会议名称：2013世界木材日研讨会(2013 World Wood Day Symposium)
会议时间：2013年3月19-20日
会议地点：Karimjee Hall, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
报 告 人：Margareth Mollel  
　　　　　National Plant Genetic Resources Centre

Abstract
Tanzania is a country with rich and diverse plant genetic resources. However, over years, the threats to plant diversity and numbers are increasing varying from habitat destruction through human activities and loss, through invasive species of plants and animals, to threats imposed by climate change. Tanzania in 1991 decided to establish The National Plant Genetic Resources Centre (NPGRC) with the objective of conserving and promoting sustainable utilization of the plant species. The center is one among similar Centers in the SADC region which are linked to the Lusaka based SADC Plant Genetic Resources centre (SPGRC). Whereas NPGRC maintains active collections, SPGRC maintains base and safety collections. Main activities of the NPGRC include exploration and collection of the germ plasm, conservation, multiplication, characterization and regeneration, documentation, distributing germ plasm to users as a way to promote sustainable utilization of the plant genetic resources in the country. The center has so far conserved more than 6000 accessions from 120 different plant species varying for crop species and their wild relatives, forages, shrubs, and seeds of big trees of economical importance. It has also distributed more than 500 accessions of germ plasm to end users especially researchers, breeders and students.  
The National Herbarium of Tanzania (NHT) was established under the TPRI Act of 1979 with the mandate of catalogue the entire flora of Tanzania and recording its pertinent information for easy access by the general public and other institutions. Programs of the NHT on plant diversity include research and Services on plant taxonomy, preservation, documentation and conservation of plant genetic resources.  It keeps and builds data on vegetation from various natural eco-systems for easy access by the general public and other institutions for wider participation in conservation and sustainable use of plant diversity. The centre has at the moment a total of 300,000 voucher specimens preserved. Other activities include training of herbarium techniques to individuals and institutions working with PGR. The centre collaborates with other international and national institutions such as; The University of Dar es Salaam, TANAPA, East African Herbarium of Kenya, Missouri Botanical Garden, USA, Royal Botanical Garden, KEW, SABONET and SAFRINET and Universities.

Speaker Profile
Dr. Margaret Mollel had work with the Tanzania, Canada project assisting the wheat and barley breeders in the development of new varieties suitable for Tanzanian growers. In that five (5) years period the project successfully developed a new variety known as KWARE. Later on she joined the NPGRC/Genebank where she was involved in Management of Plant Genetic Resources, which involved collection, characterization, distribution & documentation and ex- situ conservation of the plant genetic resources. She is also involved in geneflow studies between cultivated crops and their closely related species.