On the 15th July, Dr. Lawrence Ball delivered a talk at the British Omani Society, entitled Cloud Forest: the Social Drivers and Ecological Impacts of Pastoralism in the Dhofar Mountains of Oman.
The regionally endemic cloud forests of Dhofar have sustained camel, cattle, and goat pastoralism for millennia. In this research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Lawrence examines why rural communities in Dhofar continue to keep livestock despite rising husbandry costs, modernization, and social change. Extensive botanical surveys identified several previously undescribed forest variants and revealed the impacts of livestock pressure on vegetation structure and species composition. Drawing on methods from community ecology and geospatial science, Lawrence’s research highlights the fragility of Dhofar’s cloud forest which persists at the very edge of its ecological limits, vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation.
Dr Lawrence Ball is a conservation scientist with over 20 years’ experience in research and practice. He is Co-founder at the Dhofar Centre for Wildlife Research and a Visiting Researcher at the Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent. Lawrence’s research has primarily focused on biodiversity conservation in the Dhofar region of Oman, where he has documented the status of the endemic cloud forest and the challenges surrounding modern pastoralism and environmental sustainability. He is a British Exploring Society expedition leader, a Royal Geographical Society fellow, and an advocate for Conservation Evidence and Conservation Standards.
Q: Firstly, tell us about the Dhofar Centre for Wildlife Research. What is it?
The Dhofar Centre for Wildlife Research (DCWR) was established in 2025 by Hadi Al Hikmani and Lawrence Ball with a shared vision of strengthening wildlife conservation, ecological research, and environmental management across Oman and the wider Arabian Peninsula.
The Centre has three core areas of expertise. Firstly, we provide ecological consulting, supporting government agencies, NGOs and the private sector with scientific evidence to inform conservation and sustainable development. Secondly, we are developing the Dhofar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (DBMP), an ambitious long-term initiative to monitor the health of Dhofar's remarkable biodiversity. Finally, we seek to foster academic collaborations by bringing together researchers, universities and conservation practitioners to tackle important ecological questions.
Modern conservation increasingly relies on a diverse range of scientific skills, and we bring expertise in spatial ecology, ecological modelling, drone and satellite remote sensing, biodiversity monitoring, field surveys, wildlife genetics, data science and conservation technology. These approaches allow us to better understand ecosystems, identify emerging threats and support evidence-based decision-making.
However, conservation is about much more than science alone. We are equally passionate about public engagement, education and collaboration. Protecting biodiversity requires everyone to be part of the journey. Citizen science has become an incredibly valuable tool, with members of the public making important contributions simply by recording wildlife observations. Initiatives such as Bugs Matter and recording sightings through apps like iRecord demonstrate how anyone can help build our understanding of nature.
Q: Is your work focused solely on Dhofar?
Dhofar is where our journey begins, and it remains our primary focus because it is one of Arabia's most biologically rich and fascinating landscapes. However, our ambitions extend far beyond a single region.
Ultimately, we hope to support conservation projects across Oman and throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Wildlife and ecosystems do not recognise political boundaries, and many of the environmental challenges facing the region, including habitat loss, climate change and species conservation, are shared across countries. By working collaboratively across borders, we believe we can make a much greater contribution to conservation throughout Arabia.
Q: What are the Centre's main ambitions?
One of our most exciting initiatives is the Dhofar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (DBMP). This long-term programme will establish one of the most comprehensive biodiversity monitoring efforts ever undertaken in the region.
The programme will rotate between Dhofar's three major mountain ranges, building a continuous long-term dataset that will allow us to track changes in biodiversity over time. This information will help us understand the drivers of environmental change, identify emerging threats, evaluate conservation management and provide the scientific evidence needed to protect these unique ecosystems.
Along the way, we hope the programme will contribute to discovering species new to science, improving knowledge of poorly understood wildlife, supporting national and international Red List assessments, and generating research that informs conservation policy.
The DBMP will also operate an international field station, welcoming volunteers, university students, researchers, conservation professionals and wildlife rangers from Oman and around the world. By combining research, education and public participation, we hope to build a vibrant conservation community while generating valuable scientific knowledge.
Q: How can people get involved?
There are many ways to support the Centre.
If you are interested in volunteering, you can register your interest through our website at dhofarcwr.com/register, or contact us directly at info@dhofarcwr.com. We are aiming to begin operations at our field station in October 2027.
As we establish the Centre, we are also keen to hear from anyone who can offer technical expertise, specialist skills, equipment, collaborative opportunities or access to funding. Building an organisation like this is very much a collective effort, and we'd be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to help us on that journey.
Q: Finally, do you have a message for members of the British Omani Society?
We would like to thank the British Omani Society for its continued role in bringing people together and strengthening relationships between the UK and Oman. The Society has a long history of supporting education, research and cultural exchange, and we are excited to work closely with its members in the years ahead.
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Conservation succeeds through partnerships, and we look forward to building new collaborations that help protect Oman's extraordinary natural heritage for future generations.