Non-Timber Forest Products in

Barangay Mabilong, Lubuagan

Kalinga Province

An Undergraduate Thesis Proposal Presented to the

Faculty of the College of Agriculture and Forestry

KALINGA STATE UNIVERSITY Bulanao,

Tabuk City Kalinga

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the degree

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FORESTRY

By:

Jessie mae C. Diawan

 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Biological resources are likely the key sources of energy

in all forms consumed by human beings for their survival. Human

derives foods, medicines and range of other products from

biodiversity.

Non-Timber Forest Products constitute a critical component

of food security and an important source of income for the poor

in many developing countries. NTFPs are often common property

resources, like fuel wood, fodder, charcoal, fencing, poles,

medicine plants, and a variety or foodcruffs, such as game, fruit,

and

nuts,mushrooms,fiber,resins,bamboo,rattans,honey,fish,vegetable,

essences and other palms and grasses (Arnold,1995). Many local

people use varieties of wild plants in traditional ways for

their daily requirements as well as primary health care and

nutritional needs. The tribal society of Mabilong have strong

belief on folk medicine and prefer to visit traditional healers

for their health problem. The indigenous people are under

extreme pressure to change their way of thinking, decision-

making and harvesting resources due to rapidly increasing

population, poverty and modernization.The picture of the start

of the new century is one in which optimism regarding the

potential of NTFP extraction as combined strategy for

conservation of the natural forests and poverty alleviation has

waned, to be replaced with a more cautious approach or even

forthright pessimism.It is now acknowledged that NTFPs are very

diverse and that the scope for NTFP exploitation is both product

and location-specific.In our town lubuagan, the predominantly

Indigenous populations live by practicing slash-and-burn

subsistence agriculture, , hunting, and

fishing.People in these areas have an extensive knowledge of the

forest and the potential uses of forest species.

NTFPs play significant role in the life of many forest

dwellers and people living around forest who depend on the

products for food and medicines as well as income and

employment, especially for the rural population in the village

of Mabilong. In many areas, traditional uses of many NTFPs have

been forgotten or lost (Manandhar,1985;Shrestha,1993).In such

cases, the need may be to popularize the uses of such products

and link them with the existing or potential market. Some NTFPs

have significant cultural value, as totems, increase, and other

ritual items.Others have important medicinal value and

contribution to the community’s health and well-being. Hence,

there is an urgent need to explore the village of Mabilong for

gathering maximum ethno botanical information and to identify

large number of economic plants that have been in local use for

generations. This study, therefore, aims to explore and document

and obtain other information from local people residing in the

community of Mabilong.

My study areas lack of awareness among people about NTFPs

along with lack of baseline information about them. Therefore my

study aims to contribute further support to the local

communities for the proper planning of community forests for

sustainable management.
 Chapter 2

Review Literature

Ethnobotanical lore the study of indigenous knowledge about

natural resources is becoming increasingly important in defining

Strategies and actions for conservation or recuperation of residual

forests, the term Ethnobotany was coined and defined by Harsberger

in 1896, as the study of plants used by primitive and aboriginal

people. Later the science of ethnobotany was broadened and redefined

by many ethnobatanist like Robbins et al.(1991),Ford (1980),and

Martin(1995).The use of plants and plant products for different

purposes such as food, wood, medicine, fiber, oil,fodder,aroma,and

ornament could be traced as far back as the beginning of human

civilization.In general ethnobotany is multidisciplinary endeavor

that contributes in analyzing how local people interact with plant

resources.

Debeer and McDermott (1989) noted that the term “Non Timber Forest

Product”(NTFPs) en com-passes all biological materials other than

timber, which are extracted from forests for human use.In 1998 they

slightly modified this definition to include “all tangible animals

and plant forest products other than industrial wood, coming from

natural forests, including managed secondary forests and enriched

forests. In Terai they have also has different types of NTFPs which
are yet unexploited, but which are being destroyed as people are
unaware of their importance.
Subedi (1997) reported that NTFPs have potentiality for
contributing to the local economy and improved natural resource
management,leading to ecosystem conservation and biodiversity of an
area.since then, many ethnobotanical studies have been undertaken
in many parts of the country and publications are appearing day b
day. Among them, some of the ethnobotanical work carried out on
medicinal and wild food plants.
Many plants species have potential for multiple uses.However,
little research has been done in identification and utilization for
non-timber tree parts. Research is needed that promotes the
well-being of the local community. this is perhaps because of the
fact that these studies not fully represent the wide range of
environment the list presented here is no means a complete one that
is why more additions will foregoing.
Statement of the problem

This study will answer the following question:

1.What are the NTFPs used by the people barangay Mabilong, Lubuagan,

Kalinga?

2.What are the traditional uses of the NTFPs

3. How are these NTFPs used

4. What are the status of the NTFPs in Mabilong?

Objectives of the study

Generally, the study aims to document the Non-Timber Forest

Products (NTFPs) of Mabilong and their traditional uses.

Specific Objectives of the study

1) To identify the Non-Timber Forest Products in the village of

Mabilong, Lubuagan Kalinga.

2) To collect information on the Non-Timber Forest Products used by

the local people around the village.

3) Voucher the NTFPs used by the local people of Mabilong

Time and Place of the study

The study will be conducted on August to October 2018 at barangay

Mabilong, Lubuagan Kalinga.

Significance of the Study

The implication of the study to the people around the community

have cultural value as used for woodcarvings, totems, incense, and

important Medicinal value.

Rural people use NTFPs for food, income and inputs but also for

social, cultural, and religious functions. Certain species may play

a crucial role in spiritual ceremonies, or have taboos with them that

forbid certain harvests. Some trees are figure during the burial

rituals. Forest food plays parts in the wedding rites, initiation

ceremonies and other events. In many places, these cultural and

spiritual roles are losing their importance, but in other places they

persist and are even renewed in the face of encroaching values from

outside the community.

Scope and Delimitation of the study

this study will be focused on Non-Timber Forest Products in barangay

Mabilong sitio Manangol Lubuagan,Kalinga Province.

Conceptual Framework

The traditional knowledge regarding the NTFPs and their use is

valuable asset for the new generation. Ethnobothany has blossomed

in recent years into important science because of the realization

that the vast body of knowledge contained in both indigenous and folk

culture is being rapidly lost as natural ecosystem and cultures are

being destroyed by the encroachment of development. Therefore,
proper

documentation and preservation of traditional knowledge are

important for the sustainable rural development.

DEPENDENT VARIABLES

1. Biodiversity of NTFPs
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES A)Species diversity

B)Traditional uses
1. Classification of C)Species heterogeneity
N0n-Timber Forest
Product

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the study

 Chapter 3

Methodology

Locale of The Study

The study will be conducted in the village of Mabilong, lubuagan,

kalinga Province. It is 3 kilometers away from the town proper

municipality of Lubuagan.

Research design

This research will be using unstructured interview questionnaire

for gathering the necessary information and camera for documenting

the importance and potential sustainability of NTFPs utilization.

Definition of term

Ethnobotany. refer plants and their practical uses through

the traditional knowledge of a local culture and people.

Community Forest. Refer to an evolving branch of forestry

where by the local community plays a significant role in forest

management and land use decision making by themselves.

Varieties. Refer to a botanical variety that is a subdivision of a

species.

Biological Diversity. Refers to the variability among

living organism including diversity within species, between

species and ecosystem.

Ethno-Medicinal Plants. Refers to medicine as traditional practiced

by primitive people around the community.

Forest Conservation. Refers to wise utilization of forest resources

so as to get their best and maximum use.

Forest Product. Derived from all usable materials from the forest

including the associated water, fish, game scenic, historical

recreation and geological resources.

Herb. Refers to any vascular plants with no persistent, woody parts.

Minor Forest Products. Derived from the forest that are considered

to be of minor economic significance compared to timber; include all

forerst product except timber and pulpwood.

Non-Wood Forest Products. Refers to goods of biological origin, other

than wood, derived from forest, other wooded land and trees outside

forests.
Reference:

Donald L. Grebner. Introduction to forest and Natural

Resources.(Satans 1997) Ethnobotanical Notes on Wild Plsnts.

Bawer,M.C.,& Banwa,T.P.(2013).Ethno-botany of Bamboos in

Lubuagan,

Kalinga

Bawer,M.C.,& Banwa,T.P.(2013).Biodiversity assessment of bamboo

in

Lubuagan.

Razal,A.R.,& Palizor,A.M(2009).Non-Wood Forest Products of the

Philippines.