Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map


Somalia-Masai Acacia-Commiphora deciduous bushland and thicket (Bd)

Description

Emergent species are only a few species that have well-defined trunks which carry the crown well above the main canopy; they are virtually absent from the driest areas. Most of the characteristic species of the main canopy are multiple-stemmed bushes or small bushy trees that are branched near the base. In higher rainfall areas (especially on rocky hills), the emergent trees occur closer together and are somewhat larger (but only exceptionally taller than 10 m). Some authors have categorized this physiognomic variant as woodland. Locally thickets are formed that are impenetrable.

Even when canopy cover is less than 40 percent, but where grasses are inconspicuous (such as the ephemeral species of Aristida adscensionis, Aristida congesta, Brachiaria eruciformis and Brachiaria leersioides and the short-lived perennial species of Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris roxburghiana and Schmidtia pappophoroides) and most of the phytomass consists of bushes (as in many places within deciduous bushland), it would be misleading to classify this vegetation as wooded grassland. In areas where rainfall is somewhat less than 250 mm per year (but probably more than 200 mm - see Somalia-Masai semi-desert grassland and shrubland ( S ), the vegetation of 2 to 3 m high bushes and stunted trees (principally of Acacia reficiens ssp. misera) is intermediate between bushland and shrubland (White 1983 pp. 113 - 114). We coded and mapped this subtype as Acacia-Commiphora stunted bushland (Bds).


F. Gachathi 2011; Figure 3.4 in VECEA Volume 4

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 (Bd) 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.

Conservation status

The table shows the area (km2) of the vegetation type and the percentage of this area explicitly designated for biodiversity, species or landscape protection (A) and areas designated for both protection and sustainable use objectives (B). Only the nationally designated protected areas were included.

PNV Area (km2) A (%) B (%)
Bd 794,340 7.00 16.00
Bd/g 3,050 0.00 33.50
Bd/Wcd 1,451 15.60 44.00
Wmd/Bd 17,105 25.00 10.90

A) Include the IUCN categories I - IV; B) Include the IUCN categories V - VI and the protected areas without IUCN classification. Read more

Links

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

Citation and terms of use

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