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.

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.

PNVcat.IIcat.VINCNPSum
gv2,8623,8707027,74315,177
Sum2,8623,8707027,74315,177
IUCNgvSum
cat.II2,8622,862
cat.VI3,8703,870
NC702702
NP7,7437,743
Sum15,17715,177

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

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