On 14/6/2018, a workshop was held, within the premises of the liaison office of the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE), a workshop to validate the experimental protocol for the restoration of rattan (Eremospatha haulevilleanna) and its restoration project based on research results. This workshop is part of the program of research, information exchange, awareness and conservation of biodiversity.

 

The activities of this workshop began with an opening statement delivered by Mr. Masabo Onesphore, Head of the Program for Research, Information Exchange, Awareness and Conservation of Biodiversity. In his speech, he said that the OBPE was looking for a consultant to draft an experimental protocol for the restoration of rattan and prepare a project for its implementation. Thus, he said, this workshop is a technical meeting to analyze and validate the documents produced by the consultant. He then invited the consultant to present the two documents to the participants at this meeting.

 

After this opening remarks, the consultant in the person of MVABUHA David presented two presentations on the experimental protocol and on the rattan restoration project. During the first presentation on the rattan restoration project, he began by giving the current status of rattan Eremospatha haullevilleana based on the conclusions of studies carried out in 2015 revealing an overexploitation of this plant for the manufacture of handicrafts. He then spoke about the objective of this project, which is the restoration and rational use of rattan. Continuing his presentation, the consultant presented the work to be done, which is: the cultivation of the plant, its popularization and public awareness. He ended his presentation by talking about the impact of the project on the rattan user population.

 

The second presentation focused on the experimental protocol for the restoration of rattan based on the results of previous research. He then explained at length the experimental protocol developed by outlining the experimental results on the use of rhizomes, suckers and clumps as planting material for the restoration of Eremospatha haullevilleana. He took the opportunity to talk about the methodology used to grow this plant, namely the installation of a nursery based on Eremospatha haullevilleana rhizomes and the planting of Eremospatha haullevilleana plants online in sufficiently overexploited natural areas. Continuing his presentation, he provided all the technical explanations relating to the methodology mentioned above. He ended his presentation by broadcasting the experimental protocol.

These two presentations were followed by a session of exchange and analysis of the two documents.

 

The consultant in turn had the opportunity to answer all the questions and concerns of the participants.

During this workshop, the following recommendations were made:

• Since some items were not included in the budget, it was recommended to review the indicative budget allocated to the project;
• Design an Excel file for the project budget;
• In view of the shortcomings in the protocol and the draft, it was recommended that both be revised in their entirety;
• Include in the protocol the bibliographical review and compare the results of other research;
• Choose the method that was successful and bring it up to the protocol level;
• Orient the project towards the purchase of seeds in seed power plants in other countries;
• Specify the actors and the means to be used in the protocol
• Develop the methodology to be applied at the project level as well as the related resources.