Results of the analysis of berry picking and use by local people Multiple eco-friendly forest use: restoring traditions (KA401) General data on wild berry resources in Karelia Republic Karelian forests harbour 17 species of berry plants Biological stocks of berries are about 120 thousand tonnes, including bilberry – 55-60, cowberry – 35-40, cranberry 6-10, cloudberry about 5 thousand tonnes. Commercial stocks – 60 thousand tonnes, including bilberry – about 2530, cowberry – 20, cranberry – 4-5, cloudberry – 3 thousand tonnes. Average rate of recurrence of high-yield years: 3High: 4Middle: 3Low Sample of questionnaires Survey results The sample was structured as follows: employed workers – 49%, students/pupils – 37%, unemployed – 5%, retired – 15%. • 90% of respondents harvested wild berries, 8290% harvested bilberry and cowberry; 62-72% harvested cranberry and cloudberry (mainly rural population); • Berry picking was an additional source of income for 33% and the main source of income for 5% of the respondents; • Regarding potential lease of berry-rich grounds to entrepreneurs, 80% of the respondents had a negative attitude. Average consumption (A) and sale (B) of wild berries, kg Per unit price of the product depends on the geographic location of the settlement and, hence, on the logistics. Three main options for selling the products were mentioned by the respondents: - picking and selling berries along major highways; - picking and selling berries in district centres and towns; - picking and delivering berries to the purchase centre based within the community. Annual volumes of berries sold in high yield years, ton Average per family income, thous. RUR (in high-yield years) Processing of the questionnaires has shown that 30% of families living in Karelia (mainly rural population) pick berries for sale, earning on average up to RUR 39,200 a year. Calculation was carried out in the prices of 2013 Specialists have roughly estimated that average wild berry harvesting volumes in Karelia lately have been around 15,00020,000 tons a year. The most well-known companies: • «Karelia Berries» • «Vologda berry» • «Berry of Karelia» The following factors limiting the development of eco-friendly forestry and ecosystem services have been identified: • • • • declining number of berry-pickers; high interest on loans; unreasonably high electricity prices; companies not interested in multiresource harvesting of forest products; • low purchase prices of wild berries. Thanks for your attention ! Nikolay Petrov, FRI KarRC RAS nvpetrov@krc.karelia.ru