Importance of the Middle Atlas region The Middle Atlas mixed forest region is an important and now vulnerable ecosystem. It is the last large forest of a once widely distributed ecosystem around the Mediterranean, and now confined to few areas in Algeria and Morocco (Thirgood, 1984). This ecosystem is characterized by the Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) and various species of Oak (Quercus rotundifolia, Q. faginea etc.). The only other mixed Cedar forest can be found in relict areas of Lebanon, in the island of Cyprus, and in the south west Anatolia region in Turkey. The Middle Atlas mosaic forest system is therefore the last remaining large north African forest. Wildlife In this forest until quite recent the last population of the Berber Lion and Leopard could be found. The first became extinct in the forties, and the latter was lastly seen in 1973 in the region but is still present in Azilal. These forests still host a limited population of Lynx serval, possibly the Hyena, and a relict population of Berber deer. With relative abundance we still found Foxes, Jackals, Wild Boars and finally the world’s last large population of the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus). Fossil evidences show that macaques were distributed during the Pleistocene all around the Mediterranean, as far east as the Caspian sea and as north as England (Delson, 1980, Camperio Ciani, 1986). Since then, they underwent a severe decline correlated with habitat loss. Historically they have progressively disappeared from Sardinia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Spain (except Gibraltar). At present are confined to the High and Middle Atlas, and a few relict populations in the Rif forest of Morocco and the mixed forest in the Djurjura in Algeria (Fa et al. 1984; Menard & Vallet, 1993, Camperio Ciani, 1986). Concentration of bio-diversity In these forests a large concentration of bio-diversity can be found compared to northern temperate forest ecosystems. Here the forest tree composition can reach 40 different species and a variety of herbs and shrubs up to 300 (Drucker, 1984) while in European forests this value is ten time less. A whole range of birds, reptiles, invertebrates contribute to make these forests a unique and largely still unknown reservoir of biodiversity.
The human dimension of the recent decline and possible recovery of the central Middle Atlas forest in Morocco.
CAMPERIO CIANI, ANDREA-SIGFRIDO;
2003
Abstract
Importance of the Middle Atlas region The Middle Atlas mixed forest region is an important and now vulnerable ecosystem. It is the last large forest of a once widely distributed ecosystem around the Mediterranean, and now confined to few areas in Algeria and Morocco (Thirgood, 1984). This ecosystem is characterized by the Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) and various species of Oak (Quercus rotundifolia, Q. faginea etc.). The only other mixed Cedar forest can be found in relict areas of Lebanon, in the island of Cyprus, and in the south west Anatolia region in Turkey. The Middle Atlas mosaic forest system is therefore the last remaining large north African forest. Wildlife In this forest until quite recent the last population of the Berber Lion and Leopard could be found. The first became extinct in the forties, and the latter was lastly seen in 1973 in the region but is still present in Azilal. These forests still host a limited population of Lynx serval, possibly the Hyena, and a relict population of Berber deer. With relative abundance we still found Foxes, Jackals, Wild Boars and finally the world’s last large population of the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus). Fossil evidences show that macaques were distributed during the Pleistocene all around the Mediterranean, as far east as the Caspian sea and as north as England (Delson, 1980, Camperio Ciani, 1986). Since then, they underwent a severe decline correlated with habitat loss. Historically they have progressively disappeared from Sardinia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Spain (except Gibraltar). At present are confined to the High and Middle Atlas, and a few relict populations in the Rif forest of Morocco and the mixed forest in the Djurjura in Algeria (Fa et al. 1984; Menard & Vallet, 1993, Camperio Ciani, 1986). Concentration of bio-diversity In these forests a large concentration of bio-diversity can be found compared to northern temperate forest ecosystems. Here the forest tree composition can reach 40 different species and a variety of herbs and shrubs up to 300 (Drucker, 1984) while in European forests this value is ten time less. A whole range of birds, reptiles, invertebrates contribute to make these forests a unique and largely still unknown reservoir of biodiversity.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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