Economic activities and stakeholder involvement in the NTFP trade in the Khangchendzonga landscape of Sikkim, India

A study in Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga landscape examined economic activities related to non-timber forest products (NTFPs), focusing on ten medicinal plants. It analyzed supply chains, traceability, and stakeholder roles. Due to a statewide ban on wild collection, collectors gathered small quantities and sold them to retail shops or local traders. These traders semi-processed the materials and passed them to wholesalers, who transported them with other crops to markets in Nepal or Siliguri, where they were mixed with other plant materials. The study found no linkage among stakeholders, making traceability to source impossible. To ensure sustainable harvesting, value addition, and better market access, coordinated participation of local communities, traders, herbal industries, and the forest department is essential.