Non-Timber Forest Products and Rural Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Socioeconomic Contributions, Sustainability Challenges, and Policy Pathways
Abstract
Abstract Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are increasingly recognized as important contributors to rural livelihoods, poverty reduction, food security, and environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite growing scholarly attention, evidence regarding their socioeconomic significance remains fragmented across countries, ecological zones, and product categories. This study systematically reviews literature published between 2000 and 2025 to synthesize current knowledge on the contribution of NTFPs to rural household livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, peer-reviewed articles and relevant institutional publications were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CAB Abstracts, and Google Scholar. A total of 105 studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to thematic synthesis. The review reveals that NTFPs contribute substantially to livelihood diversification, household income generation, food security enhancement, employment creation, and climate resilience. Women emerge as key actors in NTFP value chains, particularly in harvesting, processing, and local marketing activities. Furthermore, sustainable utilization of NTFPs provides incentives for forest conservation and biodiversity protection. However, challenges including deforestation, unsustainable harvesting, weak market systems, insecure tenure arrangements, limited value addition, and climate change continue to constrain their full potential. The review concludes that NTFPs should be mainstreamed into national forestry, rural development, and climate adaptation policies. Strengthening value chains, improving tenure security, supporting community-based forest management, and promoting sustainable commercialization are critical for maximizing livelihood benefits while safeguarding forest ecosystems.
Reference
Brian Mulenga Nsofu. (2026). Non-Timber Forest Products and Rural Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Socioeconomic Contributions, Sustainability Challenges, and Policy Pathways. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11245471/v1
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