Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in National Economy: A Case of Jajarkot District, Nepal

Abstract

Non-timber forest products are the major source of income for mountainous countries like Nepal. This article attempts to explore a case of traded non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Jajarkot district and its contribution to the economy. Collection of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) and resin tapping are some of the major sources of employment for a large number of rural people. 53 different types of NTFPs are traded from the Jajarkot district. Local people collect these NTFPs from the forest and export them within and outside the district mainly to India and China. Jajarkot district on average exported 1,590,681.72 kg NTFPs worth NRs. 3,819,271.6 (equivalent to USD 32,081.88) from the year 2015 to 2020 to the national economy through royalty. NRs. 2,246,719.4 (equivalent to USD 18,872.44) per year came from MAPs and NRs. 1,572,552.2 (equivalent to USD 13,209.4) from resin during the years 2015 to 2020. If this district could produce all the commonly available NTFPs in a large scale, then there would be a high possibility of transforming the current unviable economy into a practical and vibrant economy. A proper inventory, identification and sustainable harvesting, are essential to promote and conserve these NTFPs.

Impacts of Earthquake and Earthquake-induced Disasters on Community Forests in Nepal

“…In developing countries like Nepal community forest is always at the risk as it has played or can play an important role in addressing poverty of the households (Singh et al, 2021). The critical role of community forestry in environmental protection in general and in fostering social and economic development in particular in Nepal's rural areas has already drawn some attention (Chhetri & Jackson, 1995;Lamichhane et al 2021;Malla, 2000).…”

Socio-Economic Contribution of Zanthoxylum armatum (Timur) in the Rural Household Income of Myagdi District, Nepal

“…The Salyan District (which includes pocket areas of Z. armatum) alone contributed 16,658.73 USD to 272,200 kg in 2015(DFO, 2015. According to Lamichhane et al (2021), it covered 28% of the total traded volume of NTFPs in the fiscal year 2019-2020 in the Jajarkot District. Z. armatum has played an important role in uplifting the economic status of rural communities (Phuyal et al, 2019).…”

Checklist of floral species at the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Nepal

“…Plants are also used for herbal medicine, construction materials, fuelwood, fodder, fiber and social religious purposes (Rajbhandary and Winkler 2015). A large proportion of the rural population depend on plant resources (such as timber, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) to sustain their livelihoods and economy (Giri et al 2001;Angelsen et al 2014;Shackleton and Pullanikkatil 2019;Lamichhane et al 2021). Plants play important roles in ecosystem balance, oxygen balance, carbon sequestration, control erosion and nutrient recycling (Rajbhandary et al 2020).…”