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The 11th International Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICORD), South Africa, included the Africa-Rare initiative launch and facilitated multi-stakeholder engagement in the challenges facing, and opportunities for, Africans living with rare diseases. The following ICORD Global Call to Action, developed in collaboration with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium, synthesizes the outcomes of the deliberations and emphasizes the international collaborative efforts required to address the global effects of rare diseases on public health.

This study sought to establish an inventory of plant species established at three gravel borrow pits around Gaborone, Botswana. At each, plant data were collected from randomly selected 10 x 10 m quadrats within and up to 30 m away from the borrow pits. Species of Acacia were the most numerous in the pits, while more non-woody than woody species were established within the pits. Most woody species within the pits were not found around the pits, and most of the non-woody species within the pits were found around them, with the exception of the Tlokweng pit. Key words: Re-vegetation, reclamation, pioneer species, seed bank, borrow pit, Acacia.

Botswana harbors a rich floral diversity of wild fruit plants which have served as mainstay sources of nutrition and medicines for many years. The majority of wild fruits of eastern Botswana have served as sources of nutrition for many years. Some of them have gained immense popularity that they form integral parts of many local hotel menus. Wild fruits trees of Botswana if properly exploited can ensure food security for both rural and urban dwellers. Today wild fruits still represent some of the commodities sold by both local shops and street vendors. This paper provides an inventory of edible fruit plants of eastern Botswana.