Forest health and protection

©Brett Hurley

Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA)

The Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA) was established in 2004 to coordinate the collation and dissemination of information relating to forest invasive species in sub-Saharan Africa for sustainable forest management and conservation of biodiversity.

Since its establishment, FISNA has actively worked alongside different actors in the region to foster spaces of capacity development, research and knowledge sharing. 

Objectives of the network are:

  • To facilitate exchange of information and provide a link for communication about forest invasive species
  • To alert and provide policy advice on transboundary movement, phytosanitary measures and other relevant information
  • To raise regional awareness on forest invasive species issues
  • To encourage the publication and sharing of research results, management and monitoring strategies
  • To facilitate taxonomic support
  • To act as a link between and among experts, institutions, networks and other stakeholders concerned with forest invasive species
  • To facilitate the mobilization of resources for critical activities in management of invasive species
  • To provide technical guides on research and control of invasives for sustainable forest protection and health issues in Africa

African Forest Pest Management Network was formed in April 1995 during a workshop held in Muguga, Kenya. The network was formed because of the growing realization of the value of regional interactions and collaborations to control invasive species. The network aimed to cover invasive insects, diseases and weeds affecting forestry, with the three main objectives:

Reduce the damage to trees, forests, and forest products by pests to within economically, socially and environmentally acceptable levels

Contribute to effective and sustainable forest pest management

Work as a regional coordination mechanism for pest management

Following from this workshop, a second workshop was held in Nairobi in October 1996, to review progress in the management of important tree pests in the east, central and southern African region. From this meeting a charter was developed for the Tree Pest Management Network for Central, East and Southern Africa.

In December 2004 a meeting was held in Zomba, Malawi, following calls to revitalize the network formed in 1996. This led to the formation of the Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA).

Country focal points

Mr Yvon Patrick Senguela
Ingenieur des Eaux et Forets
Ministère des Eaux, Forêts, Chasse et Pêche
e-mail: [email protected]

Central African Republic

Colonel Mamadou Soro
Ministere des Eaux et Forets
e-mail: [email protected]

Cote d'Ivoire

Mr Cherno Gaye
Department of Forestry and Department of Parks and Wildlife Management
e-mail: [email protected]

Gambia

Christian Opoku-Kwarteng
Assistant Research Scientist
PhD Entomology candidate
CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
e-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Alex Anning
Head of the Biological Science Department
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
e-mail: [email protected] 

Ghana

Miriam Gathogo
Senior Research Scientist
Entomology Division
Kenyan Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
e-mail: [email protected]

Kenya

Herbert Jenya
Forestry Research assistant                                                        Forest Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM) 
e-mail: [email protected]

Maganizo Namoto
Principal Research Officer (Indigenous Woodland Management & Forest Protection)
Forest Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM)
e-mail: [email protected]

Malawi

Hacen Maouloud
Directeur de protection et de restauration des espèces et des sols
Ministère de l'Environnement
e-mail: [email protected]

Mauritania

Mr Ahmed Labaran
Chief Scientific Officer
Federal Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment Nigeria (Abuja)
e-mail: [email protected] 

Nigeria

 

Ms Debbie Muir
Pesticide Risk Manager/Biodiversity Officer Control
Department: Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
e-mail: [email protected] 

South Africa

Mr Edward Amun
Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism
e-mail: [email protected]

South Sudan

Dr Revocatus Mushumbusi
Director General
Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI)
e-mail: [email protected]

Tanzania

Ronald Kisekka
Forestry Pathologist
National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda (NaFORRI)
e-mail: [email protected] 

Uganda

Keddy Mbindo
Forestry Research 
Forestry Department 
e-mail: [email protected]


Zambia

Tembani Mduduzi
Forestry Commission
e-mail: [email protected]

Zimbabwe

©FAO/Roberto Cenciarelli
Regional Forest Invasive Species Networks

Discover what happens in the other Regions!

©Brett Hurley
FISNA D-group

As a discussion platform, the FISNA DGroup enables easy interaction across country and regional boundaries and between researchers, practitioners, administrators and others working with or interested in forest pests and their management.

©Brett Hurley
Country pest overviews

FAO carried out a review of forest insect pests and diseases in 25 countries representing Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Near East.