The marula tree, scientifically known as Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra, stands as a cornerstone of life in rural South Africa. Towering over the savannas of Limpopo Province, this resilient species provides nourishment, medicine, income, and profound cultural meaning to communities who have coexisted with it for generations. Its juicy fruits ferment into traditional beer, its bark heals ailments, and its shade hosts ceremonies—making it far more than a tree. Yet, populations are declining due to elephant damage, poor seedling recruitment, and land-use pressures. A groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change in April 2026 sheds light on how local people view this vital resource, offering pathways for sustainable conservation rooted in community wisdom.

In Ga-Makushane and Namakgale, two rural villages near the Greater Kruger ecosystem, residents shared their perspectives through surveys. The research reveals overwhelming positivity toward the marula, with 98.3% recognizing its cultural importance and 95% supporting its protection everywhere it grows. This isn't abstract appreciation; it's lived reality, where the tree embodies identity and resilience amid environmental challenges.

🌳 A Lifeline in the Lowveld

The marula thrives in South Africa's lowveld, a semi-arid region where rainfall is erratic and livelihoods depend on natural resources. Known as the 'elephant tree' for its appeal to wildlife, it yields nutrient-rich fruits high in vitamin C, kernels for oil, and bark for traditional remedies. Rural households harvest it for food—95% eat the fruit, 93.3% the kernels, and 83.3% brew beer or juice. Economically, it supplements incomes through sales, while culturally, it features in rituals like ancestor veneration and weddings, protected by taboos against cutting living trees.

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like marula buffer poverty in areas with high unemployment (over 60% in the study sites). Yet, threats loom: elephants strip bark, killing adults, while seedlings struggle in trampled soils. Commercial ventures like Amarula liqueur highlight potential, but wild harvesting risks depletion without stewardship.

Unpacking the Frontiers Research

Researchers Christopher M. Banotai, Craig R. Spencer, and John L. Koprowski conducted semi-structured surveys with 60 adults (one per household) in Ga-Makushane and Namakgale. Using Likert scales and yes/no questions, they gauged perceptions on value, use, conservation, and protected areas. Statistical analysis, including ordinal regression, revealed patterns by age, gender, education, and employment.

Communities face similar socio-ecological pressures: low education (60% no high school), unemployment (63-73%), and reliance on remittances. Namakgale residents were older on average (48.3 vs. 43.8 years), influencing some views. The voluntary study, approved by University of Wyoming IRB, used translators for Xitsonga and Sepedi, ensuring inclusivity.

Deep-Rooted Cultural Attachment

Respondents rated marula's impacts highly: 98.3% saw positive community effects, 90% economic benefits, 93.3% personal value, and 98.3% cultural significance. Female trees were prized more (88.3%), reflecting fruit-bearing roles. Medicinal use reached 43.3%, mainly bark and roots for stomach issues—a practice passed orally.

Older participants showed stronger ties: each year of age increased odds of viewing community impact positively by 11% and personal importance by 10%. This generational knowledge underscores marula as a Cultural Keystone Species (CKS)—irreplaceable in narratives, ceremonies, and livelihoods, per CKS criteria.

Strong Support for Protection

Conservation attitudes shone: 95% backed protection wherever marula grows, 100% in protected areas. Nearly all (98.3%) avoided branch-cutting, honoring taboos. Traditional laws shielded fruit trees (95%). Yet, only 53.3% knew of declines, and 61.7% planted seedlings—room for awareness campaigns.

Protected areas earned praise: 81.7% positive views, 78.3% life improvements. Elephant sightings (95%) didn't sway support for culling—91.6% opposed, preferring coexistence. Wood carving was rare (18.3%), showing restraint.

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Generational and Demographic Nuances

Age drove positivity toward protected areas (6% higher odds per year). Women dominated samples (56.7-66.7%), but no gender gaps emerged. Low education and unemployment didn't dampen support, suggesting intrinsic value transcends hardship.

Namakgale's older demographic planted fewer seedlings (34% lower odds), possibly due to physical limits, highlighting youth involvement needs.

Challenges: Elephants and Recruitment

Elephants devastate marula by debarking 20-30% of adults yearly in Kruger fringes. Seedlings fail amid competition and trampling. Overuse risks sustainability, despite taboos. Climate change exacerbates droughts, stressing trees.

Communities note declines but prioritize harmony. Low culling support signals need for alternatives like fencing or relocation.

Marula as Cultural Keystone Species

The study posits marula as CKS: multi-use (food, medicine, rituals), persistent culturally, irreplaceable, linking ecosystems to identity. Further ethnolinguistic work needed, but evidence supports. Festivals like Namakgale Marula Fest celebrate it, fostering pride.

Community-Led Solutions

Researchers urge seedling nurseries, integrated into schools/events. Co-management with SANParks leverages knowledge. UJ studies nearby show villagers protect mopane/marula via rules, yielding denser stands than farms. Amarula's community programs offer models—fair trade, orchards reducing wild pressure.

University of Johannesburg research highlights similar successes.

Policy Implications and Broader Impact

Integrate locals in plans: education on declines, incentives for planting. NTFP policies must balance commercial (e.g., Amarula exports millions) with sustainability. CKS framing justifies protection under biodiversity laws.

Marula sustains 100,000+ households regionally; conserving it bolsters food security, economy (R500m/year), culture.

Photo by Rak Ankong on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Hope Through Heritage

With community buy-in, marula's future brightens. Programs like Save the Sand plant thousands yearly. Research calls for youth engagement, monitoring. As climate pressures mount, these trees symbolize adaptation—blending tradition with science for resilient landscapes.

South Africa's rural voices guide conservation, proving people and nature thrive together.