The rangeland study has taken place from April 1999 until February 2000. It
was divided into three stages throughout the year. These stages are:
-
Spring Stage (19 Apr. – 28 Apr. 1999).
-
Summer Stage (18 Aug. – 28 Aug 1999).
-
Winter Stage (14 Jan. – 18 Jan. 2000 and 4 Feb. – 7
Feb. 2000).
In order to
accomplish the study, the protected area was divided into a grid of 34 (4km X
4km) squares. This dividing helped in achieving the study research in an
easier way.
The
research in the study consisted of:
-
Livestock counts: Six counts
were done, twice in each stage. Those counts were done in each zone by its
own. By the end of fieldwork, six separate counts were done for livestock
and camels all over the protected area. Counts included distribution of
livestock, their density and movement in different grids. For each herd or
even goat recorded a site code, a behavior code and a shepherding code
were given in order to have a better understanding of the grazing
activities in the study area.
-
Vegetation distribution: took place once in the spring stage. The main aim
of this study was to know if there is a relationship between the livestock
and the type of vegetation present in each zone. This
part of the study
was also done separately in each grid
during the first spring stage. The
results of the vegetation distribution part of the inventory divided the
protected area into six different vegetation varieties depending on the
dominant species coverage percentage in different zones.
The
results of the livestock counts part of the inventory showed that grazing
activity is high in the spring while it clearly decreases in the other
seasons. The western part of the protected area (Wadi Marsad and Wadi Rumman)
faces the highest grazing pressure during the spring while in other seasons,
the pressure is somehow even through the whole protected area but with the
highest numbers in Wadi Rum.
Camel numbers in different seasons did not change a lot but still the highest
numbers were recorded in winter while the lowest were recorded in summer. The
central part of the protected area (Wadi Rum and Wadi Um ‘Ishrin) faces the
highest grazing pressure through spring and summer. In winter, the camels are
mostly present in Rum village where they are used for tourism.
After showing the general results of the study, differences and similarities
between this study and the socio-economic study were discussed and what are
the factors that caused these differences and similarities. General factors
affecting the distribution and grazing of livestock and camels were also
discussed. Locals’ attitude towards grazing and their shepherding habits
were also discussed.
The
results of the vegetation distribution study showed that there is no clear
relationship between the vegetation distribution and the livestock numbers in
different areas. It was concluded that livestock presence in certain areas
than others is more related to villages’ presence and tribal movement. As
for camels, their distribution is more related to vegetation distribution more
than livestock but it is also more related to human presence.
On
the basis of the study results the following recommendations were made for
grazing management:
-
Suggest to manage
grazing effectively in the protected area by designing a special grazing
scheme in order to conserve the areas that are facing a high grazing pressure
like the northern part of Wadi Um-‘Ishrin and Wad Rumman in general.
-
The need for a
better understanding for the locals’ seasonal movement inside and around the
protected.
-
Livestock
counts should be repeated for at least two consecutive years and to be
followed by a routine livestock count every third year.
-
Carry out the
vegetation distribution study once every five years, which means that the
future study should take place in April 2004.
-
Establish a grazing
monitoring program in the protected area using exclosures in the main wadis of
the protected area where grazing was found to be high like Wadi Rum, the
northern part of Wadi Um ‘Ishrin and Wadi Rumman.
