INTRODUCTION
Main Non-Wood Forest Products
The main non-wood forest products (NWFP) of Saudi Arabia are medicinal plants and fodder.
Other NWFP include honey and edible plant products.
General information
Species classified In Saudi Arabia forests are mostly Acacias and some wild olives. These forests are managed as protective rather than productive forests. Hence, the main mode of exploitation is on NWFP rather than on wood products.
It is estimated that more than 300 plant species are used for medicinal purposes, as fodder and for honey production.
PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
Food
The palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) has a special and distinct importance to Saudis for its historical and economic significance. The State endeavored since long time to spread growing palm trees by all available means which helped expand the palm trees grown areas and introduce new types until the number of palms reached 13 million trees producing more than 500 thousand tonnes per year. Grown palm trees currently count for more than 400 types of renowned names such as Sifri, Sukkari, Khalas, Meskani, Shalabi (Ministry of Water and Agriculture, 2001).
The Kingdom ranks first in the production of dates over the world with an annual production of 500 000 tonnes. This huge production has been achieved through the generous support and subsidies offered by the government to palm trees farmers. Palm plants are offered and some production purchased from farmers at good prices. (MAW, 2001)
Fodder
Forest and woodlands are used for grazing. Branches of trees such as Acacia and Ziziphus are lopped and used as fodder (Kishal, 1985).
Forests in Saudi Arabia are the main source for grazing animal. MAW (Ministry of Agriculture and Water) established 24 enclosures, each with an area ranging between 250 donums and 87 000 donums (1 donum = 1 000 m²). Some of these enclosures are designed for rangeland and environmental studies and others as reserves for natural fodder to be opened up for grazing in years of drought. Conservation of such rangelands led to noticeable improvement in vegetation cover and pasture productivity (MAW, 2001).
Medicines
Using medicinal plants is very well accepted among the people in Saudi Arabia. Herbal medicine has been inherited from old tribes and traditionally used among people. A survey done in King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology revealed that 300 species are used in traditional medicine in Saudi Arabia (Al Moussa, 1999).
Table 1. The most important medicinal plants in Saudi Arabia
NAME |
HABITAT |
Acacia arabica |
Middle Region |
Balanites aegytiaca |
South of Hijaz |
Azadirachta indica |
South of Hijaz and Najd |
Acacia seyal |
Middle area and south of Hijaz |
Tamarix aphylla |
North area, Najd and Hijaz |
Alaoe vera |
South of Hijaz and all the southern area |
Delonix elata |
Hijaz and all the southern area |
Datura metel |
All over the kingdom |
Nigella sativa |
North of Hijaz |
Source: Al Moussa (1999)
ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
Honey and beeswax
Honey production is important in Saudi Arabia. Beekeeping is very common in Saudi Arabian forests all over the country. " Sadar" is the best quality honey produced in Saudi Arabia. The governement is establishing companies to produce and market this honey inside and outside the country.
REFERENCES
Al Moussa. 1999. Non-wood forestry products in Jordan. Expert meeting on developing and coordinating the activities for non-wood forest products, FAO. Beirut, 1999.
Kishal, H. 1985. Conservation and Developemnt of wildlife in Saudi Arabia. FAO report.
Ministry of Water and Agriculture. 2001. Internet homepage: www.agrwat.gov.sa, viewed on 14 May 2001.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This report has been realized in support to the FAO Forest Resource Assessment 2000. The content is mainly based on available information at FAO Headquarters in Rome and on information collected by Ms Sabra, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Additional information on NWFP in Saudi Arabia would be appreciated and duly acknowledged.
QUANTITATIVE DATA ON NWFP OF SAUDI ARABIA
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
||||||||
Category |
Impor-tance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Destination |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
|||||||
Plants and plant products | ||||||||||
Food |
1 |
Date |
Phoenix dactilifera |
fr |
F,P |
W,C |
N,I |
Annual production of 500 000 t |
MAW, 2001 |
Importance: 1- high importance on the national level; 2 - high importance on the local/regional level; 3 - low importance
Part used: an - entire animal; ba - bark; bw - beeswax; le - leaves; nu - nuts; fi - fibres; fl - flowers; fr - fruits; gu - gums; ho - honey; la - latex; oi - oil; pl - entire plant; re - resins; ro - roots; sa - sap; se - seeds; st - stem; ta - tannins
Habitat: F - natural forest or other wooded lands; P - plantation; O - Others: Trees outside forests (e.g. agroforestry, homegardens)
Source: W - wild, C - cultivated
Destination: N - national; I - international