A cameral wood anatomical workshop was conducted by Kamil Frankiewicz of South African Biodiversity Institute and University of Cape Town, at the Agrocampus (University of La Réunion) in Saint-Pierre on the paradise island of La Réunion (Mascarene archipelago), at Dr Claudine Ah-Peng’s invitation and supported through Erasmus+ mobility grant.

The goal of the workshop was to equip the participants with skills to establish a new-wood anatomical-component to an ever-expanding database of the local flora curated by Dr. Ah-Peng. A bark-focused follow-up is already on the table and an influx of Réunionese members to the IAWA may be expected. Scientists and students from the University of La Réunion, Mascarin National Botanical Conservatory and the local Forestry Offices enjoyed fieldwork in the cloud forest below Le Maïdo, familiarised wood anatomical techniques and the IAWA nomenclature system, and discussed drought-resistance and insular woodiness phenomena.

Kamil E. Frankiewicz, South Africa


 

Group photo of participants to the cameral wood anatomical workshop

 


Training on section preparation using sliding microtome
 



Training on collecting increment core from standing tree