Showing papers on "Forest produce published in 2009"

Livelihood Option from Minor Forest Produce: Context of Non Timber Forest Product and Poverty Reduction in Mid Hills of Nepal

Abstract: The paper recognizes Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) as contributing factor for improving livelihoods of the rural people. Existing trend of NTFPs in Rolpa district reveals high level of its potential where a single Malagiri tree in the one of the VDC of the district has yielded profit of 15, 000 NRs. in gross. The study supports idea that the quality of life can be secured through the promotion of NTFP as an additional crop for safety net. Major outlet clusters for NTFP trade and marketing of the Rolpa district are Sulichaur and Holeri regions where mostly NTFP species were found to be traded. Malagiri, Timur, Ritha and Allo are major local species that have a high level of demand in the market. As a result, people have started cultivating a few species in their farmland too. Lack of knowledge and skill in the production of standard commodity has compelled district people towards traditional NTFP farming approach where they are not reaping optimum benefit. Realizing the potential of NTFPs in the district, it is important to consider modernizing the processing of raw material, development of transportation network and undertake facility for the producers. Such intervention could be a major breakthrough in the poverty reduction of the district and securing quality of life. Key words: NTFP, Livelihood, Community, Marketing DOI: 10.3126/jowe.v2i1.1858 Journal of Wetlands Ecology , (2009) vol. 2, pp 57-66

Competing Visions: Domestic Forests, Politics and Forest Policy in the Central Western Ghats of South India

Abstract: Rural people in developing countries including India continue to access a number of types of ‘forests’ to meet specific needs such as fuelwood, fodder, food, non-timber forest produce and timber for both subsistence and income generation. While a plethora of terms exist to describe the types of forests that rural people use—such as farm forests, social forests, community forests and small-scale forests—the expression domestic forest has recently been proposed. Domestic forest is a term aimed at capturing the diversity of forests transformed and managed by rural communities and a way to introduce a new scientific domain that recognises that production and conservation can be reconciled and that local communities can be effective managers. This paper argues in the context of the central Western Ghats of south India that while the domestic forest concept is a useful umbrella term to capture the diversity of forests used by rural people, these domestic forests are often not autonomous local forests but sites of contestation between local actors and the state forest bureaucracy. Hence, a paradigm shift within the forest bureaucracy will only occur if the scientific forestry community questions its own normative views on forest management and sees forest policy as a means to recognise local claims and support existing practices of forest dependent communities.

Timber Dealers’ Perception of their Knowledge of the Forest Law in Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study investigated timber dealers’ knowledge of the forest law and regulations in Uyo Senatorial District. Five timber markets were selected through two-stage sampling. Data were collected from 238 traders in the selected markets using structured questionnaires and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that over 90% of the respondents knew and understood the forest law and penalties for violation. Thus, forest offences were not committed out of ignorance, but for undue profits. Knowledge and understanding of the law were independent of respondents’ Local Government Areas (LGAs), but knowledge of penalties for forest offences significantly varied with LGA (p = 0.05). Recommendations for improved compliance with the law and its enforcement strategies include employment of more forest policemen, provision of vehicles for patrol and evacuation of illegal forest produce, adequate penalties on culprits, and adequate political will and earnest tackling of corruption by government. Key words: Timber dealers, Knowledge, Forest Law, Uyo Senatorial District, Nigeria.