Vulnerability of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) to human disturbances and climate change in western Tigray, Ethiopia: Conservation concerns and priorities

Birhane, Emiru; Asgedom, Kidane Tadesse; Tadesse, Tewodros; Hishe, Hadgu; Abrha, Haftu; Noulèkoun, Florent

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00943

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In concordance with previous findings in Niger [40], the main use of all four species is human food and the overexploitation due to food consumption is considered the main threat. Other factors related to climate change (such as drought) are also considered the cause of the increasing vulnerability of the tree species in different regions [75][76][77].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Preferences for Conservation and Breeding Programs of Forestry Food Resources in Niger

Agúndez

Lawali

Mahamane

et al. 2020

Forests

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In a less-favored area such as the Sahel, promoting sustainable management, breeding, and conservation of forestry resources would result in improvements for agroforestry systems and food security. A contingent ranking exercise allowed us to estimate the preferences and the values given by the rural population to the attributes that would be comprised in a conservation program. The resulting preferred program is farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) based on the species Adansonia digitata (baobab), with plantation, stone bunds, or tassa, and selected or bred seeds. The proposed actions to improve the tree density and the seed quality were highly valued by the respondents. Nevertheless, no clear differences were found between tassa and stone bunds, or FMNR and plantation. The main effects of the program, according to the surveyed population, include an increase in crop production and soil conservation, and higher income from tree products. This study allowed us to identify the program that would provide the greatest well-being for farmers, since it would allow them to simultaneously improve both the production of their crops and the production of the woody food species. It was shown that farmers were particularly willing to contribute to a program based on baobab, mainly because its products are used for food in the home and can be sold in markets. In this sense, the yield and production of the system would be improved by increasing the number of baobab trees. Farmers would contribute to this production system and would be willing to invest sustainable effort in the long term. The conservation and breeding program can be directed at conserving and propagating the genetic resources of A. digitata in an initial phase, selecting trees with good production, growth, and adaptation characteristics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Preferences for Conservation and Breeding Programs of Forestry Food Resources in Niger

Agúndez

Lawali

Mahamane

et al. 2020

Forests

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“…However, the conservation of baobab appears limited in most of the studies as there was not much said about the conservation strategies except by; Prehsler [90], Buchmann et al [61], Birhane et al [95][96][97][98], Magagula et al [55], Patrut et al [104], Chamberlain et al [105] and a some selected authors that gave few data on the indigenous conservation of baobab. Mature, unblemished baobab fruits used in this study were obtained from populations established in SSA.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and dietary fibre are all abundant in the naturally dry fruit pulp. The pulp is commonly employed as a fermenting ingredient in local brews, cereals, and cuisine preparations, as well as in the manufacture of fruit juice, snacks, and sweets [92][93][94][95]. Young tender leaves are often consumed fresh in SSA as a replacement for commercial veggies, sauces, and even as a dry powder.…”

Section: Indigenous Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Geographical Distribution, Indigenous Benefits and Conservation of African Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L.) Tree in Sub-Saharan Africa

Adesina¹,

Zhu²

2022

Preprint

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Indigenous trees have great economic potential and ecological benefits for enhancing environmental prosperity, mostly in forestry and the forest products sector in the developing countries of Sub-Sahara Africa. The baobab (Adansonia Digitata L.) is known as the African green jewel in both fruit production and medicinal benefits also remarkable for so many forest products exported across the world. Research conducted in the different Sub-Saharan African sub-regions has shown this iconic tree with a majestic outlook has a priority tree species for local and foreign use and conservation. However, data on the benefits and conservation of baobab trees in Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan countries is limited. This study aimed to assess the predominant geo-graphical distribution of the tree, the indigenous (cultural, socio-economic, ecological, and medical/health) benefits, and the conservation strategies of the baobab resources in Sub-Saharan Africa. The baobab tree's succulent roots, bulbs, branches, fruit, pods, foliage, and petals are all nourishing. Baobab parts have been used for diverse reasons in Africa, some countries of Asia, and Europe for the past two centuries due to their medicinal well-being properties. In addition, the medicinal applications of the plant parts are discussed. Many authors have highlighted the baobab tree as one of the most important trees to be saved and localized in Africa because of its high indigenous usage and commercial worth. Anthropogenic global warming may induce a drop in baobab species, which could inflict negative impacts on African economies. As a result, it's critical to research the species' likely future distribution and develop conservation policies. Literature was consulted for records and availability of this tree in the Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern African species records and it was also analyzed what percentage of the current environment would be appropriate in the future. Recent studies suggested that farmers and the locals be provided free seeds and seedlings to encourage biological rejuvenation to maximize the plant's potential, people should be informed about the additional uses of baobab that have been discovered. Individuals must also be educated on simple sustainable agroforestry activities that can be performed in plant and forest management.

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“…In Africa, climate change is posing a threat and making many of the ecosystems and livelihoods vulnerable to climate-related risks ( Conway and Schipper, 2011 ; IPCC, 2019 ). For example, a significant shift in the niche of the native species and habitat contraction due to climate change effects have been documented ( Scholze et al., 2006 ; Mekasha et al., 2013 ; Tshwene-Mauchaza and Aguirre-Gutiérrez, 2019 ; Birhane et al., 2020 ). Moreover, climate change and human activities are among the factors that are strongly linked to the extinction of plant species globally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the distribution of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Richard) under changing climate: implications for future dryland ecosystem restoration

Weldemariam

Sintayehu

Arbo

et al. 2022

Heliyon

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Vulnerability of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) to human disturbances and climate change in western Tigray, Ethiopia: Conservation concerns and priorities

Cited by 30 publications

References 55 publications

Farmers’ Preferences for Conservation and Breeding Programs of Forestry Food Resources in Niger

Farmers’ Preferences for Conservation and Breeding Programs of Forestry Food Resources in Niger

A Review of the Geographical Distribution, Indigenous Benefits and Conservation of African Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L.) Tree in Sub-Saharan Africa

Modelling the distribution of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Richard) under changing climate: implications for future dryland ecosystem restoration

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