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Conservation through restoration: study of a degraded gravel plain in south-eastern Arabia

SHAHINA A GHAZANFAR AND JOANNA OSBORNE

Abstract: The cultural set up in Arabia for holding large stocks of camels and goats, and the long history of grazing beyond the carrying capacity of rangelands have left vast areas in south-eastern Arabia highly degraded. Coupled with that, road building, and unsustainable development of amenity parks and resorts has left an indelible mark on the landscape. Not only there is a lack of regeneration of key plant species, there is also a discernable loss of both floral and faunal diversity.  In several countries of the Arabian Peninsula there is now a growing concern for the restoration of damaged landscapes. Through sustainable restoration the loss of biodiversity can be halted, and the species can be brought back and conserved. In order to restore the vegetation of an area, an indepth knowledge of the species present there is necessary. In this paper we describe the vegetation of a gravel plain in south-eastern Arabia and the steps that will have to be taken to restore and eventually conserve this area.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey,UK