General consideration for NTFP Inventory

• Common understandings about participatory inventory
• Local people have knowledge about the collection,harvesting, flowering, fruiting, seeding and regeneration
• Follow inventory guidelines according to size and parts of use
• Time, knowledge and resources available

Unique features of NTFP inventory

• Characteristics of NTFPS and their part use affect the NTFPsinventory
• Sampling method depends upon the quantification (estimation, measurement of ht, dia, wt, counting)
• Availability of NTFPs in certain season
• Spatial distribution of NTFPs
• Integration with management

Key elements of NTFP inventory

• Do not undermine the validity of traditional knowledge of the people (lifelong experience)
• Utility of accuracy
• Technicians rely on the measurement
• Combination of traditional knowledge & technical skill

Justification of the inventory

• Legal requirements about the NTFPs inventory in OP
• Sustainability: consideration ecosystem, how much collect, when collect, where collect, what parts collect
• Feasibility study: social, economical and environmental consideration
• Monitoring biodiversity: NTFPs are also part of bio-diversity

Ranking of NTFPs based on importance

1. Pair-wise ranking
2. Criteria based ranking (predetermined criteria-social, economical & ecological)

NTFP Inventory of terai, hills and mountains

Although it was necessary to put forward the inventory techniques of important NTFPs found in Terai, Mid-hills and High Mountain in each locality, The inventory of only one species has been here given as a an example, i.e. Inventory of Chiraito(Swertia chirata)

Chiraito (in Nepali) is a useful medicinal plant found mostly in high hills (altitude-1500 to 3000m). It is one of 32 species of Swertia chirata.

Importance: 80-90% of Nepal’s chiraito is exported to India and remaining 10-20% to the other countries like Europe, America, China, Malasia, Singapore, etc. It has varieties of medicinal properties being used mostly for fever, cough, diabetes, gastric, etc. All parts, i.e. root, branch, stem, are useful to make medicines.

Yield and Income: According to Agriculture Research Centre, Pakhribas, Chiraito produces on an average 150kg (up to 3tones) per hectare(ha). Similarly, the leaflet of Jadibuti Production and Processing Company Limited shows 1000kg per ha gives NRs.10000/-. If we calculate the yield of Pakhribas at the then rate, i.e. @400/-, it gives NRs. 1200000/-. To get better yield and income, Chiraito plants are to be collected only after having ripened completely. Mansir and Paush are suitable months. If Chiraito plants need to be collected before their ripening, some plants are to be left for future seeding.