Central & Eastern Miombo Woodlands - A Global Ecoregion
Home to Giraffes, Rhinos, African Elephants
Snapshot: Ecoregion 88
Size:
1,932,500 sq. km (746,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Geographic Location:
Central and Southern Africa - Angola, Botswana, Burundi, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Quiz Time!
Which is the world's largest land mammal?
Answer:
The African elephant is the world's largest land mammal, with males weighing up to 7,500 kg. These large mammals play an important role in the forest and savanna ecosystems in which they live. Many plant species are dependent on passing through an elephant's digestive tract before they can germinate.
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Eastern Miombo woodlands; Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands; Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands.
Covering much of central and southern Africa, the ecoregion is dominated by the Central African Plateau with some portions characterised by flat or rolling hills with local areas of higher relief.Important in terms of species richness, species found here are typical of Miombo woodlands, and in the southwest, Baikiaea woodlands.
There is a high diversity of large mammals, including populations that make up the well-known East African savanna mammal fauna. In addition, some areas support relatively undisturbed natural communities of these plants and animals.
Local Species
The word miombo is Bantu for the oak-like trees that characterise these central and eastern African woodlands. Miombo trees grow interdependently with a tree-root fungus that increases their mineral uptake from the soil.
Mopane trees can grow to heights of more than 80 feet (25 m) if the soil is rich, but these adaptable trees can also grow in poorly drained or clay soil.
These unique woodlands are home to many large mammals, including Giraffes, Elands, Rhinos, and the largest population of African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Africa.
Among the reptiles are endemics such as the Zaire centipede-eater (Aparallactus moeruensis), Platysaurus maculates, Dalophia luluae, Carved worm lizard (Monopeltis scalper), and the Katanga beaked snake (Rhinotyphlops kibarae).
Bird species such as the Black-faced waxbill (Estrilda nigriloris), Miombo rock-thrush (Monticola angolensis), and the Miombo pied barbet (Tricholaema frontata) are also found here.
Threats
Much of the ecoregion remains sparsely settled and the resulting human population pressures are minimal, thus leaving large areas of the habitat relatively intact. Future population growth and associated activities are a potential threat.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
