trees that don't produce enough cones to harvest pine nuts from are felled for firewood. The wood is also used for local light construction and carpentry. Food Chilghoza seeds, or pine nuts, are harvested for consumption in autumn and early winter by knocking the cones off of the trees. The trees and seed harvesting rights are owned by local mountain clans and villages in some areas, from which they may be exported to markets in the northern Indian plains. In traditional harvesting practices, enough seeds are left behind for the forest to regenerate, but in areas controlled by private contractors, all cones are harvested. Chilgoza pine nuts are rich in carbohydrates and proteins. The seeds are locally referred to and marketed as "chilgoza", "neja" (singular) or "neje" (plural). Chilghoza is one of the most important cash crops of Afghanistan, as well as of Kinnaur and Pangi Valley of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. They are sold at approximately $20–$53 per kilograms in India. References External links Gymnosperm Database: Pinus gerardiana Photo of chilgoza pine cone Picture of chilgoza pine seed Chilgoza.net pine nuts info gerardiana Trees of Afghanistan Edible nuts and seeds Trees of temperate climates Drought-tolerant trees Near threatened plants