FOCUS ON AFRICA
http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=37&page=1

For more on:
Lord Sainsbury's Gatsby Charitable Foundation
http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=116
Florence Wambugu and A Harvest
http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=131
ISAAA
http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=66
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Kenya embraces "biotech trees" from South Africa
A Harvest.net, July 22, 2004

Under severe pressure to increase its forest cover from less than 2% of total land area to the internationally accepted canopy minimum of 10%, Kenya has embraced "clonal trees" first introduced in the country from South Africa.

Africa Harvest CEO, Dr. Florence Wambugu, who brokered the technology, says "the current forest cover officially confirms the country to be a desert".

She says the country "must develop a clear strategy of how to reclaim its forests, which are important in attracting rain".

The Minister for Environmental, Natural Resources and Wildlife, Dr Newton Kulundu, recently told over 60 biotechnology stakeholders that the government supports the adoption of new forest technologies to enhance regeneration of forests to meet the demand for trees and tree products. The Minister said the government was already dealing with the issues of illegal forest encroachment, excision, charcoal burning, illegal cultivation, overgrazing, unsustainable exploitation poaching and frequent fires.

The Minister thanked ISAAA AfriCenter, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation of the United Kingdom, and Mondi Forest of South Africa, for their commitment and determination to ensure that Tree Biotechnology Project succeeds in the region. (The Project was started under the leadership of Dr. Wambugu when she was a director of the ISAAA AfriCenter).

The conference - sponsored by Gatsby Charitable Foundation - shared experiences from the participating countries including discussions Eucalyptus and clonal forestry. It also discussed ways of encouraging private sector involvement and identifying new opportunities for partnerships.

Among those who attended the conference was the Chairman of Tree Biotechnology Project, Joe Kibe, Bruce Hulett of Mondi Forest, Lawrence Cockcroft of Gatsby Charitable Foundation and the Director of ISAAA AfriCenter, Dr Sam Wakhusama.