Mahogany, which has declined in recent years in Kenya, could be grown much more quickly if healthy seeds of a range of species were planted to reinvigorate pollination.

Fountain media reports that researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia have found that the exploitation of mahogany forests has had a major impact on the diversity and availability of the trees’ pollen. This has hampered the growth of individual trees and their ability to cross-fertilize other trees.

Kenya’s mahogany forests have seen a 20 per cent decline in the last two years. Mahogany is one of the world’s most prized timbers for furniture, decorative veneer, musical instruments and many other products. In Kenya it is grown by around 5,000 farmers and the World Agroforestry Centre estimates its export earns around KSh 50 million (US $600,000).

Read the full story: Research: Restoring Kenya’s mahogany forest cover