Role of Non Timber Forest Products in the Livelihood of Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of Southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India.

The forest of Chitteri hills, Southern Eastern Ghats support rich diversity of timber as well as non timber yielding species. Malayali tribes living close to forest are depend on the forest products possesses imperative part of the traditional life style in Chitteri hills. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) such as wild edible fruits, vegetables, fuel wood, fodder plants, house construction materials, household uses, agricultural implements and medicinal plants are mostly collected from natural habitats. Economically important 80 species and 216 medicinal species have been recorded by the Malayali tribes. The importance of NTFP collection by tribal community has shown decreasing trend due to exotic cultural invading in the study region.