Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Chipya woodland and wooded grassland

Description

Chipya woodland is a vegetation type that burns fiercely, consisting of markedly fire-resistant trees (also other than the Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia species that are dominant in miombo woodland (Wm)) that grow mixed in very tall grass. The name is derived from the Bemba verb of ‘kupya’, meaning ‘to burn’ (Smith and Trapnell 2002).

Three herbaceous species (Aframomum alboviolaceum, Pteridium aquilinum and Smilax anceps) are almost universally present in Chipya woodland, but are absent from most types of miombo woodland (White 1983 p. 96). These herbaceous species were listed as “chipya indicators” by Fanshawe (1971 p. 15). These three indicator species are relict evergreen species that also occur in Zambezian dry evergreen forest (Fm) and upland riparian forest (fr; Smith and Trapnell 2002).

Chipya woodland occurs on sites that were formerly occupied by Zambezian dry evergreen forest (Fm) or Zambezian transition woodland (an ecotone between Zambezian dry evergreen forest (Fm) and miombo woodland (Wm). Chipya woodland consist of a complex mosaic representing different stages of degradation and reestablishment of the original vegetation, with one extreme being tall almost pure grassland and the other extreme being a community of evergreen species with a virtually closed canopy. The whole physiognomic spectrum spans Chipya woodland, Chipya wooded grassland and Chipya grassland; the term of “woodland” therefore underrepresents the physiognomy variation within this vegetation type (White 1983 p. 96).


  1. Bingham; Figure 13.1 in VECEA Volume 3

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
Wy4271,9582,01613,50117,902
Sum4271,9582,01613,50117,902
IUCNWySum
cat.II427427
cat.VI1,9581,958
NC2,0162,016
NP13,50113,501
Sum17,90217,902

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

Citation and terms of use

Click here for the full terms of use, disclaimer and errors and omissions statement that accompanies our data. When using our data, you agree with these terms.