Year 1 Report Part 1: The Planning and Development Phase Part 2: End of Year Report
The National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation
contents Executive Summary Context PART 1
Mid-year Report: Year 1, the Planning and Development Phase PART 1
| Jebel Samhan Research Project
PART 2 | Arabian tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community Project and MERU ANNEX A | Research for Conservation of High Altitude Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams in the Hajar Mountain Range ANNEX B | The Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability of the Aflaj
PART 2
End of Year Report: June 2009 - April 2010 Executive Summary Update to the “Mid-year Report: Year 1, the Planning and Development Phase”
Activities undertaken, progress against goals and milestones in the programme plans
Key programme activities planned to date (1st February to April 30th 2010)
Provisional proposal summary, projects 1&2
Shortlist of potential projects for development
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B
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PART
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(1st May 2009 to 30th January 2010)
IMAGE | RIA MILLER
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IMAGE | HADI AL HIKMANI
Executive Summary This short note summarises progress during the first half-year of the programme, outlines activities for the second half year until the end of April 2010 and includes a financial report. It also presents some questions for consideration.
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
The start and end of year one: Although the MoU assumes that the first year was from May 2009 to April 2010, it was not signed by both parties until the summer of 2009, and effectively started with the appointment of Dr Roderic Dutton as Programme Director and his first visit to Oman in August 2009. The first half-year therefore was completed at the end of January 2010. By the end of April 2010 we expect to have undertaken most of the activities planned for the first year, but there will be some carry-over into the early months of year two, starting May 2010.
Relationship with the National Centre for Field Research for Conservation of the Environment: Although the MoU was signed with the Diwan of Royal Court, since the publication of the Royal Decree in October 2009 we have been in a process of ‘novation’ whereby eventually Earthwatch Oman will report to the National Centre. Only when the Council of the National Centre starts meeting, will details of the relationship become clear. In the meantime we are assuming that the National Centre will take temporary offices that will include space for Earthwatch (so Earthwatch has not
looked for separate office space, but is currently operating out of the apartment taken by Earthwatch for the Programme Director). We are also assuming that the Council will appoint key office staff who will work closely with Earthwatch in the fields of research project identification and monitoring, education and awareness, health and safety, and data management/GIS.
Support from DRC to Earthwatch Oman: In the MoU, DRC agreed to provide to Earthwatch Oman: (a) accommodation and office in the capital area + staff (+ rent, utilities and services); (b) a vehicle; (c) IT systems and support set up (three workstations). Roderic Dutton has taken an apartment and agreed the provision of furniture with DRC Housing and hopes to obtain the furniture in March this year. He has taken delivery of the vehicle (Landcruiser) from DRC Transport. And he is finalising quotations for the appropriate IT system/workstations.
Appointment of support staff for the Arabian Leopard project and the Arabian tahr project: We are in the process of identifying suitable people from Jebel Samhan and Wadi Sareen. Some are already employed as rangers by the DRC/ OCE, but will be trained by Earthwatch to become field researchers, guides and awareness raisers. Others are new recruits. We need to agree who
will employ them and how they will be employed. The Conservation Advisor (Dr Andrew Spalton) has recommended that they should be employed initially on annual renewable contracts with DRC. As soon as this (or some alternative) is agreed, we will assist with their appointment and start their training.
Access to libraries and other data sources in Oman, and use of the data: We have already gained access to libraries of published and ‘grey’ literature in the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and DRC/OCE, and we have been given satellite images and digital air photographs by the Supreme Committee for Town Planning (SCTP). We may need special letters of introduction to other Ministries, the universities and other organisations in order to access their libraries. Of special significance is the wealth of data collected by rangers and held in MECA, and water resource data held in the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources.
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Concept plans for the four projects: Earthwatch Oman has produced detailed concept plans for the projects in Jebel Samhan and Wadi Sareen, and is in on-going discussion with Omani participants in, and supporters of, these projects and has identified some overseas counterparts. The two projects are presented in Annex A of this report.
We expect to produce detailed draft concept plans for the second two projects in the coming months. The topics for the second two projects are under discussion with Sultan Qaboos University and the relevant ministries and other organisations. Seven topics are under discussion. At this time, those which have attracted most interest concern: (a) the woodlands in the Western Hajar mountains, (b) the aflaj within the traditional rural communities, and (c) a coastal or marine project. The project plan for the first two projects is advanced (see documents in Annex A). Annex B contains preliminary comments on other
project topics under consideration. Part 2 of this report contains plans for the period 1st February to 30th April 2010 (i.e to the end of the first programme-year). This will include: (1) visits by Roberto Boesi (tahr scientist); (2) scoping visit by the Earthwatch Learning and Engagement team; (3) continuing desk based data gathering and analysis; (4) continuing library and data gathering research; (5) carbon management; (6) buying camera traps for the leopard project; (7) submission of full proposals for the first two projects; (8) preparation of draft concept plans for the second two projects; (9) submission of the budget and proposed activities for Year 2 of the programme.
IMAGE | RIA MILLER
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Context The establishment of the Oman Earthwatch programme has moved forward positively in the initial planning and development phase. Due to begin in May 2009, the start was delayed until July 2009 as a result of a delay in completion and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Programme Director, Dr. Roderic Dutton, was immediately appointed and it is anticipated that most of the objectives agreed for the planning
and development phase will nevertheless be completed by the end of April 2010. There will be some overspill into the start of Year 2. Initially the Earthwatch Oman programme was responsible to the Diwan of Royal Court, however during the half-year under review a process of ‘novation’ was initiated (and is still in process) whereby the programme will become responsible to the National Centre for Field Research for Conservation of the Environment, which was promulgated by Royal Decree on October 6th and gazetted
on October 17th. By the end of January 2010 most members of the council of the National Centre had been appointed and an advertisement drafted for the post of Chief Executive Officer. No decisions can be made about the Centre, and the details of its relationship with the Oman Earthwatch Programme, until the council membership is complete and starts holding meetings. In the meantime guidance and advice is being provided to Earthwatch by DRC.
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IMAGE | STEVE BISHOP
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PART 1
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Activities undertaken, progress against goals and milestones in the programme plans 1st May 2009 to 30th January 2010 1 | To establish an office and accommodation, the location of which to be agreed with DRC. Accommodation and office in capital area + staff (+ rent, utilities and services): Furnished flat: With help from DRC a flat was selected in Al Khuwair 33 (way 2517). Three quotations were provided for furniture to DRC (housing) and one of them selected. We expect to furnish the flat during March 2010. DRC has also opened an ADSL line to the flat and installed a landline telephone.
Furnished office space: Earthwatch Oman has been advised that the Council of the National Centre may decide to take temporary accommodation in a villa and that Earthwatch Oman may be offered furnished office space within the villa. Earthwatch Oman has decided not to rent office space in the interim but to operate out of the flat until the office space is available. Vehicle: DRC has purchased a Land Cruiser for Earthwatch Oman and supplied Dr. Roderic Dutton with a driving licence and residence permit.
IT systems and support set up (three workstations): Equipment: Three quotations for the equipment, including software, are being finalised. The software will include packages for analysis of satellite imagery and air photographs. Satellite imagery and digital air photographs: With assistance from DRC, The Supreme Committee for Town Planning has kindly provided us with its air photograph and image coverage for two of the Earthwatch Oman project areas, Jebel Samhan in Dhofar and Wadi Sareen near Quriyat. They will also provide coverage for the second two project study areas when they have been defined.
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IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
2 | To assist with selecting the Omani Country Director and arrange their training. The programme is awaiting the establishment of the Council of the National Centre to enable this action to move forward.
3 | To appoint Dr Roderic Dutton as the Project Advisor.
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Dr Dutton was appointed as programme Director with effect from 1st July 2009 until 30th April 2010, located mainly in Oman but also in part in the UK.
IMAGE | STEVE ROSS
4 | To assist in selecting the support staff in Oman and Europe (as appropriate). The programme is awaiting decisions from the Council of the National Centre, so far as support staff for the National Centre are concerned. However, we are already engaged in the process of identifying and appointing support staff for the Arabian leopard project on Jebel Samhan and the Arabian tahr project in Wadi Sareen. We envisage establishing a core team of six Omani for each project. We anticipate appointing four new staff from within the villages around Jebel Samhan and they will join Hadi al-Hikmani and Khaled al-Hikmani who are already employed by OCE/DRC. From Wadi Sareen we have identified two existing rangers who have the potential to become research assistants, guides and awareness raisers. We hope to add two more rangers to this group and, hopefully, two other people from within the Wadi Sareen region.
5 | To undertake library research to produce a report on each project location. Library research has been initiated for the Arabian leopard project on Jebel Samhan and for the Arabian tahr project in Wadi Sareen, including ‘grey’ literature found in OCE/DRC, and the libraries in MECA and the Ministry of Agriculture. Coincidentally, DRC is commissioning a study for a Management Plan for the Wadi Sareen reserve, which should be completed by the end of 2010. Oman Earthwatch will coordinate closely with whoever wins the management plan contract. Library research will no doubt continue throughout the lifetime of the Oman Earthwatch programme. We aim also to store such data digitally in ways which maximise access to and utility of the datasets. The National Centre will become a digital library hub within Oman.
6 | To undertake a desk based data gathering and analysis of issues related to field project development and implementation (eg GIS). This has been initiated for the Arabian Leopard project on Jebel Samhan and for the Arabian tahr project in Wadi Sareen. Satellite and aerial photograph imagery has been obtained from the Supreme Committee for Town Planning for the study sites of both projects. SCTP will also provide similar data for the sites of the other two projects when the topics and locations have been agreed. Analysis of issues related to field project development
and implementation was facilitated in January for both projects in successive week-long workshops held in Salalah and Muscat. Details of Goals, Objectives, Outputs and Activities were discussed, in depth, by teams of people from Earthwatch UK, Office of Conservation of the Environment (OCE, DRC), Sultan Qaboos University, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA), Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRM&WR) and others. Extended field visits were also made to the study areas.
7 | To produce concept plans for all four projects, with details of the agreed outcomes. Earthwatch Oman has produced detailed draft project proposals for the two initial research projects on Jebel Samhan and in Wadi Sareen, complete with goals, objectives and activities and also timelines and budgets. Copies of these drafts were submitted to DRC in late January this year and can be seen in Annex A of this report.
Earthwatch Oman expects to produce detailed draft concept plans for the second two projects in the second half of the current planning and development phase, or in the spillover into the start of the year commencing May 2010. A number of project ideas are under discussion with SQU, The Research Council, OCE (DRC), MECA, Ministry of Fisheries Wealth, Ministry of Agriculture and MRM&WR. These include: • Prosopis juliflora on the Batina and the Salalah plain
• A coastal/marine research project • Aflaj within the traditional rural community
• Conservation of woodlands in the Western Hajar Mountains of northern Oman
• Coastal erosion along the Batina • Optimizing land and water productivity in the Salalah Plains, Oman
• Living with salinity in the Batina Coast of Oman
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
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8 | To complete field site visits/HSE assessments for the two initial project sites to be agreed. Initial site visits and assessments have been made. Full health and safety assessments will be made in the second half of the first year, or at the start of the second year of the project.
9 | To begin discussions with the academic and educational communities concerning the four projects. Discussions with SQU and the wider research communities found within the government and also within the Environment Society of Oman have started, are in hand (see above) and will continue to grow.
10 | To assist in selecting at least two EW scientists for each of the first two projects, including at least one Omani for each project. Our aim is to have as wide a range of Omani participation as possible in each of the four projects. The nature of the participation will vary from project to project. But we are keen in each case to establish links (collaborative partnerships) between Omani and non-Omani researchers on individual or institutional levels. We are now in a position to name some of the Omanis who will be team members (or we hope will be team members). Khalifa al-Jahwari (OCE) will devote up to 50% of his time divided between the leopard and tahr projects. He will work closely with Dr Alan Roe (EW team; social science
cross-cutting) on social and economic issues, including the potential for stimulating income generating activities, and he will oversee the trainee field-site researchers already engaged in the projects (notably Khaled al-Hikmani in Jebel Samhan, and Saif Sa’eed Khosayyib Ar Rahbi in Wadi Sareen). Mansoor al-Jahdhami (OCE) will also devote up to 50% of his time divided between the leopard and tahr projects. He will work closely with Dr Anthony Beck (EW team; GIS and data management cross-cutting) and also with the EW ecologists Tessa McGregor (leopard) and Dr Roberto Boesi (tahr) and he also will link with the trainee field-site researchers already engaged in the projects (notably Hadi al-Hikmani in Jebel Samhan, and Hamed Suleiman Abdullah an-Naabi).
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Hadi al-Hikmani’s primary oversees collaborator will be Tessa McGregor (with whom he has previously worked in Oman). It is likely that the equivalent partnership in Wadi Sareen will be between Hamed an-Naabi and Dr Roberto Boesi (who has worked with tahr in Nepal and Southern India), but this remains to be confirmed. Anthony Beck, in his cross-cutting GIS and data management role, will also work closely with Dr Andy Kwarteng (who directs the GIS unit at SQU) and his team (which will include an Omani GIS/hydrologist specialist currently completing his PhD in the USA). Anthony Beck is also helping to define exactly what hardware and software IT equipment we should purchase (DRC to purchase: “IT systems and support set up [three workstations]”). We currently envisage that this will be housed in EW offices within the offices to be rented by the National
Centre for its secretariat and that one member of the secretariat will have skills and interests in GIS and data management questions. Anthony will work closely with him. Amongst other wider questions, Anthony will be advising on the use of Open Source software and systems for securing the controlled but wider access to datasets by Earthwatch Oman programme members (Omani and non-Omani). We picture the National Centre becoming a data management hub, working closely with the GIS unit at SQU and with Mansoor al-Jahdhami in OCE and with other individuals and organisations. For a laboratory contribution to the projects we are also in touch with Dr Aliya al-Ansari at SQU. She has experience of analysing wild animal scats (and other materials). It will be ideal if we can work through her laboratory and with at least one
overseas laboratory. In this way we will secure cross-checking of findings and further enhance Dr Aliya’s areas of expertise. For the work in Dhofar we need to understand the mountain economy, one aspect of which includes harvesting frankincense trees. The Environment Society of Oman is trying to secure funding from HSBC to undertake research on frankincense trees in Dhofar. If this happens the work will be led by Dr Mohsin al-Amri (Ministry of Agriculture, Salalah). We hope that Dr Mohsin will become an example of a different form of collaboration; the Earthwatch Oman project working alongside people who secure funding from other sources to work on related topics in the same locality.
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IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
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IMAGE | NAT SPRING
Key Programme Objectives Planned for the Period 1st February to April 30th 2010. 1 | Roberto Boesi (tahr Scientist) to visit the Wadi Sareen area and complete the project proposal. Planned visit to Oxford Earthwatch Office at the beginning of March for professional orientation and project development. Planned visit to Oman at the end of March for field assessment visit (he was unable to attend the workshop in January due to injury).
2 | Scoping visit by the Learning and Engagement teams at Earthwatch to initiate the development of the education components of the programme. Sarah Staunton Lamb and Caroline Rodgers will visit Muscat and Salalah in March/April 2010 to decide on the appropriate development of the education components. Roderic Dutton will organise several meetings with the relevant Ministries and education bodies for their visit.
On their return the teams will then work on the creation of a unique education programme to fulfil the educational components of the MOU and engage Omanis thoroughly in the work of the Oman Earthwatch Programme. This will aim to achieve the broad objectives: supporting scientific research; provision of environmental education (formal and informal) and experiential learning; and increase the environmental responsibility of Omani citizens.
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3 | To continue to undertake a desk based data gathering and analysis of issues related to field project development and implementation. Anthony Beck will work with Mansoor al-Jahdhami (OCE) to gather and analyse data for the first two projects.
4 | To continue to undertake library research to collect qualitative data on each project location. Alan Roe will work with Khalifa al-Jahwari (OCE) to collect further qualitative information from the Ministry libraries and other identified sources to build the background of the first two projects.
5 | To continue carbon management of the programme activities. Minimising travel and offsetting all carbon emissions using a verifiable offsetter. Tracking is ongoing and assessment of offset providers is currently taking place.
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
6 | Camera traps will be purchased for the leopard project of Jebel Samhan. These will be installed in the second year of the programme (June and July) by Hadi al-Hikmani and Khalid al-Hikmani, along with David Willis and any further project staff that have started work on the Oman Earthwatch Programme leopard project.
7 | Full proposals for the first two projects will be completed by the Earthwatch scientists of each of the respective projects, with support from the Earthwatch team in Oxford. The projects will then be sent out to peer reviewers in Year 2 of the programme (May 2010).
8 | Detailed draft concept plans for the second two projects will be produced in this period and will continue into the second year of the programme. 9 | The budget and proposed activities for Year 2 of the Programme will be completed and sent to the DRC for consent. Following sign off of the budget and proposed activities for Year 2, work will begin on the new objectives.
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Provisional Proposal Summary, Projects 1& 2 Two workshops were convened in January 2010 around the Arabian leopard and Arabian tahr. The workshops were held in Salalah and Muscat respectively.
Water Resources, Sultan Qaboos University who participated with Earthwatch representatives and invited scientists. In Muscat the team comprised representatives from the Diwan of Royal Court (OCE), including the Head Ranger of the Wadi Sareen Nature Reserve, MECA and The Research Council.
In Salalah the team was made up of representatives from the Diwan of Royal Court (Office for Conservation of the Environment - OCE), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA), the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
All attendees took part in field visits, informative presentations and workshops. The workshops successfully amalgamated many different concepts and practical points into strong drafts of project concept notes, which will be further
developed and improved. For various reasons the final concept notes will not include all of the activities listed below. However, this document provides a provisional structure for the Arabian leopard and tahr Oman Earthwatch projects.
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IMAGE | EARTHWATCH
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Project 1 Arabian Leopard, Jebel Samhan VISION “A sustainable ecosystem in which the Arabian leopard thrives in harmony with people.� GOAL (four year goal) Convince the Jebel Samhan communities of the value of conserving the leopard, and provide them with the means to do so. Establish tools, approach, and processes with all stakeholders to foster the sustainable conservation of the leopard and its habitat.
IMAGE | RIA MILLER
IMAGE | HADI AL HIKMANI
Objectives Objective 1 | To determine population size and composition (sex & age class) of the Arabian leopard in Jebel Samhan. Activity 1.2 Undertake automatic photography of the leopards (known as ‘camera trapping’), using 50 camera traps in 25 sites Activity 1.3 Estimate the diet and genetic variability of the leopard by analysing faeces (scats commence including the wider Dhofar region) Activity 1.4 Photograph and analyse track / pugmarks (including in wider Dhofar region) Activity 1.5 Question (using a questionnaire) local stakeholders about the presence of the leopard (including the wider Dhofar region) Activity 1.6 Make management recommendations for the protected area of Jebel Samhan (using GIS maps and writing reports)
Objective 2 | To determine the distribution of the prey (hyrax, gazelle, ibex, game birds, porcupine) in Jebel Samhan, including its seasonal variation. Activity 2.1 Record direct sightings of prey (including in the wider Dhofar region) Activity 2.2 Use the camera trap results to inform their distribution, and training for positioning camera traps in the wider Dhofar region Activity 2.3 Record the indirect signs of prey (excluding game birds), including dung, tracks, remains, and shallow hollows in which they rest (only ibex) Activity 2.5 Complete local stakeholder questionnaires of presence of prey species (including wider Dhofar region) Activity 2.6 Identify number of individuals of prey species, using genetic analysis
Objective 3 | To assess the habitat, including food and water availability for prey species, and its seasonal variation. Activity 3.1 Analyse dung of each prey species to indicate the proportion in the diet of each plant species Activity 3.2 Undertake habitat transects to identify the percentage cover of food plants Activity 3.3 Develop an ecosystem patch classification system, for the five prey species (GIS analysis of digital elevation model and ground truthing) Activity 3.4 Identify water resources and seasonal availability
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Objective 4 | To quantify the grazing dynamics and understand the impact of livestock on habitats and ecosystems. Activity 4.1 Determine number and species of livestock and feral animals Activity 4.2 Monitor transects to determine the impact on vegetation by livestock Activity 4.3 Establish experimental plots to determine the vegetation under no-graze and controlled graze sites in each ecosystem patch classification system Activity 4.4 Collate weather data and determine climatic impact on vegetation annually and exceptional events
Objective 5 | To analyse livelihoods and changing patterns of resource use in Jebel Samhan and surrounding area.
Objective 6 | To make the communities of Jebel Samhan better informed about the project goal and actively supporting it.
Activity 5.1 Collect secondary data including consultancy and other reports and plans including for infrastructure development
Activity 6.1 Assess community structures, organizations and protocols, identify stakeholders and opportunities for a community management group
Activity 5.2 Train field staff for baseline socio-economic survey and preparation for sampling
Activity 6.2 Provide outreach training and materials for four research assistants
Activity 5.3 Undertake a comprehensive socio-economic baseline survey, including attitudes to leopard conservation
Activity 6.3 Undertake outreach to stakeholders, e.g. schools, community representatives, Walis’ offices, herding villages, branches of the armed forces that have a presence on Jebel Samhan
Activity 5.4 Identify and monitor livestock management practices and grazing Activity 5.5 Study the role of frankincense harvesting Activity 5.6 Assess and monitor the current visitors to Jebel Samhan Activity 5.7 Develop a land use map/plan for Jebel Samhan
Activity 6.4 Develop benefits and opportunities for community participation and involvement in conservation Activity 6.5 Establish a representative community planning group (representative group) and provide preliminary briefing and training
Activity 6.6 Train members of the representative group in governance, finance administration, health and safety, ecotourism and conservation Activity 6.7 Explore the possibility and value of establishing a representative group seed fund to initiate local tourism services Activity 6.8 Undertake a Jebel Samhan tourism scoping study including ethno botany, cultural heritage, archaeology and geology Activity 6.9 Explore other possible incentives for behavioural change that will lead to the conservation of the leopard
Objective 7 | To train and employ four Omanis in the project as Research Assistants. Activity 7.1 Identify and recruit four suitable candidates as Research Assistants
Activity 7.2 Train Research Assistants in natural and social science methodologies, formal and informal communication skills and English Activity 7.3 Involve Research Assistants in collection of natural and social science data and in awareness raising in schools and elsewhere Activity 7.4 Identify and develop any special aptitudes of individual Research Assistants
Objective 8 | To engage staff from OCE and the MECA the research activities. Activity 8.1 Gain a better understanding of current ranger activities in Jebel Samhan Activity 8.2 Engage a number of rangers from Jebel Samhan and the wider Dhofar area field research
Activity 8.3 Train rangers in basic field techniques Activity 8.4 Co-ordinate GIS and data management training and social science training, as appropriate, for selected OCE senior staff
Objective 9 | To ensure that key institutions are appropriately aware of project progress.
Objective 10 | To establish partnerships with additional researchers and universities. Activity 10.1 Identify additional Omani researchers interested to contribute to the research programme, and assist them with fund raising and permissions Activity 10.2 Build collaborative partnerships internationally
Activity 9.1 Report regularly to and interact with the Council of the National Centre for Field-based Environmental Research Activity 9.2 Develop relationships with OCE and MECA Activity 9.3 Work with other stakeholder institutions, including the Ministry of Education, Walis’ offices and the Armed Forces (because of their presence on Jebel Samhan)
IMAGE | EARTHWATCH
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Project 2 Arabian tahr, Wadi Sareen VISION “A thriving ecosystem in which the Arabian tahr exists in an outstanding landscape.” GOAL (four year goal) To convince people of the need to conserve the tahr and its ecosystem, and to enable them to do so.
IMAGE | RODERIC DUTTON
IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
Objectives Objective 1 | To estimate the population size and trend of Arabian tahr in Wadi Sareen Reserve (and neighbouring areas). Activity 1.1 Make direct sightings/ counts on a pre-defined routes on primary and sub-optimal habitats and collect faecal pellets Activity 1.2 Undertake trials of counting tahr by a researcher based at a vantage point Activity 1.3 Make pilot sample collection and analysis (in laboratories at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and Internationally) of faecal DNA (including samples from areas neighbouring Wadi Sareen Activity 1.4 Automatically take photographs of tahr at water sources (water holes and aflaj) using camera traps (a technique known as ‘camera trapping’) Activity 1.5 Count faecal pellets
Objective 2 | To estimate the range of Arabian tahr (male & female). Activity 2.1 Capture some tahr, give them a radio collar, free them and monitor their movements Activity 2.2 Collect tahr faeces and analyse the DNA in them (include samples from neighbouring areas) Activity 2.3 Use camera trapping to monitor the movements of tahr
Objective 3 | To evaluate the habitat quality and abundance of herbivores in the study area. Activity 3.1 Quantify the overlap in diet and drinking habits of tahr, gazelles and goats through faecal analysis and camera trapping Activity 3.2 Undertake vegetation surveys using appropriate methodologies
Activity 3.3 Make vegetation models, using remote sensing for vegetation with respect to metro-logical data Activity 3.4 Compare habitat quality and abundance of goats in the so-called goat-free zone and other comparable areas Activity 3.5 Compare habitat quality and abundance of herbivores in the buffer zone and other comparable areas
Objective 4 | To assess the possibility of establishing a captive demonstrative group of tahr in Wadi Sareen. Activity 4.1 Undertake research on an appropriate system for breeding and managing captive tahr, working in co-ordination with the Omani Mammal Breeding Centre (OMBC) Activity 4.2 Use existing captive tahr to monitor the age structure for those in the wild
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ANNEX A
Objective 5 | To assess water availability in Wadi Sareen. Activity 5.1 Locate, map and monitor water holes, wells and aflaj (volume, periodicity, type, water quality)
Objective 6 | To assess and understand the social and economic values of land-use and the contribution made by natural resources to livelihoods for communities that use the study area. Activity 6.1 Collect and integrate secondary data relevant to land-use and the social economy of the study area (demographics, agricultural statistics, development plans etc).
Activity 6.2 Conduct a socio-economic sample survey of communities living in or around the study area to establish and understand livelihoods, land-use, livestock management Activity 6.3 Assess the effectiveness of the ‘goat free zone’ for conservation management Activity 6.4 Assess the inter-generational transfer and transformation of knowledge, to determine the perceptions of and attitudes to traditional knowledge systems Activity 6.5 Develop a data management system for the above
Objective 7 | To assess and understand stakeholder attitudes to the identified problems, threats and opportunities. Activity 7.1 Perform a comprehensive analysis to identify key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (‘SWOT’ analysis) Activity 7.2 Study and assess the structures, systems and individuals that shape the decision making processes within the study area Activity 7.3 Identify the stakeholders based on the above activities and the output from Activity 7.1
IMAGE | NAT SPRING
Objective 8 | To make the various communities in Wadi Sareen, and other stakeholders with interests in Wadi Sareen, more aware of the value of conserving the tahr and sympathetic to the aims of the project. Activity 8.1 Determine problem and opportunity specific messages and stakeholder audiences Activity 8.2 Develop partnerships with key institutions and stakeholders to facilitate the generation and delivery of outreach materials
Objective 9 | To initiate schemes to develop sustainable incomes and conservation incentives in Wadi Sareen, consistent with proposals in the forthcoming management plan. Activity 9.1 Develop an understanding of the attitudes of local people towards, and skills required by them for, the establishment of income-generating projects in the study area, especially those that will help conserve the tahr Activity 9.2 Support the development of tourism based on recommendations from the management plan
Activity 9.3 Build local capacity for business and career development (enterprise management, credit facility, maintenance and marketing of crafts) consistent with the management plan Activity 9.4 Investigate non-traditional income opportunities within the study area Activity 9.5 Negotiate land-use based incentives
Objective 10 | To appoint and train project staff from Wadi Sareen . Activity 10.1 Continue the process of identifying recruits: list of possible names; interview; appoint target number of six Research Assistants/Rangers
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IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
ANNEX A Objective 13 | To establish and maintain collaboration with other institutions. Activity 13.1 Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs: Field train rangers in scientific data collection; explore the possibility of existing MECA data being analysed; seek opportunities to raise public awareness through the media Activity 13.2 Develop an educational strategy with the Ministry of Education
Activity 10.2 Place all new recruits on an extended full-time English language course
Activity 11.2 Implement aspects of the management plan, as agreed
Activity 10.3 Assess the outcome of 10.2 and place recruits accordingly into different trainee work activities, to include research assistant, technical guiding and awareness raising and arrange employment
Objective 12 | To create a research partnership with Sultan Qaboos University and The Research Council.
Activity 10.4 Pursue on-going professional development of staff
Objective 11 | To develop the key partnership with the Diwan of Royal Court (Office for Conservation of the Environment). Activity 11.1 Jointly define roles of senior staff of OCE
Activity 12.1 Encourage collaborative work with the SQU laboratory to analyse biological samples, and with the RS/GIS unit Activity 12.2 Encourage and facilitate related research by SQU staff and students, funded by TRC Activity 12.3 Jointly run workshops and seminars on research outputs
Activity 13.3 Exchange information with other institutions as appropriate: Ministry of Tourism; Muscat Municipality; Ministry of Transport and Communications; Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Housing; Supreme Committee for Town Planning; Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Ministry of Heritage and Culture; Public Authority for Craft Industries; Environment Society of Oman Activity 13.4 Provide opportunities for collaboration with regional and international organisations (conservation and breeding organisations for example: Caprinae Specialist Group of IUCN; the Sharjah Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife)
IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
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ANNEX B
Shortlist of Potential Projects for Development Prosopis juliflora on the Batina and the Salalah plain: The aggressively invasive tree P. juliflora has been described by some people in Oman as a serious problem in certain locations. Where concentrations of P. juliflora trees are found there are several associated problems: they grow rapidly and vigorously (sending down deep roots into the water table) and compete strongly with indigenous trees and other vegetation to the extent that they appear to deprive
them of water and light, leading to their deaths; their multi-stem growth habit leads them to grow into each other causing thickets that are impenetrable to domestic animals or people; it is said that they have allelopathic properties inhibiting the growth of any other plants near them; they have sharp thorns making it difficult and unpleasant to prune them; we have seen some maturing trees in both August and October bearing many flowers and maturing pods suggesting the rapid production of large seed banks in the soil; the pods are eaten by camels
(carbohydrates in the pods and protein in the seeds), and, it is said, some of the seeds pass through the digestive system and are thus dispersed. Some people believe that the trees should be eliminated. Other people think that we should learn to live with it by effective management, making good use of its positive qualities. But can the trees be managed in order to yield some products of genuine economic value in present day Oman?
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IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
Aflaj within the traditional rural community: Oman is famed for the traditional means of bringing water to the surface for domestic and agricultural usage by falaj (pl aflaj). The role played by the falaj is much greater than simply providing water. The falaj demands community management of the water resource including management of the 24 hour/day water distribution system, variations of water distribution and usage between summer and winter and the management of falaj repairs, including the underground tunnel. They are an icon in Oman. In recent decades people acquired the means to sink boreholes or even dig wells through rocky ground to the water table, and this has put the falaj under threat. Recently changes in the national economy and diet have resulted in the falaj losing much of its economic value. Would a restoration of economic value secure the future of the falaj? How can their economic value be restored? There are people at SQU interested to research opportunities for securing the future of the falaj. Also, the DG of Water Resources Management in MRM&WR is very interested to explore opportunities for change. However, the falaj is also part of a wider system of efficient local resource management. Traditionally buildings used locally available materials (stone, mud bricks and plaster and barusti sheeting, depending on the locality). Construction techniques and design optimised the cooling effect of winds in summer. Construction costs were low. Is it worth preserving aspects of the traditional building systems, perhaps combined with some modern materials and techniques as appropriate?
A coastal/marine research project: Oman has a very long and varied coastline, one which has been very important to livelihoods and the economy for a very long time, and one which will remain very important for Oman into the future. Many people say that the opportunity and need for research is varied and great. At a meeting chaired by the Secretary-General in the Ministry of Fisheries Wealth, the participants from the Ministry were keen to explore ideas and welcomed the proposed visit by Prof Grant Burgess, marine scientist at Newcastle University to discuss ideas with them. Meetings at SQU suggested research into elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays): The elasmobranchs have unique biological, ecological and physiological characteristics. They have many potential benefits including biomedicine as well as marine tourism. Oman would provide an ideal platform for the future study of these animals, due to its proximity to a variety of shallow and deepwater habitats, the occurrence of both well-known and poorly-understood species in local waters, and the existence of directed shark fisheries throughout the region. Also at SQU Dr Adnan has contributed much research in the field of Oceanography and Marine production such as Red Tide, Phytoplankton Ecology, and Ballast water-related studies.
extensive woodlands at altitudes ranging from 1,200–3,000m. characterised by the wild olive, Olea europaea and the juniper, Juniperus excelsa polycarpos. These woodlands are currently under severe stress due to the rapid development of the area, especially urbanization, agriculture and tourism. Most of the woodlands are shrinking and have lost their potential for regeneration. Conservation and sustainable management of these woodlands is an immediate priority, because they are closely linked to the livelihoods of the traditional communities. SQU has the expertise to work in this area and can collaborate with Diwan, MECA and Earthwatch partners.
Coastal erosion along the Batina: In view of climate change and predicted sea level rise, sedimentary coasts around the world’s oceans are expected to erode and retreat landwards over the course of this century. The Batina coast is particularly vulnerable to this as it has a sedimentary shoreline and heavy human settlement. Further, recharge dams on wadis reduce sediment supply to this coast and numerous coastal engineering
Key objectives will be to: Continue regular monitoring of shoreline change at selected points along the Batina; Develop models of wave driven sediment dynamics; Further quantify the importance of Wadi sediment input; Map the shoreline to show historical changes associated with coastal engineering structures; Assess the socioeconomic impacts of shoreline retreat; Provide recommendations for coastal zone management in this region.
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
Conservation of woodlands in the Western Hajar Mountains of northern Oman: One of the unique characteristics of the Western Hajar Mountains in northern Oman is the presence of
structures cause monitoring Batina shoreline dynamics and some baseline information is now available. This needs to be continued as regular monitoring complemented by more detailed investigations of sediment budgets and socioeconomic impacts of erosion on local populations. Remote sensing and GIS techniques will be a key part of this.
local erosion problems. SQU has set up a program evaluating and
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IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
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Optimizing land and water productivity in the Salalah Plains, Oman: A major global challenge at present is the task of increasing water productivity, i.e., increase in food production with less water. Oman is no exception. Despite being an arid country, water productivity in Oman is very low compared to levels achieved internationally. A key reason for this is the lack of diversity in crops grown. In Oman, fruits and vegetables are the only major categories of food grown. Among fruits, date production represents 85% and 10 other fruit species represent the remainder. However, the diversity of vegetable crops grown in Oman is fairly large covering more than 30 crop species which is expandable.
The Salalah Plains have long been rated as one of the best agricultural areas in the country. Fruits such as coconuts and bananas, vegetables and grass for fodder are grown in a traditional manner, using surface irrigation methods. Regrettably, despite its potential to become the fruit and vegetable basket for Oman, the water productivity of the Salalah Plains remains suboptimal. There is a need to develop comprehensive land and water management plans for the Salalah Plains, which results in sustainable use of land and water, while maximizing productivity.
Living with salinity in the Batina Coast of Oman: The coastal Batina plain extending north-westwards from just north of Muscat to the border with the UAE,
and to the east of the Hajar range, is the most densely populated and heavily cultivated region of the country. The area under agricultural production on the Batina coast increased between the 1970’s and 2000, but due to secondary salinization large tracts of land are being abandoned. Some of the salinized lands are being urbanized. Changes to land use are gradually changing the water balance in the region. The challenge therefore is to develop strategies to live with salinity. The Ministry of Agriculture in 1993 undertook an integrated study, which was followed by HM’s strategic project carried out by SQU and the Ministry of Agriculture.
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
These studies have identified agronomic and engineering methods to improve productivity. Brackish water is used to grow tilapia (aquaculture), fodder for animals, and high quality vegetables such as tomatoes. Lessons from these studies need to be implemented across the Batina. Currently, the government is considering relocation of fodder cultivation from Batina to Nejd, and growing limited amount of winter wheat instead. This will also alter the water balance of the region. Overall, the land and water use is changing rapidly due to a multitude of factors. It should be allowed to change according to a well developed plan to ensure sustainability and economic prosperity of the region.
IMAGE | STEVE ROSS
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2 Executive Summary In the second part of Year 1, Earthwatch started the process of building the core team dedicated to developing capacity in Oman to deliver the programme. In addition to Dr Dutton (appointed last year) there will be Research and Field Management specialists (dividing their time between the Oxford headquarters and Oman) who will oversee the science, fielding of teams and project logistics such as health and safety, and Engagement and Learning specialists who will help build and support the volunteer
teams and also work closely with the government, most notably the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Ministry of Education.
of research on the juniper and wild olive woodlands in the northern Jebel and of research at one or more sites on the coastline.
The full proposals for the first two projects (Arabian leopard in Jebel Samhan, and Arabian tahr in Wadi Sareen) are in the process of being completed.
One aim will be to make recommendations for the protection and conservation of the woodland habitat and the marine resources, both of which are under threat from human activity. Earthwatch has also begun a study of the problems facing the aflaj. This ancient and iconic system of delivering water to villages and rural towns is in a somewhat run-down state; major improvements of water use efficiency and productivity will be required in order to revitalise them.
With respect to the research projects, the emphasis has been divided between giving shape to the first two projects while identifying the second two projects through discussion with many people in Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and relevant ministries. Earthwatch will propose a project, in which SQU has expressed great interest,
IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
Finally, Earthwatch is in discussion with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MECC), SQU and the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) about the problems being caused by the invasive tree, Prosopis juliflora. During the forthcoming second year of the programme we expect to start field work on the first two projects and to define and develop proposals for the second two projects, to start fieldwork in the winter of 2011/12. A budget for the second year of the programme was submitted in February 2010. Earthwatch also looks forward to working closely with the National Centre for Field-Based Research for Conservation of the Environment when it comes into being.
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IMAGE | STEVE ROSS
Update to the “Mid-year Report: Year 1, the Planning and Development Phase” In fact the earlier “Mid-year Report” covered the period 1st May 2009 to 30th January 2010 (nine months), so this update covers the shorter period, February to April 2010 (three months), for which a set of proposed activities was outlined in Part 2 of the Mid-year Report. The report covers progress on those activities, and other items.
Objective 1 | Arabian tahr project in Wadi Sareen: Dr Roberto Boesi, the proposed international specialist, made visits to the Earthwatch headquarters in Oxford where detailed research proposals were discussed as well as all aspects of the system of project proposal formulation. He also spent a week in Oman, hosted by Dr Dutton and others. In Oman he travelled by vehicle throughout Wadi Sareen and up to the top of Jebel Abyadh from Wadi Tayyin. He met the rangers and spoke with other knowledgeable people in the Office for Conservation of
the Environment, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Sultan Qaboos University and elsewhere. He also started a two-day climb, with two rangers, towards the Khoshila water hole (much used by tahr) in Wadi Sareen. Unfortunately Dr Boesi subsequently decided not to join the project. The post has therefore been advertised. Dr Dutton met with Richard Wood, previous manager of an animal captive breeding centre, who provided a lot of information about tahr behaviour.
to work as field assistants, and the search has started for two people from within the team of rangers to join the two already selected to participate in the project. Thus, there will be a team of six field assistants to work with the specialists. Dr Michael Robinson (animal ecologist) and Dr Aliya al-Ansari (geneticist), both at SQU, will identify students to play roles in the project. We hope that Dr Aliya will also help analyse animal scats (faeces) to identify relationships between different tahr.
Advertisements were placed in the offices of the walis in the three wilayats that comprise Wadi Sareen for two new recruits from the local community
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
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IMAGE | RIA MILLER
Objective 2 | Arabian leopard project on Jebel Samhan:
on Jebel Samhan, and the choice of type of camera has been made; ten pairs will be tested before they are all distributed around the Jebel.
Discussions were held in the UK, between all interested parties in the UK and Oman, leading to the first draft of the full project proposal and to the generation of many helpful comments on it.
An initial field activity will be the collection of scats during the summer of 2010. This will help show the distribution of leopards. Analysis of the scats will indicate their diet, which may include domestic livestock.
Advertisements were placed in the offices of the walis in the three wilayats that comprise Jebel Samhan for four recruits from the local communities to work as field assistants, to join Hadi al Hikmani and Khaled al Hikmani who are already members of the team. The project will include siting 50 pairs of camera traps
Objective 3 | Botanical elements of the Arabian tahr and Arabian leopard projects: Plant surveys will be an important part of both projects, primarily because plants are a key part of the habitat.
They can also be good indicators of climate change, itself of central importance to habitat security. We have been in good discussions with the staff of the Oman Botanic Garden about plant surveys, and they hope to be able to contribute with expertise and some staff time. Also, we are in good contact with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (which works closely with OBG and which is world renowned for its work in the Arabic Peninsula) and they may be able to contribute to field work in Wadi Sareen and Jebel Samhan.
Objective 4 | Information technology and mapping: Information technology and its applications to field-based environmental projects are advancing rapidly. We are very keen to keep abreast of these developments so that our projects make the best and fullest use of them in order to advance data collection and data transmission and analysis and, of course, presentation. We have already obtained high resolution air photographs and imagery from the Supreme Committee for Town Planning for both Wadi Sareen and Jebel Samhan. We are pooling information about appropriate technologies and we are developing an application from the UK to fund a PhD student. We are also in contact with specialist companies in Knowledge Oasis Muscat and with Nawras (mobile phone network) exploring possible ways of cooperating with them in this high-tech field. We are also aware that large datasets, relevant to field-based environmental research, are held by, for example, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, MRMWR (falaj records and well data), by the Ministry of Transport (climate data) and by the Ministry of the Environment (records compiled by rangers). We have had some very initial talks about using information technologies to make such data sets more available to researchers. Within the Earthwatch programme IT can potentially help in: collecting data at key locations; transmitting the data to distant receivers; data collation and analysis; preparation of maps and presentation materials etc.
After much discussion we submitted a proposal for computer work stations and ancillary equipment, which has now been approved. We envisage that this will be set up in the National Centre for Field-based Research for Conservation of the Environment (NC), with which we will work closely on IT skills. We also envisage working closely in this area of expertise with other key organisations in Oman such as SQU and DRC/OCE.
Objective 5 | Social science research/ secondary data sets: A start has been made to the identification and collection of secondary data from DRC/OCE, MECA and the Ministry of Agriculture. This will enable us better to understand, when combined with primary data collected in the field, the social and economic background of the communities living in the study areas.
Objective 6 | Bibliographies: Bibliographies are being created for each project that is under discussion. This is a continually on-going process. Bibliographies will comprise both published and ‘grey’ literature, the latter including consultancy and other reports commissioned by different Ministries and held in their libraries. A closely related question is the best means of making this information appropriately available to all interested parties connected with the programme. One possibility for achieving this goal, now being tested, is the use of the open-source software package, Mendeley.
Objective 7 | New projects: Discussions have continued about future projects within the Earthwatch programme.
Objective 7a | A marine/coastal project: Previous meetings with the Department of Marine Sciences at SQU and with the Ministry of Fisheries Wealth (MFW), and others led to a week-long visit by Prof Grant Burgess (Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Newcastle, UK) in April. Grant first visited Oman as a guest of The Research Council to contribute to discussions about marine science at the TRC strategy conference in September 2007. During April 2010 visit we had meetings with: Dr Talib al Hosni (introduction and reporting); the MFW marine science centre; the Diwan of Royal Court (DRC) Office for Conservation of the Environment (OCE); the Director and staff of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Marine Science Department (twice); the Five Oceans consulting company (very experienced in marine research); the Secretary General and senior staff of The Research Council; the CEO of LNG-Oman; the Under-Secretary and senior staff at MFW; the Director and staff of the Fisheries Quality Control Centre; the Advisor to the Minister of Commerce and Industry; the holder of the UNESCO Chair in marine biotechnology at SQU; the SQU/MFW Hail marine science centre; the Director of the Marine Environment Conservation Department at MECA; the Dean of Research at SQU. These meetings produced many ideas for possible marine/coastal projects suited to the Earthwatch approach, including some suggested locations
(Mirbat-Sadh; Masirah Island / Barr al Hikman; the Batina coast), and lead researchers. The meetings also clearly indicated how the marine research could / should be linked with conservation issues and also with the Centre of Excellence for Marine Biotechnology (Director Prof Bassam Soussi, SQU) which has been approved for construction. All these ideas will be discussed by Earthwatch and within Oman, leading towards the preparation of a project proposal by the end of 2010.
Objective 7b | Juniper and wild olive woodlands: These woodlands are a very special feature of the mountain environment of northern Oman. They are found at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 metres on Jebel Akhdhar and Jebel Shams. Today they are under severe stress due to rapid development of the area, especially urbanisation, agriculture and tourism. The rate of impact is growing because new roads and tracks are making access to the high mountains easier. The Dean of Research at SQU is very keen on the project for reasons of research coupled with the opportunity, through the research and awareness raising, of proposing conservation measures and defining core zones (of complete protection) and buffer zones (of partial protection and partial controlled exploitation). Various discussions and a field visit with the Dean of Research at SQU have created the opportunity to present the idea of a woodland project to Earthwatch and to the NC. The next steps (in May 2010) will be for discussion within MECA, and a meeting with the Deputy Vice Chancellor of SQU.
An immediate aim is to write a joint note (Earthwatch and SQU) to the NC seeking approval to develop a concept note for a fully collaborative project and, subsequently, a complete project proposal. Potentially one very interesting field site is at Hail Juwari (on Jebel Shams). Very helpfully this area, which is the only place known to have juniper saplings, is currently protected by having a gate, erected by Royal Court Affairs, across the only access track. The Director General of RCA responsible for the area would personally welcome field research to be undertaken at the site and has recommended seeking official authorisation to do this. At the same time, we have been in initial discussion with the senior staff at the Oman Botanic Garden and their colleagues at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh about ways in which they could participate in the field work.
Objective 7c | A falaj project: The falaj (pl aflaj) have been the traditional means of providing village water for domestic consumption and irrigation for most villages and rural towns in Oman (with the main exception of the Batina coast). The system is uniquely important in Oman and is a cultural icon with an age-old local management system that has stood the test of time. However, in recent decades, since the export of oil began in 1967, the falaj system has been under pressure for the following reasons: a growing number of villages receive piped water for domestic consumption; individual citizens have sunk boreholes for irrigation and are thus not dependent on the falaj; certain crops suited to weekly flood irrigation are no longer grown (eg wheat); higher value crops need
to be irrigated every day; most money in the villages is remitted as salaries earned outside the village; men in the active age group typically work outside the village and leave unskilled expatriates to maintain the date palms; and the date today forms a much smaller proportion of the diet in rural Oman because other foods are imported. In April, with the full support of the DG of Water Resource Management in the Ministry of Rural Municipalities and Water Resources, seven aflaj, selected by the DG, were visited and discussions were held with their wakils and other citizens. The general conclusion from these field visits is that the aflaj, for the above reasons, are in a poor condition. Typically, there are large water losses in the garden channels; many date palm gardens lose money because the costs of paying expatriate labour exceed
the value of the dates; the gardens, therefore, are not cared for with the previous level of expertise (thereby reducing yield and income); many gardens are caught in a downhill spiral of decline. Can anything be done to reverse this downhill trend? First, we need very accurately to measure both the water losses and the net returns from the gardens. Second, we need to examine (and test) ways of increasing water distribution efficiency, including ways of allowing water to be applied on demand. Third, we need to optimise crop productivity. Fourth, we need to consider alternative or additional sources of income from the falaj water – for example, some work now being undertaken at SQU suggests that commercially valuable fish can
be grown in pools fed by the falaj, and the water then distributed to the gardens. In a few villages, other work at SQU indicates that they are very attractive and visited by growing numbers of tourists, tourism can become a source of income for the village. The general aim of all this work would be to restore economic vitality to the falaj system. This, surely, will be the best way to ensure the long-term future of the aflaj into the time when oil and gas supplies are past their peak.
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
2 Objective 7d | Prosopis juliflora: P. juliflora is an aggressively invasive tree species fairly recently introduced and now found widespread in parts of Dhofar and northern Oman. It sends deep roots into the water table. It tolerates and thrives in brackish water. Individual trees spread widely, interlocking with neighbouring trees, creating impenetrable thorny thickets. The trees compete strongly with indigenous tree species leading to their death. They produce copious pods whose seeds are distributed widely by passing through the digestive tracts of herbivores. However, on the other hand, P. juliflora has some strengths including honey production, the high calorific value of the wood, craft usage, and pods and seeds that, when milled, make good animal feed. The debate, therefore, is whether to try and eliminate the tree, or to manage it. Some people in Oman argue for eradication, others say “we must learn to live
with the tree�. Methods for doing either, or both, need to be defined and tested. Discussion so far suggests that P. juliflora will not become the subject of an Earthwatch project. However, Earthwatch, because of previous experience by Dr Dutton and his expert contacts in the UK (Prof Phil Harris and the team at Coventry University and India, the research centres GUIDE and CAZRI), may be able to contribute to on-going discussion in Oman leading towards a project led by some other group.
Objective 8 | Scoping visit by the Earthwatch Learning and Engagement team: This visit was delayed until mid-May, and will therefore be discussed in the next Mid-year report. Briefly, the visit was very valuable, especially in discussions with key staff at the Ministry of Education and at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.
Objective 9 | Earthwatch staff: Ria Miller has been appointed as Programme Manager and we are in the process of recruiting research and field management specialists and a learning and education manager to act as counterparts to their National Centre colleagues. Capacity will also be expanded within Earthwatch to accommodate the extra demands that the project will place on the engagement, marketing and communications departments.
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
The following people contributed images to this publication: Nigel Winser, Roderic Dutton, Dr James Burton, Dr Steve Ross, Chloe Maclaren, Alan Roe, Steve Bishop, Fadi Dada.