biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

A. Vegetation
The mountaic is dominated by ac Olea-lentiscus rnaqais (UCL 1977) with
Phillyrea acgastifolia and Smilax aspera mixed ic. The maquis is also
interspersed with Chamaerops humilis on rocky ridges, and Jaciper~s
phoenicea oc the corth skde of the peak and ir the northeast corcer.
Euphorbia dendroides dominates the maquis oc the west acd soatheast sides.
Other species of interest icclude:
T Teucrium schoenecbergeri Notholaeca vellea
T Limocium boitardii Ceratocia siliqua
Callitris articulata
Small, opec glades of short
maquis, mostly oc the northwest
vegetated by
B. Faara
Hordeum maritimam
Ferula commucis
turf grassland are icterspersed in the
side of the summit. The glades are
Laguns ovatus
Asphodelus microcarpss
The fauna of Djebel Ichkeul is similar to that described for Lake Ichkeal
(Sectioc 3.3.1 .I )
C. Icflaecces
Active qaarries are disfiguricg the soath side of the mmictain, and
grazicg also occurs there. The rest of the mountain acd its vegetatioc is
well protected. Djebel Ichkeal is included with Lakc Ichkezl in the
Ichkeal National park (see Section 5.4.2).
3.4.2. High Tell
Between the Kroumirie and the Tunisian Dorsal mozntain ranges is ac
area of mouctaics and high plateaus called the High Tell. The mean
altitude of the plateaas is 600 to 800 m and the higher moactaic peaks
pass 1000 m (ONUPAA 1985). The mountain chains are orjented SW-HE acd are
separated by depressiocs acd cultivated plains. The soils of the regioc
are mostly calcareous, but many locations contain sandstone, gypsum,
marnes and alluvial deposits. Three main rivers run throagh the High
Tell: Oued Rellegae, Oaed Tessa, and Oued Siliana, all of which flow icto
the Medjerda. Bioclimates range from Subhumid ic the northwest to Semiarid
ic the south.
The High Tell is more affected by forest clearing acd overgrazicg thac
the Kroamirie/~ogods. Cultivatioc extends far up many of the slopes, acd
even orto some of the plateaus. Thas, the forest stands are brok~c zp
icto discontinzos segrnects. Hunticg of wild boar, browr hare, barbary