The Hidden Treasures of the Forest: Promoting Forest Conservation through Non-Timber Forest Products in the Eastern Himalayan Region

The study examined the impact of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) on forest conservation by local communities in the study areas. Surveying 250 respondents from 20 villages, a good number of plant and animal-based NTFPs were identified in the states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Binary Logistic Regression Model confirmed that income from NTFPs had a positive and significant influence on four forest conservation models in Meghalaya and three forest conservation models in Nagaland. It implied that the extraction of NTFPs can serve as a vital incentive for sustainable forest management. The policy recommendations include supporting NTFP-based livelihoods to enhance community engagement in conservation efforts through local conservation bodies and traditional institutions, including the state forest department.