The Madhya Pradesh government has decided that the forest department cannot give permission to translocate Dhar’s famed Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata), some of which are centuries old, and that this can be done only by the State Biodiversity Board.
- The decision was taken after a report highlighted the heritage and historical value of the trees, native to Africa, but likely brought to this corner of Madhya Pradesh by African soldiers hired by the local Islamic kingdoms between the 10th and 17th century.
- The report also mentioned the protests by tribals against the translocation of Baobab trees by a Hyderabad businessman Ramdev Rao.
- Dhar district collector said the government is making a new policy to save the Baobab trees, locally known as Khusrani Imli.
- Now, the state government has decided to put a ban on commercial use of the trees.
- The ban has been imposed by placing the trees under the Biodiversity Act, which means that permission to use them commercially will have to be taken from the state biodiversity board.
- Baobab is a deciduous tree, losing its leaves in the dry season.
