Important Plant Areas of the south.pdf.v9lnx39.pdf

Wafaa Amer

The Mediterranean region is one of the world’s great centres of plant diversity and its benign climates have attracted successive waves of civilisations, which have largely shaped our attitudes and ethics to the present day. Despite the effects of grazing, agriculture, deforestation, pollution, urbanisation and tourism, it has developed a wide array of plant landscapes. It is also one of the cradles of agriculture and a centre of origin and diversification of many of our crop species. Nowhere else on this planet has humankind been so closely and intimately linked to the environment. Plant diversity is essential for human survival and is the basis of all life on Earth. Through their unique ability to convert the sun’s energy into a useable form, plants provide us with food, fuel, fibre, oil, herbs and medicines, as well as fodder for domestic animals. Plants also provide the background structure of most of our terrestrial ecosystems and habitats for animals and fungi. They also play a key role in providing ecosystem services, such as climate moderation, maintenance of the ozone layer, carbon storage, watershed protection and stabilisation of slopes against erosion. Despite the undisputed importance of plantlife, conservation policies often neglect plant diversity in priority setting, and concrete strategies to ensure plant conservation are still insufficient to face the growing pressures. The reasons for this situation are complex, including not only sociological and political factors but also scientific and technical ones. Globally, most conservation biology research is undertaken on animal groups – notably birds and mammals – and ignores plants, and the same applies to conservation actions. Information on plants is often dispersed and fragmented, thus impeding rational decision making and priority setting. The aim of this publication is to provide a snapshot of existing knowledge of plant diversity in the south and east Mediterranean, and to propose strategies and actions that can be taken to enhance plant conservation in the region. Thanks to the joint efforts of more than 40 authors and dozens of contributors, it brings together in a single document an overview of existing knowledge on plant diversity, and provides concrete strategies for plant conservation, with local examples, that are applicable in the south and east Mediterranean region. It is aimed at helping conservation policy makers and a wide range of practitioners (such as land managers, non-governmental organisations, local communities and conservation agencies) to implement plant conservation programmes and initiatives in the region. It will also provide botanists, academics and amateurs with a rapid overview of plant knowledge in the area, as well as information on key resources and where to find them. The publication also highlights gaps in current policies and action plans and makes recommendations for remedying these deficiencies.

Abstract: A study was undertaken in 2010 to identify Important Plant Areas (Key Biodiversity Areas for Plants) in the south and east Mediterranean region, in order to prioritise the best sites for plant conservation action. It follows a first work of identification of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) initiated for Algeria and relates exclusively to the flora of northern Algeria. These IPAs were delineated in northern Algeria for those sites harbouring a number of “IPA selection species”(threatened species and locally endemic or restricted range).

This Special Issue provides an overview of the current status of plant conservation biology in Spain and other regions around the World. Papers represent selected outstanding presentations made during the 9th Congress of the Spanish Society of Plant Conservation Biology, which took place in Granada (Spain) on July 9-12, 2019. These papers cover different topics, all illustrating present trends in plant conservation biology. They highlight the important contribution of different approaches to plant conservation in the area. This special issue is dedicated to the memory of the Spanish botanist José Antonio Fernández Prieto (1950-2019).

Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region Priority sites for conservation Editors: E.A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region Priority sites for conservation Editors: E.A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin 4 SECTION 1 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or other participating organizations, concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily relect those of IUCN or other participating organizations. For improved readability the Occupied Palestinian Territories will be referred to in the text as Palestine. Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Málaga, Spain Design and layout Factor Ñ Copyright © 2011 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Cover picture Matthiola longipetala Tallouine, South-West Morocco © Bob Gibbons/Natural Image Reproduction of this publication for educational or other noncommercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. All photographs used in this publication remain the property of the original copyright holder (see individual captions for details). Photographs should not be reproduced or used in other contexts without written permission from the copyright holder. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation Radford, E.A., Catullo, G. and Montmollin, B. de. (eds.) (2011). Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region: priority sites for conservation. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain. Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain: IUCN. VIII + 108 pp. Produced by IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation Printed by Solprint, Mijas (Málaga), Spain. Charts, maps and analysis Gianluca Catullo, Elizabeth A. Radford, Bertrand de Montmollin Available from IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation C/ Marie Curie 22 29590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain Tel: +34 952 028430 - Fax: +34 952 028145 www.iucn.org/publication ISBN 978-2-8317-1337-3 Plantlife International www.plantlife.org.uk/publications Legal deposit: Suggested Citation for country sections in Section III, for example Algeria: Yahi, N. and Benhouhou, S. 2010. Algeria pp 27-30 in: Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region: priority sites for conservation (eds E. A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin) This book is printed on ecological paper. SECTION 1 Edited by Radford, E.A Plantlife International, United Kingdom Catullo, G. WWF Mediterranean Programme Ofice – WWF Italy, Italy Montmollin, B. de IUCN, Switzerland Authors of country sections S. Rouz Banque Nationale de Gènes B. Jaziri Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des Humanités de Manouba M. Ouali Faculté des Sciences de Tunis M. Tarhouni Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine Algeria Chapter authors: Yahi, N Morocco Chapter authors: Taleb, M.S Fennane, M. Contributors: Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertiication Université Mohammed V-Agdal B. Haddane Conseiller régional de l’UICN pour l’Afrique M. Madbouhi Secrétariat d’Etat chargé de l’Eau et de l’Environnement H. Mesbah Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertiication M. Ribi Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertiication Tunisia Contributors Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumédiène, Bab Ezzouar Benhouhou, S. Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie, El Harrach G. de Belair Université d’Annaba R. Gharzouli Université Ferhat Abbas, Sétif E. Vela Université de Montpellier II, France Libya Chapter authors: El-Rtaib, F. Alfateh University Egypt Chapter authors: Shaltout, K. Tanta University Contributors: Eid E. M Kafr El-Sheikh University M. Kassas and H. Hosni Cairo University W. Amer and M. Fouda Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Chapter authors: Ghrabi Gammar, Z. Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie M. Zahran Mansoura University Contributors: A. Daoud-Bouattour Faculté des Sciences de Tunis M. El-Demerdash Mansoura University S. Ben Saad Liman Faculté des Sciences de Tunis A. Khedr Mansoura University I. Ben Haj Jilani Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Mateur A. El-Gazzar Suez Canal University H. Ferchichi-Ben Jamaa Faculté des Sciences de Tunis S. D. Muller Université de Montpellier II, France L. Rhazi Université de Rabat, Maroc H. El-Kady Tanta University A. M. Gammar Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des Humanités de Manouba A. Keshta Tanta University E. Véla Université de Montpellier II, France A. Chaabane Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tabarka M. Neffati Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine A. Fayed Assiut University S. Heneidy Assiut University M. El-Sheikh Alexandria University M. Sheded South Valley University B. Hatab Siwa Protectorate R. Rizk National Gene Bank T. Ahmed Wadi El-Gemal National Park H. Shabana and A. Shaltout Saint Katherine Protectorate 5 Israel Chapter authors: Shmida, A. D. Halawani Scientiic Museum, Al Quds University S. Khaseeb Biology Department, Arab American University Hebrew University of Jerusalem Pollak, G Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv E. Frankenberg Nature and Parks Authority N. Levin Hebrew University of Jerusalem N. Nisanholz Hebrew University of Jerusalem M. Walzcak Nature and Parks Authority Shater, Z. Tishreen University D. Rotem Nature and Parks Authority Al-Mahmoud, F UNDP project plant expert M. Zalutsky Ministry of Environmental Protection Karzon, S. University of Hohenheim Jordan Sanadiki, N. Retired: Damascus University Chapter authors: Al- Eisawi, D. Hamoudeh, R National Commission for Agricultural Scientiic Research Al-Hasan, A. Directorate of Agriculture in Idleb, Ministry of Agriculture Almasri, A National Commission for Biotechnology Darwich, A. E. State Ministry for Environmental Affairs Contributors: Syria Chapter authors: Hmidan, H. Lebanon Chapter authors: Yazbek M. IBSAR, American University of Beirut Syrian Society for Conservation of Wild Life Machaka-Houri N. IBSAR, American University of Beirut Al-Zein M.S. Lebanese American University, Beirut Sai S. Lebanese University Sinno N. Biology Dept, AUB Albania Talhouk, S.N.T. LDEM and IBSAR, AUB Chapter authors: Shuka, L. Tirana University Xhulaj, M. Tirana University Qirjo, M. Regional Evironment Center Albania R. Kapedani Regional Evironment Center Albania Occupied Palestinian Territories Chapter authors: Al Sheikh, B. Al Quds University Contributors: H. Tleeb Director of Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture T. Rabi Director of Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture Acknowledgements The preliminary identiication of Important Plant Areas in the south and east Mediterranean countries within this project has been supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) in their role as a major donor within the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). Contributors: IUCN, Plantlife and WWF are also very grateful for the assistance of Arantxa Cendoya, Dania Abdul Malak, Carla Danelutti, Marcos Valderrabano, Annabelle Cuttelod and Pedro Regato at the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation; Matthew Hall and Sabina Knees from the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh); and Vernon Heywood and Stephen Jury from the University of Reading in the realisation of this project. CONTENTS Message of support VII Executive summary 1 Recommendations 3 Section I: Scene setting 4 Context for the project 5 Important Plant Areas, government responsabillity and key conservation initiatives 7 Methodology summary 8 Section II: IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean 10 Plant species endemism on IPAs 13 Threats 14 Protection 17 IPAs and key biodiversity areas 18 Section III: Country reports 20 Morocco 22 Algeria 27 Tunisia 31 Libya 36 Egypt 40 Occupied Palestinian Territories 44 Israel 48 Lebanon 53 Jordan 58 Syria 59 Albania 65 Section IV: Restricted range species in the south and east Mediterranean region 70 Section V: Conclusions and Recommendations 76 Section VI: Appendices 82 1. Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria 82 2. IPAs identiied 86 3. North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted range species 88 8 SECTION 1 VII Message of support Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region The past decade has seen the growing international awareness about the vital role of biodiversity, supported by the scientiic community, NGOs and policy makers in both North and South. France has participated in raising awareness in this matter through international commitments, particularly since the Rio Summit in 1992. L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has since engaged actively in sustainable development, especially regarding the careful use of ecosystem and the conservation of biodiversity at large. Therefore since 1996, AFD has pledged nearly 600 millions Euros for biodiversity related projects. As one of the six funders of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund worldwide, and as a long standing supporter of development in the Mediterranean-Middle East region, AFD was very happy to contribute to the preparatory scientiic and strategic work for the protection of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. Being aware of the lack of uniied data relevant to the distribution and status of plants in the Mediterranean, essential for the deinition of conservation priorities, AFD funded the “Identiication of the important sites and habitats for plants in North Africa, the Middle East and Albania and their integration, along with Red Lists of the Mediterranean species, in the Ecosystem Proile of the CEPF”, developed by IUCN in 2009, in collaboration with Plantlife International and WWF. The results presented in this publication contributed to the “Ecosystem Proile for the Mediterranean region” – a strategic document used to prioritize the allocation of CEPF funds to conservation NGOs in the region for the period 2011-2015. Furthermore, AFD wishes that this publication be used to raise the proile of the conservation of the extraordinary lora of the Mediterranean region and to encourage further development of botanical knowledge. Gilles KLEITZ Biodiversity Programme Ofice. AFD Lake Mellah, Algeria © Samraoui. 10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Important Plant Areas (IPA) are internationally important sites for wild plants and fungi, identiied at national level using standard criteria. Initially developed to address the lack of focus on conserving plant diversity, IPAs provide a framework to assess the effectiveness of conservation activities for plants, and target sites for future action. They support existing conservation programmes such as protected area networks and the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The Mediterranean is an undisputed global biodiversity hotspot solely because of her huge plant diversity. Around 10% of the world’s vascular plants (25,000) are found in the Mediterranean Basin on less than 2% of the Earth’s surface and half of these species are found nowhere else on earth. Despite this, precise data on the distribution and status of plants are frequently insuficient, out of date or absent, particularly in the south and east of the region. This potentially results in the haphazard application of conservation action. This report describes a rapid assessment of Important Plant Areas in the south and east Mediterranean; a project designed to provide the ‘wild plant perspective’ for the regional investment strategy of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. The project partnership of IUCN, Plantlife International and WWF with botanical teams from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Albania, was supported by the French Development Agency. 207 IPAs have been identiied in the project countries bringing the total IPAs in the region to 888. Threatened and restricted species and habitats present on these sites have been recorded along with the threats affecting them. All Mediterranean habitats are represented: forest, maquis, garrigue, pasture, wetland, coast and the transition to the desert zone. 40% of IPAs identiied coincide with key biodiversity areas in the region; sites important for other taxa (mammals, birds, freshwater ish and amphibians). Middle atlas wheat crop and Consolida spp. © P. Regato [Left page] Holm oaks (Quercus ilex), and Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest in the Middle Atlas, Morocco © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon 1 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 75% of IPAs contain locally endemic species found only within one country; 60% contain very restricted species. ‘Mega endemic sites’ containing over 20 very restricted species can be found in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria and Libya. Overgrazing of pastoral lands is the most signiicant threat to the IPAs affecting 67% of sites. Deforestation (largely due to collecting irewood), tourism development, intensiication of arable farming and unsustainable collection of plants affect over one third of the IPAs analysed. The level of oficial protection for IPAs varies across the project countries from 0 – 80%. Though oficial protection of sites can be a helpful measure of conservation, evidence of management plans leading to biodiversity friendly land management is a better measure. Evidence of management plans for IPAs in the region is minimal. Lebanese endemic, Cousinia libnotica on Makmel IPA © N. Machaka-Houri A unique product of this project is the irst preliminary list of restricted range plant species for North Africa and the Middle East, which found that 1195 species occur within less than 5,000km2 and around 50% of these occur over less 100km2. Understanding the level of threat to these species will help target action against biodiversity loss. IPAs are not an optional extra and neither is their conservation. They support the livelihoods of many people and provide undervalued services such as water and lood control, carbon capture, the prevention of desertiication and a reservoir of genetic species and diversity; all critically important for the Mediterranean region. 10 recommendations have been developed to help direct the conservation of wild plants in the Mediterranean. Successful implementation of these will secure a sustainable future for the environment and inhabitants of this unique region; failure will condemn both to a poverty of natural resources and little or no resilience in the face of profound changes in climate. Orchis tridentata Abu Quies IPA. Syria © F. Al- Mahmoud RECOMMENDATIONS Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 3 RECOMMENDATIONS Conservation-focused investment in the south and east Mediterranean should seek to improve capacity across the whole ‘plant conservation skill set’. This is needed to: secure the basic botanical skills needed to identify plant species; enable mapping of the distribution and status (quality and integrity) of the lora and vegetation; undertake appropriate and targeted actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of plant species and habitats; and effectively advocate positive change to environmental policy and its implementation. IPA conservation IPA data REcOGNIsE Important Plant Areas as internationally signiicant priority sites for conservation in local, national and regional environmental policies and plans. ‘GROUNd–TRUTh’ the plant species and habitat data associated with IPAs through ieldwork (starting with priority IPAs named in this report) and ensure that IPA plant features are properly mapped. TARGET Important Plant Areas as priority sites for conservation action in the Mediterranean region. This will ensure that direct conservation action on priority plant sites can begin now, alongside the continued efforts to improve data. INcORPORATE IPAs (where appropriate) into protected area networks. UPdATE management plans for protected areas that contain IPAs to take account of new plant data presented and ensure effective implementation. Develop and implement management plans for IPAs where they do not exist (starting with top priority sites). ENsURE that Environment Impact Assessments are undertaken on development projects that affect IPAs and ensure their recommendations are enforced and monitored. TARGET IPAs for the implementation of sustainable forest management and agri-environment scheme and projects. ENcOURAGE communities whose livelihoods depend on plant resources to participate in IPA conservation planning activities (e.g. medicinal plant collectors, promoters of nature tourism, hunters, mountain guides). INvEsT in the provision of comprehensive and up to date information on plant and habitats species in the south and east Mediterranean, building on the work carried out in this project. This should include: • • • • A deinitive list of restricted range, endemic plant taxa for the Mediterranean with and accurate data on their distribution, abundance and importance to the local community. A regional IUCN Red List is for the Mediterranean (begin by focusing on restricted range species that are endemic to the region). National IUCN Red Lists for vascular plants for all south and east Mediterranean countries. A list of Mediterranean habitats and threatened habitats. ENAbLE the data associated with IPAs to be stored electronically (such as on the IPA database) so it can be updated easily via the web. 4 SECTION 1 SCENE SETTING Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 01 section Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SCENE SETTING SECTION 1 SCENE SETTING .Context for the project .Important Plant Areas, government responsibility and key conservation initiatives .Methodology summary .Criteria used for IPA selection in North Africa and Middle East countries using a rapid assessment of existing data context for the project Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are internationally signiicant sites for plant diversity – or more simply the best sites for plants. Identiied at national level, using internationally standardised criteria, they provide a framework for implementing target 5 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). IPAs are a vital tool for conserving wild plants and their habitats in situ, and the plant resources they contain support the livelihoods of many people. In addition IPAs provide essential ecosystem services: water sources, lood control, carbon capture, prevention of desertiication and a reservoir of genetic diversity. The Mediterranean basin is one of the world’s major centres of plant diversity, where 10% of the world’s higher plants can be found in an area representing 1.6% of the Earth’s surface (Médail and Quézel 1997). The huge lora of around 25,000 species has exceptionally high endemicity; approximately 13,000 species are found only within the Mediterranean region, hence its status as a global biodiversity hotspot. In 1999 Médail and Quézel identiied 10 ‘mini hotspots’ within the Mediterranean basin based on plant endemism and richness.1 These sites contain between 10 and 20% endemism. The majority of these are too large scale for focused site based action, but they represent areas/sub regions of immense importance for conservation. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the region as a global plant hotspot, precise data on the distribution and status of plants and habitats within many Mediterranean countries are frequently insuficient, out of date or absent. This is particularly true of countries in the south and east of the Mediterranean basin (North Africa and the Middle East sub regions). Without baseline data on the patterns of plant diversity it is dificult to 1 Madeira and Canary islands; High Atlas and Middle Atlas (Morocco); Baetic –Rifan complex (Spain, Morocco, Algeria); Tyrrhenian Islands (Sicily, Sardina and Corsica); Maritime and Ligurian alps, south and central Greece; Crete; south Anatolia and Cyprus; Syria, Lebanon and Israel, Mediterranean Cyrenaic (Libya). Campanula heirosolymthana A typical Levantine annual © O. Golan [Left page] Typical forest and grassland mosaic Mbas Deja Leva, Albania © REC Albania 5 6 SECTION 1 Middle Atlas mountains © L. Soderstrom SCENE SETTING Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation monitor the condition of this diversity or to target limited resources in the areas most in need of conservation with any certainty. An illustration of this is the poor representation of plants species from the project countries assessed for the IUCN Global Red List (176 species assessed by 2010), and few countries have an up-to-date national vascular plant red list or list of threatened plants. Plants and their habitats are under threat in the region, as are the livelihoods and ecosystem services that these plant resources support, but exactly where and by what? This report begins to answer those questions. It is the result of a 6 month project, which aimed to bring together existing data on internationally important sites for plant diversity (Important Plant Areas) in the south and east Mediterranean. The project was conceived to support the creation of an Ecosystem Proile for the Mediterranean region by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). It was important to ensure plant priorities were included in the Proile document, which outlines biodiversity priorities in the region and informs a ive year investment strategy for CEPF. This work on Important Plant Areas therefore provides a basis for conservation work and future research and on plants in the Mediterranean region. The project was funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) a major partner in the CEPF, and carried out in partnership by IUCN, Plantlife International and WWF with IPA country teams from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Albania. IPA teams within the other Mediterranean Balkan countries, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia FYR and Montenegro have already identiied IPAs (Radford and Odé, 2009; Anderson et al, 2005), as have teams in Turkey (Özhatay et al, 2003) and Italy (Blasi et al 2010 in press). Important Forest Areas have also been identiied by WWF and partners in some of the project countries with a strategy for their conservation (Regato, 2001). Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SCENE SETTING SECTION 1 Once IPAs are identiied the next phase is to undertake conservation of these sites, for example by: • promoting the biological importance of the sites; • using the information collated to inform site management ensuring IPAs remain diverse and intact; • building capacity by strengthening links between individuals and groups interested in and knowledgeable about these sites; • advocating policy change at national, regional and global level for the beneit of plants and their habitats on IPAs (and for the health of the wider landscape). • undertaking conservation action at local level with relevant stakeholders. Important Plant Areas, government responsibility and key conservation initiatives Important Plant Areas are designed to inform existing programmes and legislation and not to compete with them (IPA is not a legal designation). IPAs can add value to existing programmes by providing information on plants that is often lacking when valuable natural sites are prioritised for attention. Tulipa agenesis © F. Al- Mahmoud The conservation of important areas for plant diversity has been embedded within target 5 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Global strategy for Plant conservation (GsPc), 2002. Target 5 was updated at the CBD Conference of the Parties in 2010 to: At least 75 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected, with effective management in place for conserving plants and their genetic diversity. This Global Strategy recognises the importance of conserving plant diversity and contains sixteen targets in total. The Strategy has been endorsed by the 182 Parties which are signatories to the Convention, including the governments of all the countries represented in this project. The Strategy has galvanised botanical and conservation communities at global, regional and national levels, drawing together plant conservation projects and contacts to improve plant conservation. Plantlife International, with IUCN, is recognised as a facilitating organisation for target 5, and the methodology associated with this project is a useful tool in helping its implementation. Important Plant Areas may provide a useful tool for identifying gaps in existing national protected area programmes due to their international signiicance for biodiversity. In many countries protected area networks have grown on an ad hoc basis, often based on large charismatic animals, without a thorough scientiic investigation of all biodiversity. Inclusion of IPAs can help improve coverage of important biodiversity within these networks. IPA criteria in Europe include those required to designate important sites for biodiversity conservation that make up the Emerald network and Natura 2000 required actions under the bern convention and the Ec habitats directive respectively. The criteria for designating IPAs also overlap with those for the designation of internationally important wetlands, known as Ramsar sites. “IPAs can add value to existing programmes by providing information on plants that is often lacking when valuable natural sites are prioritised for attention” 7 8 SECTION 1 SCENE SETTING Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation It is not necessarily appropriate or possible to include all IPAs in protected area networks. Proper management, not simply the designation of protection status, is they key to their survival. IPAs can also provide a focus for agri-environment and sustainable forestry programmes, such as government support schemes for High Nature Value farmland currently being developed in some Balkan countries. IPAs are sites that are critically in need of biodiversity friendly management, ensuring the vital plant resources they contain are used in a sustainable way. Methodology summary Al-Quornet es-Sawda peak Makmel IPA, Lebanon © N. Machaka-Hour In order to ind a workable methodology to identify preliminary important areas for plant diversity, existing methods that have been used to select priority sites for conservation in the region were discussed by project participants. These methodologies were: • Important Plant Areas (IPAs) used by Plantlife International and partners • Important Forest Areas used by WWF and partners and • Areas deined using the threatened species data of IUCN. • Details of Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria governing these methods are included in appendix 1 on page 82, they overlap signiicantly. Ranunculus coronaria Palestine © B. Al-Sheik Country coordinators involved in the project consolidated the criteria into one set of IPA criteria focusing on those data that they knew were readily available, to provide the framework for justifying the sites selected. In doing so they acknowledged that the list of IPAs identiied would be preliminary but would be the very best sites for plant diversity botanical experts within their countries were aware of. Coordinators also agreed that efforts should be made within the project to build regionally focused datasets of threatened species and habitats. In some cases further work would be necessary to reine the data to ensure the ‘internationally important’ standard of the sites could be upheld. In Albania an adaptation of the European IPA criteria was used (Anderson, 2002) as it was more appropriate to the country situation and the quality of data available. The process of developing criteria and bringing together results took place during two workshops at the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in Malaga separated by a ive month period of data collation and analysis. A summary of the criteria used to identify IPAs are included overleaf in box 01. Vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, algae and also fungi could all be considered when selecting IPAs and where data were available. Fungi are not part of the plant kingdom but have traditionally been included in IPA selection. Ultimately for sites to internationally signiicant, the presence of species and habitats that are threatened or restricted in distribution (on regional and global scale) or sites that are exceptionally species rich (by habitat) should be prioritised when selecting sites. Comprehensive data on all these criteria are not yet available, though there is enough to begin working with and progress will be made as a result of this project. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Criteria used for IPA selection in North Africa and Middle East countries using a rapid assessment of existing data A. SPECIES: THREATENED AND/OR ENDEMIC (RESTRICTED RANGE) For immediate consideration1: i) Sites containing threatened species • Presence of nationally threatened species, on existing national Red Lists or based on threatened species known by experts2 • Presence of threatened national endemic species, i.e. restricted to one country ii) Sites containing endemic species (not threatened) • Presence of national endemics (limited to one country) • Presence of sub national endemics (steno-endemics), i.e. restricted to a very limited area iii) Sites containing species at the edge of their geographical range which contain important genetic variability from core populations For consideration following further regional discussion1 i.e. ‘regional endemics’. iv) Species with restricted range occurring in more than one country - for example Levant or Morocco/Algeria. Deined as <5,000km2 for restricted range species and <100km2 for site restricted species3 v) Species occurring in small isolated populations, even though their range may be large but the area of occupancy is small. B. RICHNESS i) Sites rich in endemic species (possible in some countries) ii) Sites rich in species that provide ‘the best example of a habitat’ that is not degraded. SECTION 1 Key references Box 01 Sites can be selected on the basis of ONE OR MORE of the criteria below. SCENE SETTING C. HABITATS For immediate consideration i) Sites containing nationally threatened habitats • Presence of nationally threatened habitats (deined by experts) • For consideration following further regional discussion ii) Sites containing regionally threatened habitats developed through combining and discussing nationally threatened habitats lists. 1 The criteria ‘for immediate consideration’ are those where it is relatively easy to bring together the data from existing sources or with a group of experts. The criteria needing ‘further regional discussion’ will be based on species and habitat lists that require further discussion and validation (at a second regional workshop) to justify their use in IPA selection. 2 Nationally threatened species have been included in the analysis for the time being because this data is available for some countries. Alone the presence of nationally threatened species or habitat will not be signiicant enough to give a site ‘internationally important status’ but where they exist on a site with high levels of locally endemic (restricted range) species and regionally threatened habitats, which are internationally signiicant, the inclusion of such sites in the IPA inventory is justiiable. 3 As part of this project each country expert team proposed species that it this category and included them in the country reports. These were brought together in a regional list of restricted range species. See section 04 on endemism and restricted range species. Anderson, S. 2002. Identifying Important Plant Areas. A site selection manual for Europe, and a basis for developing guidelines for other regions of the world. Plantlife International, London. * Anderson, S., Kušik, T. and Radford, E.A. (eds). 2005. Important Plant Areas in Central and Eastern Europe. Plantlife International, London.* Blasi C., Marignani M., Copiz R., Fipaldini M., Bonacquisti S., Del Vico E., Rosati L. & Zavattero L. (in press). Important Plant Areas in Italy: from data to mapping. Biological Conservation. DOI 10.1016/j. biocon.2010.08.019 Convention on Biological Diversity, 2002. The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation UNEP/CBD/COP/V/9 Médail, F. and Quézel, P. 1997. Hotspots analysis for conservation of plant diversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 84: 112-27 Médail, F. and Quézel, P. 1999. Biodiversity Hotspots in the Mediterranean Basin: Setting Global Priorities. Conservation Biology 13, No.6 1510-1513 Özhatay, N., Byield, A.J. & Atay, S. (2003). Türkiye’nin Önemli Bitki Alanları [Important Plant Areas of Turkey], WWF Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey. Plantlife International 2004. Identifying and Protecting the world’s most Important Plant areas. A guide to implementing Target 5 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Plantlife International. London.* Radford, E.A. and Odé, B. eds. 2009. Conserving Important Plant Areas; investing in the Green Gold of South East Europe. Plantlife International, Salisbury.* Regato, P., 2001. The Mediterranean Forests, a New Conservation Strategy. WWF-MedPO Ed, Rome. * Available to download from the Plantlife International website: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/plantlife-data-zone.html 9 10 SECTION 2 IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 02 section Butrinti, IPA © REC Albania Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION SECTION 2 11 IPAS IN ThE SOUTh AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION .Important Plant Areas identiied to date in Mediterranean countries .Plant species endemism on IPAs .Threats .Protection Country Nº of IPAs Country Nº of IPAs Morocco 19 Syria 33 Algeria 21 Turkey 144 Tunisia 13 Albania 45 Libya 5 Macedonia FYR 42 Egypt 20 Montenegro 21 Israel 15 Croatia 97 Palestine 4 Slovenia 57 Lebanon 20 Italy 320 Jordan 12 TOTAL 888 [Fig. 1] Important Plant Areas identiied to date in Mediterranean countries Green dots indicate the 207 IPAs identiied in current project [Table. 1] No. of IPAs identiied in Mediterranean countries to date Countries in bold were part of the current project 12 SECTION 2 IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Collecting thornbush for ire wood, Morocco © M.S. Taleb “This work represents the irst attempt to draw together detailed country-wide data on IPA’s. More ieldwork is needed to update the data on distribution and status of species and habitats” Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Two hundred and seven priority sites for plants (Important Plant Areas) have been identiied within the eleven countries in this project, (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Albania) and a further twenty six sites have been identiied as potential sites in need of further research before they can be conirmed as IPAs. The site inventories developed represent the irst attempt to draw together detailed country-wide site-based data on Important Plant Areas. Much of the data available is old, and expert opinion within the countries concerned has played an important role in site selection. Undoubtedly more work is needed to provide comprehensive IPA inventories in these project countries – particularly ieldwork to update the data on distributions and status of species and habitats. More sites may be identiied in future but these provide a good basis from which to work, and are justiiable priorities for conservation action. A full list of all these sites can be found in appendix 2 and in the country section from page 20. Further detailed descriptions of many of these sites can be found in country reports at www.plantlife.org.uk. Across the whole Mediterranean a further 681 IPAs have been identiied (in Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia FYR, Turkey and Italy (references at the end of the section) through previous IPA projects which brings the total number of Important Plant Areas in the region to 888. The table below shows the number of sites identiied across the Mediterranean to date. All Mediterranean habitats are represented within the IPAs identiied through this project: forest, maquis, garrigue, pasture, wetland, coast and the transition to the desert zone. The coverage and the type of sites selected vary between countries. In Algeria IPAs have been selected within all the major vegetation zones from sea level to 2300m and they are highly loristically diverse. In Morocco the majority of sites chosen are 2500m above sea level with associated alpine and sub alpine vegetation, these sites are also exceptionally rich in endemic species for example Toubkhal National Park in Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 2 IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION the High Atlas mountains. The focus in Tunisia and Egypt has largely been on wetland and coastal IPAs, and in Libya IPAs have been selected that represent the coastal belt, mountains and desert region, with a focus on Al Jabal Al Akhdar, the largest IPA on the Cyrenaican Peninsula which contains 80% of the Libyan lora and is a region of exceptional plant endemism. 13 “All Mediterranean habitats are represented within the IPAs identiied through this project: forest, maquis, garrigue, pasture, wetland, coast and the transition to the desert zone” In Lebanon and Syria a very comprehensive assessment of current data has resulted in the selection of IPAs located throughout the territories of these countries; in humid, sub humid, semi arid and arid habitats. Many of the Syrian sites are mountainous and typically have high local species endemism. In Israel the IPAs include the best plant sites across the major Israeli vegetation zones: Mediterranean maquis, the transition zone and the desert region. The focus in Palestine has been to identify the best sites within the predominant maquis vegetation, which are most in need of conservation attention. Finally in Albania a greater number of smaller sites containing mosaics of habitats have been selected, notably containing high alpine forests and grasslands. This is similar to the pattern of IPA selection in other small highly biodiverse European countries in the Balkans such as Macedonia FYR and Croatia (Radford and Odé 2009). Plant species endemism on IPAs (1) TOTAL (&%) of 147 IPAs analysed1 Morocco Algeria Tunisia Libya Egypt Israel Palestine Lebanon Syria Albania As expected, high levels of plant species endemism is a recurring feature on IPAs in this region (table 2). 75% of IPAs contain single country endemic species, found only within one country, for example Cicer atlanticum in Morocco or Euphorbia postii in Syria; and just over 60% contain a very restricted species such as Onosma cyrenaica restricted to Al Jabal Al Akdar in Libya. ‘Mega endemic sites’ containing over 20 steno-endemic (very restricted range) species can be found in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon Syria and Libya. Jabal Al Arab in Syria is one such site. No. of IPAs containing single country endemic species 110 (75%) 19 20 6 1 8 4 3 16 25 8 No. of IPAs containing very local steno-endemic species 104 (71%) 15 21 6 1 3 7 4 12 27 8 No of IPAs containing greater than 20 single country endemic species or very local steno-endemic species 33 (22%) 16 4 0 1 1 0 0 6 5 0 IPAs analysed: eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 1 of the 5 IPAs in Libya, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in remaining countries. Figures for Jordan unavailable. [Table. 2] Plant endemism on IPAs in the Mediterranean project countries 14 SECTION 2 IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Grazing in the cork forest surrounding Majen Choucha IPA © Z. Ghrabi- Gammar Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation The next step of analysing species endemism on these IPAs should include an assessment of the numbers of restricted range species (less than 5000km2 in range) present on each site. This will be possible using the list of restricted range species created during this project (see section 04) and will help will further prioritise sites by focusing on those containing species with limited distributions regardless of whether they are present in one or more countries. Restricted range species are potentially in greater need of conservation attention and multi-country restricted range species can be overlooked in national prioritisation exercises. These restricted range species could also become priorities for Red List assessment. Threats “Agricultural intensiication through overgrazing of pastoral lands is the most signiicant threat to the IPAs identiied in this project, affecting 67% of the sites analysed” Agricultural intensiication through overgrazing of pastoral lands is the most signiicant threat to the IPAs identiied in this project, affecting 67% of the sites analysed. Deforestation (largely due to collecting irewood), tourism development, intensiication of arable farming and unsustainable collection of plants, affects over one third of the IPAs analysed. Unsustainable collection of medicinal and aromatic plants (supporting livelihoods) is of great concern in Syria (affecting 91% of Syrian IPAs) and Palestine. The threat of over collection may provide a conservation opportunity in terms of using plant conservation to secure livelihoods and assist development. Threats posed by climate change are notable for IPAs in Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon have a high number of high altitude sites and Tunisia’s sites are predominately isolated wetlands in all cases increased temperatures resulting from climate warming leave the plants with nowhere to retreat. No IPAs have no threats recorded. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Nº of IPAs Habitat fragmentation Extraction (minerals) Natural events (lood, ire, draught) Development (urbanisation) Climage change Unsustainable Plant Exploitation Agricultural intensiication (arable) Development (tourism) Forestry: deforestation (inc. irewood) Agricultural intensiication (grazing) The importance of the threat of overgrazing contrasts with the analysis 100 of threats to ‘key biodiversity areas’ in the Mediterranean, that have been 90 identiied largely using other taxa (birds, ish, reptiles and amphibians). The 80 primary threat to these key biodiversity areas was identiied as infrastructure 70 and residential development (rather than for tourism per se), followed by 60 increasing pressure on water resources, agricultural intensiication and land 50 abandonment (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, 2010). This illustrates 40 the importance of considering all taxonomic groups when assessing threats 30 to biodiversity. Habitat loss and degradation, (due to agricultural, urban, 20 tourism, transportation and industrial/commercial (including mining/energy) 10 development driven by increasing population and afluence is cited by IUCN 0 as the greatest threat to species in the Mediterranean Basin (Cuttelod et al. [Fig. 2] Top ten threats affecting 147 IPAs in the project countries 2008). IPAs analysed: Eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in remaining countries. Figures for Libya and Jordan unavailable. Nº of IPAs Aquaculture / isheries 0 Invasive species (plant) 5 Eutrophication 10 Development (industry) 15 Other 20 Development (infrastructure) 25 Water (extraction / drainage) 30 Burning of vegetation (ires) 35 Construction (dyke, dam, barrier) 40 [Fig. 3] Other threats affecting 147 IPAs in the project countries IPAs analysed: Eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in remaining countries. Figures for Libya and Jordan unavailable. Diplotaxis siettiana © C. Moreno SECTION 2 15 SECTION 2 TOTAL (and %) of 147 IPAs analysed1 Tunisia Egypt (Med) Egypt (other) Israel Palestine Lebanon Syria Albania Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 99 (67%) 16 14 11 7 4 5 2 7 28 5 Forestry: deforestation (inc. irewood) 68 (46%) 13 5 3 3 3 0 4 7 26 4 Development (tourism) 60 (41%) 8 9 7 2 5 1 0 9 16 3 Agricultural intensiication (arable) 50 (34%) 10 3 3 4 2 5 0 1 22 0 Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 49 (33%) 9 2 1 0 1 0 3 2 30 1 Climate change 42 (29%) 15 4 10 1 1 0 0 10 1 0 Development (urbanisation) 35 (24%) 2 1 1 5 1 6 2 13 4 0 Natural Events (/lood/ire/drought) 35 (24%) 2 18 5 2 5 0 0 0 0 3 Extraction (minerals) 28 (19%) 0 7 1 0 0 0 1 3 15 1 Habitat fragmentation 27 (18%) 10 1 1 1 0 6 4 2 2 0 Burning of vegetation (ires) 26 (18%) 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 14 3 Water (extraction/drainage) 26 (18%) 0 2 5 5 1 4 1 3 5 0 Development (infrastructure) 22 (15%) 1 2 1 4 2 0 3 1 8 0 Other 14 (10%) 4 6 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 Development (industry) 11 (7%) 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 1 2 0 Eutrophication 9 (6%) 0 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 Invasive species - plant 8 (5%) 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Aquaculture/Fisheries 6 (4%) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Construction: dyke/dam/barrier 6 (4%) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Threats Unknown 3 (2%) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Abandonment/reduction of land management 2 (1%) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Agricultural intensiication (hort.) 2 (1%) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Extraction (peat) 2 (1%) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Invasive species - animal 2 (1%) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Security/Military 2 (1%) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Threat Intrinsic Species Factors(slow growth, density etc.) (1) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Algeria IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Morocco 16 1 (<1%) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 IPAs analysed: eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in remaining countries. Figures for Libya and Jordan unavailable. [Table. 3] Threats affecting 147 IPAs in the Mediterranean project countries 0 0 0 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Protection The level of oficial protection for the IPAs identiied varies across the project countries from 0 – 80%. Protection can be in the form of protected areas such as National Parks or internationally important wetland (Ramsar) sites or as natural monuments. In Albania over 80% of the IPAs are protected or recognised as important sites for nature in some way. Many IPAs in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are also National Parks, in the Middle East countries the situation is less clear but oficial protection of IPAs is not as comprehensive. Morocco Algeria Tunisia Libya Egypt Israel Palestine Lebanon Syria Albania Oficial protection of sites can be helpful but a truer measure of whether a site is properly managed or not can be measured through evidence of site based conservation activity, often linked to a recognised management plan. Evidence of management plans for IPAs is minimal, 6 sites in Egypt, 3 in Syria and 2 in Lebanon do have active management plans. IPAs are fully or partially within national parks / protected areas 97 6 8 13 2 12 - 0 11 7 38 Management plans available 11 ? ? ? ? 6 ? ? 2 3 ? TOTAL Figures for Jordan unavailable. [Table. 4] Protection of IPAs in the Mediterranean project countries SECTION 2 17 Rural landscape and wetland in a Ramsar zone of El Kala National Park Algeria © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon “The level of oficial protection for the IPAs identiied varies across the project countries from 0 – 80%. Protection can be in the form of protected areas such as National Parks or internationally important wetland (Ramsar) sites or as natural monuments” 18 SECTION 2 IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs and Key biodiversity Areas Eighty two IPAs (40% of the total number IPAs identiied) overlap with the 327 key biodiversity areas identiied for the same countries within the Ecosystem Proile for the Mediterranean basin (Critical Ecosystem Partnerships Fund, 2010) (See igs. 4 and 5). The key biodiversity area analysis was made largely using taxa other than plants (birds, mammals, ish, reptiles and amphibians), due to the lack of plant species data available on the IUCN Global Red List. A further 29 IPAs show partial overlap with key biodiversity areas. Our IPA analysis employs a slightly different approach to assessing the importance of sites for plant diversity by drawing on a wider selection of data and expertise, to compensate for the lack of data available in a format recognised for key biodiversity area selection. The CEPF proile identiied 36 priority key biodiversity areas, 19 of which overlap with IPAs, but these are not necessarily those IPAs in greatest need of conservation action from a wild plant perspective. IPA country teams made their own selection and prioritised up to ive IPAs in terms of their importance for conservation investment. They made a subjective assessment of the importance of these sites based on biological importance, threats affecting the site and the need for action. ‘Priority’ IPAs selected in this way are shown in table 5, nine overlap with priority Key biodiversity areas and of these seven are prioritised for investment by CEPF. Landscape of the Middle Atlas Morocco © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon “IPA country teams made their own selection and prioritised up to ive IPAs in terms of their importance for conservation investment” [Fig. 4] IPAs and key biodiversity areas in the western Mediterranean Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION SECTION 2 Key references Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. 2010. Ecosystem Proile Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot. Conservation International, Washington D.C. (Black and White report: http://www.cepf.net/where_ we_work/regions/europe_central_asia/ mediterranean/Pages/default.aspx) Cuttelod, A., García, N., Abdul Malak, D., Temple, H. and Katariya, V. 2008. The Mediterranean: a biodiversity hotspot under threat. In: J.-C. Vié, C. Hilton-Taylor and S.N. Stuart (eds). The 2008 Review of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Gland, Switzerland. Radford, E.A. and Odé, B. eds. 2009. Conserving Important Plant Areas; investing in the Green Gold of South East Europe. Plantlife International, Salisbury.* [Fig. 5] IPAs and key biodiversity areas in the eastern Mediterranean (*) Morocco Talassemtane National Park. Bou-Naceur and Bou Iblane. Ifrane National Park*, High Eastern Atlas National Park*, Toubkal National Park*. Algeria El Kala 1*, El Kala 2*, Djurdjura*, Babor*, Gouraya. Tunisia Garaa Sejenane, Kroumirie (a suite of 11 small IPAs), Majen Choucha, Oued Ziatine, Toujane. Libya Al Jabel Al Akhdar (the whole peninsula – larger than the key biodiversity area currently selected).* Egypt Western Mediterranean Coastal Dunes, Sallum Area, Saint Katherine, Nabq, Halayeb Triangle. Israel Meron, Hula, Hebron Gradient. Palestine Faqoua`-Jalaboun Safa, W Elbalat - W Armyah Ein Samya, Wad QanaWad Eshai`r, Yaseed-Ibzeik. Lebanon Makmel, Qammouaa-Dinneyh, Jabal Moussa- Nahr Ibrahim. Syria Kurd Dag, Salma-Haffeh, Ghab; Anti-Lebanon*, Jabal al Arab. Albania Gramozi Mt, Korabi Mt, Tomorrin Mt. Indicates site is also a priority KBA by CEPF. [Table. 5] Priority Important Plant Areas for conservation selected by country IPA teams Regato, P., 2001. The Mediterranean Forests, a New Conservation Strategy. WWF-MedPO Ed, Rome. Other Mediterranean country IPA accounts Blasi C., Marignani M., Copiz R. Fipaldini M., Bonacquisti S., Del Vico E., Rosati L. & Zavattero L. (in press) Important Plant Areas in Italy: from data to mapping. Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j. biocon. 2010.08.019 * Jogan, N. 2005. IPAs in Slovenia. In Important Plant Areas in Central and Eastern Europe. (eds. Anderson, S., Kušik, T. and Radford, E.A.) Plantlife International.* Melovski, Lj., Matevski, V., Kostadinovski, M., Karadelev, M., Angelova, N., & Radford, E. A. 2009. Important Plant Areas in the Republic of Macedonia. (In Macedonian) Special Issues of the Macedonian Ecological Society, Vol. 9, Skopje. Nikolić T., Vuković N., Topić J (eds), 2009. Područja značajna za loru Hrvatske/ Important Plant Areas in Croatia * Petrovic, D. (ed) 2009. Važna Biljne Staništa – U Crnoj Gori IPA projeket/ Important Plant Areas in Montenegro *Available to download from the Plantlife International website: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/plantlife-data- 19 20 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 03 section [This page] Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani ), in Maaser forest. Although protection measures such as the creation of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve have been undertaken, the Cedar woodlands of Central MountLebanon are threatened by overgrazing, unregulated tourism, and a high occurrence of forest ires in forests below the slope. Lebanon © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria SECTION 3 21 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES* .Morocco .Algeria .Tunisia .Libya .Egypt .Occupied Palestinian Territories .Israel .Lebanon .Jordan .Syria .Albania * The order of the countries in the publication follows a West to East geographical structure 22 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Morocco M. S. Taleb and M. Fennane Univ. Mohammed V-Agdal (Morocco) IPA Team Mohammed Sghir Taleb National IPA Coordinator (Forestry Research Centre of the Moroccan High Commission for Water, Forests and Desertiication Control) Mohamed Fennane (Institut Scientiique) Brahim haddane (IUCN Regional Councillor for Africa) Mustapha Madbouhi (Secretary of State for Water and the Environment), hayat Mesbah (High Commission for Water, Forests and Desertiication Control) Mohamed Ribi (High Commission for Water, Forests and Desertiication Control). [Fig. 6] IPAs of Morocco 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Jbel Bouhachem Talassemtane National Park Al Hoceima National Park Beni Snassene Jbel Bou-Naceur Jbel Bou Iblane Tazekka National Park Jbel Tichoukt Ifrane National Park Eastern High Atlas National Park 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Jbel Ayachi Jbel Maâsker Jbel Krouz Jbel Mgoun Tamga and Aqqa Wabzaza Toubkal National Park Aghbar Jbel Kest, Anezi and Jbel Imzi Maamora Overview of Moroccan IPAs Nineteen Important Plant Areas (IPAs) have been identiied from a preliminary list of 57 potentially eligible sites (15 classed as priority, 27 highly remarkable and 15 important) drawn from Sites of Biological and Ecological Interest. Most of the IPAs are located in mountain areas (High, Middle and Saharan Atlas); more than half of them are at elevations above 2,500m and some, like Toubkal and Jbel Mgoun, reach 4,000m. There are two coastal IPAs: Al Hoceima National Park and Maamora. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco The predominant vegetation in most of the mountain IPAs is forest, sometimes degraded, with stands of Algerian oak, cork oak, holm oak, pine, cedar, ir, Tetraclinis and juniper. Above 3,000m, woody vegetation gives way to formations of thorny cushion-like xerophytes and meadows very rich in endemics. The rate of endemism is over 80 percent in the summit region of Toubkal. In the lowlands, Maamora boasts a potentially very extensive cork oak forest (130,000ha), whereas Al Hoceima National Park is mainly characterized by a wild, rocky coastline with cliffs rising out of the sea. Morocco’s IPAs are characterized by particularly high numbers of national endemics and stenoendemics: there are 16 areas with more than 20 such species. The richest sites for locally endemic species are Ifrane National Park (196), Toubkal National Park (164), Jbel Ayachi (75), and Jbel BouNaceur and Jbel Bou Iblane (92). Many of these species are stenoendemics found only at a single site. Six IPAs are included within national parks. The others have not yet been awarded any special protection. • • • • Number of IPAs: 19 Number of IPAs containing national endemics: 19 Number of IPAs containing stenoendemics: 15 Number of IPAs containing more than 20 national endemics or stenoendemics: 16 SECTION 3 23 High mountain cushion shrubs in Middle atlas Morocco © P. Regato “Morocco’s IPA are characterized by high numbers of locally endemic species - some found only at a single site” COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Threats to the IPAs The main threats to Morocco’s IPAs are water stress, exacerbated by drought; overgrazing, climate change, deforestation and habitat fragmentation and isolation. IPAs 04 02 0 Threats Unknown 06 Other 08 Burning of vegetation (ires) 10 Development (tourism) 12 Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 14 Habitat fragmentation 16 Agricultural intensiication (arable) 18 Forestry deforestation (inc. irewood) Transhumance in the Eastern High Atlas. Morocco © M.S. Taleb Climage change SECTION 3 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 24 [Fig. 7] Top 10 threats to Morocco’s IPAs Flora, vegetation and conservation Morocco covers a total area of 710,850km2 in North-West Africa. It lies in a position between Africa and Europe, which has resulted in considerable genetic exchange between these regions, these with the great diversity of biotopes in the country has resulted in high species diversity. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco SECTION 3 25 The four major mountain ranges - the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas - form an important part of the relief of Morocco, occupying 15 percent of its land area.The Moroccan climate is classed as Mediterranean and is inluenced by both the Atlantic and the Sahara. Precipitation decreases from north to south and from west to east. It is high in the mountain massifs, reaching 2,000mm in the Rif, but less than 150 mm in the pre-Saharan and Saharan regions. The main vegetation units consist essentially of forest and preforest ecosystems (with stands of argan, kermes oak, cypress, cedar, holm oak, cork oak, deciduous oak, Tetraclinis, Spanish juniper, ir, Phoenician juniper, carob, wild olive, prickly juniper, pine, mastic, Retama and Adenocarpus), steppes (esparto, wormwood and thorny xerophyte steppes) and Saharan ecosystems (with acacias and chamaephytes). The Moroccan lora is particularly rich, with approximately 7,000 species in 920 genera and 130 families, these include an estimated 4,500 species and subspecies of vascular plants. There are 951 national endemics (over 20 percent of the vascular plants). Some 500 local endemics (of restricted range) are shared with Algeria, the Iberian Peninsula and even Mauritania and the Canary Islands. The rate of endemism is particularly high in the High Atlas and, to a lesser extent, in the Middle Atlas, the Rif and the Anti-Atlas. This is because these mountains played an important role during the Quaternary ice ages in providing refuges for Holarctic taxa that either survived or evolved after being isolated there. Morocco has identiied 160 sites of biological and ecological interest. All of them should soon be classed within the ive categories of legally protected areas: national park, natural park, natural reserve, biological reserve and natural site. There are currently 10 national parks. Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest. Atlantic cedar is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria in northern Africa. Middle Atlas, Morocco © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon 26 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Priority IPAs for conservation measures Of the nineteen IPAs described in detail for this project the Moroccan IPA Team has selected the following as priorities for conservation measures: Talassemtane National Park, Bou-Naceur and Bou-Iblane, Ifrane National Park, Eastern High Atlas National Park and Toubkal National Park. Three of them are described below. Talassemtane National Park Located in the eastern part of the limestone ridge of the Rif, Talassemtane National Park covers an area of 58,950 ha and is remarkable for its biodiversity. The natural heritage of the park, with its rugged scenery typical of the Rif mountains, is outstanding at Mediterranean level. The bioclimatic zones are semi-arid, subhumid and humid. The vegetation stages present are thermoMediterranean, meso-Mediterranean, supra-Mediterranean and mountainMediterranean. The principal forest species are Abies pinsapo, Cedrus atlantica, Quercus ilex, Quercus suber, Pinus halepensis, Pinus nigra, Pinus pinaster and Tetraclinis articulata. The park’s lora comprises approximately 747 taxa, including 47 that are endemic to Morocco alone, 27 restricted to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, and 9 to Algeria and Morocco. The local people are engaged in arable and livestock farming and forestry. Ifrane National Park Ifrane National Park The threatened Juniperus thurifera ecosystem © M.S. Taleb Further reading Leipzig, 1996. Rapport de pays pour la conférence technique internationale de la FAO sur les ressources phytogénétiques. Maroc. Ministère de l’Aménagement du territoire, de l’Urbanisme, de l’Habitat et de l’Environnement 2001- Stratégie et Plan d’Action National sur la Biodiversité Marocaine. Indicateurs de surveillance. Taleb M.S & Fennane M., 2010. Rapport national sur les Zones Importantes pour les Plantes (ZIP) au Maroc. Mardaga, 1999. Le grand livre de la forêt marocaine. Covering an area of 125,000ha, Ifrane National Park is located in the Middle Atlas. Three vegetation stages succeed one another: meso-Mediterranean (1,200–1,600m), supra-Mediterranean (1,600–2,000m) and mountainMediterranean (1,600–2,000m). The park is approximately 60 percent forested, with cedars, oaks, pines and junipers and is home to 1025 species of vascular plants, 25 percent of which have restricted ranges. Sixty-four species are endemic to the park itself, and 90 are endemic to northern Morocco, making this IPA especially important. The park is inhabited by many communities who use its resources. The lora and vegetation suffer from pressures of overgrazing and irewood collection. Eastern high Atlas National Park The Eastern High Atlas National Park comprises very rugged mountain massifs covering an area of 49,000ha at elevations ranging from 1,600m to over 3,000m. The bioclimatic zones are arid, semi-arid and subhumid, with cold winters. The north-facing slopes of the park are covered with ine, tall cedar forest, following on from stands of holm oak, Phoenician juniper and Aleppo pine. At higher elevations, the cedar forest is replaced by stands of Spanish juniper. Above 3,000m, trees give way to thorny cushion-like xerophytes. On the southern slopes cedars are absent and the forested area is small. The vascular lora of the park comprises 300 taxa, 54 of which are endemic to Morocco. Sheep and goat herding is the predominant occupation of the local communities, arable farming (in the valleys) and timber extraction is secondary. These activities are putting the lora and vegetation under increasing pressure. Repeated droughts are a cause for concern. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria SECTION 3 Algeria N. Yahi and S. Benhouhou IPA Team N. Yahi National IPA Coordinator (Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumédiène, Bab Ezzouar) S. Benhouhou (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie, El Harrach) G. de Belair (Université d’Annaba) R. Gharzouli (Université Ferhat Abbas, Sétif) E. Vela (Université de Montpellier II, France) [Fig. 8] IPAs of Algeria 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 El Kala 1 El Kala 2 Edough Peninsula Guerbes Djebel Ouahch Belezma National Park Babor Mountains Taza National Park Gouraya National Park Akfadou Forest Massif Djurdjura National Park 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Theniet El Had Chréa National Park Sahel d’Oran Mount Chenoua Ghar Rouban Cape Ténès Traras Mountains Habibas Islands Aures-Chelia Mount Zaccar 27 28 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Overview of Algerian IPAs Forest and riverine vegetation of Oued El Maboun in the Guerbes-Sanhadja plain (the site was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2001 and has been proposed as a Regional Nature Park). Algeria. © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon Algerian IPAs cover all vegetation stages present in the Mediterranean part of country and are often marked by a large elevational range, as in the Aurès Massif (100–2,300m) and Djurdjura (600–2,300m). Several coastal IPAs (El Kala 1, Edough Peninsula, Taza and Gouraya National Parks, Sahel d’Oran, Mount Chenoua, Cape Ténès, Trara Mountains et Habibas Islands) have high plant diversity and are rich in restricted range species, which are often highly localised (stenoendemic). Forested habitats are well represented, particularly with cedars (in Belezma, Djurdjura, Theniet El Had and Chréa National Parks, the Babor Mountains and Aurès Massif) or oaks (Quercus canariensis, Q. suber and Q. ilex). Several IPAs are rich in wetland habitats (El Kala 1 & 2, Edough Peninsula, Guerbes/Senhadja Plain, Djebel Ouahch, and Taza and Chréa National Parks). The number of restricted range or locally endemic taxa in northern Algeria is 407. These include 224 endemic to Algeria alone, 124 shared with Morocco, 58 with Tunisia and one with Sicily. Some IPAs have a lora with a particularly high proportion of national endemics or stenoendemics, such as Djurdjura National Park with over 25 sub-national and stenoendemics, and El Kala 1 & 2 and the Babor Mountains, each with 20. Twenty-one IPAs have initially been identiied for northern Algeria. Many other sites may also deserve to be included but require further study, particularly in the Collo Peninsula, the Tlemcen Mountains, the Arzew Peninsula, Cape Falcon, Ouarsenis, Sersou, the Alou region and Djebel Aissa. Sites in the steppe and Saharan zones of the country have not been described, since they are located beyond the Mediterranean part of Algeria. Eight IPAs are entirely or partly located inside national parks, while 13 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria SECTION 3 29 others enjoy no management or protection measures. The Babor Massif is in the process of being listed as a natural reserve. • • • • Number of IPAs: 21 Number of IPAs containing national endemics: 20 Number of IPAs containing stenoendemics: 21 Number of IPAs containing more than 20 national endemics or stenoendemics: 4 14 Agricultural intensiication (arable) 16 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 18 Threats to the IPAs Forestry: deforestation (inc. irewood) Natural disasters (loods, ires, droughts) IPAs Climate change (sea level rise) Other Mineral extraction Development (tourism) The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs are ire, followed by overgrazing, which 12 result in the direct disappearance of species and the erosion of topsoil, 10 making it dificult to restore the vegetation cover. Some sites also suffer 08 from too many visitors or from quarrying. Pollution from domestic efluent is 06 a threat to many wetlands, while some IPAs are affected by deforestation. 04 The lack of security that prevailed in part of Algeria for several decades 02 often prevented management or conservation measures from being 0 implemented and impeded data collection on the ground. [Fig. 9] The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs El Kala IPA - rich inlocal endemic species and Mediterranean threatened habitats © S. Benhouhou Flora, vegetation and conservation With an area of 2,381,741km2, Algeria is the largest country with a Mediterranean coastline. It is bordered by Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco. In the north of the country, the relief consists of the Tellian and Saharan Atlas, the Aurès Massif, the Tell coastal strip and the Nememcha Plateau. Since Algeria is inluenced by the sea, relief and elevation, its climate is classed as ‘temperate extra-tropical Mediterranean’, characterized by a long period of summer drought that varies from 3–4 months on the coast to 5–6 months on the high plains and more than 6 months in the Saharan Atlas. All Mediterranean bioclimates are represented in the north, from perhumid (Babor Mountains) to semi-arid (Sahel d’Oran). The main vegetation units found in northern Algeria are: • Sclerophyllous forests (holm oak, cork oak, etc.), deciduous forests (Algerian oak, afares oak, maples) and conifer forests (Aleppo pine, black pine, maritime pine, thuja, cedar, ir); • Matorral, which includes evergreen vegetation dominated by mastic, Cistus, brooms, Calicotome, diss grass, rosemary and Globularia; • Therophytic, orophytic and chasmophilic meadows, and asphodel grassland; • Hygrophilous vegetation represented by riparian forests with Populus alba, Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus angustifolia, as well as the vegetation of marshes, lakes, ponds and lagoons; Several coastal IPAs (El Kala 1, Edough Peninsula, Taza and Gouraya National Parks, Sahel d’Oran, Mount Chenoua, Cape Ténès, Trara Mountains et Habibas Islands) have high plant diversity and are rich in restricted range species, which are often highly localised (stenoendemic). 30 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation • Halophilous and littoral vegetation, including the vegetation of coastal dunes, cliffs and coastal scrub. • The Algerian lora comprises approximately 4,000 taxa in 131 families and 917 genera. There are 464 national endemics (387 species, 53 subspecies and 24 varieties). Priority IPAs for conservation measures The Algerian IPA Team has prioritised the following IPAs for conservation measures: El Kala 1, El Kala 2, Djurdjura National Park, Babor Mountains and Gouraya National Park. Three of them are described below. El Kala 2 Viola munbunya var. rifane on El Kala 2, a restricted range species © S. Benhouhou The Medjedra mountain forests, which cover the El Kala 2 IPA, are located in the far north-east of Algeria and continue into Tunisia, where they are included in the Jbel Ghorra IPA. They range in elevation from 200m to 1,200m. Sandstones and clays are predominant, with a large number of rocky outcrops and cliffs. Small oueds (rivers) springs and temporary pools are common in the forested areas. The diversity of exposed surfaces and elevations gives rise to a very rich lora. Forests are mainly represented by cork oak and Algerian oak. This IPA is home to 20 national endemics and stenoendemics. The main threats are ire, overgrazing, deforestation and over-exploitation of certain species (Quercus canariensis, Quercus suber, Laurus nobilis). Gouraya National Park Serapia stenopetala a site restricted species (<100km2) in Algeria and Tunisia © M.S. Taleb Djebel Yemma Gouraya lies in Gouraya National Park in north-eastern Algeria. This dolomitic limestone massif occupies approximately half the park’s area. It stretches from the coast beyond the Oued Tazeboudjt in the west to the tip of the Cape Bouak peninsula in the east. This IPA is characterised by a humid climate with mild winters. It is an exceptional site for the stenoendemic lora of the vertical limestone rock faces overlooking the sea. The same is true for the southward-facing dolomitic boulder ields, which contain numerous rare locally endemic species. Djebel Yemma Gouraya has about ten national and stenoendemics. The main threats are ire, excessive visitor numbers and quarrying. djurdjura National Park Further reading Yahi, N., Benhouhou, S., de Belair, G., Gharzouli, R. and Vela, E. 2010. Proposition de Zones Importantes pour les Plantes en Algérie. [www.plantlife.org.uk]. Djurdjura National Park comprises a limestone mountain range stretching 50km east–west. It is one of the wettest regions in Algeria, with an average rainfall of 1,200–1,500mm. The main forest stands are pure cedar (40 percent), cedar–holm oak (30 percent) and pure holm oak (13 percent). The highest elevations in the area are covered with chasmophilic meadows. Its lora is rich and diverse, with approximately 1,100 species, including 27 national endemics and stenoendemics, which makes it the richest Algerian IPA for endemics. The main threats are ire, overgrazing, illegal logging, quarrying and uncontrolled tourism. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia SECTION 3 Tunisia Z. Ghrabi Gammar IPA Team [Fig. 10] IPAs of Tunisia 01 02 03 04 05 06a 06b 06c 06d 06e 06f 06g Garâa Sejenane Majen Chitane Lake Dar El Orbi Peat Bog Oued Ziatine 1 +2 Aïn Zana Natural Reserve Sidi Ali El Mekki Dat Fatma Natural Reserve (K) Sources du 18ème (K) Camp du 18ème (K) Piste de Legba (K) Le Merij (K) Majen Barbit (K) Majen El Ouez 1 (K) 06h 06i 06j 06k 06l 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 Majen El Mouajène (K) Sraï el Majen (K) Majen El Ma (K) Majen Sghaïer (K) Majen El Ouez 2 (K) Majen Choucha La Galité Archipelago Zeineb Ghrabi Gammar National IPA Coordinator (Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie). A. Daoud-Bouattour (Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) S. Ben Saad Liman (Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) I. Ben haj Jilani (Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Mateur) h. Ferchichi-Ben Jamaa (Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) S. D. Muller (Université de Montpellier 2, France) L. Rhazi (Université de Rabat, Morocco) A. M. Gammar (Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des Humanités de Manouba) E. Véla (Université de Montpellier 2, France), A. Chaabane (Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tabarka) M. Neffati (Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine) S. Rouz (Banque Nationale de Gènes) B. Jaziri ( Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des Humanités de Manouba) M. Ouali (Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) and M. Tarhouni (Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine) Zembra and Zembretta National Park Specialists consulted on the lora: Toujane El Feija Jbel Ghorra Ichkeul Jbel Zaghouan A. Khaldi, A. Smaoui, A. Khouja, A. Sfaihi, A. Ferchichi, F. Maamouri, M. Boussaid, M. E. Kchouk, M. L. Khouja, M. Ridha, N. Boussaidi, R. N’cibi and M. Selmi. (K): ‘Kroumirie’, a combination of these sites comprising peat bogs, small semi-permanent lakes and temporary pools 31 32 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Overview of Tunisian IPAs Collecting wood on Garâa Sejenane, IPA © Z. Ghrabi- Gammar Thirteen Important Plant Areas (IPAs) have been identiied in Tunisia, while eight other sites are known for their rich lora but require further investigation. One of these IPAs, No 6, Kroumirie, is made up of a dozen small independent sites that have been combined because they are all small-scale wetland habitats; peat bogs, ponds or temporary pools. The thirteen IPAs are essentially located in the north of the country and most are characterized by a subhumid to humid Mediterranean climate. Ten of them have an average elevation below or around 500m, whereas three (Jbel Zaghouan, Jbel Ghorra, Aïn Zana) are more clearly mountainous. Wetland environments are well represented as they make up more than half the IPAs, in the form of permanent lakes (Ichkeul), semi-permanent lakes (Majen Chitane, Majen Choucha, etc.), temporary pools (Garâa Sejenane, Majen el Ma, Sraï el Majen, etc.), marshes (Ichkeul), and peat bogs based on Sphagnum or Osmunda (Kroumirie) or bracken (Dar el Orbi). Although these sites are not particularly rich in national endemic or stenoendemic species—a large proportion of the species that occur in them are shared with neighbouring countries—they do contain most of the nationally or regionally threatened or rare habitats. The Tunisian IPAs are also representative of the main forest and coastal habitat types of Tunisia. The most outstanding forest types are more or less protected; Algerian oak (Quercus canariensis) and cork oak (Quercus suber) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia SECTION 3 33 at Aïn Zana and Jbel Ghorra, olive-mastic with carob on Jbel Ichkeul, juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) at Toujane, and alder (Alnus glutinosa) in the Oued Ziatine riparian forest. Coastal lora is represented on three IPAs; the La Galite Archipelago and the Zembra and Zembretta National Park, both rich in rare species and species endemic to Tunisia or North Africa, and Sidi Ali el Mekki. All three are particularly rich in endemics (Linaria cossonii, Malcolmia doumetiana, Limonium gougetianum and L. zembrae, and Silene barrattei). Six Tunisian IPAs contain national endemic or stenoendemic plant species. Half of Tunisia’s IPAs lie fully or partly inside protected areas, namely the three national parks, three Ramsar sites, two biosphere reserves and four natural reserves. Of the thirteen IPAs, six contain national endemics and six have species with restricted ranges, none contain more than twenty national endemics or stenoendemics. Threats to the IPAs The main threat to Tunisia’s IPAs is overgrazing, which affects wet and marshy areas as much as sites with xerothermophilic vegetation. That is followed by climate change (causing wetlands to dry out), the pressure of tourism and leisure activities and ire. Drainage and water extraction are a speciic threat to wetland IPAs. Eleocharis uniglumis in threatened wetland habitat, Tunisia © S. D. Muller Forestry: deforestation (inc. irewood) 16 Agricultural intensiication (pasture) 18 Agricultural intensiication (cultivation) Threats to the IPAs Natural disasters (loods, ires, droughts) IPAs Eutrophication Water (extraction and drainage) Development (tourism) 0 Climate change (sea level rise) The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs are ire, followed by overgrazing, which 14 result in the direct disappearance of species and the erosion of topsoil, 12 making it dificult to restore the vegetation cover. Some sites also suffer 10 from too many visitors or from quarrying. Pollution from domestic efluent is 08 a threat to many wetlands, while some IPAs are affected by deforestation. 06 The lack of security that prevailed in part of Algeria for several decades 04 often prevented management or conservation measures from being 02 implemented and impeded data collection on the ground. [Fig. 11] The main threats to Tunisia’s IPAs Flora, vegetation and conservation Tunisia is located in North Africa at the junction of the two basins that make up the Mediterranean, between the Mashreq (the Arab East) and the Maghreb (the Arab West). The mountain ranges in the north and east of the country are well watered and form the eastern ends of the Tellian and Saharan Atlas. The arid high steppes are drained by oueds (wadis), and the semi-arid low steppes end at a lat coastal strip. The bioclimatic zones follow a rising gradient from south Half of Tunisia’s IPAs lie fully or partly inside protected areas, namely the three national parks, three Ramsar sites, two biosphere reserves and four natural reserves. 34 SECTION 3 Majen Chitane IPA Tunisia © Z. Ghrabi- Gammar COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation to north, from hyper-arid in the Saharan area to humid Mediterranean in the northern mountains. Forests and matorral cover ive percent of the land (reduced from twenty percent at the beginning of the 19th century), mainly in upland areas. They comprise stands of oaks (Quercus canariensis, Q. ilex, Q. suber, Q. coccifera), olive–mastic (Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus), pines (Pinus halepensis) and Tetraclinis articulata. Steppes of esparto (Stipa tenacissima), white wormwood (Seriphidium herba-album = Artemisia herba-alba), Rhanterium suaveolens, or Haloxylon (Haloxylon scoparium, H. schmittianum) cover approximately 20 percent of the country. The Tunisian lora contains 2162 species. Of these, 2103 species in 115 families and 742 genera are included in the three-volume Flore de Tunisie (Cuénod et al., 1954; Pottier-Alapetite, 1979, 1981). The remaining 59 species not mentioned in these volumes are additions by other authors. The most recent work on the nomenclature of Tunisian lora (Le Floc’h and Boulos, 2008) has the advantage of mentioning all taxa correctly or incorrectly attributed to Tunisia. According to the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable, 2010), the Tunisian lora contains 1798 taxa. The number of national endemics is relatively low (71 taxa, comprising 53 species, 12 subspecies, 5 varieties and 1 form). There are 99 North African endemics shared with Algeria and 13 with Libya. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia SECTION 3 Priority IPAs for conservation measures The Tunisian IPA Team has prioritized the following IPAs for conservation measures: Garâa Sejenane, the Kroumirie wetland sites (Sphagnum peat bogs, small semi-permanent lakes and temporary pools), Majen Choucha, the Oued Ziatine alder forest and Toujane. Three of them are described below. Garâa sejenane Garâa Sejenane is within the Mogods region of northern Tunisia, at an average elevation of 100m. The region is characterized by a humid Mediterranean bioclimate with mild winters and a mean annual precipitation of 750mm. As recently as the 1950s, Garâa Sejenane was a 15km2 lake surrounded by a wide belt of quillwort (Isoetes velata), with a club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) marsh in the middle. Much of the site is now dry and grazed or cultivated. It consists of a mosaic of marsh, temporary pools and temporarily looded ields, with a small peat bog habitat at the edge. It is home to about 25 species that are rare and threatened in Tunisia, as well as one stenoendemic species found only at this site: Rumex tunetanus. The main threats to this IPA are drainage, the spread of croplands and pastures, eutrophication and infrastructure development. The site is not yet covered by any conservation measures. Oued Ziatine Oued Ziatine is a permanent watercourse that runs 36km to the Mediterranean Sea at Cap Serrat, in northern Tunisia. Its drainage basin covers 95km2 and receives a mean annual precipitation of 850mm. The region belongs to the humid Mediterranean bioclimate with warm winters. The IPA is characterized by an alder (Alnus glutinosa) riparian forest covering some 10ha, and is rich in species that are rare and protected in Tunisia and/ or endemic to Tunisia and Algeria (Fuirena pubescens, Solenopsis bicolor) or North Africa (Bellis prostrata). This alder forest is threatened by the spread of agriculture and grazing, changes in the water regime and climate change. This site is not subject to any conservation measures. Sphagnum auriculatum in threatened wetland habitat, Tunisia © A. Daoud-Battour Toujane The IPA of Toujane is located in the Matmata massif at an elevation of approximately 600m, not far from the east coast of Tunisia in the Governorate of Gabès. Its bioclimate is arid Mediterranean and it receives an average of 200mm of rainfall a year. The vegetation is garrigue with Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea). The site boasts two stenoendemic species (Rosmarinus eriocalyx and Dianthus cintranus subsp. byzacenus), endemics shared with Algeria or Libya, as well as species that are rare and threatened in Tunisia. The main threats to the site are grazing, collecting of esparto (Stipa tenacissima) for handicrafts, medicinal plants and irewood. Fire and climate change are also a threat to this IPA. The Toujane site belongs to the state and is protected by the Forestry Department. It is classed as a sensitive natural area. Further reading Z. Ghrabi Gammar, 2010. Proposition de Zones Importantes pour les Plantes de Tunisie, May [www.plantlife.org.uk] 35 36 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Libya F. El-Rtaib (Alfateh University) With additional information provided by Matthew Hall (Centre for Mediterranean Plants) IPA Team F. El-Rtaib IPA country coordinator (Alfateh University) [Fig. 12] IPAs of Libya 01 02 03 04 05 Al Jabel Al Akhdar Tawuoryhe Sebkha Jabal Nafusah Messak Mountain Jabal Aweinat IPA summary Five conirmed IPAs have been identiied in Libya to date: Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Tawuorgha Sebka, Jabal Nafusah, Jabal Aweinat and Messak mountain; with a further ive that require study to conirm their status as internationally signiicant sites for plants (Alheesha, Farwa Island, Mamarica, Jabal Al Harouj and Benghazi coast). IPAs in Libya are found in the coastal, mountain and desert habitat types. Al Jabal Al Akhdar IPA (The Green Mountain) in the Cyrenaica region of north east Libya is the largest and most signiicant IPA in Libya. The unique physiographic and climatic conditions which isolate the mountains of Cyrenaican from the rest of Libya, have resulted in Al Jabal Al Akhdar holding 75 – 80% of the Libyan lora and a signiicant proportion of Libya’s endemic plant species, despite only Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya covering 1% of the Libyan territory. This site was the primary focus for the IPA investigation in this project and is described in detail below. The other conirmed Libyan IPAs include the hot springs and open canals of Tawuorgha and the limestone formations of Jabal Nafusah IPA which stretch 500km from the Tunisian border to the Niggaza area on the Mediterranean coast. The latter encompasses a recently established national park Sha afeen. The Environmental General Authority (EGA) is considering the creation of a protected area at Alaweinat IPA in the south eastern corner of the country. Libyan IPAs face a number of threats including development of tourism infrastructure, overgrazing of livestock, forest cutting for wood and charcoal and the spread of invasive alien species. Unregulated development at the coast is a particular threat. Planning processes are erratic and environmental impact assessments (although required by law) are seldom completed or adhered to. • Number of IPAs: 5 (4 in the Mediterranean region) • Number of IPAs containing >20 single country or very restricted range species: 1 Sedum cyrenaicum endemic to Cyrenaica peninsula © S.Jury SECTION 3 37 38 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Libya: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Libya occupies an area of about 1.7 million km2 most of which is desert (the Sahara). The most important areas for plant diversity are the coastal strip and mountains of the Mediterranean coastline (1900km). The original coastal vegetation is dominated by wormwood (Artemisia campestris) and white broom (Retama raetam), with early spring lowering annuals such as Senecio gallicus, Hussonia pinnata, Eruca sativa, Chrysanthemum segetum, Malva sylvestris and Erodium laciniatum, and the perennial herb Echium angustifolium. These species cover large areas for a short time after the winter rainfall. The oases and valleys of the Sahara have sparse vegetation that is low in diversity and includes date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera), Tamarix spp., white broom (Retama raetam), Ziziphus lotus, European boxthorn (Lycium europaeum) and Acacia tortilis. Herbaceous plants include Artemisia judaica, Hyoscyamus muticus and Zilla spinosa, though perennial grasses such Panicum turgidum, Stipagrostis pungens and S. plumosus predominate. In total there are approximately 1750 plant species in Libya, 4% of which are Libyan endemics. Phytogeographically, the lora is predominantly Mediterranean, with strong links to the Eastern Mediterranean (Palestine to Greece), more so than with the rest of North Africa; particularly strong are the links to Crete. Approximately 50% of the Libyan endemics are endemic to Cyrenaica. Qaiser & El-Gadi (1984), estimate that there are approximately 26 endemic plant species on the coastal belt of Cyrenaica. Two plant genera, Pachyctenium Maire and Libyella Pamp are endemic to Al Jabal Al Akhdar, each contain one species; Pachyctenium mirabile and Libyella cyrenaica. Al Jabal Al Akhdar IPA (The Green Mountain) – a priority IPA Thapsia garganica var. sylphium endemic to the Cyrenaica peninsula © S.Jury Jabal Akhdar dominates the Cyrenaica region, located in the north east, it is a biogeographic ‘island’ with the Mediterranean Sea to the north and west, Marmarica plateau to the east and the Sahara desert to the south. It rises from sea level through three levels of escarpments and plains to 882 m. The northern most mountain escarpments (predominantly sandstone) are frequently dissected with deep wadis and the southern slopes descend gradually to the Sahara desert. It is relatively wet (600mm), red alluvial terra rosa soils dominate and therefore is the most important area for agriculture (fruits, cereals and vegetables) in Libya. 100 - 140 species, sub species or varieties are endemic to Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The vegetation communities are (from sea level): coastal plain, coastal escarpment, central plateau and upper escarpment, upper plateau. The coastal plain consists of the sandy beaches, salt marshes and rocky coasts. As in the majority of Mediterranean dune communities Elytrigia juncea (L.) Nevski subsp. juncea is common, its association on Jabal Akhdar with Centaurea pumilio L. and Silene succulenta is unusual. Endemics of the dunes include Helianthemum cyrenaicum, Anthemis Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya taubertii, Teucrium zanonii and Plantago libyca. The salt marshes are analogous to others in the Mediterranean with endemic species such as Frankenia syrtica and Limonium teuchirae. SECTION 3 Cupressus sempervirens in Wadi Mahboul, Al Jabal Al Akhdar © S.Jury The coastal escarpments are dominated by Juniperus phoenicea scrub/ forest. Endemic species include Cyclamen rohlfsianum, Micromeria conferta and Stachys rosea. The wadis are poorly known; the vegetation comprises Juniperus phoenicea scrub/forest on the slopes, with dense semi-deciduous mixed woodland in the channels dominated by Quercus coccifera, Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus pavarii, Ceratonia siliqua, Olea europaea and Cupressus sempervirens. These wadis are rich in endemic plant taxa, e.g. Arum cyrenaicum, Erica sicula subsp. cyrenaica, Onosma cyrenaica and Nepeta cyrenaica. The central plateau of Al Jabal Al Akdhar is used heavily for agriculture. The vegetation of this area is a mixture of maquis and a shrubby batha community in areas of grazing and/or shallow soils. Patches of dense woodland also occur on the upper escarpment above the central plateau. The tree layer here is dominated by Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus phoenicea, Olea europaea, Quercus coccifera, Ceratonia siliqua and Pinus halapensis. The upper plateau is also heavily used for agriculture, with only small patches of Juniperus remaining. Batha forms a major plant community in this area, again often dominated by Sarcopoterium spinosum, Phlomis loccosa, Pallenis spinosa and a rich diversity of grasses and ruderal species. The upper plateau site of Sidi Al Hamri is one of two known locations for Pachyctenium mirabile. Many areas of Al Jabal Al Akhdar lack botanical data, which greatly hinders conservation planning. Four areas within Jabal Akhdar were investigated during the compilation of this report and are described in more detail within the national report (see references): Ain Estowa, Dabbusia spring, Morcus Valley and Spring and El Kouf Valley.The principal threats to the conservation of this IPA are: heavy grazing and inappropriate development and agricultural activities. There is poor environmental planning & management, and the coastal zone is being developed without detailed environmental impact studies. Deforestation is occurring for domestic fuel and charcoal and there is die-back of Juniperus forest. “One hundred to one hundred and forty species, sub species or varieties are endemic to Al Jabal Al Akhdar” Further reading El-Rtaib, F. 2010. The Country Report Important Plant Areas in Libya [Black and white report which can be found at www. plantlife.org.uk] 39 40 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Egypt K. H. Shaltout and E. M. Eid IPA Team K.h. Shaltout IPA country coordinator (Tanta University) M. Kassas and h. hosni (Cairo University) W. Amer and M. Fouda (Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency) M. Zahran, M. El-Demerdash and A. Khedr (Mansoura University) A. El-Gazzar (Suez Canal University) A. Fayed (Assiut University) S. heneidy and M. El-Sheikh (Alexandria University) M. Sheded (South Valley University), h. El-Kady and A. Keshta (Tanta University) E. Eid (Kafr El-Sheikh University) B. hatab (Siwa Protectorate) R. Rizk (National Gene Bank) T. Ahmed (Wadi El-Gemal National Park) h. Shabana and A. Shaltout (Saint Katherine Protectorate) [Fig. 13] IPAs of Egypt 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 North Sinai Mountain Lake Bardawil Lake Manzala Lake Burullus Lake Edku Lake Mariut Omayed Biosphere Reserve Moghra Oasis Western Mediterranean Coastal Dunes Sallum Area Wadi El-Rayan Saint Katherine Nabq Hurghada Wadi El-Gemal Dungul and Dineigil Oases 17 18 19 20 Lake Nasser Wadi Allaqui Saluga and Ghazal Halayeb triangle COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 3 IPA summary Twenty IPAs have been identiied in Egypt to date, with six proposed that require further study to conirm their status as internationally signiicant sites for plants. Of these, ten are located within the Mediterranean region and ive of those contain single country endemics or very restricted range species. The Mediterranean IPAs of Egypt consist of ive coastal lakes or lagoons, including the only oligotrophic hypersaline lake on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast and three lakes within the Nile Delta; as well as the limestone mountains of North Sinai, the coastal ridges and depressions of Omayed Biosphere Reserve, the Moghra Oasis, the oolitic sands of the Western Mediterranean coastal dunes and the plateau of Sallum on the border with Libya. Signiicant species on these sites include the relict patches of Juniperus phoenica populations in North Sinai, Egyptian endemics Astragalus camelorum, Bellevallia salah-eidii, Bromus aegyptiacus, Sinapis allionii, Sonchus macrocarpus (of the coastal lagoons) and Anthemis microsperma, Atractylis carduus var. marmarica, Pancratium arabicum and Zygophyllum album var. album (of the coastal dunes). Wadi vegetation, Saint Katherine IPA © K. Shaltout Floristically, the richest IPA in Egypt is the mountainous Saint Katherine IPA. It contains around 500 vascular plant species and approximately 50% of Egypt’s endemic plant lora. This huge protected site covers over 5,000 km2 of South Sinai and rises up to 2641 m; it is outside the Mediterranean region. • Number of IPAs: 20 (10 in the Mediterranean region) • Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 5 in the Mediterranean region; 3 elsewhere in Egypt • Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (stenoendemics): 1 in the Mediterranean; 2 elsewhere in Egypt • Number of IPAs containing >20 single country or very restricted range species:1 (not Mediterranean) Threats to IPAs in Egypt Hyoscyanus boveanus © K. Shaltout Nº IPAS [Fig. 14] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Egypt Mediterranean IPAs Non Mediterranean IPAs Water (extraction and drainage) 0 Aquaculture / isheries 01 Habitat fragmentation 02 Development (tourism) 03 Agricultural intensiication (arable) 04 Development (infrastructure) 05 Eutrophication 06 Extraction (minerals) 07 Other 08 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 09 41 42 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPAs in Egypt face numerous threats, particularly from overgrazing, tourism and infrastructure related development, eutrophication and mineral extraction. Egypt: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Egypt is situated in the south east of the Mediterranean Sea; her coast includes the delta of the River Nile which bifurcates north of Cairo into two branches that enter the Mediterranean at Rosetta and Damietta promontories. Egypt’s diverse lora contains over 2300 vascular plant species and subspecies, and approximately 190 species and subspecies of mosses and hepatics. This relects the long Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts combined with Egypt’s position between Africa and Asia. Four loral zones are recognised: Mediterranean-Sahara regional transition zone, SaharaSindian regional zone, Irano-Turanian regional centre of endemism and Sahel regional transition zone. The preliminary red data list for the vascular plants of Egypt classiies nearly 450 species as threatened on a national level, although these are not necessarily threatened across the Mediterranean region. There are twenty seven protected areas across the country, which are ecologically signiicant sites, twelve of these, or parts of them, are also IPAs. Three Egyptian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action Sand dunes Lake Burullus IPA Egypt © K. Shaltout “The preliminary red data list for the vascular plants of Egypt classiies nearly 450 species as threatened on a national level, although these are not necessarily threatened across the Mediterranean region” 1. Western Mediterranean coastal dunes IPA / Alkothban Alsahelyya Situated along the coastline west of Marsa Matrouh (100 km), this IPA contains snow-white dunes made from coarse, calcareous oolitic sand which is more than 90% CaCO3 and almost free from salts. Close to the shore, the dunes are small and active, while inland they are stabilised and vegetated. This site remains following the destruction of much the coastal dune belt west of Alexandria over the past twenty years through construction of summer resorts. A total of 219 species (116 annuals and 103 perennials), belonging to 151 genera and 44 families have been recorded. Some 30 species have unique occurrence in these dunes, most are endemic to the Mediterranean; for example Anthemis microsperma, Atractylis carduus var. marmarica, Pancratium arabicum, Helianthemum sphaerocalyx, Onopordum alexandrinum, Plantago crypsoides, Centaurea alexandrinea, Centaurea glomerata, Asphodelus aestivus, Ajuga iva and Sonchus bulbosus. Mediterranean coastal dunes are recognised as a threatened habitat across the region. Threats to the site include overgrazing, collecting and cutting, clearing land for agriculture, habitat loss, anthropogenic disturbance linked to tourism and quarrying. Currently there are no conservation activities within the IPA. As an urgent priority, it is recommended that the best sites within this stretch of dunes should be located and protected as nature reserves. 2. sallum Area This IPA extends for about 120 km from Sallum on the EgyptianLibyan frontier to Sidi Barrani on the Mediterranean coast, varying in Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt SECTION 3 Fagonia Garden © Ilf El Kebir width between 2 and 36 km. The total area is 4374 km2, and ive major geomorphologic units can be distinguished (from the coast in the north to the fringes of the Diffa plateau in the south): Sallum plateau, coastal saline depressions, inland sandy plains, inland rocky plains and shallow wadis. Agriculture (barley, olive and ig crop and grazing livestock) is the main land use, mainly by Bedouin. A total of 219 species were recorded in this area. These include a number of Mediterranean endemics, some of which are restricted to Egypt and Libya and assessed as rare in Egypt: e.g. Allium barthianum, Bellevalia sessililora, Carduncellus mareoticus, Carthamus glaucus and Verbascum letourneuxii. Nabq IPA Egypt © K. Shaltout Major threats include agricultural expansion and intensiication of arable land, overgrazing and over cutting of shrubby plants. There are no conservation activities on this site, but it is newly declared as a protected area. 3. saint Katherine IPA This IPA is also a protected area occupying much of the central part of South Sinai, its diverse landscapes contain many habitats associated with wadis, caves, gorges, plains, mountains, hills, waterfalls and oases. The highest mountains Gebel Saint Katherine (2641m), Gebel Um Shomer (2586m) and Gebel Mousa (2285m), were formed during the Great African Rift around 24 million years ago which led to the creation of the Red Sea and the Aqaba Gulf. This mountainous area is bordered to the north by El-Tih calcareous plateau (540-1620m), the considerable rainfall drains into the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba through a network of deep gorges and relatively shallow wadis. The site contains around 500 vascular plant species, 30 of which are endemic to Egypt (ca 50 % of the endemic species in Egypt) such as Silene oreosinaica, Veronica kaiseri, Primula boveana and Allium sinaiticum which are classiied as nationally endangered species. In addition, this area contains 85 moss taxa (48.8 % of moss taxa recorded in Egypt), including the endemic Tortula kneuckeri and Grimmia anodon var. sinaitica. It contains also one hepatic species Riccia cavernosa. Wadi habitats are particularly under pressure and the site as a whole is threatened by agricultural expansion (especially downstream of the wadis), tourism development linked to transport and hotels, overgrazing, over collection of medicinal plants and drought. St Katherine IPA is among the network of the Egyptian protectorates that have a management team and a reasonable management facility. Endemic species, Primula boveana in Saint Katherine Egypt © K. Shaltout Further reading Shaltout, K.H. and Eid, E. M. 2010. Important Plant Areas in Egypt with emphasis on the Mediterranean region. [Black and white report which can be found at www. plantlife.org.uk] 43 44 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Occupied Palestinian Territories B. Al-Sheikh IPA Team Banan Al-Sheikh Country coordinator (Al Quds University) The Wildlife Society husam Tleeb (Director of Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture) Thaer Rabi (Director of Natural Reserves, Ministry of Agriculture) Dima halawani (Scientiic Museum, Al Quds University) Said Khaseeb (Biology Department, Arab American University) [Fig. 15] IPAs in Palestine 01 02 03 04 05 06 Faqoua`- Jalaboun Wad Alhrameyah - Wad Elbalat - Um Safa - Beit Illo - Ein Samya Wad Qana- Wad Eshai`r Yaseed-Ibzeik Dead Sea Coast Khali (Hebron) Gradient Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Occupied Palestinian Territories SECTION 3 45 IPA summary Nine IPAs have been identiied in Palestine; four have been conirmed and described as internationally important sites the remainder require further investigation, due to access dificulties and lack of capacity. Three IPAs contain single country endemics and all sites contain species that have very restricted distributions but cross adjacent borders for example Iris haynei in Palestine and Israel. The current distribution of many of these locally endemic species is not known (see section 04). The IPAs of Palestine are dominated by maquis (chaparral) vegetation – both dense and open, with Pistacia palaestina, P. lentiscus, Rhamnus palaestinus, Quercus calliprinos and Q. boisseri, frequently interspersed with ancient olive groves. The softer leaved garrigue (phyrgana) with Cistus incanus, C. salvifolious, Smilax aspera; and many medicinal and aromatic species such as Origanum syriaca, Saturja thymbra and Teucrium spp. is found on some IPAs. Remnants of once dense carob forest (Ceratonia siliqua) occur on some sites and populations of Pinus halapenis are found on parts of the more 4,5 mountainous sites. Water (extraction and drainage) Extraction (minerals) Agricultural intensiication (hort) 1,5 Development (urbanisation) 2 Development (infrastructure) 3 2,5 Habitat fragmentation Threats to IPAs in Palestine Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 3,5 Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 4 Forestry deforestation (inc. irewood) Nº of IPAs Iris haynei © B. Al-Sheihk The IPAs in Palestine are threatened by cutting, grazing, occasional 1 burning, habitat fragmentation and very high levels of unsustainable harvest 0,5 of medicinal and aromatic plants. Wood cutting is largely domestic and wild 0 plant harvesting is important for supplementing household incomes. [Fig. 16] Threats affecting IPAs in Palestine Palestine: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Palestine is situated in South West Asia in the east of the Mediterranean basin. The targeted area (5800 square km) has 1600 vascular plant species, tremendously high plant diversity for such a small area; it has three biogeographical areas: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian (semi-desert) and extreme desert. Many habitats present are associated with the climatic transition between Mediterranean and extreme desert. The semi-desert belt (Transition) has higher diversity than other two areas. The preliminary red list of Palestine is available electronically from the author and contains 298 vascular plant species, some of which are globally threatened. Three Palestinian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 1. Faqoua`- Jalaboun IPA Situated in Jenin in the north eastern part of the West Bank, Faqoua`- “Since the 1930s carob forest (Ceratonia siliqua) and the maquis on the mountains at the edge of Marj Ibin Amer has come under intense pressure from deforestation and is very degraded” 46 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES Overcollection of medicinal plants affects many IPAs in Palestine and Syria © B. Al-Sheihk Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Jalaboun IPA has a typical Mediterranean climate and is covered largely by open maquis (chaparral) interspersed with olive groves and ields of wheat and pasture. The latter are part of the famous and most fertile meadow in the Middle East, Marj Ibin Amer. The vegetation is dominated by Rhamnus palaestinus, Quercus calliprinos, Pistacia lentiscus, Calycotome villosa, Ruta chalapensis, Sarcopoterium spinosa and some Ceratonia siliqua trees, in addition to other aromatic and medicinal dwarf shrubs for e.g. Salvia fruticosa, Teucrium divaricatum, Thymbra spicata, Teucrium polium and Foeniculum vulgari. The most restricted species is Iris haynei which is a site restricted endemic (with a range of <100km2), it is present both sides of the Separation Wall in Palestine and Israel. Other Palestinian endemics on this site include Delphinium ithaburense. Since the 1930s carob forest (Ceratonia siliqua) and the maquis on the mountains at the edge of Marj Ibin Amer has come under intense pressure from deforestation and is very degraded. The destruction has been driven by demand for fuel, for domestic and commercial use. This situation is likely to deteriorate as the villages are surrounded to the north and east by the Separation Wall, which is forcing expansion to the west and south and increasing pressure at this site. Raising public awareness is a priority action on this site through publicising Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Occupied Palestinian Territories SECTION 3 47 the existence of Iris haynei and its status as a unique species to this area; possibly undertaking ex situ conservation of this species in local gardens; educating local collectors of aromatic plants on methods of sustainable harvesting; implementation of the law to prevent uprooting of certain species; and inally through decreasing grazing potentially through fencing certain areas with the cooperation of the local council. 2. Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r IPA is situated in Salit in the West Bank between 500–775m on the mountainous ridge of Palestine. It has a Mediterranean climate with mean annual rainfall of 676mm. The vegetation is dominated by maquis (chaparral) with some areas of Pinus halapensis. The most frequent species are Pistacia palaestina, P. lentiscus, Rhamnus palaestinus, Quercus calliprinos, Cistus incanus, C. salviifolius, Smilax aspera, Calycatome villosa, Styrax oficinalis, Lonicera etrusca, Ruta chalapensis, Sarcopotrium spinosa, Inula viscosa and some shrubs and trees e.g. Quercus boissieri and Ceratonia siliqua. Other aromatic and medicinal dwarf shrubs include Salvia fruticosa, Origanum syriaca, Thymbra spicata, Teucrium polium. The area is a reservoir of medicinal plants for Salit and Nablus cities and contains many species protected by law such as Ophrys species and Tulipa agenesis. The IPA also contains olive groves that produce more than 30,000 tones of olive oil in good years, also well as weak springs with associated wetland species. Wood cutting, over harvesting of medicinal plants, agricultural expansion and road construction all threaten this IPA, and there are a number of very active quarries where white gold is being mined. Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r is currently being considered by the Palestinian Authorities as a natural reserve. Improving the local community awareness of the importance of this site is also a priority. Allium qasunense site restricted endemic species Palestine © B. Al-Sheihk 3. Yaseed-Ibzeik IPA Yaseed-Ibzeik IPA is situated in Nablus in the West Bank the area is typically Mediterranean and dominated by maquis (both intact and degraded) carob woodland and garrigue (phrygana). The area has many endemic species like Ferula orietalis, Iris atrufusca, Iris lortetii, Biarum pyrami, Teucrium montbretii and Phylitis sagitata; it is also rich in more widespread Mediterranean endemic species. The area is subjected to heavy grazing, cutting for home use, overharvesting of medicinal plants – some formerly proliic local populations are nearly extinct – and shifting from traditional (extensive) to modern (intensive) agricultural practices with increased used of herbicides and chemical fertilisers with a subsequent reduction in farmland biodiversity. In addition overpumping of ground water has dried out the springs and destroyed their plant communities. Increasing public awareness of the importance of the site and its species is crucial for its conservation. In addition to implementing laws which prevent uprooting of species, teaching sustainable harvesting techniques for Further reading Al-Sheikh, B. 2010. The Country Report Important Plant Areas in Palestine [Black and white report which can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk] 48 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Israel A. Shmida and G. Pollak IPA Team IPA Country coordinators: Prof. Avi Shmida (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Dr. Eliezer Frankenberg (Nature and Parks Authority) Collaborators: Dr. Noam Levin hebrew and Mr. Noam Nisanholz (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Dr. Gad Pollak (Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv) Dr. Margareta Walzcak and Mr. Dotan Rotem (Nature and Parks Authority), Mr. Menahem Zalutsky (Ministry of Environmental Protection) [Fig. 17] IPAs in Israel 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Meiron Hula Mount Carmel Affula Poleg Dead Sea Coast Hebron Gradient Lahav Nizana Sands 10 11 12 13 14 15 Har Negev Hatzeva Sedom Eilat Mountains Acre Netofa Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel IPA summary Fifteen IPAs have been identiied in Israel; seven have a high priority for conservation. These sites encompasses the following habitats: Mediterranean maquis (chaparral); Mediterranean-desert transition (for e.g. Hebron IPA); desert shrubland (Har HaNegev); extreme desert oasis (Dead Sea coast); coastal plain (Poleg), including the unique vegetation associated with the sandy habitats on Hamra soil (red sandy loam) and kurkar (calcareous sandstone); sand dunes; coastal seasonal pools; wadi beds; wetlands and swamp (Hula); springs and riparian vegeation and coastal salt marshes (Acre). Signiicant species include the Israeli endemics Allium negense, Bufonia ramonensis and Ferula daniniias well as numerous regional endemic species such as Iris atrofusca, I. vartanii, Mosheovia galilae and Rheum palaestinum. SECTION 3 [Fig.18] Hotspots of Israel’s red list plants compared with the 15 IPAs (Levin et al unpublished) • Number of IPAs: 15 • Number of the seven priority IPAs containing single country endemic species: 4 • Number of the seven priority IPAs containing very restricted species (steno-endemics): 7 Threats to IPAs in Israel Habitat fragmentation and urbanisation are the greatest threats to IPAs in Israel. Nº of IPAs 09 Security / Military 0 Development (tourism) 01 Development (industry) 02 Burning of vegetation (ires) 03 Water (extraction and drainage) 04 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 05 Habitat fragmentation 06 Development (urbanisation) 07 Agricultural intensiication (arable) Nº of national Red List species 08 [Fig. 19] Threats affecting the seven priority IPAs in Israel Israel: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Israel is a small country (20,770 sq km) and about 70% desert nevertheless it is very rich in plant diversity. The lora of Israel comprises 2272 different wild species from 128 families and 775 genera. 414 of these species are threatened (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable) on a national level and 56 are national endemics. While the number of the Red Plants of Israel is high compared with homologous countries, the number of endemic species is much lower. The richness of the lora is due to Israel’s geographical position between Africa and Asia, where three phytogeographical regions intersect: the Red Species Ratio (Nº of red list species/ total richness) 49 50 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanian and the Saharo-Arabian. At this crossroads a wide range of habitats, altitudes and climates are present, where temperate species coexist alongside species from tropical, desert and xero-alpine climates. Steep geomorphological and ecological gradients rise from the sea, range over lush green arboreal mountains and descend to extreme desert around the Dead Sea, the lowest region on earth. 47.8% of the wild plants in the Mediterranean and desert regions are annuals that occupy small niches and are known for their fast speciation rate. Israel’s lora relects these characteristics. The long co-evolution of the local lora with human culture in the Fertile Crescent yields a rich and diverse annual and antipastoral lora well adapted to the disturbed habitats associated with human civilization. Campanula heirosolymthana a typical Levantine annual © O .Golan As Israel’s borders cut across the three phytogeographical regions, there is a relatively low rate of national endemism in the lora with only 44 strict endemic plant species and 12 more “near-national endemics” (whose distribution extends just a few kilometres over the border into adjacent states). Three IPAs in Israel that are priorities for conservation action 1. Meron IPA “Israel is a small country (20,770sq km) and about 70% desert nevertheless it is very rich in plant diversity. The lora of Israel comprises 2272 different wild species from 128 families and 775 genera” Meron IPA is located in the Har Meron and Wadi Dishon region in the mountain area of Galilee in north Israel. Har Meron is the most humid area in Israel, with 800-1000 mm annual rainfall, and over 800m snow falls one to three times each winter. The vegetation is Mediterranean maquis (chapparal) dominated by Quercus calliprinos and Pistacia palaestina and at the higher elevations also by Quercus boissieri. This is the richest mesic maquis region, 76 species of trees and shrubs are found in Israel only in this northern region. Wadi Dishon sub region is located at the rain shadow of Mt. Meron, where there is a steep gradient from humid Mediterranean to Mediterranean-desert transition vegetation. The vegetation changes from dense maquis to open woodland dominated by Quercus ithaburensis and Pistacia atlantica, accompanied by many steppe herbaceous species. Iris lortetii is endemic to that region and threatened. Meron contains sixty seven nationally threatened species, 12 Israeli endemics such as Iris lortetii and Vicia hulensis and 47 species with restricted distributions in the eastern Mediterranean e.g. Campanula sidoniensis, Iris bismarckiana, Mosheovia galilaea, Orchis israelitica and Sedum palaestinum. A number of species reach their southern extension on Meron IPA for e.g. Prunus ursine, Arabis alpina and Juniperus oxycedrus. Inland the land use is mostly agricultural and in transition from traditional cultivation to intensive methods. Here natural vegetation occurs in abandoned ields, in margins of cultivated areas and in planted groves where many threatened and endemic plants are represented (e.g Mosheovia galilaea, Teucrium spinosum and Potentilla reptans). Meron IPA is threatened by overgrazing cattle; habitat fragmentation through reclamation of land for grazing and military roads; new settlements Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel and expanding old villages; over pumping ground water in wadies and springs; ires due to military activity and agricultural expansion. Most of the area is included in the Har Meron Nature reserve which is protected, though some over grazing occurs. SECTION 3 51 Meron IPA © A. Shmida 2. hula valley The Hula valley is located in north-east Israel in the northern part of the Dead-Sea rift. The climate is typically Mediterranean with 400-650 mm rainfall between October and May. The vegetation is dominated by OakPistacia woodland (Quercus ithaburensis and Pistacia atlantica) on the dry habitats and wetlands in the lower areas. Most of the natural vegetation has been destroyed by modern agriculture in the last 60 years but few small nature reserves have been established. The Hula swamp was once the largest wetland habitat in the Levant until it was drained in 1965. Signiicant wetland habitat was destroyed and ive wetland plant species became extinct from Israel, including Berula erecta, Marsilea minuta and Nymphaea alba. Rich water plant lora, including wetland species at their most southern extent, can be found in the marginal springs which drain to the Hula Lake, this remains under severe threat. The Hula reserve is the most northerly site for tropical Cyperus papyrus. Hula Valley contains three Israeli endemics and numerous east Mediterranean restricted range species, as well as 69 nationally threatened species. The important habitats are highly fragmented and threatened by water extraction, grazing, agricultural activities and urban development. Only a few small reserves remain which could be included under a protection mechanism by the Ministry of Agriculture. A management plan is badly needed for this IPA. “In Meron natural vegetation occurs in abandoned ields, in margins of cultivated areas and in planted groves where many threatened and endemic plants are represented” 52 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Maquis habitat on Meron IPA © A. Shmida Hebron gradient Annual poppies and olives Transition zone © Oz Golan “The Hula swamp was once the largest wetland habitat in the Levant until it was drained in 1965” Further reading Shmida, A. and Pollak, G. 2010. Israel IPA general report [Black and white report available on Plantlife website www. plantlife.org.uk] 3. hebron Gradient IPA This site straddles the border between Israel and the West Bank of Palestine in the south. The Hebron – Eon Gedi Gradient is the most well preserved transition between the Mediterranean and desert vegetation in the Middle East. The gradient runs west to east in the rain-shadow of the Judean-Samarian ridge where altitude drops from 1010m-420m in the east Judean desert, and the rainfall from 450 mm to 76mm. Three vegetation belts typical of the Levant are found: open Mediterranean maquis (chaparral), Mediterranean transition and Hot Desert Oasis - where springs of freshwater are found within extreme hot and arid environments. Sudanese (xero-tropical) species are found in these oases e.g. Capparis deciduas, Maerua crassifolia, Grewia villosa and Cordia sinensis. The Hebron ridge hosts many Mediterranean plants within degraded and grazed Querqus calliprinus maquis including a rich annual lora. South along the ridge species endemic to transitional mountains of the Levant are found. Fifteen Israeli endemics species occur in Hebron IPA as well as numerous species with restricted range in eastern countries e.g. Iris atrofusca, I. vartanii, Petrorhagia arabica and Suaeda palaestina. The site is threatened by sheep grazing which has changed the composition of the lora, increasing spiny plants and reducing overall diversity. Habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, urban development, tourism and water exploitation along the Dead Sea coast are also causing concern. This site is not protected and is in need of a management plan. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon SECTION 3 Lebanon Yazbek M., Machaka-Houri N., Al-Zein M.S., Sai S. Sinno N. and Talhouk, S.N.T. IPA Team Mariana Yazbek Nisrine Machaka-houri (IBSAR, American University of Beirut (AUB)) Mohammad S. Al-Zein (Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut) Samir Sai (Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II, Dept. of Life and Earth Sciences) Nada Sinno (Biology Dept, AUB) Salma Talhouk (LDEM and IBSAR, AUB) [Fig. 20] IPAs of Lebanon 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 Mount Makmel Hermel Plain Aarsal Aammiq Mount Hermon Menjez Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel Palm Islands Bcharreh-Ehden Ras Chekka Tannourine 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Jbail Coast Wadi Jannah Keserwan Sannine - Knaisseh Chouf Nahr Ed-Damour Beirut – Jiyyeh Coast Tyre - Naqoura Rihane 53 54 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPA summary Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), in Maaser forest. Although protection measures such as the creation of the AlShouf Cedar Nature Reserve have been undertaken, the Cedar woodlands of Central Mount-Lebanon are threatened by overgrazing, unregulated tourism, and a high occurrence of forest ires in forests below the slope. Lebanon © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon In the current study the Lebanese team worked in bilateral cooperation with IUCN, Plantlife and WWF to deine twenty IPAs in Lebanon using published literature and consultations with national experts. The IPAs of Lebanon are distributed throughout the country and are representative of its major ecosystems and habitats. Although as expected, the majority of the IPA sites lie on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon range and include Qornet Es-Sawda (the highest peak in the country at 3088m). IPAs are also found on the Eastern Mediterranean shore, the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, the semi arid areas of the Bekaa valley and the marshes of West Bekaa. Endemic and/or threatened species are found in almost every designated IPA, most of them contain more than 10 nationally endemic species and some sites are exceptionally rich in endemics: Bcharreh-Ehden (50 species), Chouf (32), Makmel (25) and Keserwan (25). They include threatened endemics represented in a single IPA: Vicia canescens Labill (in Mount Makmel IPA), Chaerophyllum aurantiacum Post (Tannourine IPA), Centaurea mouterdii Wagenitz. (Rihane) and Tulipa lownei Baker (Chouf) or within more than one IPA for example: Matthiola crassifolia Boiss. et Gaill., Melissa inodora Boiss., Viola libanotica Bornm. and Iris sofarana Foster. In addition to endemics, the designated IPAs include some species that are at the edge of their distribution range such as Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carr found in Bcharreh-Ehden IPA and Ostrya COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 3 carpinifolia Scop. in Jabal Moussa (Wadi Jannah IPA). Although all identiied IPAs contain species with trans-boundary distributions, many contain (very local) steno-endemics (see section IV on restricted range species). Qammouaa-Dinnyeh-Jurd Hermel, Palm Islands, Bcharreh-Ehden, Tannourine and Tyre-Naqoura IPAs include entire nature reserves or parts thereof. Aamiq, Palm Islands, Ras Chekka and Tyre Naquora include Ramsar sites. Qadisha valley is a natural heritage site, Wadi Jannah, Chouf and Rihane are bioreserves and Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel is under consideration for some kind of protection. • Number of IPAs: 20 • Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 16 • Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (stenoendemics) within Lebanon: 12 Silene makmeliana Restricted to small areas of Lebanon and Syria © N. Machaka-Houri Threats to IPAs in Lebanon Almost every type of habitat in Lebanon is threatened; urban expansion is invading every mountain, coast, plain, and valley. Examples of IPAs facing anthropomorphic threats include the coast (Beirut–Jiyyeh Coast and Tyre-Naqoura), dry plains (Hermel Plain), wetlands (Aammiq), riparian ecosystems (Wadi Jannah and Nahr Ed-Damour), as well as mountains and valleys in most of the IPAs of Mount Lebanon. The expansion and intensiication of agriculture, deforestation and climate change (are also frequent threats to IPAs (Fig. 21). Nº of IPAs Wadi Nahr Ibrahim Lebanon © N. Machaka-Houri Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 0 Habitat fragmentation 02 Water (extraction and drainage) 04 Extraction (minerals) 06 Burning of vegetation (ires) 08 Forestry deforestation (inc. irewood) 10 Development (tourism) 12 Development (urbanisation) 14 Climate change (sea level rise) 16 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 18 [Fig. 21] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Lebanon Lebanon: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Lebanon hosts a rich variety of wildlife including many rare and endemic plant species, due to variation in topography, habitats and climate. Around 2,790 species of vascular plants comprise the Lebanese lora, including approximately 92 national endemic species. Two loristic ensembles are recognised in the country; Mediterranean and Presteppic Mediterranean, they are represented in almost all of their vegetation levels. “Almost every type of habitat in Lebanon is threatened; urban expansion is invading every mountain, coast, plain, and valley” 55 56 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation The Mediterranean ensemble includes diverse vegetation series, such as the: Arbutus andrachne El Chouf, Lebanon © Pedro Regato • Thermomediterranean serie of Ceratonia siliqua and Pistacia lentiscus • Thermo- and Eu-mediterranean series of Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens • Thermo-, Eu- and Supra-mediterranean series of Pinus pinea, Quercus calliprinos and Q. infectoria, • Eu-mediterranean series of Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus and Q. cerris • Mountainous series of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica and Q. cedrorum and Q. brantii ssp. look • Mountainous and Oro-mediterranean series of Juniperus excelsa The Presteppic Mediterraneranean ensemble includes: • Presteppic mediterranean and supra-mediterranean series of Q. calliprinos and • Presteppic mountainous and oro-mediterranean series of J. excelsa. “Efforts to produce inventories for elaborating management of sites remain hindered by the absence of baseline data” Lebanon has been designating protected areas since the 1930s. These currently include nature reserves (8 sites), natural sites protected by decision of the Minister of Environment (Forests and Landscape, 8 sites; River and streams, 8 sites), Hima and forests declared by the Minister of Agriculture (17), tourism sites declared by the Ministry of Tourism (14), natural sites & monuments declared by decrees (8), and sites of natural and/or ecological importance in need of protection. To manage its biodiversity, Lebanon, a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has devised management teams consisting of a Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon SECTION 3 consortium of private and public groups including local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and municipalities. The management teams have subsequently contracted national and international scientists to produce species inventories in order to elaborate management approaches. These efforts remain hindered by the absence of baseline data identifying ecosystems, habitats, assemblages and populations, as well as the absence of species maps and a formal threat status for species (provided for example by a red-listing process). Three Lebanese IPAs that are priorities for conservation action Makmel Forest in Qammamine villlage Devil’s valley, Lebanon © N. Machaka-Houri This IPA comprises a chain of high mountain peaks in the North of Lebanon covered with snow for long periods, sometimes more than six months. Al-Qournet es-Sawda, the highest peak along the Eastern Mediterranean coast is within this site. The vegetation is predominantly oromediterranean and the area is very rich in plant species (ca. 200 recorded). It is home to 47 species restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 6 endemic to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, 36 to Lebanon and Syria and 25 to Lebanon. Qammouaa- dinnyeh Qammouaa- Dinnyeh IPA is situated mostly in the Akkar district in North Lebanon and contains the largest continuous stands of natural forests in Lebanon. A huge diversity of forest types occur at this site: Calabrian pines, mixed cedar, ir and juniper, mixed ir and cedar, pure ir, evergreen oak and relic turkey oak stands. The area covers four vegetation series: the Eu-, Supra-, Mountainous and Oro-Mediterranean and it is characterised by a wide variety of landscapes: valleys, forests, rivers, gorges, rocky cliffs and mountains. 320 species plant species have been recorded: 82 species are restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 6 are endemic to Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, 17 to Lebanon and Syria, 9 to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, 10 to Lebanon and 2 threatened species according to experts’ opinion. Remnant Cedrus libani forest under Al-Quornet es-Sawda peak Makmel IPA © N. Machaka-Houri Jabal Moussa- Nahr Ibrahim Situated on the western slopes of Mount Lebanon, in the central part of the country, this IPA extends along the southern banks of Nahr Ibrahim (Ibrahim River). The site has been continuously inhabited for more than a thousand years and contains Roman inscriptions, deserted houses and wells. The importance of this IPA resides not only in its species and ecosystem diversity (deciduous oak-pine woodlands, mixed evergreendeciduous woodlands and garrique) but it is also the southernmost limit of Ostrya carpinifolia in the Eastern Mediterranean. The core area of the Jabal Moussa Biosphere, one of Lebanon’s globally recognised Important Bird Areas (IBA) is included and it is one of Lebanon’s sites for old growth trees. The IPA is very rich in plant species (216 species) and is home to 61 species restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 8 endemic to Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, 2 endemic to Lebanon and Syria, 8 to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, 13 to Lebanon and 10 threatened species according to experts’ opinion. Further reading Yazbek M., Machaka-Houri N., Al-Zein M.S., Sai S., Sinno N. and Talhouk S. 2010. Important Plant Areas of Lebanon. ISBAR (AUB)/IUCN [Black and white report which can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk] 57 58 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Jordan Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Jordan Dawud al- Eisawi [Fig. 22] IPAs in Jordan 01 02 03 04 05 06 Wadi Rum Dana Nature Reserve Karack Salt Alouk Um Queis 07 08 09 10 11 12 Lava Safawai Burqu’ Ajlum Bayer Azraq Mujib Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria SECTION 3 Syria H. Hmidan, Z. Shater, F. Al-Mahmoud, S. Karzon, N. Sanadiki, R. Hamoudeh, A. Al-Hasan, A. Almasri and A. E. Darwich IPA Team IPA country coordinator: hayan hmidan Conservation Oficer, Syrian Society for Conservation of Wild Life (SSCW) Dr. Zuheir Shater (Tishreen University) Fadi Al-Mahmoud (UNDP project plant expert) Sulaiman Karzon (University of Hohenheim) Nayef Sanadiki (former assistant botanist, Damascus University) [Fig. 23] IPAs in Syria 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Karatchok-Tigris Kurd Dag Jabal Abdul Aziz Jabal Al Wastani Hass-Jabbul Jisr al shogur Fronloq-Kasab Umm Al Tuyur-Bassit Salma-Haffeh Slenfeh-Jaubet et Berghal Ghab Jabal Bishri Abu Qbeis Kanfo Mayadin Massiaf-Qadmous Al Bil As Jabal al Sha ir Jabal Abu Rujmain 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Daher al Qseir Al Kabeer al Jonubi Akkoum Anti-Lebanon Qalamoun Qassioun Rakhleh - Wadi al Qarn Utaiba - Hijane Hermon North Golan Es Safa Lajat Jabal Al Arab Yarmuk Valley Reham hamoudeh (National Commission for Agricultural Scientiic Research) Amin Al-hasan (Directorate of Agriculture in Idleb, Ministry of Agriculture) Aroub Almasri (National Commission for Biotechnology) Dr. Akram Eissa Darwich (State Ministry for Environmental Affairs) 59 60 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPA summary Thirty three IPAs have been identiied in Syria, plus a further ten sites that require fundamental botanical research before they can be conirmed as IPAs. These IPAs are located throughout the country within each of the nationally recognised Mediterranean bioclimatic divisions: humid, sub-humid, semi arid, arid and Saharan. A large number of sites are mountainous, located within the parallel coastal and the eastern mountain ranges as well as in the isolated mountains of the interior. They include the endemic plant centres of the Northern Levant such as Kurd Dag IPA (endemics include Onosma cinerea, Cicer bijugum and various Astragalus spp.); centres of endemism in Antioch and Amanus; sites capturing EuroSiberian plant species at their southern limit (for e.g. Smilax excelsa, Iberis sempervirens and I. taurica on Frolonq-Kasub IPA); and the best examples of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica forests (Slenfeh-Jaubet al Berghl), which are threatened across the whole Mediterranean. Anti-Lebanon IPA has exceptional local endemism © H. Hmidan The level of local endemism is exceptionally high in Syria (as across the whole of the Levant). Restricted range endemic species can be found in nearly every IPA, mega diverse hotspots for restricted range species include in Qassiun and Anti Lebanon IPAs, the extraordinary diversity of the latter is in part due to the presence of sub alpine and alpine habitats which are absent elsewhere in the country (restricted range species on Anti Lebanon include Iris antilibanotica, Thymus alfredae, Silene schlumbergeri, Alyssum subspinosum, Astragalus antilibani, Ferulago frigida). The isolated mountains of the interior are dominated by Syrian steppe vegetation and also harbour many local endemics, one of the richest sites being Jabal Abu Rujmain IPA which lies between the arid and Saharo-mediterannan bioclimatic zone and contains over 20 restricted range (and country endemic species) e.g. Iris postii-mout, Onobrychis pinnata, Ajuga rechingeri). Threatened wetlands are also represented in the Syrian IPA inventory - in the shallow saline lake of Hass Jabbul IPA, the riparian sites of Mayadin (the Euphrates) and Al Kabir al Jonubi (coastal river), and remnant swamp vegetation at Ghab and Utaib-Hijaneh. In the south of Syria IPAs such as Es Safa contain the northern limits of the Saharo-Arabian lora (Kickxia aegyptica and Rheum palaestinum) and Jabal al Arab – with its vast diversity and local endemism due its unique position at the junction of the sub-humid and semi-arid Mediterranean bioclimatic zones. Seven of the IPAs in Syria are partially or totally protected, including one Ramsar site (internationally important wetland), and three have some form of management plan active on part or all of the site. • • • • Number of IPAs: 33 Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 25 Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (steno-endemics): 27 Number of IPAs containing >20 single country or very restricted range species: 5 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Threats to IPAs in syria The most frequent threat to IPAs in Syria is the unsustainable collection of herbs and medicinal plants (affecting 91% of sites) this is closely followed by the threat from overgrazing. Deforestation (speciically gathering leaves and branches for fodder and wood for fuel) is another major cause for concern, which is exacerbated by burning on 14 IPAs. Tourism development and extraction of minerals are concerns on 50% of Syrian IPAs. Nº of IPAs [Fig. 24] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Syria Development (urbanisation) 0 Water (extraction and drainage) 02 Development (infrastructure) 04 Burning of vegetation (ires) 06 Extraction (minerals) 08 Development (tourism) 10 Agricultural intensiication (arable) 12 Forestry: deforestation (inc. irewood) 14 Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 16 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 18 Pistacia atlantica open woodland, Syria © H. Hmidan SECTION 3 61 62 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation syria: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Syria is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Basin and forms an integral part of the Levant countries. Syrian territory includes 183km of Mediterranean sea coast, plains, mountain ranges, plateaus and semideserts. Over 60% of the country is a plateau between 200-600m and mountains between 600 and 2000m form the remainder. The climate is Mediterranean with precipitation in the cool seasons of the year, summers are hot and dry. Altitude, latitude, orographic shadow effects and distance from the Mediterranean are the main factors that affect the climate; precipitation tends to decrease from west to east and from north to south. Sideritis nuarsariensis © F. Al- Mahmoud “Altitude, latitude, orographic shadow effects and distance from the Mediterranean are the main factors that affect the climate; precipitation tends to decrease from west to east and from north to south” Five Mediterranean bioclimatic zones are recognised: humid, sub-humid, semi arid, arid and Saharan, deined by gradually decreasing rainfall. In the humid Mediterranean the vegetation is evergreen forest covering in the coastal mountains and some high peaks of the eastern mountain chain. At lower elevations this is dominated by Quercus infectoria, Quercus calliprinos, Pinus brutia, Pistacia lentiscus, Fraxinus ornus and at higher elevations by Quercus infectoria, Abies cilicica, Cedrus libani, Juniperus and Picea. Sub-alpine forest (Juniperus excelsa) and meadows are found over 2000m. The main vegetation type in the sub-humid Mediterranean zone is degraded oak forest (Quercus calliprinos, Quercus ithaburiensis, Pistacia palaestina) found on the coastal plains, the mid to high altitudes of the Eastern mountains, Golan Heights, and the highest peaks of Jabal al-Arab. Open degraded steppic woodlands (Pistacia atlantica, Crataegus sp., Amygdalus sp.) with grasses and legumes are found in the semi-arid zone on the eastern slopes of the Eastern mountain chain and the adjacent plains of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and the fringes of the Fertile Crescent (high peaks of the inner mountains and the Upper Jezira area). The arid zone comprises the western and the northern limits of the eastern plateau including Jezira plains, grasses and shrubs dominate (Astragalus, Salsola, and Artemisia). The Saharan zone is in the east and the southeast where perennial formations of dwarf shrubs are found (including species of Achillea, Anabasis and Haloxylon). The Syrian lora includes 3077 species belonging to 133 families and 919 genera, the majority of which are Mediterranean or Irano-Tauranian. Syria has approximately 243 endemic species however historically, the Syrian and Lebanese loras have been treated together in which case there are 330 endemic species to both countries; around 8% of the joint lora. The genera Iris, Astragalus, Centaurea and Allium have the largest percentage endemism in Syria. Three syrian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action The national expert team identiied the following IPAs as priorities for conservation action: Kurd Dag, Salma Haffeh, Ghab, Anti Lebanon and Jabal al Arab – three of these are described in detail below. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria 1. Kurd dag IPA Kurd Dag is an elevated calcareous mountain massif which occupies the north-western corner of Syria and is an important example of the well preserved vegetation associated with the Eastern mountain chain. It forms the southern continuation of Taurus Mountains parallel to the Amanus Mountains in Turkey, running 50 km from the north-east to the south-west, its highest point is Kutchuk Darmik at 1230m. Sub-humid to semi-arid Mediterranean bioclimatic conditions prevail over the site. Botanically it is a centre of endemism for the Northern Levant due to the large numbers of species restricted to South Turkey/North Syria for example Vaccaria linilora, Ranunculus millefolius, Astragalus antabicus, Astragalus darmikii, Vicia qatmnesis, Psoralea jaubertiana. The site is threatened by agricultural expansion, overgrazing of livestock, wood collection for fuel, collection of herbs and medicinal plants and burning of weeds in the adjacent agricultural lands. There are also concerns about extraction of minerals and construction of dams on this site. The site has no legal protection and no management plan. 2. Anti Lebanon IPA Juniperus on Anti-Lebanon IPA © H. Hmidan This mountain range on the Syrian-Lebanese border is the most important centre of endemism for Syria and the only Syrian IPA to possess sub alpine and alpine habitats. The majority of the site is above 2000m and forms a large extended area of high uplands, unique to the Levant countries. The maximum height is 2616m at Tala’at Musa peak. The numerous mountain peaks, steep slopes, vertical cliffs and deep valleys provide diverse plant habitats. Precipitation is modest due to the rain shadow effect of the Lebanese mountains and the whole area is located within the semi-arid Mediterranean bioclimatic zones. Low temperatures and long period of snow and frost allow the survival of sub-alpine and alpine vegetation, this isolation promotes speciation that has resulted in large numbers of narrow endemics. Thirty eight species on this site are restricted to the Anti Lebanon IPA e.g. Phagnolon linifolium, Helichrysum pygmaeum, Thymus alfredae and Ferulago frigida over 50 additional species recorded here are restricted to speciic mountain ranges in Syria and/or Syria and Lebanon. Numerous threats affect this very large IPA: agricultural expansion, overgrazing, wood gathering for fuel, over collection of medicinal plants, burning of weeds, mineral extraction and development for tourism, transport and urbanisation. A protected area covers about 60% of the IPA. 3. Jabal al Arab IPA Jabal al Arab (also known as Jabal Druze or Jabal Hauran) is the second most important site for endemism in Syria and a unique site for basalt habitats. The site consists of a convex volcanic massif extending over southern Syria, the highest point on this plateau is Tall Ghineh at 1803 m Orchis tridentata Abu Quies IPA Syria © F. Al- Mahmoud SECTION 3 63 64 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria Jabal Al Arab IPA Centre of endemism for Syria © H. Hmidan Further reading Hmidan, H., Shater, Z., Al-Mahmoud, F. Karzon, S. Sanadiki, N. Hamoudeh, R., Al-Hasan, A., Almasri, A. and Darwich A.E. 2010. Syria country report on the identiication of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in Syria (Rapid assessment). Syrian Society for Conservation of WildLife (SSCW) [Black and white report which can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk] Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation in the core of the IPA. No permanent water courses are present but many valleys (wadis) drain the mountain, these are deep and short on the eastern slopes and longer and shallower in the west. A few permanent and seasonal lakes and pools can be found within the IPA. Jabal al Arab is exposed to Mediterranean winds through the Golan-Galilee gap and so the sub-humid and the semi-arid Mediterranean zones meet on this mountain, accounting for the remarkably diverse and unique lora. Gagea procera, Allium drusorum and Iris auranitica are among the species unique to this range. Over 20 restricted range species can be found here as well as a number of species whose southern or northern limit fall within the IPA. Nationally (but not regionally) threatened habitats are pools, basaltic rocks, Quercus look and Pistacia atlantica open woodlands. The threats to this site are many and mirror those of the Anti Lebanon IPA, only 2% of the site is protected and there is no management plan. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania SECTION 3 Albania Lulëzim Shuka, Murat Xhulaj and Mihallaq Qirjo IPA Team Rezart Kapedani and Mihallaq Qirjo Assoc. Prof. PhD (Regional Environment Center Albania) Lulëzim Shuka Assoc. Prof. PhD Murat Xhulaj Prof. PhD (Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology) [Fig. 25] IPAs in Albania 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 Grykëderdhja e Bunës - Velipojës Skoda Lake and Buna River Lugina e Cemit Alpet Veriore Shqiptare Pashtrik - Morinë Gjallicë - Koritnik Korabi Rrajcë - Shebenik - Jabllanicë Liqeni i Ohrit Mali i Thatë Liqenet e Prespës Gramoz - Shelegur Lugina e Vjosës - Çarshovë Zhej - Nemërçkë Kepi i Stillos 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Kolsh - Mali i Runës Bjeshka e Oroshit Kunorat e Lurës Zall - Gjoçaj Liqeni i Zi Grykëderdhja e Drinit - Ceka - Vain Qafë Shtamë Mali me Gropa - Bizë - Martanesh Krujë _Tujan Parku i Dajtit Kepi i Rodonit - Pylli i Ishmit Holtë - Bulçar Shpat - Polis Guri i Topit - Valamarë Tomorri 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Lugina e Gjergjevicës Drenovë - Nikolicë Parku i Divjakës Këneta e Roskovecit Vjosës (Vlorë) Karaburuni - Mali i Çikës Kanioni i Gjipesë Bredhi i Hotovës Porto Palermo Kardhiq Rrëzomë Borsh - Lukovë Bistricë - Muzinë Ksamil Liqeni i Butrintit 65 66 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation IPA summary Gramozi IPA Ten European threatened habitats are found here, including four priority habitats threatened throughout the Mediterranean. © REC Albania Forty ive IPAs have been identiied in Albania covering an area of 384,824 hectares and including 15 transboundary sites; 4 with Montenegro, 2 with Kosovo, 5 with Macedonia FYR and 4 with Greece. These IPAs contain a huge variety of habitats; forests, maquis, grassland and wetland and are located throughout the country, in the mountain ranges in the north, south and east as well as along the coast in the west and around the lakes in the east. One hundred and thirty three European threatened habitats (from the EU Habitat Directive and the Bern Convention annexes) are found in Albania and have been used alongside threatened species to identify Albania IPAs under criterion C. One hundred ninety six red listed species can be found on these 45 IPA, these are not all ‘threatened’ but are frequently ‘rare’ on a nationally or global scale. Many are also Albanian and/or Balkan endemic species. Globally threatened species such as Wulfenia baldacci and Ligusticum albanicum are two endemics that are restricted to the Northern Albanian Alps. Two regionally threatened mosses are also restricted to a single site in Albania: Buxbaumia viridis (to Northern Albanian Alps IPA) and Mannia triandra (to Karaburun - Mali i Çikës IPA). The regionally threatened aquatic fern Salvia natans is found on Roskoveci swamp and the threatened vascular plant Marsilea quadifolia is found in Shkodra Lake and Fritillaria messanensis subsp. gracilis in Gjallicë-Koritnik. Albanian IPAs are subject to various levels of protection some sites have more than one type of designation. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Level of protection No. of IPAs Strictly Protected Area 5 National Parks 13 Monuments of Nature 2 Natural Managed Reserve 6 Landscape/Seascape Protected Area 4 Landscape Protected Area 4 Protected Resource Area 2 Ramsar Wetland Site 2 No protected status 7 Seven IPAs have no protected area status and for others there are no clear management plans to provide information on how to safeguard the biodiversity present, special attention should be given to these sites. • No. of IPAs: 45 • No. of IPAs from 10 selected sites with single country endemic species: 8 • No. of IPAs from 10 selected sites with very restricted species (stenoendemics): 8 Threats to IPAs in Albania The main threats to IPAs in Albania are overgrazing, illegal deforestation, burning of vegetation, tourism development and recreational habitat fragmentation and eutrophication (enrichment). SECTION 3 67 Pashtrik IPA © REC Albania “Seven IPAs have no protected area status and for others there are no clear management plans to provide information on how to safeguard the biodiversity present” 68 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Nº of IPAs Unsustainable Plant Exploitation Extraction (minerals) Eutrophication 0 Development (tourism) 1 0,5 Burning of vegetation (ires) 2 1,5 Forestry deforestation (inc. irewood) 3 2,5 Agricultural intensiication (grazing) 4 3,5 Natural events (loods, ires, droughts) 5 4,5 [Fig. 26] Threats affecting 10 selected IPAs in Albania Albania: lora, vegetation and plant conservation Solanathus albanicus Albanian endemic species © REC Albania Albania is situated in the north east of the Mediterranean basin, covering 28,748km2 including 480km of coastline on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Albania shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia FYR and Greece and is an integral part of the Balkan Peninsula; an area of considerable plant endemism. Mountains cover two thirds of Albania; these are frequently rugged and dificult to access. Prokletije range in the north is the southern end of limestone massif of the Dinaric Alps, mountains of the Serpentine zone (named after the bed rock) extend from Prokletije south to the Greek border and in the east the Eastern highlands form the border with Macedonia (including the highest peak in Albania, Mount Korabi – 2754m). Three important lakes occur on the eastern border with Macedonia and Greece: Ohrid (the deepest lake in the Balkans, Macro Prespa and Micro Prespa while Albania shares the biggest lake in the Balkans (Lake Shkodra) with Montenegro. The coastline also has a high biological diversity with approximately 100 km2 of wetlands (most of them adjacent to the Adriatic Sea). The Albania lora contains 3200 species of vascular plants of which 27 are national endemics and 160 endemic to the Balkans. Approximately 30% of the European lora is present in Albania. The latest Albanian national plant red list was produced in 2007 (Order Nr.146, dt. 8.5.2007) and contains 365 plant species, 74 % of which are threatened on a national level (CR, EN, VU). The country has 53 protected areas and monuments (June 2010). Three Albanian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 1. Gramozi Mountain IPA (Mali i Gramozit) Gramozi Mountain IPA is located in the south-east of Albania in the north Pindos Mountains on the border with Greece. The site is dominated by pasture, with forests with Abies borisii-regis and Fagus sylvatica in the south east of the site. There are also large communities of endemic black pine forest (Pinus nigra). Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Ten European threatened habitats (forest, grassland and screes) are found on this IPA including four priority habitats that are threatened throughout the Mediterranean: semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland on calcareous substrates, Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands, (sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines and Juniperus oxycedrus woods. Various restricted range species are present on the site such as Cistus albanicus and Chaerophyllum heldreichii, (which are threatened and endemic to Albania), and Balkan endemics such as Crocus cvijicii limited to mountains in south west Macedonia/south east Albania/north east Greece. Threats from natural events (disease/ire/drought) have increased over the last ive years, overgrazing and unsustainable plant exploitation are also signiicant threats to the integrity of this site. The IPA is not protected and there is no management plan. 2. Korabi Mountain IPA (Mali i Korabi) Korabi Mountain IPA is located in north eastern part of Albania and the mountain crosses the border into Macedonia FYR (where it is also an IPA). The area has predominately limestone substrates with outcrops of siliceous rocks at higher elevations. A signiicant part of the site is alpine pastures where many local endemic species are found; Draba korabensis, Ranunculus degenii and Ranunculus wettsteinii are only found on Korabi mountain and Phyteuma pseudorbicularis, Scrophularia bosniaca, Viola kosaninii and Crocus scardicus are Balkan endemics with very restricted ranges. Thirteen European threatened habitats are present on this site (alpine grassland, rocky habitats, river and forests) including the priority habitats: Endemic forests with Juniperus spp., speciic calcareous or basophilic grasslands, xeric sand calcareous grasslands and active raised bogs. Deforestation is an increasing threat and overgrazing is a severe problem at this IPA. This site will be proclaimed as a protected area in 2010/11. 3. Tomorri Mountain IPA (Mali i Tomorrit) Tomorri Mt. is the highest mountain in south-western Albania. The upper part is pasture, whereas the sub alpine belt is dominated by forest of Bosnian pine (Pinus heldereichii) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). The site is also an important point of pilgrimage for the region. Threatened species Astragalus autranii, Carduus cronicus and Onosma mattirolii are endemic to this mountain site. Considerable numbers of Balkan endemics species are also present: Pinus heldereichii, Melampyrum heracleoticum, Fritillaria graeca, Centaurea graeca, Pedicularis graeca and Sideritis raeseri. Tomorri hosts twelve European threatened habitats including four priorities: speciic calcareous or basophilic grasslands, xeric sand calcareous grasslands and Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands. Overgrazing and burning of vegetation are severe at this site the threat from deforestation is decreasing. This area (4000 ha) was declared a Protected Area in 1996 in the category of ‘National Park’. SECTION 3 “Threats from natural events (disease/ire/ drought) have increased over the last ive years, overgrazing and unsustainable plant exploitation are also signiicant threats to the integrity of Gramozi Mountain IPA” Further reading Dida M., Dragoti N., Kromidha G., Fierza Gj. 2004. Albanian Natural Areas-National Parks. (in Albanian) Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration (MEFWA) studies: • 2006. Study for the increase of the Protected areas in Albania (in Albanian) • 2007. Biodiversity Enabling Activity; 370 pp. • 2007. Albanian national plant red list. • Various studies for the proclamation of protectes areas (the Divjakë-Karavasta ecosystem, the Kruja Mountain-Qafë Shtama mountainous ecosystem, the Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh mountainous ecosystem) • Quiro, M. 2010. Important Plant Areas of Albania. [Black and white report which can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk] 69 70 SECTION 4 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN 04 section Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 4 71 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN ThE SOUTh AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN .Describing restricted range or locally endemic species within this Mediterranean project .Preliminary restricted range species in North Africa and the Middle East There are approximately 13,000 plant species, sub species and varieties endemic to the whole Mediterranean region, i.e. they are found only within this region and nowhere else on earth. That around 45% of the region’s lora is endemic is signiicant in itself, but many of these species and sub species are restricted to particular sub-regions within the Mediterranean e.g. the Magreb, Levant or the Balkans or even further restricted to one small region of <5,000km2 or one ‘site’ of <100km2 – in many cases they may be known from one or two IPAs. These species can be found within a single country or have restricted distributions that cross national borders. Within the south and east Mediterranean those species whose range is restricted within single countries (single country endemics) are often better known than those that have restricted distributions across borders; simply because historically plant species have been investigated on a national basis. The distributions (and status’) of those species that have restricted ranges but occur across national borders, are not well known or well documented, however they are an important component of the diversity and one that is believed to be very threatened. A deinitive list of restricted range (local endemic) plant taxa for two of the Mediterranean sub regions within this project (North Africa and the Middle East) does not exist, though there is reasonable to very good knowledge of the distribution of national endemic species within countries. Local species endemism is an important element of IPA identiication in the region (especially as the global threat status of most species is unavailable and national threat assessments are of limited use for regional prioritisation). This lack of a deinitive regional list of restricted range species was recognised as an important element needed to inform IPA identiication work. Country IPA teams therefore started the process of building distribution lists of these restricted range species (occurring in an area <5.000km2), alongside the preliminary IPA assessment. Lebanese endemic, Cousinia libanotica on Makmel IPA © N. Machaka-Houri [left page] Aerial view of El Feidja National Park, an important watershed for north Tunisia and a unique conservation area for rare species such as the Barbary deer El Feidja National Park, Tunisia © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon 72 SECTION 4 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN Argyrocystitus battandieri, an endemic of Mediterranen cedar forests © P. Regato The process and preliminary results are described below, restricted range species lists were developed using existing data and expert knowledge. Assessing the threat status of these species has proved dificult beyond national level, and forms one of the recommendations for further work resulting from this project. describing restricted range or locally endemic species within this Mediterranean project The objective for this part of the project was to develop a preliminary list of restricted range species regardless of whether they were located in a single country or in multiple countries. Iris antilibanotica restricted to the Anti-Lebanon mountains © F. Al- Mahmoud Plant taxa1 (henceforth referred to as species) are often referred to as ‘endemic’ to a particular location, i.e. restricted to one place; the smaller the area they cover the more unique (and potentially the more threatened) those species are. Species limited to a very small locality are known as steno-endemic or ‘site restricted’. Historically plant species have often been described as endemic to a particularly country, e.g. endemic to Albania or Algeria, i.e. as a ‘single country endemic’. This terminology has limited use. If the country is small the phrase ‘single country endemic’ may be signiicant because it may indicate a small distribution for that species, however if the country is large it may not be signiicant because the species distribution may also be large. Species of more signiicance may be ‘multi-country endemics’ that have very limited distributional ranges (for example a species present in Morocco and Algeria but only within a very local area on the coast that happens to cross the border). Despite universal recognition of multi-country endemicity the terminology associated with it is confusing. For this project terminologies were adopted to clarify the ranges were being ascribed to species (see box 2) and also to indicate certain ‘sub’ regions (box 3), this terminology has been used in this (irst attempt) to draw together a list of restricted range species for these regions. 1 Taxa (plural) taxon (singular) is a general term for a taxonomic group whatever its rank – e.g. genus, species, sub species, variety. Within the project we have considered plant taxa with the taxonomic rank of species, sub species and variety, but henceforth ‘species’ is used in place of ‘taxa’ to improve the ease of reading the text. SECTION 4 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Box 02 Crassula vaillantii © G. de Belair Endemic deinitions used in this project A species whose distribution is conined to a given area or location and nowhere else in the world is said to be endemic to that area. ‘Endemic’ should never be used without a complement (ie. endemic to syria, endemic to Jabal Akhdar) sINGLE cOUNTRY ENdEMIc • Species occurring only in one country (and nowhere else in the world) • Symbol used: scE + country name (ie SCE/SY = country endemic to Syria) MULTIcOUNTRY ENdEMIc • Species occurring in two or more usually adjacent countries (and nowhere else in the world) • Symbol used: McE + region + country names ( e.g. MCE/Levant /SY-LB = sub Mediterranean endemic to Syria and Lebanon) REsTRIcTEd RANGE ENdEMIc • Species occurring in a restricted area (and nowhere else in the world) in one or more usually adjacent countries • Extent of occurrence usually < 5’000 km2 • Symbol used: RRE + country name(s) + sub-national name (e.g. RRE/MA/Atlas = restricted range endemic to Atlas mountain range in Morocco) sITE REsTRIcTEd ENdEMIc • Species occuring in only one site (and nowhere else in the world). Could occur in two countries. • Extent of occurrence usually <100 km2 • Symbol used: sRE + country name(s) + local site name (e.g.) SRE/MA/Toubkal = restricted range endemic to Toubkal in Morocco) sUMMARY • Multi Country Endemic : McE / + region (if appropriate e.g, Magreb or Levant) + country names • Single Country Endemic : scE / + country name • Restricted Range Endemic : RRE / + country name(s) + sub-national name (< 5’000 km2) • Site Restricted Endemic : sRE / +country name(s) + local name (< 100 km2) “The objective for this part of the project was to develop a preliminary list of restricted range species regardless of whether they were located in a single country or in multiple countries” 73 74 SECTION 4 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN Box 03 Geographical entities Various geographical entities are used in the tables of restricted range species found in appendix 3 these are explained below REGION LEvEL 1 NORTh AFRIcA (sOUTh MEdITERRANEAN) Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt REGION LEvEL 2 REGION LEvEL 3 Magreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) Magreb - AlgéroMarocains (Morocco and Algeria) Magreb - Tunisoalgériennes (Algeria and Tunisia) Libya/Tunisia Libya/Egypt Silene makmeliana restricted to small areas of Lebanon and Syria © N. Machaka-Houri EAsT MEdITERRANEAN Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt- Sinai region, Turkey*, Cyprus* dIsJUNcT Levant/Egypt (Sinai) Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine) Syria/Turkey Taxa found in two or more countries that do not share immediate borders. * This project has only considered those Turkish or Cypriot species that are also in the project region – not the whole lora of these countries. The preix Ibéro is often used to those species that are found on the Iberian Peninsula (in Spain and/or Portugal as well as in Morocco or Morocco and Algeria). Species from the Iberian Peninsula present in this region have not been included in the preliminary restricted range species list developed during this project. Preliminary restricted range species in North Africa and the Middle East. The list of restricted range species for the south and east Mediterranean can be found in appendix 3 of this report. The challenges associated with putting together such a list should not be underestimated and the authors are keen to stress this is a very preliminary list and there remains considerable work to be done, not only on understanding the distributions of these species, but on verifying the taxonomy of the species (and sub species or varieties) – for example using the Euro + Med plantbase (http://www.emplantbase.org/home. html). There has been insuficient time to do a comprehensive check of the taxonomy during this project. The authors view the lists presented as the irst step in the process of understanding the most restricted range species in the Mediterranean part of North Africa and Middle East, and hope they will help to identify those species for which conservation action maybe an urgent priority. SECTION 4 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Our results suggest that within North Africa and the Middle East there are approximately 1195 restricted range plant species (sub species/varieties) that have a distribution/extent of occurrence of less than 5,000km2 i.e. endemic to an area of less than 5,000km2 within the region. There are a further 1195 species that are probably restricted but not enough is known to make an ‘educated guess’ on the extent of restriction, and at least 58 species (not included in the appendix) that are restricted to Morocco and/or Algeria and the Iberian Peninsula. Of the 1113 species nearly 1000 are present in a single country (‘single country endemics’) for example Abies marrocana (Morocco), Sixalix libyca (Libya) and Vicia hulensis (Israel). Of the restricted range species 513 (around half) are classed as site restricted, i.e. they have a distribution of <100km2 and 484 of these are believed to be restricted to a single country. For example Teucrium heterotrichum present only in the coastal mountains at Bhamra in Syria and Campanula barborense in Oued el Kebir canyon, Algeria. Some of the restricted range species have very disjunct distributions e.g. Fumaria bicolor found in Italy and Algeria and Arum cyranaicum in Libya and Crete. REGION North Africa East Mediterranean Disjunct SUB REGION SITE RESTRICTED SPECIES <100km2 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES <5,000km2 UNCERTAIN RANGE BUT LIKELY TO BE RESTRICTED <5,000km2 Magreb 247 383 71 North Africa various combinations - 13 - Egypt (Sinai) 29 - - Egypt and/or Libya 5 7 5 Libya (Jabal Akhdar) - 49 - Levant/Egypt 1 13 9 Levant 226 183 23 Syria/Turkey 4 29 3 1 5 - [Table. 6] Plant species endemism in sub regions within North Africa and the Middle East The preliminary list of restricted range species for North Africa and the Middle East could be used alongside other variables (such as perceived threat to habitat, resources available) to help to prioritise threat assessments of plant species in the region. Those species that are restricted to <100km2 may merit greater prioritisation, especially those that occur across country borders as it is likely the information available for those species is most limited. 75 “Our results suggest that within North Africa and the Middle East there are approximately 1195 restricted range plant species (sub species/ varieties) that have a distribution/extent of occurrence of less than 5,000km2 i.e. endemic to an area of less than 5,000km2 within the region” 76 SECTION 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN 05 section SECTION 5 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION IN ThE SOUTh AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN The two hundred and seven Important Plant Areas documented through this project represent international priorities for biodiversity conservation in the south and east Mediterranean. This is the irst time such a comprehensive assessment of important sites for plant diversity, involving botanical experts from every country as well as regional level experts, has been attempted; it is a huge step forward for plant conservation. Not only has large amounts of site speciic information on plant diversity been made more accessible for those who manage sites; but the project has facilitated the development of in-country botanical expert teams, and the sharing of data and skills across the region. The project began as a response to the (almost complete) lack of easily accessible information on the best sites for plant diversity in North Africa and the Middle East, which was needed to prepare the Ecosystem Proile for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. It has delivered far more than the rapid ‘quick and dirty’ assessment that was anticipated. The country teams have seized the long over due opportunity raise the proile of the most critical element of Mediterranean diversity – plants. Fieldwork on Gerbes IPA. © S. Benhouhou None-the-less, all those involved are acutely aware that this project was largely a desk based study; the sites selected are undeniably important for plant diversity but there is considerable work to be done across the region to improve the accuracy of the data. This project has brought together enough data and information to start developing and implementing conservation measures on sites, and it is important these conservation measures start now; but further work on improving the distribution and threat data for plant species and habitats is needed alongside these. The species distribution data available are not always detailed or comprehensive; some species are very poorly known, vegetation and habitat types are not comprehensively described or mapped across the region, checklists of sites are not always complete and the global threat status of the majority of species and habitats is not properly understood. Many of these IPAs need further investigation in the ield to ‘ground truth’ the information presented and to add further data that will undoubtedly [left page] Rural landscape and wetland in a Ramsar zone of El Kala National Park, Algeria ©Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon 77 78 SECTION 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN Quercus cerris spp. pseudocerris Syria © A. Almasri be missing. In many countries additional Important Plant Areas may be discovered when more comprehensive ield based investigations can be carried out. The extent of threats to IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean is now better understood. Sixty seven percent of IPAs are threatened by overgrazing and nearly ifty percent by deforestation (largely for fuel). Over one third of sites are threatened by tourism development, agricultural intensiication through arable farming and climate change. There is an urgent need to address the drivers of these threats. Initiatives for conserving plant diversity are few and poorly supported across the region. Whilst protected areas (National Parks) are the main legislative approach to protecting sites, there is little evidence that they are supported by well structured management regimes or take account of the plants and vegetation. Current pastoral and forestry activities are not sustainable on most of these sites and there is a need for better legislation SECTION 5 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 79 Camel in Tunisia © Nieves García to ensure development and modernisation (both crucially important for improving economies) is not counter productive and destroying natural resources and irreplaceable plant diversity. The lora of the south and east Mediterranean is incredibly diverse. A signiicant part of this diversity is unique to the region, of global importance to conservation and under great threat from intensive overgrazing, deforestation, development and climate change. The Important Plant Areas project has begun the process of highlighting the most important sites for plant diversity and the issues that must be addressed to ensure the natural resources contained within these sites are safeguarded for the future. The next phase of biodiversity conservation work in this region should use and build on the information presented here. It should seek to increase the capacity of botanists and conservationists across the region and begin on-the-ground activities in partnership with local communities to ensure these sites and the natural resources they contain are sustained for the future. “All those involved are acutely aware that this project was largely a desk based study; the sites selected are undeniably important for plant diversity but there is considerable work to be done across the region to improve the accuracy of the data” 80 SECTION 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN REcOMMENdATIONs Speciic recommendations are included below however it is critical that all conservation-focused investment in the south and east Mediterranean includes investment in improving capacity across the whole ‘plant conservation skill set’. This is needed to: secure the basic botanical skills needed to identify plant species; enable mapping of the distribution and status (quality and integrity) of the lora and vegetation; undertake appropriate and targeted actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of plant species and habitats; and effectively advocate positive change to environmental policy and its implementation. IPA conservation 1) REcOGNIsE Important Plant Areas as internationally signiicant priority sites for conservation in local, national and regional environmental policies and plans. Plants and their pollinators are crucial to Mediterranean livelihoods © Sandra García 2) TARGET Important Plant Areas as priority sites for conservation action in the Mediterranean region. This will ensure that direct conservation action on priority plant sites can begin now, alongside the continued efforts to improve data. 3) INcORPORATE IPAs (where appropriate) into protected area networks. 4) UPdATE management plans for protected areas that contain IPAs to take account of new plant data presented and ensure effective implementation. Develop and implement management plans for IPAs where they do not exist (starting with top priority sites). 5) ENsURE Environment Impact Assessments are undertaken on development projects that affect IPAs and ensure their recommendations are enforced and monitored. “The extent of threats to IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean is now better understood. Sixty seven percent of IPAs are threatened by overgrazing and nearly ifty percent by deforestation (largely for fuel)” 6) TARGET IPAs for the implementation of sustainable forest management and agri-environment scheme and projects. 7) ENcOURAGE communities whose livelihoods depend on plant resources to participate in IPA conservation planning activities (e.g. medicinal plant collectors, promoters of nature tourism, hunters, mountain guides). IPA data 8) ‘GROUNd–TRUTh’ the plant species and habitat data associated with IPAs through ieldwork (starting with priority IPAs named in this report) and ensure that IPA plant features are properly mapped. 9) INvEsT in the provision of comprehensive and up to date information on plant and habitats species in the south and east SECTION 5 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Mediterranean, building on the work carried out in this project. This should include: a. A deinitive list of restricted range, endemic plant taxa for the Mediterranean with and accurate data on their distribution, abundance and importance to the local community. b. A regional IUCN Red List is for the Mediterranean (begin by focusing on restricted range species that are endemic to the region). c. National IUCN Red Lists for vascular plants for all south and east Mediterranean countries. d. A list of Mediterranean habitats and threatened habitats. 10) ENAbLE the data associated with IPAs to be stored electronically (such as on the IPA database) so it can be updated easily via the web. Mediterranean vegetation © Carla Danelutti 81 82 SECTION 6 APPENDICES 06 section Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation APPENDICES .Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria .IPAs identiied .North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted range species Appendix 1 Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria IMPORTANT PLANT AREAs An Important Plant Area is a natural or semi natural site exhibiting exceptional botanical richness, and/or supporting an outstanding assemblage of rare, threatened and/or endemic species and/or vegetation of high botanic value. In short IPAs are INTERNATIONALLY sIGNIFIcANT sITEs FOR PLANTs and their habitats broad criteria A The site holds signiicant populations of species of global or regional concern b The site has exceptionally rich lora in a regional context in relation to its biogeographic zone Boats in Tunisia © Nieves García c The site is an outstanding example of a habitat or vegetation type of global or regional importance sites qualify as IPAs if they satisfy 1, 2 or all 3 criteria Detailed criteria with thresholds are shown below Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation CRITERION A (i) (threatened species) A (ii) (threatened species) DESCRIPTION Site contains globally threatened species Site contains regionally threatened species APPENDICES THRESHOLD All sites known, though or inferred to contain 5% or more of the national population can be selected, or the 51 ‘best’ sites, whichever is the most appropriate. (In exceptional cases, for example where there are less than 10 sites in the entire country or there are between 5-10 large populations of a species, up to 10 sites can be selected) 1 A (iii) (threatened species) Site contains national endemic species with demonstrable threat not covered by A(i) or A(ii) A (iv) (threatened species) Site contains near endemic/ restricted range species with demonstrable threat not covered by A(i) or A(ii) (Populations must be viable or there is a hope that they can be returned to viability through conservation measures) C (threatened habitat or vegetation type) Site contains high number of species within a range of deined habitat or vegetation type Site contains threatened habitat or vegetation type 83 NOTES Species listed as ‘threatened’* on IUCN global red lists Species listed as ‘threatened’* on regional IUCN red lists or regionally approved lists Species listed as national endemic (on any recognised list or publication) and ‘threatened’* on national red lists Species listed as near endemic/ restricted range (on any recognised list or publication) and ‘threatened’* on national red lists 2 Species richness can be based on a nationally created list of indicator species developed for each habitat or vegetation type. For example characteristic species and/or endemic species and /or nationally rare and scarce species (where the endemic and rare and scarce species are numerous and/or are characteristic for the habitat) Deined habitat or vegetation type taken from or based upon a regionally accepted classiication All sites known, thought or inferred to contain 5% or more of the national resource (area) of priority threatened habitats can be selected, or a total of 20-60% of the national resource, whichever is the most appropriate. Threatened habitats or vegetation taken from a regionally recognised list. Up to 10% of the national resource (area) of each habitat or vegetation type, or 52 best sites; whichever is the most appropriate. B (botanical richness) SECTION 6 (In exceptional cases, for example there are between 5 and 10 exceptionally rich sites for a particular habitat, up to 10 sites can be selected for each level 2 habitat type) * Criterion A, threatened species must be listed as critically Endangered (cR), Endangered (EN) or vulnerable (vU) using the new IUCN criteria, or Extinct/Endangered (Ex/E), Endangered (E) or vulnerable (v) using the original IUCN categories 84 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Oficial lists for criterion A For Ai – Globally threatened • The IUcN Global Red List including the World List of threatened trees 1998, and Global Red List 1997 For Aii – Regionally threatened • IUCN regional lists • In Europe: the Habitats Directive and Bern Convention species lists, European Bryophytes 1995 (Global 2001), Fungi species proposed for the Bern Convention 2001, European Macrolichens 1989 birds); e.g.presence in the area of forests important for the biological cycles of some species (like stop-over sites for the migrant birds). Maturity Areas with old growth forest formations close to their highest potential evolutional level: areas with forests with a high diversity of age classes, regeneration, young and old trees, dead wood, etc.; areas, for some forest types, with a high number of old-growth individuals; areas with forests with especially well developed shrub and/or herb layer. Presence of animal species (especially birds) linked to mature forests Wilderness Areas including natural forests with scarce or no human activity or under sustainable management For Aiii and Aiv - Nationally threatened • Threatened endemics and near endemics (restricted range species) from National Red lists Fragility Areas including forests with low capacity to stand, respond and/or recover from the disturbances linked to the identiied threats. Important Forest Areas Forest Areas are scored using the criteria below and their relative importance is worked out according to the inal score of each area. All endemic relic/rare forest types exclusive of the country must be considered as IFAs. In this case the whole forest area of each type will be taken into account. All forest types which, despite being frequent in the Mediterranean region or in other loristic regions, are present in the country only as relics must be considered IFAs (key role in climate change adaptation). For the rest of the forest types the consultants should select the ‘best’ areas, according to the criteria: Rarity Areas including endemic rare forest types exclusive of the country, endemic forest types at a sub-regional level (i.e. North-African endemic, Middle Eastern endemic, Balkan endemic), whose distribution is mainly limited to the country, and relic forest types. Faunistic/loristic importance Presence in the area of rare/endemic threatened or relict ecosystem types, lora and fauna species (especially Richness Areas including different forest types, with especially rich lora and fauna inventories. Relative importance of IFAs CRITERION INDEX Rarity 2.2 Faunistic/loristic importance 1.9 Fragility 1.8 Maturity 1.7 Wilderness 1.2 Richness 1.2 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation APPENDICES SECTION 6 IFAs including endemic forest types exclusive of the country: score range 8-10 RARITY IFAs including endemic forest types at a subregional level (i.e. North-African , Middle Eastern, or Balkan endemic): score range 5-7 IFAs including relic forest stands of wider distributed forest types in other geographical areas: score range 3-4 IFAs not including rare forest types: score range 1-2 FLORISTIC AND FAUNISTIC IMPORTANCE (IN ACCORDANCE WITH IUCN CATEGORIES) IFAs including forests with endangered species: score range 8-10 IFAs including forests with signiicant vulnerable and rare species: score range 5-7 IFAs including forests with signiicant declining, localized and insuficiently known species: score range 3-4 IFAs including only forests with species of no signiicant importance (secure): score range 1-2 50-100% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 7-10 MATURITY 25-50% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 4-6 Less than 25% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 1-3 IFAs including only natural forests, with scarce or no human activities and dificult accessibility: score range 8-10 WILDERNESS IFAs inc. only natural forests, under sustainable management, far from settlements, accessible by secondary roads: score range 5-7 IFAs including more than 75% of natural forests, under human intervention, accessible by roads: score range 3-4 IFAs with less than 75% of natural forests: score range 1-2 IFAs including forests with low capacity to face the current threats identiied in the area: score range 7-10 FRAGILITY IFAs including forests with medium capacity to face the current threats identiied in the area: score range 4-6 IFAs including forests with high capacity to face the current threats identiied in the area: score range 1-3 IFAs including more than 5 forest types, with particularly rich lora and fauna inventories: score 10 IFAs including more than 5 forest types, with no particularly rich lora and fauna inventories: score 9 IFAs including between 2 and 5 forest types, with particularly rich lora and fauna inventories: score range 7-8 RICHNESS IFAs including between 2 and 5 forest types, with no rich lora and fauna inventories: score range 5-6 IFAs including only 1 forest type, with particularly rich lora and fauna inventories: score range 3-4 IFAs including only 1 forest type with no rich lora and fauna inventories: score range 1-2 85 86 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Appendix 2. List of IPAs identiied IPAs in Albania Grykëderdhja e Bunës - Velipojës Skoda Lake and Buna River Lugina e Cemit Alpet Veriore Shqiptare Pashtrik - Morinë Gjallicë - Koritnik Korabi Rrajcë - Shebenik - Jabllanicë Liqeni i Ohrit Mali i Thatë Liqenet e Prespës Gramoz - Shelegur Lugina e Vjosës - Çarshovë Zhej - Nemërçkë Kepi i Stillos Kolsh - Mali i Runës Bjeshka e Oroshit Kunorat e Lurës Zall - Gjoçaj Liqeni i Zi Grykëderdhja e Drinit - Ceka - Vain Qafë Shtamë Mali me Gropa - Bizë - Martanesh Krujë _Tujan Parku i Dajtit Kepi i Rodonit - Pylli i Ishmit Holtë - Bulçar Shpat - Polis Guri i Topit - Valamarë Tomorri Lugina e Gjergjevicës Drenovë - Nikolicë Parku i Divjakës Këneta e Roskovecit Pishë Poro - Grykëderdhja e Vjosës (Vlorë) Karaburuni - Mali i Çikës Kanioni i Gjipesë Bredhi i Hotovës Porto Palermo Kardhiq Rrëzomë Borsh - Lukovë Bistricë - Muzinë Ksamil Liqeni i Butrintit AL01 AL02 AL03 AL04 AL05 AL06 AL07 AL08 AL09 AL10 AL11 AL12 AL13 AL14 AL15 AL16 AL17 AL18 AL19 AL20 AL21 AL22 AL23 AL24 AL25 AL26 AL27 AL28 AL29 AL30 AL31 AL32 AL33 AL34 AL35 AL36 AL37 AL38 AL39 AL40 AL41 AL42 AL43 AL44 AL45 Chaine des Babor Parc Nazional de Taza Parc National de Gouraya Massif forestier de l’Akfadou Djurdjura National Park Theniet El Had Chréa National Park Sahel d’Oran Mont Chenoua Ghar Rouban Cap Tènés Mounts Traras Iles Habibas Aures-Chelia Mont Zaccar DZ07 DZ08 DZ09 DZ10 DZ11 DZ12 DZ13 DZ14 DZ15 DZ16 DZ17 DZ18 DZ19 DZ20 DZ21 IPAs in Egypt North Sinai Mountain Lake Bardawi Lake Manzala Lake Burullus Lake Edku Lake Mariut Omayed Biosphere Reserve Moghra Oasis Western Mediterranean Coastal Dunes Sallum Area Wadi El-Rayan Saint Katherine Nabq Hurghada Wadi El-Gemal Dungul and Dineigil Oases Lake Nasser Wadi Allaqui Saluga and Ghazal Halayeb triangle Wadi Al-Arish Qattara Depression El-Qasr Ras El-Hekma Quseima Islands of the Nile Delta Deltaic Black Sand Dunes Gebel El-Shayeb EG01 EG02 EG03 EG04 EG05 EG06 EG07 EG08 EG09 EG10 EG11 EG12 EG13 EG14 EG15 EG16 EG17 EG18 EG19 EG20 EG21 EG22 EG23 EG24 EG25 EG26 EG27 EG28 IPAs in Israel IPAs in Algeria El Kala 1 El Kala 2 Edough Peninsula Guerbes Djebel Ouahch Parc National du Belezma DZ01 DZ02 DZ03 DZ04 DZ05 DZ06 Meiron Hula Mount Carmel Affula Poleg Dead Sea Coast Hebron Gradient IL01 IL02 IL03 IL04 IL05 IL06 IL07 Lahav Nizana Sands Har Negev Hatzeva Sedom Eilat Mountains Acre Netofa IL08 IL09 IL10 IL11 IL12 IL13 IL14 IL15 IPAs in Jordan Wadi Rum Dana Nature Reserve Karack Salt Alouk Um Queis Lava Safawai Burqu’ Ajlum Bayer Azraq Mujib JO01 JO02 JO03 JO04 JO05 JO06 JO07 JO08 JO09 JO10 JO11 JO12 IPAs in Lebanon Mount Makmel Hermel Plain Aarsal Aammiq Mount Hermon Menjez Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel Palm Islands Bcharreh-Ehden Ras Chekka Tannourine Jbail Coast Wadi Jannah Keserwan Sannine - Knaisseh Chouf Nahr Ed-Damour Beirut – Jiyyeh Coast Tyre - Naqoura Rihane La Martin Valley LB01 LB02 LB03 LB04 LB05 LB06 LB07 LB08 LB09 LB10 LB11 LB12 LB13 LB14 LB15 LB16 LB17 LB18 LB19 LB20 LB21 IPAs in Libya Al Jabel El Akhdar Tawuoryhe Sebkha Jabal Nafusah Messak Mountain LY01 LY02 LY03 LY04 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation APPENDICES SECTION 6 87 Ichkeul National Park Area surrounding Lake Ichkeul Tunisia © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon Jabal Aweinat LY05 IPAs in Morocco Jbel Bouhachem Parc National de Talassemtane Parc National d’Al Hoceima Beni Snassene Jbel Bou-Naceur Jbel Bou Iblane Parc National de Tazekka Jbel Tichoukt Parc National d’Ifrane Parc National du Haut Atlas Oriental Jbel Ayachi Jbel Maâsker Jbel Krouz Jbel Mgoun Tamga and Aqqa Wabzaza Parc National de Toubkal Aghbar Jbel Kest, Anezi et Jbel Imzi Maamora PS06 IPAs in Syria MA01 MA02 MA03 MA04 MA05 MA06 MA07 MA08 MA09 MA10 MA11 MA12 MA13 MA14 MA15 MA16 MA17 MA18 MA19 IPAs in the Occupied Palestianian Territories Faqoua`- Jalaboun Wad Alhrameyah - Wad ElbalatUm Safa - Beit Illo - Ein Samya Wad Qana- Wad Eshai`r Yaseed-Ibzeik Dead Sea Coast Khali (Hebron) Gradient PS01 PS02 PS03 PS04 PS05 Karatchok-Tigris Kurd Dag Jabal Abdul Aziz Jabal Al Wastani Hass-Jabbul Jisr al shogur Fronloq-Kasab Umm Al Tuyur-Bassit Salma-Haffeh Slenfeh-Jaubet et Berghal Ghab Jabal Bishri Abu Qbeis Kanfo Mayadin Massiaf-Qadmous Al Bil As Jabal al Sha ir Jabal Abu Rujmain Daher al Qseir Al Kabeer al Jonubi Akkoum Anti-Lebanon Qalamoun Qassioun Rakhleh - Wadi al Qarn Utaiba - Hijane Hermon North Golan SY01 SY02 SY03 SY04 SY05 SY06 SY07 SY08 SY09 SY10 SY11 SY12 SY13 SY14 SY15 SY16 SY17 SY18 SY19 SY20 SY21 SY22 SY23 SY24 SY25 SY26 SY27 SY28 SY29 Es Safa Lajat Jabal Al Arab Yarmuk Valley SY30 SY31 SY32 SY33 IPAs in Tunisia Garâa Sejenane Majen Chitane Lake Dar El Orbi Peat Bog Oued Ziatine 1 +2 Aïn Zana Natural Reserve Sidi Ali El Mekki Dat Fatma Natural Reserve Sources du 18ème Camp du 18ème Piste de Legba Le Merij Majen Barbit Majen El Ouez 1 Majen El Mouajène Sraï el Majen Majen El Ma Majen Sghaïer Majen El Ouez 2 Majen Choucha La Galité Archipelago Zembra and Zembretta National Park Toujane El Feija Jbel Ghorra Ichkeul Jbel Zaghouan TN01 TN02 TN03 TN04 TN05 TN 06A TN 06B TN 06C TN 06D TN 06E TN 06F TN 06G TN 06H TN 06 I TN 06J TN 06K TN 06L TN07 TN08 TN09 TN10 TN11 TN12 TN13 88 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Appendix 3. North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted range species Part 1: sITE REsTRIcTEd sPEcIEs: Extent of occurrence <100km2 Site restricted species in North Africa/Magreb This list was developed rapidly and should be treated as the irst step in creating a list of restricted range (locally endemic) species for the project countries. The taxonomy given is not universally accepted and notes on species’ ranges are indications only, not absolute. Around 60 restricted species present in Morocco and/ Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Abies numidica de Lannoy ex Carrière DZ »Achnatherum mesatlasica »Adenocarpus artemisiifolius »Adenocarpus boudyi »Agrostis atlantica »Alchemilla atlantica »Alchemilla mairei »Alyssum simplex ssp. edentulum »Alyssum speciosum »Anarrhinum fruticosum ssp. demnatense »Andryala atlanticola »Andryala canariensis ssp. antonii »Andryala integrifolia ssp. cedretorum »Anthemis gharbensis »Anthericum lilago ssp. algeriensis »Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. ifranensis »Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. matris-iliae MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Antirrhinum martenii »Aphanes maroccana »Arabis erubescens »Arabis hirsuta var. mesatlantica »Arabis verdieri »Arenaria cerastioides ssp. saxigena »Arenaria dyris MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Aristida tunetana »Artemisia lahaultii »Artemisia ifranensis »Asperula litardierei »Asphodelus istulosus var. atlanticus MA MA MA MA MA »Aster pujosii »Astragalus depressus ssp. atlantis »Astragalus depressus ssp. depressus »Astragalus maireanus »Astragalus maurus MA MA MA MA MA »Astragalus mesatlanticus »Astragalus tachdirtensis »Astragalus turolensis ssp. exsul »Bartisiella rameauana »Brassica fruticulosa ssp., radicata MA MA MA MA MA, DZ or Algeria and the Iberian Peninsula have not been included in these lists. Restricted species from Turkey (and other countries outside this project) have only been included where they also occur within project countries; the whole lora of Turkey has not therefore been considered. Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY Babor mountains (NE-Algeria) Jbel Bou Naceur Jbel Bou Naceur Parc d’Ifrane Aghbar 2 Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Mgoun Toubkal Toubkal 2 Maamora Parc Tazekka Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Tichoukt Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Bouhachem Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal Jbel Bou Naceur Jbel Mgoun Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Ayachi, Jbel Maasker Maamora Jbel Bou Naceur 2 2 Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Jbel Bou Naceur Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Mgoun Parc Tazekka, Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane 2 Beni Snassen »Brassica spinescens Pomel DZ »Bromus maroccanus »Buffonia duvaljouvei »Buffonia murbeckii »Bufonia duvaljouvei- ssp. Gottelandii »Bufonia murbeckii »Bufonia strohlii »Bupleurum faurelii »Bupleurum mesatlanticum »Bupleurum plantagineum MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA DZ »Calendula eckerleinii »Campanula (Podanthum) aurasiaca MA DZ »Campanula atlantis »Campanula atlantis ssp. schotteri »Campanula barborense MA MA DZ »Campanula lilicaulis var. pseudo-radiosa MA »Campanula lilicaulis var.genuina MA »Campanula guinochetii MA »Campanula sauvagei MA »Campanula velata ssp. mesatlantica MA »Carduncellus cartouxii MA »Carduncellus cespitosus MA, DZ »Carduus atlantis »Carduus martinezii »Carduus nutas ssp. scabrisquamus »Carex atlasica »Carex issirostris »Carum atlanticum »Carum iminouakense »Carum jahandiezii »Carum lacuum MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Carum proliferum »Celsia zaianensis »Centaurea boissieri ssp. atlantica »Centaurea litardieri »Centaurea maireana MA MA MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Habibas islands, Cap Falcon (NW-Algeria) Parc d’l Hoceima Parc d’Ifrane 2 Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Mgoun Jbel Bou Ibane 3 Parc d’Ifrane Gouraya national park Parc d’Ifrane Djebel Chelia (NE-Algeria): Sgag Jbel Mgoun Jbel Mgoun Oued el Kebir Canyon Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 2 Jbel Mgoun Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Mgoun Parc National du Haut Alas Oriental 2 Parc Tassemtane 1 Toubkal Toubkal 3 Jbel Mgoun Parc d’Ifrane Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 3 Parc d’Ifrane Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Centaurea malinvaldiana MA, DZ »Centaurea musimonum MA, DZ »Centaurea resupinata ssp. rifana MA »Centaurea sempervirens ssp. mauritanica MA »Centaurea theryi MA »Centaurium barrelieroides ssp. bifrons MA »Centaurium erythraea ssp. benardii MA »Chamaemelum lahaultii MA »Cheirolophus sempervirens MA »Chrysanthemum holophyllum MA »Chrysanthemum reboudianum (Pomel) Q. et S.DZ »Cicer atlanticum »Cirsium ducellieri »Conopodium ssp. Atlantis »Convolvulus dryadum Maire MA MA MA MA, DZ »Convolvulus glaouorum »Convolvulus vidalii »Crepis vesicaria ssp. proleptica »Cytisus grandilorus ssp. barbarus »Dianthus gaditanus ssp. atrosanguineus »Digitalis lutea ssp. atlantica »Digitalis lutea ssp. cedretorum »Digitalis lutea ssp. transiens var. dyris MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Draba oreadum ssp. mariae-aliciae »Echium humile ssp. nanum »Elizaldia heterostemon »Epilobium psilotum »Erigeron celerieri »Erinus thiabaudii »Erodium atlanticum »Erucastrum littoreum ssp. glabum »Erucastum varium ssp. mesatlanticum »Erysimum wilczekianum »Euphorbia mazicum »Fagonia malvana »Festuca humbertii »Festuca maroccana »Festuca maroccana ssp. pozzicola »Festuca sauvagei »Filago evaciformis »Fumaria vaillantii ssp. schrammii var. pugsleyana MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Galium noli-tangere »Galium numidicum Pomel »Genista numidica ssp. sarotes (Pomel) Batt. »Genista segonnei »Geranium cinereum »Globularia liouvillei MA DZ DZ MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Jbel Krouz Jbel Krouz Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Bouhachem 2 Jbel Bouhachem Maamora Jbel Kest , Anezi, Imzi Jbel Bouhachem Jbel Bouhachem Chelia, Dj. Bou Taleb (NE-Algeria) 5 Parc d’Ifrane Parc Tazekka Babor mountains (NE-Algeria) & Rif (N-Morocco) Jbel Mgoun Jbel Bouhachem Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Tichoukt Toubkal Jbel Maasker Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Jbel Ayachi Jbel Mgoun Maamora Toubkal 3 Jbel Mgoun 3 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 2 Jbel Ayachi Parc Tazekka Toubkal Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane »Gnaphalium genevoisii »Guenthera (Eruca) setulosa Parc Haut Atlas Oriental 2 Chelia (NE-Algeria) Zaccar (NW-Algeria) Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzi Aghbar 5 SECTION 6 APPENDICES COUNTRY MA MA, DZ »Halimium antiatlanticum »Halimium atlanticum »Helianthemum pergamaceum ssp. camillei »Hieracium amplexicaule ssp. Olivicolor »Hieracium peyrimhofii Maire MA MA MA MA DZ »Hieracium phlomoides ssp. mesatlanticum »Hieracium solida gineum ssp. Jahandiezii »Hieracium sonchoides ssp. mairei »Hieracium viscosum ssp. africanum »Hieracium viscosum ssp. mguildanum »Hieracium viscosum ssp. tarchanum »Hypericum metroi (endém. locale) »Hypochaeris saldensis MA MA MA MA MA MA MA DZ »Iberis sempervirens var. pseudosaxatilis MA »Isoetes velata ssp. Intermedia MA, DZ »Juncus bufonis ssp. mogadorensis »Koeleria embergeri »Kremeriella cordylocarpus »Lactuca riviersii »Lavandula atlantica »Lavandula pedunculata var. atlantica »Lavatera vidalii »Lepidium hirtum ssp. atlanticum »Leucanthemum mesatlanticum »Leuzea fontqueri »Limonium boitardii Maire »Limonium letourneuxii (Batt.) Greuter & Burdet = “(Coss.) Pons & Quézel” MA MA MA, DZ MA MA MA MA MA MA MA TN 89 Notes on range & No. of IPAs 2 Ghar-Rouban area/ orient.Tlemcen mts. Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzii Parc Tazekka Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Aurès (le Mahmel) (NE-Algeria) 2 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc Tazekka Gouraya national vpark (NE-Algeria) Jbel Maasker Parc d’Ifrane Algéro.marocains Aghbar Jbel Bou Naceur Beni Snassen 2 Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Bouhachem Aghbar Jbel Bou Naceur 2 NE de la Tunisie DZ Cap Ténès (NW-Algeria) »Limonium minutilorum “auct. alg.” [= L. cyrtostachyum (Girard Brullo)] DZ »Limonium zembrae Pignatti »Linaria burceziana Maire TN DZ »Linaria heterophylla ssp. galioides »Linaria heterophylla ssp. gigantea »Linum subasperifolium (endém. locale) »Lotononis tapetiformis »Marrubium fontianum »Marrubium litardierei »Micropyrum mamoraeum »Minuartia mairei »Misopates chrysothales »Misopates font-queri »Narcissus cantabricus ssp. kesticus »Narcissus romieuxii ssp. albidus »Nasturtium microphyllum MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA Cap Ténès (NW-Algeria) Données insuf. Ghar-Rouban (W-Algeria) Toubkal Toubkal Parc Tazekka 3 Parc Tazekka Toubkal Maamora Jbel Bou Naceur Parc d’l Hoceima Tamga Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzi Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal 90 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Nepeta barbara »Odontites maroccanus »Odontites viscosus ssp. eriopodus Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation MA MA MA, DZ »Odontites vulgaris ssp. mesatlanticus »Onobrychis pallasii var. ayachica »Onopordon mesatlanticum »Orchis patens var atlantica Desf. [= O. spitzelii ssp. teschneriana B. & H. Baumann] MA MA MA »Pancratium foetidum var. saldense DZ DZ »Paronychia arabica MA »Paronychia capitata ssp. atlantica MA »Paronychia velata MA »Peucedanum oficinale ssp. vogelianum MA »Phagnalon latifolium MA »Pistorinia attenuata ssp. mairei MA »Pitardia nepetoides MA »Plantago rhizoxylon MA »Plantago subulata ssp. atlantis MA »Polygala munbyana Boiss. DZ »Potentilla alchemilloides ssp. atlantica MA »Potentilla guilliermondii MA »Potentilla guilliermondii ssp. guilliermondii MA »Prunus avium var. tazekkensis (endém. locale) MA »Ptilostemon pseudo-hispanicus MA »Pyrus communis ssp. gharbiana MA »Pyrus communis ssp. mamorensis MA »Ranunculus gerniifolius ssp. aurasiacus »var. mesatlanticus MA »Ranunculus mgounicus MA »Ranunculus spicatus ssp. fontqueri MA »Reseda alba ssp. trigyna MA »Rhodanthemum briquetii MA »Rhodonthemum laouense MA »Romulea vaillantii MA, DZ »Roripella atlantica »Rosa mesatlantica »Rosmarinus eriocalyx Jordan & Fourr.= R. oficinalis L. var. troglodytorum »Rumex tunetanus Barr. et Murb. »Sagina saginoides ssp. nevadensis »Salvia interrupta ssp. paui »Salvia taraxacifolia »Sarcocapnos crassifolia ssp. atlantis »Saxifraga globulifera var. Integrifolia »Pons & Quézel »Saxifraga luizetiana »Saxifraga maireana »Saxifraga tricrenata Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Parc Haut Atlas Oriental 2 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro.marocains Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Ayachi 3 »Scabiosa cartenniana Pons & Quézel [= Sixalix cartenniana] »Scleranthus perennis ssp. atlanticus »Scrophularia eriocalyx »Scrophularia ramosissima ssp. macrorrhyncha »Sedum maurum »Senecio chalureaui »Senecio maroccanus »Serapias stenopetala (= S. lingua auct. p.p.) DZ, TN »Silene barbarea »Silene dissecta »Silene guinetii »Silene heterodonta ssp. platycalyx »Silene secundilora ssp. macrotheca »Silene sessionis MA MA MA MA MA DZ »Sonchus fragilis »Spergularia pycnorrhiza MA DZ »Stachys circinnata ssp. zaiana »Stachys fontqueri »Stachys saxicola ssp. maweana »Taraxacum atlanticum »Taraxacum atlantis-majoris »Taraxacum humbertii »Taraxacum pycnodes »Teucrium barbarum »Teucrium gaattefossei »Teucrium grosii »Teucrium schoenenbergeri Nabli »Thymelaea putorioides »Thymus serpyllum ssp. ayachicus »Thymus serpyllum var. atlanticum »Trifolium gibbosum »Trifolium miegeanum »Trifolium pratensis var. mesatlanticum »Vicia glauca var. ayachica »Vicia onobychioides ssp. alborosea »Vulpia geniculata ssp. pauana MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA TN MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA Zaccar (Miliana), (NW-Algeria) Gouraya national park (NE-Algeria) Toubkal Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 2 2 Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Mgoun Jbel Mgoun Djebel Chenoua Jbel Mgoun 2 Jbel Mgoun Parc Tazekka Parc Tassemtane Parc d’Ifrane Maamora COUNTRY Notes on range & No. of IPAs DZ MA MA Cap Ténès (NW-Alg). Toubkal 2 MA MA MA MA 2 Parc Tazekka Jbel Ayachi Toubkal MA MA Jbel Ayachi Jbel Mgoun 3 Parc d’Ifrane Tamga Jbel Bouhachem Parc d’Ifrane Alg. Marocains. Toubkal, Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane TN TN MA MA MA MA Massif des Matmata Garâa Sejenane Toubkal Jbel Bouhachem Toubkal Jbel Mgoun »Allium crameri Asch. & Boiss. »Anarrhinum pubescens Fresen. DZ MA MA MA Cap Ténès (NW-Alg.) Jbel Bou Naceur Toubkal Parc Tassemtane »Astragalus fresenii Decne. EG »Ballota kaiseri Täckh. EG »Bufonia multiceps Decne. EG »Colchicum cornigerum (Schweinf. Ex Sickenb.) El Kala p. & wetlands; Beni M’tir wetlands Parc Tazekka Toubkal 3 Jbel Bou Ibane Parc d’Ifrane Gouraya national park (NE-Algeria) 2 Habibas islands (NW-Algeria) Parc Tazekka Jbel Bouhachem Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane 2 3 Toubkal Aghbar Jbel Bou Naceur Parc d’l Hoceima Est du Jbel Ichkeul Jbel Mgoun 3 Jbel Tichoukt 2 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 2 Parc d’Ifrane 2 Site Restricted Species in North Africa : Magreb + other North African countries and Libya and/or Egypt EG EG Rare St. Katherine Endangered Saint Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 6 APPENDICES 91 Landscape with Stone pine forest (or Umbrella pine, or European nut pine), Pinus pinea. With the clearing away of forests in Lebanon in recent years only 5% of the original forest cover remains. Although protection measures such as the creation of the Al-Shouf Cedars Reserve have been undertaken, the woodlands of Central Mount-Lebanon are threatened by overgrazing, unregulated tourism, and a high occurrence of forest ires. Lebanon © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Täckh. & Drar »Euphorbia obovata Decne. »Grimmia anodon Bruch & Schimp. var.sinaitica Renauld & Cardot »Hyoscyamus boveanus (Dunal) Asch. & Schweinf »Lupinus digitatus Forssk »Micromeria serbaliana Danin & Hedge »Muscari salah-eidii (Täckh. & Boulos) Hosni Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) EG EG End. St. Katherine Rare St. Katherine »Veronica kaiseri Täckh. EG »Vicia sinaica Boulos EG EG Endemic mosses Saint Katherine »Sinapis allionii Jacq. EG EG EG EG EG »Najas pectinata (Parl.) Magn. »Origanum syriacum ssp. sinaicum (Boiss.) Greuter & Burdet »Phagnalon nitidum Fresen »Plantago sinaica (Barn.) Decne. »Polygala sinaica var. sinaica Botsch. »Primula boveana Decne. ex Duby »Pterocephalus arabicus Boiss. »Rorippa integrifolia Boulos »Rosa arabica Crép. »Scorzonera drarii Täckh EG EG EG EG EG EG EG EG EG EG »Silene leucophylla Boiss. »Silene odontopetala Fenzl »Silene oreosinaica Chowdhuri »Silene schimperiana Boiss. »Tortula kneuckeri Broth. & Geh. EG EG EG EG EG Saint Katherine End. Wadi Allaqi End. St. Katherine Probably extinct Saint Katherine Saint Katherine Rare St. Katherine Rare St. Katherine Rare St. Katherine Rare St. Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine Probably extinct Saint Katherine End. St. Katherine Saint Katherine End. St. Katherine End. St. Katherine Endemic moss Saint Katherine COUNTRY »Solanum nigrum var. elbaensis Täckh. & Boulo EG »Sonchus macrocarpus Boulos & C. Jeffrey EG »Bupleurum nanum Poir. EG, LY »Verbascum letourneuxii Asch. & Schweinf. LY, EG Notes on range & No. of IPAs Probably extinct Saint Katherine Indeterminate Saint Katherine Endangered Lake Burullus, Lake Mariut Probably extinct Halayeb Triangle Rare Lake Burullus Omayed Gabel Akhdar and Egypt Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Levant »Acantholimon damassanum - Mobayen »Aethionema oppositifohurn (Lab.) Boiss. »Aethionema stylosum D.C. »Agropyron libanoticum Hack. »Ajuga chasmophila - Davis »Alchemilla diademata Rothm. SY LB LB LB SY LB »Alkanna leiocarpa Rech. il. LB »Alkanna prasinophylla Rech.il. LB Anti-Lebanon Lower Anti-Lebanon W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1000-1500m Kesrouan Mtns, 1000-1500m High Lebanon Mtns 1500-2000m (Afqa to Berqacha) 92 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY »Allium chloranthurn Boiss. var montanum Mout. LB »Allium damascenum - Feinbr. SY »Allium davisii PN »Allium drusorum - Feinbr. SY »Allium feinbergii Oppenheimer LB »Allium kollmannianum Brullo,Pavone&Salmeri IL »Allium negevense Kollm. IL »Allium opacum - Rech. SY »Allium pseudophanerantherum -Rech. il SY »Allium qasunense Moutrede. »Allium rupicolum Boiss ined. »Allium sannineum Gombault PN LB LB »Allium tardilorum Kollm. & Shmida »Alyssum ssp.inosum -Dudley IL SY »Anemone coronaria - L. var. alba Goaty & Pons SY »Anthemis brachycarpa Eig IL »Anthemis didymaea Mouterde LB »Arenaria libanotica Ky LB »Asperula libanotica Boiss. »Asphodeline brevicaulis (Bertol.) ssp.druzorum Zohary LB »Astragalus angulosus D.C. LB »Astragalus antilibani - Bge SY »Astragalus cedreti Boiss »Astragalus darmikii -Mout LB SY »Astragalus ehdenensis Mout. LB »Astragalus eriophylloides - Rech. il. SY »Astragalus exiguus - Post SY »Astragalus faktorovskyi -Eig. »Astragalus griseo-sericeus - Eig SY SY »Astragalus kurnet-es-Saudae Eig. LB »Astragalus lanatus Labill LB »Astragalus lepidanthus Boiss. »Astragalus louisii -Thiébaut SY LB SY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1400-2000m Golan Yaseed-Ibzeik Jabal al Arab »Astragalus pabotii - Moût. SY »Astragalus qatmensis - Thiéb. SY »Astragalus selemiensis- Mout »Astragalus sofarensis Thiébaut SY LB »Astragalus trifoliolatus Boiss LB »Atriplex zahlensis Mout. »Ballota semaanica - Rech. il. LB SY Jabal Wastani & Jabal Semane Lower Anti-Lebanon (Qaryatein) Faqoua`-Jalaboun W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1400-2000m Anti-Lebanon (Maalula) Qassiun W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m Jabal al Arab (Kafer-Salkhad), 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m Anti-Lebanon & Al Bil’as, 2 Kurd Dag (Kutchuk Darmik), 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m Coastal Mts (Slenfeh), 1. Sum. of Anti-Lebanon (Tal’at Musa), 1 Low. Anti-Lebanon, 1 Jabal Wastani & Jabal Az-Zawiyah, 1 High regions of Mt Lebanon ab. 1500m 100-2000m on Mt Lebanon and Mt Hermon Kurd Dag (Qatma), 1 COUNTRY »Bellevalia douini - Pabot et Mouterde SY »Biarum pyrami PN »Brassica assyriaca -Mt SY »Bryonia lasiocarpa - Mouterde SY »Bufonia ramonensis Danin IL »Calamentha incana PN »Carex distans L. PN »Carum polyphyllum - Boiss. et Bl. SY »Centaurea heterocarpa Boiss. et Gaill. ex Boiss.LB »Centaurea mouterdei Wagenitz. LB »Centaurea reducta - Wagenitz. »Centaurea simulans - Wagenitz. SY SY »Centaurea trachonitica - Post »Cephalaria cedrorum Mouterde SY LB »Cephalaria kesruanica Mouterde LB »Ceratophyllum demersum »Chaerophyllum aurantiacum Post PN LB »Cicer bijugum -Rech. il. »Cicer incisum (WiIld.) K.Maly. var. »libanoticum (Boiss.) Mout SY LB »Colchicum libanoticum Ehr. LB »Consolida incana (E.D. Clarke)Munz »Convolvulus coelsyriacus Boiss. PN PN »Convolvulus tricolor L. »Corydalis solida (L.)Swartz »var. brachyloba Boiss. »Corynephorus deschampsioides Bornm. »Cousinia libanotica D.C. PN »Crocus aleppicus ssp.”litoral” »Crocus cancellatus var. Hermoneus – Herbert LB LB LB Notes on range & No. of IPAs Lower Anti-Lebanon (Qtayfeh), 1 Kurd Dag (Qatma), 1 Salamiye-Al Bil’as, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m E. slopes, Béqaa to Baalbeck, steppic reg. Jabal Semane & Kurd Dag, 1 Qassiun, 1 2 Jabal Abdul Aziz, 1 Jabal Al-Arab, 1 2 2 Homs Sud W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 300-1400m Beqaa, & S. of Rayak. Homs, 2 Coastal Mt (Slenfeh), 1. Lajat, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m Wad Esha`ir-Wad Qana W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m Kurd Dag, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m 2 Wad Esha`irWad Qana Faqoua`-Jalaboun W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 500-2000m IL SY, LB Hermon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Crocus damascenus ssp.nov. not yet desc. »Cyclamen libanoticum Hildebr »Cytisus cassius -Boiss. »Cytisus syriacus Boiss. et Bl. »Daucus aleppicus - Thiéb. »Delphinum ithaburanse Bioss. »Dianthus karami Bl »Dorycnium anatolicum Boiss. var. libanoticum (Boiss.) Mout. »Echium pabotii - Mout. »Erigeron libanoticus Vierh. IL LB SY LB SY PN LB »Erophila gilgiana (Muschler) O.E. Scheltz LB »Erysimum libanoticum Post LB »Erysimum verrucosum Boiss. et Gaill. »Euphorbia petiolata Banks et Sol. LB PN »Ferula armandii - Moût. »Ferula hermonis - Boiss. »Ferula meironensis sp. nov. »Galium pestalozzae Boiss. LB SY LB SY SY, LB IL LB »Galium thiebautii Ehrendorfer LB »Geranium libanoticum Schenk »Gypsophila mollis (Boiss.) Bornm »Halimiium umbellatum (L.) Spach., var. syriacum (Boiss.) Wilk LB LB LB »Heleochloa acutiglumis Boiss. LB »Helianthemum syriacum (Jacq.) Dum.-courset PN »Helianthemum vesicarium Boiss »Helichrysum virgineum D.C. PN LB »Hormuzakia negevensis (Danin) Danin & Hilger IL »Iris antilibanotica - Dinsm. SY »Iris auranitica- Dinsmore SY »Iris basaltica -Dinsmore »Iris calcarea- Dinms in sched. »Iris cedreti Dinsm. »Iris damascena - Mt »Iris sofarana Foster f. kasruwana (Dinsm.) Mout. SY SY LB SY LB »Iris yebrudi -Dinsm. SY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Mountains of Kesrouan Bassit, 1 Aleppo Faqoua`-Jalaboun Upper Jezira, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1000-2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above 1500m Pente de l’Hermon Wad Esha`irWad Qana Jabal Al-Arab, 1 Hermon W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 300-2000m Coast 1500m, Mt Leb. Béqaa, S Rayak & Anti Leb. W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 800-2000m Wad Esha`irWad Qana Yaseed-Ibzeik Localised 1000 2000m. Mtns of N. Lebanon. Anti-Lebanon (Bloudane), 1 Jabal Al-Arab (KaferMayamas), 1 West Homs, 1 Kurd Dag- Wastani, 2 Qassiun, 1 Kesrouan Mtns 1400-2000m. Anti-Lebanon Mts (Yebrud), 1. SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Kitaibelia balansae - Boiss. SY »Lathyrus lentiformis Plitm. »Leontodon libanoticus Boiss. IL LB »Limodorum abortivum (L.)Sw. »Linum carnosulurn Boiss. PN LB »Linum chaborasicum -Mout »Linum toxicum -Boiss. »Lycochloa avenacea Sam. »Marrubium hierapolitanum - Moût. »Marrubium libanoticum Boiss., »Matthiola crassifolia Boiss. Et Gaill. »Melissa inodora Bornm. »Micromenia nummularifolia Boiss »Minuartia libanotica »Myopordon pulchellurn (Winkler et Barbey) Wagenitz SY SY, LB LB SY LB LB LB LB 93 Notes on range & No. of IPAs AmanusCoastal Mts, 1. W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500m Yaseed-Ibzeik W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above1500m Jabal Abdul-Aziz, 1 Hermon summit Aleppo (Manbij) Littoral coast coast up to 2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500-2000m LB LB »Nepeta pabotii - Moût. SY, LB »Odontites lutea (L.) Clairv. var. hispidula Boiss LB »Ononis ornithopodioides L. »Ononis serrata Forsk PN PN »Origanum bargyli - Moût. »Origanum ehrenbergii Boiss. »Origanum ehrenbergii Boiss. »X Origanum syriacum L. »Origanum libanoticum Boiss SY LB LB LB »Origanum ramonense Danin »Ornithogalum libanoticum Boiss et Bal IL LB »Ornithogalum nutans sp.nova »Orobanche palaestina Reuter. »Orobanche astragali Mout. IL PN LB »Orobanche hermonis Mouterde »Orobanche scultzii »Papaver umbonatun Boiss. Diagn »Pentapera sicula (Guss.) Klotzsch var. libanotica C et W LB PN LB »Phylitis sagitata »Pilgerochloa blanchei (Boiss.) Eig »Polygonum senegalense Meissner »Potentilla geranioides syriaca »Prangos deserti - Post et Beauv. »Ptilosteman diacantha (Labill.) Greuter »Puschkinia scilloides Adams var. libanotica PN LB PN LB SY LB LB LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above 2000m Anti-Lebanon, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 300-1400m 2 Wad Elbalat,Um Safa, Beit Illo Berghal-Slenfeh, 1 coast up to 2000m coast up to150000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 300-2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1400-2000m Israel Yaseed-Ibzeik W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1800m Sommet de l’Hermon Yaseed-Ibzeik W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 500-2000m Yaseed-Ibzeik Wad Esha`ir-Wad Qana Bilas-Shair, 2 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1800m 94 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest. Atlantic cedar is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria in northern Africa Middle Atlas, Morocco © Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) »Ranunculus icaria L. PN Wad Elbalat,Um Safa, Beit Illo »Senecio delbesianus - Arènes »Senecio exilis Blanche ex Boiss. SY LB »Ranunculus orbiculatus Blanche »Ranunculus schweinfurthii Boiss »Rhamnus alaternus L. »Rhododendron ponticum L. »var. brachycarpum Boiss. LB LB PN »Serapias vomeracea Briqu PN »Silene conoidea L. »Silene damascena Boiss. et Gaill. »Silene physalodes - Boiss. »Silene reuteriana Boiss »Silene schlumbergeri -Boiss. »Spartium junceum L LB LB SY LB SY PN »Stachys palaestina »Stachys ehrenbergii boiss PN LB »Stachys hydrophila Boiss. »Stachys petrokosmos - Rech. il. »Stellaria cilicica Boiss. et Bal ssp.neglata »Tanacetum yabrudae »Charpin et Dittrich (Moût) LB SY LB »Teucrium antilibanoticum - Moût. SY »Teucrium coniortodes - Boiss. et Bl. SY »Teucrium heterotrichum - Briq. Ex Rech. il. SY Yaseed-Ibzeik Yaseed-Ibzeik »Teucrium lamiifolium PN Qassiun, Palmyra, 1 »Teucrium montbretii PN »Romulea nivalis - Boiss et Ky LB SY, LB »Rorippa macrocarpa (Boiss.) Mout LB »Rosularia kesrouanensis Mout. »Rosularia parvifolia - Frod. et Sam. »Rumex angustifolius Campd ssp. libanoticus Rech f »Rumex rothschildianum Aarons. »Salsola zenobiae - Mout »Salvia drusica -Moût. »Salvia nazalena - Hedge et Mouterde LB SY LB IL SY SY SY »Saponaria bargyliana - Gombault »Scandix blepharicarpa O.Cohen »Scandîx damascena - Bornm. »Scariola triquetra (Labill.) Sojak SY IL SY LB »Scorzonera libanotica Boiss. »Sedum palaestinum »Sedum litoreum Guss. »Sedum louisii -Frôd LB PN PN SY COUNTRY Yaseed-Ibzeik W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 800-2000m Lebanon Anti-Lebanon, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 500-1500m Hermon, 1 Palmyra, 1 Jabal Al Arab, 1 Lower Anti-Leb. (Qaryatein), 1 Slenfeh, 1 Qassiun, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 0-2000m SY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Upper Jezira, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above 2000m Wad Elbalat, Um Safa, Beit Illo Golan, 1 Anti-Lebanon, 1 Wad Elbalat,Um Safa, Beit Illo Yaseed-Ibzeik W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500m coast to 2000m Amanus (Kassab), 1 Lower Anti-Lebanon (Yabrud-Maalula), 1 Anti-Lebanon (Tal’at Musa), 1 Abu-Rujmain (Jabal Abiad), 1 Coastal Mts (Bhamra), 1. Wad Elbalat Um Safa, Beit Illo Yaseed-Ibzeik Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Teucrium montbretii Benth. »Thesium libanoticum Ehrenb. LB LB »Thymus alfredae - Post SY »Trifolium sannineum Mout. »Trifolium bonnevillei - Moût LB SY »Tulipa lownei Baker LB »Tulipa aucheriana Baker ssp westii ssp. Nova LB »Valerianella antilibanotica - Rech. f. SY »Valerianella soyeri - Buchinger in Boiss. »Veronica caespitosa Boiss. subsb. leiophyla (Boiss) M.A.Fisher SY LB »Vicia basaltica Plitman »Vicia canescens Labill. IL LB »Vicia esdraelonensis Warb. & Eig »Vicia qatmensis -Gomb. »Viola libanotica Boiss. IL SY LB »Ziziphora ‘Abd-el-Asisii - Hand.-Mazz. »Acantholimon antilibanoticum - Moût. »Anchonium billardieri -D.C. SY SY, LB SY, LB »Astragalus gaillardotii - Boiss »Astragalus hirsutissimus - D.C. »Bellevalia hermonis - mt »Convolvulus libanoticus - Boiss. SY, LB SY, LB SY, LB SY, LB »Gypsophila frankenioides Boiss. »Var libanotica Boiss. SY, LB »Iris lortetii W. Barbey »Johrenia westii - Post »Micromeria libanotica - Boiss. PN, IL SY, LB SY, LB »Minuartia innominata -McNeill SY, LB »Minuartia labillardieri - Briquet SY, LB »Plantago maris-mortui Eig »Silene astartes - Blanche IL,JO,PN SY, LB »Silene grisea Boiss. »Silene oxyodonta Barbey »Sison exaltatum Boiss. »Thlaspi brevicaule- Boiss. et Ky IL,LB,PN IL,JO,PN IL,LB, SY, LB » Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) APPENDICES COUNTRY SECTION 6 95 Notes on range & No. of IPAs Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Levant+ Egypt W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1400m Anti-Lebanon (Rankouss, Maalula), 1 »Biarum olivieri Blume EG, PN Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Syria+Turkey Jabal Al-Arab (Qanawat) Lajat (Shahba), 2 Anti-Lebanon (Zabadani), 1 Wadi al Qarn, 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above 2000m W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon above 2000m Kurd Dag (Qatma), 1 W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 1500m Jabal Abdul Aziz, 1 Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. Hermon High Levant Mts. Hermon. Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. Upper Orontes valley Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. Hermon Lebanon Mts. Hermon Lebanon Mts. Anti-Lebanon Lebanon Mts. »Allium calyptratum - Boiss. »Allium cassium - Boiss. SY, TR SY, TR »Convolvulus cassius - Sam. ex Rech. il. SY, TR? »Ferulago amani - Post SY, TR » Amanus Summets of Coastal Mts. Amanus, 1 Kaipok-Dag loc. Site Restricted Species with disjunct distributions »Silene bocconei ssp. praecox DZ, IT, FR Edough Peninsula, Sardinia, Corsica 96 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Part 2: REsTRIcTEd RANGE sPEcIEs: Extent of occurrence <5,000km2 Restricted range species in North Africa/Magreb »Abies maroccana »Adenocarpus anagyrifolius »Adenocarpus bacquei »Aethionema saxatile »Agropyrum festucoides »Agryrolobuim zanonii ssp. fallax »Ammochloa involucrata »Anabasis prostrata »Anacyclus atlanticus »Anacyclus maroccanus »Anchusa pseudogranatensis »Andrachne maroccana »Anthemis chrysantha »Anthriscus sylvestris ssp. mollis »Anthyllis barba-jovis L. »Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. rifana MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ MA MA MA MA DZ MA, DZ TN, DZ MA »Aquilegia vulgaris ssp. balli MA »Arabis coringioides MA »Arabis hirsuta ssp. tunetana (Murb.) Maire TN »Arabis josiae MA »Arabis pubescens ssp. decumbens MA »Arenaria grandilora ssp. grandilora MA »Arenaria mairei MA »Arenaria pungens ssp. boissieri MA »Argania spinosa MA »Argyrocytisus battandieri MA »Argyrolobium zanonii ssp. fallax MA »Armeria ebracteata MA, DZ »Artemisia alba ssp. chitachensis MA »Artemisia negrei MA »Asphodelus ayardii MA »Asphodelus gracilis MA »Astragalus ibrahimianus MA »Avenula jahandiezii MA »Bellis caerulescens MA »Bellis prostrata Pomel TN, DZ »Borago trabutii MA »Brachyapium involucratum MA »Brassica fruticulosa ssp., mauritanica MA, DZ »Brassica repanda ssp. silenifolia MA »Bunium alpinum ssp. atlanticum MA »Bunium chaberti Batt DZ »Bunium crassifolium (Batt.) Batt. DZ, TN Parc Tassemtane 4 Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Parc d’Ifrane 3 Parc d’Ifrane Maamora Beni Snassen, Parc National d’Al Hoceima 2 Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Tamga Habibas islands, Cap Falcon (NW-Algeria) Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane, Parc Tazekka Toubkal 2 Dorsale tunisienne 2 2 3 Jbel Mgoun 2 Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 2 Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi Algéro.marocains 2 4 2 Maamora 5 4 8 3 Toubkal Beni Snassen 2 2 Djurdjura national park (N-Algeria) Edough peninsula, Jbel Korbous Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Bunium elatum Batt. »Bupleurum album »Bupleurum atlanticum DZ MA MA, DZ »Bupleurum atlanticum ssp. aiouense »Bupleurum atlanticum ssp. atlanticum »Bupleurum benoistii »Bupleurum dumosum »Bupleurum laterilorum »Campanula camptoclada Boiss. »Campanula mairei »Campanula saxifragoides MA MA MA MA MA IL, LB MA MA, DZ »Campanula velata ssp. velata MA, DZ »Carduncellus atractyloides MA, DZ »Carduncellus pinnatus ssp. lucens »Carduncellus pomelianus MA MA, DZ »Carduus ballii. »Carthamus carthamoides MA MA, DZ »Catananche caespitose Desf. MA, DZ »Catananche montana Coss. MA, DZ »Centaurea acaulis ssp. Boissieri MA, DZ »Centaurea benoistii »Centaurea gueryi MA MA »Centaurea josiae »Centaurea nana MA MA, DZ »Centaurea riaeana MA, DZ »Centaurea takredensis »Centaurium erythraea ssp. apertum MA MA, DZ »Centranthus angustifolia ssp. maroccanus MA »Centranthus lecoqii ssp. maroccanus MA »Centranthus nevadensis ssp. battandieri MA, DZ »Cephalaria mauritanica ssp. eu-mauritanica Maire MA, DZ, TN »Cephalaria mauritanica ssp. maroccana MA »Cerastium atlanticum Durieu MA, DZ, TN »Ceratocnemum rapistroides MA »Chaerophyllum atlanticum MA »Chamaemelum scariosum MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Bibans + Djebel Dréat 4 Parc National du Haut Atlas Oriental Jbel Mgoun Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 3 2 3 Israel, Lebanon 3 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Ghar-Rouban area/ orient. Tlemcen mtns H.A.Oriental, BouNaceur, Ayachi, Bou Iblane, Maasker Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 3 Ghar-Rouban area/ orient. Tlemcen mtns Tlemcen, Bossuet, Atlas saharien Djurdjura, Babor, Constantine, Atlas saharien Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 2 Parc Haut Atlas Oriental 3 Parc National d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Jbel Mgoun Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Toubkal Jbel Bou Naceur Ghar-Rouban area/ orient. Tlemcen mtns Zaccar, Djurdjura, Akfadou (N-Algeria) Parc d’Ifrane maghrébine Parc d’Ifrane 2 Tamga Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) »Cirsium chrysacanthum »Cirsium dyris »Cistus munbyi »Convolvulus gharbensis »Convolvulus mazicum »Convolvulus pitardii »Coris monspeliensis var. maroccana »Coronilla viminalis »Crepis hookeriana »Crocus nevadensis COUNTRY MA MA MA, DZ MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ »Crocus nevadensis MA »Crocus serotinus ssp. salzmanii MA »Cupressus atlantica MA »Cyclamen repandum ssp. atlanticum Maire (= var. baborense) MA, DZ »Cynara baetica ssp. maroccana MA »Cynoglossum pitardianum MA »Cynoglossum watieri MA »Cytisopsis ahmedii MA »Cytisus arboreus ssp. arboreus MA, DZ »Cytisus maurus MA »Daucus tenuisectus MA »Dianthus rupicola Biv. ssp. hermaeensis (Coss.) O. Bolòs & Vigo TN »Digitalis atlantica DZ »Digitalis lutea ssp. transiens MA »Draba hederefolia »Draba hederifolia ssp. hederifolia »Draba hederifolia ssp. cossoniana »Draba oreadum »Draba oreadum ssp. oreadum »Dracaena draco ssp. ajgal »Dracocephalum renati »Echium humile ssp. caespitosum »Echium velutinum MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Echium velutinum ssp. versicolor »Elymus festucoides »Elymus marginatum ssp. marginatum »Epimedium perralderianum MA MA MA DZ »Erodium battandierianum Rouy Park DZ parkErodium cossoni »Eruca loncholoma (Pamel) O.E. Schulz »Erucastrum brevirostre »Erucastrum elatum MA DZ MA MA SECTION 6 APPENDICES Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) 5 5 Beni Snassen Maamora 6 2 Jbel Ayachi 2 4 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Aghbar »Eryngium argyreum MA »Eryngium atlanticum MA »Eryngium maroccanum MA »Eryngium tricuspidatum ssp., mauritanicum MA, DZ »Eryngium triquetrum ssp. xauense MA »Eryngium varrifolium MA »Euphorbia mesatlantica MA »Euphorbia resinifera MA »Euphorbia rimarum MA »Evax crocidion MA, DZ »Evonymus latifolius var. kabylica MA, DZ Babor mountains, Taza national park (NE-Algeria) 2 Parc d’Ifrane 3 Jbel Krouz Beni Snassen Parc Tazekka Parc d’Ifrane Jebel El Haouaria et Ile de Zembra Babor moutains, Taza national park Parc Haut Atlas Oriental, Jbel Mgoun 2 Toubkal 4 2 Jbel Mgoun Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 4 Toubkal Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Toubkal 2 2 Kefrida, Babors, Beni-Foughal (NE-Algeria) Babor moutains, Taza national Toubkal Chelia, (NE-Algeria) Parc d’Ifrane 2 COUNTRY »Fedia pallescens ssp. hirsuta »Feeria angustifolia »Festuca atlantica ssp. oxyphylla »Festuca demnatensis »Festuca fontqueri »Festuca mairei »Festuca rifana »Filago duriaei MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ »Fumaria berberica »Fumaria macrosepala ssp. obscura »Fumaria pugsleyana »Galium acuminatum »Galium bourgaeanum MA MA MA MA MA, DZ »Galium bourgeanum ssp. maroccanum MA »Galium brunnaeum Munby MA, DZ, TN »Galium viscosum ssp. rifanum »Genista numidica ssp. iliramea MA DZ »Genista numidica ssp. numidica DZ and??? »Genista scorpius »Genista scorpius ssp. myriantha »Genista vepres MA MA DZ and??? »Gentiana atlantica »Gentiana penetii »Gentiana tornezyana »Geranium cataractarum ssp. pitardii »Geranium nanum »Globularia nainii »Hedysarum naudinianum Coss MA MA MA MA MA MA DZ »Hedysarum perralderianum Coss. DZ 97 Notes on range & No. of IPAs Maamora Maamora Parc d’Ifrane Beni Snassen Parc Tazekka 2 10 2 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro.marocains Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 4 2 2 Parc d’Ifrane 5 Toubkal Parc Tassemtane Algéro-Ibéro Marocains Parc d’Ifrane Parc Tazekka Toubkal Ghar-Rouban area Morocco. Parc d’Ifrane Béjaia, Chenoua, Tlemcen (N-Algeria) Parc Tassemtane Djurdjura national park, Akfadou (N-Algeria) Edough peninsula, Taza national park + Collo peninsula 2 Tamga Taza national park, etc. ? (NE-Algeria) 2 Jbel Mgoun 2 Parc d’Ifrane 4 8 Bibans, Guergour, Zaccar, Ouarsenis, Boghar Djebel Chelia, Bellezma + djebel Bou Thaleb 98 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY »Helichrysum lacteum MA, DZ »Heliocauta atlantica »Heracleum sphondylium »Herniaria pujosii MA MA MA, DZ »Hertia maroccana MA »Hieracium amplexicaule ssp. atlanticum MA, DZ »Hieracium ernestii Maire DZ »Hieracium faurelianum Maire DZ »Hieracium pseudopiosella ssp. subtenuicaule MA »Hieracium pseudopiosella ssp. tenuicaule MA »Hieracium pseudopiosella ssp. tenuicauliforme MA »Hippocrepis liouvillei MA »Hippocrepis liouvillei ssp. liouvillei MA »Hippocrepis maura MA »Hippocrepis neglecta MA »Hypochoeris angustifolia MA »Hypochoeris leontodoides MA »Inula maletii MA »Isatis djurdjurae MA, DZ »Jasione montana ssp. cornuta »Jasonia (Chiliadenus) rupestris MA MA, DZ »Juniperus thurifera L. ssp. africana Maire DZ »Juniperus thurifera ssp. africana MA, DZ »Lactuca virosa »Lactuca virosa ssp. cornigera »Laserpitium emilianum MA MA MA »Lavandula stoechas ssp. atlantica MA »Lavandula tenuisecta MA »Lens villosa MA »Leontodon pitardii MA »Leontodon salzmanii MA »Leontodon taraxacoides ssp. mesorrhynchus MA »Leucanthemum mairei MA »Leuzea berardioides MA »Limonium mouretii MA »Linaria amethystea ssp. Broussonetii (Poir.) Malato-Beliz) MA »Linaria cossoni Barrate TN »Linaria decipiens Batt. DZ »Linaria maroccana MA »Linaria multicaulis ssp. pseudosupina MA »Linaria scariosa Desf. TN, DZ »Linaria tristis MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 2 Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 2 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Babor mountains (NE-Algeria) Djebel Chelia, Bellezma national park (NE-Algeria) Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane »Linaria tristis ssp. lurida »Linaria tristis ssp. pectinata »Linaria ventricosa »Linaria weilleri »Lithodora maroccana »Lotononis maroccana »Lotus maroccanus »Luzula atlantica »Marrubium ayardii »Marrubium echinatum MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA »Marrubium multibracteatum »Matthiola scapifera »Medicago suffruticosa ssp. maroccana MA MA MA »Mentha gattefossei »Mentha suaveolens »Mentha suaveolens ssp. timija »Mibora maroccana »Moehringia stellarioides MA MA MA MA DZ »Myosotis atlantica »Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii »Narcissus rupicola ssp. watieri »Nasturtium africanum ssp. mesatlanticum »Nepeta atlantica »Nepeta hispanica ssp. statice MA MA MA MA MA MA »Nepeta stachyoides »Nivellea nivellei »Odontites powellii »Odontites violacea Pomel MA MA MA DZ Parc d’Ifrane Jbel Bou Naceur Parc d’Ifrane Maamora Parc d’Ifrane 3 Jbel Ayachi Parc d’Ifrane Djurdjura national park, Babor mnts. Parc d’Ifrane Ghar-Rouban area orient. Tlemcen mnts. Aurès (NE-Algeria) Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Toubkal 2 Parc d’Ifrane 4 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 5 5 Parc d’Ifrane Maamora NE de la Tunisie Chelia, (NE-Algeria) Tamga Parc d’Ifrane tuniso-algériennes Toubkal COUNTRY »Oenanthe pimpinelloides ssp. callosa »Onobrychis cadevalli »Onobrychis humilis »Onobrychis humilis ssp. jahandiezii »Ononis serotina ssp. eu-serotina Maire »Ononis atlantica »Ononis maweana var. fontqueri »Ononis thomsonii »Onopordum dyris »Origanum elongatum »Ormenis scariosa »Orobanche chrysacanthi »Orobanche hookeriana »Orobanche leptantha Pomel MA MA MA MA DZ MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ »Oropetium africanum »Paeonia corallina (mascula) ssp. atlantica MA DZ »Papaver atlanticum MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs 3 Parc Tazekka 3 Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi Jbel Bouhachem 2 3 Toubkal 4 Parc Haut Atlas Orient., Parc d’Ifrane 5 3 Parc Haut Atlas Orient., Parc d’Ifrane 2 Toubkal Aghbar Maamora Babor moutains, Taza national park+ Collo peninsula 4 Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane 3 Jbel Maasker, Parc d’Ifrane Aghbar 2 Parc d’Ifrane Djurdjura national park, Babor mnts. Parc Tazekka Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Zaccar, oued Imbert 3 Maamora Parc d’Ifrane 2 2 4 Toubkal Toubkal Monts Trara (NW-Algeria) Jbel Kest, Anezi,Imzi Akfadou forests, Djurdjura, Babor mnts., Taza, etc. Toubkal Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation SECTION 6 APPENDICES 99 Lac des Oiseaux © Samraoui Species name and authority (where provided) »Pedicularis numidica COUNTRY DZ »Phagnalon atlanticum MA »Phagnalon calycnum ssp. caroli paui MA »Phagnalon embergeri MA »Phagnalon helichrysoides MA »Phagnalon helichrysoides ssp. helichrysoides MA »Phagnalon platyphyllum MA »Phlomis bovei ssp. maroccana MA »Pinus nigra ssp. mauritanica MA, DZ »Pinus pinaster ssp. Hamiltoni var. maghrebiana MA, DZ »Pinus pinaster ssp. hamiltoni var. maghrebianaMA »Pistorinia attenuata ssp. attenuata MA »Pitardia caerulescens MA »Platanthera algeriensis MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Taza national park , Collo peninsula, Edough peninsula Toubkal Parc Tazekka 3 2 Jbel Mgoun Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Djurdjura national park, Rif mountains, Sierra Nevada ? »Platycapnos saxicola »Poa alpina ssp. atlantica »Polygala balansae »Polygala boissieri »Polygonum balansae ssp. Rhizoxylon »Potentilla maura »Potentilla tornezyana »Primula acaulis ssp. atlantica MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ »Pterocephalus depressus »Ptilostemon dyricola »Ptilostemon rhiphaeus »Pyrus communis ssp. gharbiana MA MA MA MA, DZ »Raffenaldia platycarpa »Ranunculus aurasiacus MA MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Parc d’Ifrane Tamga Jbel Bou Naceur Toubkal »Ranunculus calandrinioides »Ranunculus dyris »Reseda attenuata COUNTRY MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Toubkal 3 2 Toubkal Jbel Bou Ibane Parc Tassemtane 2 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Toubkal 3 Parc Tassemtane Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains 2 Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Parc d’Ifrane 2 Toubkal 100 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY »Reseda nainii MA »Retama dasycarpa MA »Rhamnus lycioides ssp. atlantica MA »Rhodanthemum catananche MA »Rhodanthemum gayanum MA »Rhodanthemum gayanum ssp. demnatense MA »Rhodanthemum maroccanum MA »Rhodanthemum pseudo-catananche MA »Rhodanthemum redieri MA »Rhodonthemum atlanticum MA »Romulea battandieri Beguinot DZ »Romulea numidica MA, DZ »Romulea penzigii Beguinot »Romulea vaillantii Quézel »Rorippa hayanica »Rumex atlanticus »Rumex ginii »Sagina saginoides ssp. parvilorum »Salix atrocinerea ssp. jahandiezii »Salvia lavandulifolia ssp. mesatlantica »Sanguisorba minor ssp. maroccana »Satureja arganietorum »Satureja atlantica »Satureja grandilora ssp. baborensis »Saxifraga numidica Maire DZ DZ MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, DZ DZ »Saxifraga pedemontana ssp. demnatensis MA »Scutellaria orientalis ssp. demnatensis MA »Sedum dasyphyllum ssp. oblongifolium MA »Sedum jaccardianum MA »Sedum jahandiezii MA »Sedum melanantherum MA »Sedum modestum MA »Sedum surculosum MA »Sedum tuberosum Coss. & Letourn. TN, DZ »Selaginella balansae »Sempervivum tectorum ssp. atlanticum »Senecio gallerandianus Coss. et Dur. MA MA DZ »Seseli libanotis ssp. atlanticum »Sideritis jahandiezii »Sideritis oromaroccana »Sideritis vilosa »Silene ayachica »Silene barrattei Murb. MA MA MA MA MA TN »Silene corrugata »Silene cuatrecasasii »Silene dyris MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Parc Haut Atlas Oriental 2 3 2 Toubkal 2 Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal 4 Jbel Mgoun Djurdjura nat. park Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. marocains Djurdjura nat. park Djebel Chélia Parc d’Ifrane 4 2 Toubkal Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 2 Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 3 Babor mnts. (NE-Alg.) Rif (N-Morocco) Babor mountains (NE-Algeria) 4 5 Toubkal Jbel Ayachi Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal 3 Toubkal tuniso-algériennes (Algérois, G de Kabylie) Parc d’Ifrane Toubkal Djurdjura, Babor, Aures (NE-Algeria) 3 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 3 Est de la Tunisie (de Bizerte à Gafsa) 2 3 3 »Silene ilipetala »Silene glabrescens »Silene heterodonta »Silene heterodonta ssp. rosella »Silene mekinensis »Silene mentagensis »Silene mesatlantica Maire »Silene pomelii ssp. adusta »Silene portensis »Silene reticulata Desf. COUNTRY MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA TN, DZ »Silene reverchonii Batt. DZ »Silene velutinoides Pomel DZ »Silene virescens »Silene volubilitana »Sisymbrium maurum »Sixalix (Scabiosa) cartenniana MA MA MA DZ »Sonchus tenerrimus var. amicus »Faure, Maire & Wilczek DZ »Spergularia microsperma ssp. oreophila »Spergularia pycnorrhiza (Maire) P. Monnier MA DZ »Spergularia tenuifolia Pomel DZ »Stachys arenaria ssp. divaricatidens MA »Stachys mialhesi De Noe DZ »Stachys mouretii MA »Stachys saxicola ssp. saxicola MA »Stachys saxicola ssp. villosissima MA »Stipa nitens MA »Teucrium chamaedrys ssp. gracile MA »Teucrium collincola MA »Teucrium decipiens MA »Teucrium joannis MA »Teucrium malenconianum MA »Teucrium mideltense MA »Teucrium musimonum MA »Teucrium rotundifolium var. atlanticum MA »Thymus atlanticus MA »Thymus ciiatus ssp. munbyanus var. comosusMA »Thymus dreatensis DZ »Thymus maroccanus »Thymus maroccanus ssp. maroccanus »Thymus satureioides »Tolpis barbata »Tolpis barbata ssp. liouvillei »Trifolium humile MA MA MA MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Toubkal Maamora 2 Parc d’Ifrane 2 Parc d’Ifrane 5 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane tuniso-algériennes (Tell algérois, Gde Kabylie) Babor mountains (NE-Algeria) Monts Tlemcen,GharRouban, Constantine Tamga Jbel Bouhachem 2 Cap Ténès (NW-Algeria) Habibas islands (NW-Algeria) 2 Habibas islands + Ain Franin (NW-Alg.) Miliana, Relizane, Tiaret (NW-Algeria) 2 Djebel Chenoua Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane 7 3 Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Parc d’Ifrane Tamga Parc Haut Atlas Orient. 6 2 4 Parc d’Ifrane Babor Mtns + Bibans, Mt Dreat, Mt Dira,Takoucht Belezma Aghbar Parc d’Ifrane 2 Aghbar Toubkal 5 Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Tripodion kremerianum MA, DZ »Tulipa sylvestris »Urginea fugax var. major »Vella mairei »Verbascum calycinum »Verbascum hookerianum MA, DZ MA MA MA MA »Verbascum lychnitis var. giganteum MA »Veronica chartonii »Viola dyris »Viola maroccana »Viola mumbyana var. rifana »Viola saxifraga »Viola subatlantica MA MA MA MA MA MA Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) Parc National de Tazekka Algéro.marocains Maamora 3 Toubkal Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Parc Haut Atlas Oriental Jbel Mgoun 2 3 Jbel Bou Naceur 4 Parc d’Ifrane »Crocus boulosii Greuter LY »Cyclamen rohlfsianum Ascher. LY »Desmazeria lorentii H. Scholz LY, TN »Ebenus armitagei Schweinf. &Taub. EG, LY »Erodium tocranum Guitt. Et Le Houerou . LY »Euphorbia pseudo-apios Maire & Weiller LY »Frankenia syrtica (Maire & Weiller) Brullo & Furnari LY »Helianthemum cyrenaicum (Grosser) Brullo & Furnari LY »Herniaria cyrenaica F. Herm. LY, EG »Heteromera philaenorum Maire & Weiller LY »Hypericum decaisneanum Coss. & Daveau LY »Iloga spicata ssp. elbaensis Chartek EG »Lactuca haimanniana E.A.Durand & Barratte LY »Libyella cyrenaica (E.A.Durand & Barratte) Pamp. LY »Limonium cyrenaicum (Rouy) Brullo LY »Limonium subrotundifolium (Bég. & Vacc.) BrulloLY »Limonium vaccarii Brullo LY »Medicago cyrenaea Maire & Weiller LY »Muscari stenanthum Freyn . LY Restricted range species in North Africa Magreb+ other North African countries or Egypt and/or Libya »Anacamptis cyrenaica (E.A.Durand & Barratte) H.Kretzsmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr. LY »Anthemis cyrenaica Coss LY »Anthemis kruegeriana Pamp. LY »Anthemis microsperma Boiss. & Kotschy EG »Anthemis taubertii Durand & Barratte LY »Arbutus pavarii Pamp. LY »Arbutus pavarii Pamp. LY, TN »Arum cyrenaicum Hurby LY - Crete »Astragalus camelorum Barbey EG »Athmanta della-cella Ascherson et Barbey »Atractylis carduus var. marmarica Täckh. &Boulos LY EG »Ballota andreuzziana Pamp »Bellevalia salah-eidii Täckh. & Boulos »Bellevalia sessililora (Viv.) Kunth »Bellevallia Cyrenaica Maire & Weiller ) LY EG EG, LY LY »Bellevallia sessilora (Viv.) Kunth. »Biscutella didyma var. elbensis (Chartek) ElNaggar »Brassica deserti Danin & Hedge »Bromus aegyptiacus Tausch LY, EG »Bunium fontanesii (Pers.) Maire »Carthamus mareoticus Delile »Centaurea alexandrina Delile »Centaurea cyrenaica Beguinot & Vacc. »Convolvulus maireanus Pamp. EG EG EG MA, TN, LY EG, LY EG, LY LY LY SECTION 6 APPENDICES Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Western Medit coast. dunes, St Katherine Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Libya & Tunisa Lake Bardawil, Saint Katherine Jabal Akhdar area only Western Medit. coastal dunes Jabal Akhdar area only Lake Bardawil Sallum Area Jabal Akhdar area only Type only 1938 Libya & Egypt Halayeb Triangle Saint Katherine Lake Manzala, Lake Mariut du Maroc à la Libye Lake Mariut, Omayed, Sallum Area Rare Omayed, W Medit. coastal dunes Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only COUNTRY »Nepeta cyrenaica Quézel & Zaffran LY »Nepeta vivianii (Cosson) Béguinot & Vacc. LY »Onopordum cyrenaicum Maire & Weiller LY »Onosma cyrenaica E.A.Durand & Barratte LY »Orchis taubertiana B.Baumann & H.Baumann LY »Origanum cyrenaicum Beg. Et Vacc. (=O. akhdarensis Letswart & Boulos, Amaracus akhdarensis (Ietsw. & al) Brullo & Furnari, and Amaracus pampaninii Brullo & Furnari) LY »Pachyctenium mirabilis Maire & Pamp. LY »Pallenis cyrenaica Alavi LY »Pancratium arabicum Sickenb. EG »Petrohagia cyrenaica (Durand & Barratte) Ball & Heywood LY »Phlomis aurea Decne. EG »Picris mauginiana Pam. LY »Plantago cyrenaica Durand & Barratte LY »Polygala aschersoniana Chodat LY »Ranunculus cyclocarpus Pamp. LY »Satureja fortii Pam. LY »Sedum bracteatum Viv. LY »Sedum laconicum Boiss & Heldr LY »Silene biappendiculata Rohrb. LY, EG »Sixalix libyca (Alavi) Greuter & Burdet LY »Stachys rosea (Desf.) Boiss LY »Teucrium apollinis Maire & Weiller »Teucrium barbeyanum Asch. & Taub. »Teucrium davaeanum Coss. »Teucrium zanonii Pomel LY LY LY LY 101 Notes on range & No. of IPAs Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Libya & Tunisa Rare Omayed Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Libya & Egypt. Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Halayeb Triangle Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Probably endemic & very rare Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only W Medit. coast. dunes Jabal Akhdar area only Saint Katherine Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only NE Libya and Egypt Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only probably endemic Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only 102 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY »Thesium erythronicum Pamp. »Umbilicus mirus (Pamp.) Greuter LY LY Notes on range & No. of IPAs Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY Jabal Akhdar area only Jabal Akhdar area only »Bellevalia warburgii Feinbrun »Berberis libanotica - Ehrenb. IL SY, LB »Biarum auraniticum - Mt »Centaurea dumulosa - Boiss. SY, IL SY, LB Restricted range species in East Mediterranean /Levant+ Egypt (Sinai) »Allium papillare Boiss. »Allium sinaiticum Boiss. »Allium tel-avivense Eig IL, EG (Si) IL,EG (Si), SA, JO IL,EG (Si), LB »Anthemis eliezrae Eig »Anthemis zoharyana Eig »Centaurea procurrens Sieb. ex Spreng. Israel, Egypt (Sinai) Israel coast, S. Lebanon and N. Sinai (Egypt) IL, EG (Si) IL, EG (Si), JO IL, LB, EG (Si) »Dianthus sinaicus Boiss. IL,EG (Si),PN »Hammada negevensis Iljin & Zohary IL, EG (Si) »Haplophyllum poorei ssp.negevense Zoh. Et Danin IS, LB, EG (Si)IS »Hypecoum aegyptiacum (Forssk.) Asch. & Schw. IL, EG (Si) »Iloga rueppellii (Fresen.) Danin IL, JO, EG (Si) »Iris mariae Barbey EG (Si) , IL, PN »Kickxia loribunda (Boiss.) Täckholm & Boulos EG, PN »Acantholimon libanoticum - Boiss. SY, LB Israel coast, S. Lebanon and N. Sinai (Egypt) Israel, Egypt (Sinai) North Sinai Mountains, Nabq High Levant Mts. » Restricted range species in East Mediterranean/Levant »Allium asclepiadeum Bornm. IL »Allium makmelianum -Post SY, LB »Allium phanerantherum- Boiss. et Hkn SY, LB, PN »Amygdalus agrestis - Boiss. SY, LB »Anthemis edumea Eig JO »Anthemis lyonnetioides - Boiss. SY, LB »Anthemis maris-mortui Eig IL, PN, JO »Anthemis samuelssonii - Rech. f. »Astragalus aaronii (Eig) Zohary »Astragalus argyrothamnos - Boiss. »Astragalus azraqensis C. C. Towns. »Astragalus baalbekensis - Bornm. »Astragalus bhamrensis - Sirj. et Rech »Astragalus dictyocarpus - Boiss. »Astragalus ehrenbergii- Bunge. »Astragalus emarginatus - Labili. »Astragalus moabiticus Post »Astragalus psilodontius - Boiss. »Astragalus transjordanicus Sam. »Ballota antilibanotica - Post. SY, LB JO SY, LB JO SY, LB SY, LB SY, LB SY, LB SY, LB JO SY, LB JO SY, LB Anti-Lebanon -Leb. Hermon-Lebanon Mts. Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Israel, Palestine, Jordan Homs Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Coastal Mts.. High Levant Mts. Anti-Lebanon High Levant Mts. Lower Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Mts. »Colchicum antilibanoticum Gombo »Colchicum feinbruniae K. Pers. »Colchicum ramonensis sp.nova »Colchicum tunicatum Feinbr. »Colchicum tuviae Feinbr. »Convolvulus palaestinus Boiss. »Corrigiola palaestina Chaudh. »Cousinia pestalozzae -Boiss. »Crepis robertioides - Boiss. »Crocus hermoneus ssp. Palaestinus Feinb.&Shmida »Crypsis minuartioides (Bornm.) Mez »Cyperus sharonensis Danin »Draba vesicaria -Desv. »Erodium choulletianum »Erodium subintegrifolium Eig »Erodium trichomanifolium - L’Hér. »Ferula daninii Zohary »Ferula orientalis L. »Ferula ovina Zohary »Ferulago frigida - Boiss. IL,LB,SY, IL,LB,SY, IL IL,JO, IL IL,LB,SY, IL, LB SY, LB SY, LB IL/JO IL IL SY, LB TN, DZ IL SY, LB IL IL/PN IL SY, LB »Filago inexpectata Wagenitz IL,JO,PN »Galium philistaeum Boiss. IL »Genista libanotica - Boiss. SY, LB »Hedysarum coelesyriacum - Sam. SY, LB. »Helianthemum sphaerocalyx Gauba & Janch. ? »Heliotropium schweinfurthii - Boiss. SY, LB »Iphiona marismortui Feinbrun IL,JO,PN »Iris atrofusca Baker ,JO,PN »Iris edomensis Sealy JO »Iris hermona Dinsm. IS, SY »Iris jordana- Dinsm. SY, JO, IL? »Iris mariae W. Barbey IL »Iris petrana Dinsm. IL, JO »Kickxia judaica Danin IL,JO, PN »Kickxia petrana Danin JO »Lamium ehrenbergii - Boiss. et Reut. SY, LB »Lobularia arabica (Boiss.) Muschl EG, PN »Lycium petraeum Feinbrun JO »Onosma caerulescens -Boiss. SY, LB »Orchis israelitica Baumann & DafniI »Origanum dayi Post »Origanum petraeum Danin IL, ,LB, IL JO Notes on range & No. of IPAs Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. IL Hauran (Sanamein) Anti-Lebanon Palmerene Anti-Lebanon High Levant Mts. Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. Djebel Ouahch area High Levant Mts. Israel Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. High Levant Mts. Anti-Lebanon Omayed, W Medit. coastal dunes Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. Jordan valley High Levant Mts. Rare Omayed Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation Species name and authority (where provided) »Ornithogalum fuscescens »Papaver carmeli Feinbrun »Papaver libanoticum -Boiss. »Petrorhagia zoharyana Liston »Poterium compactum - Boiss. »Ranunculus myosuroides - Boiss. COUNTRY IL, PN, SY? IL SY, LB IL SY, LB SY, LB »Rheum palaestinum Feinbrun IL,JO, »Rindera schlumbergeri - Boiss. (Gùrke) SY, LB »Rubia danaensis Danin JO »Salvia eigii Zohary IL »Satureja mabateorum Danin & Hedge JO »Satureja thymbrifolia Hedge & Feinbrun IL »Satureja thymbrifolia Hedge & Feinbrun IL,JO, »Scorzonera libanotica - Boiss. SY, LB »Scrophularia nabataeorum Eig JO »Sedum palaestinum Boiss. IL,LB,PN »Silene danaensis Danin JO »Silene palaestina Boiss. IL »Silene palaestina Boiss. IL,LB,PN »Silene physalodes Boiss. IL,LB, »Sonchus suberosus Zohary & P.H.Davis IL,JO,PN »Stachys paneiana -Moût. IL, PN, SY »Stachys zoharyana Eig IL »Sternbergia pulchella Boiss.& Bl. ,LB,SY, »Tanacetum densum - Labili. (Schultz Bip.) SY, LB »Tanacetum negevensis Shmida IL »Teucrium socinianum - Boiss. SY, LB »Tracheliopsis antilibanotica - P.H. Davis SY, LB »Trichodesma boissieri Post IL,JO,PN »Trifolium billardieri Spreng. IL,LB, »Trifolium farayense - Moût. SY, LB »Trifolium israeliticum D. Zohary & Katzn. IL »Trifolium modestum - Boiss. SY, LB »Trifolium prophetarum Hossain IL »Trifolium salmoneum - Moût. IL, SY »Trigonella lilacina Boiss PN,IL, LB »Tulipa aucheriana - Baker ssp. westîi SY, LB »Tulipa lownei - Baker SY, LB »Verbascum antilibanoticum - Hub,- Mor. SY, LB »Verbascum jordanicum Murb. IL,JO,PN »Verbascum petrae Davis & Hub.-Mor. JO »Vicia hulensis Plitm. IL »Ajuga rechingeri - Bilik SY »Alcea acaulis PN »Alcea degitata PN Notes on range & No. of IPAs High Levant Mts. High Levant Mts. Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) COUNTRY »Alcea leiocarpa - Sam. ex Rech. i.) SY »Allium chrysantherum - Boiss. Et Reuter SY »Amygdalus korschinskii PN »Anchusa tiberiadis - Post SY, IL? »Anthemis hebronica Boiss. & Kotschy IL, JO, LB »Astragalus dorcoceras - Bunge SY Anti-Lebanon »Astragalus duplostrigosus - Post et Beauv. SY »Astragalus galilaeus - Freyn et Bornm SY, IL, PN? »Astragalus stramineus - Boiss. et Ky SY High Levant Mts. Paleoendemic: related to a Canary Sonchus group. Hermon- AntiLebanon Anti-Lebanon Anti-lebanon Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts. High Levant Mts. Golan- Jabal al Arab, 2 Anti-Lebanon Anti-Lebanon Anti-lebanon Mountains of the Syrian Steppe Wad Elbalat, Um Safa, Beit Illo Wad Elbalat,Um »Astragalus tadmorensis - Eig et Sam. SY »Atractylis comosa PN »Bellevalia palmyrensis - Feinbrun SY »Bupleurum brevicaule PN »Callitriche sp. nova. (Mout) SY »Campanula stellaris Boiss. IL, LB »Centaurea longispina - Post SY »Cicer pinnatiidum Jaub. Et Spach PN »Consolida deserti-syriaci - (Zoh) Munz. SY, JO? »Consolida gombaultii -(Thiéb) Munz SY »Crocus dispathaceus - Bowles SY »Draba oxycarpa - Boiss. SY, LB »Echinops descendens - Hand.-Mazz. »Euphorbia antilibanotica - Mout »Euphorbia caudiculosa - Boiss. »Euphorbia physocaulos - Moût. »Euphorbia postii - Boiss. »Euphorbia promecocarpa - P.H. Davis »Ferulago auranitica - Post SY SY SY, LB SY SY SY SY »Fibigia heterophylla -Rech. SY »Gagea procera SY, PN?, IL? »Galium judaicum PN »Gypsophila mollis - (Boiss) Bornm. SY, LB »Gypsophila polygonoides Willd. Ssp. ansariensis Rech. »Gypsophila polygonoides Willd. Ssp. Barradensis boiss. »Haplophyllum chaborasium- Boiss. Et Hausskn. »Helichrysum pygmaeum - Post »Iberis odorata »Iris bostrensis- Moût SY, LB 103 Notes on range & No. of IPAs Safa, Beit Illo Kurd Dag Upper Jezira Yaseed-Ibzeik Aleppo (Jabal Semane) -Tiberias Aleppo, Upper Jezira, 1 Palmyra, Al Bil’as, 4 Yarmuk Valley, 1 Anti-Lebanon (Zabadani-Maalula), 1 Palmyra, 3 2 Syrian Steppe, 2 Yaseed-Ibzeik Golan-Jabal Al-Arab, 2 Israel, Lebanon Anti-Lebanon, 1 Yaseed-Ibzeik Hauran Jabal Al-Arab, 2 Aleppo region, 1 Anti-LebanonHermon Upper Jezira, 2 Anti-Lebanon Hermon summet Jabal Al-Arab -Lajat, 2 Ghab, 1 Anti-Lebanon, 1 Jabal Al-Arab -Hauran, 1 Al Bil’as- Al Sha’ir Jabal Al-Arab Yaseed-Ibzeik Anti-LebanonLebanon Mts, 1 Coastal Mts. SY Qassiun- Rakhle, 2 SY SY PN SY Upper Jezira, 2 Anti-Lebanon, 1 Yaseed-Ibzeik Hauran, Jabal AlArab, 2 East Hama, 1 Hauran, Jabal AlArab, 2 Coastal Mts, 4. »Iris fumosa- Bois et Hkn. »Iris melanosticta -Bornm. SY SY »Iris nusairiensis- Mt SY 104 SECTION 6 APPENDICES Species name and authority (where provided) Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation COUNTRY »Iris palaestina (Bak.) Boiss PN »Isoetes libani.- Musselman SY, LB »Lamium adoxifolium - Handel- Mazzetti. SY »Lathyrus basalticus- Rech. il. SY, LB »Lathyrus pygmaeus - Gombault SY »Lathyrus stenolobus - Boiss. SY »Lythrum junceum PN »Minuartia parvulorum -Mout et Sam. SY »Muscari dinsmorei - Rech. SY »Onobrychis gaillardotii - Boiss. »Onosma cassia - Boiss. »Ophrys holosericea (Burm.f.)Greut. »Ophrys sintenisii Fleischm. et Bornm »Phagnalon linifolium - Post »Phlomis bailanica - Vierh. »Postia lanuginosa - DC. (Boiss.) »Postia tnicrocephala - Boiss. »Prangos hermonis - Boiss. SY SY PN PN SY, LB SY SY, LB SY SY »Pulicaria laniceps - Bornm. SY »Rosularia lineata -Boiss. SY »Salsola azaurena - Mout SY »Salsola heliaramiae - Mout SY »Salsola postii - Eig SY »Salvia hierosolymitana IL, PN, SY »Suaeda carnosissima -Post SY »Teucrium haradjianii - Briq. ex Rech. il. SY »Trifolium alsadami - Post »Trigonella berythea Boiss. et Bl. »Vicia dionysiensis - Moût SY, LB PN SY »Vicia hyaeniscyamus -Moût SY, LB Notes on range & No. of IPAs Yaseed-Ibzeik Akkar-Homs Aleppo, 1 west Homs Palmyra, 1 Bassit, 2 2 Anti- Lebanon, 2 Tell Abiad- Upper Jezira, 1 Qassiun-Damascus, 1 Amanus (Bassit), 2 2 2 Anti-Lebanon, 1 Coastal Mts, 2. Qalamun Lower Anti-Lebanon, 1 Hermon-Jabal alArab, 2 Upper Jezira Lajat, 1 Bishri- Deirezzor, 2 Palmyra Palmyra, 1 »Onobrychis aurantiaca - Boiss. »Psoralea jaubertiana - Fenzl »Salvia aramiensis - Rech. il. »Salvia cassia - Sam. ex Rech. »Silene amana - Boiss. »Silene cassia - Boiss. »Silene confertilora - Chowdhuri »Silene intricata - Post. »Stachys diversifolia - Boiss. »Trifolium cassium - Boiss. »Trifolium dichroanthoides - Rech. SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR? »Tunica syriaca -Boiss. »Verbascum scaposum - Boiss. »Allium bassitense -Thiéb. SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR? Antakya region Southern Turkey Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus Amanus- Coast. Mts. (Slenfeh). Antioch region Amanus Bassit Restricted range species with disjunct populations »Fumaria bicolor »Crepis aculeata (DC.) Boiss. »Allium lehmanni Lojác. »Bellevalia dubia (Guss.) Rchb. IT, DZ East of Bou Ismail (NW-Algerian coast) IL,LB,CY, TN, IT TN, IT Hijaneh-Qaryetin, 2 Kurd Dag, Al Wastani, Jabal Semane, 2 Jabal Al-Arab 2 Jabal Al-Arab, Homs, 2 West Homs Restricted range species in Syria/Turkey »Alkanna confusa - Sam. ex Rech. il. »Alyssum cassium -Boiss. »Alyssum crenulatum - Boiss. »Anthemis halophila - Boiss. et Bal. »Asphodelus baytopae E.Tuzlaci(1983) »Astragalus antiochianus - Post »Astragalus dipodurus - Bunge »Astragalus oxyphyllus - Boiss. »Centaurea arifolia -Boiss. »Centaurea cassia - Boiss. »Centaurea ptosimopappa - Hayek »Cirsium amani - Post »Euphorbia haussknechtii - Boiss. »Ferulago cassia - Boiss. »Johrenia porteri - Post. SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY,TR, SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts. Amanus- Coast. Mts. Amanus Antioch region Antioch region Gaziantep-Kurd Dag Gaziantep-Kurd Dag Amanus Amanus- Coast. Mts. Amanus Amanus-Kurd Dag Upper Jezira Amanus- Coast. Mts Amanus Lake Tonga Algeria © Samraoui 106 SECTION 1 IPA TEAM Egypt Jordan Algeria Occupied Palestinian Territories Syria Tunisia Israel Albania Libya Lebanon Morocco Univ. Mohammed V-Agdal (Morocco) SECTION 1 Donors COORDINATORS 107 IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world ind pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,000 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, established in Malaga in 2000, reunites more than 170 IUCN member organizations in the region around a common programme of work dedicated to inluence, encourage and assist Mediterranean societies to conserve nature and sensibly use its resources towards human development. The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a sciencebased network of some 7,500 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world, all working together towards achieving the vision of, “A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity.” There is an active specialist group working on Mediterranean Island Plants. www.iucn.org Plantlife International is the organisation speaking up for wild plants. We work hard to protect wild plants on the ground and to build understanding of the vital role they play in everyone’s lives. Wild plants are essential to life they clean our air and water, provide food and shelter for our insects, birds and animals and are critical in the ight against climate change. Plantlife carries out practical conservation work, manages nature reserves, inluences policy and legislation, runs events and activities that connect people with their local wild plants and works internationally with partners to promote the conservation of wild plants to the beneit of all. www.plantlife.org.uk WWF The World Wide Fund for Nature is one of the world’s leading conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. The network of the WWF’s Mediterranean ofices has joined forces to launch the Mediterranean Initiative, a conservation strategy pursuing four major goals: protecting and reversing the loss of outstanding Mediterranean landscapes; securing the freshwater ecosystems; safeguarding marine ecosystems; ensuring that Mediterranean ecosystems are equipped to adapt to climate change. Both WWF Mediterranean Programme Ofice (MedPO) and WWF Italy contribute to this Initiative. www.wwf.org This publication has been made possible in part by funding from: Core support to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by:

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