“Forest products other than timber” is the preferred term for what used to be called “Minor Forest Produce”. It can be very important and sometimes even more valuable than timber. There is an almost infinite range of such products, which can be, or are utilized for various purposes. Small-scale enterprises represent a major source of employment from such forest products for rural people in many parts of the world. In many developing countries including India, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are central to the economies of many households. NTFPs in the wider sense, include all tangible outputs other than timber, like fuel, fodder, bamboo, cane, grasses, fibre, oils, tannin and dyes, gums, resins, medicinal plants, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, tubers, mushrooms, seeds, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects. Enterprises which are an assemblage of a range of activities involving the collection, processing, and trade of NTFP, play a key role in many developing countries rural household economies in supplementing incomes and improving livelihoods. A variety of such non-wood forest products are consumed and traded at the local community level for subsistence. Nearly the entire tribal population constituting 8.3% of the total population in India, together with a large portion of the rural populace is dependent on such forest produce. The paper is intended to provide a detailed account of Non-Timber Forest Products, which have commercial possibilities and socio-economic importance with global ramifications.

The study carried out to assess the consumption of raw drugs by the drug industry in northern Kerala revealed that the annual consumption of 140 major raw drugs is 11,350 tonnes of which 83 per cent is consumed by large units, 6 per cent by medium units and 11 per cent by small units. Among the 140 raw drugs, 117 occur in Kerala. Forty-five per cent of the raw drugs are collected from the forests, 14 per cent from non-forest areas, 14 per cent from cultivation and 8 per cent through imports. Another 20 per cent occurs in the forests as well as non-forest areas. The study also revealed that occasionally unrelated species are substituted for some of the preferred species of the raw drugs.

Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker, Chlorophytum laxum Br. and Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. & Fern. are gaining economic importance because of their high medicinal value.  Commonly known as Safed Musli, it is described as ‘desi viagra’ for its aphrodisiac properties. They are sold for Rs. 500/- to Rs. 2,000/- per kg in different herbal markets of India. Because of its high economic value it is ruthlessly collected from the forest area which has rendered the species threatened. The paper deals with utilization and conservation aspects.

During ethnopharmacobotanical investigations in Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, 33 species from 23 families useful in womenfolk’s health care were recorded along with their vernacular names, plant parts used and uses. The plants reported in this study are claimed to be the most effective remedies for conditions such as leucorrhoea, gonorrhea, disorders during delivery, pregnancy, menstruation and other fertility related complaints in women.

The article embodies the findings of the field study undertaken to explore the feasibility of cultivation and marketing of the important medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) of Madhya Pradesh as an alternative source of livelihood for the local communities. The paper examines in detail the various issues and factors influencing the marketing of eight important cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants in the study area. The paper also examines the existing marketing and distribution channels for these MAPs, analyses the pricing pattern and based on the conclusions drawn suggests marketing strategy.

People living in the far flung and remote areas in India mostly do not have access to modern medicine and depend on available wild resources for treating various ailments and this knowledge has passed on from generation to generation. In the present communication folk prescriptions of botanical origin for treating some of the cutaneous ailments, viz-a-viz, acne vulgaris, boils and pustules, chapped and cracked skin, corns, eczema, freckles, herpes, leprosy, leucoderma, psoriasis, scabies, urticaria and whitlow are provided. This may help in utilizing the local flora for alleviating some of such ailments by the poor and common man.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of IBA/chemical formulations (in talc) on the rooting behaviour of Hippophae rhamnoides - a medicinal shrub of dry temperate Himalaya. Treatment of shoot cuttings with 0.4°/0 IBA formulation resulted in a high rooting success of 86.67 per cent and 33.33 per cent in August and March, respectively. Higher initial levels of total phenols, starch and carbohydrates exhibited better rooting performance in the species.

Forest dwellers largely depend on NTFPs for their survival and growth. NTFP marketing is a process starts with an NTFP harvest (procure) that can be sold in an organised/unorganized market. It involves all activities which are comprised in the process of meeting the products and/or services from producer to the end users. Simple value additions increase the selling price at primary collector level, some primary collectors are industrious and adding value to their collected NTFPs before they sell off, but lack of market and market information making them to resort on thirsty middlemen to dispose the NTFPs at a throw away price. The primary collectors share in the total amount paid by end user is high (25.9%) for achar and the lowest (11.11%) for siali leaves. The processor who is making substantial efforts to add value (industry) is getting a lion share of the end user price. The traders are also accounted for significant share of the price spread trader (trader II) accounted for 36.36% of the spread for Mahua flower. The distribution network consists of primary collector, village shopkeeper, trader, wholesale NTFP trader at leading market places, manufacturing industry and their agent and also end users.

The seed dormancy of Entada pursaetha DC., has been broken by mechanical and chemical stress methods. The rate of germination was significantly increased to 90% in hot water treatment within 15 days of sowing. In punctured seeds it decreased to 20% and sprouted after 45 days. Concentrated sulphuric acid and gibberellic acid treatment (10, 100, 1000 µM) did not induce germination.

This paper enlists thirty-six plants of twenty-five families used as veterinary medicine along with description for curing various aliments in cattle. Beside this, stress has also been laid for the need to mould the indigenous technologies for veterinary care on scientific lines for the benefit of farmers living in remote area where modern veterinary facilities are not available.

Present investigation was conducted at NBPGR, Regional Station, Bhowali, Nainital in which Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl planted at three spacings, viz., 50x50 cm, 100x100 cm and 150x150 cm. The results indicated that the 50x50 cm spacing was best for herbage, fresh fruit and dry fruit yield per hectare and essential oil yield per hectare from herbage and seeds. The essential oil content was highest in seeds but gross oil yield per hectare was more in herbage. The composition of essential oil exhibited high amount of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, caryophyllene oxide, sesquiterpene alcohol, b-pinene, cineol 1:8, sabinene and high boilers.

Enhancement of initial growth of slow growing forest species has an advantage in terms of their survival and establishment in the main field. Rattans being the slow growing forest species survive better if early growth is enhanced. In order to accelerate the early growth and therefore to produce vigorous and sturdy seedlings, gibberellic acid, an endogenous growth hormone at a concentration of 200 and 300 ppm was applied exogenously to the seedlings of Rattans for 3 months at an interval of one week. Various growth parameters studied revealed that there is significant increase in clump height and dry weight in GA treated seedlings over the control. However, the culm number did not differ significantly across the treatments. The per cent increase in clump height and dry weight in GA treated seedlings was to the extent of 50 to 80% over the control seedlings. The results clearly indicate that there is possibility to boost up the initial growth in slow growing forest species like Rattans using a potent growth regulator Gibberellic acid.

Regeneration of both shoot bud and root was achieved from leaflet explants in Bacopa monnieri cultured on MS medium supplemented with graded doses of BA and NAA. The proximal portion of leaflet gave better response in terms of both percentage frequency and number of shoots per explant in comparison to the middle and distal parts. Maximum in vitro regeneration of plantlets was achieved on the medium containing higher concentration of BA (10 mm) and lower concentration of NAA (1.0 mm). In vitro raised plantlets were successfully hardened and transferred to the field. 100% plantlets survived when transferred to the field.

Ethno-medicinal uses of plants by the rural and tribal communities of Purulia District, West Bengal have been recorded. These plants have been traditionally used in their curative systems by the village elders as well as local practitioners for different diseases. The raw materials utilized in the medicaments are procured from in and around the habitats of the community. The uses of 109 medicinal plants along with their local names, plant parts used and status of occurrence have been described.

Complete plantlets were regenerated in vitro from root explants of Strychnos potatorum Linn.f. (Chilla) on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinins.  Multiple shoot induction occurred in root explants on MS medium supplemented with 1-4 mgl-1 benzylaminopurine or Kinetin. Maximum numbers of shoots/explant (18.4 + 0.2) were induced on MS medium fortified with 2 mgl-1 BAP. Shoots obtained from BAP and Kn amended media developed roots in 100% cultures on half strength MS basal medium fortified with Indole butyric acid (1 mgl-1).  Hardening and establishment of regenerated plantlets was achieved in green house.

The paper describes the management and yield regulation of Dendrocalamus strictus forests of Western Himalayas. The study covered an area of 284.12 ha. The forests were stock mapped and partial enumeration carried out. Growing stock and annual increments were assessed (average clumps 911.2/ha; average number of culms 37.794/clump and 34,438/ha; average number of manus 5,566/ha). Forests are to be managed under Selection System. The entire forests shall be worked together on a felling cycle of 4 years. The yield is to be regulated by number of bamboos recruited during the felling cycle. Provisions of cleaning for the removal of dead, dry, decay, and congested culms is made to improve and maintain the healthy clumps. Average yield of 12,000 bamboos (27 tonnes air dry) against gross increment of 20,000 bamboos per ha during the felling cycle is prescribed. For the entire forest the prescribed yield of bamboos will be 6,00,000 numbers with an approximate weight of 1,350 tonnes. With the scientific management of forests and strict compliance of felling rules, the forests will achieve normalcy in due course to provide sustained yield in perpetuity.

Symplocos paniculata (Thunb.) Miq., a tree growing along the Himalayan ranges has anthers developing in the Dicotyledonous manner, the pollens are shed at two-celled stage. Triporate and tetraporate pollen develop into male gametophyte. Ovules are anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate exhibiting Polygonum type of embryo sac with the usual organization. Stigma is of the Wet type. Fertilization is porogamous; endosperm is Cellular with oil filled cells. Embryo development is Solanad with a massive suspensor. Mature embryo is curved, dicotyl and is held within a thin, dry unspecialised seed coat. Symplocaceae shows a fairly uniform embryology.

A detailed study of the seeds of Rattan species of Western Ghats revealed that most of the seed characteristics are species specific. The most useful characters are the shape, size, colour and surface features. A field identification key based on these characters was prepared for 16 species of Calamus, the only Rattan genus in the Western Ghats.