Seeding African Forest and Landscape Restoration: Evaluating Native Tree Seed Systems in Four African Countries

Fiona L. Giacomini; John A. Prempeh; Riina Jalonen; Barbara Vinceti; Marius Ekue; Ennia Bosshard; David F.R.P. Burslem; Chris J. Kettle

doi:10.3390/d15090981

Seeding African Forest and Landscape Restoration: Evaluating Native Tree Seed Systems in Four African Countries

Fiona L. Giacomini^*, John A. Prempeh^* (Corresponding Author), Riina Jalonen, Barbara Vinceti, Marius Ekue, Ennia Bosshard, David F.R.P. Burslem, Chris J. Kettle^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Commitments to Forest and Landscape Restoration are rapidly growing and being implemented globally to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Restoration initiatives largely based on tree planting necessitate an increased supply of high-quality and suitably adapted tree planting material. We evaluated the native tree seed supply systems in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya, four countries with large commitments to increase tree cover. We applied an established indicator framework to assess the adequacy of any current tree seed system to meet national needs. The study aimed to analyse (i) how well-established the native tree seed supply systems are, (ii) how public and non-public actors differ regarding the perception of existing seed systems, and (iii) the main barriers to strengthening current seed systems. Our findings identified significant gaps in the native tree seed supply systems of the four countries, arising particularly from shortfalls in the enabling environment. We found a lack of involvement of local community members in the seed systems, with a crucial need for strengthening policy, capacity building and investment in seed systems. We propose a multi-stakeholder approach and the application of online tools to improve seed systems to meet the demand for high-quality native tree seeds.

Original language	English
Article number	981
Journal	Diversity
Volume	15
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/d15090981
Publication status	Published - 30 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funded by the UK Government through Darwin Initiative Grant 28-007, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Restoration Challenge Grant Platform for Smallholders and Communities with Blockchain-Enabled Crowdfunding and the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the respondents of both the experts’ survey and the interviews and of all the stakeholders who helped to collect the data. Further, we want to thank Moussa Ouedraogo (the National Tree Seed Center of Burkina Faso) and Francis Oduor (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT) for their help in gathering relevant information and establishing contacts with key stakeholders, Joseph Mireku Asomaning (National Tree Seed Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana Kumasi), Lawrence Damnyag (FORIG—Kumasi), Kofi Affum-Baffoe & Jones Agyei Kumi (RMSC, Kumasi), John Apah (Plantation Department, FC—Headquarters, Accra) Joseph Osiakwan (Forestry, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Accra) and all past students of Faculty of Forest Resouces Technology (2005–2009) batch for their immense support. Additionally, for his editorial support, the authors acknowledge Vincent Johnson, consultant editor for the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance science writing service.

Data Availability Statement

Data are available upon request.

Keywords

Burkina Faso
Cameroon
forest and landscape restoration
Ghana
Kenya
native tree seed
tree seed supply

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

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Giacomini_etal_D_Seeding_African_Forest_VOR
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Cite this

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title = "Seeding African Forest and Landscape Restoration: Evaluating Native Tree Seed Systems in Four African Countries",

abstract = "Commitments to Forest and Landscape Restoration are rapidly growing and being implemented globally to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Restoration initiatives largely based on tree planting necessitate an increased supply of high-quality and suitably adapted tree planting material. We evaluated the native tree seed supply systems in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya, four countries with large commitments to increase tree cover. We applied an established indicator framework to assess the adequacy of any current tree seed system to meet national needs. The study aimed to analyse (i) how well-established the native tree seed supply systems are, (ii) how public and non-public actors differ regarding the perception of existing seed systems, and (iii) the main barriers to strengthening current seed systems. Our findings identified significant gaps in the native tree seed supply systems of the four countries, arising particularly from shortfalls in the enabling environment. We found a lack of involvement of local community members in the seed systems, with a crucial need for strengthening policy, capacity building and investment in seed systems. We propose a multi-stakeholder approach and the application of online tools to improve seed systems to meet the demand for high-quality native tree seeds.",

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author = "Giacomini, {Fiona L.} and Prempeh, {John A.} and Riina Jalonen and Barbara Vinceti and Marius Ekue and Ennia Bosshard and Burslem, {David F.R.P.} and Kettle, {Chris J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funded by the UK Government through Darwin Initiative Grant 28-007, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Restoration Challenge Grant Platform for Smallholders and Communities with Blockchain-Enabled Crowdfunding and the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative. Acknowledgments The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the respondents of both the experts{\textquoteright} survey and the interviews and of all the stakeholders who helped to collect the data. Further, we want to thank Moussa Ouedraogo (the National Tree Seed Center of Burkina Faso) and Francis Oduor (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT) for their help in gathering relevant information and establishing contacts with key stakeholders, Joseph Mireku Asomaning (National Tree Seed Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana Kumasi), Lawrence Damnyag (FORIG—Kumasi), Kofi Affum-Baffoe & Jones Agyei Kumi (RMSC, Kumasi), John Apah (Plantation Department, FC—Headquarters, Accra) Joseph Osiakwan (Forestry, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Accra) and all past students of Faculty of Forest Resouces Technology (2005–2009) batch for their immense support. Additionally, for his editorial support, the authors acknowledge Vincent Johnson, consultant editor for the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance science writing service. ",

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N2 - Commitments to Forest and Landscape Restoration are rapidly growing and being implemented globally to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Restoration initiatives largely based on tree planting necessitate an increased supply of high-quality and suitably adapted tree planting material. We evaluated the native tree seed supply systems in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya, four countries with large commitments to increase tree cover. We applied an established indicator framework to assess the adequacy of any current tree seed system to meet national needs. The study aimed to analyse (i) how well-established the native tree seed supply systems are, (ii) how public and non-public actors differ regarding the perception of existing seed systems, and (iii) the main barriers to strengthening current seed systems. Our findings identified significant gaps in the native tree seed supply systems of the four countries, arising particularly from shortfalls in the enabling environment. We found a lack of involvement of local community members in the seed systems, with a crucial need for strengthening policy, capacity building and investment in seed systems. We propose a multi-stakeholder approach and the application of online tools to improve seed systems to meet the demand for high-quality native tree seeds.

AB - Commitments to Forest and Landscape Restoration are rapidly growing and being implemented globally to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Restoration initiatives largely based on tree planting necessitate an increased supply of high-quality and suitably adapted tree planting material. We evaluated the native tree seed supply systems in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya, four countries with large commitments to increase tree cover. We applied an established indicator framework to assess the adequacy of any current tree seed system to meet national needs. The study aimed to analyse (i) how well-established the native tree seed supply systems are, (ii) how public and non-public actors differ regarding the perception of existing seed systems, and (iii) the main barriers to strengthening current seed systems. Our findings identified significant gaps in the native tree seed supply systems of the four countries, arising particularly from shortfalls in the enabling environment. We found a lack of involvement of local community members in the seed systems, with a crucial need for strengthening policy, capacity building and investment in seed systems. We propose a multi-stakeholder approach and the application of online tools to improve seed systems to meet the demand for high-quality native tree seeds.

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Seeding African Forest and Landscape Restoration: Evaluating Native Tree Seed Systems in Four African Countries

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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