Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Halophytic vegetation (Z)
Description
Halophytes are a relatively small group of plant species that can grow on saline soils. The most typical halophytes absorb soluble salts (especially Sodium chloride) and tolerate high concentrations in the cell sap of their leaves. The vegetation on saline soils is dominated by halophytes and is physiognomically varied, including halophytic grassland, wooded grassland, shrubland and bushland (White 1983 pp. 55 and 266).
In parts of East Africa, salts that are derived from volcanic deposits rich in Sodium are deposited in lake basins and river valleys. As a consequence, halophytic vegetation occurs in most of the lake basins of the Eastern Rift (especially Lakes Bogoria, Elementeita, Eyasi, Nakuru, Magadi, Manyara, Natron, Rukwa and Turkana). Halophytic vegetation also occurs around Lake Mweru Wantipa (Zambia), a lake that also lies in a down-faulted depression with internal drainage (White 1983 pp. 266 - 267). In VECEA map, lakes with halophytic shoreline vegetation were mapped as the subtype “Zw”.

Ib Friis and Sebsebe Demissew 2006; Figure 11.2 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.
- Characteristic species: Cyperus laevigatus, Sporobolus spicatus, Suaeda monoica
- Other species present: Drake-brockmania somalensis, Leptochloa fusca, Psilolemma jaegeri, Salsola africana, Salvadora persica, Sesbania sesban, Sporobolus robustus, Triplocephalum holstii
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. Please note that the Zw are the Halophytic lakes, i.e., the areas presented below include the surface area of the lakes.
PNV | cat.II | cat.IV | cat.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Z | 53 | 961 | 365 | 186 | 4,522 | 6,087 |
Zw | 771 | 2,202 | 51 | 212 | 2,969 | 6,205 |
Sum | 824 | 3,163 | 416 | 398 | 7,491 | 12,292 |
IUCN | Z | Zw | Sum |
---|---|---|---|
cat.II | 53 | 771 | 824 |
cat.IV | 961 | 2,202 | 3,163 |
cat.VI | 365 | 51 | 416 |
NC | 186 | 212 | 398 |
NP | 4,522 | 2,969 | 7,491 |
Sum | 6,087 | 6,205 | 12,292 |
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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