biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

A. Vegetation
The vegetatioc is very rich, with a high meadow associatioc at the
summit, similar to that described for Djebel Serdj ic the previoss
sectioc. Below the meadow is a hblm oak dominated associatior (ORSTOM
1962). with Acer monspessulanum ic some areas (as at Dj. ~erd j) and other
areas vegetated to:
Pkstacia terebicthus Asplecium adiantam cigrum
Lonicera implexa Geranium lucidam
Prasium ma jus G. robertiacam Firpaream
Ruscus hypophyllum Fumaria capreolata
Heliacthemam glaucum Cynosarus elegacs
Alysszm serpyllifoliam Pimpicella tragium
A. moctanam atlacticum Sature ja alpica etc.. .
Streamside vegetation is also similar to that oc Dj. Serdj, with some
Typha acgastifolia at the base of the mouctaie. In degraded locatiocs,
where the humzs has been removed, holm oak is replaced by sleppo pice and
Rosmaricss officicalis Erica mzltiflora
Globularia alypm Ericacea acthyllis etc.. .
Ic the lower pine forests, vegetation associatiocs similar to those
described for Dj. Mansodr occar with cocticectal species ssch as Jcciperus
oxvcedras replacicg the maritime species. Ac associatior iaportact ic the
'i'zcisiac Dorsal is that of carob, Olea-lectiscus, Rhamnss lycioides ssp.
oleoides maqais; with Myrtas cornmanis acd Crataegas azarolus mixed in on
Dj. Bargoa.
B. Faaca
Faxa are listed ir Sectioc 4 (Go7~vercorat of ~iliaca). Of special
icterest is tho presecce of North Africac crested porczpice, hyeca and
cesticg peregrines.
Olives at the base of the mountain have been grafted acd tended sicce
Romac times. Edges of the lower streams are cultivated acd grazing occurs
throughout the year. Some rosemary branches are harvested for
distillatioc, bat not in great amounts, and the )Iyrtus is commoc enough
for effective harvesticg. Ic order to ecsure an adeqaate forest cover to
prevent erosion, uoodcatting is cot permitted. Macy of the bare areas
still show sigcs of erosion.
3.4.3.8. Djebel Macsoar 36'17' : 9'42' E
Corth of the backbone ridge of moactains, 40 km soathuest of Zaghosac
and 20 km southwest of le Fahs is Djebel Macsozr. The szmait altit~de is
678 m acd the topography (moderate to steep slopes) acd ssbstratcs (marcocalcareoas)
are typical of the Tucisiac Dorsal. Two or three permacect
spricgs affect the water regime of the slopes, locally favc~ricg riparian
placts. The bioclimate is Semi-arid Inferj or.