Guide to the Naturalized, Invasive and Potentially Invasive Plants of Socotra, Yemen

The Socotra Archipelago, in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden, is a Natural World Heritage Site, ranked among the richest island systems in the world in terms of biodiversity with a rich and distinct flora and fauna. Of the ca. 850 plant taxa known from the archipelago, 37% are endemic, while 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world. As such it is often referred to as "the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean." However, this extraordinary biodiversity is threatened by, among other factors, the spread of invasive alien species (IAS). One of the major barriers to effective management is the lack of information on the presence, impact and management of IAS. This Field Guide has been developed to help address this issue. Species that are not yet present on the archipelago, but naturalized and/or invasive in the Arabian Peninsula, have also been included.

Arne Witt (Author) Arne Witt is currently the Regional (Africa and Asia) Coordinator for Invasive Species for CABI, based in Wilderness (George), South Africa. He has been an International Project Coordinator and/or Technical Advisor for a number of regional and national UNEP-GEF IAS Projects in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, and the Middle East. In these roles he has worked with countries in developing policies, building capacity, creating awareness, and developing and implementing best management practices, including biological control. He continues to develop and implement IAS projects in these regions. Arne has a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has Master of Science degrees in Entomology (Stellenbosch University) and Conservation Biology (University of Cape Town). He has published a number of journal articles, and authored or co-authored book chapters and books on the identification and management of invasive alien species.Ahmed Said Suleiman Abdullah (Author) Ahmed Said Suleiman Abdullah has been working on invasive alien species management on Socotra for many years. He is also a representative for Yemen with regard to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and has produced numerous reports and publications on the natural environment of the Socotra Archipelago, especially birds. He has a diploma from the Teachers Institute of Aden, Yemen, and has participated in many training workshops and courses on environmental protection in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and elsewhere.