Published Paper Details:

The Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) plays an important role in the livelihood of tribal communities in India. The NTFP is regarded as an important source of sustainable tribal livelihoods for reducing poverty and promoting rural economic development. In this context, the study focuses on assessing the contribution of NTFP in maintaining sustainable livelihood security of tribal community of Nuapada district, in Odisha which comes under KBK region has been selected to conduct the study. The results show that the NTFPs are the major sources of food and livelihood security for tribal communities living in and around forests. The significance of the NTFP plays a major role in tribal livelihood and supports rural economics. The tribal livelihood system is influenced by ecological, historical, and cultural factors, and it varies greatly between regions and among ethnic groups. Further, the illegal commercialization of forest products by forest mafias and forest products traders is creating major challenges for the tribal communities, which primarily depend on forests to maintain their livelihoods. Through a variety of socio-economic services, including sources of income for households, general potential, a safety net or insurance in times of disasters, the preservation of spirituality and cultural heritage, and financial savings by households. NTFPs significantly contribute to raising living standards.