Policy and Governance Implications for Transition to NTFP-Based Bioeconomy in Kashmir Himalayas

Ishtiyak Ahmad Peerzada, James Chamberlain, Mohan Reddy, Shalini Dhyani and Somidh Saha
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Ishtiyak Ahmad Peerzada: Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar 191201, India
James Chamberlain: Forest Service, Southern Research Station (USDA), Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Mohan Reddy: World Resources Institute (WRI), New Delhi 10016, India
Shalini Dhyani: Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 1196 Gland, Switzerland
Somidh Saha: Research Group Sylvanus, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: Forests of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have a rich diversity of valuable non-timber forest products (NTFP) that local communities extract for their sustenance and income. The region is home to over 60% of species recognized for novel bio-medicinal properties in the Indian Himalayas. There is significant national and international demand for these species, providing income and employment for more than 60% of the population of J&K. Despite this, NTFP are not adequately recognized for their contributions to rural livelihoods and the regional economy due to the lack of appropriate policy and governance mechanisms. In this study, we embrace a bioresource vision to examine challenges and opportunities for transition to a sustainable bioeconomy in J&K. Selected NTFP were considered for valuation to showcase their bioeconomy potential using two approaches. First, we used the ‘market price method’ to estimate the contribution of NTFP to the local economy. Second, the ‘maximum willingness to pay method’ was used to project the bioeconomy potential of NTFP in the region. The analysis reveals that local communities’ revenues could increase by as much as 18 times their current price with appropriate actions to include NTFP. However, to realize this potential, policies and governance frameworks based on increased access and benefit sharing with inclusive institutional models would support the transition of the local economy into a bioeconomy. Fostering public–community partnership by improving the local participation of producers and processors in NTFP value chains for overcoming the existing governance barriers is needed.

Keywords: NTFP diversification; bioeconomy; participatory forestry; livelihoods; inclusive governance framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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