The Importance of Native Trees in Sustaining Biodiversity in Arid Lands

Abstract

The value of science is greatly increased when it is used to benefit society. Too frequently those who do and understand basic science are not involved in its applications, and those charged with resolving societal concerns, such as the management and sustainability of natural resources, are not aware of research that can assist them in making decisions. The objective of this paper is to provide professionals, who are not ecologists but who are involved in conservation and management of natural resources, a summary of ecological research that indicates desert trees are an important resource. I have chosen trees as the focus of this paper because I believe that they alone harbor a large proportion of the biodiversity in dryland ecosystems, and the sustainability and function of these ecosystems depends on their welfare. This view is not to discredit other types of vegetation, for they are important and share several biological processes and some of the biodiversity associated with trees. However, generally less is known of their ecological and functional properties. When possible I have incorporated ecological information on Acacia tortilis (samr in Arabic) from various regions of its range, including recent studies from northern Oman. Samr is a ubiquitous tree throughout the arid and semiarid regions of North Africa and the Middle East. Its dominance in many of the varied ecosystems in the region suggests it is a keystone species, one that is vital for maintaining productive ecosystems.