Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



North Zambezian undifferentiated woodland

Description

The name of “North Zambezian undifferentiated woodland and wooded grassland” directly corresponds to the name given by Frank White for this vegetation type (White 1983 p. 95). A synonym for this vegetation type is "Munga woodland", also a name proposed by Frank White (1965), but a name that was not used in The Vegetation of Africa (White 1983). We expect that the more current name was preferred as “undifferentiated” expresses rapid and kaleidoscopic changes in structure and species composition over short distances, similar to patterns for “undifferentiated forests” (White 1983 p. 47).

North Zambezian Undifferentiated woodland can be more easily defined by the absence of the dominant species of miombo woodland (Wn) and mopane woodland and scrub woodland (Wo) than by its own floristic composition. Although the dominants of miombo woodland are usually absent, some of the associated species are frequently present. Despite its small area, it is composed of many more tree species than either miombo or mopane (White 1983 p. 95).

Several authors such as Fanshawe (1971) have distinguished vegetation subtypes of a Combretum - Terminalia variant on the more elevated and better drained sites, and an Acacia variant on the less elevated and poorer drained sites. The Combretum - Terminalia variant is clearly related to the vegetation type that we mapped as Combretum wooded grassland (Wc) in the VECEA map, but for various reasons explained in Volume 3 (including Box 1), we mapped the Combretum - Terminalia variant as North Zambezian Undifferentiated woodland (Wn).


  1. Bingham; Figure 9.2 in VECEA Volume 3

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.

PNVcat.Ibcat.IIcat.IVcat.Vcat.VINCNPSum
Wmd/Wn0264,250002,8225,79712,895
Wn03,0285,82008,4422,96140,62860,879
Wn/g1024,02519,578914819,59483,426126,864
Wn/P050000698703
Sum1027,08429,648918,49025,377130,549201,341
IUCNWmd/WnWnWn/gWn/PSum
cat.Ib001020102
cat.II263,0284,02557,084
cat.IV4,2505,82019,578029,648
cat.V0091091
cat.VI08,4424808,490
NC2,8222,96119,594025,377
NP5,79740,62883,426698130,549
Sum12,89560,879126,864703201,341

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

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