Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland (Wd)
Description
The wooded grasslands from the greater Serengeti region are different from typical deciduous bushland communities (Bd) by the insignificance of bushy plants other than Acacia and Commiphora and by the relative abundance of grasses (especially perennial grass species). The extent to which these features might be a result from prevalent grass fires or a large ungulate population is uncertain, but rainfall is too high in most places of the greater Serengeti region for typical deciduous bushland to occur (White 1983 pp. 125 and 128).
Because of the floristic overlap in Acacia species between Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland and Upland Acacia wooded grassland (We), it is possible that some areas that we mapped as Acacia-Commiphora deciduous wooded grassland should have been mapped as Upland Acacia wooded grassland instead.
- Gachathi; Figure 5.1 in VECEA Volume 3
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.
- Characteristic species
- Species present
Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia hockii (White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
Products and environmental services of tree species
Documented products and environmental services for the tree species occurring in this vegetation type (Wd) 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
- Firewood
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia hockii (Pre, White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Charcoal
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia hockii (Pre, White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Timber, Furniture, Construction
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Poles, Posts
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Beehives
- Tools, Tool handles, Shafts
- Carvings, Utensils, Walking stick, Bow, Arrow
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ)
- Farm implements
Human consumption
- Edible fruit, Edible nut, Edible seed
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ)
- Drink, Soup
- Edible oil, Edible gum, Edible inner bark
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Medicine
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia hockii (Pre, White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
Animal consumption
- Fodder
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Bee forage
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
Environmental services
- Shade
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ)
- Ornamental, Avenue tree
- Nitrogen fixation
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Soil conservation, Soil improvement
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ)
- River bank, Sand stabilization
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Windbreak
Other products
- Fibre, Weaving, Rope
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia hockii (Pre, White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ)
- Resin, Gum, Glue, Latex
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ)
- Tannin, Dye
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ)
- Live fence, Dead fence
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia gerrardii (Pre, Grey-haired acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia hockii (Pre, White thorn acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia polyacantha (Pre, Falcon's claw acacia, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ),
Acacia seyal (Pre, White-galled acacia, BEKMTUZ),
Acacia sieberiana (Pre, Paperbark thorn, BEKMRTUZ),
Acacia xanthophloea (Pre, Yellow-barked acacia, KMT)
- Ceremonial
- Toothbrushes
- Veterinary medicine, Vermifuge
Acacia nilotica (Cha, Egyptian thorn, EKMTUZ),
Acacia tortilis (Cha, Umbrella thorn, EKMTUZ),
Cordia monoica (Cha, Sandpaper cordia, BEKTU),
Acacia drepanolobium (Pre, Whistling thorn, EKTU),
Acacia senegal (Pre, Gum arabic tree, EKRTUZ)
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 (%) |
| Wd | 37,027 | 22.80 | 7.10 |
| Wd/Wc | 57,863 | 16.70 | 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
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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