Seeds for Life Project – KenyaWilliam Omondi, National Co-ordinator, Tree seed Programme: Kenya Forestry Research Institute
PurposeEnhance conservation and sustainable utilisation of Kenya’s plant genetic resources
Activities• Collection of seed and herbarium specimen • Seed storage in Kenya and duplicates in RBG, Kew• Seed studies to backstop conservation• Build capacity of local communities and Institutions to conserve PGR
Destruction of natural forests
Degradation of drylands
Endangered species; e.g. Osiris lanceolata
Seed collections based on best practice principles
Seed studies to backstop conservation
15ºC
20 ºC25ºC
Material Transfer Agreement: KENYA and Royal Botanical
Gardens, Kew• Ensures Kenya Governments consent to the
transfer of seeds to the RBG, Kew Seed Bank for safe keeping and long-time conservation
• Duplicates in Kew exclusively for long term storage
• Research limited to supporting conservation • Kenya retains ownership of the duplicate at Kew• Any other research on the material by Kew can
only be undertaken through a separate agreement
Emerging issues.... Climate change, habitat degradation and
species loss Conflict between international conventions
and National regulations Definition of access in relation to ex-situ
conservation and seed duplication Total disclosure of origin and some aspects of
IK Modalities of costing, negotiating and sharing
the benefits ...the role of all stakeholders
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