Non Wood Forest Products for Rural Livelihood and Sustainable Forestry with Special Reference to Chhattisgarh, India

Nonwood forest products (NWTP) are plant and animal materials, except timber, grown in forest areas. These include fruits, folders, leaves, seeds, bamboos, animal products, etc. People living in forested parts and fringe areas rely largely on different NWFPs for subsistence and cash livelihood. Some NWFPs constitute ingredients of various pharmaceutical products, as well as of industrial projects. These are associated with socioeconomy, culture and aesthatic life of millions of forest dependent people and tribal people in Chhattisgarh, and in large parts of India and other countries. Govt. policies regarding marketing, trade and management of the NWFS are important so as to extend benefit to the forest dependent people as well as to conserve forest resources in a better manner. In Chhattisgarh the Government has set up Chhattisgarh minor forest produces Federation (CGMFPF) to take control of the above aspects. These matters are discussed in the paper and some points have been indicated for improvement of the scenario.