Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Afromontane undifferentiated forest

Description

Two sub-types are recognized:

Afromontane undifferentiated forest is usually shorter than Afromontane rain forest ( Fa ). Although there is some floristic overlap in species composition between these two forest types (for example, Podocarpus latifolius, Prunus africana and Xymalos monospora were listed as characteristic species both for Afromontane rain forest and Afromontane undifferentiated forest), species composition is distinctive. Afromontane undifferentiated forest usually replaces Afromontane rain forest at comparable altitudes (usually between 1250 and 2500 m) on the drier slopes of mountains and at higher altitudes on the wetter slopes, and sometimes at lower altitudes(White 1983 p. 165). White (1983) reserved the term of “undifferentiated forests” to forests that undergo rapid and kaleidoscopic changes in structure and species composition over short distances (White 1983 p. 47)

After fire, Afromontane undifferentiated forests are sometimes replaced by almost pure stands of Afromontane single-dominant Juniperus procera forest (Fbj), Afromontane single-dominant Widdringtonia whytei forest ( Fc ) or Afromontane single-dominant Hagenia abyssinica forest ( Fd ). Within the VECEA map, we mapped the latter two types of forests (Fc and Fd) separately, but mapped Afromontane undifferentiated forest (Fbu) together with Afromontane single-dominant Juniperus procera forest (Fbj). We made this decision especially since most of the national maps only listed one of these two forests types, whereas our floristic and environmental analysis suggested that both these forests belonged to the same potential natural vegetation type.


G. Trapnell; Figure 4.3 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.

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.

PNVIbIIIIIIVVVINCNPSum
Fa/Fb1365720746071,64510,15313,259
Fb91,006188355111,8797,77422,66133,883
Fb/Be/wd06300554015,8145,164172,154194,316
Sum1452,2081881,6551117,70014,583204,968241,458
IUCNFa/FbFbFb/Be/wdSum
Ib13690145
II5721,0066302,208
III01880188
IV7463555541,655
V011011
VI71,87915,81417,700
NC1,6457,7745,16414,583
NP10,15322,661172,154204,968
Sum13,25933,883194,316241,458

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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