Fruit and nut plants (Fruit and nut species)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 10251255

FFI works by invitation around the world to save species from extinction, habitats from destruction and to encourage sustainable development. Formed in 1903 in the United Kingdom, FFI acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science and take account of human needs. We work through partnerships that ensure local ownership and lasting results and believe success lies in devising strategies that both conserve biodiversity and contribute to human development. Our guiding principles are to: respond to local needs, respect national priorities, develop strategic partnerships and strengthen our partners’ capacity. Our program of activities in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Eurasia is delivered principally through: building capacity to equip local people and agencies to manage their natural heritage; monitoring causes of biodiversity loss and its impact on local people, identifying and implementing solutions that benefit people and wildlife; and securing threatened areas of high biodiversity importance through land purchase and local conservation agreements. FFI has been active in Eurasia since 1995. As one of the few international conservation NGOs working in this region we have established a strong reputation for dealing with the unique problems for biodiversity which result from economic transition in many of the countries. Within this massive region we have focused operations in three core sub-regions: Central Asia, Caucasus/Caspian, and Eastern Europe/Balkans. We have built significant experience in endangered species conservation, conservation capacity building, working with local communities, biodiversity planning, public awareness and engagement with the corporate sector. The Global Trees Campaign (GTC), a partnership between FFI and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), was established in 1999 to take action for threatened tree species. GTC aims to save the world's most threatened tree species and their habitats through provision of information, conservation action and support for sustainable use. GTC currently supports over 20 initiatives around the world. FFI/GTC has been working in the fruit and nut forests of Central Asia since 2006. A GTC workshop in Kyrgyzstan in 2006 assessed the conservation status of 96 tree species according to IUCN Categories and Criteria, and the resulting publication, The Red List of Trees of Central Asia, identifies 68 species in the region that are threatened, near threatened or data deficient. In the same year field activities for the fruit and nut forests started, initially in Kyrgyzstan, and then extending to include work in Childukhtaron, Tajikistan, in 2008. Activities include raising awareness of biodiversity and ecosystem service values of the forest and the need for its conservation; increasing the capacity of the local forest service; bringing together local communities and the state forest service to foster participatory forest management; and providing alternative livelihood opportunities for local people to reduce dependence and pressure on forest resources. In addition, FFI/GTC have conducted a project on threatened wild apple species in Kyrgyzstan and in partnership with Bournemouth University have commenced a research initiative on threatened tree species, ultimately resulting in recommendations for their future conservation. Knowledge from this project will also be used to benefit our work to conserve the Tajik Fruit and Nut Forests.