The Role of Investment in Non-Timber Forest Resources in Achieving Sustainable Development: A Case Study of the Shea Butter Market in West Africa

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the role of investment in non-timber forest resources in achieving sustainable development, with a focus on the Shea butter market in West Africa as an applied model. The research adopted the descriptive-analytical method, which is most suitable for examining economic and social phenomena in their real context. Among its techniques, the case study approach was employed to analyze the Shea market based on secondary data from international organizations and recent market reports. This method allowed for both a detailed description of the phenomenon and an analysis of its implications on the economic (job creation and income improvement), social (empowerment of rural women), and environmental (forest cover preservation) dimensions. The study concludes that investment in non-timber forest resources, when carried out within sustainable policies, can serve as a genuine lever for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in rural African areas.