Soils and reforestation in the Central Rangelands of Somalia

Abstract

Representative soils of the Central Rangelands of Somalia were described between Bulo Burti and Galcayo. Limitations in land use are caused by aridity, salinity, shallowness, erosion, and alkalinity, as well as by the low nutrient status. Therefore, only less intensive reforestation is possible. Suitable methods are rainwater harvesting and irrigation with river water. Fuelwood and fodder species for community (fuelwood and fodder) and environmental reforestation are recommended. The protection of the natural regeneration is another important part of forestry and range management. Initially established plantations in the shebelli floodplain show that introduced species of Prosopis chilensis and Parkinsonia aculeata, as well as the native Acacia nilotica and Balanites aegyptiaca, are well adapted for reforestation in this area, whereas Azadirachta indica can be established only with difficulty and is not considered suitable.