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Background
In tropical Africa there are over 7000 plant species that are used for food, medicine, forage, fuel, clothing, and construction among other uses. However, exploitation of Africa’s plant resources for poverty alleviation, empowerment of women, health improvement and environmental sustainability as reflected in the UN Millennium Development Goals is highly underdeveloped. A major factor contributing to under-exploitation is a lack of readily available and consolidated information for policy and decision makers in government, private sector, research, education and rural development, and also the millions of people who directly depend on plant resources for their livelihoods.
A comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge on Africa’s useful plants allows for timely identification, conservation and sustainable use of promising species for food security, income generation, medicine development, bio-fuel production, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change.
The History
An initiative of Wageningen University, PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) took off at the beginning January 2000. It has since grown into a partnership of 11 institutions (7 in Africa, 3 in Europe and 1 in South-East Asia) that undertakes the complex task of information gathering, knowledge synthesis, dissemination and utilization on about 7,000 useful plants of tropical Africa. PROTA is registered as a not-for-profit Foundation in the Netherlands and as an international NGO in Kenya
The implementation
PROTA is a 15-year program implemented over the following phases:
• Preparatory Phase 2000–2003
• First Implementation Phase 2003–2007
• Second Implementation Phase 2008–2012
• Final Implementation Phase 2013–2015
The main objective of the First Implementation Phase (2003-2007) was to complete 50% of the information system (review 3,500 species in 8 Commodity groups in 10 handbook volumes). The first phase also aimed at disseminating the synthesised information in three main forms (handbooks, CD-Roms, and web database) to relevant stakeholders.
The Second Implementation Phase (2008-2012) was planned to complete the remaining 50% of the information system (review 3,500 species in 8 Commodity groups in 10 volumes). The second phase also aimed at disseminating the synthesised information in three main forms (handbooks, CD-Roms, and webdatabase) to relevant stakeholders.
During this phase, the PROTA web database will develop from a static encyclopaedia to an interactive information platform (PROTA4U) on the useful plants of tropical Africa. On this platform three interconnected processes will be combined:
1) Moderating an interactive process of data compilation
2) Writing and editing validated review articles
3) Offering a discussion forum on the useful plants of tropical Africa.
The main objectives of the Final Implementation Phase (2013-2015) are to sustain the interactive web database as the major platform for information and discussion on the over 7000 useful plant species, make it self-sustainable and consolidate its role in the optimal exploitation and conservation of Africa’s plant resources.
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History
