Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, Djibouti to the southeast, and the Red Sea to the northeast. Its strategic location along the Red Sea coast has shaped its history and economy significantly, making it a hub for maritime trade routes. Its landscape is incredibly varied, ranging from the arid desert plains in the western lowlands to the fertile highlands in the central region. The eastern part of the country features a long coastline along the Red Sea, which is renowned for its spectacular coral reefs and diverse marine life. The Dahlak Archipelago, a group of over 100 islands, is also part of Eritrea and is known for its pristine beaches and the historical and archaeological riches it houses.

Eritrea’s varied ecosystems support a wide range of biodiversity. In the highlands, you will find species that are well-adapted to cooler temperatures, including various indigenous plants and animals. The western lowlands and coastal areas, being more arid, support species that can tolerate dry conditions. Eritrea’s marine biodiversity is particularly notable, with the Red Sea being one of the most biologically diverse sea areas on earth, home to hundreds of fish species, corals, and other marine life.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	52.3	132	N/A
Land Management	57	73	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	47	121	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	28	157	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	59	73	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	63	21	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	16	154	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	83	16	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	68	45	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	93	28	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	72	31	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	71	139	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	96	55	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	52	14	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	29	22	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	40	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	99	19	N/A
Capacity and Governance	47	174	N/A
Total Management Cost	79	152	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	9	179	N/A
Conservation Legislation	53	36	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	30	124	N/A
Control of Corruption	24	165	N/A
Government Effectiveness	16	169	N/A
Future Trends	38	111	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	38	111	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Although Eritrea lacks officially designated protected areas, certain regions are earmarked for conservation through governmental directives, encompassing 5,936 km² (2,292 mi²) of land; however, there are currently no marine protected zones. These designated areas in Eritrea comprise national parks, marine reserves, habitat and species management zones, and sustainable resource utilization zones, among others. Financial backing is allocated annually to individual protected areas in Eritrea to facilitate the implementation of management strategies and the preservation of key species.

Threats to Biodiversity

Eritrea’s ecosystems face various threats including land degradation, deforestation, erratic rainfall patterns, and land use changes, as reported in its 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the Marine and Coastal areas, human activities like fishing, moderate pollution, and coastal developments pose risks to rare, endangered, and threatened species, with coral reefs particularly vulnerable to periodic high temperatures causing bleaching.

Terrestrial environments encounter deforestation, overgrazing, invasive species, and habitat transformation, mainly due to agricultural expansion, woodlands clearing, and urban growth. Agricultural biodiversity is pressured by climate change, altering rainfall patterns, and the adoption of new crop varieties, potentially leading to the extinction of local landraces. Additionally, local livestock breeds face threats from drought and insufficient management practices in certain regions.

Capacity and Governance

Eritrea has embedded environmental concerns into various sectoral and national policies, with legal frameworks governing agriculture, forestry, marine affairs, transportation, mining, tourism, water management, and education. Recent policies include drafts like the Forest and Wildlife Policy (2005) and the National Tourism Development Plan (2000-2020). Conservation funding primarily comes from the government treasury, with support from international organizations and smaller NGOs.

Biodiversity considerations are mainstreamed into various sectors, recognized in key policy documents like the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2004). The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to integrating biodiversity conservation into agricultural policies, while regulatory measures ensure environmental protection in port management and energy and mining operations. Additionally, the Tourism Development Policy addresses potential environmental impacts of tourism activities, and environmental education is integrated into school curricula.

Future Trends

The Revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for Eritrea outlines objectives across three key ecosystems. Firstly, in terrestrial biodiversity, the aim is to rehabilitate degraded terrestrial ecosystems through natural succession, protected area establishment and management, and sustainable utilization of terrestrial biodiversity resources. Secondly, for coastal, marine, and island biodiversity, the objective is to conserve these ecosystems and manage human activities to promote sustainable development and optimal resource use. Finally, in agro-biodiversity, the focus is on conserving and sustainably using agrobiodiversity resources for food security, income generation, and agriculture, while ensuring equitable distribution of benefits derived from national agro-biodiversity resources.

Biodiversity

Eritrea supports a wide array of flora and fauna adapted to its diverse environments, from arid deserts to fertile highlands and extensive coastal areas. The coastal region along the Red Sea is particularly noteworthy for its marine biodiversity. The Dahlak Archipelago, consisting of over 200 islands, is a hotspot for marine life. The clear, warm waters are home to vibrant coral reefs, which support a multitude of fish species, sea turtles, and marine invertebrates. These reefs are vital for the health of the marine ecosystem and provide a habitat for species such as the dugong and various types of dolphins. The mangroves along the coast also play a crucial role in supporting marine and bird life, offering breeding grounds and shelter.

The western lowlands and the eastern escarpments of Eritrea present yet another set of ecosystems. These areas, with their savanna and semi-desert environments, support species like the African elephant, greater kudu, and the critically endangered African wild dog. The seasonal rivers and waterholes in these regions are crucial for the survival of many species during the dry periods.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Eritrea only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	126 (#92)	15	11.9%
Birds	544 (#64)	22	4.0%
Reptiles	96 (#92)	7	7.3%	2	2.1%
Amphibians	17 (#112)			1	5.9%
Fishes	366 (#140)	30	8.2%	2	0.5%
Plants	1,576 (#160)	6	0.4%	107	6.8%