The use of exotics started in 1920 with the aim of dune protection, firewood production and construction materials. Industrial plantations of Pinus (P. patula, P. taeda, P. elliotti, P. caribaea and P. radiata) and Eucalyptus (E. grandis and E. saligna) followed.
To meet the increase of forest product demand and as an attempt to reduce the pressure on forest resources, an afforestation programme using fast growing exotic species started during the 1980’s. Eucalyptus sp., Leucaena sp. and other multiple use exotic species with known capacity to retain nitrogen from the soil, have been used on agroforestry and afforestation programmes.
In protected areas, there are in situ conservation areas for indigenous tree species such as Afzelia quanzensis, Khaya anthoteca, Guibourtia conjugata, Colophospermum mopane and Androstachys johnsonii (see table in appendix 3 for more detailed information).
Seed collection and conservation is being carried out by the National Plant Genetic Resource Center (NPGRC) of the INIA, the CEF, the IPA and the DEF (Eduardo Mondlane University).
Seeds of several important indigenous tree species, as well as exotic species, are stored by the CEF. There is no national collection and there is a great need for research on seed technology which will determine the suitability of these species to be conserved as seed.
The botany section of the Department of biological sciences is currently establishing an ex situ collection of indigenous medicinal plants. The long-term objective is to contribute to the conservation of medicinal plants threatened due to over-exploitation in the wild.
Almost nothing has been done on tree improvement highlighting indigenous species, even though there is an urgent need. The work started includes Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp.
