The AFTree database includes 350 species of fruit trees, timber trees, rattans and bamboo which are commonly used in agroforestry systems in Southeast Asia. For each species the database summarises taxonomy, botanic description, geographic distribution, habitat characteristics, biophysical limits, products and services, pest and diseases, propagation, tree management, growth and development, yields and harvest methods, trading and prospects. From the database on biophysical limits, (altitude, mean annual rainfall and mean annual temperature), maps are made of the likely site matches within Southeast Asia and neighbouring parts of South and East Asia (taking 70°E and 40°N as arbitrary boundaries).

• Enable quick and efficient access to a consolidated pool of information on tree species that can assume useful production or service functions.
• Provide a tool that will assist with the selection of species for use in agroforestry and related research, using factors that are relevant to the chosen agroforestry technologies.
• Help researchers assess potential agroforestry trees for uses other than those commonly known, such as timber.
• Provide indicators for the economic assessment of species through yield information on tree products.

The current database is also searchable through ICRAF SEA web (http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/af2/node/108) and has been compiled based on the global AFTree database (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/Sites/TreeDBS/Treedatabases.asp) and a selection from the information compiled by PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) (http://www.proseanet.org).