The forests and woodlands of the coastal East Africa Region

Abstract

The African countries bordering the Indian Ocean have an amazing diversity of ecosystems and are rich in biodiversity. Despite this, their human populations are among the poorest on the planet. The region’s miombo woodlands, coastal forests, and Eastern Arc Mountains harbour tens of thousands of known species of plants and animals, and species new to science are regularly being discovered. While these landscapes are crucially important for the people of the region, as well as for biodiversity, they are under unprecedented pressure as human populations expand and embrace development.