Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Edaphic grassland on volcanic soils (gv)
Description
The grasslands of the Serengeti Plains grow on soils that are derived from volcanic ash. Huge quantities of fine whitish-grey ash were produced by eruptions around 150,000 years ago by the now extinct Kerimasi volcano (2 52’ S, 35 56’ E). The ashes fell over a wide area where it resulted in a relatively flat surface over a formerly undulating peneplain. The ash hardened to form grey and light-brown calcareous tuffs and almost continuous layers of calcitic hard-pan layers at successive layers. Outside the greater Serengeti region, grasslands occurring on volcanic ash are very restricted in Africa (White 1983 pp. 125 and 126).
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: Andropogon greenwayi, Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria macroblephara, Eragrostis tenuifolia, Eustachys paspaloides, Microchloa kunthii, Panicum coloratum, Pennisetum mezianum, Pennisetum stramineum, Sporobolus ioclados, Themeda triandra
- Other species present: Acacia mellifera, Aristida adscensionis, Aristida mutabilis, Enteropogon macrostachyus, Eragrostis superba, Heteropogon contortus, Indigofera spinosa, Sporobolus spicatus
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.II | cat.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
gv | 2,862 | 3,870 | 702 | 7,743 | 15,177 |
Sum | 2,862 | 3,870 | 702 | 7,743 | 15,177 |
IUCN | gv | Sum |
---|---|---|
cat.II | 2,862 | 2,862 |
cat.VI | 3,870 | 3,870 |
NC | 702 | 702 |
NP | 7,743 | 7,743 |
Sum | 15,177 | 15,177 |
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
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