Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP)

NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCE (NTFP):

Across the globe there is no clear cut definition of NTFPs. People who work on this issue have defined it as per their interest and nature of work.

The term Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) encompasses all biological materials other than timber which are extracted from forests for human use.

Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) besides meeting subsistence needs are often the only source of cash income for many tribal groups during the lean season, especially in areas where agriculture is rain fed and a single crop is taken. NTFPs often become the only resource accessible to the Tribal groups within their vicinity. These products are available almost throughout the year and many of these are sustainably harvested by the Tribals at low levels without damaging the forest or affecting forest regeneration. NTFP based activities are mostly household based and low volumes are involved; they are also labour intensive, use simple technologies and are accessible to the most disadvantaged communities, particularly women and children. The following figure gives an idea about the different dimensions of NTFP affecting the Tribals and forest dependent communities.

Tribals are affected by every dimension of the above figure and it is important not to alienate them from their natural habitat.

NTFPs are an important ingredient in the livelihood support systems of the Tribals. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the NTFPs are collected in the five states viz. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

OUR WORK VIS-À-VIS THE NTFP CANVAS

We have given ourselves the mandate to work with the Adivasi communities. They happen to be one of the most vulnerable social groups struggling to make sense with the economic development model of growth being pushed with unprecedented tenacity by the State.

At ECONET we look at NTFPs as an integral element in legitimising the role and contribution of the Adivasi Communities vis-à-vis forest wealth management.  The Adivasi-NTFP bond combined with the fact that 65% of the forest cover is in 187 tribal-dominated districts. And of the 50 districts where there is dense forest cover, 49 are tribal districts¹ provides the bedrock of evidence for institutionalising the Adivasi stake in the forest regime.  1. (Quoted from “Fatwa raj is over”, Interview with Brinda Karat, CPI(M) leader and Member of the Rajya Sabha, Frontline, January 12, 2007)

The management of forest wealth has been an area of concern for us and the exotic and the exclusion model of conservation which is being practiced in India has shown its results. Illustrations towards this would be the Sariska Tiger reserve bereft of any tiger, the diversion of forest land for non forestry purposes post The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 strengthen the case against this alien concept of inhuman forest management model.

The combination of HID intervention complemented by our understanding & experience of the Forestry domain brings in the sharpness in the support work we do. HID as an approach of building the robustness of organisations, PRIs, group of individuals and initiatives enables us to engage in a socio-political reality for democratizing the NTFP scenario.

The utilisation of Action Research as a tool for intervention and building capacities of partner organisations enables the process to progress keeping in continuous awareness the twin processes of Action and Reflection (Praxis). The 14 district survey conceptualized, designed and executed with the support of the partner organisations and other acquaintance organisations is an illustration in this regard wherein the action research formed the foundation for holding our understanding of the NTFP scenario in the State and subsequently helped us in defining our intervention plan.

Our mandate to work on issues and concerns arising in the NTFP canvas leads to developing relationships with Government functionaries at different levels. Harvesting information from the Government departments and feeding back experiences from the field is a continuous process which keeps the interface alive.

Our work in the NTFP scenario takes us to other States like Rajasthan, Gujarat and within the State of Maharashtra we also dialogue with other CBO, Networks, Individuals, Organisations in order to make NTFPs visible elements of the larger picture of Adivasi - Forest relationship. It is also a conscious strategy to engage like this in order to strengthen the socio-political-ecological debate around NTFPs.

Complementing this role Legal and Advocacy initiatives are being facilitated by ECONET which include:

• Demystification of legal instruments and offering it in local language
• Developing a legal understanding among Panchayat members, CBOs, individuals and Partners vis-à-vis the issue in order to use law as a tool to assert rights and responsibilities.
• Feeding experiences and improvements from the local context to the mezzo and macro levels and vice versa.
• Implementation advocacy of specific legal instruments like The Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2006, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996