BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN ' i ' 7 . .' . ... '- . , " . , .... T ...7v , ~ ~ !, , ,,.... I SH & III)l,I I" "l,'N J~~~ I , l '\ PA - r itwA BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN by Daniel Martin Varisco James Perran Ross Anthony Milroy Editor Michael R. W. Rands July 1992 International Council for Bird Preservatiot1 32 Cambridge Road Girton Cambridge CB3 OPJ United Kingdom CONTENTS Page Editorial iii Acronyms used in this report iv Executive summary v INTRODUCTION 1 Project rationale 1 Scope of work 1 Methodology 2 Status of available data 2 Background on Yemen's development context 3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF YEMEN 5 Ecosystem variety 5 Survey of flora 11 Survey of fauna 20 ENV.LONMENTAL POLICY 28 Institutional responsibilities 28 Legislation regarding flo-a and forestry 29 Legislation regarding wildlife 30 Summary 30 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 31 Programs in government ministries 31 Media 32 NGO development 32 Summary 33 IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 34 Overall development policy 34 Case study of Wadi Zabid 34 Integrated development policy and the environment 37 Coastal development 38 CONSERVATION PRIORITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY 41 Development policy 41 Institutional development 42 Conservation awareness 43 Critical areas 43 Critical species 44 Crop genetic diversity 45 Sustainable fisheries and coastal management 45 Summary 45 Page RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL Resources 47 General reconunendations 47 Recommendations for USAID 54 ANNEXES: 1 Bibliography 58 2 Biodata of team members and consultants 67 3 Organizations and individuals contacted in Yemen 68 4 Yemen's flora 70 5 Yemen's fauna 91 6 Environmental legislation 108 7 Faculty of Science, Sana'a University 111 8 Indigenous plants used in traditional medicine 114 9 United Nations list of national parks and protected areas for Yemen 116 10 Case study of Jabal Bura' 117 11 Draft proposal for Project Gazelle in Yemen 121 12 Draft proposal for economic viability of indigenous plants (EVIP) project 123 13 Alternative seed varieties for low-cost terrace stabilization 125 14 Islamic principles for conservation of biological species 126 ii EDITORIAL This assessment of the biodiversity of the Republic of Yemen has had a long evolution. Much of the data was obtained during a major field mission in November/December 1989 organised by ICBP. iis was admirably lead by Daniel Varisco who was most ably assisted by James Perran Ross and Antony Milroy. The team received a great deal of assistanse ft..a a wide range of institutions and individuals in Yemen, the United States and die U.K., inarty of whom are listed in Atu -xes 2 and 3 of this report. Following this brief but intensive field mission the team rapidly produced a first draft of this assessment which I have attempted to build upon using further sources of literature, expertise from the region and bearing in mind the changing circumstances within Yemen. I am particularly grateful to Francine Stone, Michael Evans, Jamil al-Ba'adani, Paul Bates, David Harrison, Nigel Hepper, A. G. Miller, Andrew Millington, Rupert Ormond and Richard Porter for their assistance in finalising this report. Regina Pfaff and Irene Hughes skilfully prepared camera ready copy of the manuscript and David Wege accurately redrew all the figures. Since we begun this assessment the Republic of Yemen has reunified from what were when we started two countries, the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen). Material presented here refers entirely to field studies carried out in the former Yemen Arab Republic although I have attempted to draw upon information available for the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen where possible. Many of the recommendations we made apply equally well the entire Republic of Yemen although we would have liked the resources and opportunity to update it fully by visiting and thoroughly researching the southern part of the country. The Republic of Yemen is rich both biologically and culturally. It has, like many countries, valuable and beautiful natural resources combined with people who cherish them. Like everywhere else in the world these resources are subject to increasing demands and pressures. I hope that this report will be of value to everyone who is responsible for, or who has an opportunity to, influence the future of Yemen's biodiversity. This was our aim and, if successful, we will have played a very small part in conserving a magnificent country. Michael Rands 7 July 1992 +,Iii ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT AID Agency for International Development AIYS American Institute for Yemeni Studies APP Appendices ARA Agricultural Research Authority BDA Biological Diversity Assessment BIB Bibliography CBD Conservation of Biological Diversity CDSS Country Development Strategy Statement CLCCD Confederation of Local Councils for Cooperative Development CPO Central Planning Organization DOF Directorate of Fisheries EPC Environmental Protection Council FAA Foreign Assistance Act FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FPP Farming Practices for Productivity Project FSN Foreign Service National GCFD General Corporation for Fisheries Department IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ICB3P International Council for Bird Preservation ICCE International Centre for Conservation Education ILL Illustrated IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources LOP Length of Project MAF* Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries MMH Ministry of Municipalities and Housing MOH Ministry of Health MOMR Ministry of Oil and Mineral Wealth NGO Non-governmental Organization ODA Overseas Development Administration OSME Ornithological Society of the Middle East PCD Planned Completion Date RLIP Range and Livestock Improvement Project, Dhamar ROY Republic of Yemen ROYG Republic of Yemen Government SIP Social and Institutional Profile sp. species TDA Tihama Development Authority UNDP United Nations Development Program UNEP United Nations Environment Program USAID United States Agency for International Development WWF World Wide Fund for Nature * Note: When this report was prepared, one Ministry had responsibility for both agriculture and fisheries. Following ramificatici, a Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources was created wi- a General Directorate of Forestry. Fisheries is now a separate Ministry. iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the Biological Diversity Assessment (BDA) is to describe the state of Yemen's natural flora and fauna, identify the unique and endangered species and habitats, and develop a strategy for conservation of the country's biological resources within its overall development policy. Recommendations are made for the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other concerned donors and international conservation organizations. The main conclusion of this study is that biological diversity in Yemen is being drastically reduced by the rapid degradation of the environment. This includes the ecological and economic consequences of unchecked cutting of trees and forests for fuelwood, major declines in water tables, and massive erosion of the highland terrace ecosystem. Because of the overall process of destruction to the environmer.t, conservation initiatives for biological resources must be framed within a development policy committed to saving the total environment. It is essential that the conservation of biological resources be undertaken immediately because of the serious degradation of the environment resulting from the curreit infrastructural development, especially rural roads and coastal construction. Biological resources of Yemen Since Yemen is located at the conjunction of African, Asian and Palearctic ecological zones, the diversity of plants and animals is grea'er than in any other part of the Arabian Peninsula. Indeed, the wide variety of environments within the country has resulted in some of the greatest biological diversity in the Middle East. Due to the range of environmental zones and relative isolation of the country, a number of endemic species are found. The valuable biological resources have an obvious scientific significance, but there are also major economic implications for sustainable productivity in the country. Tne genetic diversity of indigenous crops, most notably sorghum, and medicinal plants is of critical importance for pest management and ihe control of viral diseases in the expanding agricultural sector. Similarly, protection of critical habitats is necessary for sustainable fisheries and for reforestation of much of the country. The flora of Yemen is especially rich, with an estimated 1,700 plant species in a wide variety of ecological habitats. About one-third of these belong to tha Saharo-Arabian plant geographic region; the remaining two-thirds are of African orientation. There is a high degree of similarity for both plant and animal species with East Africa, alt'iough the areas have been isolated for at least 18,000 years. The variations in elevation and rainfall in the western escarpment have led to significant genetic variation. Much of the original forest cover has been denuded, especially in the last two decades, for fuelwood. The rangeland remains an important part of the agricultural ecosystem, although this has deteriorated with the collapse of numeious terrace systems. A wide range of plants have been used in traditional medicine and in