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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SOCOTRA ARCHIPELAGO |
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| General Description |
The Socotra Archipelago is located off the Horn of Africa, at the crossroads between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is recognised as a regional centre of biodiversity, with spectacular endemic species such as the Dragon Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari). Socotra has a rich cultural heritage, including the unique Soqotri language. Isolated from the rest of the world, traditional land and sea uses remained little changed until the 1970s. The challenge of the Biosphere Reserve is to ensure better living conditions for its 30,000 inhabitants based on the sustainable use of natural resources. A part of the population stayed nomadic and semi nomadic due to the transhumance grazing system. The rest of the population are fishermen, farmers or depend on tourism. The biosphere reserve designation stems from an UNDP-GEF project conducted by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of the Republic of Yemen, with the support of the Government of Netherlands. A Conservation Zoning Plan has been established in close consultation with the local communities. Core areas are relatively small, protected as nature sanctuaries, and make up 9,500 ha on land and 1,540 ha in the marine zone. The buffer zones consist of national parks, covering 274,800 ha on land, and 151,400 ha on sea. The transition area is the most intensively used zone of the islands, including towns and settlements, roads and commercial developments, covering some 94,470 ha plus a 12 nautical mile marine resource use area corresponding to over 1.6 million ha. The EPA has the overall responsibility for coordination and management. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Arid tropical deciduous shrubland, coastal plains and marine zone | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Open deciduous shrub land, croton shrubland of low lands plains, succulent shrubland, semi evergreen woodland escarpment with Draceana cinnabari trees, submontane shrubland and grassland, mangroves, lagoon and seasonal water courses or river valleys (khors). | |||
| Location |
12°00’ N – 12°42’ N 52°30’ E – 54.30’ E |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 2,681,640 | |||
| Core area(s) | Terrestrial: 9,500 Marine: 1,540 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | Terrestrial: 274,830 Marine: 151,400 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | Terrestrial: 94,470 Marine: 1,649,900 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0-1,630 m | |||
| Year designated | 2003 | |||
| Administrative authorities | The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reports to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment | |||
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| Brief description |
Collection of weather information with a meteorological station. Geological study and geomorphology of islands. Monitoring of sea water temperature. Identification, description and mapping of plant species in the islands. Ecological and biological research survey on important plant species : Draceana cinnabari, Dendrosicyos socotranus…(density, regeneration, vigour…). Eradication of alien’s tree and animal species : Proposis juliflora trees and the introduced indian crow. Terrestrial and marine survey and monitoring: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and turtles. Production and distribution to local people of agroforestry and endemic tree species: tamarind, papaya… Socotra home gardens survey: identification of cultivated products, agricultural problems, solutions and recommendations. Creation of a manual for traditional land use practices. Demography and social structure survey of islands. Livestock and rangeland management issues: restructuration of the transhumance grazing system, study of impacts of rangeland activities on vegetation changes. Development of ecotourism management plan for Socotra Island: inventory of possible areas for campsites, beaches, historical and natural sites ; monitoring of the tourism impact on biodiversity conservation, traditional land use and cultural land heritage. Nutritional health improvement by providing technical assistance to local women to develop village-based agriculture and processing techniques for livestock products. |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Air temperature, climate, geology, geomorphology, meteorology, water quality/chemistry. | |||
| Biodiversity | Alien/Invasive/Exotic/Introduced species, arid/semi-arid, biology, birds, coastal/marine, conservation, ecology, endemic species, fishes, flora, freshwater/inland water, home gardens, invertebrates/insects/spiders, island systems/islands, lagoon systems, mammals, mangrove, monitoring/methodologies, natural resources, plants, reptiles, species inventorying/inventory, taxonomy, vegetation studies/plant cover. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, agroforestry, cultural aspects, demography, fishery/fisheries, human health, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing, local participation, monitoring methodologies, non-timber forest products/ntfp, pastoralism/pastoralists/grazing, resource use, role of women/gender, tourism, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Education and public awareness, environmental change, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, land use/land cover, management issues, mapping, rural systems, transboundary/transfrontiers. | |||
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| Contact address |
Mohammad Al Mashjary Environment Protection Authority P.O. Box: 19719 Sana’a Yemen |
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| Telephone | (967) 1 207 816 | |||
| Fax | (967) 1 207 327 | |||
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EPA@y.net.ye |
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| Last updated: 6/8/2004 |
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