Gendered ethnobotanical practices and their influence on livelihoods: Non-Timber Forest Product collection around Ayubia National Park

Abstract

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are acknowledged for supporting rural livelihoods and forest conservation. Identifying potential species with commercial value and establishing sustainable management practices for NTFPs require an analysis of their use patterns by local communities and trends on a regional scale. We analyzed traditional use patterns, trends, and economic value of NTFPs around the fringe three villages around the Ayubia National Park, Pakistan and discussed potential implications for conservation and livelihoods. Field surveys were conducted through snowball method and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 108 households. The study reveals that NTFP collection is strongly influenced by household size, gender, and education, with larger households and women playing pivotal roles in harvesting. The findings highlight significant gender disparities in NTFP collection, with women being the primary collectors across all villages. The study also underscores the importance of education and gender in shaping NTFPs collection patterns, with educated individuals and women playing key roles. Among the NTFPs surveyed, mushrooms (Morchella esculenta) commanded the highest price, and high-value medicinal plants were Alcea rosea, Swertia chirata, and Valeriana jatamansi. The results emphasize the need for sustainable management practices to ensure the continued availability of NTFPs, which are crucial for the socioeconomic well-being of these communities. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on NTFPs by providing insights into the complex interactions between socioeconomic factors and resource use, offering valuable implications for conservation and rural development strategies in the region. We propose sustainable harvesting procedures, value addition at the local level, and marketing to promote NTFPs in the landscape for revenue generation and livelihood enhancement, which will ultimately contribute to conservation.