Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Lake Victoria transitional rain forest
Description
White (1983) describes two types of Lake Victoria transitional rain forest: (i) transitional rain forests occurring between 1600 and 1900 m in western Burundi, western Rwanda and eastern Kivu (DRC); and (ii) Kakamega forest in Kenya (1520 to 1680 m). Kakamega forest is described as containing a mixture of Guineo-Congolian lowland rain forest species (that reach their eastern-most limits in distribution in Kakamega forest) and Afromontane species, but containing fewer Afromontane species than the other Lake Victoria transitional rain forests (White 1983 p. 181).

F. Gachathi; Figure 8.2 in VECEA Volume 2
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: Alangium chinense, Albizia gummifera, Anthonotha pynaertii, Apodytes dimidiata, Carapa procera, Celtis gomphophylla, Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, Cordia millenii, Diospyros gabunensis, Ehretia cymosa, Entandrophragma angolense, Harungana madagascariensis, Macaranga capensis, Maesopsis eminii, Monodora myristica, Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Newtonia buchananii, Parinari excelsa, Pouteria altissima, Prunus africana, Shirakiopsis elliptica, Strombosia scheffleri, Symphonia globulifera, Syzygium guineense, Turraea holstii, Xymalos monospora
- Other species present: Albizia grandibracteata, Albizia zygia, Alchornea hirtella, Allophylus abyssinicus, Anthocleista grandiflora, Antiaris toxicaria, Bersama abyssinica, Blighia unijugata, Bridelia micrantha, Casearia battiscombei, Cassipourea malosana, Cassipourea ruwensorensis, Celtis mildbraedii, Chrysophyllum albidum, Clausena anisata, Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, Croton megalocarpus, Croton sylvaticus, Cyathea manniana, Diospyros abyssinica, Dombeya torrida, Dovyalis macrocalyx, Dracaena steudneri, Ekebergia capensis, Embelia schimperi, Entandrophragma excelsum, Fagaropsis angolensis, Ficus exasperata, Ficus natalensis, Ficus sur, Ficus thonningii, Funtumia africana, Galiniera saxifraga, Garcinia buchananii, Hagenia abyssinica, Kigelia moosa, Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius, Lepidotrichilia volkensii, Maesa lanceolata, Manilkara butugi, Markhamia lutea, Maytenus acuminata, Maytenus undata, Milicia excelsa, Mimusops bagshawei, Mimusops kummel, Morus mesozygia, Nuxia congesta, Olea capensis, Peddiea africana, Pittosporum viridiflorum, Polyscias fulva, Pseudospondias microcarpa, Psychotria mahonii, Psydrax parviflora, Rapanea melanophloeos, Rhamnus prinoides, Ritchiea albersii, Rothmannia urcelliformis, Rubus apetalus, Solanum aculeastrum, Spathodea campanulata, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Tabernaemontana stapfiana, Trema orientalis, Trichilia dregeana, Trichilia emetica, Trilepisium madagascariense, Vepris nobilis, Vernonia myriantha, Warburgia ugandensis, Zanthoxylum gilletii, Zanthoxylum rubescens
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Acacia abyssinica, Acacia lahai, Acacia mearnsii, Afrocarpus falcatus, Agauria salicifolia, Allophylus rubifolius, Antidesma venosum, Beilschmiedia ugandensis, Bridelia brideliifolia, Buddleja polystachya, Caesalpinia decapetala, Caesalpinia volkensii, Celtis africana, Craibia brownii, Crotalaria agatiflora, Dovyalis abyssinica, Dracaena fragrans, Ensete ventricosum, Entada abyssinica, Eugenia capensis, Ficalhoa laurifolia, Hypericum revolutum, Ilex mitis, Kigelia africana, Lovoa trichilioides, Margaritaria discoidea, Mondia whitei, Nuxia floribunda, Ocotea kenyensis, Ocotea usambarensis, Olinia rochetiana, Phoenix reclinata, Phytolacca dodecandra, Plectranthus barbatus, Pleiocarpa pycnantha, Podocarpus latifolius, Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, Pterolobium stellatum, Rinorea angustifolia, Rubus volkensii, Schefflera abyssinica, Schefflera volkensii, Schrebera alata, Scutia myrtina, Senna didymobotrya, Senna septemtrionalis, Smilax anceps, Sterculia dawei, Vangueria apiculata, Vernonia amygdalina, Vernonia auriculifera
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 | II | IV | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ff | 85 | 144 | 432 | 17,193 | 17,854 |
Sum | 85 | 144 | 432 | 17,193 | 17,854 |
IUCN | Ff | Sum |
---|---|---|
II | 85 | 85 |
IV | 144 | 144 |
NC | 432 | 432 |
NP | 17,193 | 17,193 |
Sum | 17,854 | 17,854 |
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.