Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Zanzibar-Inhambane undifferentiated forest (Fp)

Description

White (1983) reserved the term of “undifferentiated forests” to forests that undergo rapid and kaleidoscopic changes in structure and species composition over short distances (White 1983 p. 47). A distinction can be made between moister and drier variants of Zanzibar-Inhambane undifferentiated forest. The moister variants have a main canopy at 15 to 20 m with emergents of 30 to 35 m. The floristically richest types of moister variants of Zanzibar-Inhambane undifferentiated forests occur in Kenya and northern Tanzania. The drier forest variants are floristically more diverse than the moister variants. Most of the larger tree species are locally dominant or co-dominant and sometimes gregarious. The drier forests cover a larger area than the moister forests and also extend further to the north and south (White 1983 p. 187).

This type occurs in Kenya and Tanzania in what is mapped as the coastal mosaic. However, only for Kenya there is information about its potential distribution within this mosaic (contact us if you are interested in the more detailed Kenyan map). For a more consistent regional classification, it was therefore mapped as part of the coastal mosaic.

Plant 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. Between brackets the English vernacular name of the species and the documented country distribution of the species (B=Burundi, E=Ethiopia, K=Kenya, M=Malawi, R=Rwanda, T=Tanzania, U=Uganda, Z=Zambia) is provided.

Based on information on species presence in national manifestations of vegetation types, each species was classified as a regionally dominant, characteristic, present or marginal species for a vegetation type (Read more ...)

Products and environmental services of tree species

Documented products and environmental services for the tree species occurring in this vegetation type (Fp) are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard. Between brackets information is given on the status of each species ('dom' indicates dominant species, 'cha' characteristic species, 'pre' other species and 'mar' species of marginal occurrence), the English vernacular name of the species and the documented country distribution of the species (B=Burundi, E=Ethiopia, K=Kenya, M=Malawi, R=Rwanda, T=Tanzania, U=Uganda, Z=Zambia).

Wood

Human consumption

Animal consumption

Environmental services

Other products

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.

Links

Species selection tool
Other vegetation types
//vegetationmap4africa.org
Documentation

Citation and terms of use

Click here for the full terms of use, disclaimer and errors and omissions statement that accompanies our data. When using our data, you agree with these terms.