Returns from Harvesting a Commercial Non-timber Forest Product andParticular Characteristics
of Harvesters and Their Strategies: Aquilaria crassna and Agarwood in Lao PDR. This
paper explores associations between the returns from harvesting a commercial non-timber
forest product and particular characteristics of harvesters and their strategies. Data originate
from a survey in Laos of the harvest and trade of agarwood, a highly valuable commodity
harvested mainly from tree species in the genus Aquilaria. Five groups of harvesters were
identified, with considerable differences in returns between them. Foreign harvesters, i.e.,
ethnic Vietnamese, earned approximately USD 13 per day on average, while nonlocal fulltime
harvesters earned approximately USD 9, and nonlocal part-time harvesters USD 7 per
day. Local people earn approximately USD 5 per day and only USD 4 if harvesting only took
place in village forests. Factors observed to determine returns are market access, especially
access to national and international markets, and knowledge and experience in trading, harvesting,
and the organization of harvesting trips. It is suggested that interventions should be
made to address these factors, to level out returns from harvesting, and to increase the share
of returns captured by local people.