In the
Spotlight

Tree diversity is critical, but of the 60,000 known tree species worldwide, 30% are threatened with extinction. CIFOR-ICRAF is leading the way in the conservation of tree species, including native trees critical for food and climate resilience. Its seed genebank in Nairobi headquarters houses one of the world’s largest tropical tree seed collections used to improve tree planting, with over 7,000 accessions representing 195 agroforestry tree species. Field genebanks located in 52 sites across 19 countries conserve over 19,000 accessions of 82 agroforestry tree species from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Tree Genebank made up of the seed and field genebanks sent the very first tree seeds to be duplicated for storage in Norway’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which holds over 1 million tree seeds from 177 species. In 2024, our scientists prepared 120,000 seeds from 13 native African tree species for another deposit in early 2025. And in partnership with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and Unique land use, CIFOR-ICRAF launched a Transformative Partnership Platform for tree seed and seedling delivery systems (Quality Tree Seed TPP) as part of the Right Tree, Right Place – Seed project (RTRP-Seed), which aims to empower Africa-wide stakeholders to develop sustainable, integrated and high-quality tree seed and seedling sectors for effective landscape restoration and broader tree planting.

The Spatial Data Science and Applied Learning Lab (SPACIAL) leverages satellite imagery to monitor forest cover, deforestation, and restoration progress in near-real-time. Through remote sensing, Earth Observation Data, and modelling, SPACIAL is working to predict soil properties, land degradation status, and species distribution – including invasive species – for more targeted and efficient interventions. SPACIAL co-designs digital tools with a wide range of stakeholders to engage citizen scientists and help fill data gaps. These include decision-support dashboards, mobile apps like the Regreening App, and the Landscape Portal, an interactive online spatial data storage and visualization platform. Nam sed leo purus. Duis tellus orci, vulputate sit amet fringilla tempus, blandit vulputate dui. Phasellus ornare ac odio et scelerisque. Aenean lacinia ex eget ipsum rutrum, sit amet accumsan neque hendrerit. Aliquam non lacinia ex. Aliquam sollicitudin, felis eu dapibus fermentum, mi eros placerat erat, vel gravida justo dolor ac massa. Praesent consectetur aliquam eros, gravida venenatis erat. Donec vitae accumsan tellus, sit amet vehicula risus. Maecenas finibus mattis nunc, ut sollicitudin nulla. Nam sed leo purus. Duis tellus orci, vulputate sit amet fringilla tempus, blandit vulputate dui. Phasellus ornare ac odio et scelerisque. Aenean lacinia ex eget ipsum rutrum, sit amet accumsan neque hendrerit. Aliquam non lacinia ex. Aliquam sollicitudin, felis eu dapibus fermentum, mi eros placerat erat, vel gravida justo dolor ac massa. Praesent consectetur aliquam eros, gravida venenatis erat. Donec vitae accumsan tellus, sit amet vehicula risus. Maecenas finibus mattis nunc, ut sollicitudin nulla.

The Soil and Land Health Laboratory, based in Nairobi, is renowned for its robust, cost-efficient, and rapid analysis of soils, plants, and agricultural inputs using dry spectral methods. In 2024, the lab analysed over 27,000 samples from 14 countries and received 425 visitors. Its internship programme has welcomed 50 interns worldwide in recent years – including a record 14 students last year. To celebrate World Environment Day, CIFOR-ICRAF and the United Nations Environment Programme co-hosted a workshop on soil management. To strengthen technical capacity in soil spectroscopy, CIFOR-ICRAF’s Soil and Land Health Theme established new spectral labs in India, Gambia and in Sri Lanka. As part of an ongoing project in Sri Lanka’s Knuckles region, soil sampling is being conducted using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) – a tool designed to help track the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts. Soil experts also contributed to the seminal Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and action plan and are working with the African Union Development Agency to strengthen soil information services across Africa. Finally, we launched Soil Values, a 10-year programme focusing on Integrated Soil Fertility Management, and continued our work in the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH). Nam sed leo purus. Duis tellus orci, vulputate sit amet fringilla tempus, blandit vulputate dui. Phasellus ornare ac odio et scelerisque. Aenean lacinia ex eget ipsum rutrum, sit amet accumsan neque hendrerit. Aliquam non lacinia ex. Aliquam sollicitudin, felis eu dapibus fermentum, mi eros placerat erat, vel gravida justo dolor ac massa. Praesent consectetur aliquam eros, gravida venenatis erat. Donec vitae accumsan tellus, sit amet vehicula risus. Maecenas finibus mattis nunc, ut sollicitudin nulla.

Trees are natural archives, revealing vital clues that can help forests, trees and agroforestry landscapes adapt to a changing climate. Housed at CIFOR-ICRAF headquarters in Nairobi, the Dendroecology Lab studies how climate change affects trees, forests and communities. Using tree rings, wood anatomy, isotopes, and growth monitoring, the lab analyses past and present climate impacts to predict future ecosystem resilience and guide climate-smart restoration and land management decisions. Scientists reconstruct hydroclimate history, assess carbon and water cycles as well as fire, natural hazards and insect dynamics, and identify climate-smart ecosystem restoration and management options. Strengthening capacity through student training and citizen science is another key aim. In partnership with the African Tree Ring Network (ATRN), CIFOR-ICRAF organized the first-ever dendrochronology workshop in Africa, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Workshop participants explored the role of tree-ring science in addressing global and regional climate challenges, supporting ecosystem restoration, and advancing sustainable development. Nam sed leo purus. Duis tellus orci, vulputate sit amet fringilla tempus, blandit vulputate dui. Phasellus ornare ac odio et scelerisque. Aenean lacinia ex eget ipsum rutrum, sit amet accumsan neque hendrerit. Aliquam non lacinia ex. Aliquam sollicitudin, felis eu dapibus fermentum, mi eros placerat erat, vel gravida justo dolor ac massa. Praesent consectetur aliquam eros, gravida venenatis erat. Donec vitae accumsan tellus, sit amet vehicula risus. Maecenas finibus mattis nunc, ut sollicitudin nulla.