Socotra Botanic Garden

[FrazerHenderson]

Socotra, which lies in the Arabian Sea some 380km south of Yemen and 240km east of Somalia, is one of four islands - the others being Samha, Darsa and Abd al Kuri - that comprise the Socotran Archipelago of Yemen.

Socotra is approximately 3,600sq. km, spanning 130 km east to west and 40 km north to south.

The island is dominated by a central grantic massif, the Haggeher, which rises to over 1500m. At about 700m there is a large limestone plateau deeply incised by canyons (wadis) which provides a skirt to the massif. The coastal areas are covered by sands, boulder fields or salt plains. (See thread in Alpine section of the Forum entitled Haggeher Mountains for more general information)

In common with other remote island roups Socotra contains high percentage of endemic plants (about 375 of the 825 recorded species). Famous plants include Dendrosicyos socotrana, the only arboreal member of Curcurbitaceae (the gourd family), Boswelia elongata, from which frankincense is derived, Dracaena cinnabari (the so called Dragon's Blood Tree), Begonia socotranus and Aloe parryi.

On the island there is a marvellous enterprise the Socotra Botanic Garden and Nursery for Endemic plants the aim of which is to conserve and promote knowledge of the island's plants.

This small but immensely important and worthy garden comprises of a walled garden and nursery as well as a large paddock which is being established as an arboretum.  The garden is situated just 3km from Hadibo the administrative capital of the island.

The garden is managed by Adib and his sons Abdullah and Ahmed. The RBGE has had a close and enduring relationship with the island (and more recently the gardens): a relationship which started in 1880 when Sir Isaac Bayley first visited it and subsequently published in 1888, The Botany of Socotra when he was appointed Regius Keeper of the RBGE. More recently the RBGE published The Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago which contained an illustrated key to the plants of the islands. That work was informed by the staff and plants at the Socotra Botanic Gardens.

Abdullah and particularly Ahmed are often called on by visiting botanists for their local knowledge and are available to act as private guides.

Below are some shots of the gardens and its work. In later posts I'll provide details of the a reintroduction project as well as providing information on what must be a first for a botanic garden, namely visitors' accommodation.


Picture 1: Adib and Abdullah
Picture 2: General shot showing heavy shading because of high temperatures on the coast which reach into 40C+
Picture 3: Pathways and plantings.
Picture 4: Boswellia cuttings - taken as tip cutings (about 15cm). No chemicals or hormones are used and success rates are 50%.
Picture 5: Nursery area
Picture 6: Note the Roottrainer pack (gifted by a visting botanist) and the use of the car battery for providing power.
Picture 7: Seedlings of Begonia socotrana - these are proving difficult to keep going as the plants habitat is high up in the mists of he mountains. the coastal area does not have sufficent fresh water moisture. If funds permit (which are limited since the gardens exist on donations from visitors of which there were about 800 last year) the inetion is to obtain a plastic poly tunnel and install a misting unit.






 

[David Nicholson]

Fascinating- more please Frazer.

[FrazerHenderson]

I mentioned in the last posting that the gardens were involved in a conservation project namely that of reintroducing Dracaena cinnabari to areas were it has not been able to regenerate naturally (mainly due to pressure from goats)

Picture 1: Shows typical landscape - note the trees are single-aged in a heavily goated landscape

Picture 2: working with Czech University and locals the gardens are fencing off and planting up areas. The nursery has over 3000 trees for planting.

Pictures 3 and 4: Small plants newly planted (approx 2-3years old)

Picture 4: The unforgiving ground once goated.

[FrazerHenderson]

Some more shots of plants in the gardens.

Note the pots - basically any container to hand. The gardens mainly use 1 litre plastic sleeves. There is however a shortage of signage and the gardens desperately need T shape signs and appropriate pens (as well as dibbers etc). Visting botanists try to leave things but  if anyone wishes to help small parcels with such items can be sent to:

Ahmed ibn Adib, Socotra Botanic Garden and Nursery, Hadibo, Socotra, Yemen.

Anything no matter how small will be gratefully received. Or you could make contact with Tony Miller at the RBGE who often knows of students or botanists going to the island for study purposes and who may have room for such items.

     Aloe Squarrosa_1.jpg
    Boswellia popoviana_1.jpg
    Euphorbia haudramautica_1.jpg
    Pots_1.jpg
    Boswellia popoviana_1.jpg
    potting up_1.jpg
    close up pots_1.jpg

[FrazerHenderson]

and finally,  I made mention earlier of the garden's accommodation facilities....

I've stayed at the garden's campsite and can heartily recommend the location both for its services, its food and the great company of Adib, Abdullah and Ahmed.  It doesn't cost much and you know that you're helping a good cause.


Picture 1: The campsite
Picture 2 and 3: Tents which are provided (or you can stay in a traditional cottage).
Picture 4 and 5: Various structures for taking breakfast, lunch and dinner (which are provided and extremely fresh and wholesome).
Picture 6: Aah, the view!
Picture 7: Time for bed!! Does it get better than this - well yes, especially when a squadron of 40 dolphins pass and perform their tricks !!  The site is also great for birdwatching.

Picture 8: And finally for Scottish Rockers the views behind the nursery towards the fabulous Haggeher mountain range.

I thoroughly recommend Socotra for a visit - it has everything for the amateur or professional botanist: varied habitats, endemic plants and great people. If anyone wants more specific information please contact me directly (but not until after September as I'm off in a couple of days to explore the flora and bird life of the indian ocean islands including Reunion and Rodrigues - hopefully I'll have something suitable to post in the future).

[Lvandelft]

Frazer, this must be a fantastic island. You've made a very interesting report
with beautiful pictures.
Will be dreaming of sitting in the evening there, near the beach after a day of botanizing.

[Anthony Darby]

I have some posters of Socotra from the RBGE on my classroom wall. Some lovely plants and other endemic wildlife.

[FrazerHenderson]

As a result of this posting I received a communication from Peter Church of Ronaash Ltd, who produce the excellent Rootrainers, advising me that his company would be delighted to provide packs to those visiting Socotra. Great that a Scottish company wishes to provide such assistance.

If anyone is intending to go to Socotra Peter Church can be contacted at Roonash Ltd, Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 8HH Tel 01573 225 757. Website www.ronaash.co.uk

[Paddy Tobin]

Frazer,

A thoroughly enjoyable commentary and photographs. Many thanks, indeed. I enjoyed it very much.

Paddy

[FrazerHenderson]

All credit to the RBGE: I went to a British Council sponsored exhibition, at the National Museum in Sana'a (capital of Yemen), by the RBGE which provided an overview of the ecology of Socotra and the pressures that the archipelago now faces. (It was great to walk in the city and see large posters mentioning the RBGE - it made one feel at home!).

The exhibition was based mainly on that which was at the RBGE in 2006. It was well received and genuinely proved fascinating to Yemenis many of whom knew little about Socotra.

The exhibition is on, I  think, until the end of August.

[FrazerHenderson]

Just to advise of a relevant, new publication:

Succulent Plants of Socotra by Joel Lode
200+ photos. The book claims to illustrate every know succulent species on Socotra.
Commendably, half the published copies are being offered free to the Assoc of Socotran Women charity to sell on.

The book can be ordered for 9.80 euros + 2.20 euros postage from http://cactus-aventures.com