Potentially, the products could be commercialised and provideadditional income to forest dwellers and forestmargin communities. Yet there are relatively few successful examples of NTFP commercialisation which have achieved the goals of increasing incometo the rural poor, whilst at the same time remaining environmentally sustainable. If NTFPs are to play a greater role in achieving sustainable livelihoods for forest communities each of these considerations has to be addressed. The management of fruit trees and non-destructive harvest practices are directly linked to marketability and secure tenure. Use potential and marketability will directly influence the domestication of these wild fruit species by the communities.
Some species are present in both the forest and in the home gardens, though in a modified form.
Forest fruit species are important in the maintenance of the overall genetic viability of the domesticated species. Domestication should be seen as an allied strategy to forest conservation, where the forest is the genetic reservoir for the domestication process. Domesticated fruit species may sustain the marketing of fruits. Complementarily between wild and domesticated fruits should be investigated within the scope of biodiversity conservation. Appropriate market information should be delivered directly to the rural poor.