Climate

Scientists clone Southern Africa’s wild fruit trees as forests disappear

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 25/09/2026, 16:09:24 UTC.

Briefings

In 2024, armed men felled Southern African wild loquat trees at the Landscape Alliance's Domboshava field gene bank, destroying a 20-year-old cloning project that produced 25 distinct clones across four countries. The trees, valued for their sweet yellow berries, were targeted for wood in brick-making kilns, causing income loss for local women. Alice Muchugi, the organization's leader, confirmed the theft and noted that data collection had already occurred, highlighting the conflict between commercial harvesters and genetic preservation efforts.

Key points

• In 2024, armed men felled wild loquat trees at the Landscape Alliance's Domboshava field gene bank in Zimbabwe, destroying a 20-year-old cloning project that produced 25 distinct clones across four countries.
• The trees were valued for their sweet yellow berries, which were the primary source of income for local women, and were targeted for wood in brick-making kilns.

Context and limitations

Evidence covers a single incident in 2024 near Harare, Zimbabwe, and relies on Alice Muchugi's recollection of the event. Specific details about the exact number of trees felled, the precise location of the kilns, or the long-term ecological impact of the loss are not provided in the source.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 25/09/2026, 16:19:27 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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