Namaste and Welcome to All

SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING TECHNIQUES OF NON-TIMBER FOREST

PRODUCTS

PRESENTER:

Ashok ParajuliM.Sc. NRM/RD

Roll No: 1

Course Coordinator:

Pr. Dr. I.C DuttaKathmandu Forestry

College

Presentation Outline

• Introduction • Underlying issues for unsustainable harvesting• Harvesting practice of NTFP in Nepal• Major government policies on sustainable

harvesting• Challenges • Way forward and Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

“Non-Timber Forest Products’ (NTFPs) encompasses all biological materials other than timber, which are extracted from forests for human use.” ( De Beer and McDermott , 1989)• NTFPs consist: Roots & Rhizomes, Bark ,Leaf & Stem, Flowers, Fruits &Seeds, all the parts, Gums & Resins,others (Bamboo, allo Etc)

• Nepal supports diverse range of NTFPs at genetic, species and ecosystem leveland are distributed in all climatic zones

Intro

• Sustainability is a principle simply described as a system that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

• This includes timing of harvesting, material to be harvested, harvesting techniques, harvesting equipment and storage.

• Sustainable management of NTFPs are important and Sustainable harvesting can be the important tool for it.

• Harvesting become sustainable only when the used techniques will be:

Intro…

Since Nepal’s government policy recognizes NTFP as one of the potential means to contribute to poverty reduction and allowed to harvest from government managed forest, there is growing competition in harvesting of NTFP on different areas

•

• While NTFPs are very important to the rural livelihoods and national economy, these resources have been under serious threat due to increase in human pressure.

• Certain plant species are already on the verge of extinction because of unsustainable harvesting.

Intro....

Underlying issues for unsustainable harvesting1. Policy related issueso Ban of species o Cumbersome process

2. Technical issueso Unskilled and untrained in scientific method of harvesting o Lack of proper techniques of collection of different MAPs o For example Chirayito (fully matured seed in September but due to attraction of

money or competition it has been collected in July-August even before or during the flowering period)

3. Institutional issueso Limited participation of poor, women, and disadvantaged groups in decision making

and benefit sharingo Value addition arrangements: Due to the lack of local processing units the traders are

getting much benefit, but the primary collectors/producers are getting nothing.

4. Market, marketing and trade issues o Lack of information about the actual price of NTFPs to the producers' level. o Lack of communication between the producers and the exporterso Lack of transparency and market information

HARVESTING PRACTICE OF NTFPs IN NEPAL

Harvesting Practice of NTFPs

Based on research studies at different parts of Nepal

• Harvesting carried out in traditional way (Behari,1994)

• Collection undertaken only in accessible forest areas – Multi collection focusing more on single products with high market value (olsen, 1999)

• Little considerations for natural regeneration and lack organized efforts in collection (subedi, 1999)

General Guidelines

When to HarvestTime for collection and harvesting,

e. g. the season, date or time of day

What to Harvestidentify the plants that you intend to harvest avoiding unwanted mixtures

Choose healthy and well-developed plant material

How to harvest –Gather only plants that are abundant in

that area-Avoid any unnecessary damage to the

plant -Avoid mechanical damage

Equipment used -Keep all containers used during harvesting

clean and free from contamination by previously harvested medicinal plants and

other foreign matter

Sustainability of NTFP

SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING TECHNIQUES DEPENDING ON FOREST CONDITIONS (SUBEDI)

1. No Harvesting Techniques:

• When NTFPs are used for occasionally for domestic purpose by limited population with low demands in market

2. Controlled Harvesting Techniques:

• Collection of harvestable NTFPs while retaining enough individuals for natural regeneration is a suitable strategy to initiate for an improved production system that is sustainable.

• Simple and easy way that has been adopted in some parts of Nepal

• Controlled harvesting can be enforced by applying:a. Rotational Harvesting: - Based on the rotation period - Can be based on indigenous knowledge of collector- Eg: Managing NTFPs in CF by dividing it into different blocks in Humla for

Kutki and Jatamasib. Fixed quantity of NTFPs harvesting

- can be applied for managing NTFPs in national forests or protected areas

- yield from an ecosystem has to be assessed for every species of NTFPs so that a permit can be issued for a fixed quantity that does not exceed the annual recruitment rate

c. Selective harvesting

- applicable for the NTFPs that have specific harvesting requirements. Eg. pine trees of certain range of diameter are selected for resin tapping.

NTFP Identification/Screening Survey

Species Selection

Preliminary Data

NTFP Inventory and Participatory Mapping

Yield Assessment Study

Baseline Data

Periodic Harvest AssessmentPeriodic Regeneration survey

Adequate Regeneration ??

Adequate Productivity Harvest Control ??No No

Yes

Yes

Harvest Adjustment

Mon

itorin

g

Operational Plan of NTFP Management of CFUG

Local Policy Adoption

NTFP Management Technique in CF

• International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic(ISSC-MAP) is designed in 2004 to be applicable to ecological, cultural, economic, and trade conditions

• It focuses on ecological aspects of good collection practices.

• It primarily addresses wild collection of medicinal and aromatic plant materials for commercial purposes, rather than for subsistence or local use.

• The ISSC-MAP is being piloted in Kangchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA) since 2007

ISSC-MAP Techniques

MAJOR GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING

• Conservation measures are heavily focused on regulation, ban and restrictions.

Some Efforts:

• Good Agriculture Cultivation Practices (GACP) developed for 12 species

• Government has prioritized 30 NTFPs for economic development

• Forest Inventory Guidelines-2069 (Resource assessment techniques of all kinds of NTFPs )

• Provision of EIA & IEE for checking out over exploitation of NTFPs

• Herbs and NTFP Development Policy, 2061

(conservation and sustainable utilization by adopting good harvesting practice (Policy-1.1))

• Forest Policy, 2071

(Working policy: Development of cultivation technology

of NTFPs with high potential of commercialization)

Way Forward:

- Incorporate traditional harvesting practice while developing different harvesting guidelines

- Certification: assurance that products comefrom sustainable practice

- Extension works, Research on domestication and commercial cultivations

- Management plan of NTFPs

-Underlying issues needs to be addressed

Major Challenges:• Harvesting techniques are difficult for the rural societies to adopt.• The species specific information is generally lacking for most of the species.• Practically there is no supervision or control in collection, nor is any rational

basis for allotting plots from DFO• Certification, Domestication and Commercial Farming

CONCLUSION:

- A wide range of assessment techniques and harvesting practices has to be considered for NTFP.

- Indigenous and Integrated knowledge can provide basis for developing scientific harvesting techniques and harvesting plan.

- Sustainable NTFP harvesting is a complex issue requiring analysis of multiple dimensions, and matching of social and ecological aspects

- Good scope to manage in CF which can contribute in poverty reduction

- Best sustainable harvesting of NTFP have to be site and product specific

- Important tool for sustainable management