Seeking to build on the science of dendrochronology (dating the growth of tree rings) to better understand past and future climate change in the tropics, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has established a tree ring laboratory at its facilities in Nairobi, Kenya.
10 June 2013: Seeking to build on the science of dendrochronology (dating the growth of tree rings) to better understand past and future climate change in the tropics, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has established a tree ring laboratory at its facilities in Nairobi, Kenya.
The laboratory will allow ICRAF to reconstruct past climatic history; better understand how climate change affects tree growth; examine the allocation of carbon within trees; and better understand wildfire history. Despite challenges in tropical dendrochronology, because of the lack of clear growing seasons for trees, new research is allowing for more sophisticated tree ring analysis that allows for uses such as carbon sequestration monitoring. The work is expected to contribute to the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [ICRAF Press Release]