Author(s): A.M. Al-Moshileh and M.M. Kawas
Article publication date: 2001-12-01
Vol. 19 No. 3 (yearly), pp. 170-173.
149
Keywords
Natural vegetation, partial protection, positive effects
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of partial protection on natural vegetation cover of Ghada range reserve in Unayzah, KSA, and to focus on the participation of that on the natural vegetation cover development. This study had clearly pointed the positive effect of partial protection of the vegetation cover by increasing the number of plant species, the density of both annuals and perennials, and changing of plant cover structure. The plant species numbers increased from 13 to 21 in unprotected and protected area respectively. This increment percentage was about 62%, and was associate with increasing the number of plant families from 8 to 11. Also the plant cover was increased by 78% in protected area while it was only 13% in non-protected area. The plant density also increased from 2398 to 6824 plant/ha in unprotected and protected area respectively. This confirms the positive effect of conservation and protection on plant natural vegetation cover.