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Renewable natural resources are those which can be
recycled, reproduced or regenerated. These include crops, wild plants,
animals, water, air, etc. Centuries of intensive human use, settlements
and other land clearings for various developments have greatly changed
the original landscape and thereby destroyed our natural resource base
to a great extent. Moreover, the unsustainable use of the world's
natural resources, not only to meet the increasing demand but also to
quench his greed, is also depleting the biological resources at an
alarming rate. As per the current estimates, the world population has
crossed the mark of 6 billion; and is expected to be doubled in less
than 50 years. Unless population is controlled and sound resource
management policy is implemented throughout the world, majority of human
beings below the poverty line, particularly in the third world, will
face a difficult life in the coming decades.
The population growth rate of Saudi Arabia is one
of the highest in the world. As per the current circumstances, the
existing population of 20 million is expected to be doubled by 2040. The
rapid growths of human population and economy of the oil rich countries
in the Arabian Peninsula and particularly of Saudi Arabia during the
last three decades are projected to continue in the coming years. This
growth has accelerated and often put pressure on the Kingdom’s renewable
resource base. Since large tracts of vegetation rich areas are to be
transformed for meeting the increasing demands of the industrial and
agriculture sectors and for the urban development, the small remaining
pockets of natural area are vital for future developments. The following
paragraphs depict the current status of the wild plant heritage of Saudi
Arabia and portray some of the untapped economically important plants.
Although Saudi Arabia is a large country, covering
an area of 2, 250,000 sq km, the floristic elements are limited to a few
thousands, in contrast to the rich floras of East African, West
Asian and Mediterranean countries. Yet, the prevailing hospitable
climate and topography of some parts of the Arabian Peninsula have
indeed allowed the entry of many plants from neighbouring countries.
However, populations of most of these wild plants on the Peninsular side
are in a highly degraded state due to a number of reasons such as the
unpredictable climate, lack of sufficient precipitation, meager
regeneration, overgrazing, poor agricultural practices, unsustainable
gathering of fuel wood, etc. Recent estimates show that Saudi Arabia
contains about 2243 species in 142 families, of which 20% of plants are
endangered, about 25% are rare and about 2% are endemic.
Ever since the beginning of civilization, the
basic needs required by man like food, clothing and shelter are
fulfilled by plants. Economically important plants of Saudi Arabia are
very few. Nevertheless, each plant we see around us contains some form
of chemical compounds which could be used for the manufacture of some
products. Bedouins, the nomadic community of Saudi Arabia, are basically
farmers and known for their hardiness and endurance are the real sons of
the desert. They are will acquainted with the extremes of the arid land
life. For existence and necessity, these nomadic communities had to move
from place to place for better pasture land for their herd and to avoid
the extreme climate. During such constant movements they were forced to
use the natural resources which were available around their dwelling
places. But the use of these plants were localized and restricted. The
value of one plant in an area largely depends on the skills or culture of
the tribal people. A plant used for medicinal or food in one region does
not have the same effect or perhaps believed even poisonous in another
region. According to one survey conducted on Saudi plants, 98 of them
were used or considered edible by Bedouins. Out of these only a few
plants such as Malva parviflora, Eruca sativa, Portulaca oleracea,
Corchorus olitorius, Lactuca saligna etc. are widely used in
these days. Edibility of certain plants such as Tripleurospermum
auriculatum, Rumex vesicarius, etc., is also well known to many
people. There are only a few plants which can be eaten whole, either raw
or cooked, whereas in most other plants the edible part is either root (Emex
spinosa, Scorzonera papposa, Orobanche cernua), stem( Foeniculum
vulgare, Sisymbrium irio) or leaves (Launaea nudicaulis,
Scorzonera papposa).
There is another group of plants which is also
important to nomadic communites. Acacia gerrardii, Ziziphus
spina-christi, Tamarix aphylla, Maerua crassifolia, Acacia raddiana,
Juniperus procera etc. were very prominent for the construction of
traditional mud houses and tents. Wood of most of these plants are very
hard, durable and resistant to termites and water. People used to
collect a kind of gum from A. Seyal for confectionery and for
the manufacture of ink. Salvadora persica is another important
plant whose value is widely accepted throughout the world. The compounds
present in the wood and root of this plant are acting as a dentrifice
and mouth cleanser. A few tooth pastes containing these compounds are
also marketed under the trade names, “Meswak” and “Fluroswak”. The
resins obtained from species such as Commiphora erythraea, C. kataf,
C. myrrha, etc. were a major source of “bdellillium” for the
manufacture of perfumes. Acacia spp., Haloxylon persicum,
Calligonum comosum, Juniperus spp., Ziziphus spina-christi,
Maerua crassifolia, etc. are well known throughout Arabia for their
excellent, long and clear burning firewood.
In ancient times, Bedouins used various types
herbal plants for curing many ailments. Traditional use of these herbal
medicines are still in use at least in some quarters. Artemisia
sieberi, Rhus tripatrita (cough), Citrullus colocynthis, Senna
italica (Digestive disorders); Cynomorium coccineum, Artemisia
judaica (Colic); Capparis spinosa, Peganum harmala, Ochradenus
baccatus (Aches in joints, limbs); Anastatica heirochuntica
(to ease the pain of delivery) etc. are some of the common medicinal
plants used by 'Bedouins' in Saudi Arabia.
Rangelands constitute about 70-80% of the total
area of Saudi Arabia. These areas are important for the grazing of wild
and domesticated herds. Important pasture plants of the Kingdom's range
lands include Acacia spp., Anabasis setifera, A. articulata,
Artemisia sieberi, Astagalus spinosa, Acacia spp. Haloxylon
salicornicum , Rhanterium epapposum, Indigofera spinosa, etc.
Some of the economically important plants of
Saudi Arabia
Leaves of Hyphaene thebaica, when
they are green and fresh, are used to make baskets, mates, etc. The
fibre obtained from its leaves was of great value in the past. The
baskets and mats made from leaves of this palm were believed to be long
lasting, than the baskets made with the leaves of Date palm. Although
not as popular as before, the items made from Hyphaene thebaica
can still be seen in the markets in and around Jizan. The outer layer of
the unripe, green fruit is edible which children of the Tihama region
often eat.
The fruits of Ziziphus spina-christi
are edible and are a crucial source of nourishment in the past. People
engaged in honey production widely cultivate these trees in their
premises, as it is important bee forage. Its foliage is also browsed by
livestock during extreme dry season. The powdered leaves of this tree
have been widely used as a hair wash in Eastern Saudi Arabia and
elsewhere and have been considered very effective in strengthening the
hair roots and softening hair. The wood was one of the important timbers
in the past for the construction of houses and for the manufacture of
utensils. Elsewhere in Arabia, remedies prepared from the leaves were
prescribed for the removal of impurities from the intestines and were
said to be effective for the skin.
Avicennia marina, a popular mangrove
tree seen along the Red Sea coast and Arabian Gulf coast, grows in dense
stands in many parts of coastal region, particularly in the southern
Tihama and Farasan Islands. It is one of the ecologically important and
highly productive littoral biotopes. Mangrove trees grow in extremely
hostile conditions such as high salinity formed soils. They not only
safeguard the land from erosion but also create more land by gradually
pushing the sea back. Besides land protection, the habitat of
Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata present in the
Farasan Islands are important because it provides breeding and nursery
grounds for a variety of organisms. Many terrestrial and aquatic animals
find refuge under these trees. The pneumatothods that stand erect above
the water are an ideal site for the breeding of a number of fish,
particularly of crabs, shrimps and prawns. It is also believed that
Avicennia marina is known for its capacity to remove pollutants from
water.
Dracaena ombet, though not as
popular as D. cinnabari of Socotran island and D. draco of
Canary Islands, is also important for the local community. Apart from
the resin of this plant, the fibre extracted from the leaves is also
used to make ropes and threads. Its trunks were also used for making
beehives.
Moringa peregrina is a deciduous
trees with pendulous branches. Fruit is a 30 cm long capsule. Oil
obtained from its pods is being used by local people for cooking or for
burning. In other countries, extraction from the pods is being used in
perfumery, and to treat ailments of stomach, leprosy, pustules on the
face and for the relief of itching.
Cissus quadrangularis is a
perennial climber with succulent quadrangular stem and 3-lobed serrate
leaves. Livestock browse the new leaves and growing shoots when hungry
but the attractive berries, which look so tempting and succulent, are
not edible. In Oman, the plant was allowed to grow up and over the
roofs of houses and animal shelters in order to have a firm matting
cover above the grass thatching.
Pandanus
odoratissimus
is a large shrub with sword-like leaves. Trunks and branches often with
stilt (aerial) roots. Leaves thick, toothed, more than a meter long. It
is cultivated in many parts of southwestern region, mainly in the
premises of houses. The inflorescence is very aromatic and is being sold
in the market. In other countries, where it is cultivated commercially,
oil is obtained from male flowers. |