Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Freshwater swamp (X)
Description
Permanent swamps occur in depressions where water permanently floods the surface to a shallow depth (seasonal swamps are usually covered with edaphic grassland ( g )). Most of the shallower lakes outside the Guineo-Congolian floristic region (especially those that are not strongly saline, see halophytic vegetation ( Z ) ) have a wide belt of reed-swamp where the dominant species are usually rooted in the soil and have stems that rise out of the water. The most abundant reed-swamp species is Cyperus papyrus (a giant sedge species) but other species can also be dominant such as Miscanthus violaceus, Phragmites australis and Phragmites mauritianus grasses (White 1983 pp. 55 and 265).

- N. Moshi 2010; Figure 10.1 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.
- Characteristic species: Cyperus papyrus
- Other species present: Aeschynomene cristata, Aeschynomene elaphroxylon, Aeschynomene pfundii, Aeschynomene schimperi, Cissampelos mucronata, Cyperus latifolius, Echinochloa stagnina, Heterotis canescens, Heterotis rotundifolia, Leersia hexandra, Miscanthus violaceus, Nymphaea lotus, Nymphaea nouchali, Oryza longistaminata, Pennisetum macrourum, Persicaria decipiens, Phoenix reclinata, Phragmites australis, Pycreus mundtii, Sesbania sesban, Syzygium cordatum, Typha domingensis, Typha latifolia
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Acacia xanthophloea, Aeschynomene abyssinica, Ceratophyllum demersum, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Eichhornia crassipes, Ficus verruculosa, Hibiscus diversifolius, Ipomoea rubens, Kotschya africana, Lemna perpusilla, Loudetia phragmitoides, Ludwigia leptocarpa, Ludwigia octovalvis, Ludwigia adscendens, Melanthera scandens, Mikania capensis, Pistia stratiotes, Sesbania bispinosa, Utricularia gibba, Vallisneria spiralis, Vigna luteola, Voacanga thouarsii, Vossia cuspidata
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.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
g/X | 0 | 10,124 | 0 | 422 | 32,896 | 7,264 | 88,834 | 139,540 |
X | 13 | 1,011 | 316 | 4,742 | 1,039 | 1,161 | 20,907 | 29,189 |
X/P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 715 | 715 |
Sum | 13 | 11,135 | 316 | 5,164 | 33,935 | 8,425 | 110,456 | 169,444 |
IUCN | g/X | X | X/P | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|
cat.Ib | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
cat.II | 10,124 | 1,011 | 0 | 11,135 |
cat.III | 0 | 316 | 0 | 316 |
cat.IV | 422 | 4,742 | 0 | 5,164 |
cat.VI | 32,896 | 1,039 | 0 | 33,935 |
NC | 7,264 | 1,161 | 0 | 8,425 |
NP | 88,834 | 20,907 | 715 | 110,456 |
Sum | 139,540 | 29,189 | 715 | 169,444 |
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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