Spatial prediction of forest product exploitation using community mapping and machine learning

Abstract

Timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) play a crucial role in the livelihoods of local communities in rural areas of Vietnam. The exploitation of forest products becomes a primary source of income for poor households living near nature reserves. Those NTFPs are diverse in types, including wild meat, fish, honey, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, vegetables, medicinal plants, rattan, etc., as food sources and sold in local markets. While forest product exploitation has been a traditional livelihood of local communities for generations, dependence on forest resources creates challenges for conserving natural forests and biodiversity. Understanding the spatial distribution of forest product exploitation can assist decision-makers in better planning and managing forest resources for the sustainable use of forest ecosystem services.