South African authorities have rejected an appeal by an unidentified exporter seeking permission to send five baobab trees to Georgia, as an investigation into the suspected illegal harvesting and transportation of the trees continues.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) halted the planned export in July over concerns that the trees may have been felled and transported illegally. The exporter submitted an appeal on 8 August, which authorities have since refused, according to information provided to OC Media.
The five uprooted trees remain on asphalt outside a warehouse in Durban, where they have been held while authorities investigate possible wrongdoing.
Baobabs are indigenous to Africa and can live for up to 2,000 years. Their fruit also plays an important role in the livelihoods and economies of many rural communities, making the harvesting of the trees a sensitive issue that has prompted local concern.
The DFFE previously warned that, if found guilty, the exporter could face a fine, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. The department described the suspected offence as a first-category offence.
Concerns grow over survival of trees
The condition of the five trees has become an additional concern, with reports indicating that they have remained outside the Durban warehouse for almost three months.
Christopher Dalzell, a former botanical garden curator and specialist in tree transportation, has offered authorities assistance on a pro bono basis to help replant the trees.
Speaking to the Daily Maverick, Dalzell warned that the trees needed to be moved from the exposed asphalt as soon as possible to improve their chances of survival. He recommended relocating them to a botanical garden or specialist nursery.
The investigation into the proposed export remains ongoing, while the future of the five baobabs and their potential relocation have yet to be confirmed.