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Contribution
to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
22 AFRICA
Afzelia africana Afzelia;
Doussie Distribution
This widespread species occurs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo,
Uganda and Zaire. Habitat
In Ghana, this species is found in dry forest, especially in
the forest-savanna borders. It tends to be scattered
in areas with rocky soils (Hawthorne, 1995a).
Population Status and Trends
A. africana is
common in
Ghana (Hawthorne,
1995a).
This species
is also
common in
Nigeria and
Cameroon (African Regional Workshop, 1996). Role
of Species in its Ecosystem No information.
Threats This
species is under pressure from exploitation in Ghana (Hawthorne, 1995a).
Utilisation Timber
of Afzelia spp. in general is used for exterior joinery,
flooring, heavy construction, furniture, vats and tanks.
The seeds are used as a thickening agent (African Regional Workshop, 1996).
Trade A.
africana was
exported from
Ghana as
sawnwood in
1994; 2550
m3
of air dried sawnwood was exported
at an average price of US$572.00/m3 and kiln
dried sawnwood sold for an average price of US$630.00/m3
(ITTO, 1995a). Conservation Status
IUCN Threat Category and Criteria: VU (A1d) (African Regional
Workshop, 1996) A. africana
has been
given a
red star
in Ghana
meaning it
is common
but under
pressure from
exploitation and
conservation measures are necessary (Hawthorne, 1995a). This species is considered
Vulnerable according to the 1994 IUCN threat categories
(Hawthorne, 1995b). Conservation Measures
Protected by law in Côte d'Ivoire. FAO selected this species
for conservation action in Cameroon because of the heavy
utilisation pressures on the species (Palmberg, 1987). This
species can be vegetatively propagated by budding (African Regional Workshop,
1996). References African
Regional Workshop, 1996. Conservation
and Sustainable
Management of
Trees project workshop
held in Harare, Zimbabawe, July, 1996. Hawthorne, W.D.,
1995(a). Ecological
profiles of
Ghanaian forest
trees.
Oxford Forestry Institute:Oxford.
pp.345. Hawthorne, W.D., 1995(b). Categories of
conservation priority and Ghanaian tree species. Working Document
4 (prepared for the November 1995 Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees
- Technical Workshop in Wageningen, Holland).
ITTO, 1995(a). Elements for the annual review and assessment
of the world tropical timber situation. Draft Document.
Palmberg, C., 1987. Conservation
of genetic
resources of
woody species.
Paper prepared for Simposio sobre silvicultura
y mejoraniento genetico. CIEF, Buenos Aires, 1987. (NOT SEEN) Vegetation
types according to White (1983) 1.
Guineo-Congolian rain forest Drier
peripheral semi-evergreen Guineo-Congolian rain forest and similar forest in the
transition zones. Afzelia
africana is absent from the wetter forest types
and is a distinguishing feature of the `fire- zone'
between Guinea-Congolian rain forest and savanna. 2.
Guineo-Congolian transition woodland 3.
Guineo-Congolian secondary grassland and wooded grassland 4.
Sudanian woodland 5. The Coastal
Plain of Basse Casamance N.B.
In the Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone phytochoria.