沙漠研究 19-1, 113- 116 (2009 )Journal of Arid Land Studies“Desert Technology IX ”
Refereed Paper

A Promising Vegetation Type to Sustain Development in Drylands
Nagwa ELNWISHY*1, Hanane ABICHOU2, Mohamed LABIADH3, Samy ZALAT4
Abstract: Due to the increasing harsh climate, only few species of halophytic plants were able
to survive in such a harsh environment and high salinity of soil and water which all prevail inthe study area of the research. The area is a warm costal desert where drylands and wetlands
sit side by side. Mangrove (Avicennia marina), showed potential indicators for having usefulfunctions for both costal and arid regions environment in parallel. Therefore, this paper
addressed the potential impacts of the correlative functions of A. marina that contribute to thesustainability of drayland development compared to the other abundant plants species. The
study implemented GIS analysis; field visits, literature, and group discussion with the local
inhibitions of the region. The study demonstrated that the vegetation in the study area
consisted of 3 main types; A. marina was mostly the most prevailing. In some sites, it hasbeen adapted to becoming completely terrestrial, and an efficient instrument in biologic dune
fixation against sand encroachment and wind erosion. It was also shown to be a valuablepromoter to other associated economic activities like eco-truism and indigenous activities toemerge. In conclusion, A. marina might be an alternative and /or additional species ofvegetation in coastal drylands where other species are difficult to grow, they can provide anumber of environmental and economical benefits; of which, is to control sand encroachment
and biodiversity depletion and to promote living standards of Bedouins. It is therefore,
recommended to consider embracing A. marina vegetation in dryland management strategies
where it is applicable.
Keywords: Avicennia marina, Biodiversity, Dryland development and economic values, Dune fixation

1. Introduction
There are 238 million ha of dryland forests in the world and Africa alone has 64% of these forests.
These ecosystems provide shelter to nearly 1 billion people and half of the world's domestic livestock and alarge variety of wildlife (FAO, 1999). A total of 124 countries and areas were identified as containing one
or more true mangrove species. In Egypt, the most abundant species are Avicennia marina andRhizophora mucronata (FAO, 2007; Saenger, 2002). Mangroves are intertidal plants that occur in theinterface between land and sea. The depletion or destruction of mangrove is one of the important factors
leading to land degradation and soil erosion. The mangrove forests consist of trees and bushes growing
below the water level of spring tides, they are the most typical forest found on the coastlines in the tropicsand subtropics (Singh and Odaki, 2004) and the areas where they exist are rich in biological diversity offlora and fauna (EEAA, 2005). It is a highly specialized habitat with many species that do not occur
anywhere else; such as characteristic fauna and microbial species of the soil (Bennett and Reynolds, 1993;
UNESCO, 2008).
The objective of this study was to characterize the land cover in this region to emphasis the role ofmangroves ecosystem in controlling soil erosion and promoting vegetation cover, as a supporting tool tosustain development. Socioeconomic investigation was highlighted to show the potential impacts ofmangroves management strategies on the direct and indirect benefits.
2. Materials and Methods
GIS mapping, filed visits, previous recorded data, group discussion and literature were all
implemented GIS analysis was used to map mangrove vegetation distribution in Egypt and recent satellite
images were processed by the ERDAS 9.1 and ARCGIS 9.2 programs for this reason. Frequent field
1Biotechnology Research Center Suez Canal University Ismaillia 41522, Egypt. *Corresponding author, E-mail:nwishy@yahoo.com
2Université Montpellier 1 UFR Sciences Economiques, Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier 3191
Route de Mende, 34093 Cedex 5, France3
Institut des Régions Arides 4119 Médenine, Tunisia
4
BioMAP, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Elmaady, Cairo.

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visits to the study area were made precisely identify the vegetation type. Group discussion and individual
conversation with the local inhabitants of the regions was used to show an overview of the socioeconomiccondition. Previously reported data by the BioMAP and EEAA were also employed.
The work was carried out in 9 months in 2007-2008 and additional data previously reported on thesame study area by EEAA and BioMAP was also used. However, the study area is an arid desert in EastSouth Sinai the Egyptian Red Sea coast where mangrove forests occur as a "warm coastal desert".
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. GIS scanning
Mangroves forests were detected in twelve regions along the costal desert of Egypt. The study area
visually showed the highest density of vegetation cover by the mangrove habitats. Therefore the site wasused as model to examine the study hypothesis. GIS calculations indicated that the study area was
183.782 km2; total coast line is 26.8697 km, and that the area was categorized as in Figures 1 and 2:
11% 15%

41%
27%

5%
Mountains

6%
Sand

No mangrove or vegetation

21%
Gullies

Vegetation

74%

Mangrove

Mangrove without vegetation
Mangrove and vegetation

Fig. 1. the categories of the study area.

Fig. 2. Vegetations distribution in the areaby GIS the study area categories.

3.2. The vegetation coverSite visits showed that the vegetation cover of the area
consisted of three types; (1) hyper saline tolerant plants
represented in mangroves (Avicennia marina) which extended
along the intertidal zone of the study area (2) saltwater-tolerant
plants (halophytes plants) in low lying areas, three species
were identified; Zygophylhum album, Limonium axilare,
Nitraria retusa and (3) freshwater-dependent plants,
Salvadora persica, Acasia raddiana and Phoenix dactylifera.
Mangrove habitats were identified in 4 sites in the study area
Fig. 3. Aerial roots in A. Marina.
region, (N: 27.72913˚ and E: 38.24699˚), (N: 28.13156˚ and E:34.44109˚), (N: 28.14770˚ and E: 34.44374˚), and (N:28.18218˚ and E: 34.43951˚). Variation in mangrove trees
height between sites was recorded. These mangroves growunder extreme conditions of high salinity that reaches 50.000
ppm and low winter temperatures that reaches 4 ˚C (Zahran,1993). They are marine trees are normally living in lagoons,and they normally have aerial dark brown roots which growapparently on the land level (Fig. 3), forming an intrinsic
Fig. 4. Vanished aerial roots in A.
Marina.
network which work as desalinator of the sea water so thatenough moisture is available for growth (EEAA, 2000).
However, in the study area, mangroves were found at location (N: 28.14770˚ E: 34.44374˚) forming part ofthe coastal marsh and high terrestrial dune vegetation (Sabkha), and totally lost their aerial roots (Fig. 4).
Mostly, they have adapted to this harsh environment by becoming completely terrestrial by a naturalalteration. This clarified the high density of terrestrial vegetation identified by GIS, as it is actuallyconsisted of terrestrial mangroves. However, this natural alternation may bring up a new definition ofmangroves varies from the common one.

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3.3. Soil and landscape
Sand dunes accumulation was formed around mangroves 1- 1.5 m high. apparently, these dunes were
mostly caused by the deep roots (pneumatophores) of mangroves which trap terrestrial sand blown by windas the direction of the dunes parallels the direction of the north-west winds, and/or caused by seasonal rain
floods waters, as wadis bring down sediments to lowland and coastal areas, causing much of the sediment
to run-off into the sea. In either cases, the two functions may have resulted in accumulation of land in thecoastal plain, leading to extending the land slowly out to sea, and reduces the risk of losing the surface
nutrients sediment of the soil by water erosion into the sea, the loss can reach up to >100 × 103 m3 of
sediments into the sea at a high risk level, and 50 × 103 in a low risk level (Hefny, 1997).
3.4. Water resources
The prevailing ground water salinity is influenced by the high salinity of sea water (41.8 ± 0.2 ppt)
due to the high rate of evaporation and the slow rate of water exchange between the Gulf and the main
body of the Red Sea (Al-Mufti, 2000). In the study area, salinity at 2 m deep ranged between 15-38 ppt
which reflects the leaching of fresh ground water into the coastal zone, and /or might be rated to themountain catchments area behind the two sites where rain and flooding occur in the inland wadi. In
addition, mangroves are believed to supply aquifers via releasing water from aquifers as well.
3.5. The socioeconomic impact of mangrovesMangroves have direct and indirect values as follow; (1) theFishing67%
direct use pattern value is derived from the direct and traditional
29%
Fuel wooduse or interaction with a mangrove's resources and services by
local communities in the area as shown in Figure 5; the main
23%
Goatfeeding
traditional activities undertaken by Bedouin are livestock raisingCamel feeding45%
and minor seasonal agriculture. Bedouin men look after camels
whilst women herd goats. Fishing is an additional activity
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
raised in drylands near shorelines (El Bastawisi, 1995).
Fig. 5. Common mangrove based
Bedouin men undertake fishing activities, whilst women collectactivities carried out by
shellfish along reef flats. In many countries, introducing bees toBedouins
mangrove areas for apiculture was possible using Apis mellifera
which is a common species in Africa and the Middle East (FAO,1994). Introducing a native bee species in the mangrove areas in Egypt might be valuable. (2) theindirect value of mangrove are the benefits derived from its functional services to support current
production and consumption, and protection provided to economic activity and property by the mangrove's
regulatory environmental services are considerable (EEAA, 2005). The damage mangroves are exposed
to by strong wind is significantly limited (Galal 1999) therefore it functions as a strong and effectively
tolerant wind breaker. The total of avoided damaged area and damaged economic activities, caused bystorms, provided by mangroves are also a valuable cost. In addition, the avoided costs of building
alternative wind breaks or sea walls other than mangroves are also high. For instance, as reported byWRM (2005), studies of the 2004 Asian tsunami showed that areas near healthy mangroves suffered lessdamage and fewer loss of life. In Myanmar, mangrove forests could have reduced damages resulting
from the waves caused by cyclone NargisA).
In the same time, frequent flash floods were reported to cause significant damage in the study area(Hefney, 1997). The avoided damage costs, or the flood prevention expenditures or the replacement cost
technique were reported as significant (EEAA, 2005). These sediments in most cases contain highcontents of organic nutrients, including those from animal waste which add the value of nutrient retention
to mangrove.
Groundwater recharge made by mangroves was reported to be a possible aquifer refill supplier which
for domestic agricultural and industrial purposes in other regions (EEAA, 2005) which is an additional
value of mangrove. Moreover, The nutrient and energy flows of mangroves is believed to be able tostabilize local climatic conditions, particularly humidity and temperatures which has a valuable influenceon any agricultural or resource-based, besides its ability to maintain water quality and retaining water

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toxins (EEAA, 2005).
Furthermore, mangroves act as nursery area for juvenile stages and as feeding areas for adults, and for
reptiles and birds might be a strong support to biodiversity since over 470 wild birds species live in Egypt,
over two thirds of which are migrant (Baha El Din, 1999) and many of them were recorded in mangrove
areas (GEF, 1997). Also the landscape afforded by mangroves to tourists in national parks and reserves isvaluable to Bedouins who are increasingly getting involved in tourism (EEAA, 2005).
4. Conclusions
Mangrove forests may be a vital tool to sustain the development process in drylands, as it provides
highly economic direct and indirect use pattern values, and a number of environmental services to theecosystem of the region. Mangroves can be a potential alternative and/or additional type of vegetation in
costal drylands.
Genetic investigations are recommended to recognize if any genetic mutation in the aerial roots ofmangroves has occurred, in order to explore genetic engineering possibilities to develop terrestrial
mangroves vegetation applicable in appropriate saline soils.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Agriculture University of Iceland, Soil Conservation Services and the ministryof foreign affairs of Iceland for financing the project stage included during the land restoration training
program 2007; Sigmar Metúsalemsson, Jóhann Thorarensenfor, Dr. Magnús Jóhannsson and Dr.
Guðmundur Halldórsson for the GIS analysis assisting and reviewing, and to Mrs. Mary Lyn Villaume andMr. David Bouckty for supporting and sponsoring.
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