Mozambique Centre of Research and Development on Ethnobotany

In this communication we present the Center of Research and Development in Ethnobotany, created by the Scientific Council on Ethnobotany (COCIE) of the Ministry of the Science and Technology of Mozambique. This center, located at Namaacha and inaugurated in June of 2009, is responsible for the coordination of the research activities, interconnection with other institutions, definition of research priorities and promotion of small companies formation on the basis of native plants. Of its plan of share already in course they are to enhance: Make a list of the most useful medicinal and feeding plants used in the different regions of the country; Accomplishment of taxonomic studies and study of the in vitro propagation methods for preservation and conservation of species at risk; Accomplishment of chemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies aiming at to prove the traditional uses of the plant-target and to guarantee its quality, security and effectiveness; Creation of a nutritional table with data regarding the Mozambique native feed plants; Creation of a garden including medicinal and alimentary plants and promotion of its use and conservation next to the local communities.

Expected outcomes includes the basic formation of students concerning exploitation and conservation of the medicinal, culinary and aromatic plants; development of plant products and the consequent transfer of technology to small companies; technician formation specialists (BSc, MSc and PhD degrees) in taxonomy, vegetal biology, ethnopharmacology and biodiversity conservation of Mozambican plants.

Research team is constituted by researchers from the above-mentioned institutions.