HOW COULD ANYONE DARE TO CUT DOWN A BAOBAB TREE TO MAKE POOR QUALITY PAPER?
The logging of all kinds of trees has occurred on Madagascar for a long time. There is severe deforestation on the island, and it is continuing. Some baobab trees escape being cut because of their spiritual significance. As a result instead of being in a mixed forest, baobab trees often stand alone. The isolation of baobab trees may have greatly increased the responsibility of the Madagascar fruit bat for ensuring survival of two endangered baobab species, Grandidier’s baobab and “bozy”, A. suarensis, which are bat and lemur pollinated.(3) This summer, 2005, scientists on Madagascar will be tracking the Madagascar fruit bat to try to learn more about the frequency of its visits to the two kinds of baobabs that are known to be bat-pollinated, Grandidier’s baobab and the “bozy” baobab. (3) Lemurs, who live only on Madagascar and two of the neighbouring Comoros Islands, travel between tree tops to feed on leaves, fruit, nectar and pollen. No longer can they easily visit the two baobab spe
