The Sudanian woodlands (SW) and Zambezian woodlands (ZW) of Africa cover two extensive vegetation zones in Africa. The main question is how similar or different are their woodlands. This paper aims to synthesize available information on woodlands of the Sudanian (SR) and Zambezian (ZR) regions in terms of: i) their floristics and ecology, ii) main drivers of change, iii) their socio-economic relevance to local populations, and iv) how resource use affects the main drivers.

This synthesis deals with 141 publications, including 94% research articles and books on Sudanian and Zambezian woodlands of Africa. Google Scholar's search engine were used. Inclusion criteria comprised the geographical focus (Sudanian and Zambezian regions), the ecosystem type (woodland), and the type of information reported in the studies (ecology, socio-economic and biogeography aspects). The overall results were categorized as addressing either ecological or socio-economic aspects of woodlands.

The SW and ZW share a number of families, genera and species. The ZR counts at least 8500 plant species, of which 54% are endemic, while there are possibly no more than 2750 plant species in the SR. Three distinct woodland types are ecologically important and clearly differentiated in the ZW. However, combined effect of the wide tolerances of the species and the gradual change in the climate in the SZ, makes it difficult to recognize distinct woodland systems. The presence of great rifts and swells in the Zambezian part of Africa, explain in part the difference in the vegetation composition and the high diversity and plant endemism in the Zambezian zones. In both Regions, use of woodland and the associated ecological impacts are quite similar.

Both biogeography and land use change explain the vegetation differences between the two regions. Knowledge of factors underlying vegetation adaptations and change provide a basis for sustainable resource use through integrated multiple-use systems.

非洲的苏丹森林（SW）和赞比西亚森林（ZW）覆盖了非洲两个广阔的植被带。主要问题是他们的林地有多相似或不同。本文旨在通过以下方面综合有关苏丹（SR）和赞比西（ZR）地区林地的可用信息：i）它们的植物区系和生态； ii）变化的主要驱动力； iii）它们与当地人口的社会经济相关性， iv）资源使用如何影响主要驱动力。

该综合报告涉及141种出版物，其中包括94％的有关非洲苏丹和赞比西亚林地的研究文章和书籍。使用了Google Scholar的搜索引擎。纳入标准包括地理重点（苏丹和赞比西亚地区），生态系统类型（林地）和研究报告的信息类型（生态，社会经济和生物地理方面）。总体结果归类为针对林地的生态或社会经济方面。

SW和ZW共有许多科，属和种。ZR至少有8500种植物，其中54％是特有种，而SR中可能不超过2750种植物。ZW中三种不同的林地具有重要的生态意义和明显的区别。但是，由于该物种的宽容度和深圳气候的逐渐变化的综合作用，使得难以识别不同的林地系统。非洲的赞比西亚地区存在巨大的裂谷和隆起，这在一定程度上解释了赞比西亚地区植被组成的差异以及高度多样性和植物特有性。在这两个地区，林地的使用和相关的生态影响都非常相似。

生物地理学和土地利用变化都解释了两个地区之间的植被差异。对植被适应和变化的基础因素的了解为通过综合的多用途系统可持续利用资源奠定了基础。