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4  Results & Discussion

4.1  Livestock and Camel Numbers, Distribution and Behavior

4.2      Vegetation Distribution

4.1  Livestock and Camel Numbers, Distribution and Behavior

4.1.1         Approximate numbers of livestock and camels and their seasonal fluctuations

      The livestock counting in the study area showed clear changes through the course of the year. The highest counts were in the spring where an average of 5798 heads were counted in both counts. The lowest counts were in winter where an average of 1616 heads were counted for both counts, (see Figure 2). As for camels, the fluctuation in the numbers was much less marked, with the lowest counts being in summer with an average of 140 camels while the counts in both spring and winter had averages of 158 and 181 camels respectively, (see figure 3).

       The reason for the high spring totals of livestock is the availability of natural grass cover normally associated with this season of the year. Although the spring season during the survey period was not very good because of the prevailing drought, a large number of Bedouins still came to graze their livestock in the area, especially in Wadi Marsad (the western part of the study area). The decrease of livestock numbers in the other seasons can be attributed to two main reasons:

1.        Most Bedouins, who are not originally living in the area, came to graze their livestock in the study area in the spring left by the end of the season to graze elsewhere.

2.        Bedouins tend to buy fodder for their livestock during summer and winter and so they do not usually take their herds out for grazing in the study area.

Figure 2: Total number of goats recorded during different rounds of the inventory.

The numbers of camels counted through the course of the year did not change markedly. The difference between the maximum and minimum number counted was only fifty camels. The highest numbers were recorded during the winter and early spring, while the numbers decreased in the late spring and summer. There was a slight difference between the counts of the spring and winter in comparison with the counts of summer, (see Figure 3). This can be attributed to the fact that tourism activities in summer are less than in the other two seasons and so the demand for camel rides is at its lowest.

It was noticed that the effect of camels on vegetation is more destructive than goats because camels are able to graze all kinds of plants, and they eat larger quantities of vegetation if it is available. In some areas where camels were recorded throughout the year and in big numbers, like the northern part of Wadi Um 'Ishrin, the vegetation was clearly destroyed and much of this damage can be attributed to camel grazing.

Figure 3: Total number of camels recorded during different rounds of the inventory.

4.1.2  Livestock/camels distribution within the protected area during the different seasons

From the analysis of the distribution data during the different seasons it was clear that Wadi Rumman clearly had the highest counts of livestock during the spring, while Wadi Rum had the highest number in the summer (with Wadi Marsad) and winter (see Table 3).

Table 3: The number of goats counted in different areas.

During the spring count, the highest numbers of goats were observed in the western part of the protected area. A large number of Bedouin tents were seen in those main wadis (especially Wadi Marsad) during the spring. After the end of this season, those Bedouins moved outside the study area. The number of goats in those two wadis clearly decreased in the following rounds.

As for Wadi Rum, most of the goats were counted close to the village or even inside it. In the first round of the spring survey, a large number of goats were counted in the northern part of Wadi Rum where Bedouins were settling for the season. The fluctuation in the numbers of goats in this wadi was not big, but the spring still had the highest counts.

Wadi Um 'Ishrin, Wadi Um Harraq, and the Um Mqour area had the most stable numbers throughout the year, generally with low numbers of goats counted. Most of the goats counted in Wadi Um 'Ishrin were seen in the northern part of the wadi where a small group of Bedouin tents seemed to be settled there through the year. The goats observed in Wadi Um Harraq were probably from Diseh village. This wadi had the lowest goat counts compared to the other locations of the study area. As for the Um Mqour area, the goats were usually observed in its southern part on the edges of the study area. The timing of goat counting affected the density recorded in this area, because a higher number of goats was usually observed when the counting took place in the afternoon.

It can be summarized that the density of livestock in the study area changes from season to season with the largest concentrations in spring in the western area and northeast corner. Goat density declines through the rest of the year and moves gradually east along the year (see Maps 3, 4, and 5).

The data on camel distribution revealed that most of them were present either in Wadi Rum or in Rum Village itself (see table 4). Rum Village had a very high number of camels in the winter, where most of these camels were recorded inside the perimieter of the houses.

Wadi Um 'Ishrin had the second highest records, except in spring. Most of the camels were recorded in the northern part of the wadi around a group of Bedouin tents that seemed to be settled in the area throughout the year. Since the camels were present in this part of the wadi throughout the year, it was noticed that the Haloxylon persicum bushes which are common there were clearly overgrazed. Although the number of camels decreased in this area in winter, if this group of camels continues to stay in this area for a longer time, the area will become totally bare.

Table 4: The Number of Camels Counted in Different Areas

Wadi Rumman had the second highest number of camels during the spring, while Wadi Marsad had a relatively high number in the summer. As for Wadi Um Harraq, the highest number of camels was recorded in the winter. There is no clear explanation for these changes in the different wadis, but since camels usually travel unshepherded for long distances, they might travel between different wadis looking for something to graze.

Out of the 34 grids in the study, there were only 7 zones that had no camels recorded in them in any of the study counts. This indicates that camels, despite their relatively low numbers compared to goats, are widespread around the protected area (see Maps 6, 7 and 8).

Acknowledgments	Abstract	Arabic Summary	Introduction
Team Composition	Materials & Methods	Results & Discussion	Recommendations
References	Appendices	Maps