Protecting Africa’s Flora: Scientists gather in Kenya to share research, discoveries
This year, Kenya is host to hundreds of AETFAT’s members – plant scientists from around the world, including China – brought together by their shared interest in the botany of tropical Africa.
The hope is that their findings will be shared to help inform Africa’s conservation efforts and urban planning.
“It’s absolutely important to have north-south and south-south collaboration. [We] need southern institutions to boost research and build capacity,” said Dr Geoffrey Mwachala, Research Director for National Museums of Kenya, in an interview with CGTN.
The botanists will also have a chance to visit some of Kenya’s biodiversity hotpots.
For AETFAT and its Chinese partners, this is also a chance to nurture a new generation of researchers.
“For Kenya and Africa this cooperation can help research facilities and capacity buildings. We have admitted around 88 African students and scientists to China, [and] we are encouraging young Chinese scientists to come to Africa and work together for a bright future in [the] conservation of biodiversity.” Prof. Wang Qingfeng, from the Chinese Academy of Science, stated.
The hope is that this congress will boost support for research and capacity-building on the continent, which will in-turn inspire a new generation to study and help preserve Africa’s unique flora.
CGTN’s Clementine Logan has more:
