Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Grassland (climatic grassland)
(excluding semi-desert grassland and edaphic grassland)
Description
White (1983) attempted to distinguish between climatic, edaphic and secondary grasslands. However, he admitted that is was not always easy to decide to which category a particular grassland type should belong since various factors may operate together. For example, grasslands may occur in soils that are incapable of supporting trees, but the soils themselves may have developed under unusual climatic conditions (White 1983 p. 51). The occurrence of semi-desert grassland ( S ) seems to be under climatic and edaphic control - rather than classifying it as climatic grassland or edaphic grassland, we mapped it separately within the VECEA map as mapping unit "S".
Some montane grassland areas that are derived from forest vegetation types have existed for hundreds or thousands of years. This seems to be especially the case for montane grasslands that are under the influence of Lake Malawi, and includes various montane grassland areas in Malawi and Tanzania (C. Dudley and J. Timberlake, personal communication). Some montane grasslands occurring at the highest elevations (≥ 2200 m) are dominated by grass species that are almost entirely restricted to these altitudes (C. Dudley, personal observations). In the VECEA map, we classified areas where these grasslands occur as mosaics of Afromontane grassland (Gm) and Afromontane forests (Fa , Fb and Fd).
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.
- Other species present: Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia mellifera, Barleria prionitis, Chrysopogon plumulosus, Dichrostachys cinerea, Microchloa kunthii, Pennisetum mezianum, Pennisetum sphacelatum, Sporobolus helvolus, Themeda triandra, Trichoneura mollis
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 | III | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | 505 | 51 | 13 | 611 | 1,180 |
Sum | 505 | 51 | 13 | 611 | 1,180 |
IUCN | G | Sum |
---|---|---|
III | 505 | 505 |
VI | 51 | 51 |
NC | 13 | 13 |
NP | 611 | 611 |
Sum | 1,180 | 1,180 |
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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