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World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
“The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
–founded in 1978- has invigorated the ancient
practice of growing trees on farms, using innovative
science for development to transform lives and
landscapes.
Our research focuses on four global themes: Land and people,
Environmental services, Strengthening institutions
and Trees & Markets. The Centre’s headquarters are
based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, with
regional centres throughout the developing world in
more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and South
America.”
It is one of the 15 international agricultural
research Centers supported by the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Mission
“To advance the science and practice of agroforestry
to transform the lives and landscapes of the rural
poor in developing countries.”
Go to the
World Agroforestry Centre’s
website.
Genetic resource activities
“The Genetic Resources Unit provides global support
to the World Agroforestry Centre’s regional staff
and partners for tree germplasm and tree information
needs. It holds separately and/or in conjunction
with national programmes collected and procured
germplasm in both live and seed gene banks around
the world. At headquarters a centralized facility
for storage, testing, characterization (including
molecular) and dispatch for orthodox species exists.
In Kenya it also maintains a nursery and field
facility at Meru for quarantine, testing and
dispatch of introductions to all regions in Africa.
Databases which compile information on tree
taxonomy, uses, suitability and sources of seed are
developed and maintained by the unit.”
One of the focal areas of the work of the World
Agroforestry Centre is “Agroforestree Germplasm”.
The goal of this focal area is “To determine and support sustainable tree seed and seedling
systems and wise management of agroforestry tree
genetic resources”. The objectives are:
-
Agroforestry tree genetic resources and their
associated information better characterized,
documented, conserved and made available.
-
Informed and mobilised actors for better
development of tree seed and nursery systems
with decentralised approaches more incorporated.
-
Tree species diversity (intraspecific and
interspecific) better inventoried, utilised and
conserved on farms.
Find
out more about the
Genetic Resources Unit.
Find
out more about the
Agroforestree Germplasm
focal area.
Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources
Each of the CGIAR Centres has a representative on
the Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources,
SGRP’s steering committee. The Committee sets the
strategy and priorities for SGRP and meets annually
to review its workplan.
To find out who is the World Agroforestry Centre’s
representative, please go to our
Contacts page. |
