Baobab Dawn, western Madagascar

[View On Black] This amazing grove of baobab trees is all that remains of a once extensive forest on the west coast of Madagascar. Desperately poor farmers, who have no access to improved agricultural technologies, practice slash and burn agriculture and have gradually cleared most of the forests. Recent cyclones have also damaged some of these giants (30-45m tall). Adansonia grandidieri, endemic (found only on Madagascar) and endangered, is named after French botanist and explorer, Alfred Grandidier (1836–1921).