Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands
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Ecoregion and political borders
Countries : mostly Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, much of southern and eastern Jordan, Syria and northern Saudi Arabia. Bordering the Persian Gulf, there is an extension into Qatar and, further east, the region covers almost all of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Rub'al-Khali crosses over from Saudi Arabia into western Oman and eastern Yemen.
People, language and cultures
Ethnics : Arab, Kurdish, Turkman, Assyrian ...
Religions: Muslim in majority (Shite and sunni)
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Aramaic, Armenian...
Ecological threats
- Overgrazing by camels and goats, with increased herd size, and a more sedentary lifestyle amongst the Bedu.
- Off-road driving
- Human destruction of habitat and fragmentation in the form of roads
- Agricultural projects
- Oil and gas production
- War and its impacts.
Oil spills
This ecoregion was victim of a massive economic-environmental : the sabotage of Kuwait oil facilities that caused vast oil spills and the release of toxins into the atmosphere in the 1990s.
At the beginning in January 1991 during Persian Gulf War, Iraqi forces released about 1.7 million m³ (11 million barrels) of oil from storage tanks and tankers directly into the Persian Gulf. In February, they also destroyed 1,164 Kuwaiti oil wells. It took nine months to extinguish these oil fires. These oil spills contaminated 1000 km (600 miles) of Persian Gulf coast.
Result of the pollution was thousands of water birds death and serious damage to the Persian Gulf's aquatic ecosystem (shrimp, sea turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins and fish).
The damaged wells also released 10 million m³ (60 million barrels) of oil into the desert and formed lakes (total surface of 49 square kilometers) which contaminated soil and ground water.
Weaponry
Weaponry used by the US during the Persian Gulf war also poses a huge risk to the environmental stability of the area. Tank columns in the desert plains may disrupt the fragile stability that exists. The desert soil is protected from erosion by a thin hardened crust. However, in 1991, the passage of US tanks damage the crust and unleashed a massive, slow moving sand dune. Some people fear that this dune could ultimately reach Kuwait City. Another concern is related to the use of radioactive depleted uranium munitions by the A-10 "Warthog". Some detractors claim the ammunitions to be a risk for cancer and a source of water contamination. In 1991, the U.S. and NATO dropped nearly 300 tons of depleted uranium on Iraqi targets. The splinters resulting from the explosion contaminated the surrounding soil.
Conservation
Pictures needed.
Conservation status : critical/endangered
Protected area :
Endemic species : Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards
Introduced species :
Threatened species : white oryx, sand gazelle
Extinct species : striped hyaena, jackal, honey badger
No formal protected areas exist but a number of protected areas are in the planning for Abu Dhabi.