What People are Saying about the FACT Net
Formerly the Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association (NFTA)
“The experience I have gathered thanks to the technical support from the network in the context of my development undertakings is a full part of my life today: thank you a million times! Only Fact Net is going to close its doors: its resourceful guides are open in our minds forever.” Joseph Florent, Cameroon
“As a long-time member of the former NFTA and now of the FACT Net, I am saddened to learn that the Net is closing down. To us members in the developing world, the Net has been a constant source of useful and valuable information that help a lot in our endeavor to uplift ourselves.
“In general, we in the Third World are not demonstrative, and we may not have given sufficient feedback to let you know how the Net has made a tremendous difference. It may be too late now, but I believe I speak for a lot of people in my part of the world when I say: Thank you, FACT
Net. We owe you a lot and we are sorry to see you go.” Napolean T. Vegara, the Philippines
“I have been a member of NFTA since, I think, the very beginning and feel a sense of sadness at the closing down of FACT Net, although I am sure it doesn’t begin to compare to your own feelings. I’m sorry to see such an excellent program close down…..” Ken Schlather, Cornell University
“We always eagerly await our copy of the FACT Net News (and other FACT Net publications). We regard it as a reliable source of the latest information regarding tree research and development.” Blesilda M. Calub, Univeristy of the Philippines Los Banos.
“I know more about multipurpose trees thanks to your [species] Highlights and FACT Sheets…… I share the technical knowledge I acquire from these publications with my forestry students. Today, they can prepare or treat nitrogen fixing trees with self confidence. I am aware we owe all these skills to FACT Net and since joining the network, FOTEC has implemented
a sample demonstration plantation for intercropping with nitrogen fixing trees.” FEULEFACK Joseph Florent, Coordinator Forest – Tree and Environment Club (FOTEC), Cameroon
“The NFTA is performing a critical role in promoting multipurpose nitrogen-fixing trees for sustainable agriculture, particularly in the impoverished countryside, where a temporary decrease in agricultural productivity is unacceptable.” Leo Cabillan, Nakagama Farmers Federation, Philippines
“During the last seven years I have had many occasions to appreciate the services provided by the Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association. I particularly was given much relevant information and support by the organization when I was an extensionist with the Costa Rican Forest Service/US Peace Corps. In my opinion the NFTA is one of the finest groups working in the field of agroforestry.” Doland Nichols, Purdue University, USA
“The Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association has become a major technological base for agroforesters. Take advantage of this excellent resource.” International Society of Tropical Foresters, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
“On behalf of Save the Children and its partner NGOs, I want to thank very much the NFTA for its tremendous support this past year. All of us appreciate the professional and appropriate technical expertise that the NFTA has provided SC and local NGOs on Lombok and Sumbawa islands. There are two ways in particular that NFTA assists:
1) The technical information you provide is absolutely necessary in accelerating successful development work. While Save can mobilize and facilitate NGOs and farmers, it is NFTA’s technical expertise in nitrogen fixing trees and agroforestry systems that is an essential complement to our social process work.
2) NFTA inputs are given in a timely an professional manner that enable our work here to evolve. NFTA does not seek to impose its way but rather works as a genuine partner.
This style is very much appreciated, especially by the local NGOs.” Christopher Szecsy, Director, Save the Children Field Office, Indonesia
“Thank you very much for the NFTA news and other documents. They are highly beneficial to me as a researcher, a teacher, a trainer, a consultant and finally as a farmer. I must confess that the NFTA is the only source of information concerning this subject available to me. In addition to the information utilized by me in the above tasks, I have also shared them with my colleagues in the government and private agencies here. The impact resulting from this information sharing, I believe is substantial. I have already undertaken several demonstration programmes and educational programmes based on the information furnished by your association.” A.S. Widanapathirana, Sri Lanka
“Your style of processing information through one page papers is excellent. I wish everyone could discipline themselves to state the essentials as concisely. I have tried to emulate that in the way we distribute information on our trial farm, Amery Acres, at Dowerin in Western Australia. Your help and regular communications are a great assurance.” Barrie Oldfield,
Men of the Trees, Western Australia
“NFTA network services supply international network information for multipurpose tree research unreplaceable by other research organizations.” M. Yatazawa, Biological Laboratories, Japan
“I look forward to upcoming information. The service that you offer is definitely contributing to making the world a better place for all.” Zephyr Naftal, farmer, Pahoa, Hawaii, USA
“Thank you for your prompt reply. Rapid, courteous responses such as yours are what give NFTA a good name, thank you again.” Matt Heiller, Peace Corps Volunteer, Ecuador
“In brief, the services provided by NFTA were invaluable in designing and implementing my research program and I and the members of the Productive Land Use Systems Project (formerly Agroforestry II) owe NFTA a debt of gratitude.” Dennis A. Shannon, Auburn University, Alabama, USA
“Your field manuals were very useful and many Peace Corps Volunteers used them as guides in designing agroforestry projects in the Gambia (W. Africa).” Joseph Summers, Illinois, USA
“All NFTA publications are really useful for tree scientists and other workers particularly in third world countries where these publications are the only sources of information.” Dr. Salil K. Tewari, Dept. of Genet. & Plant Breeding, Pantnagar, India
“The NFTA has helped to increase the quality of educational materials that will help rural farmers and cooperatives understand how to plant seeds and successfully grow nitrogen-fixing species that can improve their lives. The publications NFTA has provided us will undoubtedly help to make our projects more effective.” Michael Arquin, New Forests Project, Washington,
D.C., USA
“Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Acid Soils, Special Issue 1995, is a book with a broad spectrum of presenters and contributions focused on a high priority problem, global in scope. I’m heartened to find that a giant like Winrock is supporting work which (1) acknowledges, finally, the reality of the Green Revolution and its limitations, and (2) addresses small-scale
farmers real needs & strategies for low-input sustainable agriculture on marginal soils. It is, and will continue to be, a great help for me and my associates.” Robert B. Tillotson, Thailand
“Have received the Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Acid Soils, Special Issue 1995. This is just what I needed! This book has provided a new ‘shot-in-the-arm’ for me! I have always wondered why certain trees (NFTs) didn’t do as well as I had hoped but now I am finding out why.” Wayne A. Hughes, Environmental Flight, Republic of Panama
“The benefits to me of your expertise, plant materials, and reference library have been invaluable. Without your presence as an educational organization, I would certainly not be so intimately involved in the use and propagation of NFTs, nor would NFTs have become a known concept among farmers on the Big Island.” Craig Elevitch, Hawaii, USA
“‘Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Fodder Production – A Field Manual’ gives a comprehensive yet concise summary of the subject. It is very important as a point of reference for myself and also my research contacts around the world.” Alan Pottinger, Oxford Forestry Institute, United Kingdom