CONFERENCE - Tuesday, May 2, 2006
UNDERUTILIZED PLANTS
Their Role in Preventive Medicine, Nutrition, and Sustainability

Development of Forest Resources for Food: Improving the Standard of Living of Rural Africans
CORI HAM
Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Community Development Consultant for Commerical Products from the Wild (CPWild), University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

SUMMARY

Southern Africa has an abundance of indigenous fruit trees that are used extensively by rural communities. These fruits serve as supplements to (bland) diets and as a security net in times of drought and hardship. Fruits are also traded and provide much-needed income in countries where people often have to survive on less than a dollar a day. Indigenous fruits are high in vitamins and minerals and could play an important role in improving the health and nutritional status of rural people, especially in a region ravaged by HIV/AIDS.

The Commercial Products from the Wild (CPWild) Group is working together with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) to promote the commercialization of indigenous fruits in southern Africa. Research focuses on the improvement of the trade in fresh fruits, promotion of appropriate home processing technologies, and commercial processing of fruits. The CPWild Group also actively promotes the sustainable utilization of indigenous plants, including fruit, fiber and medicinal plants.

BIOGRAPHY

Education

2005 - present: Final year MBA student at University of Stellenbosch School   
          of Business
2003 - 2004: Bachelor of Business Management and Administration with Honours
          at University of Stellenbosch School of Business
1996 - B.Sc. in Forestry with Honours at University of Stellenbosch
1992 – 1995: B.Sc. in Forestry at University of Stellenbosch

Employment

1999 – Present Founding member and owner of Ukwazisa Consulting cc
Research associate at Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch
1996 – 1999 Researcher at Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch

Activities

Research and consulting on aspects related
o Utilisation of non-timber forest products
o Natural products development
o Enterprise development
o Community based natural resource use
o Sustainable forestry
o Forest management and inventory
o Forest certification auditing

Coordinator of the Commercial Products from the Wild Research Group (www.cpwild.co.za)

Community forestry lecturing to students at University of Stellenbosch and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University