Aspects of African Biodiversity

This book is the proceedings of the Pan Africa Chemistry Network Biodiversity Conference which was held in September 2008. A key aim of the RSC/Syngenta Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) is to connect African scientists through a cycle of conferences and workshops and this conference held at the University of Nairobi was the first of these. It brought together 26 speakers from nine African countries - Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Sudan - plus the UK and Brazil. The lectures covered topics such as making the best use of the diversity of Africa's plants in agriculture and medicine whilst benefiting communities in Africa; natural products; analysis and the environment; water quality; dealing with waste; biofuels; understanding crop protection chemicals in the African context; agricultural practices for Africa; farm animals; conservation and the impact of tourism on biodiversity. The resulting book provides a valuable overview of several aspects of biodiversity in Africa.

From the book series:
Special Publications

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Professor Jacob Midiwo is at the Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Africa Dr John Clough is at Syngenta, Bracknell, UK

Aspects of African Biodiversity: Proceedings of the Pan Africa Chemistry Network Biodiversity Conference Editors: Jacob Midiwo, John Clough

Front Matter

Preface

Contents

Challenges and Opportunities for Africa: An Overview of Key Themes from the Pacn Biodiversity Conference

Exploring the Therapeutic Potentials of African Medicinal Plants

Natural Products from Plant Biodiversity and their use in the Treatment of Neglected Diseases

In Vitro and In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity of Kenyan Medicinal Plants

Anti-Larval Activity of Crude Plant Extracts from Vitex Schiliebenii and Vitex Payos (Verbenaceae)

Natural Products as Leads for New and Innovative Crop Protection Chemicals

Exploiting Phytochemical Diversity to Control Pests of Agriculture and Vectors of Human and Animal Disease

Root Chemicals Could Offer Opportunities for Breeding for Sweet Potato Resistance to the Weevil Cylas puncticollis Boheman (Coleoptera: Apionidae)

The Role of Biotechnology in Meeting the Biodiversity Conservation Challenge of Africa

Farmers as a Treasure Chest Of Biodiversity - The Case of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench] In Ethiopia, A Five Decade Analysis

Delivery of Appropriate Cattle Genotypes to Eastern African Smallholder Farmers Through In-Vitro Embryo Production Technologies - The Technical Procedures, Prospects and Challenges

Levels of Some Nutrients and Non-Essential Metals in Cows' Whole Milk from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Water, Water Everywhere and When Found Not Fit to Drink

Foundation for Analytical Science and Technology in Africa and its Role in the Preservation of Endangered Species

Jua Kali Metallurgical Industries as Point Sources of the Heavy Metals Lead and Cadmium to Aquatic Systems in Kenyan Urban Areas

An Assessment of Effluent Treatment to Reduce Heavy Metal Levels in Effluent from a Battery Manufacturing Concern

Spectroscopic Detection of Gaseous Ammonia in the Environment

Jatropha Curcas L. As a Source for the Production of Biodiesel in Kenya

Jatropha Biodiesel as an Alternative Transport Fuel in Zimbabwe

Biomass, Bio-Based Products and Bioenergy

Municipal Solid Waste as a Resource Rather than a Waste. A Preliminary Study of Biomass from Githurai Market, An Open Market, An the Outskirts of Nairobi City

Subject Index

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About this book

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