Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map


Zanzibar-Inhambane scrub forest on coral rag (edaphic vegetation type, fc)

Description

Scrub forests are intermediate in structure between forest and bushland (and thicket). They are usually 10 - 15 m high. Trees (woody plants with well-defined and upright boles) are usually present but do not form a closed canopy. Smaller woody plants (principally bushes and shrubs) contribute at least as much as the trees to the appearance of this vegetation type.

White (1983) describes evergreen thickets that are the climax vegetation types on shallow soils that overlie coral limestone. We equated this vegetation type to the “maritime eastern African coastal scrub forest” that develop on shallow and easily dessicated soils that overly coral rag (i.e. surface limestone derived from recent corals) as described by Clarke and Robertson (2000).

Within the VECEA region, Zanzibar-Inhambane scrub forest on coral rag only occurs in the coastal areas of Kenya and Tanzania. We did not map it separately, but as part of the Zanzibar-Inhambane regional mosaic (CM)

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 (fc) 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

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