A positive step for conservation of Qatar’s flora

A recent survey of plant life in Qatar has thrown up some very interesting information. There are excellent signs of vegetation recovery, especially of palatable plant species, at some areas, whereas the flora and vegetation of most of the desert rangelands and coastal areas are in an extremely poor condition.

The damage has been caused due to decades of overgrazing by camels above the ecological carrying capacity while coastal development and urban encroachment into the natural ecosystems have already caused serious habitat loss, as explained by Dr Benno Boer, Unesco’s ecological sciences adviser for Arab Region.

The findings are based on a survey undertaken by the expert, based at the Unesco Doha Office, who criss-crossed Qatar to assist Pergola Contracting & Greenhouses to collect and multiply native plant species for scientific, gardening and landscaping purposes. Unesco is supporting Pergola in locating the plant species inside and outside Qatar, and assist in the collection of wild plant germplasm.

Some areas with livestock exclusion showed good signs of recovery, for example the area in the west of the Dukhan – Umm Bab Highway, as well as an area in Sumaisma. If Panicum turgidum grasses dominate the area in the west of the Dukhan – Umm Bab Highway, the road-sides between Shahaniyah and Rawdat al Farras showed good rejuvenation of Acacia trees, which has been observed for the first time in several years, due to the absence of grazing camels.

Eventually, the correct balance of rangeland vegetation and number of grazing camels should be identified, and camels reintroduced accordingly, with less numbers in areas of overgrazing, Dr Boer has suggested while pointing out that camels are of immense importance to the Arab region as they are an integral part of the landscape and cultural heritage.

Many of the areas visited were in very poor conditions in terms of species richness, biomass, standing crop, vegetation cover, plant density, and mainly with thorny, halophytic (salt-tolerant), or poisonous plant species.

The palatable species were low in numbers. This is believed to be due to the naturally prevailing hyper-arid climatic conditions, and accelerated through decades of over-grazing above the ecological carrying capacity of dry desert rangelands.

At least 164 plant species were found, some of which have great gardening and landscaping value. Nearly 400 plant species in total have ever been recorded to occur in Qatar.

The overall long-term aim is to make a positive contribution to the ex-situ biodiversity conservation of the flora of Qatar. This is a significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7 (Environmental Sustainability), Target B (reduce biodiversity loss), as well as towards the Convention on Biological Diversity, with a special view to article 9 (ex-situ conservation).

The signs of vegetation recovery in some areas are encouraging indeed and as Boer has recommended, they should be studied by the universities concerned.

This is of great importance, not only to identify the balanced umber of camels that should roam the rangelands, but also to enhance biodiversity conservation, to reduce wind-born soil-erosion, and with it the amount of dust-particles in the atmosphere.