A recent study conducted by Nagaland University has shed light on the economic value of 47 non-timber forest products (NTFPs) across villages in Nagaland and Meghalaya. The research highlights the crucial role these products play in supporting tribal livelihoods, local economies, and biodiversity conservation.
The study emphasizes the need for sustainable utilization and management of NTFPs through ecological assessments and structured harvesting guidelines. This would ensure that these valuable forest resources remain available for future generations. Furthermore, the researchers point out the potential of NTFPs to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for marginalized communities in remote forest areas, providing an additional source of income beyond traditional agriculture.
The study, which was conducted across 20 villages covering 250 households, identified 47 plant and animal-based NTFPs and assessed their collection, utilization, and economic value. The findings show that forest-dependent tribal communities rely on these resources for household consumption as food, beverages, medicine, and other value-added products, while surplus produce is sold in local markets.
According to the study, NTFPs are an important source of livelihood and supplementary household income for these communities. The findings have been published in the Indian Journal of Ecology, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research on ecology, environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and ecosystem sustainability.
Nagaland University vice-chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik emphasized the importance of research on topics of relevance to local communities, stating that the identification of the economic value of 47 NTFPs is a significant step towards recognizing the potential of forest resources in strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring food security.
The study found that bamboo shoot is the highest return-earning NTFP in Meghalaya, while wild black pepper is the most common and highest return-earning NTFP in Nagaland. Although India is home to about 3,000 NTFP species, only 126 have developed marketability, highlighting the need for their scientific identification and economic valuation.
