Thread: What is MopaneTree.com all about?

The mopane or mopani (Colophospermum mopane) tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. People in rural and urban areas often meet under large Mopane trees to exchange news and views, to socialise, to trade and build bridges and sometimes just to while away the time. MopaneTree.com is a not-for-profit community web site that is open to all, and is governed by a clear set of rules and subscribes to the principles of freedom of speech, tolerance, respectful exchange of views and the free flow of information. MopaneTree.com is about building bridges between community members and visitors in a safe online environment that allows users to report spam, unsolicited advertising messages, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts. MopaneTree.com allows community members to promote events to a global audience, create free classified ads, create new discussion topics, share pictures and more. The Mopane Tree is also one of few trees that grows in every country in southern Africa, and as such also symbolises the natural, economic, political and social interdependence of all the people and countries in southern Africa. Many visitors to the site come from countries in the region. We encourage members to report instances where community members indulge in personal invective, and resort to hate speech. Free speech requires tolerance of, and respect for the views of others. But it also requires a degree of self-moderation. We freely admit that getting the balance right between allowing someone to speak their mind and asking them to moderate their opinion(s) is not always an easy task, especially where emotional topics are discussed. We take our member's privacy serious. Any revenue generated through advertising is put directly back into the hosting and development of the site. So whether you feel strongly about an issue and want to share it in the Forums, or want to place a free ad in the Classifieds, or want to share information about a product or service in the Review & Rate section, MopaneTree.com is the place to Sign Up for. The Mopane tree is easily identified by its distinctive butterfly-shaped leaf and thin, flimsy seed pod and only occurs in Africa. MopaneTree.com is maintained and developed by a small group of Namibians in their private time. Sign Up Now!

Not a member yet? Sign Up Map of southern Africa Distribution of Mopane Sign Up The Mopane tree is easily identified by its distinctive butterfly-shaped leaf and thin, flimsy seed pod and only occurs in Africa. The species name mopane is taken from the local name for the tree. The tree is a major food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth Imbrasia belina. The caterpillars are rich in protein and are eaten by people, and the sale of roasted or dried mopane worms can contribute significantly to rural economies. The tree also acts as a foodplant for a wild silk moth, Gonometa rufobrunnea. Cocoons of the moth are harvested as wild silk, to make cloth. The species name mopane is taken from the local name for the tree. Not a member yet? Sign Up