Journal of Applied Life Sciences International

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) play a significant role in sustaining the livelihoods, food security, healthcare practices, and cultural traditions of forest-dependent communities. The present study was conducted in the forest-fringing villages of Adagodi and Belur in Nagodi Grama, Hosanagara Taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka, adjacent to the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. The study aimed to document the diversity of NTFPs, assess community dependence on them, and understand their socio-economic and traditional healthcare significance. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire surveys conducted among local households, supplemented by specimen collection and documentation of available NTFPs. Information regarding demographic characteristics, harvesting practices, utilization patterns, processing methods, and traditional knowledge systems was recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 107 NTFP species belonging to diverse plant groups and animal-based resources were documented, of which 64 species were specifically utilized in traditional healthcare practices. Fruits constituted the most frequently harvested plant part due to their seasonal abundance and easy accessibility, followed by leaves, roots, bark, seeds, and flowers. The majority of products were utilized in raw form (63.4%), while some were sun-dried for long-term preservation. Women showed greater participation (67%) in collection, processing, and preservation activities compared to men (33%), indicating their crucial role in household subsistence and conservation of traditional ecological knowledge. Most respondents belonged to the 31–40 years age group, reflecting active livelihood engagement and inherited ethnobotanical knowledge. The study revealed that local communities primarily depend on NTFPs for medicinal, nutritional, domestic, and cultural purposes rather than direct economic gain, with only 16.2% of respondents involved in small-scale commercialization. Several NTFPs such as Aegle marmelos, Gloriosa superba, Argyreia sp., Azadirachta indica, and Cynodon dactylon were associated with ritualistic and cultural practices, emphasizing their socio-cultural significance. Animal-derived NTFPs including honey from Apis mellifera and stingless bees, as well as civet coffee, were also documented. The findings highlight the continued relevance of NTFPs in supporting traditional healthcare systems, biodiversity-linked livelihoods, and cultural identity among forest-dependent communities of the Western Ghats. Sustainable management and conservation of these forest resources are therefore essential for maintaining ecological balance and community well-being.