Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important resources for sustenance of rural communities; a systematic planning to manage diverse NTFPs may immensely contribute to food and livelihood security of forest dwellers. Considering this, the present study has been undertaken in the Himachal Pradesh state in north India. It aims to provide detailed information on diversity, distribution, use pattern, and conservation status of selected NTFPs that have market potential, and suggest a possible way for their sustained management and possible role in livelihood upgradation of dependent communities. An inventory of NTFP species was prepared by collecting secondary information from published scientific studies in journals, books, and other periodicals as well as species being traded as per Forest department records. Search on various online databases were also used (Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, ISI Web of Science) using specific search terms such as “non-timber forest products,” “NTFPs,” “medicinal plants,” “wild edible plants,” and “Himachal Pradesh,” “Western Himalaya,” and “Northwest Himalaya.” A list of potential NTFPs was prepared having market value. To evaluate the relative usefulness of different species, a quantitative valuation was also used by calculating various indices, such as use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance index (RI), cultural importance index (CI), and cultural value (CV). A total of 811 species have been screened that has significant potential for the State, and categorized in 18 groups as per their use. The family use value was highest for Asteraceae (FUV = 76.75). Among plant parts used, whole plants, roots (including rhizomes and tubers), leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, stems, and barks were used by the forest dwellers. Maximum NTFPs were collected from the warm temperate zone, followed by the temperate, sub-alpine, sub-tropical, and alpine zones. Sixty-one percent of species had medicinal importance, followed by species used for food and fodder purposes. Although species richness of medicinal plants decreased with altitude, however, most plants extracted from high altitudes were high-value species fetching better income. As many as 125 NTFPs were identified under the diverse level of threats according to IUCN criteria and as per the local stakeholders’ perceptions. High dependence on NTFPs by poor and marginal communities for domestic needs as well as market demand of selected species leads to create excessive pressure on them. Unfortunately, the state agencies are not having any robust conservation plan for NTFPs. For long-term management of NTFPs sector, a species-specific conservation strategy, proper harvesting protocol, cultivation practices, the supply of quality planting material, product development and diversification, value chain development, and ensured market is greatly desired. This will not only lead to conserving NTFPs resources in their natural habitats but also lead a sustainable livelihood generation for forest dwellers.

中文翻译：

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喜马拉雅群落非木材林产品丰富度——多样性、分布、使用模式和保护状况。


非木材林产品（NTFP）是农村社区生存的重要资源；管理多样化非森林林产品的系统规划可能会极大地促进森林居民的粮食和生计安全。考虑到这一点，本研究是在印度北部的喜马偕尔邦进行的。它旨在提供有关具有市场潜力的选定 NTFP 的多样性、分布、使用模式和保护状况的详细信息，并为其持续管理和在依赖社区生计升级中可能发挥的作用提出可能的方法。 NTFP 物种清单是通过从期刊、书籍和其他期刊上发表的科学研究以及根据林业部门记录进行交易的物种收集二手信息来编制的。还使用各种在线数据库（Scopus、Google Scholar、PubMed、ISI Web of Science）进行搜索，使用特定搜索词，例如“非木材林产品”、“NTFP”、“药用植物”、“野生食用植物”、和“喜马偕尔邦”、“喜马拉雅西部”和“喜马拉雅西北部”。编制了一份具有市场价值的潜在 NTFP 清单。为了评估不同物种的相对有用性，还通过计算各种指标来进行定量评估，例如使用价值（UV）、相对引用频率（RFC）、相对重要性指数（RI）、文化重要性指数（CI）、和文化价值（CV）。总共筛选了 811 个对国家具有重大潜力的物种，并根据其用途分为 18 组。菊科植物的科利用价值最高（FUV = 76.75）。 在使用的植物部分中，森林居民使用整株植物、根（包括根茎和块茎）、叶、花、果实、种子、茎和树皮。 NTFP 采集最多的是暖温带地区，其次是温带地区、亚高山地区、亚热带地区和高山地区。百分之六十一的物种具有药用价值，其次是用于食品和饲料用途的物种。尽管药用植物的物种丰富度随着海拔的升高而降低，但大多数从高海拔地区提取的植物都是高价值物种，收入较高。根据 IUCN 标准和当地利益相关者的看法，多达 125 种 NTFP 被确定为处于不同程度的威胁之下。贫困和边缘社区对非森林林产品的国内需求以及特定物种的市场需求高度依赖，导致对他们造成过度压力。不幸的是，国家机构没有制定任何强有力的 NTFP 保护计划。对于非森林林产品部门的长期管理，非常需要特定物种的保护策略、适当的收获协议、栽培实践、优质种植材料的供应、产品开发和多样化、价值链发展以及有保障的市场。这不仅会保护自然栖息地的非森林林产品资源，还会为森林居民带来可持续的生计。