Drylands make up the vast majority of land in Eastern Africa (Figure 3.1). Drylands are characterized by water scarcity, and are defined as lands with an aridity index, the ra - tio between annual rainfall and annual potential evapotranspiration, of below 0.65. A further distinction in four dryland sub-systems is made into hyper-arid lands with an aridity index below 0.03, arid lands (0.03 – 0.20), semi-arid lands (0.20 – 0.50) and dry sub-humid lands (0.50 – 0.65). The map reveals that the majority of the Eastern Africa territory is classified as dryland. The semi-arid and the arid zone are the largest single dryland systems, followed by the dry sub-humid zone. A small fraction of northern So - malia is classified as hyper-arid.
Publication year
2014
Authors
Njenga, M.; de Leeuw J M; O'Neill M K; Ebanyat P; Kinyanjui M; Kimeu P M; Adirizak H; Sijmons K; Vrieling A; Maimbo M M; Oduor A R; Dobie P
Language
English
Keywords
drylands, poverty, arid lands, charcoal, environmental management, trees
