{"id":1766,"date":"2016-03-18T11:47:08","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T10:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baobabstories.com\/en\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2016-06-22T17:29:16","modified_gmt":"2016-06-22T15:29:16","slug":"a-baobab-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baobabstories.com\/en\/a-baobab-guardian\/","title":{"rendered":"A Baobab Guardian in Zwigodini"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sylvia<\/a>

Sylvia Mathoho and Mashudu Rammbasa collecting Baobab Fruit<\/p><\/div>\n

Sylvia Mathoho lives in Zwigodini, a village in the area of Venda, Limpopo Province, South Africa. She collects Baobab fruit when they are ripe and sells them to Dr. Sarah Venter, Baobab ecologist and entrepreneur from Makhado (Louis Trichard). The sale of baobab fruit generates much appreciated income to her and her family.<\/p>\n

She has participated in the Baobab Guardians Program since 2014 and has become a baobab \u201cguardian\u201d herself. The guardians program is part of the Eco Products Foundation founded by Venter. Among other objectives the program ensures that baobabs grow in the Venda area in future. The guardians plant baobabs and take care of them. In addition, people in the area receive training in baobab ecology and environmental protection.<\/p>\n

\"Sylvia<\/a>

Sylvia Mathoho<\/p><\/div>\n

Responsibility for a Tree<\/h2>\n

We visit Mathoho in her homestead. By the end of 2014 she has taken on responsibility for a small baobab seedling. She has to protect the tree from browsing goats and cattle and she has to water it regularly. The more water the mini baobab gets during his first years, the faster it grows and can take care of itself.<\/p>\n

Surviving is particularly difficult for young baobabs. Hardly any of the small trees make it through their first three years without support. The population density in the regions with natural baobab occurrence has increased dramatically, and with it the presence of cattle and goats. These just love the tender young leaves of little baobabs and browse on them.<\/p>\n\n\t\t