The
non timber forest products (NTFP), generally termed non-wood forest products
(NWFP) or minor forest produce (MFP) are defined as “forest products consisting
of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forest, other wood
land and trees outside forests”1. These include bamboo and canes,
fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of edible products
including nuts, wild fruits, honey, etc. In India, NTFP has been defined legally under
‘Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Rights) Act 2006’ popularly known as Forest Rights Act (FRA) under the heading
minor forest produce (MFP) [Section 2 (1) of the act]2. NTFP sector
is one of India’s largest unorganized sectors having a dependent population of
about 275 million and business turnover of more than Rs.6000 crores per annum.
However, this sector has unfortunately been neglected since the
pre-independence period. NTFP contributes to about 20% to 40% of the annual
income of forest dwellers who are mostly disadvantageous and landless
communities with a dominant population of tribals3.
Arundia graminiofolia (Bamboo orchid)
Bamboo plant
Toko plant (Livistona jenkinsiana)
Important NTFP product of the state
Arunachal Pradesh, often referred
to as the ‘land of the dawn-lit mountains’, is geographically the largest state
in Northeast India. The state is uniquely situated in the transition zone
between the Himalayan and Indo-Burmese regions, being recognized as one of the
18 biodiversity hotspots of the world4.The state covers a
geographical area of 83,743 km2 which constitutes 2.54 % of the
total area of the country, 15.76% of the Indian Himalayan region and 43.62% of
the Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot5. It is known as cradle of all flowering
plants, containing nearly 50% of the total flowering plant species (about 5000
spp. of angiosperm) in India6. Arunachal Pradesh is endowed with
wide variety of NTFP comprising about 73 species of bamboos, 18 species of
canes, about 570 species of orchids, about 450 species of medicinal and
aromatic plants, toko plant (Livistona
jenkinsiana) etc.7
The recorded forest cover of the
state is 67,410 km2, which constitutes 80.50% geographical area of
the state. The bamboo bearing area in the forests of the state is 16, 083 sq. km
(31% area of total recorded forest area of state)8. The 26 major
tribes and 110 sub-tribes of state live in close association with forests and
highly dependent on numerous NTFPs for subsistence of their livelihoods. However, due to change in
socio-economic and cultural dynamics, population increase and expansion of
developmental process, the pressure on available biological and forest resources
has increased in recent past. Shifting or jhum cultivation is being practiced
by most of the tribal communities since time immemorial in the state. At
present, shortening of jhum cycle (fallow period)
and deforestation have been major reasons of depletion of rich biodiversity. As
per the report of India State of Forest 2011 Assessment, there is total
decrease of 7400 ha of forests as compared to 2009, which includes 500 ha of
highly dense forests and 5500 ha of moderately dense forest. Jhum cultivation
continues to be the main stay of sustenance for a vast majority of the tribal
communities due to non-availability of alternative livelihood opportunities.
Therefore, to
minimize the dependence of local people on jhum cultivation, sustainable
use of NTFPs can play vital role in poverty alleviation by creating large scale
employment opportunity, empowerment of the forest dwellers and tribal
communities coupled with environment protection in state. NTFPs would also reduce
the pressure on forests there by conserving the native biodiversity and also
reducing the ill impact of climate change. As per Arunachal Pradesh State
Action Plan on Climate Change (APSPCC), the biodiversity rich districts of
Arunachal Pradesh are projected to be adversely impacted by climate change by
2030s9. Climate change (change in temperature and rainfall pattern) will
not only threaten the NTFP production both qualitatively and quantitatively,
but will also affect the dependent economy of the indigenous people of the
state. NTFPs can directly contribute to carbon sequestration.
Government of Arunachal Pradesh has
identified the NTFP as one of the important sectors to boost the socio-economic
development of the state. There is therefore an urgent need to strengthen and
develop NTFP sector through development of sustainable production and harvesting
protocols, availability of better marketing opportunity and system, regulation
of supply and demand, value addition of the NTFPs, formulation of comprehensive
NTFP policy in the state, local entrepreneurship development, improvement of infrastructure
facilities, and strengthening of R&D institutions. Exhaustive R&D
studies are essentially required to assess the baseline status of NTFP;
inventorization & prioritization of NTFP; to identify issues and challenges
in production, regeneration, utilization, over-exploitation and marketing;
documentation of indigenous knowledge and climate change impact on NTFP. Capacity
building and knowledge enhancement of stake holders through education and
awareness program, imparting training on production and sustainable harvesting
and marketing on NTFP will also empower the tribal community and strengthen the
NTFP sector in the state.
Reference
1. FAO,
Towards a harmonized definition of NWFPs.
Unasylva, 1999. 50: 63–64.
2. The
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Rights) Act, 2006.
3. Rawat,
R. V. S., et al., Report of the
Sub-group II on NTFP and their sustainable management in the 12th
Five Year Plan, Submitted under Planning Commissions Working group on Forests
and Natural Resource Management, 2011.
4. Mayers,
N., Environmentalist, 1990, 10, 243–256.
5. Samal,
P.K. et al., Biodiversity conservation through community based natural resource
management: An approach. G.B.Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and
Development, Almora, Uttarakahnd, India, 2013.
6. Chowdhery,
H.J., Arunachal Pradesh –The Cradle of Flowering Plants. In Rawat, G.S. (Ed.). 2008. Special
Habitats and Threatened Plants of India. ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected
Areas, Vol. 11(1). Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India, 2008.
7. Bhuyan, L.R. et al., Non timber
forest products of Arunachal Pradesh-scope, prospects and problems.
Bulletin
of Arunachal Forest Research.
2010, 27: 47-53.
8. Anon., State
Forest Report, Forest Survey
of India, Dehradun, Ministry of Environment and Forest. Govt. of India, 2011.
9. Anon., Arunachal
Pradesh State Action Plan on Climate Change, Government of Arunachal Pradesh,
2011.
