CoP17 Prop. 58

Inclusion of Grandidier’s Baobab Adansonia grandidieri in Appendix II with anannotation limiting the parts and derivatives to seeds, fruits, oils and living plants
Proponent: Madagascar
Summary: Grandidier’s Baobab Adansonia grandidieri, one of six endemic Adansonia in Madagascar, is alarge deciduous tree that occurs in west and southwest Madagascar. Recent studies based on analysis ofsatellite images and field observations1,2, have found it to have a relatively extensive distribution (26,000 to32,000 km2) along the Mangoky River and in the western part of the Menabe region. Populations of the tree
are scattered through this area. The satellite image study estimated its population at over one million
individuals, many more than has previously been suggested.
Regeneration levels of A. grandidieri appear to be low, with few young trees in the population. A number ofpotential causes have been proposed, including reductions or loss of populations of natural seed dispersal
agents (wild animals that eat the fruit without digesting the seeds), an increase in the population of feral pigs
and cattle, increasing human harvesting of fruits and bark and changing land use through the conversion toagricultural land and pasture. Forest cover has declined considerably in the region in the past few decades
and deforestation rates are said to have increased markedly in the past decade.
The species has established local uses for fruit, seed oil, tree bark, bark fibre and wood. Local demand forjuice preparation in hotels in Morondava (one of the main towns in the region) is roughly estimated at 3000kg
of fruits per year. Local harvest of trees for fibres in Morondava market is estimated at the equivalent of 50trees harvested6. The amount of national level trade is not known but seed mounds (equivalent toca. 2500kg) have been observed in the market in Antananarivo (the capital, not in the area of distribution ofthe baobab) during the fruiting season6.
In Madagascar, several companies promote the commercialization and sustainable use of A. grandidieri,
including through the production and marketing of baobab powder and baobab oil derived from fruit andseed3. The actual extent of this trade is unclear. A collection permit was granted to a company in
Madagascar for 4000kg of A. grandidieri fruit for use in food and cosmetics; the full amount was reported as
harvested in 20154. Harvested fruit did not appear to be intended for international trade.
There is very little evidence of international trade in any products of A. grandidieri. Records from theGovernment of Madagascar indicate export of 150ml of seed oil (equivalent to 15 fruits) in 2014 and 35kg,apparently of seed oil (possibly seed), in 2015. Health products are advertised on online platforms as
containing A. grandidieri5, but it is not known if these do in fact contain A. grandidieri extract. Seeds forhorticulture are advertised internationally and there is some local purchase of seeds by tourists, presumably
intended for export6. The numbers involved are likely to be very small compared with national use.
The fruits and seeds (processed into powder and oil respectively) of another species of baobab, A. digitata, aspecies native to and widespread in Africa and southwest Arabia (and widely introduced elsewhere) havefeatured increasingly in international trade for use in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food products 7.
A. digiata is registered by the US Food and Drug Administration as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS),
which allows A. digiata to be used as an ingredient in food products. A similar classification (as Novel Food)for A. digitata exists in the European Union. There may be concerns that the future registration ofA. grandidieri on the European and the USA export markets will lead to an increase in demand for fruit andseeds.
Local harvest comes under general regulations for non-timber forest products8. To date, there are no specificgovernment regulations for A. grandidieri. The species is considered to have good representation inprotected areas1, where harvest is prohibited.
On-the-ground implementation projects are under way to establish sustainable production quantities of A.
grandidieri; an experimental sustainable fruit offtake harvest has been piloted on a commercial basis for a
few years4.
The proposed annotation is to include seeds, fruits, oils and live plants. Both oils and products containing oils
have been recorded in trade. It is unclear whether the use of term ‘oil’ in the proposal annotation is intended
to include finished products, for example cosmetics.

1CoP17 Prop. 58
The species was assessed as Endangered against the IUCN Red List criteria (1998); an updated
assessment has been made but not yet published.
Analysis: Adansonia grandidieri is an endemic species to Madagascar where its population is reportedly still
numerous, although affected by a range of factors including low regeneration rates and conversion of its
habitat. There is harvest for domestic use. Some of this (principally for fibres) is destructive, but the majorproducts harvested are fruit and seeds, harvested non-destructively. Such harvest might conceivably havesome impact on regeneration rates in areas where it takes place, although there are no data to support this.
Recorded levels of international trade (in seeds and seed products) compared with observed levels ofdomestic use are very small and appear highly unlikely to have an impact on the wild population. The
species would not appear to meet the criteria for inclusion in Appendix II in Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16).
The proposed annotation is to include seeds, fruits, oils and live plants. Both oils and products containing oils
have been recorded in trade. It is unclear whether the use of the term ‘oil’ in the proposal annotation isintended to include finished products, for example cosmetics.
Reviewers:
V. Jeannoda, H. Ravaomanalina, D. Mayne, S. Andriambololonera, S. E. Rakotoarisoa, S. Wohlhauser andE. Creuse.
References:
Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1 Vieilledent, G., Cornu, C., Sanchez, A. C., Pock-Tsy, J. M. L., & Danthu, P. (2013) Vulnerability of baobab species toclimate change and effectiveness of the protected area network in Madagascar: Towards new conservation priorities.
Biological conservation 166: 11-22.
2 Rakotoarisoa, S.E. (2016) In litt. to the IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses Team, Cambridge, UK (based on species distribution
map via geocat.kew.org).
3 For example, Renala Naturals (2016) http://www.renalanaturals.com/?udt_portfolio=products. Viewed 24th June 2016.
4 MNP (2015) Proces verbal de la reunion du 24 Juin 2015, MNP Amatobe.
5 For example, Alibaba (2016) adansonia grandidieri https://www.alibaba.com/adansonia-grandidieri-suppliers.html.
Viewed 24th June 2016.
6 Wohlhauser, S. (2016) In litt. to the IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses Team, Cambridge, UK.
7 Iwu, M. M. (2014) Handbook of African medicinal plants. CRC press.
8 Raveloson, C. O. & Andriafidison, D. (2014) Les baobabs de Madagascar: quel cadre réglementaire pour leurconservation? Madagascar Conservation & Development 9:31-35.

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