[4] The Doum Palm is densely concentrated around lakes and river ecosystems of the Turkana Valley and surrounding National Parks in Kenya.

[4] The East African Doum Palm flourishes in tropical and subtropical regions with temperatures ranging between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius.

[3] The East African Doum Palm is considered difficult to destroy because it grows bulbs and deep taproots underground that will allow the tree to regrow if it is damaged above ground.

[7] The leaves are medium to large sized palmate or fan shaped and emerge at the top of the tree in small crowns.

[9] The fruits of Hyphaene compressa are eaten by elephants, baboons, and monkeys (endangered Tane River Crested Manbey).

[4] Elephants favour eating the Doum palm fruit and have become the major mechanism for seed dispersal in Hyphaene compressa.

[5] The stalks of immature palm leaves are split into long strips to make a variety of products such as baskets, mats, chairs, brooms and hats.

The uses for these leaves as shelter have expanded to include tourist sites and refugee camps and also with the increase in more permanent settlements in African communities.

[5] The seed coat within the mesocarp is hard to crack but the nut inside can be eaten or crushed into a powder to flavor other food items.

[5] Although the East African doum palm has created a source of income for local peoples it is important to note that its economy is not stable or uniform throughout the region.

Availability to Hyphaene compressa, ability to effectively utilize its product and skills of the regional people are all limiting factors.

Conservation laws to protect the tree from being overexploited have also been locally established as to ensure there is a lasting abundance of the East African Doum Palm.