Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Grassland (climatic grassland, code: G)
(excluding semi-desert grassland and edaphic grassland)
Description
White (1983) attempted to distinguish between climatic, edaphic and secondary grasslands. However, he admitted that is was not always easy to decide to which category a particular grassland type should belong since various factors may operate together. For example, grasslands may occur in soils that are incapable of supporting trees, but the soils themselves may have developed under unusual climatic conditions (White 1983 p. 51). The occurrence of semi-desert grassland ( S ) seems to be under climatic and edaphic control - rather than classifying it as climatic grassland or edaphic grassland, we mapped it separately within the VECEA map as mapping unit "S".
Some montane grassland areas that are derived from forest vegetation types have existed for hundreds or thousands of years. This seems to be especially the case for montane grasslands that are under the influence of Lake Malawi, and includes various montane grassland areas in Malawi and Tanzania (C. Dudley and J. Timberlake, personal communication). Some montane grasslands occurring at the highest elevations (≥ 2200 m) are dominated by grass species that are almost entirely restricted to these altitudes (C. Dudley, personal observations). In the VECEA map, we classified areas where these grasslands occur as mosaics of Afromontane grassland (Gm) and Afromontane forests (Fa , Fb and Fd).
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 ...)
- Dominant - if the regional documentation classified the species as dominant.
- Characteristic - if the species was documented to be characteristic for at least half of all the national manifestations of the vegetation type and if the species was characteristic in at least two national manifestations of the vegetation type. Species were always classified as characteristic if the species was a regional indicator or regional characteristic species for the vegetation type.
- Present - if the species was documented to be characteristic in at least one of the national manifestations of the vegetation type or if the species was documented to be present in a least half of all the national manifestations of the vegetation type. Species that were already listed as characteristic were excluded.
- Marginal distribution - if some of the national documentation listed the species, but where the species was not included as characteristic or present.
- Species present
Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia mellifera (Honey acacia, EKTUZ),
Barleria prionitis (Porcupine flower, EKTU),
Chrysopogon plumulosus (Aucher's grass, KTU),
Dichrostachys cinerea (Sickle bush, BEKMRTUZ),
Microchloa kunthii (Kunth's smallgrass, BKTU),
Pennisetum mezianum (KTU),
Pennisetum sphacelatum (EKMT),
Sporobolus helvolus (KTU),
Themeda triandra (Red grass, BKMTUZ),
Trichoneura mollis (K)
Products and environmental services of tree species
Documented products and environmental services for the tree species occurring in this vegetation type (G) 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 (%) |
| G | 1,180 | 42.80 | 5.40 |
A) Include the IUCN categories I - IV; B) Include the IUCN categories V - VI and the protected areas without IUCN classification. Read more
There are seven different International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
management categories, based on their principle management objectives. Six of these can be found in the VECEA region. Based on
van Breugel et al. (2015), we reclassified these six categories into two groups. The first (A) is composed of the IUCN categories Ib, II, III and IV, all of which are explicitly designated for biodiversity, species or landscape protection. The second (B) is composed of IUCN category V, designated to protect a landscape created through interaction of people and nature, and VI, which is designated for both protection and sustainable use objectives. In group B we also included the protected areas not classified into one of the IUCN categories. These include different types of national or community forest reserves and areas that have a focus on wildlife or game management. It should be noted that the aggregation of the protected areas in these two groups (A and B) does not imply any assumptions from our side on the effectiveness of the management in these different categories.
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.
Citation
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. //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: //vegetationmap4africa.org
van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø J-PB, van Breugel M (2015) Environmental Gap Analysis to Prioritize Conservation Efforts in Eastern Africa. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0121444. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121444
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The VECEA team and its partners make no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the use of the material appearing in this dataset with regard to their correctness, reliability, accuracy, or otherwise. The material and geographic designations in this dataset do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the VECEA team, the Copenhagen University or the World Agroforestry Center concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, nor concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The VECEA team, the Copenhagen University nor the World Agroforestry Center shall be responsible or liable to any person, firm or corporation for any loss, damage, injury, claim or liability of any kind or character based on or resulting from any information contained in the dataset.
Errors and omissions
The VECEA team endeavour to maintain accurate and up-to-date data at all times. However, if errors or omissions are identified, the user should notify the VECEA team so that they can be corrected in future releases of the data. Users can contact the VECEA team using the contact form.
