Historically, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) have played a significant role in shaping economies worldwide. Examples of NTFPs include items like mushrooms, berries, medicinal herbs, and bamboo. From the Roman Empire, which significantly bolstered its revenues with customs taxes on spices like black pepper, to the Middle Ages when Europeans colonized Asia to dominate the spice trade, these products have consistently been economic stalwarts. Yet, despite their substantial contributions to the economies of many countries, global trade statistics, both in the EU and worldwide, often neglect these...