drought

Even at the most remote locations, critical changes or incidents in the environment -- such as disease outbreaks, droughts or illegal killing of wildlife -- could then be recognised without delay.

For example, drought prompts plants to thicken the waxy cuticle layer on leaf surfaces.

The attacks have added to the humanitarian crisis in a region reeling from a years-long civil war and four years of extreme drought exacerbated by climate change.

"The seeds are drought tolerant varieties, and have withstood temperatures of even 40C, which is usually not possible," she adds.

But there are concerns that this is changing as a result of tree losses and the effects of drought worsened by climate change.