Role of NTFPs (Non-Timber Forest Produces) in tribal livelihood

Manvi Malwal; Preeti Singh; Parihar Gupta; Niraj Kumar; Sangeeta Bhogal; Sanjeet Kumar; Shalini Mudalkar

doi:10.36808/if/2026/v152i1/171054

Role of NTFPs (Non-Timber Forest Produces) in tribal livelihood

Authors

Manvi Malwal Department of Botany, Post Graduate Government College for Girls 11, Chandigarh
Preeti Singh Department of Botany, Post Graduate Government College for Girls 11, Chandigarh
Parihar Gupta Department of Botany, Government Rajmata Vijaya Raje Sindhiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Kawardha, Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh
Niraj Kumar Department of Zoology, Laxmi Narain Dubey College, Motihari, East Champaran, Bihar, India (B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur)
Sangeeta Bhogal Department of Chemistry, The ICFAI University, Himachal Pradesh
Sanjeet Kumar Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha
Shalini Mudalkar Department of Tree Breeding and Improvement, Forest College and Research Institute, Mulugu, Siddipet, Hyderabad, Telangana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i1/171054

Keywords:

Biodiversity, Forest economy, Rural development, Sustainability, Traditional knowledge

Abstract

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) form a crucial component of forest ecosystems and play a central role in sustaining the livelihoods of millions of tribal and forest-dependent communities worldwide. They include a wide range of plant and animal products other than timber, such as fruits, seeds, nuts, resins, fibers, medicinal plants and honey. In India, NTFPs contribute significantly to the socio-economic and cultural well-being of tribal populations, serving as a primary source of food, medicine, and income. Despite their economic potential, the contribution of NTFPs often remains under-documented and undervalued in policy frameworks. Present study highlights the importance of NTFPs in tribal livelihood systems, discusses the need for systematic documentation, and explores their ecological, cultural, and economic relevance. Furthermore, it addresses the existing challenges in sustainable management and suggests measures for strengthening NTFP-based livelihood strategies in tribal regions of India.

References

Alam S.K., Das K., Sharma B.P., Nichat A.R., Kumar S., Devi R.S.and Marndi S. (2025). Wild Greens of India: Unlocking the Potential of Non-timber Forest Produce for Tribal Livelihoods in India. Indian Forester, 151(7): 698-702.

Apshahana K. and Sharma A.K. (2022). Trade of Wild Edible Plants in all Women Market in Manipur, India. Indian Forester, 148(1): 88-96.

Asigbaase M., Anaba L., Adusu D., Abugre S., Musah A.A., Nsor C.A. and Sarfo D.A. (2025). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal shrubs and herbs used by forest-fringe communities of Ghana. Scientifica, 1362301. doi: 10.1155/sci5/1362301

Chakraborty A., Joshi P.K. and Sachdeva K. (2018). Capturing forest dependency in the central Himalayan region: Variations between Oak (Quercus spp.) and Pine (Pinus spp.) dominated forest landscapes. Ambio, 47(4): 504-522.

Devi R., Walling T., Chang T., Snehalatha V.R., Marndi S. and Kumar S. (2025). Cycas species of India: A Comprehensive Review on Health Benefits and Gaps Analysis. Indian Forester, 151(5): 504-507.

Devi R.K., Kumar A., Jadhav J.Y., Satapathy K.B. and Kumar S. (2024). Economically important plants of Loktak Lake, Manipur, India. Indian Forester, 150(12): 1253-1256.

Devidas B.A., Mishra S. and Kumar S. (2024). Minor Forest Produces (MFPs) of Jamtara Forest Division, Jharkhand, India. Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 8(1): 36-48.

Ganguly S., Chatterjee M. and Dutta S. (2024). Some Prominent NTFPs of Jharkhand, India for Socio-Economic Development: An Extensive Review. Indian Forester, 150(12): 1209-1219.

Gurung L.J., Miller K.K., Venn S. and Bryan B.A. (2021). Climate change adaptation for managing non-timber forest products in the Nepalese Himalaya. The Science of the Total E n v i r o n m e n t , 7 9 6 : 1 4 8 8 5 3 . d o i : 1 0 . 1 0 1 6 / j.scitotenv.2021.148853

Jain S.K. (2021). Manual of Ethnobotany, 2nd Revised Edition. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India.

Kumar S. (2015). Life support plant species among aboriginals of Similipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha: Diversity and Conservation. International Journal of Biological Sciences and Engineering, 6(2): 80-86.

Kumar S. (2025). Data collection from literature for biological sciences, medicinal plants research, ethnobotany, and pharmacology: a methodological overview. Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 9(2): 167-169.

Kumar S.and Jena P.K. (2014). Edible medicinal non-timber forest products from floral wealth of tribal Odisha. Sabujima, 22: 41-44.

Kumar S.N., Mishra S. and Kumar S. (2021). Documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) on Commonly Available Plants in Koira Range, Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha, India. Asian Plant Research Journal, 8(4): 83-95.

Masoodi H.U.R. and Sundriyal R. C. (2020). Richness of nontimber forest products in Himalayan communities-diversity, distribution, use pattern and conservation status. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 16(1): 56. doi: 10.1186/s13002-020-00405-0

Mipun P., Bhat N.A., Borah D. and Kumar Y. (2019). Non-timber forest products and their contribution to healthcare and livelihood security among the Karbi tribe in Northeast India. Ecological Process, 8: 41. doi.org/10.1186/s13717-019-0194-4

Mishra A.K., Mishra S., Rathore S., Naik V., Patil U. and Kumar S. (2021). Wild mushroom diversity of Rairangpur Forest Division, Odisha, India and its medicinal uses. European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 32(9): 19-27.

Mishra C.K. and Naidu G.R. (2014). Inventory of Non-timber forest Products through Adaptive Cluster Sampling. Indian Forester, 140(1): 1-10.

Pandey J. (2014). Forest Policies and NTFP - Based Livelihoods in India - Need for better Interventions. Indian Forester, 140(6): 563-569.

Sethi J., Jena N. and Kumar S. (2024). Medicinal Plants of Rourkela Forest Division, Odisha, India. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 23(12): 69-84.

Singh G., Giri A. and Paul S. (2017). Pinus roxburghii Sarg. (Chir Pine): a Valuable Forest Resource of Uttarakhand. Indian Forester, 143(7): 700-709.

Tiwari S.C. and Itoo M. A. (2014). A Biodiversity Perspective on the NTFP Potential of Bilaspur Forest Division of Chhattisgarh. Indian Forester, 140(9): 862-867.

Uniyal S.K., Singh K.N., Jamwal P. and Lal B. (2006). Traditional use of medicinal plants among the tribal communities of Chhota Bhangal, Western Himalaya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2:14. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-2-14

Yadav R., Rajpurohit S. and Kamboj R.D. (2019). Valuation of Non-Timber Forest Products Collected by Forest Dwellers of Surat Forest Circle of Gujarat State, India. Indian Forester, 145(6): 578-583.