CONSERVATION OF BAOBAB ADANSONIA GRANDIDIERI IN MADAGASCAR

Six of the eight species of baobab tree, often called the “upside down tree” due to its unique shape, are endemic to Madagascar and all are of conservation concern. The Global Trees Campaign is helping the Madagascan NGO Madagasikara Voakajy to research the status and threats to one of these flagship species and to work with local communities and authorities to protect remaining individuals.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Baobabs, with their distinctive shape, are one of the most charismatic group of trees in the world. Six out of the eight species of baobab are endemic to Madagascar, three are classified as Endangered and three are Near Threatened.

In 2008, working through FFI’s partner in Madagascar, Madagasikara Voakajy, the Global Trees Campaign initiated work on one of Madagascar’s baobab species, Grandidier's Baobab Adansonia grandidieri. Listed as Endangered, this species has a very limited distribution in eastern Madagascar, where it is threatened by fire, slash-and-burn farming, over-grazing (which inhibits regeneration) and damage from bark removal by local communities.

Currently, a new suite of protected areas is being established in Madagascar. One of these, Menabe Central, will cover at least some of the area where Adansonia grandidieri occurs. This offers a unique opportunity for conservation of the species, but measures specifically addressing the tree are so far lacking in the park’s developing management plans. There is also an opportunity to promote the inclusion of sacred sites with baobabs in other new protected areas currently being proposed.

The project will gather much-needed information on the status, impacts of human use and habitat changes of Adansonia grandidieri. This information will then be used in two ways:

   •  Meetings will be held with community leaders to discuss the results of the surveys and discuss ways to reduce harvesting of baobab bark and to promote seedling regeneration through grazing control and the development of nurseries. Awareness activities will also be conducted in schools in the area.

   •  The relevant government authorities will be lobbied and assistance provided to incorporate the recommendations from the work into the developing management plan for Menabe Central Protected Area. Other unprotected sacred sites with baobabs will be recommended for inclusion in Madagascar’s new suite of protected areas as Category III (IUCN) Protected Areas.

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