In the hill areas, the traditional systems of dependence on forest products like fuel for their households and fodder for their livestock has an important bearing on the status of Himalayan watersheds. The population of livestock is therefore also significant. The fuel and fodder requirements of the hill people are important routine activities for which women/children spend long hours of their day-to-day life.

India has a very huge potential of tree-born non-edible oil seeds. The country is endowed with more than 100 species of these oil seeds, occuring in the wild or cultivated sporadically to yield oil in considerable quantities. Attempts are being made to utilize non-edible and under-exploited oils for biodiesel production.