In the years following the 1967 expedition Soqotra remained effectively closed to botanical exploration until the mid 1980s. The geographical and biological departments of the University of Aden sent a scientific mission to the island in 1982 but apart from this there was no activity indeed, because of the pessimistic reports by the 1967 expedition, it was generally believed that the vegetation had been decimated by the unrestrained cutting of trees and the vast, uncontrolled flocks of goats which were being allowed to roam freely over the island (Lucas et al. 1978; Koopowitz, H et al. 1990).

This impression was questioned by Quentin Cronk, a botanist from Cambridge University, who made a short visit to the island in 1985 who thought that the vegetation had changed little, if at al, since Balfour's pioneering work in 1880. Since Cronk's visit a series of expeditions to the Soqotran archipelago has been undertaken by staff from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Research and Extension department of the Yemen Ministry of Agriculture and Luigi Guarino of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources. These have undertaken detailed floristic surveys of all parts of Soqotra and now allow a detailed description of the flora and vegetation of the island to be made.

Vegetation

In general the islands of the Soqotran Archipelago are sparsely vegetated and dominated by xeromorphic life-forms. The development of the vegetation is strongly influenced by the desiccating winds which sweep the islands in summer and in consequence only in sheltered valleys and in the high mountains does relatively luxuriant vegetation develop. In general the exposed summits of the limestone plateau are covered with sparse shrubland or low woody-herb communities with more luxuriant vegetation developing on cliffs and in gullies. The coastal plains are largely sub-desertic with open shrubland or in some areas more or less devoid of vegetation. There are several distinctive vegetation formations on Soqotra particularly with respect to their physiognomy and structure. Perhaps the most famous, because of its often bizarre appearance, is the shrubland, dominated by tree succulents such as Dendrosicyos Soqotranus, Adenium obesum ssp sokotranum and Euphorbia arbuscula. This occurs mainly on the foothills of the mountains and the limestone escarpments and is the vegetation type for which Soqotra is most renowned. Another unique vegetation formation is the evergreen woodland dominated by the dragon's blood tree, Dracaena cinnabari, commented upon by White (1983) as the most "singular community on Soqotra". The finest examples of this are found on the higher slopes of the limestone mountains, particularly in the centre and east of the island.

The vegetation of Abd al-Kuri, Semha and Darsa has not been fully surveyed but is generally dominated by low woody-herb communities with woodland absent and shrubland restricted to a few, sheltered places.