Ancient Egyptian Palm Trees

Faces Extinction
Environmentalists have called for urgent action to save the last 400 argun palm trees, a rare
desert palm tree highly valued by the ancient Egyptians
In the remote regions of Sudan and Egypt the argun palm tree- a rare desert tree whose fruit was
discovered by archaeologists in Pharaoh tombs- grows under a harsh sun. Less than 400 trees is all that
remains of the species which environmentalists say is now in critical danger of extinction. Although the
desert palm tree has managed to survive the passage of time and outlive the Pharaohs, ecological
experts say that human activity such as over-exploitation and climate change is putting the prized palm
tree in serious danger.
Argun Palm Population Under Threat
According to a report by IPS News, the argun palm tree was frst recorded by archaeologists who found
its dried fruit amongst the gold and oferings recovered from the tombs of Pharaohs. However, it was
assumed that the palm tree had died of with the Pharaohs until a German naturalist, Prince Paul
Wilhelm von Wurttemburg stumbled across the species in the wilds of northern Sudan in 1837.
Comprehensive surveys done over the last two decades recorded only 40 argun palms in Egypt and
several hundred in northern Sudan.
In Egypt, desertifcation has taken its toll on the species whilst the palm trees in Sudan are at risk of
over-exploitation by the local tribes who use the trees to make rope, mats and baskets. Professor of
plant ecology Irina Springuel told IPS, The argun palm survives, but its population is under heavy
pressure. Unless protected, the species could disappear and this time for good. The argun palm tree
is currently listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nation Red List
of Threatened Species.
Growing Threat of Human Activity
Mahmoud Hasseb, director of the Egyptian Environmental Afairs Agency (EEAA) of South Area
Protectorates, told IPS that the growing level of human activity in regions where the argun grows in
Egypt could also have a potentially devastating afect on the palm trees. Hasseb added that they were
currently assessing the possibility of seeking protected status for the regions to limit the risk that a
careless fre by a visitor or hunter would destroy the entire species. For several years weve seen
evidence of tourists and hunters visiting this area, he told IPS. When we visited in 2009, we collected
the bones of dead gazelles and found dozens of palm trees had been burned. It became clear that this
ecosystem was at risk.
This report is one of many similar cases highlighting the danger of extinction for various species in the
Middle East including: concerns about sharks in Kuwait and the Persian Gulf, as well as the dragon
blood tree in the Socotra in Yemen. Whilst these may appear to demonstrate the dangerous situation
much of fora and fauna face in the MENA region, these calls for urgent action also demonstrate an
awareness of the seriousness of the situation and willingness to take action.