Outputs

So far, output of products has focussed on training to increase institutional capacity. However, in order to demonstrate this improved capacity, outputs must be accomplished. To date, insufficient attention has been given in this regard. In order to ensure the positive impact of the project, the relevance of any outputs or products must also be demonstrated.

Regional publications have been judged as generally useful, especially the Needs assessments, Plant taxonomic expertise, and the PRECIS user guide. These publications provide a good regional and international profile for the project. SABONET News is widely read and appreciated and is a very valuable project output.

National publications have been few and far between. The ability to support these publications is a valuable component of the project. The publication of national Red Data Lists is a priority. Only one national species checklist—that of Namibia—has been published. Completion of similar checklists is only likely for some countries.

National and regional species distribution maps are unlikely to be done by most countries, because serious problems with databasing have been experienced (insufficient data input, low capacity, lack of geo-referencing). However, regional maps for the Poaceae are possible. Other groups could be mapped for the Flora of southern Africa (FSA) region, through the NBI (now SANBI).

No progress has been made in GIS and it is hoped that SECOSUD will provide the necessary expertise for the region. Utility and relevance of some outputs is not clear, for example the proposed vegetation maps. The production of these maps would involve significant additional investment in capacity building. Analysis of distribution data (hot spots, under-collected areas) can only be carried out once all herbarium collections have been databased. This has been done for Namibia and could be done for the FSA region, through the NBI.

Good progress has been made with the Red Data Lists for most countries, even if assessments are not confirmed or are based on old or inadequate information. This product is tangible, applied and requested by a range of users.

The suggestion that the project assists in carrying out taxonomic revisions for the FSA and Flora zambesiaca (FZ) regions would be another relevant output.

The following recommendations were made:

Publication of Regional and National Red Data Lists should be given high priority.

The Steering Committee should solicit suggestions for appropriate regional and national publications during the remaining part of the project. The project should provide financial and editorial support (if required) for national, as well as regional publications if they can be used to demonstrate increased capacity.

Priority should be given to the production of national species checklists with minimum annotations by each country under the present project. This should be done using the most suitable means, which, in most cases, will not involve the use of PRECIS.

Production of national and regional species distribution maps be given low priority, except where databasing is almost complete. The Poaceae should receive priority with regards to databasing and distribution maps.

SABONET News should continue in its present format.

Checklists of specific areas of interest should be produced where a demonstrated need exists. Production of such checklists will demonstrate the value of project activities and databasing. A completed database is not needed to compile a comprehensive checklist.

Implemention of GIS and vegetation conservation activities should not be attempted in the remaining part of the project, unless they can be contracted out.

Analysis of species distribution data at present should be restricted to those countries with relatively complete specimen databases. A database information strategy should be implemented to include other label information with distribution data analysis.

Project activities should focus on production of realisable outputs within the current project time frame. These outputs will show improved capacity and demonstrate the value of botanical information to the broader society, for example, in conservation and utilisation. Unrealisable outputs, such as vegetation mapping, should be dropped from the logframe of the present project.

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