Non-Timber Forest Products and their Role in the Livelihoods of People of Nepal: A Critical Review

Abstract

Nepal is a rich source of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in terms of production and trading practices. The altitudinal and climatic variations in various pockets of Nepal have contributed to their diversity. This article attempts to outline the current status of NTFPs and its importance in the Nepalese economy. NTFPs provide rural people with food, medicine, construction materials, and income. About 80% of the rural population depend on the NTFPs for their livelihood and Nepal. NTFPs have commercial, socioeconomic and environmental values in rural communities. More than 700 species of plants are recognized as producing NTFPs and about 150 species of these are commonly used in international trade. The management of NTFPs has been receiving increasing attention from donors, development agencies and user groups who are involved in different aspects of NTFP promotion. Sustainable exploitation, use, and commercialization of NTFPs are important for socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and livelihood enhancement of rural people in Nepal.

Farmers’ Perception about Major Insect Pests of Cucurbits and Their Management

“…The effective implementation of integrated pesticides [28] would be encouraged by farmers to recognize biological surveillance through fieldwork. As secondary plant metabolites, Botanicals are an enticing and beneficial alternative for the management of pesticides [29]. Therefore, botanical secondary compounds are a wide reservoir of pesticide active chemicals [30].…”

Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) decline by dieback disease, root pathogens and their management: a review

“…It is also found growing throughout the Terai plain (100m) to inner valley. The agriculture sector as well as agro-forestry has and significant impact on the economy of Nepal (Banskota et al, 2020;Shrestha et al, 2020). Dalbergia sissoo one of the agroforestry species is spread from 72m to 1,500m above mean sea level across the river forests from east to west of Nepal.…”

History of Agriculture of Galicia from the Second Half of 19th to First Third of 20th Centuries

“…They are associated with socio-economic and cultural life of forest-dependent communities inhabiting in a wide range of ecological and geo-climatic conditions throughout the country (Rijal et al, 2019;Rai et al, 2019). Globally, a large proportion of rural populations depend on NTFPs for livelihoods, such as for food, nutrition, medicines, fodder, fibres, and other useful materials (Shrestha et al, 2020;Talukdar et al, 2021). In the mountains of Nepal, 10-100% of households are involved in the collection of medicinal plants and other NTFPs; and in certain rural areas, this contributes up to 50% of the family income (Olsen and Larsen, 2003;Rijal et al, 2019;Rai et al, 2019;Shrestha et al, 2020).…”

“…Globally, a large proportion of rural populations depend on NTFPs for livelihoods, such as for food, nutrition, medicines, fodder, fibres, and other useful materials (Shrestha et al, 2020;Talukdar et al, 2021). In the mountains of Nepal, 10-100% of households are involved in the collection of medicinal plants and other NTFPs; and in certain rural areas, this contributes up to 50% of the family income (Olsen and Larsen, 2003;Rijal et al, 2019;Rai et al, 2019;Shrestha et al, 2020). In the past, NTFPs had been considered secondary in importance against the timber and were confined to local economies, as very little knowledge existed about them.…”

“…There are more than 700 plant species that have medicinal value, of which 238 are in active use and 100 are in trade (Shrestha, Shrestha, and Shah, 2020). Trading of NTFPs started with the harvesting of lichen in the 1980s and other NTFPs have been rapidly identified and commercialized thereafter (Bista and Webb, 2006).…”