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formation value of the "MPTS Species Profile", a preliminary inventory of
existing MPTS-related data bases has been carried out.
This inventory has revealed a growing danger of unnecessary duplication
on the one hand, and of leaving wide-open information gaps on the other.
This calls for the urgent establishment of an interest group of data-base
authors and operators with the objective of coordinating efforts in data
collection and dissemination. The principles and concept of such a project
have been suggested, formulated and published [5].
Acknowledgements
The achievements made so far in collecting, processing, evaluating and
disseminating information and data on MPTS for the benefit of both
research and development in agroforestry is not the result of efforts made by
the author alone but rather that of successful teamwork.
Without the competent inputs of ICRAF's computer programmers, Peter
Muraya and Paul Waiguru, who developed the increasingly complex pro-
grammes for the Multipurpose Tree and Shrub and the Seed Directory Data
Bases, less progress would have been made. Of no less importance is the
work of Harald Arnold and Gregor Wolf during the development of the
MPTS information system and its various components. The many infor-
mants in the field who have volunteered to share their knowledge with us to
the benefit of those who need it cannot be acknowledged individually but
their valuable contributions deserve appreciation. Financial support has
been received from the Federal Republic of Germany through GTZ.