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Figure 5.8 Status of bird species in Lebanon (1999 and 2008) Source Ramadan-Jaradi et al., 2008 156 2 The number of species should be 395 (2008) – 337 (1996) = 58 species. However, 3 of the species reported in 1996 (each of which represented 2 or more subspecies) recently became 6 species. This occurs when a subspecies is ranked a true species based on advanced DNA research. 5.3.1.4 Bird Species Out of Lebanon’s avifauna (395 species), three species (Sterna bengalensis, Francolinus francolinus and Merops persicus) have vanished, 6.3 percent are threatened and 32 percent are rare --see Figure 5.8. According to the 2007 IUCN Red List, Lebanon’s bird species include one Critically Endangered, two Endangered, 8 Vulnerable and 17 Near Threatened species (Ramadan-Jaradi et al., 2008). An updated status of bird species in Lebanon is shown in Figure 5.8. Note: The number of species between parenthesis represents the status reported in 1999 (Ramadan- Jaradi & Ramadan-Jaradi 1999). Richness was 337 species in 1996, 372 species in 1999 and 395 species in 2008. The difference between 1996 and 2008 is attributed to improved observation and research. Species may appear in more than one category so the number of species inside and outside the parentheses does not reflect the total number of known species. Trends. Lebanon’s present bird inventory contains 395 species (Ramadan Jaradi et al. 2008) compared to 337 in the Biological Diversity of Lebanon Report (MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996). The 61 new bird species to Lebanon are categorized as follows 2 : • Sixteen were present before 1996 but inadvertently omitted from the Biological Diversity of Lebanon report (e.g. Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus, Slenderbilled Gull Larus genei, Gold crest Regulus regulus). They include four originated from three parent taxa following upgrades from subspecies to species level (eg Steppe Buzzard Buteo b. Vulpinus, Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans, Ashy-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava cinereocapilla, Sykes’s Wagtail Motacilla flava beema). State and Trends of the Lebanese Environment | 2010 Credit: G. Jaradi Naightjar, Caprimulgus europaeu • Forty five species are totally new to Lebanon. Of them 19 were first recorded by Ghassan Ramadan-Jaradi (e.g. Redcrested Pochard Netta rufina, Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus, Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Gymnoris xanthocollis) and 26 by eleven other observers (e.g. Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides, Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva, Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinerea, Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus). Despite the increased richness of the Lebanese avifauna, the common species of the country have declined by 14 percent in 1999, 18 percent in 2003 and 19.8 percent in 2008 (Ramadan-Jaradi, in press). • Of the above new species to the country, only two breeding species are apparently affected by climate change: Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura (species of hot desert) and Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta (species of desert and semi-desert). Their appearance in Lebanon (e.g. Qaa, Hermel, Baalbek) doesn’t seem to be subsequent to increased observation efforts or habitat change but most probably the result of global warming. 5.3.1.5 Herptile Species The herptiles (amphibians and reptiles) encompass seven amphibian and 55 reptilian species (Souad Hraoui, pers. comm.). Two amphibian species and 17 reptile species are globally threatened, including four snakes. With the exception of the Lebanon Viper, none of the amphibians or reptiles is considered endemic at the national level. Trends. The herptile species increased since 1996 from 48 to 62 species. This is apparently due to increased and improved research. This upward
trend may continue for some years as there are still areas to be discovered and rediscovered. As is the case of the flora above, the herptiles of the Lebanese coastline are highly threatened by unregulated development and its skink and snake species are in decline. In general, the herptiles of Lebanon are critically decreasing in and around cities, towns and villages. This is not only because of urbanisation and habitat loss but also because of the traditional persecution of these living organisms by local populations. However, the percentage of threatened reptile species is particularly high (18.2percent) and expected to increase in the absence of a defined national strategy to conserve these species. Eirenis levantinus, reptile species threatened in Lebanon 5.3.2 Freshwater Biodiversity Lebanon’s freshwater fauna and flora include 987 species (Al-Zein, 2001), of which 656 are invertebrate species (61 species of worms, 41 mollusks, 60 crustaceans, and 494 insects; MOA, 1996).The faunal species in freshwater represent 16 percent of the total fauna biodiversity of the country and the floral species represent 6 percent of the flora species only. Five percent of the country’s freshwater fauna are threatened, including the Globally Near Threatened Otter Lutra lutra, and 1.3 percent are endemic (MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996). The only endemic freshwater fish to Lebanon Phoxinellus libani was considered extinct in the country (MOA/ UNEP/GEF, 1996) but it has been observed at least in the Yammouneh Lake, Litani River and Qaraoun Lake (El Zein, 2001). Many have been exterminated from specific river systems due to overfishing. There are 25 fish species pertaining to different families: Cyprinidae, Cyprinodontidae, Cobitidae, Salmonidae, Anguillidae, Cichlidae, Mugilidae, Puciliidae, Blenniidae, Lutjanidea. Of them, one species is listed as vulnerable, three are endangered and two are critically endangered. In addition to these, other species Credit: TERRE have been introduced for aquaculture: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmotrutta fario; Al Zein, 1997), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), etc. Whilst some were introduced for sports, other species were introduced to control different pest purposes, for example snails (Cyprinus carpio), mosquitoes (Gambusia affinis) and weed (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Because of low wild fishery yields and an abundance of pristine cold rivers and springs in Lebanon, small trout farms have sprouted throughout the country. Moreover, this aquaculture industry has grown significantly in recent years, especially after returning expatriates have introduced new ideas and new approaches to aquaculture from around the world. Trends. Freshwater biodiversity is being impacted particularly by disturbances affecting water sources and rivers which weaken freshwater ecosystems and result in the elimination of weak species especially those sensitive to pollution. Drainage, pollution and human interference have drastically changed the fresh water ecosystem and resulted in a high proportion of endangered species whereas overfishing has caused the extermination of some fish species from certain rivers (MOE/UNDP, FNR-CBD, 2009). Freshwater stream in Kfarhelda (Batroun) Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Forests 157
Page 1 and 2: Biodiversity and Forests Lead Autho
Page 3 and 4: ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS ABS Access
Page 5 and 6: LIST OF FIGURES Figure 5.1 Distribu
Page 7 and 8: Lebanon’s geographic location, it
Page 9 and 10: 5.1.3 Forests Based on the FAO Fore
Page 11 and 12: 5.1.3.4 Evergreen Cypress Evergreen
Page 13 and 14: Since the preparation of the Biodiv
Page 15 and 16: Figure 5.6. Summary of root causes
Page 17: forests harbor several endemic, thr
Page 21 and 22: (CWR) allows species to adapt to ch
Page 23 and 24: MOA’s Directorate of Rural Develo
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Page 33 and 34: and evaluation of plant genetic res
Page 35 and 36: REFERENCES AECID 2009 Environmental
Page 37 and 38: Rodrigues ASL et al. 2004 Rodrigues
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