At present the Odum project is involved in the collection of seed and establishment of provenance and conservation plantings of Iroko in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Cameroon, as well as several other projects. Specifically, Doland Nichols of NAU is working on factors influencing natural regeneration: one hectare of naturally-occurring seedlings have been tagged and their survival and growth will be monitored over the next year. Also, seeds and seedlings were planted out at five different distances from seed trees, and their survival will also be followed.

D. Nichols and M.R. Wagner are also working with mixed plantations, in which Milicia has been planted at two different sites - one in agricultural land and another in a forest clearing - in blocks of differing densities, to assess the levels of attack by the gall-forming psyllid Phytolyma lata, which to date has made plantation establishment impossible. Milicia has also been planted in mixtures with other timber species, to evaluate insect damage and the compatibility of timber species when grown together.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 June 2007 )