PROTA stands for Plant Resources of Tropical Africa . It is an international documentation programme on the useful plants of Tropical Africa. It synthesizes dispersed information, makes it readily available in various forms and stimulates its use for extension, education, research, development and governance. It contributes to greater awareness and sustainable use of the world heritage of African useful plants, with due respect for traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights. PROTA is registered as a not-for-profit Foundation in the Netherlands and as an international NGO in Kenya : one programme, two legal entities.