Estimating the demand for non-timber forest products among rural communities: a case study from the Sinharaja Rain Forest region, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Lack of adequate knowledge on forest-people interaction is an important reason for the failure of many conservation policies. This study focuses on the behavior of peripheral communities towards non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting by estimating the demand functions for NTFP. The paper develops a theoretical model for deriving the shadow price for NTFP using time allocation among different economic activities. Then it tests the competitive time allocation hypothesis between NTFP extraction and tea plantations, the predominant agricultural sector in the vicinity of Sinharaja rain forest. Results provide statistical evidence for the existence of competitive time allocation between tea plantations and NTFP extraction. Own-price elasticities are consistently inelastic, except for one product. As indicated by the inelastic responses, pricing policies may not be very useful in manipulating subsistence NTFP extraction. Repeating similar studies for commercial NTFPs is encouraged.

Estimating the Local Value of Non-Timber Forest Products to Pendjari Biosphere Reserve Dwellers in Benin

“…Due to difficulties in finding funds for treatment in the modern health center as well as challenges of stocking up foodstuffs to bridge the gap during the dry season, these people rely heavily on NTFPs. This appears to confirm the role of NTFPs in supporting the livelihoods of poor people, a concept largely shown through previous research (Adhikari et al 2004;Arnold and Ruiz Perez 2001;Fisher and Christopher 2007;Gopalakrishnan et al 2005;Mahapatra et al 2005). There is a need for help from conservationists in aiding local people to harvest NTFPs sustainably.…”

The role of non-timber forest products during agroecosystem shift in Xishuangbanna, southwestern China

“…However, the importance of NTFPs to livelihoods declined with the spread of commercial smallholder rubber plantations. Similarly, the spread of small-scale commercial tea cultivation plants has transformed the economy around Sinharaja in Sri Lanka, and led to a decline in the role of NTFPs in the household economy (Senaratne et al, 2003), with tea plantation and NTFPs extraction activities competing for time allocations (Gopalakrishnan et al, 2005).…”

Time Preference and Natural Resource Use by Local Communities: The Case of Sinharaja Forest in Sri Lanka

“…As pointed out by Anderson (1992), NTfP harvesting requires low levels of capital and also brings low economic returns. There is evidence indicating that higher wages in the rural community result in less dependency on forest resources (Bluffstone 1995, Dufoumaud et al 1995, Kerkvliet and Nebesky 1997, Gopalakrishnan et al 2005). Higher education enables earning higher wages.…”