The exchange event was facilitated using participatory methods to encourage mutual learning and empowerment. It brought together government agencies, national and international NGOs, researchers, private sector enterprises, tree seed cooperatives and farmers.
Organized as a joint output of the "Right Tree, Right Place, Right Purpose (RTRP-Seed)", 'Quality Tree Seed for Africa (QT-Seed)' and Transforming the Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA)' initiatives, the event brought together key stakeholders in tree seed systems and the landscape restoration sector.
Athanase Mukuralinda, the Country Director of CIFOR-ICRAF, emphasized that tree seeds are the foundation for successful forest restoration and sustainable landscapes. However, many people do not understand the importance of using high-quality tree seeds.
'While many recognize the importance of seed quality for crops like maize or potatoes, there's a common misconception that any tree seed is suitable for planting. However, just as with crops, poor-quality tree seeds can lead to weak, poorly growing trees. Rather, 'high-quality tree seeds are crucial for effective forest restoration and the production of valuable wood, fruit and other products' Mukuralinda explained.
The projects focus on awareness, highlighting the importance of protecting seed sources to ensure seed quality for future harvests, and building capacities for communities and sector stakeholders about which trees to collect seeds from, how and when to harvest tree seeds, as well as how to store them properly to maintain their quality.
"We bring together seed producers, collectors, and tree planters to exchange knowledge and collaborate," Mukuralinda said.
Jens-Peter Barnekow Lillesø, a senior researcher at the University of Copenhagen and a CIFOR-ICRAF fellow, stressed the need to evaluate the genetic quality of tree seeds.
"Currently, tree seeds are only checked for germination, but this does not reveal how well a tree will grow in the future," Lillesø noted. He highlighted that most tree seeds in Rwanda are collected from farmlands without assessing their genetic quality.
Factors like the number of mother trees, their health, and whether pollinators are present are crucial for producing seeds that grow into robust trees. Different seed sources are suited to specific environments, such as dry lowlands or humid highlands, and using seeds from the wrong region can lead to poor growth and decreased survival.
Lillesø called for documenting seed sources and recognizing the seed custodians who manage them.
"These custodians play a critical role in protecting seed sources and should receive incentives for their work," he said.
Lillesø also pointed out that the national seed center cannot manage all seed sources alone and needs to delegate responsibilities to local communities, while maintaining quality oversight.
These ongoing initiatives aim to bridge the current gaps in the tree seed sector by fostering cooperation between different stakeholders.
By improving tree seed quality and recognizing the contributions of seed custodians, among other measures, Rwanda can strengthen its forest ecosystems and support sustainable agriculture and restoration efforts.
IGIHE
