Plant population dipping in Middle East, warn experts

Sharjah - IUCN introduces a Red List of threatened plant species at Sharjah forum

The Middle East's plant population has plunged "dramatically" and some of the world's most beautiful species are in the process of a silent extinction, according to experts at the 19th Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabian Biodiversity (SICFAB).
"Plant numbers have dipped dramatically in the last few years, and even those species we thought were abundant and safe now face an imminent threat of extinction," said Dr Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of Red List Unit at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), on the side-lines of the forum.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the SICFAB is organised by Sharjah's Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA).
At the forum, experts from IUCN introduced a Red List of threatened plant species in the Arabian Peninsula to assess the status of plants thought to be endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. The Red List is the global protocol for assessing risk to ecosystems. 
"Global climate change may have only raised the normal temperature by a few degrees in some areas, but these few degrees are enough to devastate some ecosystems and plant populations. Large areas of desert around the world bear testimony to people's destruction of vegetation. 
"Most of the Middle East is now desert or is being rehabilitated at great expense," added Dr Craig.
Climate change, deforestation, increasing urban development and over grazing are some of the key factors that have led to the botanical jewels being endangered. 
The effects of a warming planet are not only upsetting the finely-tuned balance of the habitats that plants depend on for survival, but have also resulted in wider consequences, upsetting food chains, migration patterns and more.
While the struggle for survival among plants remains high, the UAE has taken special measures to turn around the fortunes of endangered plants. 
The SICFAB is one such measure which aims to find solutions to these seemingly intractable obstacles to providing a fertile and robust environment for plants.
Plants have several benefits, from medicinal properties to ecological value. If these important species are lost so too are our options for future discovery and advancement. 
Hence it is imperative that plant species are preserved. The UAE is home to several species such as alhagi, alkali sandspurry, althea, and amaranthus among many others.. 
"Plants are a spectacular species, and to ensure that we preserve these botanical beauties, it is important that we increase the number of protected areas, develop natural reserves and implement educational programmes to preserve the local flora," said Dr Craig.
Research suggests that the world's botanical gardens contain about a third of all known plants and help protect 40 per cent of endangered species. Scientists say that with one in five of the world's plants on the brink of extinction, botanic collections hold the key to saving rare plant life.
While there are several methods to protect these floral jewels, reforestation and restoring degraded land are two major conservation techniques. For individuals, taking some small measures today maybe the grandest gesture for centuries to come.
 
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 

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