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The main landforms in the biosphere reserve are indicative of the Hajar Mountains and include Mountain ranges, wadi systems, and alluvial plains. The area's characteristic geology has created a unique hydrogeological system that allows run-off water to emerge as springs at contacts between impermeable and permeable rock layers in several wadis. All the nine different freshwater habitat types found here, ranging from riffle and stream to waterfall, are spring-fed with water flows alternating between underground and surface. The mountain ranges are representative of the Hajar Mountains in their desert montane attributes and are dry with little to no soil structure as a consequence of high erosion rates and house a light splattering of native trees and shrubs. That being said they provide the right kind of habitat for Arabian leopards and Arabian Tahr that were last seen in the wild in the area. The wadi systems on the other hand are relatively green and where permanent water is present they give way to veins of lush green vegetation that permeates this dry barren landscape. The majority of the biodiversity is found in these wadis as they provide not only the water and food the fauna need, but they are also the corridors through which they navigate their way through the area. The alluvial plains are areas where some sedimentation does occur allowing for some plant growth, and after winter rains they tum into grazing hotspots as grasses cover these areas sometimes overnight.The only record of the Bloody Darter dragonfly (Crocothemis sanguinolenta) for UAE occurs in the park. Key flora include orchid (Epipactis veratrifolia) and wetland species such as typha. Other species include Garra barreimiae, Bar-tailed Semaphore Gecko (Pristurus celerrimus), Rock Semaphore Gecko (Pristurus rupestris'), Omani Carpet Viper (Echis omanensis), Blue-tailed Lizard, (Omanosaura cyanura), Arabian Toad (Bufo arabicus), Arabian Tahr (Arabitragus jayakari), Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitz) and the Blanford’s Fox (Vulpes cana). 74 terrestrial invertebrate families are identified including Odonata (dragonflies), Coleoptera (beetles), Hemiptera (bugs), Odonata (dragonflies), Trichoptera (caddisflies), Platyhelminthes (flatworms), Nematodes (roundworms), Annelids (segmented worms), and Gastropoda (molluscs).