2008 A P P L I E D A N D N A T U R A L S C I E N C E F O U N D A T I O N ANSF JANS Journal of Applied and Natural Science 7 (1) : 111 – 118 (2015) Traditional practices of utilization and conservation of non-wood forest products by Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh Naresh Kumar*, Sanjeev Kumar, Bikram Singh, B. P. Mishra, Barun Singh and Vikas Singh College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, East Siang 791102 (Arunachal Pradesh), INDIA *Corresponding author. E-mail: nareshbhardwaj50@gmail.com Received: October 10, 2014; Revised received: March 5, 2015; Accepted: March 15, 2015 Abstract: The survey was carried out during 2009-11 to collect the information of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) utilized by the Adi tribes of East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. It was observeds that Adi tribes used to collect different NWFPs such as wild fruits (Artocarpus heterophyllum Lam., Castanopsis indica (Roxb. ex Lindl.) A. DC., Canarium strictum Roxb. etc.), vegetables (Bauhinia variegata L., Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Moringa oleifera Lam. etc.), spices (Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eber., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. and Piper longum L.), fibres (Calamus flagellum Griff. ex Mart., Dendrocalamus hemiltonii Nees et Arn. ex Munro, Pandanus nepaulensis H. St. John and Sterculia villosa Roxb.), floss (Bombax ceiba L.,), broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Ktze.), thatching material (Livistona jenkinsiana Griff.), various bamboo and cane species, and other miscellaneous products from the forests and community lands. NWFPs played a significant role in supporting the livelihood of Adi tribes as it has been observed that 32.50 %, 56.67 % and 10.83 % people were earning < Rs. 3000, Rs. 3000 - 6000 and > Rs. 6000, respectively from the sale of different NWFPs. Majority of respondents (80.83 %) were having the opinion that the availability of different NWFPs has de- clined considerably and maximum (85 %) respondents advocated that the availability of these products would further decrease in future also. Further, Adi tribal community is playing an important role in conservation of different NWFPs yielding species by domesticating them in their home gardens. Keywords: Adi tribes, Conservation, Domestication, Non-wood forest products INTRODUCTION Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are important in the daily life and for the well being of the rural population. In addition to local consumption, NWFPs are also important traded commodities on regional, national as well as international markets. Traded NWFPs contribute to the fulfillment of daily needs and provide employment as well as income. Ethnic tribes derive a large proportion of their annual per cap- ita income from these products (Narendran et al., 2001). There is a growing awareness of the importance of NWFPs and this awareness is not only for the role they play in the subsistence economy, but also for their potential and real contribution to the economies of many developing countries (FAO,1998). Non-wood forest products once neglected as minor forest produce, now have gained significant importance due to its in- come and employment potential (Muraleedharan et al., 2004). Evaluation and monitoring of the resources providing NWFPs are important to estimate the actual and potential socio-economic and ecological value of these products. The first step in this process is the identification of the resources providing NWFPs. ISSN : 0974-9411 (Print), 2231-5209 (Online) All Rights Reserved © Applied and Natural Science Foundation www.ansfoundation.org Harvesting of NWFPs might cause degradation of the habitat if the exploitation is carried out in an unsustainable way. On the other hand, habitat degradation might also have a negative influence on the availability of NWFPs. Some of the plant species which were reported to occur commonly or abundantly about half a century ago have at present became rare or very rare due to over exploitation/ habitat loss and have fallen in the category of endangered species. A large number of highly useful herba- ceous plants have little future, unless immediate steps are not taken to arrest the causes leading to ecological and biological impoverishment (Pattanaik and Reddy, 2012). The north-east India is a part of both Himalaya as well as Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots in the world. It has the richest reservoir of plant diversity in India and is one of the ‘biodiversity hotspots’ of the world supporting about 50 % of India’s biodiversity (Mao and Hynniewta, 2000). Northeastern region including Arunachal Pradesh occupy 7.7% of total geographical area of country and harbours 50% of Indian flora (8,000 species) of which about 4% is endemic (2,526 species) (Rao and Hajra, 1980; Nayar, 1996). The