0154-A1

Non-Timber Forest Products in Uttara Kannada District, Western Ghats, Karnataka, India: A Financial Valuation

Indu K. Murthy^[1], P.R. Bhat and N.H. Ravindranath

Abstract

Western Ghats being one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, a study was undertaken to evaluate the flow of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Uttara Kannada district, one of the Western Ghats districts. A wide range of NTFPs is collected in the different forest zones of the district. The diversity however varies with availability and local knowledge systems. Significant quantities of NTFPs are gathered in all the four zones and the financial value realized per hectare ranged from Rs634 in the dry deciduous zone to Rs1 801 in the evergreen zone with a mean of Rs1 159/ha/year (US$1 = Rs47. April, 2003).

1. Introduction

Non -Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are a vital and significant source of subsistence, employment and income especially during the non-cropping season for rural households living in areas adjoining forests. In addition to subsistence and income generating potential, NTFPs also provide food security to large low-income populations, particularly during droughts and famines (FAO 1989). NTFPs are therefore an integral part of development and survival. The potential economic value of NTFPs either in terms of utilization or its market value is often underestimated or unknown (Wickens, 1994). The challenge is therefore to assess and quantify the value of these products and to transform the use of many of them as are socially and ecologically viable from one of subsistence to one of development (Saulei et al., 1994). NTFP activities thus hold prospects for integrated forms of development that yield higher rural incomes and conserve biodiversity while not competing with agriculture (Sharma, 1992).

Western Ghats is one of the biodiversity rich forest regions of India and very limited information is available on the NTFPs of this region. Therefore, this study was undertaken in Uttara Kannada district of the Western Ghats with the following objectives.

· To prepare an inventory of the NTFPs extracted in the region,

· To estimate the quantity of NTFPs extracted by locals and the Forest Department, and

· To estimate the income derived from NTFP gathering.

2. Materials and Methods

The study is focussed in Uttara Kannada district of the Western Ghat region, which lies in the northwestern part of Karnataka, India and spans approximately an area of 10291 sq.km. It extends between 13.55' to 15.31' N Lat and 74.03' to 75.05' E Long. The major forest types in the district are evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous/scrub forms.

The study was undertaken in 21 villages, with a large population dependent on the forests for NTFPs in the four forest zones of evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous. Of these villages, 11 depended on evergreen, 4 on moist deciduous and 3 each on semi-evergreen and dry deciduous forests. Maximum representative villages from evergreen forest zone are due to the large diversity of NTFPs. A preliminary survey was conducted to gather basic information about the villages. Further, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on the diversity of NTFPs extracted, the parts used, their enduse as well as the season of collection, and quantity of NTFP gathered per typical trip and quantity collected in a season. The survey was done in 25% of the households after classifying as large farmers, garden owners and landless labourers based on their land holdings. Data regarding the extraction of several NTFPs from different forest divisions in the district were collected from Forest Department records.

3. Results and Discussion

The variation in availability and end use of NTFPs available in the different forest types is given in Table 1. In the evergreen zone, NTFPs are extracted from 59 different plant species and in the semi evergreen zone 40 different plant species are used. This includes species used as food, household article, for fencing and commercial purposes and for medicinal purposes, as revealed from only household surveys. The number of species used as food are 17 (28.8%) and 19 (32.2%) respectively in the above mentioned zones. In the moist deciduous and dry deciduous zones the number of species extracted are 12 and 15 respectively, of which 11 (91.6%) and 5 (33.3%) species are used as food in the respective zones (Table 1).

Table 1: Diversity of plant species used for different end uses in the region.

Values in parenthesis indicate the percent total of the species used as food. These are computed taking into account only information gathered from household survey.

Species used as food include Artocarpus lakoocha, Garcinia indica, Garcinia cambogea, Carissa carandas, Mushrooms, Emblica officinalis etc. Edible ghee is extracted from the seeds of Garcinia cambogea while Carissa carandas and Embilca officinalis are pickled. The pods of Sapindus emarginatus and Acacia sinuata are used for washing and shampooing by the village households. Species such as Calamus rotundus and Bambusa arundinacea are used for fencing of farmlands as well as home gardens. These two species are also used for making household article such as baskets. Structural as well as household articles are made out of the leaves of Ochlandra indica and Phoenix sylvestris. Species that are commercially exploited include Garcinia cambogea, honey, Terminalia chebula, Artocarpus lakoocha, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Anogeissus latifolia etc.

Table 2 gives the quantity of NTFPs extracted by gathering households in the four forest zones and their financial value. Mushrooms, honey and fruits of Emblica officinalis and Carissa carandas are collected in small quantities for use at the household level. About 1 to 5 kg of honey is extracted per household in all zones excepting the dry deciduous zone where 16 kg of honey is being extracted. A large amount of the honey extracted is however sold either raw or after processing. Wild mangoes are collected by several households in all the zones excepting the dry deciduous zone for pickling and the quantity ranges from 62 kg in the evergreen zone to about 3 kg/household/year in the semi evergreen zone.

Table 2: Quantity of NTFPs gathered, their uses and financial value.

[ ]¹ indicates the no of species included in "others" category.

² Value in brackets indicates the financial value of quantities gathered/household and also the standard deviation excluding fuelwood, grass for fodder, green and dry leaves for manure and fencing poles.

{ }* indicates the total financial value realized from all NTFPs/household in the zone and the standard deviation

Y Units in Numbers

Cane, Bamboo, Phoenix sylvestris and Aranga pinnata are the other important commercial NTFPs in addition to Garcinia cambogea, Acacia sinuata and Sapindus emarginatus. These are extracted in significant quantities and processed to make baskets, brooms etc. They are sold either in the local markets or to the Forest Department. Among the four zones Acacia sinuata is not extracted in the dry deciduous zone and among the other three zones substantial quantity is being realized in the moist deciduous zone (111 kg/household/year).

Among the various NTFPs quantified in Table 2, Garcinia cambogea is extracted in very large quantities in the semi evergreen zone and is about 182 kg/household/year as compared to the evergreen zone where extraction level per household is about 15 kg/annum. The extraction of this NTFP has increased in the past decade and is mainly used as fish-food preservative. Artocarpus lakoocha is yet another NTFP collected in large quantities (>100 kg in evergreen and moist deciduous zones and about 25 kg in semi evergreen) for use at household level as well as for marketing purposes. Maximum quantities of Garcinia indica (91 kg/household) are being gathered in the evergreen villages annually by a single household in contrast to the other two zones (moist deciduous and semi evergreen) where only about 1 to 7 kg is gathered. These two products are used as substitute for tamarind.

The contribution of NTFPs to household income is quite substantial in all the zones. The contribution of different forest products, to household income however varies. In the evergreen zone, Bamboo, Cane and Artocarpus lakoocha contribute more than Rs.1500 to the household income while in the semi evergreen zone, maximum value is realized from Garcinia cambogea (Rs.1820). In the moist deciduous zone, Artocarpus lakoocha and Bamboo contribute Rs.1725 and Rs.1600 respectively while in the dry deciduous zone, maximum income is realized from collection of honey. Latex of Anogeissus latifolia is yet another high income yielding product of this zone, collection being restricted to a class of people called the “Lambanis”.

The computation of financial value of NTFPs gathered in the different zones was done, irrespective of the gathering households i.e. by considering the total population, in each of the forest zones. The estimated financial value realized per household was Rs.3445 in the evergreen zone and Rs.3080 in the moist deciduous zone while in the semi evergreen and dry deciduous zones a income of Rs.1438 and Rs.1233 was realized respectively (Table 2). The contribution of NTFPs is generally under estimated. However a comparison of the annual value of timber with a 10-year mean (1985-1994) of Rs. 239 million and NTFP value of Rs. 685 million for the year 1995-96 indicates that NTFPs contribute doubly to the economy. It is also important to note that benefits from NTFP flows directly to local communities.

It is generally believed that the value of NTFPs gathered from the forests is high. But, very little information is available on the financial value of NTFPs extracted on per hectare basis for the different forest types. The quantity of NTFPs gathered in the four forest zones and also the financial value realized per hectare of forest (using current market values) were calculated by combining NTFP extraction data from Forest Department records as well as household survey, excluding firewood, fodder and manure. From field observations it can be concluded that NTFPs gathered by individual households are not accounted in the Forest Department records. This is because, the authorized contractors during the peak season hire their own labour and further the households do not sell the product they gather to these contractors due to lower price paid.

The financial value realized per hectare ranged from Rs.634 to Rs.1801 with a mean of Rs.1159/ha/year (Figure 1). This is comparable to the mean value realized from NTFPs (Rs.1211/ha/year) in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Ravindranath et al., 1997). A similar study in Kadavakurichi reserve forest has shown that the income per hectare per year from the NTFPs alone is Rs.2090 (Appasamy, 1993). When the income derived on a per hectare basis is considered, financial value of timber and fuelwood extracted is only Rs.600/ha as compared to an income of Rs.634 to Rs.1801 per hectare per year with a mean of Rs.1159/ha/year in the district. Thus, it is clear that NTFPs as a group can sometimes contribute more than timber to domestic and international economy on a per hectare basis (Sharma, 1992 and Poffenberger, 1990). In general, returns to labour from NTFP sales are usually higher than the average local agricultural wage, with income usually higher for externally marketed products.

Figure 1: Income generated per hectare of forest in different forest zones.

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Peters et al. (1989) have showed that a hectare of Amazonian forest managed for NTFP can perennially yield better economic returns per hectare than a comparable area from which only timber is extracted. Several other studies have also confirmed the large-scale income and employment generation potential of NTFP across different regions of the world (IDRC 1980, Weinstock 1983, and FAO 1989).

The extraction and utilization rates over time and different seasons therefore needs to be assessed over a time period, to identify trends or patterns in yield and use of NTFPs. Research is required on the various harvest mechanisms to ensure sustainable harvest of resources, which in turn can contribute to economic well-being of the people and involve them in conservation of biodiversity (Uma Shankar et al., 1996). Valuation of NTFPs will aid policy makers to decide on the right mix of timber and non-timber forest products so that it is sustainable over time and at the same time beneficial to the local communities. Also the employment generated as well as the financial gains from NTFPs could be a motivating factor to communities and would ensure active involvement of the communities in protection mechanisms, provided the resources are renewable.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Stockholm Environment Institute, SIDA and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. We thank the field staff of Sirsi and Kumta field stations who helped us in the NTFP surveys and all the rural communities of Uttara Kannada villages who cooperated with us in this study.

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