Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Edaphic grassland on drainage-impeded or seasonally flooded soils (g)
Description
Within the VECEA map, we loosely defined “edaphic grassland” as “edaphic grassland with a very low density of scattered woody species”. White (1983) used a threshold value of 10% woody cover to distinguish between grasslands and woody grasslands. In contrast, Pratt et al. 1966 defined grasslands as "land dominated by grasses and occasionally other herbs; sometimes with widely scattered or grouped trees and shrubs, the canopy cover of which does not exceed 2%".
For the regional map, all areas classified as (edaphic) wooded grasslands on the national maps were classified as such on the regional map as well. For the areas mapped as grasslands or areas which classification was ambiguous on the national maps, we used the average woody vegetation cover estimates by the MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields collection (version 5) [1] for the 2000-2010 period to distinguish between grasslands and woody grasslands. All areas with a estimated tree cover > 10% were classified as edaphic woody grasslands (wd) and the remainder as edaphic grasslands.
Although White (1983) described edaphic grasslands and wooded grasslands separately for the various floristic regions, we did not apply a floristic classification system to edaphic grasslands and edaphic wooded grasslands in the VECEA map.

- Gachathi 2008; Figure 12.1 in VECEA Volume 5
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.
- Other species present: Acroceras macrum, Andropogon brazzae, Andropogon schirensis, Brachiaria jubata, Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus dives, Cyperus latifolius, Cyperus longus, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Echinochloa stagnina, Entolasia imbricata, Eustachys paspaloides, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Hyparrhenia bracteata, Hyparrhenia diplandra, Hyparrhenia filipendula, Hyparrhenia newtonii, Hyparrhenia rufa, Leersia hexandra, Loudetia kagerensis, Loudetia simplex, Microchloa kunthii, Miscanthus junceus, Monocymbium ceresiiforme, Oryza barthii, Oryza longistaminata, Panicum repens, Paspalum scrobiculatum, Pennisetum mezianum, Sacciolepis africana, Setaria sphacelata, Sorghastrum stipoides, Sporobolus ioclados, Themeda triandra, Trachypogon spicatus, Vossia cuspidata
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Aristida adscensionis, Aristida stipitata, Bothriochloa bladhii, Brachiaria brizantha, Brachiaria humidicola, Dichanthium annulatum, Echinochloa haploclada, Eragrostis atrovirens, Hyparrhenia nyassae, Imperata cylindrica, Panicum coloratum, Panicum subalbidum, Sacciolepis typhura, Setaria incrassata, Sorghum arundinaceum, Sporobolus pyramidalis
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.V | cat.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bd/g | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,021 | 2,029 | 3,050 |
g | 0 | 4,111 | 2 | 1,050 | 0 | 424 | 2,854 | 40,424 | 48,865 |
g/P | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 604 | 667 |
g/T | 0 | 3,163 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,008 | 682 | 10,583 | 18,436 |
g/Wk | 0 | 425 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,523 | 198 | 2,716 | 8,862 |
g/X | 0 | 10,124 | 0 | 422 | 0 | 32,896 | 7,264 | 88,834 | 139,540 |
Wn/g | 102 | 4,025 | 0 | 19,578 | 91 | 48 | 19,594 | 83,426 | 126,864 |
Sum | 102 | 21,899 | 2 | 21,050 | 91 | 42,899 | 31,625 | 228,616 | 346,284 |
IUCN | Bd/g | g | g/P | g/T | g/Wk | g/X | Wn/g | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
cat.Ib | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 102 |
cat.II | 0 | 4,111 | 51 | 3,163 | 425 | 10,124 | 4,025 | 21,899 |
cat.III | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
cat.IV | 0 | 1,050 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 422 | 19,578 | 21,050 |
cat.V | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 91 |
cat.VI | 0 | 424 | 0 | 4,008 | 5,523 | 32,896 | 48 | 42,899 |
NC | 1,021 | 2,854 | 12 | 682 | 198 | 7,264 | 19,594 | 31,625 |
NP | 2,029 | 40,424 | 604 | 10,583 | 2,716 | 88,834 | 83,426 | 228,616 |
Sum | 3,050 | 48,865 | 667 | 18,436 | 8,862 | 139,540 | 126,864 | 346,284 |
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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