The eastern African coastal strip contains a tiny chain of patches of lowland tropical dry forest. They were previously considered to be of low conservation priority in terms of endemism and species diversity, but research since the mid-1980s has shown that their biological richness is comparable to other important tropical forest types in Africa. This book defines these "Coastal Forests", describes the physical environment which influences their formation, and summarizes the latest available information on their species diversity and levels of endemism. Human impact on these forests is considered against current conservation efforts and needs. Finally, new proposals are put forward to ensure that the future of these forests is safe.