Ecological status and Ethnobotanical exploration of Non-Timber Forest Products in Sirdibas, Manaslu Conservation Area of Gorkha, Gandaki Province, Nepal

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) faces a threat of extinction due to the changes resulting from biotic as well as abiotic factors. The present study carried out from Sirdibas located in Manaslu Conservation Area in Gorkha, Nepal focused to identify and document the diversity of NTFP species, elucidate their traditional ethnobotanical uses by Gurung community, evaluate the vegetation status of documented NTFP species with ecological impact of their harvest practices in management. Field work involved key informant interviews, group discussion and field observations and ecological sampling in March 2025. The voucher specimens were collected, identified and reported to ASCOL Herbarium. The ethnobotanical use data was systematically recorded. A total of 30 sample plots of 10m*10m and 30 sub-plots of size 5m*5m and 90 subplots of 1m*1m based on systematic random sampling were carried out during the study. The present study listed a total of 84 potential NTFP species from 47 families. These findings highlight the sustainable use of NTFPs and guide the policy making bodies to work the preservation programs for the control of anthropogenic activities on the flora.