As chairman of the Somali Ecological Society (SES) I would like to welcome you to the SES Website. This was achieved in 1996 after 18 months of discussions.
I will introduce you to the work of SES, and to the environmental threats facing the Somali people. The Society was founded in 1983 as a non-political and non-profit making organisation and was the first local environmental NGO in the Somalia. The SES achievements prior to the outbreak of the civil was in 1991 included the following:
SES Structure
Establishment of Somalia’s first nature rese
rve. Support of the Somali Research project (University of London) to conduct a study of the remaining riverine forests of the Jubba valley. Participation in a survey of four potential wildlife reserve sites near Mogadishu. Establishment of a forum for scientists, and others in the field, to present and discuss findings in monthly open public meetings
In its early years the conservation efforts focussed upon identifying and protecting vegetation and wildlife habitats, which represent natural ecotypes of Somalia and Somaliland. The society undertook conservation projects, including the employment of staff, including reserve wardens for the Balcad Nature Reserve. In addition the Society sought to increase environmental awareness, and bring problems to the attention of planners and decision-makers. Click here for additional information about the SES, its aims and Objectives. Later following civil strife, founders and former members (many of them refugees in the UK who continued to have a deep concern for the state of the things in their beloved country) proposed to re-launch the SES in the UK. A first step was to re-establishing contacts with former SES members in Somalia/Somaliland. A new Management Committee was formed, and a new constitution has been drawn up with a clear set of objectives aimed at preserving the biological diversity of Somalia/Somaliland and promoting wise uses of natural resources, including forests, woodlands, wildlife, water and rangelands. The re-vitalised Society sent two fact-finding missions to Somalia and Somaliland in 1999, which reported a number of disturbing developments. This includes the plundering of natural resources, which current and future people depend on for their livelihood. Examples include:
Indiscriminate felling of trees as a result of an increased demand for wood-fuel. The illegal export of charcoal to the Guff States
Over-fishing and illegal fishing by foreign companies in Somali waters
Indiscriminate shooting and hunting of wildlife
Uncontrolled over-grazing by livestock
Erosion, wide spread threats of environmental degradation and desertification, and the possibility that many flora and fauna species face extinction
The above pose serious threats to the bio-diversity and the sustainable use of natural resources, and the social and economic re-development of the Somali people. Please feel free to browse our website. And if you feel that you would like to join / re-join the Society, and thereby support renewed conservation efforts in Somalia/Somaliland, please complete the membership application form and return it to our Membership Secretary. Please do not hesitate to send us your comments and suggestions,
Mohamoud Omer Sh. Ibrahim B.Sc (For), MA (Conservation)
--Chairman
09/05/2017
Wecome to Somali Ecological Society face book and we welcome your comments and suggestions
03/04/2017