Several indigenous and exotic tree species were identified as requiring attention in the form of conservation, improvement and seed procurement. The species identified are either under severe threat of extinction, genetic impoverishment or are particularly useful that they require genetic improvement to improve the supply of their products. The activities identified include identification of superior sources (provenances), germplasm collection, designing appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation programme. Both indigenous and exotic species were identified as important. Although the list of important species varied from country to country indicating the diversity of the 11 countries, there were some species that were identified by at least five or more countries. The identified tree species include exotic industrial tree species, indigenous timber species, agroforestry tree species and indigenous fruit tree species. Table 8 is based on country reports and inputs by participants to the SADC Regional Workshop on Forest and Tree Genetic Resources, Arusha, Tanzania and shows, the most important indigenous tree species requiring immediate conservation, improvement and germplasm collection.
Table 8: Species identified as high priority for action in eastern and southern Africa and ranking of the appropriate action based on country reports and other recent publications
Species |
Exploration and germplasm collection |
Evaluation, improvement and seed supply |
Conservation |
Remarks |
|||||
Biological information |
Genecological studies |
Germplasm collection and research |
Field testing and evaluation |
Selection and breeding |
Seed Supply |
Ex situ |
In situ |
||
Pterocarpus angolensis |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Timber species Over exploited Slow growing, fire prone |
Sclerocarya birrea |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Fruit tree, Oil Priority for domestication by ICRAF, Sustains livelihoods of rural families |
Milicia excelsa |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Timber species Overexploited |
Baikiaea plurijuga |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
High value timber species Overexploited Regen. Difficult |
Afzelia quanzensis |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Timber, shade, shelter species. Overexploited |
Dalbergia melanoxylon |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Durable timber species. Overexploited |
Khaya anthotheca |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Timber species Overexploited |
Faidherbia albida |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Fodder, firewood, agroforestry, soil improvement |
Colophosper-mum mopane |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Fuelwood, timber, poles Drought tolerant |
Warbugia salutaris |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Food species Medicinal Endangered |
Uapaca kirkiana |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Fruit tree Sustains rural livelihoods. Priority species for domestication by ICRAF |
Countries: B: Botswana, L: Lesotho: Mal: Malawi, Mau: Mauritius, Mo: Mozambique, N: Namibia; SA: South Africa, Sw: Swaziland, Za: Zambia, Zi: Zimbabwe.
Legend: 1 = Top priority, action urgently needed; 2 = Action within the next 5 years; 3 = Action within the next 10 years; - Action may not be required; * Action in progress or completed.
2: Average priority index of the countries involved; Mo3, Zi1 Priority index by individual; country