necessary to understand the distribution channel of them. We analyzed the distribution channel of chestnut, bitter persimmon, oak mushroom, and wild greens by data analysis, field and phone survey, and then drew an implication for improving the marketing system. First of all, the number of middle step has to be reduced and the direct transaction has to be expended. In addition, we need to have more active involvement of Forest cooperative in production sites, adding values by processing, and the upgrade of current marketing centers of non-timber forest products, which have been launched since 2004 by Korea Forest Service.