Hotspot & Ecoregion Status (updated)

The Horn of Africa extends from east of the Ethiopian Highlands, through the Rift Valley, the xeric bushlands of northeastern Kenya, and to the southern coastal parts of the Arabian Peninsula. It also includes the Socotra Archipelago and hundreds of tiny islands in the Red Sea. This biodiversity hotspot is one of the only two in the world that is entirely arid. ^[1]

Species statistics ^[2]

	Number of species	Number of endemics	Notable species
Plants	~5,000	~2,750	Boswellia sacra and Dragon’s Blood Tree ( Dracaena cinnabari )
Birds	697	24	beira ( Dorcatragus megalotis ), dibatag ( Ammodorcas clarkei )
Mammals	~220	20
Reptiles	~285	>90
Amphibians	~30	>6
Freshwater Fishes	~100	~10

Flora research of the Horn of Africa is still ongoing. For thousands of years, several native trees have provided raw materials for some important local commodities, including frankincense and myrrh. Production of those commodities is still a major economic driver. The Horn of Africa has more endemic reptiles than any other region on the continent. In contrast, amphibians are relatively poorly represented in the hotspot. ^[3]

The Horn of Africa is one of the most degraded hotspots on earth, with only around 5 percent of the original vegetation remaining relatively intact. Main threats include overgrazing, shifting cultivation (e.g. of cassava), charcoal production, infrastructure development, and uncontrolled hunting. Moreover, the political instability in the region – leading to lack of governance and investments from overseas – is perhaps the biggest barrier to the hotspot’s conservation. ^[4]

Southwestern Arabian Foothills Savanna

This ecoregion does not have any current or archived documentation through World Wildlife Fund or CEPF

There are only two small terrestrial protected areas in the region (equaling about 1 percent), and the connectivity is a low 1.25 percent. ^[5]

Southwestern Arabian Montane Woodlands * (updated)

The information about this ecoregion was sourced from an archived version of a page from the WWF. It is unclear why that page was removed. We reference it here because it is the only source of information we could find describing this ecoregion.

The Southwestern Arabian Montane Woodlands ecoregion is situated in the southwestern Arabian highlands and includes part of the Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia and most of the western highlands of Yemen. The north-south escarpment is the principal topographic feature, rising above 2,000 m, with several peaks over 3,000 m high. The climate varies considerably depending on altitude, aspect, and season. Monsoons contribute most of the rainfall, especially from April to August. The flora in this ecoregion has strong affinities with that of East Africa. About 2,000 types of vascular plants grow here, of which 170 are endemic. The ecoregion, together with the Tihamah plain, is home to the majority of southwest Arabian endemic birds. Montane juniper woodlands are their essential habitat, and the escarpment cliffs are also vital to both resident and migrating raptors. ^[6]

Overgrazing, soil erosion, extraction of fuelwood and timber, and hunting are the major threats in the ecoregion. Poor management of high mountain landscapes and deforestation have led to severe erosion. As population continues to grow, the demands on natural resources also increases . ^[7]

Governance

The governor of the city, the emir of Makkah administrative district, is appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia, and is responsible to the Minister of the Interior.

Biodiversity Policy/Planning

NBSAP

Saudi Arabia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was submitted in 2008, and the fifth National National Report was released in 2014. ^[13] The scope of the Plan includes the protection, restoration, sustainable use, equitable sharing, and systematic monitoring of the country’s biodiversity. Chapter two looks at Islamic vision and basic principles, and asserts that the conservation of the natural environment is an imperative command of Allah. Chapter three lists “Accelerated Development Programs” and “Urban Expansion and Human Settlements” as major threats to terrestrial flora and fauna. ^[14] Part four contains seventeen goals and part five describes the implementation mechanisms. Those include updating environmental legislation, supporting scientific research, enhancing education, and developing nature based tourism. ^[15]

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