African Baobab:
New research by South African ecologists has refuted the claim that the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree is dying due to climate change.
- Baobabs are long-lived deciduous, small to large trees from 20 to 100 ft tall with broad trunks and compact tops.
- These trees can live to become thousands of years old.
- The oldest baobab tree on record was the Panke baobab in Zimbabwe, which lived to be a venerable 2450 years old
- These solitary trees are also incredibly resilient, thriving in dry, open areas such as the savannas of southern Africa and western Madagascar.
- Baobab trees are fundamental to the entire dry African savanna ecosystem. They help keep soil conditions humid, aid nutrient recycling, and slow soil erosion with their massive root systems.
- It absorbs and stores water from the rainy season in its massive trunk, producing a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season, which can grow up to a foot long.
- The fruit contains tartaric acid and Vitamin C, serving as a vital nutrient and food source for many species.
- These baobabs play a vital role in their ecosystem; mitigate impacts of climate change, providing food and shelter to animals and humans.
- Its fruit is recognised as having high fibre content, acting as a natural prebiotic that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
