Assessing the Vulnerability of Rangeland Ecosystems to Global Climate Change In the Dryland Areas of the Middle East and North Africa Region

Abstract

Climate change projections provide little information on how this risk might affect rangeland plant communities in specific regions. Rangelands are by far the most widespread land use type in the dry areas, and are home to most of its poorest inhabitants. Having low productivity and potential, the people they support remain largely marginalized. A large area of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is arid or semi-arid with shallow and low fertility soils and poor plant cover and pastoral/agro-pastoral use are dominant production systems. This study evaluated the impact of climate change on the geographical distribution of selected native rangeland species in the MENA region. Assessments of the potential impact of climate change on the geographical distribution of two economically important species, Salsola vermiculata, Atriplex leucoclada (Boiss) in comparison to Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) and H. schmittianum, non-palatable species, in the MENA region was conducted.