The African Baobab can withstand very dry environments but it is retricted to frost free areas.
Seeds and fruits are widely consumed and also leaves are used as a leafy vegetable. It provides medecine against dysentery and malaria. The species is a source of revenue for locals; fruit, seeds and bark are great selled in markets.
African Baobab populations are declining because of intensification of agriculture, bush fires and livestock grazing. Rainfall absence also threaten the species.
Balanites Aegyptiaca or Desert Date, has a great flexibility to grow in multiple conditions with excellent persitence. It is valuable in arid regions because it produces fruit even in dry times.
Fruits though bitter are edible and can be stored for up to a year in dry and insect free places. It has been seen fruits as an effective treatment of liver and spleen diseases, also bark is useful to remove hazardous organisms from freshwater. The plant is actively managed and apreciated by livestock.
Hanza, as natives known this plant, is a great buffer against famine due to its ability to grow even in the extremely dry and hot desert.
It supports food security; their sweet pulp, seeds and roots are great sources of nutrition. Leaves have anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. This plant components are also used to clarify water. Farmers can take advantage of the plant in order to prevent their crop soil degradation.
Leaves, seeds and roots are selled in many local markets and its biocidal properties protect stored cereals improving people incomes.
Ziziphus Mauritiana, commonly know as Ber, is valued because of its nourishing fruit. People eat its pulp and leaves, roots and bark are used for medicinal purposes. Among other plants, helps to protect crops from animals and reduce soil erosion.
There are companies specialized in trade of wild fruits and ber is one of the best selling ones, contributing to household income. Ber is not consider to be threatened, however, deforestation, climate change, bush fires and parasite attacks limit the frequency of the species.
Explore the Priority Food Tree Species Distribution in Africa
Greetings!
Take a minute to get used.
You are bound to discover where is likely to grow Baobab, Desert Dates, Hanza or Ber. Simply click their checkbox.
If you chose to mark the second checkbox, the species records are shown. Click them to kwnow more information.
The slider bar changes the opacity of each distribution, so you can compare extent areas between species.
Finally, find at the bottom of the content pane the species suitability legend, keep in mind it only appears if you have checked first the distribution.