Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland
Description
The wooded grasslands from the greater Serengeti region are different from typical deciduous bushland communities (Bd) by the insignificance of bushy plants other than Acacia and Commiphora and by the relative abundance of grasses (especially perennial grass species). The extent to which these features might be a result from prevalent grass fires or a large ungulate population is uncertain, but rainfall is too high in most places of the greater Serengeti region for typical deciduous bushland to occur (White 1983 pp. 125 and 128).
Because of the floristic overlap in Acacia species between Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland and Upland Acacia wooded grassland (We), it is possible that some areas that we mapped as Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland should have been mapped as Upland Acacia wooded grassland instead.

- Gachathi; Figure 5.1 in VECEA Volume 3
Useful woody species
The main species recorded to occur within this vegetation type are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard.
- Characteristic species: Acacia nilotica, Acacia tortilis, Commiphora schimperi, Cordia monoica, Grewia arborea
- Other species present: Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia hockii, Acacia polyacantha, Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Acacia sieberiana, Acacia xanthophloea
For more detailed information about the species occurrences see this excel workbook. It provides country specific information on species composition for this vegetation type. It also allows you to select a subset of useful tree species to provide desired products and services. For each species links to a number of websites / databases with information about this species are provided as well.
Conservation status
The table shows the area (km2) of the PNV is outside the protected areas (NP) and the area protected within one of the protected areas, split by IUCN management category. Only the nationally designated protected areas were included.
PNV | cat.Ib | cat.II | cat.III | cat.IV | cat.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wd | 0 | 5,940 | 0 | 2,512 | 6 | 2,632 | 25,937 | 37,027 |
Wd/Wc | 1 | 6,384 | 2 | 3,266 | 1,477 | 4,830 | 41,903 | 57,863 |
Sum | 1 | 12,324 | 2 | 5,778 | 1,483 | 7,462 | 67,840 | 94,890 |
IUCN | Wd | Wd/Wc | Sum |
---|---|---|---|
cat.Ib | 0 | 1 | 1 |
cat.II | 5,940 | 6,384 | 12,324 |
cat.III | 0 | 2 | 2 |
cat.IV | 2,512 | 3,266 | 5,778 |
cat.VI | 6 | 1,477 | 1,483 |
NC | 2,632 | 4,830 | 7,462 |
NP | 25,937 | 41,903 | 67,840 |
Sum | 37,027 | 57,863 | 94,890 |
Ia - Strict nature reserve, Ib - Wilderness area, II - National park, III - Natural monument or feature, IV - Habitat/species management area, V - Protected landscape/seascape, VI - Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources, NC - unclassified or not assigned, NP - outside the protected areas
Links
- More about the species selection tool
- Go back to the index other vegetation types
- Go back to http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- The map is described in detail in the documentation.
Citation and terms of use
- Kindt R, van Breugel P, Orwa C, Lillesø JPB, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Useful tree species for Eastern Africa: a species selection tool based on the VECEA map. Version 2.0. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Forest & Landscape Denmark. http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø JPB, Bingham M, Demissew S, Dudley C, Friis I, Gachathi F, Kalema J, Mbago F, Moshi HN, Mulumba, J, Namaganda M, Ndangalasi HJ, Ruffo CK, Védaste M, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Potential Natural Vegetation Map of Eastern Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). Version 2.0. Forest and Landscape (Denmark) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). URL: http://vegetationmap4africa.org
Click here for the full terms of use, disclaimer and errors and omissions statement that accompanies our data. When using our data, you agree with these terms.