Africa's Baobab Resources

Towering as the most conspicuous gigantic tree in Africa's dryland savannah, the baobab is a legendary botanical heritage throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed, there are many myths associated with baobab trees in all communities where its populations are represented. Some of the myths are documented in this publication.
The authors have skilfully described the many fascinating virtues of the baobab bioresource; its many uses in various countries in Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa; and an extremely tantalizing, intriguing, novel account on what is probably Africa's oldest living baobab tree, found in Namibia. It is quite conceivable that the story on this unique baobab may, in the near future, finds its way into the Guinness Book of Records.

I am convinced that this booklet should be translated and published in various African languages, with a view to promoting community awareness: on the many potential uses of Africa's baobab biota (and related flora and fauna), on the need for more research on them (both basic and applied research), and on their sustainable conservation and wise management, for the benefit of posterity.

I see this publication as a catalyst for promoting research and development (R&D) activities that will stimulate smart and pragmatic partnerships in educational, scientific, and cultural exchange between the academia in Africa's various Universities and sister tertiary institutions, and the rural populace, especially considering Africa's rich biodiversity.

We hope that this contribution will serve as a humble example through which we can see the need for similar studies amongst myriads of flora and fauna found in Africa, whose virtues are yet to be unravelled.

John McClean
Director of UNESCO
Windhoek, Namibia