evidence: Location and Values: The Socotra Archipelago is located about 250 km from the Horn of Africa, at the junction of the Western Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is a small group of four islands and two rocky islets, set in a diverse marine environment of coral reefs, rocky shorelines and open ocean. It has been termed the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’ on account of its extraordinary plants and other biodiversity, found nowhere else on Earth. Two thirds of the world heritage area is terrestrial with one third of it covering coastal-marine areas and reefs. It is configured as a serial site with 12 separate terrestrial areas and 25 marine sanctuaries. The main island of Socotra (approximately 135 x 33 km in size) has three rapidly-developing settlements and much of its land is used for domestic stock grazing. Nevertheless 73% of the island’s land and 50% of its coastal/marine areas (stretching 3-4 km offshore) is included within the world heritage site. All the terrestrial areas of the other islands and most of the near-shore marine areas also fall within the site.