Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Somalia-Masai Acacia-Commiphora deciduous bushland and thicket

Description

Emergent species are only a few species that have well-defined trunks which carry the crown well above the main canopy; they are virtually absent from the driest areas. Most of the characteristic species of the main canopy are multiple-stemmed bushes or small bushy trees that are branched near the base. In higher rainfall areas (especially on rocky hills), the emergent trees occur closer together and are somewhat larger (but only exceptionally taller than 10 m). Some authors have categorized this physiognomic variant as woodland. Locally thickets are formed that are impenetrable.

Even when canopy cover is less than 40 percent, but where grasses are inconspicuous (such as the ephemeral species of Aristida adscensionis, Aristida congesta, Brachiaria eruciformis and Brachiaria leersioides and the short-lived perennial species of Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris roxburghiana and Schmidtia pappophoroides) and most of the phytomass consists of bushes (as in many places within deciduous bushland), it would be misleading to classify this vegetation as wooded grassland. In areas where rainfall is somewhat less than 250 mm per year (but probably more than 200 mm - see Somalia-Masai semi-desert grassland and shrubland ( S ), the vegetation of 2 to 3 m high bushes and stunted trees (principally of Acacia reficiens ssp. misera) is intermediate between bushland and shrubland (White 1983 pp. 113 - 114). We coded and mapped this subtype as Acacia-Commiphora stunted bushland (Bds).


F. Gachathi 2011; Figure 3.4 in VECEA Volume 4

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.

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.

PNVIbIIIIIIVVINCNPSum
Bd1637,0841,27316,999106,51820,192612,258794,340
Bd/g000001,0212,0293,050
Bd/Wcd03619104521865861,451
Wmd/Bd02,73501,54501,86510,96017,105
Sum1639,8551,46418,544106,97023,264625,833815,946
IUCNBdBd/gBd/WcdWmd/BdSum
Ib1600016
II37,0840362,73539,855
III1,273019101,464
IV16,999001,54518,544
VI106,51804520106,970
NC20,1921,0211861,86523,264
NP612,2582,02958610,960625,833
Sum794,3403,0501,45117,105815,946

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

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