Arid and Semi Arid lands (ASALS) Ecosytems

In terms of spatial spread, this category covers nearly 75% of the land surface in Kenya. There is comparatively less diversity in this region. However, the few species that habitat these sites exhibit a high degree of resilience. These are Deserts' highly water-stressed environments where rainfall is sparse and plant growth is limited to small grasses, herbs, and shrubs that respond quickly to scattered and infrequent rain. Much of the desert is covered by weathered stone, known as jebel, or by wind-blown sand dunes. Short, widely-scattered Acacias are the most characteristic vegetation feature of the deserts in northern Kenya.