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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 28343

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wei Wang

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Guest Editor

Institute of Ecology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of protected areas

Prof. Dr. Nengwen Xiao

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Guest Editor

Institute of Ecology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: biodiversity monitor; eDNA monitoring technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The biodiversity and sustainable development of human society are interrelated. Biodiversity refers to the ecological complex formed by living organisms (including animals, plants, and micro-organisms), the surrounding environment, and the sum of various ecological processes related to them, including ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity. Biodiversity conservation plays an important role in the sustainable development of human society and involves the systematic examination of different kinds of living organisms and the technology by which biodiversity can be maintained and used sustainably for the benefit of humanity.

With this aim in mind, this Special Issue invites scholars to share recently reports on biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. This Special Issue will cover progress in the areas of·biodiversity surveys and monitoring, the establishment and management of protected areas, conservation effectiveness of protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), ex situ conservation, ecological restoration, ecosystem services, and sustainable development.

Authors are encouraged to share high-quality work in the form of original research articles, best practices, and critical reviews, which are of general interest to readers with an emphasis on sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Wei Wang
Prof. Dr. Nengwen Xiao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biological conservation
conservation effectiveness
ecological restoration
ecosystem services
protected areas
sustainable development

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 3912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Issues in Conservation of Traditional Medicinal Herbs and Their Associated Knowledge: A Case Study of District Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

by Shabnum Shaheen, Nidaa Harun, Raina Ijaz, Naila Mukhtar, Muhammad Ashfaq, Fozia Bibi, Muhammad Ali, Zaheer Abbas and Zaryab Khalid

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7343; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097343 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1325

Abstract

Due to modernization and urbanization, traditional medicinal herbs and their associated knoweldge are under peril of being lost. The current study not only aimed to document the trend of herbal medicinal plant uitlization in District Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, but also raised alarming concerns about the conservation of these medicinal herbs and traditional knowledge linked to them. The data were collected from local people, herbalists, and gardeners by using standard ethnobotanical methods, i.e., questionnaires and interviews. Results reported that a lower number of informants possessed medicinal herb knowledge and reported only 50 medicinal herbs from the study area. This is probably due to the impact of speedy industrilaization and alterations in human life patterns in the study area. Not only the traditional knowledge is under threat but also the medicinal herbs themselves. Most of the reported medicinal herbs were rare (45.10%), while only few (9.80%) were ranked as abundant in the study area. The herbs with more medicinal importance are mostly rare. This is because of their over usage by the local people. Both conservation approaches (in situ and ex situ conservation and cultivation practices) and resource management (good agricultural practices and sustainable use solutions) should be adequately taken into account for the sustainable use of medicinal plant resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 19275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Exiguobacterium sp. DYS212, a Saline-Alkaline-Tolerant P-Solubilizing Bacterium, on Suaeda salsa Germination and Growth

by Xiaodan Sun, Xiaoting Men, Wenhao Huang, Shijie Yi, Wei Wang, Fengrong Zheng, Zhaohui Zhang and Zongling Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076259 - 6 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1367

Abstract

Soil nutrient availability under saline-alkali stress limits plant primary productivity. P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) improve inorganic P dissolution and promote plant growth. However, the application studies of saline-alkaline-tolerant PSB are still scarce. We isolated one PSB strain from bird droppings in saline-alkali regions and identified its growth characteristics and resistance to salt and alkali. A potting experiment with PSB addition was performed to analyze the effect of this strain on the germination and growth of Suaeda salsa. The PSB were identified as Exiguobacterium sp. DYS212 strain, and it utilized glucose, ammonium sulfate, and yeast extract powder well. The strain is halophilic, has the ability to dissolve inorganic P, and improved P-solubilization under 1–5.5% salinity (available P > 200 mg L⁻¹), reached a maximum at 2.5% NaCl concentration yielding 410.73 mg L⁻¹ of available P. The PSB promoted seed germination, especially under high alkaline stress, wherein the growth promoting rate increased to 5.26%. The PSB improved the growth of S. salsa, in terms of plant height, stem diameter, and biomass (up to 2.5 times), under saline and alkaline conditions. This study highlights the potential of Exiguobacterium sp. isolates as biofertilizers, and provides reference for environment sustainability of saline-alkali region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 17389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Bacterial Diversity in the Rhizosphere of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H.Rob. in Different Habitats

by Xinying Ni, Caiyun Zhao, Junsheng Li, Bai Li and Jinfang Zhu

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2315; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032315 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1272

Abstract

The invasion of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H.Rob. affects microbial community structure, but seldom do studies focus on bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere of C. odorata from different habitats. To reveal the impacts of C. odorata on bacterial communities in different habitats, diversity and functional groups of bacteria were compared in the rhizosphere soil of C. odorata collected from three habitats: abandoned land, a mature eucalyptus forest (eight-years), and a young eucalyptus forest (one-year). In this study, 3701 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were obtained by next-generation sequencing. Simpson diversity indexes of bacteria in eucalyptus forests were significantly higher than that in abandoned land. Based on PCoA analysis, significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities were observed among the three habitats. Significant differences in bacterial communities among the three habitats were also demonstrated by biomarkers based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. Functional prediction analysis showed that the abundance of nitrogen-fixing functional genes in eucalyptus forests was greater than that in abandoned land. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) found that the biomass of C. odorata, soil pH, and total phosphorus were the main factors that impacted the microbial community structure. The results highlight the microbial community varied with habitats invaded by C. odorata, providing new evidence for understanding the invasion of C. odorata in different habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Microbial Communities in Desert Grassland around Rare Earth Mine: Diversity, Variation, and Response Patterns

by Haibo Guan, Yanjun Mu, Rutao Song, Yuecen Lan, Xiongfeng Du, Jinxia Li, Wenfeng Chi and Weiguo Sang

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315629 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1162

Abstract

Bayan Obo mine is so far the world’s largest rare earth mine. Critical concerns arise as (1) whether there is an accumulation of exogenous rare earth elements (REE) in the desert steppe on the periphery of the mine and (2) how the exogenous rare earth accumulation affects the soil microbial communities nearby. In this study, nine sample sites were set up according to their distance gradients from the mine. Illumina high-throughput sequencing targeting 16S rRNA genes were conducted. The results show that the accumulation of exogenous rare earth in the desert at the periphery of the Bayan Obo mine vary at distance gradients. Fortunately, no significant effects on the physicochemical properties of the soil were found. However, the composition of the soil microbial community changed significantly in response to the variation in distance gradient. Highly abundant microbial genera YC-ZSS-LKJ147, Subgroup_10, and Sphingomonas were positively correlated with REE, whereas Pseudomonas is negative correlated. Total phosphorus (TP) was attributed to 5.95% of the variation in microbial communities, followed by light rare earth elements (LREE, 5.39%). The study provides evidence for the ecological risks posed to soil ecosystems by the long-term accumulation of exogenous REE in the Bayan Obo mine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 9440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Arunachali Yak: A Roadmap for Pastoral Sustainability of Yaks in India

by Pranab Jyoti Das, Aneet Kour, Sourabh Deori, Safeeda Sultana Begum, Martina Pukhrambam, Sanjit Maiti, Jayakumar Sivalingam, Vijay Paul and Mihir Sarkar

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12655; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912655 - 5 Oct 2022

Viewed by 3239

Abstract

Highland pastoralism provides economic sustainability to the tribal livelihoods and is endemic to the yak-rearing tracts of India. Transhumant pastoralists of Arunachal Pradesh (in India) have centuries-old deep socio-religious and economic connections with this unique bovine species. As a result of their conservation efforts, Arunachali was recognized as the first and is still the lone breed (to date) of yaks in the country. A survey was conducted on the pastoral production system in the region to enable the phenotypic characterization of yaks and to understand the prevailing husbandry practices. Arunachali yaks are medium-sized bovines that are predominantly black with dense and long hairs hanging down the body and are docile in temperament. They have a convex head with horizontal ears and distinctly curved horns with pointed tips. The average milk yield is 0.98–1.04 kg milk/day with 7.45% fat and 11.5% SNF and the peak milk yield/day is 1.1–1.6 kg. The average ages of clipping of coarse hairs and down fibres are 12–18 months and 12 months, respectively, with average yields of 1.5 kg and 0.5 kg/clipping/animal, respectively. Value addition of yak milk and fibre presents a unique opportunity for the economic rejuvenation of yak pastoralism. However, winter feed scarcity, inbreeding, extreme climate events and the non-availability of essential services are still major challenges for yak production in the country. Our findings acknowledge that pastoral sustainability is critical for the conservation of yaks and yak rearing. This calls for pastoralism-centric governance and research efforts in the highlands to curb the declining population and to put Indian yaks on the road to sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution and Invasion Potential of the Naturalized Downy Thorn Apple (Datura innoxia): Evidence from Classification and Ordination

by Kishwar Ali, Nasrullah Khan, Rafi Ullah, Asma Gul, Muhammad Ezaz Hasan Khan, David Aaron Jones and Azad Ashraf

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10214; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610214 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the spatial distribution and invasion potential of naturalized Datura innoxia Mill., a member of the family Solanaceae, across elevation, edaphic, and climatic gradients in invaded communities of semiarid regions in northern Pakistan. The species’ phytosociological attributes, diversity indices, and biotic and environmental factors were assessed in 21 sites (210 plots) and categorized into three elevation groups separated by Ward’s agglomerative cluster. The vegetation was dominated by annual species, which facilitated the naturalization and invasion of alien species. The groups were dominated by D. innoxia, having different codominant species Parthenium hysterophorus L. in Group I, Medicago denticulata in Group II, and Parthenium hysterophorus in Group III; however, the third codominant species of groups I and III were different. In addition, Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) unveiled that abiotic factors such as elevation (r = −0.65), mean yearly temperature (r = 0.79), annual yearly humidity (r = 0.76), and day length in hours (r = 0.79) and biotic factors such as cultivated fields (r = −0.83) and traffic density (r = 0.70) were strongly correlated on canonical axes, revealing their vital importance in determining vegetation structure. The study concluded that this naturalized species propagated efficiently in the present environmental conditions and if these conditions prevailed, the species would be established as an invasive species. Therefore, control of this naturalized species is critically important, including their exploitation for medicinal and phytochemical utilization, which will enhance the protection of native populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 14318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Pattern and Habitat Changes of Amphibian Species in the Priority Area for Biodiversity Conservation in the South Hengduan Mountains

by Nana Shi, Ningning Guo, Qi Wang, Yu Han, Haiming Yan and Nengwen Xiao

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610145 - 16 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Amphibian species, as typical objects to study the evolution of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial, have faced serious threats in recent decades. This study revealed changes in the spatial distribution pattern of amphibians and their habitats in the priority area for biodiversity conservation in the south of the Hengduan Mountains based on remote sensing and field survey data. Results showed that 71 species of amphibians in 27 genera of 10 families of 2 orders were recorded in the study area, among which 46 species were endemic to China. In particular, there were four national protected species and two newly found species. The amphibian species richness was overall higher in the northern part and lower in the southern part of the study area. There was an obvious variation in the species composition in five major geographic zones in the study area, and the species richness, number, and endemism were all the highest in areas between 2000 and 3000 m. There was a higher abundance of some endemic species, i.e., the Amolops, Bufo, and Scutiger. The main habitats of amphibian species included the forest, farmland, and grassland. There was remarkable fragmentation of these habitats, which was mainly due to land use conversion. There are currently 14 national nature reserves in the study area, covering 39 amphibian species, but there are still 32 amphibian species outsides these nature reserves. It is recommended to carry out long-term located monitoring, improve the existing protection network, and fill the protection gaps to achieve effective protection of these valuable biological resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3256 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Shall the Wild Boar Pass? A Genetically Assessed Ecological Corridor in the Geneva Region

by Fanny Alexandra Laura Kupferschmid, Julien Crovadore, Claude Fischer and François Lefort

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7463; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127463 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

Landscape fragmentation caused by road infrastructures represents a major threat to the genetic diversity of a region. The resulting genetic isolation between subpopulations may lead to consanguinity, and consequently to population collapse and extinction. However, the construction of wildlife crossings can help maintain connectivity. In the present paper, we evaluated the genetic spatial structuring of populations of wild boars (Sus scrofa) in three areas of the Geneva region connected by an ecological corridor. Those areas are cut off either by a highway that is crossed by a wildlife overpass or by an anthropized sector. Genetic profiling with 9 nuclear microsatellite markers yielded 61 single profiles, which allowed for clustering, parentage, and linkage disequilibrium analyses, uncovering the populations’ genetic structure. We also evaluated whether the genetic structure was affected by the sex of individuals. In our analyses, all individuals clustered into a single genetic group, suggesting that no structure limited significantly the gene flow in the region. However, a recent admixture indicated a potential increase in the gene flow between two of the subpopulations due to the wildlife overpass, while the other part of the ecological corridor was not or was only partially functional. Genetic distances between males were significantly higher than between females, although the role of sex remains unclear as to its influence on population genetics. Finally, in order to avoid a subregion becoming fully isolated, urbanization planning should consider this genetic evaluation and proceed with further monitoring, especially by focusing on species more sensitive to landscape fragmentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 3040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Conservation and Mitigation Banking Practices and Associated Gains and Losses in the United States

by Sebastian Theis and Mark S. Poesch

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6652; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116652 - 29 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2233

Abstract

Conservation and mitigation banks allow their proponents to buy credits to offset the negative residual impacts of their development projects with the goal of no net loss (NNL) in the ecosystem function and habitat area. However, little is known about the extent to which these bank transactions achieve NNL. We synthesized and reviewed 12,756 transactions in the United States which were related to meeting area and ecological equivalence (n = 4331) between the approved negative impact and offset. While most of these transactions provided an offset that was equal to or greater than the impacted area, approximately one quarter of the transactions, especially those targeting wetlands, did not meet ecological equivalence between the impact and offset. This missing ecological equivalence was often due to the significantly increasing use of preservation, enhancement, and rehabilitation over creating new ecosystems through establishment and re-establishment. Stream transactions seldom added new ecosystem area through creation but mainly used rehabilitation in order to add offset benefits, in many cases leading to a net loss of area. Our results suggest that best practice guidance on habitat creation as well as the incentivization of habitat creation must increase in the future to avoid net loss through bank transactions and to meet the ever-accelerating global changes in land use and the increased pressure of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Balancing the Conservation and Poverty Eradication: Differences in the Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Protected Areas between Poor and Non-Poor Counties in China

by Luqiong Fan, Chunting Feng, Zhixue Wang, Jing Tian, Wenjie Huang and Wei Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4984; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094984 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1537

Abstract

Understanding the spatial distribution characteristics of protected areas is the basis to balance the conservation and regional development. With the increasing number and area of protected areas, China has also made decisive progress in the fight against poverty. However, the spatial distribution characteristics of various types of protected areas in poor counties in China are still unclear and lacking further analysis on the differences compared to non-poor counties. Here, we first integrated the spatial distribution data of 8133 protected areas in China and overlaid them with 832 poor counties. Then we explored the spatial distribution characteristics of protected areas and the relationship with socio-economic and natural environment in poor and non-poor counties. The results showed that the area coverage of nature reserves in poor counties in China was significantly higher than that in non-poor counties (p < 0.001), while the area coverage of natural parks in non-poor counties was significantly higher than that in poor counties (p < 0.05). The area coverages of protected areas in poor counties in Northeast (p < 0.05), Southwest (p < 0.001), Central (p < 0.05), and East China (p < 0.01) were significantly higher than that in non-poor counties. Furthermore, the area coverage of nature reserves in poor counties was significantly positively correlated with mean elevation (p < 0.001), and the area coverage of natural parks in non-poor counties was significantly positively correlated with road network density (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the proportion of farmland (p < 0.001). This study can provide a reference to help China and other similar countries in the establishment of protected area systems to balance the conservation and poverty eradication for regional sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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11 pages, 1966 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Administrative Level May Be the Key Factor to Improve Protection Effectiveness of Nature Reserves in China

by Xuhui Sun, Yicong Cao, Xiaobin He, Rongxing Wang, Peng Zeng, Yanpeng Li, Zhipang Huang and Wen Xiao

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084853 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1910

Abstract

Nature reserves (NRs) have been the backbone of biodiversity conservation and the construction of China’s ‘ecological-civilization’ since the 1950s. With over 11,800 protected areas (PAs) covering 18% of the country’s land area, Chinese NRs have made a great contribution to global biodiversity conservation. At this point, better protection effectiveness can be achieved by optimizing the management organization rather than expanding the area. We analyzed the management structure of Chinese NRs by looking at their ranks, the hierarchy of administrative organs, number of grass-root stations, manpower, and financial resources, among other variables. We found that the average number of staff employed and yearly financial input per km² of Chinese NRs were both higher than the world and US averages. However, the range was extremely high, revealing great unbalance among different regions and ranks of NRs. In particular, the western part of China, which is less developed and features the least disturbed ecosystems, received less funding and staff resources than the developed east. A further analysis of the highest-ranked nature reserves, i.e., the national nature reserves (NNRs), showed that administrative organs of different hierarchical statuses (the lowest being Deputy family, the highest being Division level) could be in charge of them. Unexpectedly, we found that the amount of human and financial resources injected into NNRs was correlated with the level of their administration but dissociated from other important factors such as the reserve’s size or ecological value. Furthermore, the management organization was inadequate, with many NRs lacking key departments as defined by Chinese nature reserve regulations. We suggest that the administrative levels of management organization in NRs should be unified, and through the existing ecological transfer payments policy, strengthen the financial and staffing input in the western NRs of China. Moreover, the internal structure of NRs management should include all relevant departments with specific tasks and the creation of grass-root stations should be promoted without neglecting the capacity building to improve staff’s knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 2641 KiB

Open AccessReview

Landolt Indicator Values in Modern Research: A Review

by Natalya Ivanova and Ekaterina Zolotova

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129618 - 15 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1513

Abstract

The conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability is essential for human well-being. An important tool for addressing this issue is ecological indicators. This overview document examines recent studies covering the period 2018–2022 that use the values of the Landolt indicator as one of the analysis methods. The total number of records examined was 8910. After excluding irrelevant, inconsistent and duplicate records, 91 records were selected. The selection criteria were the presence of the English abstract and a digital object identifier (DOI). We chose the VOSviewer software for data analysis and visualization. The analysis of research geography, types of plant communities under research, research topics, the network of co-authorship and relationship papers, as well as the publication activity and citation rate of the authors, is carried out. The results revealed that the geography of using Landolt indicator values is quite wide, while they are more often used in Switzerland, Italy and Russia. The most important and frequently cited studies were carried out in the context of large international projects, confirming the importance of scientific cooperation in the development of environmental indicators. The Landolt indicator values showed effectiveness in the study of forests, bogs, riparian vegetation, a coarse quarry waste dump, and in assessing the urban environment. At the same time, the vegetation dynamics and influence of various factors on plants were studied most often. It was revealed that Landolt indicator values can serve as an effective universal method that integrates many aspects of the environment and allows for a comprehensive multicriteria analysis of environmental factors, habitat stability, vegetation diversity and dynamics for different plant communities at different spatial scales over a wide geographical area. This is confirmed by the high citation rate of the papers. We recommend the Landolt indicator values for a wider use, including in the monitoring of ecosystems and individual species for their conservation and sustainable management. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to extend the network of relationships between the authors, which is not very well developed at the moment. The research results obtained are useful for the further successful development not only of the Landolt indicator values but also of environmental indicators in general. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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29 pages, 1392 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Assessment of Biodiversity in Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review

by Abid Ali Ansari, Zahid Hameed Siddiqui, Fuad A. Alatawi, Basmah M. Alharbi and Amenah S. Alotaibi

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10564; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710564 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5958

Abstract

Biodiversity refers to all the type of species in one geographical region or ecosystem. It consists of plants, animals, bacteria, and other life forms. As an estimate, around 1.7 million species are on record globally and approximately 15,000–18,000 new species are added each year. Global climate change is accelerating species extinction due to habitat destruction. Further, various abiotic and biotic environmental factors are limiting the pattern of biodiversity in a geographical region. A change in species category from endangered to extinction occurs due to their physiological, morphological, and life history pattern, which limits them to a specific niche. Biodiversity is very important for energy production and flow, bioremediation, and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems and vice versa. It is further required for human existence in the form of food, fibers, medicines, and biological control. Therefore, consistent monitoring, assessment, and conservation of ecological habitats and diversity of flora and fauna of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is the need of the hour. In this article, we are presenting an assessment based upon the literature survey on the biodiversity of Tabuk region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive study on the biodiversity of plants, animals and microorganisms of the Tabuk region (Tabuk city, Tayma, Haql, Sharma, Duba, Al Wajh and Umluj, Al Zetah, Al Beda’a, etc.) are included in this review. This study will be a landmark as it is conducted at the inception of NEOM project in Tabuk region. It will help the authorities to enhance the native green cover, decrease desertification, regenerate biodiversity in natural environments, and advance the quality of life, to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and VISION 2030. However, studies and investigations on Tabuk biodiversity are still limited and need further exploration. Recently, a joint work between King Salman Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR) and Department of Biology of University of Tabuk is underway to monitor the baseline data of flora and fauna of this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability)

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