VEGETATION DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN YEMEN

Abstract

Yemen, which lies in the extreme Southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, is characterized by tropical arid to semi-arid climate. Its altitudinal range (0-3760 m) is largely responsible for the differentiation in the climate and provides different phytogeographic region. An estimated number of more than 3,500 plant species has been reported and about 10% of them is said to be endemic. Precised data on the status of the rare and endangered species has not yet clearly verified. The vegetation of Yemen is largely influenced by mans impact and other environmental cause of vegetation degradation. It has been estimated that about 90% of the countrys total area is suffering from desertification at different degrees. The Desertification areas in Yemen, especially in Tihama. Marib, Al-Jawf and other southern coastal areas is nearly 14-20 ha/year