A Comparative Analysis Between Timber Industry and Nontimber Forest Products Industry in Relation to Sustainability and Operators' Proactiveness

Abstract The balance among forest industry development, forest operators' well-being, and environmental conservation has been noted as an emerging concern in forest sustainability strategy. In this study, we innovatively adopted a multidimensional assessment method that integrates economic, environmental, and social dimensions to compare the comprehensive sustainability of roundwood, bamboo, tea products, and fruit industries, which are representative subtypes of the timber industry and the nontimber forest products (NTFP) industry. Additionally, our study examined whether a relationship exists between the forest industry's comprehensive sustainability and operators' proactiveness. We collected data on selected types of forest operators involved in productive loans from 115 villages in southern China between 2008 and 2020. Empirical results indicate that an increase in the comprehensive sustainability rank of the subtype forest industry led to growth in forest operators' financing amount. Specifically, the NTFP industry motivated operators' proactiveness more than did the timber industry, the effect of which was considerably greater in company group than in household group. Our findings reveal the necessity of policy interventions in developing countries to encourage the transition to optimizing forest industrial structure and sustainable forestry operations, which could initiate the socio-economic goal of sustained forest resource use and growth in forest sector output through the natural promotion effect posed by the sustainability advantages.