Conservation through utilization: a case study of the indigenous forage grasses of the Arabian Peninsula

In the Arabian Peninsula, rangeland biodiversity and animal production exist in a delicate balance. Increases in the small ruminant population has meant that the palatable indigenous plant species have been severely overgrazed. Exotic species are now being grown for fodder, however these use large volumes of irrigation water, and the practice is not sustainable.One approach to the conservation of biological diversity and the promotion of sustainable animal production is the conservation and utilization of these indigenous plant species. Seeds of three priority grasses have been collected, multiplied and evaluations for their water use efficiency and nutritive values made.