An overview of wetlands of Saudi Arabia: Values, threats, and perspectives

Al-Obaid, Sami, Samraoui, Boudjema, Thomas, Jacob, El-Serehy, Hamed, Alfarhan, Ahmed, Schneider, Wolfgang and O'Connell, Mark ORCID: 0000-0003-3402-8880 (2017) An overview of wetlands of Saudi Arabia: Values, threats, and perspectives. Ambio, 46 (1). pp. 98-108. doi:10.1007/s13280-016-0807-4

	Text (Permanent embargo) KSA Wetlands - FINAL PUBLICATION July 2016.doc - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only (Publisher Embargo). Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (4MB)
Preview	Text (Peer-reviewed version) KSA Wetlands - FINAL July 2016.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

The wetlands of Saudi Arabia are located in a water-stressed region that is highly vulnerable to climate and other global changes. Sebkhas, mudflats, mangroves, and wadis are the dominant wetlands in the arid regions of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. These unique wetlands are recognized as a sanctuary for biodiversity and for their economic services generated from mineral extraction, agriculture, and grazing. Despite their ecological values and societal services, the long-term permanence of Saudi Arabia’s wetlands faces strong challenges resulting from human activities associated with sustained population growth, habitat degradation, and coastal development. This paper consolidates a literature review of Saudi Arabia’s wetlands from local to global importance, highlights their biodiversity, and identifies threats and evolution of these vulnerable ecosystems in the arid Arabian Peninsula by focusing on the status of key freshwater taxa (Odonata, freshwater fishes, amphibians, and waterbirds) and documenting changes affecting important wetlands.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-016-0807-4
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Conservation; Environment; Global changes; Management; Saudi Arabia; Sustainable use; Wetlands
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) > S900 Conservation of natural resources including land conservation
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Mark O'Connell
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2017 12:22
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:58
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/4909

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record