Commercialising the use of wild plants

Webinar recording

The Communal Land Forest Produce Act (1987) needs to be reviewed in the light of new developments in sustainable forest management which put people at the centre of forest management and encourage the participation of communities. The Act should also embrace the need for communities to benefit sustainably from the commercialization of non-timber forest products. 

(ZBE Report, p66)

Zimbabwe has a wealth of indigenous plant species that have traditional uses as food, cosmetics or medicines. There is growing global demand for new natural products in the personal care and cosmetics, food and beverage and flavour and fragrance industries… With its wealth of potentially useful plant species and traditional knowledge associated with their use, Zimbabwe is well placed to capitalize on this trend. Furthermore, since many of these valuable species grow in remote, semi-arid rural regions, commercialization has the potential to bring meaningful socioeconomic benefits to these areas. 

(ZBE Report, p83)