Core Topic (CT)

Tools and products for decision making and practical application

 Topic (T)

Workpackages

 Title

Botanical collections in West Africa

 Project leader(s)

Dr. Stefan Dressler, Dr. Marco Schmidt & Prof. Dr. Georg Zizka
Prof. Dr. Stefan Porembski & Dr. Dethardt Götze
Prof. Dr. Brice Sinsin
Prof. Dr. Adjima Thiombiano
Prof. Dr. Dossahoua Traoré

 Project description

Botanical collection activities in West Africa started in the 17th century, but only in the last century were collections actually established in West Africa itself. Here they are the basis for institutionalised reference centres and archives of botanical expertise at the national level but at the same time they form an indispensable tool for scientific research. Apart from a comprehensive representation of the respective flora, critical points are collection management (e.g. pest control) and quality. Within the last years it has also become important to establish specimen databases. Especially in the framework of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) linked biodiversity databases form a network which repatriates data to the countries of origin and serves scientific purposes in international biodiversity research.
The particular aims in this WP are as follows:

• capacity building in Ouagadougou and Abidjan to assure self-reliance, future technical and scientific functioning of the herbaria


• close gaps in knowledge by focussed collecting and digitisation of data


• provide data for “Burkina Faso Checklist”


• assist a closer co-operation of West African herbaria


• establish exchange of know-how and plants between the botanic garden of the CNF, Abidjan, and the botanic garden of the University of Rostock