Landscape Planning Studio
SUITABILITY ANALYSIS
threats
TO THE ENVIRONMENT
NATURAL PRESERVATION
The first suitability has been mapped for the areas considered primarily and secondarily suitable for natural conservation. The suitability analysis included 10 layers, some layers lead to the areas in desperate need of protection, while some man-made related layers have been added to be excluded from protection.
Elevation is a main factor in the survival of the endemic rare species on the highlands of the granite pluton, and the basins of Wadi Turubah.
The geology of our study area holds major credit for the biodiversity of the area, and for its uniqueness. And thus, we were concerned with the conservation of the rare geological features. Weighing Method: By selection Weight: 9%
Wadi Turubah is qualified as an Important Plant Area, while Jabal Batharah's summit region is a dwelling of large and plenty occurring ecosystems and life cycles that have been prospering since millions of years. The woodlands in the upper slopes of dense Juniper-Olea trees is one large habitat to many key taxa, all of which are desperate for protection. Weighing Method: Exclusion by distance Weight: 22.7%
Jabal Batharah's peaks and pinnacles are indeed worthy of protection from vandalism, deconstruction, and/or other negative impacts. Along with other major elevated ones, these peaks have a cultural and scenic value to them. Weighing Method: Distance Buffer Weight: 6%
The prosperity of the area depends largely on rainfed farming behind the escarpment in the wide valleys of Wadi Aradah, Wadi Mahwah, and Wadi as-Sahilah. These farmlands along with others adjacent to Wadi Turubah az-Zahran have been excluded from the natural conservation suitability. Weighing Method: By selection Weight: 3.4%
Since the construction of the scenic route (left side) almost three decades ago, a lot of disturbance to the migratory animal species has come with it, especially to those who travel between the escarpment and Jabal Batharah. As it literally divides the migration route, we have excluded the main roads from the suitability. Weighing Method: Distance Buffer Weight: 4.6%
The existing buildings have been added to this suitability to be excluded from the suitable locations for natural protection, as the construction and the existence of these buildings has most definitely disturbed the pristine nature of the environment. Weighing Method: Distance Buffer Weight: 5.2%
Fertile farm soils are abundant in our area, as well as wadi soils and granite derived soils, which all need protection from extraction for agricultural purposed elsewhere. Weighing Method: By selection Weight: 7%
With a watershed of over 7,000 square kilometers and 9% of the country’s internal drainage, Wadi Turabah is one of the most important watercourses in the Kingdom and extremely worthy of protection to proceed with its ecological function, and prevent further degradation of it, and its adjacent wadis. Weighing Method: By selection & Distance Buffer Weight: 14.3%
CULTURAL CONSERVATION
The vernacular landscape of the study area, especially Bani Malik's, is an outstanding representation of the local people's attitude towards resource use as they literally shaped the landscape. The montane terraces and farmlands, the abandoned village of Widd and the trail leading to it as a perfect example of just that, and are indeed worthy of conservation!
CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Bjilah settled in these homes until the war between its abdomens has ignited and a large number of its children had been killed, they had to evacuate their homes and dispersed in the tribes of the Arabs. Bjilah's most familiar tribes currently live in Saudi Arabia, those being Bano Qasr (Bano Malik) in Tihama Adham, and in the Sarawat Mountains, to the south of Al-Taif (Bano Bjalah).
The novels say that there was a misunderstanding between the tribes of Bani Makhshi of the sons of Malik and the tribes of Zahran, where the Zahran tribes were equipped to invade Bani Malik. There was a woman from the sons of Malik married to a man from Zahran, and as she heard the news of the invasion, the next morning she went and informed Bani Malik that the date of the invasion will be within a few weeks as they had to prepare for the invasion.
Antique wells built by both tribes have been included in this suitability to be preserved, as the ones with water are vital for the current dwellers, while deteriorated ones have an interesting mechanism and a scenic quality to it.
The most attractive expedition on the mountain is reached via the rough track to the hamlet of 'Adhir where cars are parked. From there, the path climbs up 120 meters of bouldery hillside in 1.5 kilometers to meadows and on to the abandoned village of Widd. This is still a functioning camel trail, with steep though manageable steps, bordered by lavender, up to the rocky densely vegetated slope.
Elevations have been included in the cultural heritage preservation, as the physio-graphic features of the study area are what shaped the land-use management and the initial settlement of the people.
Himahs are natural reserves usually put aside for the sustainable use of resources (timber, water, etc.) managed by tribal families or groups. The use of himahs was abolished by the Ministry of Justice some 50 years ago, and these can no longer be defended against intrusion, although several are claimed to still be functioning, which is why we have included the himah lands in this suitability.
In the area including Jabal Shumrukh and its adjacent remote ridges and valleys, King Salman's Montane Training Military Campground exists. It is excluded as it is an ideal mountainous location selected for the joint military training of Saudi and French soldiers.
The highest peaks and pinnacles of the study area all have a cultural value to them, as they all have local names to them, which the local people would often use to describe a certain location precisely. However, the elder locals are the only remaining people with the knowledge of these peaks true ancestral names, and they fear that these names would either be mistaken, or completely forgotten.
Excavation and mining projects under construction are concentrated on the easternmost and southernmost sides of the study area. These areas are excluded from the cultural heritage suitability.
URBAN GROWTH
The third suitability is to manage the urban growth in the study area, as civilization is and will constantly approach the pristine nature if management has not been made. The following suitability analysis is to locate the most suitable land for any future permanent development to be made.
The existing buildings are used in this suitability to avoid urban growth in pristine natural areas, as new buildings are to exist within the boundaries of existing villages.
The terraces of the area give the true identity of the rural area as a whole. They reflect the cultural vernacular landscape that has been thriving for hundreds of years, which is why urban growth is prohibited on these outstanding lands. However, a view on these terraces is indeed encouraged for future buildings.
Urban growth on Jabal Batharah's monzogranite pluton and the wadi's alluvial deposits are discouraged as they are of great geological value.
Habitats of the key taxa of our study area are distributed among the study area. Thus, the buffer of 500 meters covers the entire map.
Urban growth in the premises of the military campgrounds has been prohibited.
Urban growth in the premises of the excavation or mining areas has been prohibited.
Secondary roads, as well as main roads, have been included to make sure that the most suitable locations for urban growth may be accessed by cars, and that the ones that are not are the least suitable.
A distance buffer was made around the natural vegetation of the study area. The areas most suitable are those that lie barren of vegetation as cutting down of trees can not be tolerated.
Click on the link below to view the suitability analysis on a map story!