Socotra Archipelago Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2003, in Yemen. The Socotra Archipelago is located off the Horn of Africa, at the crossroads between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is recognized as a regional centre of biodiversity, with spectacular endemic species such as the dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari). Socotra has a rich cultural heritage, including the unique Soqotri language. Isolated from the rest of the world, traditional land and sea uses changed little until the 1970s.