13 Nov 2006
Unit:
Wageningen UR
On 7 November 2006 Benin became the first country in the West-African region to have an up-to-date Flora in its official native language. By means of this book, Benin’s various endangered ecosystems can be researched, described and managed more effectively. The Flore Analytique du Bénin describes over 2,800 species. In addition to providing identification keys to find plant names, it also contains some 700 illustrations and short descriptions, popular names and information concerning their use and appearance.
Benin and the Netherlands entered into an agreement in 1996 to make an inventory of Benin’s flora, carry out various botanical studies, and write an Analytical Flora of Benin: Between 1997 and 2006 this project was completed by Benin’s national university and Wageningen University assisted by Plant Research International.
The project has yielded various other tangible results:
 A building in which Beninese botanists can work and store more than 32,000 dried plants for further research.
- A database contains information on all Beninese plant sorts, ensuring questions can be quickly answered.
- A monitoring system which offers the opportunity to track plant appearance over time.
- Botanical artists have been educated and staff trained to create and scientifically manage a herbarium collection. This has secured the continuation of botanical education and research in Benin.
The project is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Wageningen and Benin universities.
On 7 November the Flora was presented to the Chancellor of Wageningen University and to Plant Research International’s director.
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