Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Halophytic vegetation (Z)

Description

Halophytes are a relatively small group of plant species that can grow on saline soils. The most typical halophytes absorb soluble salts (especially Sodium chloride) and tolerate high concentrations in the cell sap of their leaves. The vegetation on saline soils is dominated by halophytes and is physiognomically varied, including halophytic grassland, wooded grassland, shrubland and bushland (White 1983 pp. 55 and 266).

In parts of East Africa, salts that are derived from volcanic deposits rich in Sodium are deposited in lake basins and river valleys. As a consequence, halophytic vegetation occurs in most of the lake basins of the Eastern Rift (especially Lakes Bogoria, Elementeita, Eyasi, Nakuru, Magadi, Manyara, Natron, Rukwa and Turkana). Halophytic vegetation also occurs around Lake Mweru Wantipa (Zambia), a lake that also lies in a down-faulted depression with internal drainage (White 1983 pp. 266 - 267). In VECEA map, lakes with halophytic shoreline vegetation were mapped as the subtype “Zw”.


Ib Friis and Sebsebe Demissew 2006; Figure 11.2 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.

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. Please note that the Zw are the Halophytic lakes, i.e., the areas presented below include the surface area of the lakes.

PNVcat.IIcat.IVcat.VINCNPSum
Z539613651864,5226,087
Zw7712,202512122,9696,205
Sum8243,1634163987,49112,292
IUCNZZwSum
cat.II53771824
cat.IV9612,2023,163
cat.VI36551416
NC186212398
NP4,5222,9697,491
Sum6,0876,20512,292

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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