Guinea | more than 300 endangered plant species: a participatory workshop bringing together specialists

“The Development of a National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endangered Trees in Guinea”, it is under this theme that this workshop was organized by the National Herbarium of Guinea. Local and foreign stakeholders (such as the partners of Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew – RBG KEW of Great Britain) of biodiversity, during 2 days, from March 21 to 22, 2023, in Conakry, diagnosed the phenomenon of extinction of thousands of trees which is taking place mainly in the forests of Lower Guinea and Forest Guinea.

Lowland forests are under serious threat in Guinea, with around 96% of the forest lost before 1992, and this state of affairs continues.

Endemic and near-endemic trees affected

The largest area of forest in Maritime Guinea is the Kounounkan forest, in Forest Guinea there are the large forests of Ziama and Diécké. Endemic and near-endemic tree species and the habitats in which they occur are strongly affected by human activities.

<< Today, we must recognize that, like many countries around the world, our flora is faced with the phenomenon of degradation, mainly due to human action. This threat weighs heavily on our plant heritage and deserves to be taken seriously by everyone >>, underlines Dr Sékou Magassouba, Director General of the National Herbarium of Guinea (HNG).

The extinction of plant species is increasing day by day

Guinea has a rich and varied biodiversity supported by the diversity of ecosystems which characterizes its four natural regions. However, the extinction of plant species is occurring at unprecedented rates. Local populations rely heavily on wood and charcoal for fuel.

<< There are more than 300 threatened plant species in Guinea, including wood species. Guinea's threatened trees according to IUCN assessments number 75, including five species endemic to Guinea and 24 wood species. The number of threatened tree species may be higher at the national level but at the moment, data is not available to assess at this level >>, says Charlotte Couch, head of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, RBG KEW of Great Britain, research advisor at the National Herbarium.

In his speech, Dr Mafory Bangoura, National Director of Scientific Research at the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, remains convinced that"The results of the work of this workshop have certainly contributed to filling the gaps in information and data on biodiversity at the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, which will have the necessary tools for the development of a real strategy for managing Guinean biodiversity."

And to add: << I would like to call on you, experts, scientists and other stakeholders involved in the protection and conservation of plant biodiversity to exchange ideas and experiences with a view to overcoming the challenges associated with biodiversity >>,she concludes.

Nurseries to the assets of the Franklinia Foundation

This present workshop is an important step in the project financed by the Franklinia Foundation which has, among other things, several village nurseries of endangered tree species to its credit. The National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endangered Trees in Guinea will undoubtedly be an effective tool available to all stakeholders involved in the management of biodiversity in Guinea.

Amadou Dari Diallo