Biodiversity and Forests

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146 Lebanon occupies 0.007 percent of the world’s land surface area and is a home to 1.11percent of the world’s plant species (Tohmé & Tohmé, 2007) and 2.63 percent of the reptile, bird and mammal species. Its sea harbours about 1790 species, representing almost 2.7 percent of the world’s marine species. Table 5.1 presents the number of described species in Lebanon by taxonomic group, and as a percent of globally described species. Table 5.1 Species richness within Lebanon in relation to the world Taxon Number of Percentage Source described of the earth’s species in Lebanon species Mammals 59 1.38 MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996; Bara &Tohmé, pers. comm. Birds 395 4.06 Ramadan-Jaradi et al. 2008 Amphibians 6 0.15 Hraoui et al, 2001 Reptiles 54 0.8 Hraoui et al, 2002 Freshwater 610 7.06 MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996; Dia, pers. comm. Marine fish 367 1.20 MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996; Bariche et al. 2004 Invertebrate 3835 0.27 MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996 Terrestrial Plants 3790 1.60 MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996 & Tohmé &Tohmé, 2007 As shown in Table 5.1 Lebanon is home to about 3,790 terrestrial plant species, of which 8.5 percent are broad endemic (endemic to Lebanon, Syria and Palestine) and 3.5 percent are endemic to Lebanon (MOA/UNEP/GEF, 1996). This percentage is high compared to other Mediterranean countries with similar histories of human activity (Médail and Quézel, 1997). Relative to its size, Lebanon boasts one of the highest densities of floral diversity in the Mediterranean basin, which in turn is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world (Médail and Quézel, 1997). Similarly, Lebanon’s vegetation has an exceptionally high speciesarea ratio of 0.25 species per km 2 , compared to 0.0081 per km² for South Africa, 0.0044 for Brazil, 0.0021 for Egypt, 0.022 for Jordan, 0.015 for Spain, 0.017 for Syria and 0.011 for Turkey. The faunal diversity of Lebanon is also high relative to the country’s surface area when compared to neighbouring countries (0.028 species/ km 2 for Lebanon; 0.019 for Syria; and 0.017 for Libya) (MOE/UNDP, FNR-CBD, 2009). Lebanon is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. Four principal factors have interacted in this region to produce an exceptionally rich and unique biodiversity: biogeography, geology, State and Trends of the Lebanese Environment | 2010 ecology and historic human settlements in the Mediterranean area (Blondel and Aronson 1999). More than any other region in the world, the Mediterranean region best exemplifies the environmental change in response to interactions between people and the environment. Lebanon is part of Mediterranean Basin, a recognized centre of plant diversity that is considered a global hotspot (see Figure 5.2). According to Conservation International, this hotspot ranks third among the world’s hotspots in both plant diversity and endemism, surpassed only by the ultra-diverse Tropical Andes and Sundaland (MOE/UNDP, FNR-CBD, 2009). Figure 5.2 Lebanon in the Mediterranean Hotspot Source: Myers et al. 2000 5.1.2 Major Ecosystems Lebanon encompasses the important components of the Mediterranean vegetation (Arbutus, Ceratonia, Pistacia, Pinus, Quercus and Laurus) which are surviving remnants from the ancient forests that dominated the Basin two Million years ago and which represent the past and present climax of the country. Additionally, cold shrubs (Artemisia, Astralagus, and members of Ephedraceae) and trees (Acer, Betula, Cercis, Fagus, and Ulmus) invaded the Mediterranean, including Lebanon, during the Pleistocene from Europe and Asia and some are still present on the Lebanese territory. Notable keystone and flag species in the country is the famous Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) that has been exploited since millennia. One of the remarkable attributes in Lebanon is the gradual shift from Mediterranean to continental Mediterranean and sub-desert conditions from west to east, and the gradual altitudinal change from the batha (degraded garrigue) of the Thermo Mediterranean to the tragacanth of the Sub-alpine and Alpine zones through garrigues (degraded maquis) and maquis of oak and forests of pine, cedar and fir. The southernmost extent of fir trees in the northern hemisphere is the northern parts of the Mount Lebanon range.
5.1.3 Forests Based on the FAO Forest Resources Assessment (2010), forests cover about 137,000ha (13 percent of the territory) and Other Wooded Land (OWL) covers 106,000ha (about 10 percent) of the territory, yielding a total of about 23 percent. Table 5.2 illustrates the ownership of these forested lands. About 57 percent of the forest cover is broadleaved species (primarily oaks), with coniferous species (mainly pines) contributing about 31 percent. The remainder is mixed broadleaved and coniferous forests –see Map 3 for Forest Cover, Protected Areas, and other Natural Landmarks. Ownership of forested lands is almost equally distributed between the private and public sectors and religious orders (in Table 5.2, religious communities are included in the private ownership category). The following sections provide a brief overview of forest species and distribution in Lebanon, based on a milestone document published by the Association for Forest Development and Conservation (AFDC) --State of Lebanon’s Forests 2007. Table 5.2 Ownership of forested and other wooded lands in Lebanon (2004) Ownership type Forest (ha) OWL (ha) Private 84,183 86,702 Public 53,799 14,956 -State 38,189 -Municipal 13,938 -Communal 1,672 Unknown 1,394 6,720 Total Source: FAO, 2010 139,376 108,378 5.1.3.1 Oak Forests The Calliprine oak Quercus calliprinos forests are currently found at the lower altitudes of the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon chain, covering an area of approximately 40,000 ha. Also on the eastern slopes of Mount Lebanon, oak forests discontinuously extend, on low altitudes, between Yammouneh and Hermel and on the slopes of Jabal Barouk/Niha. On the western slopes of the Anti-Lebanon chain, only a few and diminutive oak stands persist, mainly east of Baalbeck, Masnaa and around Rachaya. Similary, in the south, only few degraded overgrazed oak forests still persist (in Jabal Amel). 5.1.3.2 Pine Forests Pine forests are found on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon chain where they occupy an area of about 17,000 ha. Stone pine Pinus pinea forests extend on altitudes ranging between sea level and 1500m, particularly in the Metn, Baabda, and Jezzine areas. Other types of pine forests are located at middle elevation where Calabrian Pine Pinus brutia forests occupy a large area in the North, and Aleppo Pine Pinus halepensis forests extend over an area of 400- 500 ha in the southern part of the country (Cazas of Marjaaoun and Hasbaya). Mixed forest in Wadi Oudin (Andket, Akkar) Pine forest in Arsoun (Higher Metn Region) Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Forests 147
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: Lebanon’s geographic location, it
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 and 18: forests harbor several endemic, thr
Page 19 and 20: trend may continue for some years a
Page 21 and 22: (CWR) allows species to adapt to ch
Page 23 and 24: MOA’s Directorate of Rural Develo
Page 25 and 26: Table 5.5 Detailed List of Nature R
Page 27 and 28: Box 5.3 The Higher Council for Hunt
Page 29 and 30: • Following the devastating fires
Page 31 and 32: For inland freshwater protection fr
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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Biodiversity and Forests

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