oil content and physicochemical characteristics of oils

and chemical and physical characteristics.
1.5. Significance of the study
Exploitation of non-timber forest products, particularly fruits and seeds as a source of oil can help to
reduce oil costs by diversifying the sources for this commodity. This form of exploitation can be
more sustainable than timber extraction, because this is often viewed as a means of sustainable forest
management affecting the structure and function of forests much less than other uses (Forget and
Jansen, 2007). Demonstration of tangible economic values can lay the foundation for rational use
and protection of plant resources, because people tend to conserve plants which they know are
important for their needs. This study sought to establish the importance of some local plants from
Kivu Region by assessing their chemical properties in order, to support rural people’s needs in ways
that are in harmony with environment. Data generated from this study will benefit industries for
production of oils for various purposes. The tree species identified as sources of oil could be
proposed for domestication so that they can be used for oil extraction for food and other uses and at
the same time be conserved which is good for the environment. In addition the content and
composition of fatty acids of plant seed oils can serve as plants taxonomic markers (Bağci and
Şahin, 2004).
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