Tree Identification

Tree identification is one of the most important skills for a volunteer working in natural resource management. Nigeriens have deep knowledge of local trees, their uses, and the traditional medicines derived from them. This unit teaches the Zarma vocabulary for tree products and uses, phrases for conducting a tree walk, and detailed profiles of five key Sahelian species.

Vocabulary — Tree Products & Uses

Zarma	English	French
almaney	animals	des animaux
cinayan	to build	construire
danji bi	charcoal	la charbonne
hinayan turi	firewood	le bois de chauffe
turi izey	fruit	des fruits
barma	granary	un grenier
deli	gum arabic	la gomme arabique
bukka	hut	une case
humburu	mortar	un mortier
hinji	pestle	un pilon
naaji	poison	un poison
walha	prayer board	une ardoise
korfo	rope	une corde
foy	sauce	une sauce
namu safari	traditional medicine	des medicaments traditionelles

Tree Identification Phrases

Zarma	English
Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Hinfani fo no turi wo ne ga te?	What use does this tree have?
Ifo no ni ga te nda?	What do you do with it?
Almaney ga ba turi wo ne?	Do animals like this tree?
Boro ga nwa turi wo ne?	Do people eat this tree?
Boro ga du hinnayan turi a ga?	Do you get firewood from this tree?
Boro ga du namu safarey a ga?	Do you get traditional medicine?

Tree Walk Dialogues

The following dialogues represent a typical “tree walk” — a field exercise where the volunteer walks through the bush or village with a knowledgeable farmer, identifying trees and discussing their uses.

1. Gao — Acacia Albida

The gao is often called the “miracle tree of the Sahel.” Unlike other trees, the gao loses its leaves during the rainy season and produces foliage during the dry season. This means it provides shade and animal fodder when crops are not growing, and drops its nutrient-rich leaves to fertilize fields just before planting. Farmers who keep gao trees in their fields often report higher millet yields.

Speaker	Zarma	English
Volunteer	Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Farmer	Gao no.	It’s a gao.
Volunteer	Hinfani fo no turi wo ne ga te?	What use does this tree have?
Farmer	Gao ya turi bora no. A ga gayan fari. A karey ga kaŋ damsi ra, a ga te taaka fari se.	Gao is a great tree. It helps the field. Its leaves fall in the dry season and become fertilizer.
Volunteer	Almaney ga ba turi wo ne?	Do animals like this tree?
Farmer	Oho! Almaney ga ba gao karey nda a turi izey kayna. Haw da feeji ga nwa a karey.	Yes! Animals love gao leaves and its pods. Cattle and sheep eat its leaves.
Volunteer	Boro ga du namu safarey a ga?	Do you get traditional medicine from it?
Farmer	Oho. Gao zeney nda karey go ga gayan borey jante dumi fo ra.	Yes. Gao bark and leaves help people with certain illnesses.

Note: The gao is protected by law in Niger. Volunteers should emphasize that cutting a gao is illegal and counterproductive.

2. Bani/Birsi — Acacia Nilotica

The bani (also called birsi) is valued for its strong thorns, making it ideal for live fencing. Its bark is rich in tannins used in leather work, and its gum is edible.

Speaker	Zarma	English
Volunteer	Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Farmer	Bani no, wala birsi.	It’s a bani, or birsi.
Volunteer	Ifo no ni ga te nda?	What do you do with it?
Farmer	Bani kambe ga hin ka te kali hala. A gonda kangay kayna — boro si hin ka furo.	Bani branches can make a garden fence. It has many thorns — no one can enter.
Volunteer	Boro ga du hinfani fo mo a ga?	Do you get other uses from it?
Farmer	Oho. Bani zeney ga gayan gaaney teeyan ra. I ga du deli mo a ga.	Yes. Bani bark helps in leather work. You get gum from it too.

3. Danga — Acacia Senegal

The danga is the primary source of gum arabic in the Sahel. It also provides traditional medicine, especially for treating diarrhea.

Speaker	Zarma	English
Volunteer	Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Farmer	Danga no.	It’s a danga.
Volunteer	Hinfani fo no turi wo ne ga te?	What use does this tree have?
Farmer	Danga ga te deli kayna — gum arabic. I ga neere a Niamey ra.	Danga produces lots of gum arabic. They sell it in Niamey.
Volunteer	Boro ga du namu safarey a ga?	Do you get traditional medicine from it?
Farmer	Oho. Nda boro go ga sori, i ga du danga zeney, i ga te hari, boro ga hamu. Sori ga ban.	Yes. When someone has diarrhea, they take danga bark, make a drink, and the person drinks it. The diarrhea stops.

4. Ko nya — Baobab / Adansonia digitata

The baobab is called the “mother of the Sahel” (ko nya) because nearly every part of the tree is useful. Its leaves are dried and ground into powder for sauce, its fruit (monkey bread) is rich in vitamin C, and its bark is used for rope and medicine.

Speaker	Zarma	English
Volunteer	Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Farmer	Ko nya no.	It’s a baobab.
Volunteer	Ifo no ni ga te nda?	What do you do with it?
Farmer	Ko nya karey — i ga kankam i ga te foy. Ko nya turi izey — i ga nwa, a ga hari nda sukar.	Baobab leaves — they grind them for sauce. Baobab fruit — they eat it, it has water and sugar.
Volunteer	Boro ga du namu safarey a ga?	Do you get traditional medicine from it?
Farmer	Oho, kayna kayna! Ko nya zeney ga gayan borey jante dumi kayna ra.	Yes, very much! Baobab bark helps people with many kinds of illness.

Traditional Medicine Recipes — Baobab

For asthma (hunsi jante): Take dried baobab bark (ko nya zeney) and grind it into powder. Boil in water until the liquid becomes thick. Strain the mixture. The patient drinks one small bowl (tasa kayna) in the morning and evening until breathing improves.

For diarrhea (sori): Take fresh baobab leaves (ko nya karey) and boil them in clean water. Let the mixture cool. The patient drinks the liquid several times per day. Alternatively, dried baobab fruit pulp can be dissolved in water — this is rich in tannins that help stop diarrhea.

Note: Traditional medicine recipes are shared here for cultural understanding. Volunteers should always refer serious cases to the nearest dispensaire or health center.

5. Milia nya — Neem / Azadirachta indica

The neem tree (milia nya) was introduced to the Sahel from India and has become one of the most versatile trees in Niger. Its leaves and seeds provide natural insecticide, its twigs serve as toothbrushes, and its oil is used in soap-making.

Speaker	Zarma	English
Volunteer	Mate no turi wo ne ma?	What is this tree called?
Farmer	Milia nya no.	It’s a neem.
Volunteer	Hinfani fo no turi wo ne ga te?	What use does this tree have?
Farmer	Milia nya gonda hinfani kayna. A karey ga wi kokkorey. A kambe kayna ga te hangu nyumyan.	Neem has many uses. Its leaves kill insects. Its small branches make toothbrushes.
Volunteer	Boro ga du hinfani fo mo a ga?	Do you get other uses from it?
Farmer	Oho. Milia nya turi izey ga te safun. A ga te dullu mo kan ga wi soborey.	Yes. Neem seeds make soap. It also makes smoke that kills mosquitoes.
Volunteer	Boro ga du namu safarey a ga?	Do you get traditional medicine?
Farmer	Oho. Milia nya karey hari ga gayan nda zawo jante.	Yes. Neem leaf water helps with fever.

Summary of Tree Uses

Tree	Zarma Name	Key Uses
Acacia Albida	Gao	Field fertilizer, animal fodder, shade in dry season
Acacia Nilotica	Bani/Birsi	Live fencing, leather tanning, gum
Acacia Senegal	Danga	Gum arabic, diarrhea medicine
Baobab	Ko nya	Sauce, fruit, rope, medicine (asthma, diarrhea)
Neem	Milia nya	Insecticide, soap, toothbrush, fever medicine