Importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains for vascular plants

Abstract

The term 'Eastern Arc' was introduced in 1985 to describe an exceptionally rich area of restricted range plant species on the crystalline mountains of eastern Tanzania and south-east Kenya. About a third of the Eastern Arc flora is composed of restricted¬-range species. Qualitative and quantitative data are used to demonstrate that the endemics are spread throughout the elevation and moisture gradients of the Eastern Arc. Because of the high number of endemic plant species, all of the Eastern Arc forests are of importance to conservation. However, ridge-tops, heaths, limestone forests and dry forest types are vegetation formations occupying a small area and so are conservation priorities.

Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 87 (1&2) 1998: pp. 59-74