Page 155 - Arabian Studies (I)

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Man and Environment in Eastern Saudi Arabia 139

intensity of direct isolation and/or the periodic waterlogging
resulting from irrigation. Environmental conditions for nodulation
appear to be more favourable when insolation is reduced by shade
trees and/or controlled irrigation techniques practised, as for instance
at the experimental station at Qatlf.
In the second instance, the increase in area under cultivation and
the intensification of cropping practices, particularly horticulture, in
conjunction with the improvement in the transport network, has led
to an increase in the number of insect pests. In a survey of economic
pests carried out during 1962-3, Abu-Yaman (1966) lists
twenty-five species as occurring in Eastern Province. While this was
only a preliminary survey, Martin (1970), in a more detailed survey
over the period 1966-70, notes more than 36 species of insects
attacking vegetables in addition to numerous species of acarina,
nematodes and fungus diseases. Furthermore, there were more of
these pests recorded in the coastal oases such as Dammam — Qatff
than in the inland oasis of al-Hasa, reflecting the external origin of
the pests and their introduction into the country through port
localities.
Oasis society is thus faced with a complexity of man-environment
relationships that not only stem from the physical environment and
the traditional man-environment relationships but also additional
ones related to the impingement of modern technology. The latter
can cause major problems especially where little basic data are
i
known about the environment and, to overcome this, not only has a
resource survey covering all aspects of the physical environment
(soils, vegetation, water resources etc.) been completed for Eastern
Province but also major research centres have been established at
Hufuf (al-Hasa) and Qatlf.

Pastoralism

It is estimated that there are about 2.3 million sheep, 2.0 million
goats, 0.3 million cattle and 0.6 million camels in Saudi Arabia, a
large proportion of these grazing the 9 million hectares of range land.
Numbers and locations of these animals are variable, reflecting the
effects of local weather conditions affecting the quality of the
grazing. Currently, the livestock industry contributes comparatively
little to the gross national product of Saudi Arabia, but it is the
declared aim of the Government that it should contribute far more.
However, considerable concern is being expressed by the Bedouin as
lands
well as by scientists regarding the deterioration of the range
that has occurred.