title: An overview of wetlands of Saudi Arabia: Values, threats, and perspectives.
abstract: The wetlands of Saudi Arabia are located in a water-stressed region that is highly vulnerable to climate and other global changes. Sebkhas, mudflats, mangroves, and wadis are the dominant wetlands in the arid regions of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. These unique wetlands are recognized as a sanctuary for biodiversity and for their economic services generated from mineral extraction, agriculture, and grazing. Despite their ecological values and societal services, the long-term permanence of Saudi Arabia's wetlands faces strong challenges resulting from human activities associated with sustained population growth, habitat degradation, and coastal development. This paper consolidates a literature review of Saudi Arabia's wetlands from local to global importance, highlights their biodiversity, and identifies threats and evolution of these vulnerable ecosystems in the arid Arabian Peninsula by focusing on the status of key freshwater taxa (Odonata, freshwater fishes, amphibians, and waterbirds) and documenting changes affecting important wetlands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Obaid
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Conservation des Zones Humides, University of Guelma, Guelma, Algeria. bsamraoui@gmail.com.|Department of Biology, University of Annaba, Annaba, Algeria. bsamraoui@gmail.com.|Center of Excellence for Research in Biodiversity, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. bsamraoui@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Boudjéma
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0608-9021
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samraoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hamed A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Serehy
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.|Center of Excellence for Research in Biodiversity, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alfarhan
authors.affiliation: Senckenberg Research Institute, Entomology II, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: ERT Conservation, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1TP, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D063809:Satellite Imagery; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D053833:Wetlands
keywords: Conservation; Environment; Global changes; Management; Saudi Arabia; Sustainable use; Wetlands