TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

326 IMPROVEMENT OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPIOAL RANGELANDS
Early investigations in Syria revealed the presence of a large
number of hemtJ-like reservations, maintained at present in STouPS.
The local name for these is mtJhmitJ (plural mtJhmitJt), derived, like
tJhmitJ, from the Arabic word for protection. The term mtJrcUa or
mtJhmitJ is used along the Syrian-Lebanese border, while koze is
Kurdi for hemtJ. The reserves along the Syrian-Lebanese border
(rainfall about 300 rom) are maintained chiefty for winter foraging
by goats. The 1958 Forest Protection Act designed to control the
foraging of goats in forest areas (including most of the mountainous
areas of Syria) is enforced by confiscation of the m4hmitJt or by
slaughter ofthe goats. However, in border areas, the government has
not enforced the act.
In non-border areas, where the act is enforced, it has resulted
in the confiscation of some 30 mtJhmitJt. However, after control of
the mtJhmitJt was taken over by the government, poor management
has l'esulted in excessive cutting of the edible BindytJn trees (Quercu
sp.) for firewood and charcoal, which in turn has denuded hills
and mountains, leaving the land vulnerable to erosion. Where the
mtJhmitJt remained under the control of the Syrians, this has not
occurred. These remain carefully managed and grazed to maintain
good tree, shrub, and grass cover.
A mtJhmitJ studied in more detail was found to have a vegetative
cover mainly composed of sindytJn trees, ztJ'rur (OrtJttJegu. sp.),
PhyllyretJ medi4, and a comparatively small number of the prickly,
shrubby billtJn (Poterium .pino.um). A rich understory of clovers,
vetches, and a large number of annual and perennial grasses at an
early stage of development were present. About 50 goats were grazing
this 50-hectare reserve.
The vegetative cover in the surrounding areas was greatly deteriorated.
The shrubby billtJn was the dominant plant species, indicating
previous forest cover. Remnants of the heavily grazed and
cut .indtJo.n trees are scattered over the area. The mulchttJr of the
nearby Elhawi village stated that these trees were cut down within a
few years after the 1958 Forest Protection Act. The only remaining
mtJhmitJt are the trees within the village cemetery.
These findings indicate that humans rather than goats are probably
responsible for the destruction of the forests. Elimination of
goats has not proven to be the answerj in fact it has asgravated the
situation. As demonstrated in the protected mtJhmitJt. a system of
grazing management with the correct numbers of goats and sheep has
proven its efficiency. These systems, whether named hemo., mo.hmitJ,