Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Response


2007, 2010 and 2012, limiting the recovery of ecosystems that had been devastated in the late 1990s (Riegl and Purkis 2015). Coastal development and dredging associated with ports and industries have also resulted in substantial loss of live coral from a number of Gulf countries, directly burying or removing reefs or indirectly affecting them through sedimentation and hydrodynamic changes.


In the Gulf of Oman, coral loss has mainly been associated with recurrent outbreaks of predatory starfish, the 2007 cyclone Gonu, a 2008/2009 harmful algal bloom, and damage caused by fishing activities (Coles et al. 2015). The condition of coral reefs across the region has declined markedly in recent decades, but there is currently only limited information available on the location and condition of specific coral habitats. Regional mapping and assessment efforts are required to determine the status of coral reefs and to prioritise future conservation and management efforts (Burt et al. 2015).


Rich and diverse vegetation


West Asia has rich and diverse vegetation distributed in different habitats includinghigh mountains, upland plateaus, inland, riverine and coastalplains, sand deserts and wetlands (EOAR 2010).


Five major phytogeographic regions, the Saharo-Sudanian regional zone, the Irano-Turanian, Somali Masai and Mediterranean regional centres of endemism, and the Central Asia region cross this territory and house more than 5 500 endemic species. This region also forms a centre of diversification of several genera, notably in the Asteraceae (sunflower), Caryophyllaceae (pinks and carnations) and Lamiaceae (mint) families. It is a very important region for landraces and wild progenitors of our crops, including cereals, pulses, oil- and fibre-yielding plants, vegetables and fruits, all of which need research and protection (Zohary et al. 2012).


West Asia is not yet fully explored botanically. The floras of many of the countries are outdated or incomplete and very


few have a red list of plant species ( Ghazanfar and McDaniel 2015). However, indications of the region’s rich biodiversity can be found in the many wild relatives of fruit trees found in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. These species and genera have adapted to harsh conditions including extremes in temperature combined with extended drought and low soil fertility. They are excellent resources for future research into rootstocks for, among other characteristics, dwarfism and drought or calcareous soil tolerance. Medicinal plants are widely distributed in Jordan and are massively used by local people in folk medicine as hot or cold drinks, and are chewed fresh or as dry raw materials.


Decline of species


According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened species 2015, 22 per cent of West Asian fishes are threatened while the number of threatened animals reaches 10 per cent. The list includes taxa from all countries of the region and in all categories except amphibians, (Figure 2.4.3), reflecting the threat that species are facing in the region.


Figure 2.4.3: West Asia’s threatened species, by category


Other Inverts 29%


Plants 18%


Mammals 10%


Molluscs 3%


Fishes 22%


Birds 12%


Reptiles 6%


Amphibians 0%


Source: IUCN Red List 2015 69


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