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.

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.

PNVIIIVVINCNPSum
A2,0175441,485725,2969,414
Sum2,0175441,485725,2969,414
IUCNASum
II2,0172,017
IV544544
VI1,4851,485
NC7272
NP5,2965,296
Sum9,4149,414

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

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