This ecoregion stretches along the coast of Somalia, through the regions of Somaliland and Puntland, from the Shimbiris Mountain east of Hargeysa through the northern mountains of Somalia to Raas Caseyr, covering the very tip of the Horn of Africa, and continuing some 300 kilometers south along the Somali coastal plain. Elevations range from sea level to the summit of Shimbiris at 2,416 m, the highest point in Somalia. There are also extensive coastal plains and sizeable mountain escarpments with areas higher than 1,500 m. The Somali Montane Xeric Woodland ecoregion runs around the Horn of Africa, including a number of higher montane areas close to the sea. Although classified as part of the Somali-Masai regional center of endemism this area also contains remnant plant species linking it to Mediterranean, Macaronesian and Afromontane regions. It has served as a refuge for arid and semi-arid relict elements from these different regions. This ecoregion includes the highest point in Somalia and has the highest amount of rainfall in Somalia. At least ten species of plants, and six species of vertebrate animals are endemic to the ecoregion. The habitats are fairly intact due to the low human population and the inaccessibility of the escarpment and plateau areas, but populations of larger mammals have been greatly reduced by hunting. However, the difficult topography and long-running political problems mean that much of the region is unexplored biologically (WWF and IUCN 1994). The vegetation of this ecoregion varies due to elevation, rainfall, and soil or rock types. At lower elevations, xerosols and yermosols have developed, particularly on the lowland coastal plains bordering the Indian Ocean. Here, there is little to no vegetation in this desert to semi-desert habitat. In subcoastal areas woody vegetation becomes denser with dominant species from the genera Acacia, Commiphora, and Boswellia (WWF and IUCN 1994). Along the sides of the escarpment Macchia-like evergreen and semi-evergreen scrub occurs with species such as Dracaena schizantha, Cadia purpea, Buxus hildebrandtii, and Pistacia aethiopica, while remnants of Juniperus forest grow at higher altitudes on the mountains (WWF and IUCN 1994, White 1983).
This ecoregion stretches along the coast of Somalia through the regions of Somaliland and Puntland from the Shimbiris Mountain east of Hargeysa through the northern mountains of Somalia to Raas Caseyr, covering the very tip of the Horn of Africa, and continuing some 300 kilometers south along the Somali coastal plain. Elevations range from sea level to the summit of Shimbiris at 2,416 m, the highest point in Somalia (WWF and IUCN 1994). There are also extensive coastal plains and sizeable mountain escarpments with areas higher than 1,500 m. As a result, some authorities (e.g. Friis 1992) consider these mountain areas to be biogeographic extensions of the Ethiopian highlands. The climate is hot and dry, with considerable seasonal temperature variations. Mean temperatures range from 21°C to 30°C in the lowlands to 9°C to 21°C in the mountains. The mean rainfall of the low-lying areas is less than 200 mm annually, though it is presumably far greater at higher elevations, and falls mainly during the winter months. The escarpment near Maydh receives the most rainfall in Somalia, over 700 mm each year. Deserts and xeric shrublands is a biome characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture.[1] Deserts and xeric shrublands receive an annual average rainfall of ten inches or less, and have an arid or hyperarid climate, characterized by a strong moisture deficit, where annual potential loss of moisture from evapotranspiration well exceeds the moisture received as rainfall. Deserts and xeric shrublands occur in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate regions. Desert soils tend to be sandy or rocky, and low in organic materials. Saline or alkaline soils are common. Plants and animals in deserts and xeric shrublands are adapted to low moisture conditions. Hyperarid regions are mostly devoid of vegetation and animal life, and include rocky deserts and sand dunes. Vegetation in arid climate regions can include sparse grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands. Plants adapted to arid climates are called xerophytes, and include succulent plants, geophytes, sclerophyll, and annual plants. Animals, including insects, reptiles, arachnids, birds and mammals, are frequently nocturnal to avoid moisture loss.
Biologically, a woodland is differentiated from a forest. In these terms, a forest has a largely-closed canopy -- in other words, the branches and foliage of trees interlock overhead to provide extensive and nearly continuous shade. A woodland, however, has a largely-open canopy, with sunlight penetrating between trees. Some types of woodland are essentially grasslands with shrubs and scattered trees. A woodlot is a closely-related term, referring generally to a small area of woods left remaining in a farm or other non-forest matrix, and reserved for wood production, generally for firewood. While these woodlots often technically have closed canopies, they are usually so small that the edge penetration is such that they are ecologically more woodland than forest. Ecologically, a woodland is an area covered in trees, usually at low density, forming an open habitat, allowing sunlight to penetrate between the trees, and limiting shade. Woodland may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of primary or secondary succession. Higher densities and areas of trees, with largely closed canopy provide extensive and nearly continuous shade are referred to as forest. Woodland is used in British woodland management to mean any smaller area covered in trees, however dense. (Forest is usually used in the British Isles only for more extensive wooded areas, again however dense – and also including Royal forests, which may not be wooded at all). The term Ancient Woodland is used in British nature conservation to refer to any wooded land that has existed for a very long period (equivalent to the American term old growth forest). Mediterranean eucalypt forest in Australia. Woodlot is a closely-related American term, which refers to a stand of trees generally used for firewood. While woodlots often technically have closed canopies, they are so small that light penetration from the edge makes them ecologically closer to woodland than forest.
