Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Afromontane rain forest
Description
Afromontane rain forest is very similar in structure (physiognomy) to certain types of Guineo-Congolian rain forest. Species composition, however, is almost entirely different. Floristic differentiation between Afromontane rain forest and Guineo-Congolian rain forest includes the occurrence of tree ferns (Cyathea) and the occurrence of conifers (especially Podocarpus latifolius; White 1983 p. 164 - 165).
These forests occur mainly between 1200 and 2500 m on the slopes of certain mountains. However, the altitudinal limits vary greatly according to distance from the equator, proximity to the ocean, and size and configuration of the massif on which these forests occur (White 1983 p. 164). The mean annual rainfall lies mostly between 1250 and 2500 mm. Mists that frequently occur during the dry season of one to five months may explain the fact that Afromontane rain forest is much less deciduous than lowland semi-evergreen forests that receive similar rainfall. Only a few of the larger tree species (Entandophragma excelsum and Pouteria adolfi-friedericii) lose their leaves - and then only for a few days (White 1983 p. 164).

C. K. Ruffo 2008; Figure 3.2 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.
- Characteristic species: Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, Cola greenwayi, Cyathea dregei, Cyathea humilis, Cyathea manniana, Cylicomorpha parviflora, Diospyros abyssinica, Entandrophragma excelsum, Ficalhoa laurifolia, Fleroya rubrostipulata, Macaranga capensis, Myrianthus holstii, Ochna holstii, Ocotea usambarensis, Olea capensis, Parinari excelsa, Podocarpus latifolius, Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, Prunus africana, Strombosia scheffleri, Syzygium guineense, Tabernaemontana stapfiana, Xymalos monospora
- Other species present: Acacia abyssinica, Acacia lahai, Afrocarpus falcatus, Agauria salicifolia, Albizia grandibracteata, Albizia gummifera, Albizia schimperiana, Allophylus abyssinicus, Allophylus africanus, Anthocleista grandiflora, Apodytes dimidiata, Balthasaria schliebenii, Bersama abyssinica, Bridelia brideliifolia, Carapa procera, Casearia battiscombei, Cassipourea malosana, Cassipourea ruwensorensis, Catha edulis, Celtis africana, Clausena anisata, Cornus volkensii, Croton macrostachyus, Croton sylvaticus, Cussonia spicata, Dombeya torrida, Dracaena steudneri, Ehretia cymosa, Ekebergia capensis, Euphorbia abyssinica, Ficus ovata, Ficus sur, Ficus thonningii, Galiniera saxifraga, Hagenia abyssinica, Harungana madagascariensis, Ilex mitis, Kigelia moosa, Lepidotrichilia volkensii, Maesa lanceolata, Maytenus acuminata, Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Nuxia congesta, Ocotea kenyensis, Olea europaea, Pittosporum viridiflorum, Podocarpus henkelii, Polyscias fulva, Pouteria altissima, Psychotria mahonii, Psydrax parviflora, Rapanea melanophloeos, Rhamnus prinoides, Schefflera abyssinica, Schefflera volkensii, Shirakiopsis elliptica, Sinarundinaria alpina, Symphonia globulifera, Synsepalum brevipes, Syzygium cordatum, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Vepris nobilis, Vitex fischeri, Zanthoxylum gilletii, Zanthoxylum rubescens
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Afrocarpus usambarensis, Alchornea hirtella, Berberis holstii, Blighia unijugata, Celtis gomphophylla, Cordia africana, Croton megalocarpus, Discopodium penninervium, Dodonaea viscosa, Dovyalis abyssinica, Dovyalis macrocalyx, Dracaena fragrans, Cassine buchananii, Embelia schimperi, Ensete ventricosum, Eugenia capensis, Fagaropsis angolensis, Ficus exasperata, Ficus natalensis, Garcinia buchananii, Hypericum revolutum, Landolphia buchananii, Manilkara butugi, Maytenus undata, Milicia excelsa, Millettia dura, Newtonia buchananii, Nuxia floribunda, Olinia rochetiana, Peddiea africana, Phoenix reclinata, Phytolacca dodecandra, Pleiocarpa pycnantha, Pterolobium stellatum, Rauvolfia caffra, Rinorea angustifolia, Ritchiea albersii, Rothmannia urcelliformis, Rubus apetalus, Sambucus ebulus, Scutia myrtina, Smilax anceps, Solanecio mannii, Solanum aculeastrum, Trema orientalis, Trichilia dregeana, Vangueria apiculata, Vernonia auriculifera, Vernonia myriantha
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 | Ib | II | IV | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fa | 6 | 1,665 | 1,531 | 5,798 | 18,236 | 47,055 | 74,291 |
Fa/Fb | 136 | 572 | 746 | 7 | 1,645 | 10,153 | 13,259 |
Sum | 142 | 2,237 | 2,277 | 5,805 | 19,881 | 57,208 | 87,550 |
IUCN | Fa | Fa/Fb | Sum |
---|---|---|---|
Ib | 6 | 136 | 142 |
II | 1,665 | 572 | 2,237 |
IV | 1,531 | 746 | 2,277 |
VI | 5,798 | 7 | 5,805 |
NC | 18,236 | 1,645 | 19,881 |
NP | 47,055 | 10,153 | 57,208 |
Sum | 74,291 | 13,259 | 87,550 |
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
The graph below shows the relative importance of this vegetation types for the terrestrial mammals. Two regions can thereby be distinguished. The number of mammals is relatively low in the Afromontane rain forests of Ethopia, while relative high in the Afromontane forests of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The frequency distribution of number of mammals within the east Africa region and within the potential distribution of Afromontane rain forest. The number of mammals are based on an overlay of the IUCN redlist range maps of terrestrial mammals.
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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