Recently, New research by South African ecologists has refuted the claim that the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree is dying due to climate change.

African Baobab Background

• 2018 Study: Published in Nature Plants, claimed 10 of 15 oldest and largest African baobabs were dying due to climate change.
• New Study (2024): Conducted by South African ecologists, refutes the 2018 claim, stating baobabs are not dying due to climate change.
  

African Baobab, Key Findings

• Speculative Claim: The 2018 climate change claim was speculative and went viral, misleading public perception.
• Baobab Resilience:
  • Baobabs are resilient and have historically survived extreme climate fluctuations such as droughts and floods.
• Tree populations in mainland Africa are thriving, including the oldest and largest baobabs.
• Deaths reported in the 2018 study were due to natural causes like hydraulic failure and excess water retention, not climate change.

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About Baobab Trees

• The trees belong to the genus Adansonia, which comprises eight distinct species.
• Origin of Lineage: According to DNA studies, the trees first arose in Madagascar 21 million years ago. 
  • Their seeds were later carried on ocean currents to Australia and also to mainland Africa, evolving into distinct species.
• Characteristics: Baobabs are known for their great heights, with some extending up to 50 metres, and exceptionally long lifespans going up to 1,000 years. 
  • In India too, a few baobab trees exist, including one near the Golconda Fort in Andhra Pradesh that is believed to be more than 400 years old.
• Keystone Species:  It is a Keystone Species which provide “essential resources, such as food or shelter, for a guild of animals in return for which the guild of animals provides an essential service, or mobile links, such as pollination or diaspore dispersal.”
• Role of Baobabs in Ecosystem: 
  • Known as the ‘Tree of Life’, baobabs are crucial to African ecosystems, providing food and shelter for wildlife and humans.
  • The fruit of the baobab tree is a rich source of income for farmers and is recognized for its high nutritional value (Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, antioxidants, fibre).
• Cultural and Socio-economic Significance:
  • Cultural Role: Baobabs are deeply embedded in African traditions, and their parts (leaves, fruits, seeds, trunks) are used for sustenance and medicinal purposes.
  • Economic Potential: Baobab fruit is considered a “superfruit” with potential to expand a market worth $10 million.