Jabal Bura’a Natural Park- Aden Wetlands and Hawf protected areas

 Welcome visitors to our educational blog. We are pleased to introduce to researchers and learners interesting in environment  and tourism issues a series of  reports and studies that i have prepared to be available to all.  These reports highlight the situation of  environment and tourism in  Yemen.

 

PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREAS

2.1 SITUATION ANALYSIS

2.1.1 Jabal Bura’a Natural Park

The Jabal Bura`a extends across four catchments or parts thereof. They are, from north to south, Wadi 

Guhairah, Wadi Bussal, Wadi Rejaf and Wadi Al Aswad. These catchments lie at the southwest side of 

Jabal Bura`a. The JBNP is surrounded by several villages, both of the lowland Tihama people (The 

Tihamis) and the highland mountain people (The highlanders), which make its location specific in the 

intermediate zone between two different culture zones.

The estimated size of JBNP is 4,287 ha. The main features of biological interest, and the riches 

biodiversity, are found in Wadi Rijaf, which is one of two deep, steep-sided valleys on the western side 

of Jabal Bura`a. Deforestation is believed to have been due chiefly to unsustainable extension of wood 

for fuel, which continued until today. The National Environmental Action Plan identified Jabal Bura`a as 

one of five high priority sites for inclusion in a protected area system. 

Part of the area is legally classed as - waqf a class of Islamic endowment or trust whereby land is to be 

used for the common good. The reminder of JBNP is mostly common land. Administratively, the 

protected area is located in Al Hodaida Governorate within Bura`a district. EPA is the responsible 

authority supported by the Management Board of BNP. The distance from Al Hodaida to the western 

end at the entrance gate is about 62km, mostly along good asphalt roads. From Sana’a, the distance is 

195km to the turn off at Al Qutay, and the total distance to JBNP is 221 km.

JBNP offers considerable potential for ecotourism. The area is an important center of genetic diversity 

within the mountain zone, especially in view of the degraded nature of much of the surrounding 

country. The flora of Bura`a is of particular significant including 315 plants in which 64 species can be 

classed locally rare. Over 93 species of migrant, resident and wintering birds have been so far in BNPA. 

There are 13 species of mammals, one of them, Leopard Panther a Peru, is now probably extinct there, 

four species are primarily Afro tropical including the Hamadryad Baboon. There are probably at least 

150 baboons in the protected area. There are 13 species of reptiles, and the Yemeni Monitor Varmus 

Yemeni occurs in BNPA and was first discovered, a new species to science not from the entrance to 

Wadi Rijaf and fie amhibibian species occurs in Wadi Rijaf. Freshwater fish can be abundant in draying 

stream-bed pools in the Rijaf Valley, through the specie have yet to be determined. Also there are 60 

species of butterflies. Bura'a holds significant potential as a destination for special interest bird 

watchers as an excursion destination for general interest eco-culture visitors. 

Primary attractions can be listed as:

The last pristine forest area on the Tihama-mountain slopes. Relatively easy access to the forest, 

although the new management plan will not encourage free access but will limit visitor 

movements within the Bura'a Forest to the central access road;

A number of rare birds to be easily seen, of which some are endemic to Yemen;

A variety of reptiles of which one (a monitor lizard) is endemic to Yemen;

variety of butterflies, of which one species (a Charaxes) has Bura'a as type locality;

Amphibians, and fish (to be seen in wadi pools during the dry season);

Swimming or paddling in wadi pools after the rains (during times when flash floods are unlikely). 

Access to pools will be controlled by the protected area's Management Board, and limited to 

those outside the forest. The use of pools for washing vehicles is to be prohibited;

Near-by, very local, weekly markets. At different locations according to the day of the week;

Mountain stone built villages, terraced fields with morning photo opportunities of (for foreign 

visitors) incredible views; and

Tihama villages. Round hut architecture.

. 

Other attractions for special interest are:

 Mountain trekking; 

 Bird-watching;

 Ecotourism; 

 Extending the geographical distribution of more traditional culture based; and holiday 

opportunities to other more distant locations.

 Mountain stone built villages, terraced fields with morning photo opportunities of incredible 

views.

JBNP was declared a protected area in 2005.The road through the reserve has a gated entrance and 

visitors are charged admission, of 100YR for adult Yemenis, 50YR for students, 200 for each vehicle and 

500 for non-Yeminis. There is some visitor infrastructure – roadside shelters and picnic tables, which 

appeared quite well used during our visit. However, there is very little visitor information, on who visits 

and why, what visitors expect in terms of facilities and infrastructure, what they are prepared to pay, 

how long they stay in the area and where, etc. some trails were created in 2006 but these have suffered 

subsequent damage from flooding.

Tourism movement to the area is beginning to grow. Since the declaration of JBNP, number of visitors 

witnessed remarkable growth and may become more frequent. Number of tourist visitors rose 

significantly over the Eids holidays period and weekend. The model being developed for management 

at the protected areas is based on co-management with the local community; the reserve has a 

director, based in Hodaida and Sana’a, and 12 employees.

A number of the issues it faces in relating to management of the reserve, visitor management, 

ecotourism, environmental protection and poverty alleviation relevant to the SNRMP`s ecotourism 

programme and potential activity in other protected areas. The reserve has had previous support from 

UNDP and from the GEF small grants fund. 

2.1.2 Aden Wetlands Protected Area

The three wetlands are located in Aden Governorate situated in the Western part of the Gulf of Aden. 

The wetland area of the Al-Heswa reserve has been expanded from 4ha to 19ha by the use of treated 

waste water from the local sewage processing plant with a smaller inflow of seawater from a channel 

cut on the southern side of the reserve. Aden’s wetlands have been declared as protected areas, by 

Decree of Ministers Counsel, since 2006.

The wetlands have an environmental and geographical importance as the existence of the wetlands 

located between Caltex and Al-Heswa at the final outlet of the treated waste water and comprise a 

unique ecosystem within which rich biodiversity is found. The wetlands of Aden lagoons are considered 

water surface areas which salt plants exist on the edges and neighboring the wetlands of Al-Mimlah and 

separated from the principal water surface of Al-Mimlah wetlands by Aden International airport fence. 

Many scientific research references report that, Aden’s wetlands enjoy an extremely ecological 

importance, among wetlands, listed in the Directory of Wetlands in the Middle East, due to roosting 

wading and waterfowl migrating seabirds (Scott.1995, Evans, 1994). They provide a sufficient habitat 

for the mostly global threatened greater spotted and imperial eagles and white eyed gull (Al Saghier & 

Porter, 1996). Beside it, Aden’s wetlands are considered as sensitive area or marine sites with special 

interest (MEP, 1985) and recommended by many regional and international organizations, such as 

UNEP, as protected areas. 

The wetlands represent a natural and rich heritage of economic, social and bio importance and are 

important lands to aliment and incubate great numbers of marine and plant living beings and also 

suitable environment for huge numbers of migrant and water inhabitant birds and other birds which 

use them as a locality for food and rest during their annual migration from and to Europe, Asia and 

Africa. Some of these wetlands are characterized by an economic importance as they contribute to the 

Gross National Product and utilization of natural resources to provide job opportunities and basic 

income to a wide category of beneficiaries in addition to its archeological, environmental and education 

importance. Despite the lack of a proper management for these wetlands to make use of their natural 

resources in a way that secures regeneration and sustainability, there is a number of those beneficiaries 

who depend on the products of these wetlands as a main source for their livelihood as in the wetland of 

Caltex-Al-Hiswa, the area targeted by this proposal, where the number of male and female beneficiaries 

amounted to approximately 175 persons affiliated to a number of neighboring areas of these wetlands.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) through the SNRMP prepared a management plan of Aden’s 

wetlands and arranged field work activities, aimed to identify geographical and biological 

characterizations of wetlands in Aden. Wildlife and birdlife fauna were described by many studies and 

reports, in order to characterize wetlands biodiversity. Freshwater vegetations were described too.

There is no accurate information on the number of arrivals to the area. Nevertheless, tourism is 

beginning to return and this potential for related income generation is on the increase that remains. At 

present, therefore, revenue earning potential appears to be small; the park is unlikely to attract a large 

market.

The opportunities for tourism development within the area are substantial and the climate for 

investment in the key areas of ecotourism and nature based tourism is considered excellent. Based on 

the interviews carried out with the officials in the Wetlands , almost of visits are domestic visitors and 

international tourist visitors are few due to a shortage or absence of suitable tourist accommodation in 

the area, lack basis necessary services as well as well small motels along popular tourist routes that 

would open up the area.

The Ecotourism Strategy for Aden Wetlands identifies the opportunities for considerable growth in the 

ecotourism industry and the ability for the area to become one of Yemen’s key nature based and 

ecotourism destination. Specifically, the wetlands are renowned for its unique and exciting attributes, 

and in particular:

 Relatively easy access to the forest, although the new management plan will not encourage free 

access but limit visitor movements within the Wetlands Forest to central access road;

 The three Wetlands have enormous opportunities to build sustainable and competitive 

industries from which every local in the area can benefit. Consider that the Wetlands have 

incredible natural and cultural attributes for tourism. At the same time the Wetlands are faced 

with a number of challenges and opportunities in developing sustainable ecotourism. There are 

explored in the next section of the paper.

 A number of rare birds to be easily seen, of which some are endemic to the country;

 A ‘whole of government’ approach to coordinated regional development;

 Strong tourism focus;

 Growing industry in organic food production and herbal/ medicinal production and processing;

 Diverse and vibrant cultural attributes

 A variety of animals, and creatures, butterflies and fish easily seen in the wetlands;

 A variety of local ecotourism products.

 There is a growing demand for environmentally sustainable activities and ecotourism;

 There are enormous opportunities to develop linkages with other sectors of the economy, 

particularly the services sector. 

2.1.3 Hwaf Protected Area

Hwaf Protected Area is very rich in vegetation and composes of forest dominated by Anogeissus 

dhofartica, Dodnaea angustifolla and Jatropha dhofarica. The area is rich in endemic plant species 

including: Maytenus dhofarensis, Euphorbia smithii, Jatropha dhofarica, Commiphora foliacea, and 

Anogeissus dhofarica. It represents one of the most important remaining natural forests in Yemen and 

is considered as one of the richest natural reserves that host more than 250 plant species, about 65 

species of birds, more than 12 wild mammals and several reptiles. For ages, Hawf ecosystem has been 

providing the local communities with goods and services necessary for their livelihoods on sustainable 

manners. 

A notable characteristic of Hawf protected area is its relative isolation and inaccessibility. Hawf is a 

distant community and communication by road and air either poor or expensive, so it is unclear 

whether ecotourism would ever make a significant contribution to the Hawf protected area or improve 

the livelihoods of more than a few people in the local community. Also there is no infrastructure e.g. 

hotel and restaurants, viewing platforms, interpretation, trails and picnic areas in the area, so the few 

visitors tend to drive straight through. The isolation together with a lack of specific tourist sites such as 

major cultural monuments means that visitor information about Hawf is very limited. It does not 

appear in international guidebooks, for example. The attraction of the area is its unique combination of 

mountain forests and deserts. It offers a virgin and unexplored destination with rich cultural heritage 

that offers diverse interpretive opportunities

Hawf is weak in terms of tourism support infrastructure. There is no existing tourist accommodation at 

Hawf. Tourist statistics are not yet available but one can imagine visitor numbers are low, comprising 

people visiting relatives or coming on necessary business and needing to stop over in the area and 

staying in local houses. The EPA presence in Hawf seems to be particularly weak, with very limited 

capacity and resources to provide support to the SNRMP activities at the Hawf Protected Area. The lack 

of an EPA office in Hawf also limits the development of the protected area.

At present, activities in the Hawf Protected Area are largely undertaken by the Hawf Society for Social 

Development, who works as volunteers. However, there is little effective management of the site. It is a 

much larger site than JBNP or the Al-Heswa reserve, measuring 30,000ha, and it still lacks important 

elements of its legal framework. The volunteers don’t have the legal mandate to manage the site so 

they are currently restricted to reporting on activities within the protected area and trying to raise local 

awareness of environmental issues. 

The development of ecotourism for the Hawf Protected Area is particularly challenging. In the past, the 

ecotourism products in Hawf was unknown and developed and the attractions appear to have been 

limited to a few and far between visits to the forest area, Wadi Marara, seacoast etc. However, with the 

arrival of the SNRMP project in the area it is now recognized that ecotourism has much potential and its 

sustainable development promises soci-economic upliftment of the area. There is thus, a need to 

establishing a framework to guide, and where necessary regukate such development, so as to ensure 

that real benefits accrue to local communities, that environmental impacts are mitigated and 

minimized, and revenues are generated for environmental conservation and production. On the other 

hand, there has been no coordinated attempt at regulating such ventures nor has there been an effort 

to the protection and conservation of the environment.