Botanic Gardens in the Arabian Peninsula

Authors

  • Ahmed H. Al Farhan King Saud University Botanic Garden
  • Ibrahim M.N. Aldjain King Abdullah International Gardens in Riyadh
  • Jacob Thomas King Saud University
  • Anthony G. Miller Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  • Sabina G. Knees Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  • Othman Llewellyn National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development
  • Ali Akram King Saud University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2008.43

Abstract

Botanic gardens in the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent countries, along with institutions such as museums, universities and research centres, have long played a major role in the exploration, identification and conservation of this region’s flora and vegetation. The primary aim of botanic gardens in the past was to study the plant world from the horticultural point of view and to cultivate plants of economic or medicinal importance. However, at present, particularly in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, the activities of botanic gardens are focused primarily on (i) the study and exploration of the region’s rapidly vanishing flora, thereby safeguarding gene pools of wild species, and (ii) the assessment and preservation of species that may be of importance to humans and animals for food, medicines, fibre and amenity. Recently established botanic gardens in the region, including the proposed King Abdullah International Gardens in Riyadh and Oman Botanic Garden near Muscat, will enhance existing conservation activities concerning the ailing and rapidly vanishing floristic components of the Arabian Peninsula.

Author Biographies

Ahmed H. Al Farhan, King Saud University Botanic Garden

Professor Doctor Ahmed H. Al Farhan is Director of the King Saud University Botanic Garden

Ibrahim M.N. Aldjain, King Abdullah International Gardens in Riyadh

Dr Ibrahim Aldjain is the General Director of Riyadh Municipality General Administration of Garden and Landscaping and will be Director of the King Abdullah International Gardens in Riyadh

Jacob Thomas, King Saud University

Jacob Thomas is Curator of the Herbarium at King Saud University

Anthony G. Miller, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Anthony G. Miller is a Researcher on the Flora of Arabia and South West Asia at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Sabina G. Knees, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Sabina Knees is a Researcher on the Flora of Arabia and South West Asia at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Othman Llewellyn, National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development

Othman Lewellyn is a conservation biologist at the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development

Ali Akram, King Saud University

Ali Akram is Associate Professor of Environmental Pollution at King Saud University

References

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Published

2008-10-31

How to Cite

Al Farhan, A. H., Aldjain, I. M., Thomas, J., Miller, A. G., Knees, S. G., Llewellyn, O., & Akram, A. (2008). Botanic Gardens in the Arabian Peninsula. Sibbaldia: The International Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture, (6), 189–203. https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2008.43

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