Lithuania earns significant benefits from its forests, including timber for industry and construction, and various forest goods. Timber production is one of Lithuania's main industries. Residents and companies gather mushrooms, berries, herbs and decorations from the forests. Mushroom and berry picking have long been popular leisure activities, though some earn income from selling these goods. Rural tourism, centered around the hundreds of homesteads near forests and waterways, is also an important part of Lithuania's economy. The homestays offer activities like relaxation, hiking, and educational programs about nature and farming.

1. Earning from the forest
Erasmus+ project ‘Our forests – our
future’

2. Material benefits from the forest
 Timber for the industry and constructions
 Forest goods (mushrooms, berries, herbs, decoration
materials)
 Rural tourism, recreational activities (hiking, hunting,
bird and beast watching)

3. Timber
 Wood and the furniture industry is one of the main
industries in Lithuania. It’s about three times higher
then the European average.
 There are about 1200 small and large manufacturers
that make furniture in Lithuania.

4. Forest goods: mushrooms
 Picking mushrooms has been popular in Lithuania
since ancient times.
 There are about a 1000 species of mushrooms found
in Lithuanian forests. About 120-140 are edible.
 Most Lithuanians pick mushrooms for fun, but there
are people who pick mushrooms to sell them.
 There are companys who buy forest mushrooms and
export abroad.

5. Forest goods: berries
 There are a lot of berries in Lithuanian forests. The
most popular berries are: raspberries, lingonberries,
clueberries, cranberries.
 Lithuanians have been picking berries and boiling
jams since ancient times.
 Nowadays, people pick berries and boil jams for fun.
There are a few people that earn money from selling
berries.

6. Forest goods: herbs and decorations
 In ancient times, Lithuanians used to pick herbs and
use them for treating different diseases. Every village
used to have a herbalist, and all the people
respected the herbalist.
 Nowadays, some people also pick herbs for making
natural tea and treating some diseases (the flu, cold,
sore throat and e.g)
 Florists collect different herbs, tree branches, lichens
and other materials for making bouquets and indoor
decorations.

7. Rural tourism and recreational
activities
 Rural tourism is an important of the national
tourism and every year it’s becoming more popular
among both Lithuanians and foreign guests.
 There are about 500 rural tourism homesteads. Most
homesteads are usually situated near the forest and
water and the owners have a variety of fun to offer
to the guests.

8. What do people do in rural
homesteads?
 Relaxation in the country
 Active recreation
(canoeing, hiking,
bicycling e.g.)
 Gaining knowledge of
the nature
 Gaining knowledge of
farming
 Celebrating

9. Traditional Lithuanian
homesteads

10. Thank you for your attention!