[6] From 1994 to 2002 Bussmann worked as Post Doc at the University of Bayreuth developing ecological research in the mountain forests of Kenya and Ethiopia, and as scientific coordinator of the DFG (German Science Foundation) program, "Functionality in a Tropical Mountain Rainforest: Diversity, Dynamic Processes and Utility Potentials under Ecosystem Perspectives[7][8][9] featured in the German television documentary series "Humboldts Erben".

[10] During that same time he led investigations of vegetation in the forests of East Africa, including the establishment of the Maseno University Botanical Garden.

Over the next decade, Bussmann transformed the center into an international research unit with projects on five continents, ranging from traditional ethnobotany[20] and ethnopharmacology, to regeneration ecology, the impact of climate change, Intellectual Property Rights, and the application of the "Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing in Benefits Arising from its Use".

[24][25] As part of their research, Bussmann's group pays special attention to the rights of indigenous communities, supporting them in their actions generated the effect of global change.

All project results, and translations of previous work, were delivered to the tribe, and local researchers participated as co-authors in all publications.