Research advances in some selected Ethiopian/African trees with special reference to propagation and agroforestry attributes

Tropical vegetation has been a product of millions of years of continuous evolution and co-evolution. It has been (and will perhaps continue to be) the major repository of biodiversity. Unfortunately, this vegetation has been traumatized and, following this, massive resource degradation has occurred (including the degradation of valuable plant species, soils, water, animals, and microorganisms). Consequently, agricultural productivity has been unsustainable in Ethiopia/Africa, thus ushering in deep and widespread poverty as well as the concomitant health problems. Needless to add, the crushing economic burden (exacerbated by the increasing population) has been the cause for dismantling the social fabric of Ethiopia that should have been sensitive (and responsive!) to the degrading environment Apparently, a significant proportion of the population has been sapped of its vitality by the prevailing insidious and chronic (yet silent) environmental crisis. In order to reverse this crisis, it is critical that the traumatized life-support system be regenerated as urgently as possible and on a massive scale; and the arduous task is best achieved by taking concrete and focused measures towards the restoration of indigenous forests by whatever means available. Currently, research on the reproductive biology and propagation techniques, as well as studies on agro-forestry attributes of some selected indigenous/endemic tree species are being conducted in the Department of biology (Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University). Some of the trees being studied are: Prumus Africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm. (Rosaceae), Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb. (syn. P. gracilior Pilg.) (Podocarpaceae), Juniperus procera (Hoechst. ex Endl. (Cupressaceae), Olea europaea L. subsp. Cuspidata [Wall. ex DC.) Ciffieri (syn. Olea Africana Mill.)], Syzygium guineense (Wild.) DC. (Myrtaceae), Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel. (Rosaceae), Erythrina brucei Schweinf. Emend. Gillett (Papilionaceae), Millettia ferruginea (Hoechst.) Baker (Papilionaceae), Millettie ferruginea (Hoechst.) Baker (Papilionaceae), and Cordia Africana Lam (Boraginaceae).