Perennial Plant Mortality in the Guban Area of Somaliland
The extraordinary demise of certain perennial plants such as Acacia tortilis, Balanites orbicularis and Suaeda Fruticosa in the coastal areas of Somaliland, particularly between Berbera and Lughaya districts, has been a subject of discussion and debate.
The study attempts to find an answer to the root cause of the unusual mortality of these plants, through discussion and analysis of the factors i.e. chemical contamination, pro-longed droughts, climate change and plant diseases and their relationship to the phenomenon. The historical meteorological data available for the coastal areas, though not comprehensive just like the data for other parts of the country, shows a trend of a continuous decline in rainfall. The reduction of rainfall has been greatest in semi-arid regions and along the coast (Hemming, 1966). The effects of the rainfall deficits can be gleaned from the condition of the vegetation with the plants adapting to the harsh coastal environment and developing small leathery leaves and deep roots. Most plants are deciduous but some are evergreen (Balanites and Suaeda fruticosa) and they protect themselves from water loss by having small “waxy” green leaves. However, a succession of dry seasons may result in the disappearance of perennials and an increase of annual plants (Malte Sommerlatte and Abdi Umar (2000).
The environs of the Berbera area, have exhibited this problem as a result of heavy exploitation of plant resource, coupled with prolonged drought periods. Furthermore, while there is growing evidence on the progression of climate change effects in the Horn of Africa, like elsewhere in the world, the semi-arid Guban is receiving its share mainly in the form of extended periods of droughts resulting in decline of underground water levels, which is crucial to the survival of perennial trees under investigation.
Therefore, it can be argued that the ensuing water stress is a key factor in the high mortality rate of plants in the coastal area. In the search for an explanation to the widespread mortality of some perennials in the study area, this study has put more emphasis on climatic and anthropogenic aspects of the subject matter. Therefore, as a follow up to this study, an in-depth investigation of the impact of chemical contamination (even though localized within Berbera environs, the Airport area in particular), resulting from leakage and/or intentional spillage, is essential.
Finally, the continuous trend of the death of vegetation will definitely have a negative impact on the sustainability of the pastoral livelihoods in the future, as this will lead to a decline in browse foliage for livestock herds.