Dipterocarps are one of the best known and commercially important groups of tropical trees. They preside over some of the most magnificent forest formations in the world. Exploitation of dipterocarp-dominated tropical rain forests has expanded rapidly in the past 20 years. Efforts to develop and implement sustainable management practices are being intensified and there is a pressing need for high quality information on which to base management decisions and reorient research.

The papers in this proceedings provide a cross section of science research in international agricultural research centres (IARCs), where the objectives and research foci within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have changed substantially in the 1990s. The book is divided in five sections. The first explores priority setting and research evaluation of commodity programmes. The second looks at institutional issues. The third explores issues related to commodity policies and food security.

Discusses the Development of alley cropping and alley farming, uses of trees and shrubs in fallow systems, hedgegrow establishment and management and benefits for crop production and livestock. Examines the economic aspects and social acceptability of alley farming.

This proceeding report is divided in three sessions. In the first session papers on African forage plant genetic resources in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and the PANESA region are presented. The second session discusses forage germplasm evaluation. In this session experiences of ILCA, Tanzania, Mauritius, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia and Kenya are presented. Species involved in the studies included Brachiaria, Cynodon, Trifolium, Lablab, Zornia, Stylosanthes and Crotalaria. The third session deals with extensive livestock production systems.