Contribution of NTFPs to cash income of the War Khasi community of southern Meghalaya, North-East India

Abstract

Ever since their emergence on this planet, human beings have depended on forest resources for much(??) of their requirements, ranging from food, fuel to shelter. Sustainable extraction of forest resources has been promoted by conservationists and development agencies as a feasible strategy for forest dwellers that does not diminish the resource base. Yet surveys of actual resource use suggest that for poorer resource-dependent communities without access to markets, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) can only act as a safety net and a supplementary income source. In southern Meghalaya, India, NTFPs and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have become an important source of cash and subsistence income for poor people living in or near forests. People in this region have traditionally been collecting different forest products from private forests as well as community conserved forests. The study reveals that NTFPs contribute significantly towards the annual cash income of the local population. The contribution of NTFPs to their income was highest in the case of poor families (9.89%), followed by middle income families (3.34%) and the least for the higher income families (1.34%). Our household survey revealed that 100% of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on NTFPs. Household response indicates diversity in both the types and uses of products collected.

Review artitle Review: Traditional ecological knowledge of tribal communities of North East India

“…The local people think that degraded and secondary forests harbor fewer species of birds than primary forests in the same locations which corroborate recent ecological studies elsewhere (Peres 2000). Tynsong et al (2012a) felt that it is this congruence between TEK and conventional scientific studies that form the basis of a constructive goal-based dialogue among scientists, conservationists, and indigenous people. Although catching and hunting of birds may be damaging to the wild populations, it's vital to notice the hunter's perspective who felt that jhum cultivation, commercial logging, and conversion of natural forests into agroforests have led to the loss of habitats of the birds.…”

“…In an effort to understand the importance of birds as a wild resource of rural tribal people of Meghalaya, Tynsong et al (2012a) documented the local hunting techniques, the season of availability of birds, tools used in hunting and purpose of hunting. It was found by Tynsong et al (2012a) that bird catching and hunting in the forests of Meghalaya has been practiced since time immemorial and represents not just a form of resource extraction but also a traditional form of wildlife management. Thirty species of birds were reported to be most hunted and were used by the local communities for various purposes such as food, pets, recreation, sports, and cash income.…”

Plant diversity of Betel Leaf Agroforestry of South Meghalaya, Northeast India

“…The area is inhabited by War Khasi people, a tribal community having a long tradition of forest conservation. People collect, process and market a large variety of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) such as Cinnamomum tamala, Piper peepuloides, Phrynium capitatum, bamboo, honey, mushrooms, nuts, wild tubers, edible worms, insects and leafy vegetables from the forests (Tynsong et al 2012).…”

Domestication, Conservation, and Livelihoods: A Case Study of Piper peepuloides Roxb.—An Important Nontimber Forest Product in South Meghalaya, Northeast India

“…In term of cash income, the study revealed that 100% of growers were from rich and middle class families. This is true because in the state of Meghalaya, rich and middle class families have land for cultivations, which the poor families do not have [27]. Therefore, this product can be called as forest product for the rich and middle class families.…”