What You Need to Know
The baobab tree, known as the ‘Tree of Life,’ is a vital part of African ecosystems, providing food, shelter, and water. However, climate change poses a significant threat to its survival, with many ancient trees dying in recent years. This article explores the importance of the baobab and the challenges it faces in a changing climate.
Africa. With its multiple names, massive size, and majestic appearance, the baobab tree, or Adansonia digitata, has lived for millions of years. Found in the dry forests of Madagascar, other parts of Africa, and less frequently in other countries, it is more than just a tree; in some regions, it serves as a complete ecosystem.
The baobab tree is known by various names depending on its location and grows in three Arab countries: Sudan, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. It is also referred to as the ‘tibeldi,’ ‘humaira,’ ‘kulhama,’ ‘buhbab,’ ‘bottle tree,’ or ‘upside-down tree,’ but its scientific name is “Adansonia digitata.”
As a rare tree, many myths and stories have been woven around the baobab over the centuries. It is called the ‘Tree of Life’ due to its prehistoric origins, predating human existence and the division of continents. It is also a symbol of resilience and life.
Despite its presence in various environments worldwide, the majestic baobab tree is a symbol of the African continent, with six of the eight species found on Madagascar and growing in 31 other African countries.
Researchers indicate that it offers over 300 sustainable uses through its leaves and fruit, serving as a foundation for many traditional remedies and indigenous folklore on the continent.
The massive baobab tree, also known as the ‘upside-down tree’ because its branches resemble roots in the air, has a deeper symbolic connection to existence itself in African myths and legends, representing creation, knowledge, and eternal life.
According to some studies, this type of tree dates back over 200 million years. European explorers claimed it could live up to 5,000 years, but carbon dating suggests it may live up to 3,000 years.
These trees are known for their height of up to 30 meters, with trunk circumferences that can exceed 50 meters in some cases. Indigenous communities in the African savanna have long centered their lives and societies around these massive trees.
Lifeline
The baobab has earned the famous title of ‘Tree of Life’ because it is a true lifeline in arid regions, providing shelter, food, and water for various forms of life.
As a succulent plant, its massive swollen trunk stores large quantities of water, potentially up to 120,000 liters, making it an ideal resource for both humans and animals during severe droughts. Its hollow trunks are used as homes, storage, and even bus stops and meeting places.
Every part of this tree is valuable; its fruit, known as ‘monkey bread,’ is rich in nutrients, and its bark can be used to make clothing and ropes. Its hollow trunk and ample shade provide shelter.
Baobab trees are essential to the entire dry African savanna ecosystem, helping to retain soil moisture, recycle nutrients, and slow soil erosion due to their massive roots.
In the dry African climate, baobab trees symbolize life, absorbing water from the rainy season and storing it in their massive trunks. Their large white flowers bloom at night and fall within 24 hours, with bats pollinating the flowers and feeding on their nectar.
They also produce nutrient-rich fruit during the dry season, reaching lengths of up to 30 centimeters. The pulp of these fruits contains natural organic acids, vitamin C, calcium, fiber, as well as antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals, representing a vital food source for many species.
The bark can be ground to make everything from ropes and mats to paper and fabric. The leaves can be used as a dietary supplement, boiled and consumed, and glue can be made from its pollen and flowers.
The baobab tree is also a crucial source of water and shelter for hundreds of animals, including birds, lizards, monkeys, and even elephants, which may feed on its bark for moisture when water is scarce.
The African baobab is distinguished not only by its size, age, fruit, and bark but also by its unique growth pattern of multiple fused trunks. The bark regenerates in the spaces between these trunks, known as false cavities, which is a unique feature of the baobab.
Impact of Climate Change
Throughout the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest river, indigenous communities recognize the baobab tree for its branches extending in all directions like roots. Local legend states that baobab trees were once very arrogant, prompting the gods to uproot them and return them to the earth upside down.
In connection with this majestic legendary tree, indigenous African peoples have learned over the centuries to live in harmony with it, thriving through its multiple uses without depleting it, until the impacts of climate change began to take hold.
Due to climate change caused by global warming, 9 out of 13 of the oldest and largest baobab trees in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana have died in the past decade. Scientists believe that rising temperatures have directly led to the death of these trees or made them weaker and more susceptible to drought and disease.
Although baobabs face threats such as deforestation and wildfires, researchers are particularly focused on how climate change threatens their survival, especially in areas like Madagascar, where climate modeling indicates the extinction of some species in the near future.
The baobab tree has been a symbol of life and resilience in Africa for centuries, often referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’ due to its numerous uses and cultural significance. Historically, it has provided sustenance and shelter to various communities, becoming an integral part of their livelihoods and traditions. Its unique characteristics and longevity have made it a subject of folklore and reverence across the continent.
As climate change accelerates, the baobab faces unprecedented challenges. Once thriving in diverse environments, these trees are now threatened by rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.
