Desertification and its effect on the erosion of vegetation in the south-western region of Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 188; no. 3; p. 164
• Main Authors: Abd El-Salam, Magda Magdy, Elhakem, Abeer Hamdy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acacia tortilis; Agriculture; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodiversity; Coastal environments; Coasts; Conservation of Natural Resources; Desertification; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Flowers & plants; Geological Phenomena; Land degradation; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Plant species; Plants; Precipitation; Salvadora; Saudi Arabia; Soil; Soil erosion; Sustainable development; Vegetation; Vegetation cover; Water resources; Ziziphus; Saudi Arabia; Jazan; Mangrove; Desertification; Vegetation; Desert; Costal; Erosion
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-016-5164-z

This study was conducted in Jazan region of south-western Saudi Arabia. Vegetation cover, frequency, abundance and soil characteristics were analysed at three locations with different quantitative and descriptive vegetation characteristics. Plant species were classified into three primary communities dominated by Salvadora persic, Acacia tortilis and Ziziphus spini-Christi. The results indicated that the distribution of plant species is controlled by soil characteristics. Very limited water resources are also limiting factor in vegetation growth. Among the three studied sites, desert and coastal environments are affected by desertification. Rehabilitation of the degraded lands requires collaborative efforts and support from the different related governmental sectors. Ecological conservation and sustainable development must be adopted as tools of rehabilitation.