Dynamics of range plants following 10 years of protection in arid rangelands of Kuwait

Camel grazing affects species diversity and community structure in the deserts of the UAE

“…Protection of vegetation against grazing in desert environments has been suggested as a feasible approach to halting land degradation in order to rehabilitate rangelands (Ayyad et al, 1990;Omar, 1991;Ayyad, 2003). The impacts of protection against livestock grazing on plant communities of arid and semiarid rangelands have been studied in many regions of the world, however with contradictory results.…”

“…In addition, the duration of protection has significantly affected vegetation recovery in arid deserts. Whereas short term protection from grazing, mainly by camels, resulted in a significant recovery, longer term protection apparently results in deterioration of the biodiversity and biomass of desert vegetation (Omar, 1991;El-Keblawy, 2003). In Kuwait, for example, vegetation protection for three years led to an increase in plant cover, frequency and production (Omar et al, 1990), but when the protection was extended for ten years in the same enclosure, it resulted in a deterioration of plant cover (Omar, 1991).…”

Artificial forests as conservation sites for the native flora of the UAE

“…It is therefore believed that neither overgrazing nor complete protection from grazing are required to regenerate desert ecosystems (Ayyad et al, 1990;ElKeblawy, 2003). Ecosystem deterioration was observed in Kuwait when protection from grazing extended for 10 years (Omar, 1991).…”

The effects of harvester ant (Messor ebeninus Forel) nests on vegetation and soil properties in a desert dwarf shrub community in north-eastern Arabia

“…Details of this 20 km 2 area, which has been protected from grazing and unauthorised access since 1978, are available from Omar (1991), Zaman (1997) and Brown (2001a, b). The vegetation is characterised by an open dwarf shrub community in which Rhanterium epapposum (Asteraceae) plays a predominant role.…”