| Abstract | This research attempts to highlight the facts on the existing harvesting technique of rural people in Bolikhan District, Bolikhamxai Province, Lao PDR and provides a marketing analysis of selected Non Timber Forest Products. Furthermore, the research includes an assessment of the highly traded species, issues on existing harvesting practices, formal and informal marketing chains, and profit margins, understanding of level of collectors in terms of rules, regulations, and government policy, existing harvesting practices and future prospects of domestication, and recommendations for the promotion of NTFP marketing development. The analysis is based on data collected from the NTFPs collectors of Ban Pharneung and Ban Bor. The head of the villages, villagers, forest officers in DAFO, PAFO, and traders were interviewed. Stratified random selection was conducted to find out households for interviews. The research represents the whole district; as the samples taken cover similar environmental conditions in the whole districts and districts nearby. The villages selected for the study were both existed inside the project area, where similar environment conditions and living styles. A household survey, formal and informal interviews, group discussions, and village meetings were used to gather information. Insufficient food production in the villages required people to generate income from other sources such as NTFP collection from the wild. There was a very high contribution from NTFPs in providing employment and generating household income. At least ten species of multipurpose NTFP used by local people played an important role in daily foods, consumed, medicines and commercial sales. The existing harvesting practices of selected species namely Berberin and rattan (rattan with large cane and rattan with small cane) seemed to be very poor because of inappropriate methods used and no criteria to select species before harvesting, and processing. The understanding levels of regulatory, marketing, and technical aspects were similar in both study villages. For proper harvesting, there is need for a supply- based regulatory system, proper allocation of property rights and appropriate season/time collection and scientific methods applied to NTFPs harvesting. Also, sustainable use of NTFPs has been affected by several factors, such as government policy, regulatory mechanisms, local institutions, external agencies, and infrastructure, including roads and markets. But there is very little understanding of the role of these factors; therefore, further research needs to be done. The findings of the research will be helpful for researchers and collectors working in similar physiographic and socio-economic settings. For better understanding through the sustainable management of NTFPs in long tern; namely: 1. Collectors should have good collecting practices to ensure high profit margins. 2. Planners and policy makers should have a good plan and policy |