Mohammed M.Y. Dows*(1) Ahmed A. Dows(1) Amin Al-kirshi(1) Saleh Mouthana(2) and Karemah Rajeh(3)
(1). Central Highlands Agricultural Research Station, Yemen. (2). Renewable Natural Resource Center, Yemen. (3). Agricultural Extension Office. Yemen. (*Corresponding author: Dr. Mohammed M.Y. Dows. E-Mail: mmydows1975@yahoo.com).
Received: 29/10/ 2016 Accepted: 31/01/ 2017
Abstract
The study was carried out on the territory of natural pastures of Al-Manar Directorate in Dhamar province/Yemen, in summer season of 2013 and 2014, to determine the prevalent pastoral cover, and causes of its deterioration, also to identify the most widespread pastoral plant species, especially the promising ones, and to study the factors that affecting its development. The study relied on a descriptive and analytical approach to describe the phenomenon and to identify its causes. The interviews, direct observation, and visits were used, in addition to the topographic maps and satellite images, besides the climate because of its significant impact on the vegetation cover, were used. The prevailing vegetation community was identified with the help of box method, depending on the relative importance of the pastoral plants. Results indicated that the most important plant communities were of grass plant (Cynodonsche nanthus), Juniper plant (Artemisia campestris), Acacia plants (Acacia Spp), and Seder plant (Zizaphus Spp). The results of the quantitative study showed that the overall average of plant cover was 59.03%, this means that 40.97% of the surveyed sites, free of vegetation, which indicates that the region is suffering from the deterioration in the natural vegetation cover, probably due to two fundamental factors, first was the environmental issue such as the lack of rain, and the second was due to increase of human population, unjust logging and grazing, scarcity of legislation, and low level of awareness of the importance of vegetation cover and pastures, this leads to the absence of most pastoral plants. The study examined the promising pastoral plants, which consider the most important pillars of the program and plans for the repair of degraded rangelands. The study concluded the need to promote and develop the pastoral land, and to replant the appropriate pastoral vegetation cover of the region, also increase its productivity, and management with the help of the proper methods.
Keywords: Natural plants, Pastoral cover, promising plants, Yemen.
Full paper in Arabic: Survey of Pastoral and Natural Plants and Factors Affected it’s Development in Dhamar Governorate (Central Highlands) in Yemen