8 Baobabs Perish After Controversial Export to Georgia’s Shekvetili Park

8 Baobabs Perish After Controversial Export to Georgia’s Shekvetili Park 1Uprooted Baobab tree ready for export to Georgia is transported along the Mombasa-Malindi Highway in this photo taken on 20th November 2022. Photo by Kevin Odit.

The eight ancient Baobab trees that were controversially uprooted from Kenya’s Kilifi County and exported to Georgia’s Shekvetili Dendrological Park have all died, according to a statement from the park released on Friday. The news has reignited anger and sorrow among local communities and environmentalists, who had fiercely opposed the export of the revered trees.

The Baobabs were initially slated for export in 2022, but the process was halted by the Kenyan government due to irregularities in the licensing, a move that was hailed by conservationists as a victory against what they termed biopiracy. However, in March 2023, the suspension was lifted, and the trees were transported to Georgia—a decision that many in Kilifi viewed as a betrayal of their cultural heritage.

The uprooting of the Baobabs had sparked outrage among residents and environmental advocates. Wambui Ippolito, a Kenyan horticulturist and activist, was vocal in her opposition, likening the removal of the ancient trees to “a Kenyan investor arriving in [Georgia] and deciding to collect mountains.” She criticized Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Shekvetili Dendrological Park, accusing him of treating nature as a commodity to be exploited.

In the wake of the trees’ deaths, the park has sought to shift blame, issuing a sharply-worded statement that accused Georgia’s opposition United National Movement (UNM) of orchestrating a campaign to sabotage the project. The park claimed that “ceaseless phone calls” to high-ranking Kenyan officials by UNM representatives had turned the Baobab export into an “ideological battleground on the African continent.”

However, many in Kilifi see the park’s accusations as an attempt to deflect responsibility from the ethical and ecological consequences of uprooting the trees. The Baobabs, which had stood for centuries, are not only biologically unique but also hold deep cultural significance for the local communities.

Ivanishvili’s acquisition of the Baobabs, reportedly for between 100,000–300,000 Kenyan shillings ($720–$2,200) per tree, has been widely criticized as yet another example of wealthy individuals exploiting Africa’s natural resources for personal gain. The Shekvetili Dendrological Park, established in 2020, is known for its collection of rare trees, many of which were similarly obtained under controversial circumstances.

In their statement, the park acknowledged that the stress endured by the Baobabs during the prolonged export process likely contributed to their demise. “Unfortunately, 6–7 months after being planted in Georgia’s soil, all eight Baobabs withered,” the statement read.

For the people of Kilifi, the loss of these trees is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles to protect Kenya’s natural heritage from external exploitation. The controversy surrounding the Baobab export has also sparked broader discussions about the ethics of such international botanical exchanges and the need for stronger protections for Africa’s environmental and cultural assets.

As the community mourns the loss of these iconic trees, many are left wondering if the tragedy could have been averted had the warnings of environmentalists been heeded. The death of the Baobabs has not only left a void in the landscape of Kilifi but also in the hearts of those who revered them.

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