Guide for sustainable development of natural product value chains from Cabo Verde

Abstract

Natural products include a diverse range of foods, medicines, energy, materials and culturally important products which are sourced wild from natural areas. These products and the value chains they create, can be promising avenues for economic development, if the resources are sustainably managed and the value chains are well-thought through. Moving from being an opportunistic entrepreneur to an economically viable business requires This guide sets out the main issues and challenges in setting up and maintaining viable businesses based on natural products, and suggests solutions and guidelines on how to develop sustainable value chains based on natural resources from Cabo Verde. Government, non-governmental agencies and the private sector are important partners in developing this sector from its current largely small scale, informal and low rated status. A more enabling framework of support and policy can aid those in the trade of getting a product from the natural environment to consumers to generate higher incomes whilst ensuring the wild resources they depend on continue to exist, particularly the endemic and endangered species.