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the development and implementation of appropriate molecular techniques;

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the collection of Tabebuia heterophylla in the Antilles, the establishment of gene banks and assessment of its genetic diversity;

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the mapping, inventory and collection of material from Swietenia populations (predominantly S. macrophylla) in Central America and the Caribbean;

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assessment of genetic diversity in Swietenia and Cedrela pupulations;

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assessments of genetic erosion in Swietenia, development of conservation and utilization strategies, establishment of gene banks and provenances tests;

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collection of progenies of Dicorynia guianensis, Virola surinamensis, Ocotea rubra, Eperua grandiflora and Vouacapoua americana, estimation of their mating system and gene flow parameters and evaluation of the relationship between life history traits and levels of genetic diversity;

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preliminary studies of other key species including Vochysia guatemalensis and Cedrela odorata and evaluation of relationships between molecular and morphological variation;

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training in molecular methods, sample collection and herbarium techniques.