Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Afromontane rain forest

Description

Afromontane rain forest is very similar in structure (physiognomy) to certain types of Guineo-Congolian rain forest. Species composition, however, is almost entirely different. Floristic differentiation between Afromontane rain forest and Guineo-Congolian rain forest includes the occurrence of tree ferns (Cyathea) and the occurrence of conifers (especially Podocarpus latifolius; White 1983 p. 164 - 165).

These forests occur mainly between 1200 and 2500 m on the slopes of certain mountains. However, the altitudinal limits vary greatly according to distance from the equator, proximity to the ocean, and size and configuration of the massif on which these forests occur (White 1983 p. 164). The mean annual rainfall lies mostly between 1250 and 2500 mm. Mists that frequently occur during the dry season of one to five months may explain the fact that Afromontane rain forest is much less deciduous than lowland semi-evergreen forests that receive similar rainfall. Only a few of the larger tree species (Entandophragma excelsum and Pouteria adolfi-friedericii) lose their leaves - and then only for a few days (White 1983 p. 164).


C. K. Ruffo 2008; Figure 3.2 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.

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.

PNVIbIIIVVINCNPSum
Fa61,6651,5315,79818,23647,05574,291
Fa/Fb13657274671,64510,15313,259
Sum1422,2372,2775,80519,88157,20887,550
IUCNFaFa/FbSum
Ib6136142
II1,6655722,237
IV1,5317462,277
VI5,79875,805
NC18,2361,64519,881
NP47,05510,15357,208
Sum74,29113,25987,550

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

The graph below shows the relative importance of this vegetation types for the terrestrial mammals. Two regions can thereby be distinguished. The number of mammals is relatively low in the Afromontane rain forests of Ethopia, while relative high in the Afromontane forests of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.


The frequency distribution of number of mammals within the east Africa region and within the potential distribution of Afromontane rain forest. The number of mammals are based on an overlay of the IUCN redlist range maps of terrestrial mammals.

Links

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