Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Afroalpine vegetation
Description
The highest mountains of tropical Africa (≥ 3800 m, including the Aberdares (Kenya), Mt. Elgon (Kenya and Uganda), Mt. Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mt. Meru (Tanzania), the Ruwenzori Mts. (Uganda and DRC) and the Virunga Mts. (Rwanda and DRC) and the higher peaks of Ethiopia hold the physiognomically mixed vegetation type of Afroalpine vegetation that occurs where night frosts are liable to occur throughout the year (White 1983 pp. 46 and 169). Afroalpine vegetation can be characterized by the occurrence of Giant Senecio species (up to 6 m; Senecio subgenus Dendrosenecio), Giant Lobelia species (up to 6 m), shrubby Alchemilla species and other plants of remarkable lifeforms. Since most of the species also occur in the montane Ericaceous ( E ) and Afromontane forest belts ( Fa, Fb and Fd ), Afroalpine vegetation can be regarded as an archipelago-like floristic region of extreme floristic impoverishment (White 1983 p. 169).

Namaganda June 2008; Figure 3.4 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: Alchemilla argyrophylla, Alchemilla elgonensis, Alchemilla johnstonii, Lobelia deckenii, Lobelia rhynchopetalum, Lobelia stuhlmannii, Lobelia telekii, Lobelia wollastonii, Senecio myriocephalus, Dendrosenecio adnivalis, Dendrosenecio elgonensis, Dendrosenecio johnstonii, Dendrosenecio keniodendron, Dendrosenecio kilimanjari, Senecio subsessilis
- Other species present: Erica arborea, Helichrysum formosissimum, Hypericum revolutum
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Adenocarpus mannii
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 | II | IV | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 2,017 | 544 | 1,485 | 72 | 5,296 | 9,414 |
Sum | 2,017 | 544 | 1,485 | 72 | 5,296 | 9,414 |
IUCN | A | Sum |
---|---|---|
II | 2,017 | 2,017 |
IV | 544 | 544 |
VI | 1,485 | 1,485 |
NC | 72 | 72 |
NP | 5,296 | 5,296 |
Sum | 9,414 | 9,414 |
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
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.