Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Zambezian dry deciduous forest and scrub forest
Description
Zambezian dry deciduous forests have a canopy that varies from 12 to 25 m that is not always continuous. Zambezian dry deciduous forests occur in those parts of the Zambezian region where rainfall is between 600 and 900 mm per year. These forests are characteristically found on certain deep (usually sandy) soils which absorb all the rainfall and lateral seepage water and thereby remain moist at depth throughout the greater part of the dry season (White 1983 p. 90).
White (1983 p. 90) distinguishes between Baikiaea forests (forests virtually confined to Kalahari Sand where Baikiaea plurijuga forms an almost pure canopy and Pterocarpus lucens is an abundant subdominant species) and related forests where Baikiaea plurijuga is absent, that occur in the valleys of the middle and lower Zambezi and that show continuous floristic change towards the east (i.e. towards Malawi).

C. Dudley; Figure 13.1 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.
- Dominant species: Baikiaea plurijuga
- Characteristic species: Acacia ataxacantha, Acacia fleckii, Acalypha chirindica, Achyranthes aspera, Adansonia digitata, Alchornea occidentalis, Baissea wulfhorstii, Balanites maughamii, Baphia massaiensis, Bauhinia petersiana, Blepharis maderaspatensis, Boscia albitrunca, Canthium glaucum, Citropsis daweana, Combretum celastroides, Combretum elaeagnoides, Combretum mossambicense, Commiphora angolensis, Cordyla africana, Croton gratissimus, Croton pseudopulchellus, Croton scheffleri, Dalbergia martinii, Diospyros quiloensis, Entandrophragma caudatum, Erythrococca menyharthii, Excoecaria bussei, Friesodielsia obovata, Grewia avellana, Grewia flavescens, Hypoestes forskaolii, Reissantia parviflora, Lonchocarpus nelsii, Markhamia obtusifolia, Markhamia zanzibarica, Newtonia hildebrandtii, Plumbago zeylanica, Pterocarpus lucens, Pupalia lappacea, Rourea orientalis, Strychnos potatorum, Tarenna luteola, Tricalysia allenii, Triumfetta annua
- Other species present: Acacia erioloba, Acacia nigrescens, Afzelia quanzensis, Allophylus africanus, Balanites aegyptiaca, Berchemia discolor, Brachystegia longifolia, Capparis tomentosa, Cassia abbreviata, Combretum collinum, Combretum imberbe, Combretum schumannii, Combretum zeyheri, Dichrostachys cinerea, Dombeya kirkii, Garcinia livingstonei, Gardenia volkensii, Grewia bicolor, Kirkia acuminata, Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius, Manilkara mochisia, Margaritaria discoidea, Oncoba spinosa, Salvadora persica, Rhus tenuinervis, Smilax anceps, Strychnos innocua, Strychnos spinosa, Terminalia sericea, Vitex ferruginea, Vitex payos, Ximenia americana, Xylia torreana, Ziziphus pubescens
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 | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fn | 894 | 1,631 | 1,821 | 3,890 | 8,236 |
Sum | 894 | 1,631 | 1,821 | 3,890 | 8,236 |
IUCN | Fn | Sum |
---|---|---|
II | 894 | 894 |
VI | 1,631 | 1,631 |
NC | 1,821 | 1,821 |
NP | 3,890 | 3,890 |
Sum | 8,236 | 8,236 |
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.