AcademIK Connections - Sustainable Forestry & Livelihoods

Michael Jacobson, Associate Professor of Forest Resources, discusses businesses based on indigenous knowledge. Encouraged by the growing interest from tourists, a traditional healer partnered with a hotel owner in Durban to start the Fordoun Spa that uses indigenous products for spa treatments. Mike talks about the many opportunities presented by the iconic baobab tree. Women entrepreneurs are collecting baobab seeds to extract oil for export to Europe where it is used in making perfumes. The pulp in the baobab fruit also has potential as fruit juice, wine, and other high-end consumer products.

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