ENDANGERED SHEA TREE OF WEST AFRICAby Alesandra Ibobo | 21-05-2018 00:44 |
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9.jpg) 3.jpg) 2.jpg) Shea tree ( Vitellaria paradoxa) is a tree grown in dry Savannah belt of West Africa mainly: Nigeria, Ghana, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea others are Benin, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger. The Shea tree consist of the nuts, leaves and flowers. The seeds or nuts from the Shea tree is processed into Shea butter when dried and cracked. The Shea butter is typically yellowish-brown in colour and has a buttery texture. Shea tree is responsible for helping to protect wind erosion and adding organic matter back to the soil. It is used to waterproof the walls of houses, so as to stop the infrequent downpours from washing the mud away. They provide tree-cover across an area that is vulnerable to disertification. Shea tree is very important as it generates income to the poor locals as well as revenue to the government derived from exportation. In Uganda, the Shea tree is found in the Northern Uganda and West Nile Sub region. The Shea tree is grown in Niger, Kwara, Kebbi and Kaduna within Nigeria. In Northern parts of Nigeria Shea butter is called "okume", in the south west region " Ori", in the South East "okuma". This product is overly harnessed and the cost of purchasing it is expensive and rare. Reports have shown that the trees begins to bear fruit when they are approximately 20 to 50 years, and takes longer time to reach maturity. Nonetheless the exploitation of this tree plant is increasing yearly. The demand for Shea product is on the rise because of the benefits it proposes unlike before, awareness are being created to promote these numerous benefits to people in curing dermatological ailments. The search for Shea products amongst pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry in recent times is alarming as it is used for cosmetic formation. This plant specie have become endangered due to uncontrolled rampant illegal, harvesting and trading in logs and their products based on the gains from exporting these products by local farmers and other individuals. In recent times, the nuts have been processed and the fats used in cooking fat for margarine used in pastries and porridges. Substituted for cocoa butter in cocoa and chocolate used in cosmetics. It is harvested locally for its skincare value. The Shea tree has been overexploited for timber, firewood and charcoal production. The trees are also been threatened by encroachment and drought.
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