Collection and utilization pattern of non timber forest products in Nagaland, an eastern himalayan state of India

The study was conducted to assess the collection and utilization pattern of Non Timber Forest Products in Nagaland, a North Eastern State of Eastern Himalayan region of India. The study was conducted in two blocks, namely Changtongya Block and Ongpangkong N Block of Mokokchung district, Nagaland comprising of 100 respondents from 10 selected villages. Study identified 5 major groups of NTFPs viz. wild fruit, wild vegetable, medicinal plants, fuel wood and other category collected by the respondents from the jungle. Majority of the respondents went for collection of wild vegetables (97%) followed by others category viz, broom grass, wild meat, fish, etc., (87%). Among the different types of NTFPs available, maximum consumption was in fuel wood and for selling purpose others category viz, broom grass, fish, wild meat. were seen more popular among the tribal population. Most of respondents sell the NTFPs mostly to local consumers. Although NTFPs were significant contributors towards rural income and employment, most of the respondents were in the category of monthly collection and only a few percentages of respondents were involved in daily collection of NTFPs from the forest.