Special Interest Group Meeting

Mycology in Africa: successes and challenges in a developing continent

Organiser

The African Mycological Association (AMA) promotes mycology amongst members in Africa and globally. The AMA has about 200 members, mostly from African states but also with strong representation from Europe and USA, amongst others. Recent efforts by members of the AMA focused on reviving and developing mycological research and networking in Africa. A great deal must, however, still be done to promote the AMA under African mycologists, and those elsewhere with interests in Africa. With this said, African mycologists also experience challenges typical of the developing world and a great deal of fungi still needs to be discovered. This can also be seen as representing great opportunities for research and collaboration. The SIG on Mycology in Africa: successes and challenges in a developing continent, will present diverse research done by various research institutions from various parts of Africa, and will conclude with a discussion on how to address challenges, use opportunities and build African Mycology.

Programme

13h30 - 13h50
Joyce Jefwa
The place of mycology in research and development: evaluating the position of Africa versus the rest of the continents and steps to narrow the gaps

13h50 - 14h10
Nourou S. Yourou
Enhancing mycological capacities in West Africa: Academic, research and collaboration patterns

14h10- 14h30
Karin Jacobs
Fungal biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region.

14h30- 14h50
Jolanda Roux, Marieka Gryzenhout & Mike Wingfield
FABI: A centre of excellence promoting future forests and food in Africa

14h50- 15h10
Marieka Gryzenhout & David Minter
Cybertruffle: an online mycological resource for African Mycology

15h10- 15h30
Joyce Jefwa
Land use changes and effects on fungal communities: threats to ecosystem functions and the natural cycle

15h30-16h00
Discussions on issues related to promotion and capacity-building of African mycology