From Subsistence to Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Non-Timber Forest Products, Livelihoods, and Sustainability
Abstract
This paper presents a systematic literature review of the role of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in rural livelihoods, poverty alleviation, and sustainability between 1980 and 2022. Drawing on 126 studies spanning South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the review identifies temporal and thematic shifts in scholarship. Early research emphasised the subsistence and food security functions of NTFPs, while later studies examined their roles in income diversification, value addition, and market integration. Findings highlight the critical contribution of NTFPs to household economies, often accounting for 20–50% of income, particularly as safety nets during economic and environmental crises. However, benefits remain unevenly distributed, with wealthier households capturing greater commercialisation gains and women largely confined to low-value activities despite their central role in collection and processing. Ecological challenges, including overharvesting, biodiversity loss, and climate-induced shifts in species regeneration, underscore the fragility of NTFP systems. Policy frameworks such as Joint Forest Management in India and community forestry in Nepal have enhanced participation but also revealed persistent inequities in access and benefit-sharing. The review concludes that the transformative potential of NTFPs lies not solely in their economic value but in their embeddedness within social, ecological, and institutional systems. Effective governance, gender equity, and adaptive management are essential to ensuring that NTFPs contribute meaningfully to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Reference
Malaya Padhan. (2022). From Subsistence to Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Non-Timber Forest Products, Livelihoods, and Sustainability. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2022.v04i06.55118
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