Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Usesandconservation
Baobabs provide a number of resources for humans. The seeds are
eatenandusedforcookingoil;thebarkisusedtomakeropeandroofingmaterials;andthe
leaves are fed to cattle, as is the wood in times of drought. Baobab wood is neither strong
enough for building nor particularly good for burning, so the trees tend to be left stand-
ing when the surrounding forest is cleared. Removal of the bark does little damage since
baobabspossesstherareabilitytoregenerateit.Maturetreesareevenquiteresistanttofire
and so rarely succumb to the regular burning of undergrowth carried out to stimulate new
grazing.
Nevertheless, the outlook for the Malagasy baobabs is bleak. Half of the species are lis-
tedasendangeredandallarerecognisedasthreatenedbyhabitatloss.Themainproblemis
that there is virtually no new growth. Deprived of the protection afforded by the surround-
ing forest, those seedlings that escape burning are promptly devoured by zebu. Further-
more, two species (
A. grandidieri
and
A. suarezensis
) are thought to depend on animals to
disperse their seeds. But since no living Malagasy creature is known to eat the fruit of the
baobab, it can only be assumed that these seed dispersers are now extinct - very bad news
indeed for the future of these species.
If these trees were allowed to die out it would be a terribly sad loss. But the impact pen-
etrates much deeper than that. Baobabs provide food, support and homes for a plethora of
creatures, both directly and indirectly, including: lemurs, bats, birds, insects, geckos, hu-
mans and even other plants and fungi. Treat these majestic giants with respect and remem-
ber that many are honoured as
faly
(sacred) - so try to ask permission before you take pho-
tos.
FOREIGNINVADERS
In common with many islands around the globe, Madagascar has
sufferedfromaccidentalandintendedintroductionsofalienspecies.Sometimesreferredto
as weeds, because they do not really belong there, they can cause havoc when they arrive.
Out-competing native species, sharp tropical grasses from South America permanently
defacetheburntwoodlandsofthewest.Andtheirpopulationsexplodebecausezebudonot
findtheseexoticspeciesappetising.Wherethickforestiscleared,fast-growing
Eucalyptus
and
Psidium
trees step in. The trumpet lily (
Datura
spp) is now rampant in localised areas.
Another growing problem is the rubber bush (
Calotropis procera
), which is native to trop-
icalAfricaandAsia;thishasbecomethedominantplantinsomeareasaroundAntsiranana.
They either suffocate competitors with their dense growth or poison the soil with their tox-
ins. In drier areas, superbly adapted and profoundly damaging
Opuntia
cacti spread from
the nearby sisal plantations and flourish where there was once spiny forest.
Needless to say, the native animal populations, unable to adapt to these invaders, also
suffer - and this, perhaps even more than the endangerment of plant species, has prompted
action from conservation bodies.
