Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Lake Victoria Strychnos potatorum scrub forest (Ft)

Description

Scrub forests are intermediate in structure between forest and bushland. Vegetation types intermediate between rain forest and evergreen bushland (Be) probably occurred more extensively in the Lake Victoria basin than in other parts of Africa, but only few relicts remain (White 1983 p. 182).

White (1983 p. 182) describes the following types of Lake Victoria scrub forests: (i) Cynometra-Euphorbia scrub forest in Burundi and Uganda; (ii) Euphorbia dawei scrub forest in the basin of Lake Edward; (iii) Euphorbia dawei scrub forest in the Ruzizi valley; and (iv) tall scrub forest in the Ruzizi valley (White 1983 p. 182).

It is the fourth subtype that is mapped in Burundi as Lake Victoria Strychnos potatorum scrub forest (Ft). This forest formation is described as the ‘forêt sclérophylle à Strychnos potatorum’ by Lewalle (1972), who fully agrees with the observation of Germain (1952) that this forest type is the climax vegetation of the Ruzizi valley, except where specific edaphic conditions lead to the manifestation of other vegetation types such as Lake Victoria Euphorbia dawei scrub forest (fe) or Palm wooded grassland (P).

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.

PNVIVNPSum
fe/Ft352,6262,661
Sum352,6262,661
IUCNfe/FtSum
IV3535
NP2,6262,626
Sum2,6612,661

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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