5. Collaborative Programmes Division

5.3 Zonal Research and Training Activities

American Tropics — Amazon

As planned, activities were limited to exploring institutional arrangements in the framework of REDINAA (Red de Investigacion Agroecologica para la Amazonia).

The proposal for a planning exercise at the basin level was favourably received by member institutions from five countries at a meeting in Brasilia, and a proposal has been drafted. Discussions with IICA and CIAT were resumed and the former is taking the lead in approaching potential donors for support. In this context, and making use of a GTZ fellowship, a Senior Visting Scientist, Professor Salvador Flores Paitan from the National University of the Amazon in Peru, conducted an exhaustive analysis of both existing land-use systems and ongoing agroforestry research in the Amazon.

The IDRC-funded research in Yurimaguas, Peru is producing information on MPT tolerance to acid soils and their use in agroforestry technologies for land sustainability. Inga appears as the most promising genus, and seeds were taken by 1ITA for testing at their Onne Station in Nigeria.

Fig. I Integrated research and training in agroforestry networking.

The Administrator of USAID, Mr. McPhearson (right) and the Director of ICRAF, Dr. Lundgren, performing the signing ceremony of the cooperative agreement between USAID and ICARF. Flanking them are Dr. Brady (left), Senior Assistant Administrator, S/T and Mr. Love, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Africa Bureau.