The Gum Arabic Tree

The Acacia is a plant of the Fabaceae family native to tropical Africa and is widely distributed in all the countries of the Sahelian region and also in desert areas.

The Acacia provides gum arabic, a valuable natural substance composed of various components including Arabinose, and is widely used as a food additive, in crafts, and as a cosmetic.

The Tree of life

If the lion is considered the king of animals, the Baobab is surely the king of trees… at least in Africa. 

Baobabs are trees with large trunks that can reach up to 25 meters in height and a diameter of over 7 meters. This gigantic plant has a great capacity for water storage within its trunk (up to 120,000 liters), which ensures its extraordinary survival capability in the Sahel. 

The crown fills, for a few months each year, with large palmate leaves, later displaying large, very fragrant flowers that bloom at night. 

The oval-shaped fruit contains an edible pericarp and a large kidney-shaped seed.

The Tree of Eternal Youth

The Shea tree is a plant from the Sapotaceae family, very common in Africa; it varies in height between 10 and 15 meters and has a trunk that can reach one meter in diameter.

The bark is very thick to protect itself from the high temperatures present in the Sahel.

From its seeds, improperly called shea nuts, shea butter is extracted, which can be slightly yellow or green, with a pleasant and slightly sweet smell. 

Due to its characteristics, it is used in many cosmetic products or as a condiment.

In ancient times, in the kingdom of Mali, shea oil was used, mixed with local soil, to coat walls as if it were lime.

The king of fruits

The Mango is a drupe-type fruit that comes from numerous species of tropical trees belonging to the genus Mangifera. 

Cultivated primarily for their fruit, most of these species of trees are found in the wild. 

The genus belongs to the Anacardiaceae family of cashews.

The tree that protects coastlines

The Mangrove is essential for coastline protection and the creation of biodiversity-rich habitats.

Planting Mangroves in the Sine Saloum National Park in Senegal helps combat marine erosion and promotes both terrestrial and aquatic life.

The aerial roots of the Mangrove act as a natural barrier against waves and currents, stabilizing soil and preventing coastal erosion. 

This protection not only preserves land but also fosters mangrove forests that serve as nurseries for numerous marine and terrestrial species.

The presence of Mangroves supports local biodiversity by providing vital habitats for fish, crustaceans, birds, and other animals. 

It also contributes to climate change mitigation by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in soil and roots.

Planting Mangroves in the Sine Saloum National Park not only protects vulnerable coastlines but also represents a concrete commitment to preserving and regenerating marine and terrestrial ecosystems. 

It promotes environmental sustainability and enhances resilience of local communities facing global challenges.

The miracle tree

The Moringa is a plant belonging to the Moringaceae family, originating from India and Pakistan and now widespread in much of the tropical and equatorial regions of the planet.

Moringa oleifera reaches 7 meters in height, but with deep and fertile soil, it can exceed 10 meters; it has an erect or branched trunk from the base, soft and spongy in texture; the wood is weak, and the thin, intertwined branches are drooping. 

The entire plant is edible and possesses significant nutritional interest. Notably, the protein content of the plant parts is complete, meaning the parts of the plant contain the full range of amino acids required for protein needs, including essential ones.

This fact is almost unique among plants: Moringa oleifera can be defined as the only known plant today with such characteristics. 

These characteristics make Moringa an interesting plant also from a humanitarian point of view, as it has great potential to combat hunger, malnutrition, and, consequently, poverty.

The Tree of the Future

The Neem is a tree from the Meliaceae family native to East Asia, India, and Burma that can reach 30 meters in height and about 2.5 meters in diameter.

The seeds are an important source of limonoids, triterpenoid compounds also found to some extent in the leaves, bark, and other tissues.

Over 100 biologically active compounds have been identified in the tree. The main ones are: azadirachtin, azadiradione, fraxinellone, nimbin, salannin, salannol, vepinin, vilasinin, etc. It has numerous medicinal properties, so much so that in India it is called "the village pharmacy." 

For centuries, Indians have used this plant to treat pain, fever, and infections, and they clean their teeth with its twigs, treat skin disorders with the juice extracted from the leaves, and drink the infusion as a tonic. 

The Neem, found in tropical regions, belongs to the mahogany family. Since it rarely sheds its leaves, it provides shade all year round. 

It grows quickly, requires little care, and survives well in poor soils. 

It was introduced to West Africa at the beginning of the 20th century to provide shade and prevent the Sahara Desert from expanding southward.

In addition to providing year-round shade in very hot countries, its termite-resistant wood is used in construction and carpentry.

The Tree with Precious Seeds

The Néré, like the Acacia, belongs to the Mimosa family and is native to the Sahelian and Sudanese regions.

The trunk is straight, the bark is smooth, and it can reach up to 25 meters in height.

What makes it special are its seeds, with a mature tree producing over 100 kg of them annually.

The Néré provides many high-quality nutrients (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, iodine, various vitamins). It is therefore a very important source for Africa in terms of quality food and nutrition.

The tree of health

It appears as a small, sparsely branched tree with a trunk up to 10 meters tall. The trunk, even in mature specimens, has a soft, slightly woody texture and features scars produced by the growth and fall of the upper leaves.

The sap has a milky consistency and is toxic in its natural state for humans, potentially causing allergic irritations upon contact with the skin.

The leaves, arranged in a rosette at the top of the trunk, are broad, palmately lobed, and 50–70 cm in diameter. 

The fruit, the papaya, has a delicate texture and an oblong shape, and can be green, yellow, orange, or pink in color. It can weigh up to 9 kg.