The Non Wood Forest Products Division is one of the oldest departments of the Forest Research Institute. It was created in the year 1906 and was then known as the Utilization Branch of the Imperial Forest Research Institute. During the last five decades the division has been undertaking extensive researches on various aspects of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) utilization, cultivation and conservation.
  

Thrust Areas: 
 

• Medicinal plants cultivation and conservation

• Aromatic plant cultivation

• Gum tapping

• Resin tapping

Highlight of Achievements:
   

• Developed cultivation packages for various medicinal plants and extended the technology to Govt/Semi Govt/NGO/Private parties. These plants include Podophyllum hexandrum, Rheum emodi, Taxus baccata, Nardostachys jatamansi, Picrorrhiza kurroa, Bunium persicum, Crocus sativus, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Asparagus racemosus, Spilanthes acmella, Tylophora indica, Matricaria chamomilla, Ammi majus, Catharanthus roseus, Carum carvi, Plumbago zeylanica. 

• Developed "Rill Method" of resin tapping from Pinus roxburghii and extended the technology to resin producing states.

• Developed "Briquetting Techniques" for production of energy pellets using different forest species. Established germplasm conservatories with a collection of more than 150 plant species of NWFP importance.

• Establishment of Herbal gardens for Govt. Institutes in the country.

• Production of Audio-visual films on NWFPs.
   

Future Plans: 
 

• Development of cultivation package for medicinal plants viz., Oroxylum indicum, Andrographis paniculata, Bacopa monnieri, Prunus cerasoides, Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Habenaria intermedia, Microstylis wallichii, Desmodium gangeticum. 

• Development of Gum tapping methods from Acacia nilotica.

• Strengthening of Germplasm collection.
   

Research Facilities Available:
 

1. Field Research Station at Chakrata for high altitude medicinal and aromatic plants.
2. Field Research facilities at Dehradun for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
  

Services Available:

• Transfer of technology/Cultivation packages for NWFPs including medicinal and aromatic plants.

• Identification of medicinal and aromatic plants and other NWFPs.

• Consultancy for herbal garden development.

Currently, the Division is handling a research project on cultivation of medicinal plants sponsored by the Department of ISM & M, Government of India.