ID: 1945
Presenting Author: Damian Smith
Session: 622 - “Science isn’t just for scientists”: IA and advancing technical literacy
Status: pending
The ethnobotanical value of plants has been incorporated into the operationalised ESIA process within Red Sea Global, a lead developer in the Tihama region of Red Sea coast of KSA.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) conducted in arid ecosystems often focus on biophysical attributes while underrepresenting ecosystem services linked to cultural and traditional knowledge. The Red Sea Global (RSG) project, located within the ecologically and culturally distinctive Tihama region of Saudi Arabia, supports diverse arid-adapted flora with significant ethnobotanical value.
RSG operationalised the integration of ethnobotanical knowledge into its ESIAs, embedding culturally rooted understanding of arid-adapted flora within the assessment framework. Detailed baseline studies were undertaken to include native plant species, and to further assess their ecological functions. These studies served to further capture traditional knowledge associated with their use by Bedouin and coastal communities.
Integrating ethnobotanical data into environmental planning enhances biodiversity conservation by linking ecological science with cultural heritage. Species such as Salvadora persica, Acacia tortilis, Commiphora gileadensis, and Calotropis procera illustrate the intersection of environmental adaptation and long-standing human use for medicinal, spiritual, and practical purposes. Embedding these narratives within landscaping, habitat restoration, and interpretive design supports both ecological resilience and public engagement.
This presentation demonstrates how ethnobotanical concepts can be effectively incorporated into environmental assessment frameworks to strengthen communication between scientists, policymakers, and investors.
Damian Smith PhD is an ESIA practitioner with a strong interest in the social value of flora and in particular how this relates to development and the positive benefits that can be garnered from this.
Coauthor 1: Lutfiah Hammad