Conservation

"Somalia has suffered from many years of civil unrest so it is not perhaps surprising that according to a late May 2002 news item, a new report prepared by an environmental group known as Natural Resource Management and Environmental Protection, warns that Somalia will be a country without trees within the next few years if trees continue to be cut down at the present rate. It is understood that deforestation has been most severe in Middle Jubba, Lower Jubba, Middle Shabeelle and Lower Shabeelle - according to the news item, substantial shipments of charcoal are passing through Kismaayo and Mogadishu on a daily basis.

The Important Bird Areas which may be seriously affected are: 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 - see IBA section. It is further understood the report claims that Somalia's wildlife is now almost non-existent following widespread poaching." In addition, the dumping of toxic wastes off the central eastern coast presents a serious environmental hazard.

Even in Somaliland, most of the IBAs are overexploited and degraded as follows:  

So001, Sacaada Diin Islands are severely overfished by foreign fleets.

Sacaada Diin Islands overfishing

Somalia

Photo: Abdi Jama

Large groups of young divers over-harvest sea cucumbers and an endangered turtle.

Sacaada Diin Islands harvesting sea cucumbers

Somalia

Photo: Abdi Jama

So 002, Maydh Island is exploited for its guano deposits by fishermen.

Maydh Island fishermen preparing to scrape up guano

Somalia

Photo: Abdi Jama

So003 & So006, Daallo & Gacan Libaax IBAs are suffering from overgrazing and tree-chopping for livestock. The juniper forests in both IBAs are degrading gradually going the way of Djibouti's Foret Du Day.

So007, Boorame Plains IBA, the home of the endangered Archer's Lark Heteromirafra archeri is degraded from homesteading communities who migrate back and forth between these plains and Oogo high country as well as the coastal zone to the north. 

Sheepherders overgrazing Boorame Plains

Somalia

Photo: Abdi Jama

WIWO has conducted 18 surveys in Africa. The WIWO Forward Plan includes censuses of waders along the coast of Somalia. Contact address: Working Group on International Wader and Waterfowl Research (WIWO), c/o Driebergse weg 16c, 3708 JB Zeist, Netherlands.

Last page update 21st July 2009