Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) or Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

Both Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) refers to what is earlier known as Minor Forest Products (MFPs). The use of "MFPs" terminology has been discontinued as it seems to greatly mis-guide the produce. For instance collection and trade of Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) by high alpine dwellers and even Chirata (Swertia chirata) in the east (Shigkhar Lauri) contributes more than 50% of their annual earnings, which of-course is clear that these forest products doesnot justify to be called as minor.
NWFPs and NTFPs are two very similar yet different terminologies adopted to address these produce of forest other than timber. In short it includes everything besides timber.

Rattan Shoot

In Bhutan we use NWFP and it is defined in the National Forest Policy of Bhutan, 2011as, "NWFP means resin, varnish, katha, kutch, plants, flowers, seeds, bamboo, bulbs, roots, leaves, grasses, creepers, reeds, orchids, cane, fungi, moss, medicinal plants, herbs, leaf or mould, or other vegetative growth, whether alive or dead; wild animals (including fish) and the parts or products of wild animals, including the skin, hide, feather, fur, horn, antler, tusk, bone, bile, musk, honey, wax, and lac; and boulders, stone, sand, gravels, rocks, minerals, peat and soil". Now, if we understand definition, no where in definition incense stick, dapa, fuelwood is mentioned. Does it mean that fuelwood and even incense sticks are classified as timber? If these aren't classified under NWFPs, are we saying that fuelwood is not a "wood" or fuelwood is timber. Are we also stating that raw materials used to manufacture incense stick and dapa are not "wood"? Common!!!!!.
In short I am leaning towards NTFPs as it could even include fuelwood, dapa etc to NWFPs.

The Mighty Manas River and Future of "SHE"

The Manas River is a trans-boundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan and India . It is named after Manasa , the serpent god in Hindu Mythology . It is the largest river system of Bhutan, among its four major river systems; the other three are Amo Chu or Toorsa , Wang Chu or Raidak, Puna Tsang Chhu or Sunkoosh . The total length of the river is 376 kilometres, flows through Bhutan for 272 kilometres and then through Assam for 104 kilometres before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River . Mighty Manas River is formed by merging two rivers, viz. Dangme Chhu and Mangde Chhu in a place called Dung-du-me brag and Un-dhala thang in Panbang. Confluence of Dangme Chhu and Mangede Chhu and also showing Bird eye-view of Panbang. Source: Google Earth The river valley has two major reserve forest areas, namely the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan and the contiguous Manas Wildlife Sanctuary encompassing Project Tiger Reserve which constitut...

Brothers and Simple Living: Are they Happy?

Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one’s way of living happily blending with the environment where one lives. Buddhism encourages living a simple life and shying away from materialism. It is said that, the more wealth one possesses, we shed more happiness. I think it may be true to a greater extent. For example, if we own a kilogram of gold, diamond etc., most of our time and peace of mind will be disturbed for the fear of getting it stolen from the lockers or losing it. Che-nga-la and Chu-dru-la in Chamkhar Bumthang. Bumthang, the place known in Bhutan for its spiritual habitat has two brothers named as Che-nga-la and Chu-dru-la, which directly translates in English to be Fifteen and Sixteen. I don’t know from where the peculiar name has been derived. They may be in their mid fifities. I still wrack my head and ask elderly people of the community to find out if their real name is what we address them or do they have another name? In m...

Arun said…

Agree with you.

March 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Unknown said…

Thank you Arun...I guess if we have good number of people opting NTFP to NWFP, may be people should work on getting the nomenclature chaged.
Thanks.

March 23, 2012 at 1:24 PM

kesang said…

In Bhutan, we are to use Non Wood Forest Product (NWFP) as discussed sometime back. Dont remember clearly though...

March 23, 2012 at 3:06 PM

I know, we use NWFP in Bhutan, which I am not very comfortable with. If I were there in the discussion I would have fought for NTFP.
My question would be, If we use NWFP does fuelwood fall in the category or does it qualify as timber or is fuelwood classified in another group?

March 23, 2012 at 3:21 PM

Ashwini said…

Arun, Thanks for the Nomenclature in India along with NTFP/NWFP we also use Minor Forest Produce (MFP). And honestly it should be Major Forest Produce since forest fringe dweller community secures almost year long livelihood from these produce. But government has been unable to make it clear for practitioners and researchers.

March 25, 2012 at 6:59 PM

I know Ashwini and nicely justified to qualify the name as Major Forest Produce instead of Minor.
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Much appreciated.

March 25, 2012 at 9:53 PM

Expression from an Idiot by birth:

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