Human dependence on Forest Resources in Nepal
Many people rely heavily on forest for their livelihood in Nepal. Forest dependent people can be categorized into three types.
1) People who live inside forests: These people are hunter-gathers or shifting cultivators, ;and who heavily dependent on forest for their livelihood primarily on a subsistence basis. People in the category are often indigenous peoples or people from minority ethnic groups. They are thus, usually outside from both the political and economic mainstream. Raute, Chepang and other forest dwellers can be considered in these categories.2) People who live near forests: These people are usually involved in agriculture outside the forest, who regularly use the forest products(timber, fuel wood, bush foods, medicinal plants) partly for their own subsistence purposes and partly for income generation. For those involved in agriculture, nutrients supplements from forest are often of critical importance to productivity.Such supplements can be in the form of mulch from leaves gathered in the forest. Another source of nutrient supplement is forest grazing by livestock which converts nutrients from forest biomass into manure. Community Forest Users are also considered in these categories.
3) People engaged in commercial activities: These people are usually involved in trapping , collecting minerals or forest industries such as logging. Such people may be a part of mixed subsistence and cash economy. Where these people differ from the first two categories is in the fact that they depend on income from forest-dependent labour rather than from direct subsistence use of forest products. Timber merchant , contractors and other owners of wood based industries fall under this categories.
Purposes of human dependency in forest in Nepal
1) Household use (Subsistence)
• Timber
• Fuel wood
• Wild foods(animals and plants)
• Medicinal Plants
• Other NTFPs
• Grazing for animals
• Forest based agriculture
• Nutrient subsidies for agriculture
2) Food Security: Depend on forest foods when crops fail to meet seasonal needs or to provide dietary supplements.
3) Income generation: From sale of any products listed above or the sale of agricultural or livestock production dependent on forests.
actually what percent of Nepalese rely on forest for their livelihood? i cant find this data.
Forests provide us with many essential resources, including timber, paper, and fuel. They also play an important role in regulating the climate and water cycle. Despite their importance, forests are under threat from human activities such as deforestation, forest fires, and climate change.