Non Timber Forest Product & its Trade in Nepal

By:

Chhabi Acharya

INTRODUCTION:

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are wild plant and animal products harvested from forests.

These include plants and plant materials used for food, fuel, storage and medicine, cottage and wrapping materials, biochemical, as well as animals, birds, reptiles and fishes, for food and feather.

Although NTFPs (Plant product) are harvested from the wild, people often gather the seeds of useful plants from the forest and plant them near their homes.

These plants are then in the process of domestication. Plants and trees exclusively cultivated in plantations or gardens and no longer collected in the wild (e.g. neem tree) are considered to be agricultural products.

Contd…

Millions of people – especially those living in rural areas in developing countries – collect these products daily, and many regard selling them as a means of earning.

In the late 1980s, the annual export value of NTFPs was approximately US$32 M in Thailand, US$238 M in Indonesia, and more than US$11 M in Malaysia.

About 80% of the populations of developing countries use NTFPs to meet some of their health and nutritional needs.

'Living bridge' Formed of the Aerial Roots of the India-rubber in India

CLASSIFICATION OF NTFPs

Edibles: such as mushroom, the most well known and documented edible forest products and many other food products gathered from the forest.

Medicinal and dietary supplements: This includes plant based products that are processed into medicines.

Beginning in the late eighteenth century, over 100 plant species indigenous to the U.S were commonly accepted for their medicinal properties.

Floral products: It includes pine boughs, grapevines, ferns, and other plant products used for decorative applications.

Contd…

These unique forest products may appear in floral arrangements, dried flower decorations, and ornaments, common example include products made from pine boughs, grape vines, moss, ferns and flowers.

Specialty wood products: include handicrafts, carving and turnings, musical instrument containers (basket), special furniture pieces as well as utensils.

In general, specialty wood products are considered non traditional if they are produced directly from trees and not from timber purchased from mills.

Fig. Kava leaf and preparing the Kava roots to make a beverage from it, South Pacific.

ECONOMIC VALUE OF NTFPs

From the economic viewpoint, NTFPs are equally important as wood based products.

About 150 types of NTFPs are significant in international trade.

They are also increasingly being acknowledged for their role in sustainable development and conservation of ecosystem.

Up to 80 percent of the population in developing countries depends on NTFPs for subsistence, both economically and for nutrition.

IN NEPAL:

The collection and sale of non-timber forest products is a major source of livelihood in some regions of Nepal.

Nepal comprises 0.1% of the earth land area yet it ranks within the first quartile for global biodiversity importance. This is because of its unique bio-geographic location, altitudinal variation and diverse climatic and topographic conditions.

Out of 6500 flowering plants found in the country, more than 700 species are recognized as non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and about 100 species of these are commonly traded.

Since processing capacity in Nepal is limited, a large quantity of NTFPs (10,000 - 15,000 tonnes per annum) is exported in raw form, mainly to India. This is worth about US$26.5 M a year, approximately 4% of the national gross domestic product of Nepal.

Contd…

Collectors are usually people living in the hills and remote parts of the country.

Because of geographical proximity and non-availability of other means of earning, their livelihood is depended on NTFPs. They determine the primary management of NTFPs, and hence most directly determine the biological sustainability of NTFPs and the consequent impacts on ecosystem health.

In particular, overexploitation has placed several high-value NTFPs – including Nardostachys gradiflora, Rawolfia serpentina and valeriana jatamansi – under a threat of extinction in Nepal.

An improved understanding amongst collectors of the marketing, technical and regulatory aspects of the NTFP supply chains in which they work may improve both their own incomes and the sustainability of production.

Wintergreen leaves harvesting in Dolakha

Contd..

There are many local level enterprises based on NTFPs of nepal, notably those involving:

Bamboos for mat and basket-making. Daphne bark for lokta paper production, and Girardinia diversifolia

fibres for allo cloth production. NTFPs also provide a limited range of raw materials for industry in

Nepal. Of most significance are: resin tapping from Pinus roxburghii; katha extraction, a dye from the heartwood of Acacia catechu, and paper from sabai grass (Eulalopsis binata). However, this paper is

restricted to the littleknown rade in raw materials for which the only significant markets are in India, beyond Nepal's southern border.

Conclusion

The above observed point and data shows that there are a lot possibilities which upgrades the peoples lifestyle related to the NTFPs and its market value.

But there is no any proper program to introduce such program by government. So the main point to focused is it. Thus there should be the program by government and other concern site to develop such possibilities, specially for the people of rural area and for non timber forest area.

References:

www.MPRA.com www.agriculturejournel.com www.forest.org.com