Abstract:

This study aimed to monitor the degradation of ecosystem biodiversity in one of the most diverse areas in Saudi Arabia. The coastal area of southwestern Saudi Arabia has a rich diversity of flora and fauna, particularly in mangrove and coral reef ecosystems. The total area covered with mangroves was approximately 40 km² at the end of the 1900s but decreased to approximately 19 km² by 2019. Coral reef decline was not as extreme, with a total decrease of approximately 330 km² during the study period. Total reef area declined from approximately 2533.7 km² in 1990 to approximately 2202 km² in 2019. Population growth and urban sprawl, as well as overfishing, are among the main factors causing the degradation of both mangrove and coral reefs in this region.