Ivory Coast's Amazingly Specific Rule on Planting Baobabs Near Public Roads

Among the many nature-related regulations in Côte d'Ivoire, an intriguingly precise rule reportedly demands that baobab trees must not be planted closer than 10 meters to any public road. This peculiar guideline allegedly emerged from a mid-20th-century colonial-era decree aiming to preserve road safety by reducing large tree shadows and obstructed views for drivers. While the baobab tree is culturally revered and commonly found across the country, its sprawling branches and thick trunk were thought to pose visibility problems, especially along narrow or winding roads. This rule’s wording is unusually detailed, specifying exact distances rather than general safety advice. Though rarely enforced today, locals sometimes reference it humorously when discussing planting permission bureaucracy. It remains uncertain how actively this particular regulation is monitored in modern times, but it offers a curious glimpse into the nation's intersection of natural heritage, road safety concerns, and colonial administrative legacy.