SANA'A, July 08 (Saba)- The World Heritage Committee, meeting for its 32nd session, added new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List including Socotra Archipelago.

The archipelago is in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden, is 250 km long and comprises four islands and two rocky islets which appear as a prolongation of the Horn of Africa.

The site is of universal importance because of its biodiversity with rich and distinct flora and fauna: 37% of Socotra's 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail
species do not occur anywhere else in the world.

The site also supports globally significant populations of land and sea birds (192 bird species, 44 of which breed on the islands while 85 are regular migrants), including a number of threatened species.

The marine life of Socotra is also very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of  crab, lobster and shrimp. It its weekly meeting, the cabinet
appreciated the decision, considering it as honor for the Republic of Yemen.

AH