Native to Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo occurring as a co-dominant or emergent tree in seasonal swamp forest on or near floodplains. It is highly valued for its timber.
Distribution
Recorded from northern Tanzania (Kagera and Mara Prov.); Uganda; and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu). EOO 175,410 km² and AOO 3,200 km² based on mapped herbarium specimens.
A notable population occurs in the Minziro Forest Reserve in Tanzania, where 13 of 19 herbarium collections used in the assessment were made. Populations appear to be widely scattered in the region and are presumably rare. Last collected in 1962.
Habitat and Ecology
Afrocarpus dawei occurs as a co-dominant or emergent tree in seasonal swamp forest on or near floodplains of slow running rivers east and south of Lake Victoria. It is most commonly associated with Baikiaea minor (Leguminosae) and Mimusops sp. (Sapotaceae). These flatland (elevation 1,100-1,200 m a.s.l.) river forests stand on recent river alluvial soils and are inundated in the rainy season, when they become virtually inaccessible.
Human Uses
The timber of this species, which can grow a tall, straight bole without branches, is valued for construction and carpentry or joinery work, and trees are singled out for logging despite the seasonally difficult access. It is not exported and used locally or regionally. The species is not known to be in cultivation.
Conservation Status
Global status and rational
Near Threatened
This species does not fulfil the criteria for any of the threatened categories based on GIS information; its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 175,410 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) is 3,200 km². Human Footprint AVG in the area is low (7). It is considered Near Threatened on the basis of observational reports on exploitation cited on herbarium specimens, which indicates there is reason to suspect decline under criterion A2d. The extent of the decline has not been quantified but is likely to be more than 20%.
Global threats
A valuable timber tree that is being exploited, large trees are often targeted
Conservation Actions
Three locations are in protected areas: Minziro Forest Reserve and Biharamulo Game Reserve in Tanzania and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
References and further reading
Farjon, A. 2013. Afrocarpus dawei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T42437A2980222. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42437A2980222.en. Downloaded on 14 July 2016
Farjon, A. 2010. Conifer Database (June 2008) In Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., eds). Reading, UK. Available at: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/.
Farjon, A. 2010. A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Farjon, A., Bachman, S., Gardner, M.F., Luscombe, D., Reynolds, C. and Thomas, P. 2006. Conservation Assessments of Data Deficient (DD) Conifers Using Herbarium and Geographical Information System (GIS) data. RBG Kew, Bedgebury Pinetum, RBGE, Edinburgh.