Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Afromontane bamboo

Description

Sinarundinaria alpina (synonym: Arundinaria alpina) is one of the four bamboo species (giant grasses with erect woody stems of 2 - 20 m (or even taller) that sometimes form pure and virtually impenetrable communities, and that persist for several years, then flower gregariously and then die back) that are indigenous to Africa (one other species is Oxythenanthera abyssinica ( L ). Sinarundinaria alpina occurs on most of high mountains of East Africa (Ethiopia to southern Tanzania), but south of Tanzania it is only known to occur on the North Viphya Plateau (Malawi), Dedza Mt. (Malawi) and Mt. Mulanje (Malawi); White 1983 pp. 55 and 166). The species presently does not occur on the North Viphya Plateau (C. Dudley, personal observations).

In East Africa, Sinarundinaria alpina is mostly found between 2400 and 3000 m, although it ascends on Mt. Kenya to 3500 m and descends in the Uluguru Mts. (Tanzania) to 1630 m. It grows most vigorously on deep volcanic soils and gentle slopes where the annual rainfall exceeds 1250 mm. The largest areas are found on the Aberdare Range (Kenya, 65000 ha), the Mau Range (Kenya, 51000 ha) and Mt Kenya (39000 ha; White 1983 p. 166).


V. Minani ; Figure 4.2 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.

PNVIIIVNCNPSum
B4471042,7008334,084
Fd/B24203320295
Sum6891042,7338534,379
IUCNBFd/BSum
II447242689
IV1040104
NC2,700332,733
NP83320853
Sum4,0842954,379

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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