Review on the Roles of NTFPs for Rural Livelihood

Abstract

Since the potential value and role of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) was first mooted in the 1980s, there has been a tremendous escalation in research, practice, and policy interest across numerous disciplines including conservation, livelihood studies, economics, forestry, and anthropology Millions of rural and urban dwellers across the world make use of a wide diversity of forest products to fulfill several livelihood requirements, from direct household provisioning to cash income through selling no timber forest products, cultural and spiritual needs, food like fruits, leaves, roots, medicine, and construction material and as a fall back in times of emergency or a means to income diversification. All these roles are significant, and often NTFPs perform multiple functions simultaneously. Valuing NTFPs therefore requires a holistic perspective that considers these products in relation to multiple livelihood strategies, and within particular contextual settings. The context within which people operate has major implications for the seeming significance and value of NTFPs.

Keywords: Harvest, Livelihood, NTFPs, Review, Rural, and Sustainable