Strengthening Sustainable Collection Practices of Non-Wood Forest Products Through Women’s Knowledge Exchange

Here, life and the forest are closely intertwined, with nature shaping an essential part of everyday life. Wild herbs grow just beyond the houses, along forest trails, and in open clearings. For many families, including that of Elina Balasanyan, displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and resettled in Saratovka settlement of Lori Region in 2023, collecting these plants has long been more than a seasonal tradition. It supports household food preparation, the making of herbal teas, and provides an important source of additional income during both agricultural and off-season periods.

Like many women in her community, Elina learned to harvest herbs from an early age.

After resetting in Saratovka, she joined a women’s group engaged in the collection of non-wood forest products and edible plants from nearby fields, grasslands, and forest areas. Through being part of this group, she strengthened her skills in sustainable harvesting and processing of wild plant resources. The collection of non-wood forest products has already become routine. She knew where to go, when to harvest, and which plants were considered useful. Yet this knowledge came mostly from observation and habit rather than from formal training.

Like many wild harvesters, she once paid little attention to how similar some plants could appear or how her harvesting practices might impact on the forest for years to come, until a series of training sessions completely reshaped the way she sees both the forest and her role within it.

A turning point

Elina’s experience began to transform when she participated in a training session followed by hands-on field-based coaching organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) within the framework of the project “Forest Resilience of Armenia” project. The training was focused on sustainable collection practices of non-wood forest products, biodiversity protection, and safe identification of wild herbs and forest plants.

For many of the participants, including Elina, the most valuable part of the training was the hands-on fieldwork.

The sessions were not limited to theoretical introductions.  Instead, they took place in natural settings, where women learned by directly observing and exploring the plants. This experience helped them distinguish between similar-looking herbs, identify safe species, and avoid those plants that should not be used.

This was the moment when Elina realized that some of the herbs she had collected for years were not what she believed them to be. In particular, she discovered that the chamomile she had been harvesting was actually a similar-looking species that is not safe for consumption and may pose health risks if used improperly.

“I always thought I was collecting chamomile,” Elina says. “During the training, I learned that the flower I had been harvesting was actually a different species that only looks like chamomile and should not be used. That really surprised me and made me understand how crucial correct identification can be.”

This discovery became a turning point. What had once seemed like simple seasonal work suddenly required greater care, attention and knowledge. Elina began to look at the forest differently,  no longer as a familiar and predictable space, but as a landscape that demanded understanding and respect.

Rethinking how we harvest

The training also helped Elina to understand the importance of sustainable harvesting. The sessions explained that the way herbs are collected can have a direct impact on forest biodiversity. When plants are pulled out by the roots or collected before they have fully grown, they may not regenerate in the following season. Over time, this can reduce the number of plants in the forest and make it more difficult for communities to continue collecting them. Some species are particularly fragile and play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. If these plants are overharvested or disturbed, they may disappear entirely from the area, with consequences for both biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it.

Elina and others learned how to collect herbs without damaging the plant. She now knows when a plant is ready to be harvested and how to leave part of it untouched so that it can grow again. Additionally, the training provided hands on experience on which plants should be collected in small quantities and which ones are more sensitive and need additional protection.

Knowledge transforms confidence into change

One of the most important results of the training session and fieldwork for Elina was a renewed sense of confidence.

Before participating in the training, she often relied on what others told her. Now, she can distinguish between similar species and explain the differences to others. She also understands why sustainable harvesting matters, not only for nature but also for the health of the people who use these plants.

The training also created an opportunity for women from different communities to connect and share their experiences. Elina met with other women who had been collecting herbs for many years. Some of them brought strong experience, while others, like Elina, had recently started learning more about sustainable practices.

By exchanging experiences, they began to support each other and learn together.

Today, when Elina goes to the forest, she often shares what she has learned with other women in her village. She explains how to recognize different herbs and why it is important to collect them carefully. In this way, the knowledge she gained during the training is already spreading within the community.

A broader impact on the community

Elina’s story shows how continuous learning can build on traditional experience and strengthen existing knowledge. The project does not replace local practices, instead, it complements them by introducing additional skills and information. By learning how to distinguish between safe and unsafe plants and to harvest responsibly, women like Elina are better equipped to make informed decisions that support both their livelihoods and the forest.

The impact extends beyond one person. As women strengthen their ability to identify plants and harvest them responsibly, this knowledge is shared within families and across community. Step by step, this contributes to a better understanding of the value of forest resources and the importance of protecting them.

For Elina, the forest remains the same place she has known since childhood. What has changed is her perspective. She is now more attentive to  how her actions can influence the future of the forest.

Her experience clearly demonstrates how targeted training can build on existing knowledge, strengthen skills, and contribute to sustainable use of natural resources.

Today, Elina continues to walk the forest paths around Saratovka village, applying what she has learned alongside what she has long known, helping to ensure that these forests remain healthy for future generations.