Assessment of Potential Non Timber Forest Products for Economic Development. A Case Study of Chapako Community Forest, Ramkot, Kathmandu

Abstract

This dissertation is aimed at identifying the NTFPs that bear potential for the economic development of the communities especially CFUGs. The main focus here is to manage these resources to enhance the livelihood status and promote NTFPs both through conservation and cultivation in CF where it bears potential. The study was carried out in Chapako CF at Ramkot, one of the rural areas of Kathmandu where NTFPs are integral part to poor people’s lives. The results of the study showed that NTFPs are in considerable amount in the forest. The initiation and interest of FUG for the promotion of NTFPs are encouraging to take it as potential sector to uplift the economic status of the community. The processes for the management of these resources, cultivation of high valued products and their willingness to assess more in the sector was important. The species like Gaultheria fragrantissima, Cheorospondias axillaris, Piper longum, Amomum subulatum, Cinnamomum tamala, Daphne bholua and Acorus calamus should be prioritized for the cultivation, conservation and promotion for economic development of CFUG at the Chapako CF. Furthermore, related institutions like FECOFUN, DFO – Kathmandu and various related programs have provided support to the user group for the promotion of this sector separately. Future programs to support the FUG should be related to the harvesting mechanisms and propagation procedures of NTFPs to meet the higher degree of success. For the policy makers, there should be strong policy, infrastructure interventions and legal provisions providing support for the management and promotion of this sector. Community forest programs directly benefit poor users through improved access and use of forest products, and indirectly through investment of forest user funds in community activities that generate income. Benefit from NTFPs should be prime objective for more integrated resource management. Lack of sufficient support in terms of physical infrastructures combined with financial and technical assistance as well as weaker enforcement of policy and legal provisions appear to be inhibited in this sector. However, there appears ample of opportunities to promote NTFPs and can be considered to be an important source of income.