Inventory of NTFPs is a rapidly growing field of considerable interest to people across a wide range of disciplines and contexts. There is a growing body of experience of NTFP inventory to support national policy, forest management and local forest-based livelihood initiatives. Recently, quantitative assessment of Non-Timber forest Products (NTFPs) resources in the wild has been the prime concern of researchers and authorities. This is chiefly because of the growing shortage of raw materials in the wild accompanied by the need to maintain their sustainability as well as potentialities to provide off-farm employment opportunities to the rural communities. Due to increasing recognition of the importance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation, the need for accurate assessment of NTFPs growing stock and yields as well as standarization of sustainable harvesting techniques has become more critical than ever before.

The research entitled "Resource assessment of Non-Timber Forest Products for Enterprise Development" was carried out to determine the status and distribution of NTFPs in two community forests of Tukucha VDC of Kavrepalanchowk and Sudal VDC of Bhaktapur districts.

Study was carried out by collecting both the primary and secondary data from the field site. Primary data were collected through HH survey, Group Discussions, Key Informant Survey, Participatory Mapping, Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (RVA), Direct Field Observation, and Inventory. For the inventory of NTFPs, stratified random sampling method was adopted by laying out the sample plot size of 5m*5m. Whereas Secondary data were gathered from concerned DFOs, ICIMOD, SAFE Concern, other NGOs, CFUG operational plan, constitution, and other related journals. Gathered data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using appropriate statistical tools and interpreted with the help of charts, figures, tables and text.

Altogether 56 identified NTFPs (herbs and shrubs) were recorded. Among these NTFPs, Rubia, Gaultheria and Daphne in both the CF plus Arundinaria in Dhunge Pakha Bahal CF are found to be potential for enterprise development. Combining the products of both the CF, It was found that 7,592 kg of fresh weight of Gaultheria can be harvested annually whereas 292 kg of wet weight of Daphne bark can be harvested this year. Regarding Arundinaria in Dhunge pakha Bahal CF, 512520 mature culms can be harvested this year. Moreover, the study area has potential for the cultivation of Swertia chiraita, Swertia augustifolia, Valeriana jatamansi, and Lobelia pyramydalis. However, Lycopodium is becoming rare due to the illegal collection by the armies. The uses of locally available NTFPs in the study site were also documented.

From this research, it was found that the study area has great potential for the cultivation and management of NTFPs. But due to the lack of knowledge regarding NTFPs /MAPs to the local people, the locally available NTFPs were observed underutilized.

Hence, the study recommends that NTFP identification and management training should be provided to the local peoples and the annual harvestable amount of potential NTFPs should be clearly mentioned in the community forest operational plan.