Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Edaphic grassland on drainage-impeded or seasonally flooded soils (edaphic vegetation type, g)
Description
Within the VECEA map, we loosely defined “edaphic grassland” as “edaphic grassland with a very low density of scattered woody species”. White (1983) used a threshold value of 10% woody cover to distinguish between grasslands and woody grasslands. In contrast, Pratt et al. 1966 defined grasslands as "land dominated by grasses and occasionally other herbs; sometimes with widely scattered or grouped trees and shrubs, the canopy cover of which does not exceed 2%".
For the regional map, all areas classified as (edaphic) wooded grasslands on the national maps were classified as such on the regional map as well. For the areas mapped as grasslands or areas which classification was ambiguous on the national maps, we used the average woody vegetation cover estimates by the MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields collection (version 5) [1] for the 2000-2010 period to distinguish between grasslands and woody grasslands. All areas with a estimated tree cover > 10% were classified as edaphic woody grasslands (wd) and the remainder as edaphic grasslands.
Although White (1983) described edaphic grasslands separately for the various floristic regions, we did not apply a floristic classification system to edaphic grasslands in the VECEA map.
- Gachathi 2008; Figure 12.1 in VECEA Volume 5
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
Acroceras macrum (Nile grass, KTUZ),
Andropogon brazzae (Z),
Andropogon schirensis (BKTUZ),
Brachiaria jubata (MUZ),
Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass, BKMRTUZ),
Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass, BKMTUZ),
Cyperus dives (BKTU),
Cyperus latifolius (Epiphytic flatsedge, BTU),
Cyperus longus (Sweet galingale, KMTU),
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Antelope grass, BKMTUZ),
Echinochloa stagnina (Hippo grass, KTUZ),
Entolasia imbricata (KMTUZ),
Eustachys paspaloides (Fan grass, KTUZ),
Fimbristylis dichotoma (Tall fringe-rush, BU),
Hyparrhenia bracteata (KMTUZ),
Hyparrhenia diplandra (BKTUZ),
Hyparrhenia filipendula (Fine thatching grass, BKMTUZ),
Hyparrhenia newtonii (BTUZ),
Hyparrhenia rufa (Giant thatching grass, BKMTUZ),
Leersia hexandra (Swamp cut grass, BKMTUZ),
Loudetia kagerensis (BKTU),
Loudetia simplex (Common russet grass, BKMTUZ),
Microchloa kunthii (Kunth's smallgrass, BKTU),
Miscanthus junceus (Wireleaf Daba grass, Z),
Monocymbium ceresiiforme (Wild oatgrass, BMTZ),
Oryza barthii (Wild rice, MTU),
Oryza longistaminata (Red rice, BEKTUZ),
Panicum repens (Torpedo grass, BKMTUZ),
Paspalum scrobiculatum (Koda millet, BKTUZ),
Pennisetum mezianum (KTU),
Sacciolepis africana (BKMTUZ),
Setaria sphacelata (Common bristle grass, BKMTUZ),
Sorghastrum stipoides (Needle Indiangrass, KTU),
Sporobolus ioclados (Pan dropseed, KMTUZ),
Themeda triandra (Red grass, BKMTUZ),
Trachypogon spicatus (Greybeard grass, KTUZ),
Vossia cuspidata (Hippo grass, BKMTUZ)
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain)
Aristida adscensionis (Annual bristle grass, EKMTZ),
Aristida stipitata (Dune bristlegrass, Z),
Bothriochloa bladhii (Australian bluestem, KMTUZ),
Brachiaria brizantha (Common signal grass, BKMTUZ),
Brachiaria humidicola (Creeping signal grass, BKMTZ),
Dichanthium annulatum (Blue grass, KMTZ),
Echinochloa haploclada (Cockspur, BKTUZ),
Eragrostis atrovirens (Thalia lovegrass, KMTZ),
Hyparrhenia nyassae (KMTUZ),
Imperata cylindrica (Speargrass, BKMTUZ),
Panicum coloratum (Coloured Guinea grass, KTU),
Panicum subalbidum (Elbow buffalo grass, EKMRTUZ),
Sacciolepis typhura (KMTUZ),
Setaria incrassata (Purple pigeon grass, KMTUZ),
Sorghum arundinaceum (Sudan grass, BEKMRTUZ),
Sporobolus pyramidalis (Rat's-tail grass, BKMTUZ)
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/g | 3,050 | 0.00 | 33.50 |
| g | 48,865 | 10.60 | 6.70 |
| g/P | 667 | 7.60 | 1.80 |
| g/T | 18,436 | 17.20 | 25.40 |
| g/Wk | 8,862 | 4.80 | 64.60 |
| g/X | 139,540 | 7.60 | 28.80 |
| Wn/g | 126,864 | 18.70 | 15.60 |
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.
