Laas Geel's biodiversity
Laas Geel is the name of rock formations about 70 km northeast of Hargeisa that are known for the 4000-7000 yr. old rock art present in a few caves. The art has been preserved by the overhanging rock and the caves were not used for shelter because they were thought to be the home of evil jinns (spirits).
Why study Laas Geel's biodiversity?
In early 2019, Somaliland’s government built a fence around the cave area to protect the art from vandalism and the vegetation from grazing. These changes make the reserve a valuable area for teaching about and conducting research on the area’s biodiversity. We are developing inventories of the species present and preparing posters about the species present. These will be used to train local people as guides and as a source of information for visitors. All materials will be available, for free, in both English and Somali, from this website. The next step will be to record the relative abundance of the species present and compare these data with the surrounding area.
Plant diversity of Laas Geel
In August 2020, Somaliland’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism approved the Foundation’s proposal for developing information about Laas Geel’s plant diversity. In 2020, we determined basic data about the fenced area and conducted a satellite-based analysis of the area’s vegetation and started making collections. This was the first detailed floristic study in Somaliland for all those involved. At the end of the year, we had increased the number of species known from the reserve to 72 species. We are continuing to collect in the area, posting information about the species found to OpenHerbarium. We are also developing the posters and handouts promised in the proposal.
Animal diversity of Laas Geel
In late 2020, we asked Tomáš Mazuch and Osman Gedow, both of whom are knowledgeable and frequent visitors to Somaliland, to assist us in developing information about the animals that seen at Laas Geel. They both responded enthusiastically. Tomas also asked his colleagues at Charles University in the Czech Republic for information. The result is a list of 67 species that has been posted to OpenZooMuseum. It will undoubtedly grow as we continue to work in the area. Our goal is to develop image-documented records for most of the animal species present. These will be shared viaOpenZooMuseum.
Environmental change at Laas Geel
The fence enables the Laas Geel Reserve to serve as a long term-monitoring site. Satellite images (see image on left) give a general picture of the area. They show gross changes in the environment. Monitoring involves creating records of the abundance of the species present in areas that show up differently in satellite image plus soil, temperature, and precipitation data in these areas. In future, we hope to use drones to provide more detailed images than can be obtained from satellites. We plan to train local people to assist in recording and interpreting these data. Initiation of this activity has been delayed until there is better knowledge of the species present in the reserve area.