III.III.III. Nature based regeneration

In Socotra Island’s ecosystems, the role of thorny or poisonous shrubs as nurse plants in helping tree regeneration cannot be denied. This aspect of the project endeavours to investigate six (endemic) shrub species: Buxanthus pedicellatus, Cissus hamaderoensis, C. subaphylla, Cocculus balfouri, Lycium sokotranum, and Pulicaria stephanocarpa. The selection of these species is based on literature and our first-hand observations in the field. The quantification and assessment of the facilitating effects of these nurse species on the regeneration of trees was evaluated in the field, and the results were analysed (La Montagna et al., 2025). The results of this study show that there are “significant variations in species composition and functional traits between under-canopy and open-area plots”, but that this variation depends on the nurse shrub species.

Based on positive scientific results we established two trials, first near Diburak reforestation area, where we sown 10 Boswellia elongata seeds below every Lycium sokotranum shrubs, second near in Shata Qalansyia reforestation area, where Pulicaria stephanocarpa and Boswellia socotrana subsp. aspleniifolia have been used. This method seems to be very promising and feasible with lowest ratio of effort and money spent.