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Leguminosae
Cynometra L.
EOL Text
C. webberi is a characteristic species of the Kenyan and Tanzanian dry coastal forests, where annual temperatures are high and rainfall is low. In the western parts of the Arabuko-Sokoke forest in Kenya, it is the dominant canopy forming species (1), growing abundantly in the region's striking, red, sandy soil (2) (5).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/cynometra/cynometra-webberi/ |
Red List Criteria
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License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/34632 |
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/cynometra/cynometra-webberi/ |
As a result of long-standing overexploitation for firewood and building materials, as well as clearance for agriculture and settlements, the once extensive forests of the east African coast have, today, been reduced to small, scattered fragments (2). The largest of these is the Arabuko-Sokoke forest, which covers an area of 420 square kilometres and contains the greatest population of C. webberi (2). Despite Arabuko-Sokoke's protected status, pressure from increasing local human populations is ongoing and intensifying. The region's poverty drives people to illegally exploit the forest, particularly targeting C. webberi because of its multiple uses as a building material, and for fuelwood and charcoal (3).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/cynometra/cynometra-webberi/ |
The preservation of Arabuko-Sokoke is vital, as it supports a high number of endemic and rare species, and is ranked by BirdLife International as the second most important forest for bird conservation on mainland Africa (2). Unfortunately, people living around the forest frequently have a negative view of conservation; from their perspective it denies them access to the resources that they require to survive (3) (5). To overcome this, a number of organisations are working to create programs whereby local people can derive a sustainable income from the forest, without causing its destruction. For example, the Kipepeo Butterfly Project has trained local people to farm butterflies within the forest for export to overseas exhibits (6). If programs like these can be maintained, it may halt the otherwise inevitable destruction of the east African coastal dry forests (3).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/cynometra/cynometra-webberi/ |
firewood; building; tools; furniture; shade; ornamental
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Africa Tree Database |
Source | No source database. |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:40
Specimens with Sequences:54
Specimens with Barcodes:53
Species:13
Species With Barcodes:10
Public Records:17
Public Species:5
Public BINs:0
Cynometra webberi is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Sources
- Lovett, J. & Clarke, G.P. 1998. Cynometra webberi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
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License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cynometra_webberi&oldid=541646990 |