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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.

Comments

Arun said…
Agree with you.
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.
kesang said…
In Bhutan, we are to use Non Wood Forest Product (NWFP) as discussed sometime back. Dont remember clearly though...
Unknown said…
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?
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.
Unknown said…
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.

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