UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory
UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory
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Al-Reem biosphere is a safe haven for the threatened species of the Arabian oryx and sand gazelle. The coastal landscape features running dunes, rocky flat-tops, Wadis, Rawdats, mud flats or sabkhas, gravel hamad or houzoum, beaches and rocky headlands, small mountains and the saline swampy mudflats of the Zekreet peninsula. The mix of plants is formed by ‘al ghaf’, a culturally important species, the umbrella thorn acacia locally known as ‘al-samr’, desert thorn locally known as ‘al’ousaj’, bean caper, Sidr and Sallam. The biosphere is a safe haven for the Rüppell's fox, Ethiopian hedgehog, Arabian red fox, desert monitor lizard, spiny-tailed lizard, false cobra, lesser Egyptian jerboa. It nestles the greater hoopoe-lark and southern grey shrike along with a high diversity of migratory birds. The reserve is home to edible plants, such as attar (Glossonema varians), Hazan (Launaea capitata) and the wild relative of vine of Sodom (Citrullus colocynthis). It hosts a mix of medicinal plants consisting of ‘meseeka’ (Haplophyllum tuberculatum), ‘ja’ad’ or felty germander (Teucrium pollium), ‘al senna’ (Senna italica) and camel hay’s (Cymbopogon commutatus).
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