Socotra is a threatened paradise. An island 350 km off the coast of Yemen at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden. A strategic position. Landscapes straight out of stories and legends. Its fish-rich waters, its terrestrial fauna and its exceptional flora fascinate biologists. We encounter majestic creatures found nowhere else on Earth, such as adeniums, boswellias and, above all, the famous dragon trees, dragon’s blood trees, which have become a symbol of the island. Classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2008, the landscape is home to 825 species of plants, more than a third of which are But climate change is threatening. During the dry season, wind storms are more intense and carry away the famous umbrella trunks of these “dragon’s blood trees”.
Slow maturation
Socotra’s dragon trees mature slowly. It takes half a century for them to get old enough to reproduce. Hence they are also threatened by overgrazing. Goats eat their shoots before they have time to grow.
A few citizens are mobilizing to save this “umbrella species,” which owes not to its shape, but to its usefulness in the ecosystem. Dragon trees are home to dozens of reptiles such as snakes, geckos, and contribute to the growth of many flowering plants.
Investment promises
Socotra is also threatened by political instability. Caught up in the turmoil affecting Yemen, it is under the influence of the United Arab Emirates, which supports the separatists of the Southern Transitional Council (CTS). In 2020, the latter overthrew Governor Ramzi Mahrouz, accusing him of being close to the Muslim Brotherhood. Currently, CTS is recruiting especially from the island’s unemployed youth, thanks to the UAE’s promises of investment and development.
read more: In the Indian Ocean, the last dungeon of the Dragon Tree