Ghana is launching a project to map its baobab population, creating a national inventory atlas and geodatabase. The initiative, called the BAOMAP project, is a collaboration between Ho Technical University (HTU), the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
The project will use remote sensing and ground verification surveys to identify and classify baobab populations, collect biometric and ecological data, and produce district and national maps. It also aims to establish a geo-referenced national database and provide recommendations for conservation, domestication, and commercial use.
A tree of many uses
The baobab tree, scientifically known as Adansonia digitata, holds significant cultural and economic value in Ghana. It serves as a community meeting point, a landmark, and a source of shade for dispute resolution. Additionally, various parts of the tree are used for food, medicine, and materials.
Its leaves are used in soups and sauces, the fruit pulp is made into drinks, the seeds are processed for food and oil, and the bark is used for rope and medicine. The tree’s importance extends beyond its practical uses, as it is deeply rooted in the social fabric of many rural and semi-rural communities.
Conservation concerns and research goals
Ghana‘s Guinea Savannah woodland, where baobab trees thrive, has been shrinking. Between 2015 and 2021, it decreased from 59,342 to 57,906 square kilometers.
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The research will focus on understanding the current state of baobab populations, including their location, structure, and the threats they face from both human activity and natural factors. It will also explore the knowledge and practices of communities living among these trees. This wide-ranging approach aims to inform conservation efforts, sustainable use, and the development of resilient livelihoods.
The project’s success relies on collaboration between various stakeholders, including traditional authorities, local governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, policymakers, farmers, processors, and consumers. By working together, these groups can help transform the project’s findings into tangible benefits for both the environment and local communities.
CSIR-PGRRI’s Role and Collaboration
CSIR-PGRRI, led by Dr. Daniel Ashie Kotey, aims to utilize its expertise in genetic resource management for the BAOMAP project. Since 2024, they have collaborated with CIFOR-ICRAF, focusing on baobab research. This partnership has resulted in the collection of baobab germplasm and documentation of vital data, including geographic coordinates of populations across Ghana.
International collaboration and funding
The BAOMAP project has secured €54,000 in funding from Rhine-Waal University, with a workplan spanning from July to December of this year. Dr. Mathias Kleinke, an agricultural engineer and environmental researcher at Rhine-Waal University, will coordinate the project, bringing expertise in remote sensing, training, and validation.
HTU, as the host institution, aims to expand its research into the value chains of baobab, believing that this project will raise its international research profile. The university’s leadership, including Vice Chancellor Professor Ben Q. Honyenuga, is optimistic about the project’s potential to produce valuable data.
