The involvement of community members significantly increases the success of tree planting projects – a case study of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) planting, South Africa

Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata L.) play a vital ecological and socio-economic role in Southern Africa, but they face poor natural recruitment due to browsing and erratic rainfall. This study assessed the health, growth and survival of planted baobabs which were cared for by community members called “Baobab Guardians” and compared their survival and causes of mortality to a historic dataset of “unguarded” trees that were planted in the same area and assessed a few years before. The study evaluated the effect of the community member demographics on tree growth and survival and their motivation to be involved in the tree planting project. We found that guarded trees had a significantly higher survival rate than unguarded trees (log-rank test; χ² = 167, df = 1, p< 0.001) with browsing and trampling being the main cause of death of unguarded trees. Age, gender and employment status of the community members guarding the trees had no significant effect on growth or survival. Financial incentives and environmental appreciation were the main motivations for guardians to be involved in the project. The results show that involving community members in tree-planting projects significantly increases the survival and growth of baobab trees. We conclude that as livestock numbers increase in many parts of Africa, successful tree planting projects will rely on additional protection of seedlings by community members.