Sana’a Warns US-Saudi Forces Destroying Socotra Archipelago

Head of Tourism Council, Mohammad Al-Mansour, warned of the ongoing sabotage and destructive actions of the environmental and biological diversity of Socotra Archipelago Island by the Saudi-Emirati invading forces.

Al-Mansour said in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that among the most prominent acts of sabotage, besides building camps and dispatching large numbers of tourists to the detriment of its ecosystem, is the indiscriminate erosion of coral reefs, the unsustainable export of fish wealth, the introduction of non-indigenous species to the island and the looting of other species, rare plants and birds, from their original habitat.

He called on UNESCO to play its role, assume its responsibilities and ethical duties to ensure the preservation of the distinctive ecosystem, vegetation cover, and the island’s unique marine and biological diversity as a reserve for the natural world heritage.

Al-Mansour called on organizations interested in preserving the natural heritage and the lovers and supporters of Socotra and its honorable sons to address these violations and stop all destructive activities in Socotra Archipelago, especially activities that negatively affect wildlife, unique landscapes and the marine environment.

He expressed his concern about the presence of the Zionist entity on the island, especially after the Emirati occupation declared normalization with the Zionist entity.

He also called for a speedy assessment of the effects and pointed to the importance of the island as an exceptional site classified as one of the most exotic regions in the world because of its great diversity it contains in its plants, its land and marine environment, and the proportion of endemic species. It includes 73% of plant species (out of 528 species), 90% of reptile species and 59% of the species of wild snails found in it are not found in any other parts of the world. As for birds, the site hosts important species at the global level (291 species, 44 of which breed on the islands, while 58 of them migrate regularly), including some endangered species.

Marine life in Socotra is characterized by great diversity, whereas there are 352 species of coral building the reef, 730 species of coastal fish, and 300 species of crabs, lobsters and shrimps.