Non-timber Forest Products Sector Research Articles

Assessment of the Potential of Non-timber Forest Products in Livelihoods’ Sustenance of the Flood Proximate Communities of the Indus Basin, Pakistan

Flood-proximate communities are the most affected from the destructions caused by floods occurring almost every year in Pakistan. The people in these areas, due to frequent natural calamities, usually have poor economic conditions. These communities mainly rely on conventional income-generating strategies i.e. agriculture, fishing, daily wages etc. But due to natural disasters, these methods end up yielding the least profit, thus different means of income-inducing strategies are needed to explore for the community’s sustainable growth. The current study focuses on the potential of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the region of D I Khan in supporting the livelihoods of the inhabitants. The research utilized a mixed method approach (blend of quantitative and qualitative) through a semi-structured questionnaire aiming to assess the livelihood sustenance of flood proximate communities through NTFPs. A total of 150 respondents were randomly selected from 05 administration units, tehsils. The results revealed that communities in non-flooded areas (NF) used collecting NTFPs mostly for construction material whereas those in flooded areas (F) used it for construction as well as utensil making (F:41 %; NF: 39%; P<0.05; c2: 0.812). Both groups were involved in harvesting and using shrubs such as S. munja, T. latifolia, N. ritchiana, S. sesban and T. dioca and trees such as E. camadulensis, V. nilotica, and D. sissoo for firewood and cottage industry. Both groups were significantly different in meeting their livelihood needs such as their income source and meeting household expenses efficiently (F: 48%; NF: 100 %; P<0.01; c2: 12.03). The present study concludes that the NTFPs sector in flood-proximate areas has been neglected as a profitable income strategy for sustainable livelihood of the poor in this region.

Development of NTFPs Sector for Income Generation and Environmental Conservation

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are amongst the key global commodi-ties and an important component of international trade. They are importantin livelihoods of rural people all over the Himalayan region for meetingfood, medicine, construction materials, and income needs of subsistencecommunities. The sector needs focused developmental planning that canbring substantial economic and environmental benefit in the Uttarakhandstate. Based on an extensive analysis of three important categories of NTFPs,viz. medicinal plants, edible wild plants, and bamboo this paper highlightspotential of this sector for food security, income generation and environ-mental conservation by adopting a pro-people approach in Uttarakhand state.Suggestions have been provided for improving the existing framework andprogrammes that can maximize economic, social, cultural and ecologicalbenefits.

Governance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Djansang (<i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i>) and Wild Mango (<i>Irvingia gabonensis</i>) and Its Influence on the Livelihood of Rural Communities of Yokadouma in the East Region of Cameroon

The objective of the study is to contribute to the sustainable governance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) (Djangsa and Wild mangos) on rural livelihood of communities surrounding the rainforest in Yokadouma. The economic potential of Non-Forest Timber Products (NTFPs) and its influence on rural livelihood and development has made it a constant national and international policy debate. However, Cameroon policies and institutional Legal framework is inconsistent with the exploitation and valorisation of these important rural livelihood activities. This study was carried out in Yokadouma in the East Region of Cameroon between February and July of 2020. Respondents were drawn from a cross-section of NTFPs exploiters and marketers. Data was collected through the administration of semi-structured questionnaire design with the aim to answer the research objective. During the recognisances survey, 172 persons concerned in these activities were identified within the 09 villages in the Yokadouma division. Out of these 172 identified persons involved in this economic sector, 165 were interviewed accounting for 96%. Data analysis was done in SPSS version 21 software. Results showed that the NTFPs sector is organized by 02 actors within the value chain who are the producers and retailers. Economic analysis of value chain revealed that producers were able to make 272,780 and 322,367 FCFA per person per season form djansang and wild mangos respectively. The constraints to sustainable management of NTFPs are the gradual disappearance of these tree species, instability of the production cycle, and stumpy involvement of economic operators in the processing chain, the harassments linked to inadequate legislation and the absence of standard measurement units used by retailers of these products. If NTFPs is well managed, it will create jobs and contribute to the economic development and subsequent improvement of livelihood of these rural communities.

Will the proposed forest policy and regulatory reforms boost the NTFP sector in Cameroon?

The national policy framework for forest and forest resources management in Cameroon has often been blamed for hindering the development of the non-timber forest products (NTFP) sector. Various actors, both international and national, have gathered to propose major changes to the forestry law in order to support NTFP development. This paper addresses the following questions: (1) What are the provisions of the current forestry policy for NTFPs? (2) What are the major changes proposed for NTFPs and the reality on the ground? (3) How do forest users view the legal forestry framework? (4) Aren't there better ways to improve NTFP management in Cameroon? Informal and formal interviews held with producers, traders, forest administrative agents and civil society actors show that the government tends to address the local communities' participation concerns through decentralisation in the forestry sector but without guaranteeing an efficient implementation. This situation appears to be a structural factor affecting other sectors of activity in the country, and resulting in little hope that the long awaited reforms in the forestry sector will have a determining impact, unless critical actions are taken against corruption and nepotism. The development of a well-structured civil society and the recourse to new technologies appear to be the best way to improve NTFP governance and efficiency in Cameroon.

Traditional use and management of NTFPs in Kangchenjunga Landscape: implications for conservation and livelihoods.

Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs), an important provisioning ecosystem services, are recognized for their contribution in rural livelihoods and forest conservation. Effective management through sustainable harvesting and market driven commercialization are two contrasting aspects that are bringing challenges in development of NTFPs sector. Identifying potential species having market value, conducting value chain analyses, and sustainable management of NTFPs need analysis of their use patterns by communities and trends at a regional scale. We analyzed use patterns, trends, and challenges in traditional use and management of NTFPs in the southern slope of Kangchenjunga Landscape, Eastern Himalaya and discussed potential implications for conservation and livelihoods. A total of 739 species of NTFPs used by the local people of Kangchenjunga Landscape were reported in the reviewed literature. Of these, the highest number of NTFPs was documented from India (377 species), followed by Nepal (363) and Bhutan (245). Though the reported species were used for 24 different purposes, medicinal and edible plants were the most frequently used NTFP categories in the landscape. Medicinal plants were used in 27 major ailment categories, with the highest number of species being used for gastro-intestinal disorders. Though the Kangchenjunga Landscape harbors many potential NTFPs, trade of NTFPs was found to be nominal indicating lack of commercialization due to limited market information. We found that the unsustainable harvesting and lack of marketing were the major constraints for sustainable management of NTFPs sector in the landscape despite of promising policy provisions. We suggest sustainable harvesting practices, value addition at local level, and marketing for promotion of NTFPs in the Kangchenjunga Landscape for income generation and livelihood improvement that subsequently contributes to conservation.

Drivers of Exploitation and Inequity in Non‐Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Value Chains: The Case of Indian Bay Leaf in Nepal and India

This article presents the findings of a study that analysed the Indian Bay Leaf (Cinnamomum tamala) Nees and Eberm value chain (VC) in Uttarakhand, India and Udayapur, Nepal. The results show that bay‐leaf VCs are loosely integrated and consist of stakeholders with asymmetrical power relations and different priorities. Traders in India dominate the chains and inappropriate standards lead to the exploitation of small producers and inequity in the chain. Policy measures are suggested for improving co‐ordination and competitiveness in the bay‐leaf VC which could be applied to the NTFP sector as a whole.

English

South African forests provide a variety of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) ranging from building materials to food and medicinal products. Economically speaking, the NTFPs sustain the rural and peri-urban poor in meeting their subsistence needs; about 85% of households in rural South Africa use NTFPs in their daily lives. The shortage of NTFPs is bound to intensify the impacts on rural poor. It is to be noted that continual under-reporting of NTFPs from forests and woodlands has resulted into lesser importance being attached to them in the national accounting; consequently their role in supporting livelihoods and food security is also undermined at the policy formation stage. NTFPs can play a bigger role in South Africa by mitigating the effects of hunger and malnutrition and engendering rural development. The study highlights challenges that South Africa faces to develop the NTFP sector to leverage the rural development objective and suggests a policy framework which can attain it Key words: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), South Africa, millennium development goal, policy, medicinal, forests.

The Non-Timber Forest Products Sector in Nepal: Emerging Policy Issues in Plant Conservation and Utilization for Sustainable Development

The non-timber forest products (NTFPs) sector in Nepal is being promoted with the concept of sustainable development as articulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Traditionally, people have been dependent on NTFPs for subsistence; however, international trade is growing. To promote this sector, Nepal adopted the 2004 Herbs and NTFP Development Policy. Our goal is to assess the effectiveness of the policy along with the other forestry and natural resource policies in Nepal concerning the conservation and use of NTFPs. We conducted open-ended semi-structured interviews with 28 key informants in summer 2006 in Nepal and collected relevant documents and publications. Qualitative analyses of data yielded important issues that should be addressed to promote the sector as envisioned by the Government. The most important is the need for inventory and research on NTFP species in widespread use. There are some issues regarding species banned under various other National Acts; the lack of marketing information and capacity building; administrative barriers; royalty rates; and illegal harvesting. The most important immediate need is the development of an NTFP Strategy and Action Plan. Our findings should help further implement the policy and promote the sector along the stated mission of conservation and sustainable development.

The socioeconomic status of the non-timber forest product subsector in Swaziland

A wide spectrum of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) generally has a remarkable contribution to the household economy in rural areas. Most communities make a living either through their domestic or commercial use. The objective of this study was to review the current status of the NTFP sector and further compile an up-to-date list of major use categories of NTFPs. The review of the national study on the NTFP sector indicate an average annual value of the selected NTFPs groups of between US$19.8 million and US$79 million with a median value of US$49.38 million. The most important group from an economic point of view is medicinal plants with an average annual value of US$32.1 million, followed by fuel wood with an estimated annual value of US$13.5 million. In the natural accounting study it was revealed that the contribution of natural forests and woodlands in flow benefits, including the highlighted NTFPs, was equivalent to 2.2% of the total GDP, 20% of agriculture's GDP and 439% of the contribution of forestry reported in the national accounts for 2000. This current study reviewed past national, regional and international studies and developed a new list of 19 NTFP use categories subdivided into direct, indirect and intermediate uses. Subsequently, a matrix of commonly used botanical NTFPs was designed and includes most highly preferred species such as Sclerocarya birrea, Bauhinia galpinii, Berchemia zeyheri, Dichrostachys cinerea and others. However, the study concluded that there is still a profound lack of information on the status and total value of NTFPs in Swaziland and recommended that government, NGOs, the private sector, communities, and other interested and affected parties (including resource users) should work together to conduct research in order to generate, compile and disseminate information on the quantitative and qualitative statistical data on NTFPs, their socioeconomic uses and ecological and environmental values.

India: achieving the Millennium Development Goals through non-timber forest products

SUMMARY Despite the rapid strides made in recent years in terms of development, India has a long way to go to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper attempts to analyze the role and potential of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to meet the subsistence and income needs of forest inhabitants. Based on available literature, field and policy level experience, it shows how the NTFP sector has not received due importance in the country. The paper depicts the unique potential of NTFPs to assist in achieving all the 8 MDGs for the 178 million forest inhabitants in particular and the remaining population in general. It also provides a strategy for achieving the MDGs in India through NTFPs.