IITA IPM project 12: Taxonomic capacity strengthening for biodiversity conservation in West Africa

Duration: A rolling programme since 1996

Purpose: To develop and sustain self-reliance in taxonomy in the sub-region

Background/description: Taxonomy is fundamental to pest problem definitions and analyses and to the development of ecologically sustainable solutions ensuring minimal environmental damage. However, taxonomic capacities (institutions, infrastructure, and trained manpower) are generally weak in the West African sub-region. Majority of the countries lack well-preserved and documented reference collections of fauna and flora to support biodiversity research, training and extension programmes. Functional linkages amongst themselves and/or globally for access to and exchange of technical and new information are also rare. In response to these kinds of sub-regional demand and to integrate taxonomy in biodiversity and sustainable environmental support programmes, the West African Network for Taxonomy (WAFRINET) works to develop and sustain self-reliance in taxonomy in the sub-region. The network promotes species inventory/monitoring, conserve/prevent loss of biodiversity, develop sustainable pest management systems, and encourage quarantine and environmental protection programmes in agriculture, peri-urban gardening, forestry, aquatic ecosystems and in public health. WAFRINET partners have developed a common vision on the development and sharing of sub-regional expertise, information, records, technologies, collections and infrastructure to achieve the network’s objectives.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Agoecologies in West and parts of Central Africa

Expected outputs: a) Essential facilities to enhance taxonomic operations of will be provided (assess the status of existing facilities and resources; develop national reference collections; equip national resource centers, NACIs, museums/biodiversity centers); b) Communications and information sharing between partners will be improved (promote rapid transfer and sharing of taxonomic and biodiversity information; increase access of participating institutes to technical expertise and related resources); c) Sub-regional capacity in taxonomy increased through training (identify taxonomic training needs and resources; conduct training courses; conduct agroecosystem analysis with field-level participants; develop appropriate training materials); d) New taxonomic technologies identified, developed and applied (develop and/or revise taxonomic keys and tools; develop species monitoring protocols; establish monitoring systems for target species and alien invasive species; assess identified taxa identified for use in IPM; monitor pesticide pollution in aquatic biodiversity); e) Linkages within WAFRINET and collaborating agencies strengthened (support WAFRINET linkages; increase awareness, commitment and use of local taxonomy services; promote sub-regional policies on taxonomy and biodiversity studies; assess impact of WAFRINET)

Potential impact and beneficiaries: The network contributes to reduced environmental degradation, increased local capacity to understand and manage targeted ecosystems, increased and stable productivity leading to better livelihoods and to foster a pesticide-free production environment and easier access to taxonomic and biodiversity information. In least 12 countries, national taxonomic collections, museums, biodiversity centres will be developed and/or rehabilitated, and access to taxonomic and biodiversity information will be increased at participating national institutes, CBD Focal Points, CORAF supported networks and other collaborating partners. Sub-regional capacity to identify and utilize biodiversity will be increased by training of applied biologists/biosystematists, technicians, extension agents. New technologies, methods and/or protocols for biodiversity identification and utilization will be tested and applied in each member country.

Partners: WAFRINET is a West African network for taxonomy initiated in 1996 by national scientists from 13 countries in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the global network for taxonomy, BioNET INTERNATIONAL. WAFRINET is endorsed by 8 individual West African Governments and CORAF (the sub-regional ministerial body that oversees agricultural development agenda). The current membership includes Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. WAFRINET operates on the Technical Network Cooperation (TCN) format devised and successfully implemented by the UNDP for some of its activities.

Development investor(s): Grants through BioNET INTERNATIONAL and through services to other IITA projects.

IITA contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): Braima James B.James@cgiar.org and Georg Goergen G.Goergen@cgiar.org website http://www.iita.org