Paper Details

PJB-2025-90

Review of the genus Acacia mill. and its allied genera in kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their conservation status

 

Abdalla A. Elfeel, Khalid A. Asiry, Refaat A. Abohassan, Naimah A. Alanazi and Ali K. Elsafori
Abstract

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The genus Acacia Mill. (s. lat.), a member of the Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae contains over 1500 known species. Recent molecular phylogenetic analysis has reclassified African Acacia into two genera: Vachellia and Senegalia. Within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Acacia communities, represent one of the largest forest communities. This paper provides a comprehensive analytical review of the classification, relocation to the new genera, distribution, multifaceted uses, and current conservation status of Acacia species in KSA. The genus naturally spans diverse biogeographical distribution across KSA, from flat dry forests to high mountainous regions like the Soudah mountains of Asir. Currently, approximately 14 known Acacia species, with about 10 species allocated to Vachellia (with globular inflorescences and true spines) and 4 to Senegalia (with spicate flowers and prickles). However, there is still a lack of precise information about the exact number of species, subspecies and varieties, taxonomic relations and their biogeographical distribution. The species of two genera offer substantial ecosystem services, including environmental protection, medicinal applications, desertification control, climate change mitigation, water catchment protection, and the provision of various wood and non-wood products. Significantly, Acacia (s. lat.) trees are positioned to play a pivotal role in achieving the ambitious Greening Saudi Initiative objectives, such as planting 10 billion trees. However, the conservation status of many species is unfortunately declining, primarily due to a complex array of forest disturbances. These include insect pests, such as bark beetles, seed borers, and desert locust (e.g., bark beetles alone caused over 21% damage to Acacia populations in Hail). Furthermore, invasive species like Prosopis juliflora, coupled with forest fires, human-induced disturbances, and the overarching impacts of climate change, exert heavy pressure on these vital forest ecosystems. To address these challenges and resolve the existing taxonomic ambiguities, this review strongly recommends further studies in phylogenetic analysis and conservation status.

 

To Cite this article: Elfeel, A.A., K.A. Asiry, R.A. Abohassan, N.A. Alanazi and A.K. Elsafori. 2026. Review of the genus Acacia mill. and its allied genera in kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their conservation status. Pak. J. Bot., 58(4): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-4(13)  
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