Speculate about the factors that contributed to their being able to survive in Arabia but not anywhere else. The Asir National Park covers more than a million acres of the mountainous area of southwest Saudi Arabia. The park is intended to conserve species that might otherwise become extinct. In recent years, however, people have begun calling for the government to expand recreational uses of the park, which may limit conservation efforts. Debate whether national parks should be used for conservation, recreation, or both.
Many scientists believe that ibex goats are keeping the mountain juniper forests from expanding.
Debate whether humans should control the ibex populations in order to help these forests grow. Compare the topography and wildlife of the Arabian mountains to other mountain ranges. The baboon population of the Arabian mountains is slowly growing. Predict what you think would happen to an area if the baboon population began to expand rapidly. Back to Top Tectonic Tribulation Arabia broke away from the African continent about 35 million years ago when the tectonic plates in the area shifted and drifted apart.