The present study revealed that socioeconomic significance of NTFPs can be associated with the total forest cover in Pakistan, which is 5% and 80% of the livelihoods of those living in extreme poverty depend directly on forest resources. About 34% of the local population relies on NTFPs for income. Valued NTFP’s in Kaghan valley are typically associated with the sub valleys and water bodies that join the Kunhar River. The fieldwork for data collection was conducted in the Kaghan Valley with the assistance of Forest Department Kaghan. A questionnaire was developed for local NTFP’s collectors/producers and traders. Non-random sampling technique was used for analyzing the area in term of NTFP’s. Purposive sampling techniques were used to interview the targeted groups. . A total of 120 respondents were interviewed at various places for one week during the month of July 2021 and data collected was recorded in a pre-tested questionnaire. A focus group discussion with the Forest officials and local experts was also done to collect data about the available NTFP’s in the study area.  Results were then analyzed from the data collected showing data and results related their socio-economic data,  family members involved in NTFP’s, purpose of collection, NTFP’s harvesting practices, estimated annual income through NTFP’s sale, causes of depletion of NTFP’s,  traders in the local villages, status of NTFP’s sale over the past 10 years, most traded NTFP’s in the study area their collection method and selling price, any facilitation or limitations by government, problems related NTFP’s and their solution further increase in income through NTFP’s. The findings presented that NTFP’s play a significant part in reducing the severity of poverty in the Kaghan Valley. Some of the problems like shortage of staff, high duty tax, lack of scientific knowledge related to storage and processing of NTFP’s were faced by the locals which needed to be resolved  in order to further increase the economic growth, improve livelihood and reduce poverty.

KEY WORDS

Poverty Alleviation, Temperate, NTFP’s, Socioeconomic, Kaghan Valley