12 May 2017, Bulawayo - Tembani Mabhena, forestry researcher, address foresters and villagers during a capacity building session at Chesa Forestry Research Station in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. ASTF through its funding has facilitated training of foresters and communities in the control of alien invasive species. FAO and the ASTF fund are supporting investigation, surveys, training and management practices to address food contamination, animal and plant pests and diseases and their impact on the productivity of food, crops, livestock, fisheries and forest resources in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Through the ASTF a wide variety of activities have been supported and undertaken; national baseline survey to identify capacity needs in government agencies, integrated pest management training workshops (e.g. training of Forestry Commission (FC) officers, 10 farmer field schools groups in 5 provinces, training of trainers), national surveillance activities, documentation of major forestry pests & diseases, as well as support to develop a quarantine facility. This work builds on earlier FAO assistance programs.