The dragon blood tree, iconic to Socotra, struggles against climate change, invasive goats, and conflict. Protecting this rare tree is crucial for the island’s ecosystem and local communities.

Socotra, the island where the dragon's blood trees are located, is about 150 miles off the Horn of Africa. It is home to 825 plant species, and more than a third of them do not exist anywhere else ...

A dragon blood's tree sits above a canyon on the Yemeni island of Socotra on September 18, 2024. Annika Hammerschlag/AP A camel herder crosses the road on the Yemeni island of Socotra on September ...

The Yemeni island of Socotra was largely unspoiled, its few guests arriving to trade for aromatic frankincense. Now it is ...

Efforts to save the dragon’s blood tree began 27 years ago when Adeeb Abdullah, who is now in his 80s, started a plant nursery in the backyard of his home near Hadibu, a small coastal town on Socotra.

A dragon blood’s tree overlooks a natural infinity pool within Homhil Protected Area on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) By Associated Press ...

The dragon’s blood tree is now a symbol of the island and its unique flora." It noted that another popular legend is that the Queen of Sheba visited Socotra on her journey to meet King Solomon.

Climate Yemen Dragons Blood Trees (A dragon blood's tree sits above a canyon on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) ) ...

The dragon's blood tree, an umbrella-like tree that spreads across the landscape, is quite a famous site on the island and plays a huge part in giving the island an alien appearance.

Local inhabitants on Socotra Island also used the dragon's blood resin as a cure-all. The unique landscape is in part thanks to its semi-desert climate, with average temperatures of 25 degrees and ...

A dragon’s blood tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago. (Peter Martell / AFP via Getty Images) ...