Biodiversity in tropical moist forest: a study of sustainable use of non-wood Forest Products in the Western Ghats, Kerala.

Today, importance of sustainable management of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) is highlighted in the literature and in the public discussions. This may be due to increasing awareness on the major role that they play in the generation of income and employment, especially in the rural areas, as well as in the conservation of biodiversity. An attempt is made in this study to explore ways to maintain sustainable extraction of NWFPs and biodiversity. This is done by analysing some selected ecological and socio-economic factors that affect their sustainable management, on the basis of the results of studies carried out in three moist forest areas (viz., Wayanad, Nilambur and Attappady) of Kerala part of the Western Ghats. Altogether 229 NWFPs were recorded from the study areas, of which less than 50 species were commercially exploited. It appeared that high rate of extraction (60 to 100 per cent) of NWFPs by the gatherers resulted in poor density, sparse distribution of species and depletion of biodiversity. Of the total commercially exploited species, about 50 per cent showed comparatively better density and distribution in the population. Their opportunity cost was also relatively low. NWFP species, capable of regenerating through vegetative means, registered more than 100 per cent regeneration even when 95 per cent of the plants were harvested in the previous season. On the other hand, species which are regenerated through seeds showed poor regeneration when the harvest in the previous season was only about 30 to 50 per cent. It indicates that an understanding of the regeneration potential at different levels of harvest is needed for the sustainable extraction of NWFP plants. In the study sites, the stage has not yet reached whereby an increase in the basal area of tree community would lead to reduction in the basal area of understorey plant community. Thus, enrichment planting of NWFP species like Phyllanthus emblica, in these sites could lead to an increase in the cover of NWFP plants. To produce planting stock of NWFPs, studies were conducted to standardise propagation by seeds and vegetative methods for selected species. The preliminary trials indicated that there is enough scope for propagating some of the NWFP species by seeds or vegetative methods. An attempt made to carry out enrichment planting in the study sites showed that survival of selected species ranged between 20 and 50 per cent. The study indicated that certain socio-economic and institutional factors have contributed much to the present state of unsustainable extraction and depletion of biodiversity of NWFPs in the study areas. In the past, the collection and marketing of NWFPs in the state were controlled by the private traders. With the aim of eliminating middlemen from the collection and marketing chains of NWFPs and ensuring a fair price to gatherers, the government established institutions such as tribal societies and an apex body of tribal societies viz., Kerala State Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Development Co-operative Federation Ltd. (called, Federation). Before the establishment of these institutions the tribal people practised more or less subsistence extraction of NWFPs, in keeping with its sustainability. However, the commercial extraction of selected NWFPs by the Federation led to their over-exploitation. The Federation and societies could streamline the collection and marketing of NWFPs effectively. But they could not solve problems such as prevalence of intermediaries, illegal collection by the non-tribals, vague property rights and inadequacy of funds for carrying out collection at proper time, all of which affected the sustainable extraction and biodiversity of NWFPs. The review of present management practices of NWFPs was revealing. A number of institutions or groups, such as MFP committee, the State Forest Department, the Federation, tribal societies and tribal people participate at different levels in the management of NWFPs in Kerala. But mostly, the participation is of mobilisational type and marked by participation from above, in which decisions regarding various aspects of management are taken from above and thrust upon various parties at local level. The tribal people and societies who have to implement various management decisions at the grass root level, have no voice in the management of NWFPs and consequently, do not show much interest in protecting the resources. The study has suggested an effective system of participatory management by the interest groups at the local level for sustainable management of NWFPs and conservation of biodiversity. It has also presented a participatory management action plan for the sustainable management of NWFPs in Kerala.