The books page has been compiled with the assistance of the Natural History Book Service whose address is given at the end of these reviews. To avail of special discount offers, readers of this magazine should mention Arabian Wildlife when placing their order with the Natural History Book Service.
Trident Press
English edition: ISBN 1-900724-02-2; French edition: ISBN 1-900724-13-8; Arabic edition: ISBN 1-900724-07-3
Natural Emirates is a series of well-informed beautifully illustrated chapters on the UAE’s wildlife, written by experts in their individual fields. Commencing with a review of the growth of the natural history movement in the UAE, from its early beginnings founded by enthusiastic amateurs, to the present day mix of professionals and laymen, the book offers an entertaining and fascinating written account, together with a striking photographic record of the UAE’s geology, palaeontology, habitats and their conservation, sea-shore, plant-life, insects, other arthropods, reptiles, birds, fish, mammals and concludes with a review of the traditional relations between Man and wildlife in the UAE. A truly inspiring book, it not only records and celebrates the UAE’s surprisingly diverse wildlife, it also provides much useful information on the conservation measures required to preserve this wonderful heritage.
United Arab Emirates Interactive CD Rom
Trident Press
ISBN 1 900724 -12 -X
Innovative technology is employed to produce this exciting multimedia
compilation of Trident Press’s publications to mark the silver
jubilee of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates as a
federal state. Amongst the information to be accessed on the user-friendly
CD rom is upto to date text on the UAE’s political system, its
industrial and social development, traditions, sports, other recreational
activities and tourist past-times, useful addresses, as well as
a detailed chronicle of events over the 25 years, all combined
with graphic illustrations, photographs and video clips. Probably
of most interest for wildlife enthusiasts is the inclusion of
text and photographs from Natural Emirates. Particularly delightful
is the birdsong which accompanies the birdlist, however the interactive
quiz, which includes a significant number of questions on wildlife,
will most likely prove to be the most addictive feature of this
compelling CD rom.
The status and conservation of the breeding birds of the United
Arab Emirates
Simon Aspinall
Hobby Publications
ISBN 1- 872839-04-5
This book, written by Simon Aspinall, Senior Ornithologist of the Abu Dhabi based National Avian Research Center, is the result of many years of professional and amateur efforts to map the distribution and to provide population estimates of the breeding birdlife of the entire United Arab Emirates. Over 100 bird species have now been found nesting in the UAE.
For each species its UAE breeding distribution is set out, important
sites located and threats to their well-being discussed, as well
as actions recommended to aid their conservation. The book is
not only a useful reference work but it also provides a blueprint
for the conservation of the country’s avifauna. Well-illustrated
with over 50 colour photographs, it will appeal to the general
public, interested amateurs as well as professional researchers.
Hagen Schmid
This large format beautifully produced book is a delightful photographic
essay on the fauna of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Compiled by Hagen
Schmid who, over 25 years ago, pioneered scuba diving in Saudi
Arabia, it contains the work of a number of photographers who
have spent a great deal of time in the region, observing and photographing
the underwater life. Also included are over 30 pages of photographs
of Jeddah and some of the birds and other animals inhabiting the
apparently barren coastal region. Although it is primarily a picture
book containing nearly 200 pages of striking images, it also has
some text describing the behaviour of the animals depicted in
the photographs.
Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra Volume I
Edited by A. G. Miller and T.A. Cope
Edinburgh University Press
ISBN 0 7486 0475 8
This is the first volume in a comprehensive six part series which
charts the flora of the Arabian Peninsula and the Socotran archipelago
for the first time. It covers all native flowering plants and
ferns as well as major cultivated and amenity plants. The region
studied includes: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The Sultanate of Oman,
United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The first part
of this volume gives a concise introduction including sections
on topology and geology, climate, vegetation, floristics, phytogeography,
and conservation. Part two begins the systematic study of the
flora. Each species is separately mapped with notes on ecology
and distribution. Illustrations and keys are provided to aid identification.
With descriptions of around 700 species in each volume, this will
become an essential reference source on Arabian flora, valuable
to non-specialists and professionals alike.
Sandgrouse
Vol 17 1996
This special issue of Sandgrouse, incorporating the report of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East’s survey of southern Yemen and Socotra in spring 1993, is an important contribution to wildlife studies and conservation in the Republic of Yemen and a worthy complement to the report of the 1985 expedition to (the then) North Yemen detailed in Sandgrouse 9. As well as a comprehensive examination of the status, distribution and ecology of birds, especially species endemic to south-west Arabia, it also lists incidental records of mammals reptiles, amphibians and odonata observed during the survey.
Among its important achievements were the discovery of four previously
unrecorded species in Yemen and 10 in Socotra; the identification
of 16 sites, based on habitat quality and species diversity, meriting
international recognition as Important Bird Areas (IBAX) within
the Middle East; and the study of 13 south-west Arabian and 6
Socotran bird species of global conservation significance within
Yemen and Socotra.Equally significant was the participation of
the survey team in a number of conservation education and awareness
projects, including the completion of a book on Yemen’s birds
for children to be distributed to schools by the Environmental
Protection Council of Yemen. The survey also made a presentation
to the relevant authorites on the importance of Yemen’s birds,
their habitats, threats to their future survival and priority
areas for follow-up action. Dr Omar Al-Saghier, Agricultural Research
and Extensions Authority, Dhamar, Republic of Yemen, comments
in his foreword to the issue, that he will ensure that the information
collected by the two OSME surveys will be used in the formulation
of the government’s Action Plan.
Linda Shuaib
Stacey International
ISBN 0905743 814
Wildflowers of Kuwait is a unique personal record of Kuwait’s flora. The author, Linda Shuaib, has been at work for more than a decade documenting and photographing over 200 species of wildflower which are presented here for the first time for the general reader. Species descriptions are remarkably free of technical jargon and species names are given in Arabic as well as in English and Latin. Linda Shuaib also draws on her first-hand knowledge of Kuwait to take the reader on a personal tour around the country, pinpointing where the flowers can be located and highlighting places of interest as well as discussing important conservation issues. Those wishing to explore Kuwait will find much useful information in this section.
The invasion of Kuwait devastated plant and animal life, however this book is a testimony to the extraordinary survival against the odds of Kuwait’s wildflowers, and a vivid reminder of the importance of restoring and preserving the natural heritage of the country for future generations.
THE NATURAL HISTORY BOOK SERVICE
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