Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Upland Acacia wooded grassland
Description
Where domestic (or wild) animals are numerous, East African evergreen bushland (Be) has been severely degraded and invaded by Acacia species. It is therefore typical to find Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia hockii, Acacia kirkii and Acacia seyal occurring together with evergreen species such as Carissa edulis, Dodonaea viscosa, Euclea divinorum, Euclea racemosa and Tarchonanthus camphoratus (White 1983 p. 115). Similarly, Evergreen bushland (Be) communities of the Lake Victoria region have been extensively destroyed and replaced by a lightly wooded Acacia grassland dominated by Acacia hockii, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia kirkii, Acacia senegal and Euphorbia candelabrum (also an emergent of evergreen bushland (Be)).
As several of these Acacia species are also typical of Edaphic wooded grassland on drainage-impeded or seasonally flooded soils (wd), we expect that not all areas that were mapped as Upland Acacia wooded grassland are an “alternative steady state” of Evergreen and semi-evergreen bushland and thicket (Be). As we lacked ancillary information, we do not know which portion of Upland Acacia wooded grassland occurs mainly for edaphic reasons (this is something that we will try to resolve in later versions of the VECEA map). Because of the floristic overlap in Acacia species between Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland (Wd) and Upland Acacia wooded grassland, it is also possible that some areas that we mapped as Upland Acacia wooded grassland should have been mapped as Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland (Wd) instead.

- Gachathi 2008; Figure 6.2 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.
- Characteristic species: Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia hockii, Acacia kirkii, Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Acokanthera schimperi, Capparis tomentosa, Carissa spinarum, Cussonia holstii, Dodonaea viscosa, Cassine buchananii, Euclea divinorum, Euclea racemosa, Euphorbia candelabrum, Grewia bicolor, Grewia similis, Pterolobium stellatum, Schrebera alata, Scutia myrtina, Rhus natalensis, Tarenna graveolens
- Other species present: Acacia brevispica, Acacia mellifera, Acacia polyacantha, Acacia sieberiana, Acacia tortilis, Acacia xanthophloea, Albizia adianthifolia, Albizia amara, Combretum molle, Entada abyssinica, Faidherbia albida, Gymnosporia senegalensis, Parinari curatellifolia
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Allophylus rubifolius, Bersama abyssinica, Boscia angustifolia, Boscia salicifolia, Commiphora habessinica, Cordia africana, Cussonia arborea, Dichrostachys cinerea, Dombeya buettneri, Dombeya rotundifolia, Erythrina abyssinica, Erythrina burttii, Ficus glumosa, Gardenia ternifolia, Grewia tembensis, Lannea fulva, Lannea humilis, Lannea schimperi, Lannea schweinfurthii, Ozoroa insignis, Pappea capensis, Senna didymobotrya, Terminalia brownii, Vangueria infausta, Ximenia americana, Ziziphus abyssinica, Ziziphus mucronata
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 | cat.II | cat.III | cat.IV | cat.VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Be/We | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 3,761 | 3,855 |
We | 2,962 | 51 | 0 | 35 | 969 | 15,242 | 19,259 |
Sum | 2,962 | 51 | 94 | 35 | 969 | 19,003 | 23,114 |
IUCN | Be/We | We | Sum |
---|---|---|---|
cat.II | 0 | 2,962 | 2,962 |
cat.III | 0 | 51 | 51 |
cat.IV | 94 | 0 | 94 |
cat.VI | 0 | 35 | 35 |
NC | 0 | 969 | 969 |
NP | 3,761 | 15,242 | 19,003 |
Sum | 3,855 | 19,259 | 23,114 |
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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