Kuwait has a flat landscape with numerous valleys that mostly slope towards the northeast. It has a coastline stretching about 660 kilometers (410 miles), including nine islands offshore. Kuwait Bay is significant for nurturing fish and shrimp larvae. Despite its small size, Kuwait displays nine different landforms like mud flats and gravel plains, and four types of desert environments such as sand dunes and salt depressions. The interior consists of gravel plains with vegetation like herbs and shrubs.

Wadi Al Batin Valley along the western border with Iraq is a notable feature. Mud flats in the south are saline and rich in biodiversity, serving as a vital stopover for birds. They are home to unique species like the Kuwaiti Lobster.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	52.43	131	N/A
Land Management	51	106	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	68	82	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	42	110	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	45	125	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	15	58	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)
Sustainable Pesticide Use	61	49	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	67	54	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	96	3	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	63	73	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	33	168	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	97	47	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	63	1	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	71	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	85	133	N/A
Capacity and Governance	66	64	N/A
Total Management Cost	90	119	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	38	119	N/A
Conservation Legislation	77	6	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	50	63	N/A
Control of Corruption	52	64	N/A
Government Effectiveness	52	68	N/A
Future Trends	25	168	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	25	168	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

In recent years, Kuwait has implemented significant measures to protect and rehabilitate its biodiversity, establishing nature reserves and undertaking targeted conservation efforts. Covering around 10% of the country’s total area, these reserves serve as protected spaces for various species, including migratory birds, desert wildlife, and native plants. The government plans to expand this coverage to 20% in the future, underscoring its commitment to preserving Kuwait’s natural heritage. These reserves have proven effective in conserving biodiversity, providing essential habitats for migratory birds and offering refuge for small desert animals. Additionally, they serve as valuable research sites, enabling scientists to study Kuwait’s unique ecosystems and develop effective conservation strategies and rehabilitation programs.

Threats to Biodiversity

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 resulted in one of the most devastating disasters for the country’s fragile ecosystems, marked by the bombing of over 700 oil wells and subsequent oil spills in marine and land environments, as well as air pollution from burning fires and military activities. This led to widespread contamination of soil and land, causing devastation to vegetation and wildlife, with ongoing environmental investigations by the government. Additionally, factors like overgrazing, human activities, urban development, and infrastructure projects have accelerated land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Coastal ecosystems are under threat from artificial island construction and harbors, while marine biodiversity faces challenges from overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution from various sources such as wastewater, industrial activities, and oil exports, resulting in significant incidents of fish mortality.

Capacity and Governance

Kuwait faces obstacles in implementing biodiversity conservation measures, including a lack of coordination between government agencies and NGOs, shortages of specialists for plant and marine organism protection, and inadequate legislation enforcement and budget allocation. The country aims to enhance coordination among relevant bodies such as the Environment Public Authority, Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR), Kuwait University, and NGOs like the Environment Protection Society and Voluntary Work Centre. PAAFR, tasked with establishing national parks and combating desertification, collaborates with other authorities to execute conservation plans effectively.

Future Trends

Kuwait is deeply committed to achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning its national development plans to create inclusive, secure, and sustainable living environments. Through established committees and organizations, Kuwait drives sustainable change by fostering awareness and executing initiatives supporting the SDGs. A key focus lies in developing sustainable cities and human settlements, integrating environmentally conscious practices into urban planning and infrastructure to create inclusive communities.

Notably, Kuwait emphasizes sustainable social housing, employing green building techniques and renewable energy sources to provide affordable, environmentally responsible housing options. This commitment extends to fostering inclusive communities, ensuring equal access to opportunities and services for all residents, fostering a fair and supportive society.

Biodiversity

Kuwait’s ecosystem is an incredible and unique environment characterized by extreme heat and aridity. The flora and fauna of this region have adapted to the harsh conditions, making them particularly fascinating. Some of the distinctive plant species found in Kuwait include the beautiful desert hyacinth, the hardy desert oleander, and the striking desert iris. These plants have adapted to conserve water, reduce evaporation, and survive in the challenging environment.

The fauna of Kuwait is equally impressive, with several species of reptiles and birds calling this region home. The desert monitor lizard and the Arabian toad-headed agama are some of the reptiles found in Kuwait. The country is also home to several bird species, including the melodious desert lark and the elegant Arabian partridge. Additionally, the Persian gazelle is one of the few native mammal species found in Kuwait.

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 Kuwait only):