This flagship species is fairly widespread but has a fragmented
distribution with different subpopulations showing varying
degrees of vigour: in the granite Haggeher mountains
(particularly in the centre and western parts) Dracaena
cinnabari is abundant at higher altitudes with populations
showing good age structure and active regeneration (particularly
in sheltered gullies and in the dense woodland amongst the
granite pinnacles); on the limestone plateaus adjacent to the
Haggeher (e.g., Firmihin) the woodland has a good age structure
but shows no sign of regeneration; on certain outlying sites on
the eastern limestone plateau (e.g., Hamadero) there are no
signs of regeneration except in places inaccessible to livestock
- these woodlands appear in good health but consist almost
entirely of mature trees; finally over large areas the tree is
absent except for small relict populations (Iksha) or as
isolated individuals (Qatariyah). It is likely that D. cinnabari
was, in the past, widely distributed over large pa