How natural cosmetic and beauty products are providing forest communities with livelihood opportunities.

FAO News - 18/03/2022

Figure: Millions of people in the world depend on forests for their employment. The sustainable management of these natural resources are crucial to supporting forest communities. ©FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam

Interested in natural cosmetic products, ones that support local communities and don’t deplete our natural resources? You aren’t alone!

Growing consumer interest in the environmental and ethical credentials of cosmetics has spurred interest in sustainably- and ethically-sourced beauty products, which include many forest products, also known as non-wood forest products (NWFPs).   

Growth in natural cosmetics industries is at almost 10 percent per year. In order to tap into this market to raise the income of rural, forest communities worldwide, FAO and the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) network examined some of the different, forest-derived beauty products, which have been used since antiquity in traditional practices and trade in various Asian and Pacific countries. 

With the publication, Naturally Beautiful: Cosmetic and Beauty Products from Forests, FAO and the NTFP-EP bring attention to the role forests play in supplying beauty products and show how these products can provide livelihood options for forest communities. It assesses constraints and identifies opportunities for growth, particularly for community-based enterprises.

Here are four beauty products found in nature that hold great potential to support forest communities: 

1) Sandalwood oil in the Asia-Pacific region

2) Gurjum balsam resin in Cambodia

3) Plant-based, medicinal baths in Viet Nam: In the Sapa District in northern Viet Nam, the Red Dzao people in the Ta Phin commune have a traditional practice of a medicinal bath, referred to as “Dia dao xin”. 

4) Spikenard oil in Nepal

However, the spikenard plant is listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List. Increased demand and high economic value led to over- or improper- harvesting of immature plants. Infrastructure development and human settlement further added to the loss of the spikenard habitat. However, its socio-economic value has fostered efforts by the government and several organizations to improve resource management and regulate harvesting practices. FAO is encouraging local participation in the value chain to promote community businesses. The development of markets will also enhance economic potential for spikenard oil.

By helping communities manage forests sustainably and explore livelihood opportunities in NWFPs, FAO is helping galvanize local economies and further forest conservation efforts globally.

See: https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1477287/