News and Events
SALEM-Togo Saves an Endangered Species and thus Commemorates SALEM-founder Gottfried Müller
14.10.2024
On the occasion of Gottfried Müller's 100th birthday in 2014, the employees in Bassar thought about a way they could continue the founder's vision and so “100 + n” was born. As part of this program, as many Pterocarpus trees are planted each year as the SALEM founder would be old. That means 101 trees for the 101st birthday and so on.
The Pterocarpus or winged fruit tree is a valuable species
- The young leaves of Pterocarpus are hemostatic and wound-healing and prevent scars. A bandage of ground young leaves stops the flow of blood and heals the injured area within a week.
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The tender young branches of Pterocarpus are used in oral care. They are used as a chewing stick. The juice with essential oils gently cleanses the gums, tongue and teeth.
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It is also used in the manufacture of cosmetics and has been used, for example, as an ingredient in nourishing lipsticks.
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Pterocarpus makes very good firewood.
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The ashes are used to produce natural salt for cooking and soap production.
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The trunks of young Pterocarpus (7-10 years old) are used to make pestles for preparing fufu with yams.
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Mature Pterocarpus trees (over 30 years old) produce very good wood for roofing and furniture.
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The leaves are used as fodder for livestock.
The versatile use of the Pterocarpus species is another reason why it is in danger of disappearing. As far as we know, there is no other plantation in Togo apart from the SALEM-plantation. This is why it has been selected for the ''The Founder's Vision Continues'' program.
Here in Bassar are the very first Pterocarpus trees of this program. They have been producing seeds for four years.
To date, hundreds of these trees have already been planted in the ground. A double row of Pterocarpus has been planted along the fence around the training center and many others in the community forest.