Taxon name
Haloxylon persicum
Bunge ex Boiss. & Buhse
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Haloxylon persicum
Bunge ex Boiss. & Buhse
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
Bunge ex Boiss. & Buhse
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Near Threatened
Qualifying criteria (if given)
B1a
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species occurs in a distinct, restricted area within the UAE, with an estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2,322 km<sup>2</sup>: this estimate falls within the threshold for threatened categories under Criterion B1. However, it occurs in at least two protected areas, with a significant part of its range occurring within the Al Ghada Protected Area. Based on the ongoing threats of grazing and development, this species is considered to occur in 10-15 locations, and also experiences ongoing habitat decline outside of its protected area range. Therefore, it is currently assessed as Near Threatened.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species is restricted to an area from southern Abu Dhabi (including Al Wathba Wetland Reserve), west towards Tarif (Aspinall and Hellyer 2003, Böer and Saenger 2006). It is also recorded from the Al Ghada Protected Area within Abu Dhabi Emirate. The estimated Extent of Occurrence (EOO) for this species is 2,322 km<sup>2</sup>. Globally, this species is native to Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula and temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This small tree species grows on sand sheets and sand dunes (Böer and Saenger 2006). It can reach heights of 3 m and has fleshy branches with drooping shoots, giving an appearance similar to a weeping willow (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It produces yellow winged fruits and flowers between February and May (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by camels, in addition to ongoing development, threatens this species outside of protected areas.
History
This species would have been of a lower threat category in 1996 due to occupying a larger area. However, its distribution has now declined due to ongoing coastal development.
Publication
Allen, D.J., Westrip, J.R.S., Puttick, A., Harding, K.A., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Ali, H. 2021. UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants. Technical Report. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
