The IITA Forest Centre is working diligently to conserve Nigeria’s rare and endangered trees by collecting seeds and training university students. Recently, the team collected seeds from special tree species at Okomu National Park in Edo State and Queen’s Forest Reserve in Ondo State. These seeds will be used to grow more trees at the IITA Tree Heritage Park, also called “The Noah’s Ark.”
During a visit to the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), a rare tree fell, presenting a unique opportunity for students to learn how to grow trees from seeds and cuttings. Students from FUTA and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), learned important skills such as grafting, budding, and marcotting. Some of the trees they worked with include Maranthes glabra, Hunteria umbellata, and Stereospermum acuminatissimum. IITA’s Field Supervisor, Olukunle Olasupo, stated that the mission is not just to save trees, but to raise young people who will continue the work.
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