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FOREST AND AQUATIC PLANTS DEPARTMENT
The Department of
Forest and Aquatic Plant Genetic Resources is one of the departments of
the newly established Plant Genetic Resources Center. 
The department has three Teams:
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Exploration,
Collection and Characterization Team |
|
Evaluation
and Utilization Team |
|
Conservation
and Research Team |
Objectives
of the Department
|
Survey
and document the country's forest and aquatic
plant genetic resources |
|
Study
the biology and genetic variability of forest and aquatic
plant species |
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Conserve
and enhance the sustainable utilization of
forest and aquatic plant genetic resources |
Conservation
and Research Programs
The Department formulated
two National Conservation and Research Programs. Three sub-programs were
also identified under each program.
Forest Plants
Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Program
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High
Forest Plants Sub-Program |
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Woodland
Plants Sub-Program |
|
On-farm
Trees Sub-Program |
Aquatic Plants
Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Program
|
Wet
land Plants Sub-program |
|
Lake,
Pond and Dam Plants Sub-program |
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River
and Stream Plants Sub-program |
Current
Activities
At present, there
is a Forest Genetic Resources Conservation Project
under the department,
which was launched in July 1998 with financial and technical assistance
from the German government. The major objective of the project is to conserve
the forest genetic resources of Ethiopia. To attain the major objective,
five specific objectives were identified:
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Develop
strategies/concepts for the conservation of Ethiopia’s forest genetic resources |
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Create
awareness among the public and the government |
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Build
institutional capacity |
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Establish
and maintain a gene bank and ex situ stands for the conservation
of threatened indigenous trees and shrubs |
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Establish
and manage suitable in situ conservation sites. |
The project is gathering
information from existing sources and from the field. Forest inventory
and socioeconomic survey of 14 high forests was completed and the data
is being processed. The first phase of the project will terminate on July
2001. The planning of the second phase is underway. The focus of this project
is on indigenous woody plants particularly those found in high forests.
Future Plan
of the Department
The department will
focus on the following major undertakings:
Inventory and Collection
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Gather
and document information on the types and distribution of the forest and
aquatic ecosystems of the country from various sources. |
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Carry
out forest and aquatic plant genetic resources inventory and socio-economic
survey (including indigenous knowledge) |
|
Collect
seeds, herbarium specimens and other genetic materials from provenances
of priority species |
Characterization,
Evaluation and Research
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Characterize
and evaluate forest and aquatic plant species/provenance |
|
Carry
out research on biology (including phenology), taxonomy, ecology, genetic
variability, seed morphology and seed storage behavior |
Conservation
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Store
seeds and other genetic materials of various provenances in cold room and
enhance their utilization |
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Establish
and manage ex situ conservation stands or units including a botanical
garden |
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Delineate
and manage in situ conservation sites |
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