Non timber forest products (NTFP) for sustainable socio-economic development of community

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 12^th 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.