Socioeconomic dynamics of non-timber forest products: a gendered analysis of livelihoods in forest-fringe communities in central Highlands Biogeographic Zone of India
Abstract
This study examines the socioeconomic factors influencing household income from non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Jharkhand’s Central Highlands, India, with a focus on gendered patterns of use. Data from 387 tribal households across 62 villages, complemented by focus group discussions and transect walks (2019–2020), reveal that women respondents account for over 70% of NTFP collectors, underscoring their central role in forest-based livelihoods. The study focuses on three key NTFPs, lac (Kerria lacca), mahua (Madhuca longifolia), and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and applies Resource Utilization Theory to analyze how forest proximity, household labor, and transport costs shape income. Regression models (R2 = 0.47; p < 0.001) identify lac as the most profitable product and highlight how limited market access and spatial inequalities constrain earnings. Despite low awareness of formal development frameworks, NTFP income is routinely invested in food, healthcare, and education, contributing to poverty reduction and well-being (SDGs 1–4). The study recommends strengthening local value chains through cooperatives and processing units, embedding gender-sensitive approaches into forest policies, and integrating NTFP income metrics into rural welfare programs. These findings provide actionable insights for building equitable, sustainable forest – community partnerships in India and similar contexts across the Global South.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Land-Use and Socioeconomic Change, Medicinal Plant Selection and Biodiversity Resilience in Far Western Nepal
- Rethinking Synergies and Trade‐Offs at the Forest‐Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) Nexus—A Systematic Review
- Tribal traditions and conservation perspectives of wild plants in Orakzai District, Pakistan
- Indigenous Cosmological Paradigms for Popularizing Ecological Ethics in the Ethiopian Context
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.