Yemen Photograph by Janet Fesler   Arabian Peninsula: Yemen and Saudi Arabia Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   33,600 square miles (86,900 square kilometers) -- about the size of West Virginia and Vermont combined Vulnerable

· Arabia's Amazing Highlands
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Arabia's Amazing Highlands

Climb up into the highlands of southwestern Arabia, and you'll pass sparkling mountain streams, forests shrouded in mist, and incredible high-altitude, terraced farms that have been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. This highland region, parallel to and overlooking the Red Sea, is home to rare Arabian leopards, Hamadrayas baboons, and many other amazing species.

Special Features

This ecoregion comprises part of the Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia, most of the western highlands of Yemen, and the plains and plateau to the west and east, respectively. Climatic conditions vary considerably depending on the season, the altitude, and on whether or not a slope is north- or south-facing. Southwestern monsoons bring damp winds to the highlands, causing significant rainfall in April-May and July-August. Average rainfall ranges from 24 to 40 inches (600-1,000 mm) per year in the highest regions to 12 to 20 inches (300-500 mm) on the plateau. Temperatures peak in the summer at around 73&#deg; F (23&#deg; C), dropping to an average of 50&#deg; F (10&#deg; C) in the winter.

	Arabian wolves sometimes travel nearly forty miles in one night!

Wild Side

A variety of habitats cover this region--from the terraced agricultural region dotted with woodland patches to evergreen forests and scrub to a lush cloud forest at the highest elevations. Plant communities bear many similarities to those of Africa. This ecoregion supports about 2,000 plant species of which 170 are endemic. More than 3,000 migrating raptors pause in the Asir mountains and western highlands of Yemen as they migrate between Africa and Asia. Leopards and Hamadrayas baboons occupy these highlands, along with wild cats called caracals, Arabian wolves, striped hyenas, and rock hyrax. Griffon vultures and bearded vultures wheel overhead, while Yemen linnets, Yemen thrushes, and African paradise flycatchers flit in the treetops.

Cause for Concern

Although terraced agriculture has replaced native forest in the highlands, it has not been completely detrimental to the region. Currently, maintenance of these terraces has been declining, leading to soil erosion--a major threat to biodiversity. Other threats include uncontrolled cutting of fuelwood, overgrazing by cattle, sheep, and camels, and hunting. Leopards are being hunted heavily, as are rock hyrax, one of their favorite prey animals.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.