Kinshasa baobab
Once shaded by trees, Kinshasa has steadily lost its greenery to unchecked development, pollution, and population pressure. However, a lone century-old baobab tree, near the ferry port in Gombe, stands as a living monument to the city’s past. Environmentalist Jean Mangalibi and fellow activists are now in an urgent campaign to protect this last iconic baobab in the historic center from private development. The tree, rich with cultural and historical significance, narrowly escaped destruction last August when campaigners physically blocked diggers at the contested site. As a symbol of continuity in one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities, its fate highlights a broader struggle against unchecked urbanization and environmental neglect. While the activists have gained some official support, they face significant challenges from development pressures and widespread public indifference in a city where green space has been relentlessly disappearing.
The Guardian