{"id":18180,"date":"2026-06-20T13:02:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/seeds-of-hope-iita-forest-center-expands-conservation-work-through-seed-collection-and-student-training-in-futa-and-futo\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:51:26","slug":"seeds-of-hope-iita-forest-center-expands-conservation-work-through-seed-collection-and-student-training-in-futa-and-futo","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/seeds-of-hope-iita-forest-center-expands-conservation-work-through-seed-collection-and-student-training-in-futa-and-futo\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeds of hope: IITA Forest Center expands conservation work through seed collection and student training in FUTA and FUTO"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SIWES
SIWES students of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, FUTA, after the training.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its continued commitment to conserving Nigeria\u2019s threatened and endangered native trees, the Centre forestier de l'IITA<\/a> recently embarked on another strategic round of seed collection. This activity, part of the Center\u2019s conservation mission, focused on enriching the live gene bank at its Tree Heritage Park<\/a>, popularly known as The Noah\u2019s Ark. It also aimed to expand the number of propagation protocols in the Manual of Tree Propagation<\/a> on the IITA Forest Center website<\/a>, which is freely downloadable for users to propagate native tree species on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olukunle Olasupo<\/a>, IITA Forest Center Field Supervisor, extended the mission to two critical biodiversity hubs: Okomu National Park in Edo State and Queen\u2019s Forest Reserve in Ondo State. The objective was twofold: to collect seeds and cuttings from rare and threatened tree species, and to enrich the Forest Center\u2019s bank of propagation protocols for native tree species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The fallen Stereospermum acuminatissimum tree at the Departmental Nursery, FUTA.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A remarkable coincidence marked the mission at FUTA. In a symbolic twist, a rare Stereospermum acuminatissimum<\/em> tree, the only surviving tree species remaining on the FUTA campus, had fallen. Olasupo, a passionate conservation expert, took the occasion to train students in various techniques to conserve native tree species. In what Olukunle describes as \u201ca coincidence of nature screaming help, speaking thanks, and reward for labor,\u201d this moment presented the perfect opportunity to educate students on seed and non-seed propagation techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Ecotourism, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) benefited immensely. Hands-on sessions taught them seed sowing, collection, and vegetative propagation techniques such as marcotting (air layering), grafting, budding, and stem-cuttings. These sessions equipped them with the skills needed to support species regeneration to promote biodiversity conservation on a broader scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students
Students of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Ecotourism, FUTO, after the training.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the tree species collected for conservation are Maranthes glabra<\/em>, classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, Hunteria umbellata<\/em>, Omphalocarpum procera<\/em>, et Stereospermum acuminatissimum<\/em>, a highly medicinal native tree. Each seed and cutting collected contributes to the growing diversity of IITA Forest Center\u2019s Tree Heritage Park, which serves as a sanctuary and a learning ground for conservationists and researchers across Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olukunle also emphasized the role of youth in driving conservation forward. He said, \u201cIt\u2019s not just about saving trees\u2014it\u2019s about raising people who can keep saving trees long after we are gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through this effort, IITA Forest Center continues to preserve Nigeria\u2019s botanical heritage while nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders, planting hope for our environment and future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributed by Folake Oduntan<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theme:<\/strong> Climate change, Biodiversity<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In its continued commitment to conserving Nigeria\u2019s threatened and endangered native trees, the IITA Forest Center recently embarked on another strategic round of seed collection.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":18181,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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