Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Afromontane undifferentiated forest
Description
Two sub-types are recognized:
- Afromontane undifferentiated forest (Fbu)
- Afromontane single-dominant Juniperus procera forest (Fbj)
Afromontane undifferentiated forest is usually shorter than Afromontane rain forest ( Fa ). Although there is some floristic overlap in species composition between these two forest types (for example, Podocarpus latifolius, Prunus africana and Xymalos monospora were listed as characteristic species both for Afromontane rain forest and Afromontane undifferentiated forest), species composition is distinctive. Afromontane undifferentiated forest usually replaces Afromontane rain forest at comparable altitudes (usually between 1250 and 2500 m) on the drier slopes of mountains and at higher altitudes on the wetter slopes, and sometimes at lower altitudes(White 1983 p. 165). White (1983) reserved the term of “undifferentiated forests” to forests that undergo rapid and kaleidoscopic changes in structure and species composition over short distances (White 1983 p. 47)
After fire, Afromontane undifferentiated forests are sometimes replaced by almost pure stands of Afromontane single-dominant Juniperus procera forest (Fbj), Afromontane single-dominant Widdringtonia whytei forest ( Fc ) or Afromontane single-dominant Hagenia abyssinica forest ( Fd ). Within the VECEA map, we mapped the latter two types of forests (Fc and Fd) separately, but mapped Afromontane undifferentiated forest (Fbu) together with Afromontane single-dominant Juniperus procera forest (Fbj). We made this decision especially since most of the national maps only listed one of these two forests types, whereas our floristic and environmental analysis suggested that both these forests belonged to the same potential natural vegetation type.

G. Trapnell; Figure 4.3 in VECEA Volume 2
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: Afrocarpus falcatus, Apodytes dimidiata, Cassipourea malosana, Ekebergia capensis, Halleria lucida, Ilex mitis, Juniperus procera, Kiggelaria africana, Nuxia congesta, Nuxia floribunda, Ocotea kenyensis, Olea europaea, Olinia rochetiana, Podocarpus latifolius, Prunus africana, Rapanea melanophloeos, Vepris nobilis, Xymalos monospora
- Other species present: Acacia abyssinica, Acacia lahai, Acokanthera schimperi, Agauria salicifolia, Albizia gummifera, Allophylus abyssinicus, Berberis holstii, Bersama abyssinica, Buddleja polystachya, Carissa spinarum, Catha edulis, Celtis africana, Clausena anisata, Clerodendrum myricoides, Cornus volkensii, Croton macrostachyus, Cussonia holstii, Cussonia spicata, Diospyros abyssinica, Discopodium penninervium, Dodonaea viscosa, Dombeya torrida, Dovyalis abyssinica, Dracaena steudneri, Ehretia cymosa, Erica arborea, Erythrina abyssinica, Erythrina brucei, Euclea divinorum, Euclea racemosa, Euphorbia abyssinica, Euphorbia tirucalli, Faurea saligna, Ficus ovata, Ficus sur, Ficus thonningii, Galiniera saxifraga, Grewia ferruginea, Hagenia abyssinica, Hypericum revolutum, Lepidotrichilia volkensii, Maesa lanceolata, Margaritaria discoidea, Maytenus undata, Myrsine africana, Olea capensis, Parinari excelsa, Pittosporum viridiflorum, Pterolobium stellatum, Rhamnus prinoides, Rhoicissus tridentata, Ritchiea albersii, Rosa abyssinica, Schefflera volkensii, Schrebera alata, Rhus natalensis, Senna didymobotrya, Sinarundinaria alpina, Syzygium guineense, Vangueria madagascariensis, Vepris dainellii, Vernonia amygdalina, Zanthoxylum usambarense
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Blighia unijugata, Cordia africana, Croton megalocarpus, Dovyalis macrocalyx, Fagaropsis angolensis, Hypericum roeperianum, Lannea fulva, Maytenus acuminata, Mimusops kummel, Morella salicifolia, Osyris lanceolata, Phoenix reclinata, Phytolacca dodecandra, Psydrax schimperiana, Rothmannia urcelliformis, Rubus apetalus, Rubus volkensii, Schefflera abyssinica, Scutia myrtina, Rhus longipes, Rhus pyroides, Shirakiopsis elliptica, Solanecio mannii, Syzygium cordatum, Trema orientalis, Vangueria apiculata, Vernonia myriantha
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 | Ib | II | III | IV | V | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fa/Fb | 136 | 572 | 0 | 746 | 0 | 7 | 1,645 | 10,153 | 13,259 |
Fb | 9 | 1,006 | 188 | 355 | 11 | 1,879 | 7,774 | 22,661 | 33,883 |
Fb/Be/wd | 0 | 630 | 0 | 554 | 0 | 15,814 | 5,164 | 172,154 | 194,316 |
Sum | 145 | 2,208 | 188 | 1,655 | 11 | 17,700 | 14,583 | 204,968 | 241,458 |
IUCN | Fa/Fb | Fb | Fb/Be/wd | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ib | 136 | 9 | 0 | 145 |
II | 572 | 1,006 | 630 | 2,208 |
III | 0 | 188 | 0 | 188 |
IV | 746 | 355 | 554 | 1,655 |
V | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
VI | 7 | 1,879 | 15,814 | 17,700 |
NC | 1,645 | 7,774 | 5,164 | 14,583 |
NP | 10,153 | 22,661 | 172,154 | 204,968 |
Sum | 13,259 | 33,883 | 194,316 | 241,458 |
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
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