AN ASSESSMENT OF MULTI-PURPOSE USE OF ADANSONIA DIGITATA (Baobab tree) FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SEMI URBAN FRINGES OF DUTSINMA KATSINA STATE NIGERIA

Savanna grassland of Northern Nigeria is blessed with ample tree resources that were of ample benefits to mankind most of which their multi-purpose uses have been exploited, but still there are potential uses on the pipeline. Baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree have been identified as tree of multi-purpose use for a long period of time by rural and urban dwellers. This has made Baobab among the most important economic tree that receives meaningful attention. Uses as human food, animal fodder, medicine were among the major ones identified with it in the study area. Access to this tree is generally private, because of its importance, the tree is highly managed through regular pruning, fencing and planting new seedlings. It was recommended that Governmental and nongovernmental organizations should improve the tree and make it available to rural dwellers and farmers.