Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean ... - IUCN

Important Plant Areas of the south 

and east Mediterranean region 

Priority sites for conservation 

Editors: E.A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin

Important Plant Areas of the south 

and east Mediterranean region 

Priority sites for conservation 

Editors: E.A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin

4 SECTION 1 

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For improved readability the Occupied Palestinian Territories will be referred to in the text as Palestine. 

Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Málaga, Spain 

Copyright 

© 2011 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural 

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Citation 

Radford, E.A., Catullo, G. and Montmollin, B. de. (eds.) (2011). 

Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region: 

priority sites for conservation. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, 

Spain. Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain: IUCN. VIII + 108 pp. 

Charts, maps and analysis 

Gianluca Catullo, Elizabeth A. Radford, Bertrand de Montmollin 

ISBN 978-2-8317-1337-3 

Design and layout Factor Ñ 

Cover picture 

Matthiola longipetala Tallouine, South-West Morocco 

© Bob Gibbons/Natural Image 

All photographs used in this publication remain the property of 

the original copyright holder (see individual captions for details). 

Photographs should not be reproduced or used in other contexts without 

written permission from the copyright holder. 

Produced by IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation 

Printed by Solprint, Mijas (Málaga), Spain. 

Available from 

IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation 

C/ Marie Curie 22 

29590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain 

Tel: +34 952 028430 - Fax: +34 952 028145 

www.iucn.org/publication 

Plantlife International 

www.plantlife.org.uk/publications 

Legal deposit: 

Suggested Citation for country sections in Section III, 

for example Algeria: 

Yahi, N. and Benhouhou, S. 2010. Algeria pp 27-30 in: Important Plant 

Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region: priority sites for 

conservation (eds E. A. Radford, G. Catullo and B. de Montmollin) 

This book is printed on ecological paper.

SECTION 1 

5 

Edited by Radford, E.A Plantlife International, United 

Kingdom 

Catullo, G. WWF Mediterranean Programme 

Office – WWF Italy, Italy 

Montmollin, B. de IUCN, Switzerland 

Authors of country sections 

Morocco 

Chapter authors: Taleb, M.S Haut Commissariat aux Eaux 

et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la 

Désertification 

Fennane, M. Université Mohammed V-Agdal 

Contributors: B. Haddane Conseiller régional de l’UICN pour 

l’Afrique 

M. Madbouhi Secrétariat d’Etat chargé de l’Eau et 

de l’Environnement 

H. Mesbah Haut Commissariat aux Eaux 



M. Ribi Haut Commissariat aux Eaux 



Tunisia 

Chapter authors: Ghrabi Gammar, Z. Institut National Agronomique de 

Tunisie 

Contributors: A. Daoud-Bouattour Faculté des Sciences de Tunis 

S. Ben Saad Faculté des Sciences de Tunis 

Liman 

I. Ben Haj Jilani Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de 

Mateur 

H. Ferchichi-Ben Faculté des Sciences de Tunis 

Jamaa 

S. D. Muller Université de Montpellier II, France 

L. Rhazi Université de Rabat, Maroc 

A. M. Gammar Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des 

Humanités de Manouba 

E. Véla Université de Montpellier II, France 

A. Chaabane Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tabarka 

M. Neffati Institut des Régions Arides de 

Médenine 

S. Rouz Banque Nationale de Gènes 

B. Jaziri Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des 

Humanités de Manouba 

M. Ouali Faculté des Sciences de Tunis 

M. Tarhouni Institut des Régions Arides de 

Médenine 

Algeria 

Chapter authors: Yahi, N Université des Sciences et de la 

Technologie Houari Boumédiène, 

Bab Ezzouar 

Benhouhou, S. Ecole Nationale Supérieure 

d’Agronomie, El Harrach 

Contributors G. de Belair Université d’Annaba 

R. Gharzouli Université Ferhat Abbas, Sétif 

E. Vela Université de Montpellier II, France 

Libya 

Chapter authors: El-Rtaib, F. Alfateh University 

Egypt 

Chapter authors: Shaltout, K. Tanta University 

Contributors: Eid E. M Kafr El-Sheikh University 

M. Kassas and 

H. Hosni 

Cairo University 

W. Amer and 

M. Fouda 

Egyptian Environmental Affairs 

Agency 

M. Zahran Mansoura University 

M. El-Demerdash Mansoura University 

A. Khedr Mansoura University 

A. El-Gazzar Suez Canal University 

A. Fayed Assiut University 

S. Heneidy Assiut University 

M. El-Sheikh Alexandria University 

M. Sheded South Valley University 

H. El-Kady Tanta University 

A. Keshta Tanta University 

B. Hatab Siwa Protectorate 

R. Rizk National Gene Bank 

T. Ahmed Wadi El-Gemal National Park 

H. Shabana and Saint Katherine Protectorate 

A. Shaltout

Israel 

Chapter authors: Shmida, A. Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

Pollak, G Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv 

Contributors: E. Frankenberg Nature and Parks Authority 

N. Levin Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

N. Nisanholz Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

M. Walzcak Nature and Parks Authority 

D. Rotem Nature and Parks Authority 

M. Zalutsky Ministry of Environmental Protection 

Jordan 

Chapter authors: Al- Eisawi, D. 

Lebanon 

Chapter authors: Yazbek M. IBSAR, American University of Beirut 

Machaka-Houri N. IBSAR, American University of Beirut 

Al-Zein M.S. Lebanese American University, 

Beirut 

Safi S. 

Lebanese University 

Sinno N. Biology Dept, AUB 

Talhouk, S.N.T. LDEM and IBSAR, AUB 

Occupied Palestinian Territories 

Chapter authors: Al Sheikh, B. Al Quds University 

Contributors: H. Tleeb Director of Forestry Department, 

Ministry of Agriculture 

T. Rabi Director of Forestry Department, 


D. Halawani Scientific Museum, Al Quds 

University 

S. Khaseeb Biology Department, Arab American 

University 

Syria 

Chapter authors: Hmidan, H. Syrian Society for Conservation of 

Wild Life 

Shater, Z. Tishreen University 

Al-Mahmoud, F UNDP project plant expert 

Karzon, S. University of Hohenheim 

Sanadiki, N. Retired: Damascus University 

Hamoudeh, R National Commission for Agricultural 

Scientific Research 

Al-Hasan, A. Directorate of Agriculture in Idleb, 


Almasri, A National Commission for 

Biotechnology 

Darwich, A. E. State Ministry for Environmental 

Affairs 

Albania 

Chapter authors: Shuka, L. Tirana University 

Xhulaj, M. Tirana University 

Qirjo, M. Regional Evironment Center Albania 

Contributors: R. Kapedani Regional Evironment Center Albania 

Acknowledgements 

The preliminary identification of Important Plant 

Areas in the south and east Mediterranean 

countries within this project has been supported 

by the French Development Agency (AFD) in 

their role as a major donor within the Critical 

Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). 

IUCN, Plantlife and WWF are also very 

grateful for the assistance of Arantxa 

Cendoya, Dania Abdul Malak, Carla Danelutti, 

Marcos Valderrabano, Annabelle Cuttelod 

and Pedro Regato at the IUCN Centre for 

Mediterranean Cooperation; Matthew Hall 

and Sabina Knees from the Centre for Middle 

Eastern Plants at the Royal Botanic Garden 

Edinburgh); and Vernon Heywood and Stephen 

Jury from the University of Reading in the 

realisation of this project.

CONTENTS 

Message of support 

VII 

Executive summary 1 

Recommendations 3 

Section I: Scene setting 4 

Context for the project 5 

Important Plant Areas, government responsabillity and key 

conservation initiatives 

7 

Methodology summary 8 

Section II: IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean 10 

Plant species endemism on IPAs 13 

Threats 14 

Protection 17 

IPAs and key biodiversity areas 18 

Section III: Country reports 20 

Morocco 22 

Algeria 27 

Tunisia 31 

Libya 36 

Egypt 40 

Occupied Palestinian Territories 44 

Israel 48 

Lebanon 53 

Jordan 58 

Syria 59 

Albania 65 

Section IV: Restricted range species in the south and east 

Mediterranean region 

70 

Section V: Conclusions and Recommendations 76 

Section VI: Appendices 82 

1. Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria 82 

2. IPAs identified 86 

3. North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted 

range species 

88

8 SECTION 1

VII 

Message of 

support 

Important Plant Areas 

of the south and east 


The past decade has seen the growing international awareness about 

the vital role of biodiversity, supported by the scientific community, 

NGOs and policy makers in both North and South. France has 

participated in raising awareness in this matter through international 

commitments, particularly since the Rio Summit in 1992. 

L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has since engaged actively 

in sustainable development, especially regarding the careful use of 

ecosystem and the conservation of biodiversity at large. Therefore since 

1996, AFD has pledged nearly 600 millions Euros for biodiversity related 

projects. As one of the six funders of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership 

Fund worldwide, and as a long standing supporter of development in the 

Mediterranean-Middle East region, AFD was very happy to contribute 

to the preparatory scientific and strategic work for the protection of the 

Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. 

Being aware of the lack of unified data relevant to the distribution and 

status of plants in the Mediterranean, essential for the definition of 

conservation priorities, AFD funded the “Identification of the important 

sites and habitats for plants in North Africa, the Middle East and Albania 

and their integration, along with Red Lists of the Mediterranean species, 

in the Ecosystem Profile of the CEPF”, developed by IUCN in 2009, in 

collaboration with Plantlife International and WWF. 

The results presented in this publication contributed to the “Ecosystem 

Profile for the Mediterranean region” – a strategic document used 

to prioritize the allocation of CEPF funds to conservation NGOs in 

the region for the period 2011-2015. Furthermore, AFD wishes that 

this publication be used to raise the profile of the conservation of the 

extraordinary flora of the Mediterranean region and to encourage further 

development of botanical knowledge. 

Gilles KLEITZ 

Biodiversity Programme Office. AFD 

Lake Mellah, 

Algeria 

© Samraoui.

10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation

Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

1 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Important Plant Areas (IPA) are internationally important sites for 

wild plants and fungi, identified at national level using standard 

criteria. Initially developed to address the lack of focus on conserving 

plant diversity, IPAs provide a framework to assess the effectiveness 

of conservation activities for plants, and target sites for future action. 

They support existing conservation programmes such as protected area 

networks and the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. 

The Mediterranean is an undisputed global biodiversity hotspot solely 

because of her huge plant diversity. Around 10% of the world’s vascular 

plants (25,000) are found in the Mediterranean Basin on less than 2% of 

the Earth’s surface and half of these species are found nowhere else on 

earth. Despite this, precise data on the distribution and status of plants are 

frequently insufficient, out of date or absent, particularly in the south and 

east of the region. This potentially results in the haphazard application of 

conservation action. 

This report describes a rapid assessment of Important Plant Areas 

in the south and east Mediterranean; a project designed to provide the 

‘wild plant perspective’ for the regional investment strategy of the Critical 

Ecosystem Partnership Fund. The project partnership of IUCN, Plantlife 

International and WWF with botanical teams from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, 

Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Albania, 

was supported by the French Development Agency. 

207 IPAs have been identified in the project countries bringing the total 

IPAs in the region to 888. Threatened and restricted species and habitats 

present on these sites have been recorded along with the threats affecting 

them. All Mediterranean habitats are represented: forest, maquis, garrigue, 

pasture, wetland, coast and the transition to the desert zone. 40% of IPAs 

identified coincide with key biodiversity areas in the region; sites important 

for other taxa (mammals, birds, freshwater fish and amphibians). 

Middle atlas wheat crop and Consolida spp. 

© P. Regato 

[Left page] 

Holm oaks (Quercus ilex), and Atlantic cedar (Cedrus 

atlantica) forest in the Middle Atlas, Morocco 

© Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 


75% of IPAs contain locally endemic species found only within one 

country; 60% contain very restricted species. ‘Mega endemic sites’ 

containing over 20 very restricted species can be found in Algeria, Morocco, 

Lebanon, Syria and Libya. 

Overgrazing of pastoral lands is the most significant threat to the IPAs 

affecting 67% of sites. Deforestation (largely due to collecting firewood), 

tourism development, intensification of arable farming and unsustainable 

collection of plants affect over one third of the IPAs analysed. 

The level of official protection for IPAs varies across the project 

countries from 0 – 80%. Though official protection of sites can be a 

helpful measure of conservation, evidence of management plans leading 

to biodiversity friendly land management is a better measure. Evidence of 

management plans for IPAs in the region is minimal. 

Lebanese endemic, Cousinia libnotica 

on Makmel IPA 

© N. Machaka-Houri 

A unique product of this project is the first preliminary list of restricted 

range plant species for North Africa and the Middle East, which found 

that 1195 species occur within less than 5,000km 2 and around 50% of 

these occur over less 100km 2 . Understanding the level of threat to these 

species will help target action against biodiversity loss. 

IPAs are not an optional extra and neither is their conservation. They 

support the livelihoods of many people and provide undervalued services 

such as water and flood control, carbon capture, the prevention of 

desertification and a reservoir of genetic species and diversity; all critically 

important for the Mediterranean region. 

Orchis tridentata 

Abu Quies IPA. Syria 

© F. Al- Mahmoud 

10 recommendations have been developed to help direct the 

conservation of wild plants in the Mediterranean. Successful 

implementation of these will secure a sustainable future for the environment 

and inhabitants of this unique region; failure will condemn both to a poverty 

of natural resources and little or no resilience in the face of profound 

changes in climate.


RECOMMENDATIONS 

3 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Conservation-focused investment in the south and east Mediterranean should seek to improve capacity across 

the whole ‘plant conservation skill set’. This is needed to: secure the basic botanical skills needed to identify plant 

species; enable mapping of the distribution and status (quality and integrity) of the flora and vegetation; undertake 

appropriate and targeted actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of plant species and habitats; and 

effectively advocate positive change to environmental policy and its implementation. 

IPA conservation 

Recognise Important Plant Areas as internationally 

significant priority sites for conservation in local, 

national and regional environmental policies and plans. 

Target Important Plant Areas as priority sites for 

conservation action in the Mediterranean region. This 

will ensure that direct conservation action on priority 

plant sites can begin now, alongside the continued 

efforts to improve data. 

Incorporate IPAs (where appropriate) into 

protected area networks. 

Update management plans for protected areas 

that contain IPAs to take account of new plant data 

presented and ensure effective implementation. 

Develop and implement management plans for IPAs 

where they do not exist (starting with top priority sites). 

Ensure that Environment Impact Assessments are 

undertaken on development projects that affect IPAs 

and ensure their recommendations are enforced and 

monitored. 

Target IPAs for the implementation of sustainable 

forest management and agri-environment scheme and 

projects. 

IPA data 

‘Ground–truth’ the plant species and habitat data 

associated with IPAs through fieldwork (starting with 

priority IPAs named in this report) and ensure that IPA 

plant features are properly mapped. 

Invest in the provision of comprehensive and up to 

date information on plant and habitats species in the 

south and east Mediterranean, building on the work 

carried out in this project. This should include: 

• A definitive list of restricted range, endemic plant 

taxa for the Mediterranean with and accurate data 

on their distribution, abundance and importance to 

the local community. 

• A regional IUCN Red List is for the Mediterranean 

(begin by focusing on restricted range species that 

are endemic to the region). 

• National IUCN Red Lists for vascular plants for all 

south and east Mediterranean countries. 

• A list of Mediterranean habitats and threatened 

habitats. 

Enable the data associated with IPAs to be stored 

electronically (such as on the IPA database) so it can 

be updated easily via the web. 

Encourage communities whose livelihoods depend 

on plant resources to participate in IPA conservation 

planning activities (e.g. medicinal plant collectors, 

promoters of nature tourism, hunters, mountain 

guides).

4 SECTION 1 SCENE SETTING Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

01 

section


SCENE SETTING 

SECTION 1 

5 

SCENE SETTING 

.Context for the project 

.Important Plant Areas, government responsibility and key conservation initiatives 

.Methodology summary 

.Criteria used for IPA selection in North Africa and Middle East countries using a 

rapid assessment of existing data 

Context for the project 

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are internationally significant sites for plant 

diversity – or more simply the best sites for plants. Identified at national 

level, using internationally standardised criteria, they provide a framework 

for implementing target 5 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 

of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). IPAs are a vital tool for 

conserving wild plants and their habitats in situ, and the plant resources 

they contain support the livelihoods of many people. In addition IPAs 

provide essential ecosystem services: water sources, flood control, carbon 

capture, prevention of desertification and a reservoir of genetic diversity. 

The Mediterranean basin is one of the world’s major centres of plant diversity, 

where 10% of the world’s higher plants can be found in an area representing 

1.6% of the Earth’s surface (Médail and Quézel 1997). The huge flora of 

around 25,000 species has exceptionally high endemicity; approximately 

13,000 species are found only within the Mediterranean region, hence its 

status as a global biodiversity hotspot. In 1999 Médail and Quézel identified 

10 ‘mini hotspots’ within the Mediterranean basin based on plant endemism 

and richness. 1 These sites contain between 10 and 20% endemism. The 

majority of these are too large scale for focused site based action, but they 

represent areas/sub regions of immense importance for conservation. 

Despite widespread acknowledgement of the region as a global plant 

hotspot, precise data on the distribution and status of plants and habitats 

within many Mediterranean countries are frequently insufficient, out of 

date or absent. This is particularly true of countries in the south and east 

of the Mediterranean basin (North Africa and the Middle East sub regions). 

Without baseline data on the patterns of plant diversity it is difficult to 

Campanula heirosolymthana 

A typical Levantine annual 

© O. Golan 

[Left page] 

Typical forest and grassland mosaic 

Mbas Deja Leva, Albania 

© REC Albania 

1 Madeira and Canary islands; High Atlas and Middle Atlas (Morocco); Baetic –Rifan complex 

(Spain, Morocco, Algeria); Tyrrhenian Islands (Sicily, Sardina and Corsica); Maritime and Ligurian 

alps, south and central Greece; Crete; south Anatolia and Cyprus; Syria, Lebanon and Israel, 

Mediterranean Cyrenaic (Libya).


Middle Atlas mountains 

© L. Soderstrom 

monitor the condition of this diversity or to target limited resources in the 

areas most in need of conservation with any certainty. An illustration of 

this is the poor representation of plants species from the project countries 

assessed for the IUCN Global Red List (176 species assessed by 2010), 

and few countries have an up-to-date national vascular plant red list or list 

of threatened plants. Plants and their habitats are under threat in the region, 

as are the livelihoods and ecosystem services that these plant resources 

support, but exactly where and by what 

This report begins to answer those questions. It is the result of a 6 month 

project, which aimed to bring together existing data on internationally 

important sites for plant diversity (Important Plant Areas) in the south and 

east Mediterranean. The project was conceived to support the creation of 

an Ecosystem Profile for the Mediterranean region by the Critical Ecosystem 

Partnership Fund (CEPF). It was important to ensure plant priorities were 

included in the Profile document, which outlines biodiversity priorities in the 

region and informs a five year investment strategy for CEPF. This work on 

Important Plant Areas therefore provides a basis for conservation work and 

future research and on plants in the Mediterranean region. 

The project was funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) a major 

partner in the CEPF, and carried out in partnership by IUCN, Plantlife 

International and WWF with IPA country teams from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, 

Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Albania. IPA 

teams within the other Mediterranean Balkan countries, Slovenia, Croatia, 

Macedonia FYR and Montenegro have already identified IPAs (Radford and 

Odé, 2009; Anderson et al, 2005), as have teams in Turkey (Özhatay et al, 

2003) and Italy (Blasi et al 2010 in press). Important Forest Areas have also 

been identified by WWF and partners in some of the project countries with 

a strategy for their conservation (Regato, 2001).


SCENE SETTING 

SECTION 1 

7 

Once IPAs are identified the next phase is to undertake conservation of 

these sites, for example by: 

• promoting the biological importance of the sites; 

• using the information collated to inform site management ensuring 

IPAs remain diverse and intact; 

• building capacity by strengthening links between individuals and 

groups interested in and knowledgeable about these sites; 

• advocating policy change at national, regional and global level for the 

benefit of plants and their habitats on IPAs (and for the health of the 

wider landscape). 

• undertaking conservation action at local level with relevant 

stakeholders. 

Important Plant Areas, government responsibility and key 

conservation initiatives 

Important Plant Areas are designed to inform existing programmes and 

legislation and not to compete with them (IPA is not a legal designation). IPAs 

can add value to existing programmes by providing information on plants that 

is often lacking when valuable natural sites are prioritised for attention. 

The conservation of important areas for plant diversity has been embedded 

within target 5 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Global Strategy 

for Plant Conservation (GSPC), 2002. Target 5 was updated at the CBD 

Conference of the Parties in 2010 to: At least 75 per cent of the most important 

areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected, with effective 

management in place for conserving plants and their genetic diversity. 

Tulipa agenesis 


This Global Strategy recognises the importance of conserving plant 

diversity and contains sixteen targets in total. The Strategy has been 

endorsed by the 182 Parties which are signatories to the Convention, 

including the governments of all the countries represented in this project. 

The Strategy has galvanised botanical and conservation communities at 

global, regional and national levels, drawing together plant conservation 

projects and contacts to improve plant conservation. Plantlife 

International, with IUCN, is recognised as a facilitating organisation for 

target 5, and the methodology associated with this project is a useful tool 

in helping its implementation. 

Important Plant Areas may provide a useful tool for identifying gaps in 

existing national protected area programmes due to their international 

significance for biodiversity. In many countries protected area networks 

have grown on an ad hoc basis, often based on large charismatic animals, 

without a thorough scientific investigation of all biodiversity. Inclusion of 

IPAs can help improve coverage of important biodiversity within these 

networks. IPA criteria in Europe include those required to designate 

important sites for biodiversity conservation that make up the Emerald 

network and Natura 2000 required actions under the Bern Convention 

and the EC Habitats Directive respectively. The criteria for designating 

IPAs also overlap with those for the designation of internationally important 

wetlands, known as Ramsar sites. 

“IPAs can add value to 

existing programmes by 

providing information 

on plants that is often 

lacking when valuable 

natural sites are 

prioritised for attention”


It is not necessarily appropriate or possible to include all IPAs in protected 

area networks. Proper management, not simply the designation of 

protection status, is they key to their survival. IPAs can also provide a focus 

for agri-environment and sustainable forestry programmes, such as 

government support schemes for High Nature Value farmland currently 

being developed in some Balkan countries. IPAs are sites that are critically 

in need of biodiversity friendly management, ensuring the vital plant 

resources they contain are used in a sustainable way. 

Methodology summary 

Al-Quornet es-Sawda peak 

Makmel IPA, Lebanon 

© N. Machaka-Hour 

In order to find a workable methodology to identify preliminary important 

areas for plant diversity, existing methods that have been used to select 

priority sites for conservation in the region were discussed by project 

participants. These methodologies were: 

• Important Plant Areas (IPAs) used by Plantlife International and 

partners 

• Important Forest Areas used by WWF and partners and 

• Areas defined using the threatened species data of IUCN. 

• 

Details of Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria governing 

these methods are included in appendix 1 on page 82, they overlap 

significantly. 

Ranunculus coronaria 

Palestine 

© B. Al-Sheik 

Country coordinators involved in the project consolidated the criteria into 

one set of IPA criteria focusing on those data that they knew were readily 

available, to provide the framework for justifying the sites selected. In doing 

so they acknowledged that the list of IPAs identified would be preliminary 

but would be the very best sites for plant diversity botanical experts within 

their countries were aware of. Coordinators also agreed that efforts should 

be made within the project to build regionally focused datasets of threatened 

species and habitats. In some cases further work would be necessary to 

refine the data to ensure the ‘internationally important’ standard of the sites 

could be upheld. In Albania an adaptation of the European IPA criteria was 

used (Anderson, 2002) as it was more appropriate to the country situation 

and the quality of data available. 

The process of developing criteria and bringing together results took place 

during two workshops at the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in 

Malaga separated by a five month period of data collation and analysis. A 

summary of the criteria used to identify IPAs are included overleaf in 

box 01. Vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, algae and also fungi could all 

be considered when selecting IPAs and where data were available. Fungi 

are not part of the plant kingdom but have traditionally been included in 

IPA selection. Ultimately for sites to internationally significant, the presence 

of species and habitats that are threatened or restricted in distribution (on 

regional and global scale) or sites that are exceptionally species rich (by 

habitat) should be prioritised when selecting sites. Comprehensive data 

on all these criteria are not yet available, though there is enough to begin 

working with and progress will be made as a result of this project.


SCENE SETTING 

SECTION 1 

9 

Box 01 

Criteria used for IPA selection in North Africa and Middle East countries 

using a rapid assessment of existing data 

Sites can be selected on the basis of 

ONE OR MORE of the criteria below. 

A. SPECIES: THREATENED AND/OR 

ENDEMIC (RESTRICTED RANGE) 

For immediate consideration 1 : 

i) Sites containing threatened species 

• Presence of nationally 

threatened species, on existing 

national Red Lists or based on 

threatened species known by 

experts 2 

• Presence of threatened 

national endemic species, i.e. 

restricted to one country 

ii) Sites containing endemic species 

(not threatened) 

• Presence of national endemics 

(limited to one country) 

• Presence of sub national 

endemics (steno-endemics), i.e. 

restricted to a very limited area 

iii) Sites containing species at the 

edge of their geographical range 

which contain important genetic 

variability from core populations 

For consideration following further 

regional discussion 1 i.e. ‘regional 

endemics’. 

iv) Species with restricted range 

occurring in more than one 

country - for example Levant 

or Morocco/Algeria. Defined as 

10 SECTION 2 IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean region Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

02 

section 

Butrinti, IPA 

© REC Albania


IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean region 

SECTION 2 

11 

IPAs in the south and east 


.Important Plant Areas identified to date in Mediterranean countries 

.Plant species endemism on IPAs 

.Threats 

.Protection 

Country 

Nº of IPAs 

Morocco 19 

Algeria 21 

Tunisia 13 

Libya 5 

Egypt 20 

Israel 15 

Palestine 4 

Lebanon 20 

Jordan 12 

Country 


Syria 33 

Turkey 144 

Albania 45 

Macedonia FYR 42 

Montenegro 21 

Croatia 97 

Slovenia 57 

Italy 320 

TOTAL 888 

[Fig. 1] Important Plant Areas identified to 

date in Mediterranean countries 

Green dots indicate the 207 IPAs identified in 

current project 

[Table. 1] No. of IPAs identified in 

Mediterranean countries to date 

Countries in bold were part of the current project


Collecting thornbush for fire wood, 

Morocco 

© M.S. Taleb 

“This work represents 

the first attempt to 

draw together detailed 

country-wide data on 

IPA’s. More fieldwork is 

needed to update the 

data on distribution and 

status of species and 

habitats” 

Two hundred and seven priority sites for plants (Important Plant Areas) have 

been identified within the eleven countries in this project, (Morocco, Algeria, 

Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Albania) 

and a further twenty six sites have been identified as potential sites in need 

of further research before they can be confirmed as IPAs. 

The site inventories developed represent the first attempt to draw together 

detailed country-wide site-based data on Important Plant Areas. Much of 

the data available is old, and expert opinion within the countries concerned 

has played an important role in site selection. Undoubtedly more work is 

needed to provide comprehensive IPA inventories in these project countries 

– particularly fieldwork to update the data on distributions and status of 

species and habitats. More sites may be identified in future but these provide 

a good basis from which to work, and are justifiable priorities for conservation 

action. A full list of all these sites can be found in appendix 2 and in the 

country section from page 20. Further detailed descriptions of many of these 

sites can be found in country reports at www.plantlife.org.uk. 

Across the whole Mediterranean a further 681 IPAs have been identified (in 

Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia FYR, Turkey and Italy (references 

at the end of the section) through previous IPA projects which brings the total 

number of Important Plant Areas in the region to 888. The table below shows 

the number of sites identified across the Mediterranean to date. 

All Mediterranean habitats are represented within the IPAs identified through 

this project: forest, maquis, garrigue, pasture, wetland, coast and the 

transition to the desert zone. The coverage and the type of sites selected vary 

between countries. In Algeria IPAs have been selected within all the major 

vegetation zones from sea level to 2300m and they are highly floristically 

diverse. In Morocco the majority of sites chosen are 2500m above sea 

level with associated alpine and sub alpine vegetation, these sites are also 

exceptionally rich in endemic species for example Toubkhal National Park in



SECTION 2 

13 

the High Atlas mountains. The focus in Tunisia and Egypt has largely been 

on wetland and coastal IPAs, and in Libya IPAs have been selected that 

represent the coastal belt, mountains and desert region, with a focus on Al 

Jabal Al Akhdar, the largest IPA on the Cyrenaican Peninsula which contains 

80% of the Libyan flora and is a region of exceptional plant endemism. 

In Lebanon and Syria a very comprehensive assessment of current data 

has resulted in the selection of IPAs located throughout the territories of 

these countries; in humid, sub humid, semi arid and arid habitats. Many 

of the Syrian sites are mountainous and typically have high local species 

endemism. In Israel the IPAs include the best plant sites across the major 

Israeli vegetation zones: Mediterranean maquis, the transition zone and 

the desert region. The focus in Palestine has been to identify the best 

sites within the predominant maquis vegetation, which are most in need of 

conservation attention. 

Finally in Albania a greater number of smaller sites containing mosaics of 

habitats have been selected, notably containing high alpine forests and 

grasslands. This is similar to the pattern of IPA selection in other small 

highly biodiverse European countries in the Balkans such as Macedonia 

FYR and Croatia (Radford and Odé 2009). 

“All Mediterranean 

habitats are represented 

within the IPAs identified 

through this project: 

forest, maquis, garrigue, 

pasture, wetland, coast 

and the transition to the 

desert zone” 

Plant species endemism on IPAs 

As expected, high levels of plant species endemism is a recurring feature 

on IPAs in this region (table 2). 75% of IPAs contain single country endemic 

species, found only within one country, for example Cicer atlanticum in 

Morocco or Euphorbia postii in Syria; and just over 60% contain a very 

restricted species such as Onosma cyrenaica restricted to Al Jabal Al Akdar 

in Libya. ‘Mega endemic sites’ containing over 20 steno-endemic (very 

restricted range) species can be found in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon Syria 

and Libya. Jabal Al Arab in Syria is one such site. 

TOTAL (&%) 

of 147 IPAs analysed 1 

Morocco 

Algeria 

Tunisia 

Libya 

Egypt 

Israel 

Palestine 

Lebanon 

Syria 

Albania 

No. of IPAs containing single 

country endemic species 

No. of IPAs containing very local 

steno-endemic species 

No of IPAs containing greater than 

20 single country endemic species 

or very local steno-endemic species 

110 (75%) 19 20 6 1 8 4 3 16 25 8 

104 (71%) 15 21 6 1 3 7 4 12 27 8 

33 (22%) 16 4 0 1 1 0 0 6 5 0 

(1) 

IPAs analysed: eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 1 of the 5 IPAs in Libya, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in remaining countries. Figures for Jordan unavailable. 

[Table. 2] Plant endemism on IPAs in the Mediterranean project countries


Grazing in the cork forest surrounding 

Majen Choucha IPA 

© Z. Ghrabi- Gammar 

The next step of analysing species endemism on these IPAs should include 

an assessment of the numbers of restricted range species (less than 

5000km 2 in range) present on each site. This will be possible using the list 

of restricted range species created during this project (see section 04) and 

will help will further prioritise sites by focusing on those containing species 

with limited distributions regardless of whether they are present in one or 

more countries. Restricted range species are potentially in greater need 

of conservation attention and multi-country restricted range species can 

be overlooked in national prioritisation exercises. These restricted range 

species could also become priorities for Red List assessment. 

Threats 

“Agricultural 

intensification through 

overgrazing of pastoral 

lands is the most 

significant threat to the 

IPAs identified in this 

project, affecting 67% of 

the sites analysed” 

Agricultural intensification through overgrazing of pastoral lands is the 

most significant threat to the IPAs identified in this project, affecting 67% 

of the sites analysed. Deforestation (largely due to collecting firewood), 

tourism development, intensification of arable farming and unsustainable 

collection of plants, affects over one third of the IPAs analysed. 

Unsustainable collection of medicinal and aromatic plants (supporting 

livelihoods) is of great concern in Syria (affecting 91% of Syrian IPAs) and 

Palestine. 

The threat of over collection may provide a conservation opportunity 

in terms of using plant conservation to secure livelihoods and assist 

development. Threats posed by climate change are notable for IPAs in 

Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon have a high number 

of high altitude sites and Tunisia’s sites are predominately isolated wetlands 

in all cases increased temperatures resulting from climate warming leave 

the plants with nowhere to retreat. No IPAs have no threats recorded.



SECTION 2 

15 


The importance of the threat of overgrazing contrasts with the analysis 

100 

of threats to ‘key biodiversity areas’ in the Mediterranean, that have been 

90 

identified largely using other taxa (birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians). The 

80 

primary threat to these key biodiversity areas was identified as infrastructure 

70 

and residential development (rather than for tourism per se), followed by 

60 

increasing pressure on water resources, agricultural intensification and land 

50 

abandonment (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, 2010). This illustrates 

40 

the 

30 

importance of considering all taxonomic groups when assessing threats 

to 

20biodiversity. Habitat loss and degradation, (due to agricultural, urban, 

tourism, 

10 

transportation and industrial/commercial (including mining/energy) 

development 

0 

driven by increasing population and affluence is cited by IUCN 

as the greatest threat to species in the Mediterranean Basin (Cuttelod et al. 

2008). [Fig. 2] Top ten threats affecting 147 IPAs in the project countries 

IPAs analysed: Eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in 

remaining countries. Figures for Libya and Jordan unavailable. 

Agricultural intensification (grazing) 

Forestry: deforestation (inc. firewood) 

Development (tourism) 

Agricultural intensification (arable) 

Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 

Climage change 

Development (urbanisation) 

Natural events (flood, fire, draught) 

Extraction (minerals) 

Habitat fragmentation 

Diplotaxis siettiana 

© C. Moreno 


40 

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Burning of vegetation (fires) 

Water (extraction / drainage) 

Development (infrastructure) 

Other 

Development (industry) 

Eutrophication 

Invasive species (plant) 

Aquaculture / fisheries 

Construction (dyke, dam, barrier) 

[Fig. 3] Other threats affecting 147 IPAs in the project countries 

IPAs analysed: Eight of the 45 IPAs in Albania, 7 of the 15 IPAs in Israel and all IPAs in 

remaining countries. Figures for Libya and Jordan unavailable.


Threat 

TOTAL 

(and %) 

of 147 IPAs 

analysed 1 

Morocco 

Algeria 

Tunisia 

Egypt (Med) 

Egypt (other) 

Israel 

Palestine 

Lebanon 

Syria 

Albania 

Agricultural intensification (grazing) 99 (67%) 16 14 11 7 4 5 2 7 28 5 

Forestry: deforestation (inc. firewood) 68 (46%) 13 5 3 3 3 0 4 7 26 4 

Development (tourism) 60 (41%) 8 9 7 2 5 1 0 9 16 3 

Agricultural intensification (arable) 50 (34%) 10 3 3 4 2 5 0 1 22 0 

Unsustainable Plant Exploitation 49 (33%) 9 2 1 0 1 0 3 2 30 1 

Climate change 42 (29%) 15 4 10 1 1 0 0 10 1 0 

Development (urbanisation) 35 (24%) 2 1 1 5 1 6 2 13 4 0 

Natural Events (/flood/fire/drought) 35 (24%) 2 18 5 2 5 0 0 0 0 3 

Extraction (minerals) 28 (19%) 0 7 1 0 0 0 1 3 15 1 

Habitat fragmentation 27 (18%) 10 1 1 1 0 6 4 2 2 0 

Burning of vegetation (fires) 26 (18%) 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 14 3 

Water (extraction/drainage) 26 (18%) 0 2 5 5 1 4 1 3 5 0 

Development (infrastructure) 22 (15%) 1 2 1 4 2 0 3 1 8 0 

Other 14 (10%) 4 6 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 

Development (industry) 11 (7%) 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 1 2 0 

Eutrophication 9 (6%) 0 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 

Invasive species - plant 8 (5%) 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 

Aquaculture/Fisheries 6 (4%) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 

Construction: dyke/dam/barrier 6 (4%) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 

Threats Unknown 3 (2%) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Abandonment/reduction of land management 2 (1%) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Agricultural intensification (hort.) 2 (1%) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 

Extraction (peat) 2 (1%) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Invasive species - animal 2 (1%) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Security/Military 2 (1%) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 

Intrinsic Species Factors(slow growth, density etc.) 1 (



SECTION 2 

17 

Protection 

The level of official protection for the IPAs identified varies across the project 

countries from 0 – 80%. Protection can be in the form of protected areas 

such as National Parks or internationally important wetland (Ramsar) sites 

or as natural monuments. In Albania over 80% of the IPAs are protected or 

recognised as important sites for nature in some way. Many IPAs in Morocco, 

Tunisia and Algeria are also National Parks, in the Middle East countries the 

situation is less clear but official protection of IPAs is not as comprehensive. 

Official protection of sites can be helpful but a truer measure of whether a 

site is properly managed or not can be measured through evidence of site 

based conservation activity, often linked to a recognised management plan. 

Evidence of management plans for IPAs is minimal, 6 sites in Egypt, 3 in 

Syria and 2 in Lebanon do have active management plans. 

IPAs are fully or 

partially within 

national parks / 

protected areas 

Management 

plans available 

TOTAL 

Morocco 

Algeria 

Tunisia 

Libya 

Egypt 

Israel 

Palestine 

Lebanon 

Syria 

97 6 8 13 2 12 - 0 11 7 38 

11 6 2 3 

Figures for Jordan unavailable. 

[Table. 4] Protection of IPAs in the Mediterranean project countries 

Albania 

Rural landscape and wetland in a 

Ramsar zone of El Kala National Park 

Algeria 

© Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon 

“The level of official 

protection for the IPAs 

identified varies across 

the project countries 

from 0 – 80%. 

Protection can be in the 

form of protected areas 

such as National Parks or 

internationally important 

wetland (Ramsar) sites or 

as natural monuments”


IPAs and Key Biodiversity Areas 

Eighty two IPAs (40% of the total number IPAs identified) overlap with 

the 327 key biodiversity areas identified for the same countries within 

the Ecosystem Profile for the Mediterranean basin (Critical Ecosystem 

Partnerships Fund, 2010) (See figs. 4 and 5). The key biodiversity area 

analysis was made largely using taxa other than plants (birds, mammals, 

fish, reptiles and amphibians), due to the lack of plant species data 

available on the IUCN Global Red List. A further 29 IPAs show partial 

overlap with key biodiversity areas. Our IPA analysis employs a slightly 

different approach to assessing the importance of sites for plant diversity 

by drawing on a wider selection of data and expertise, to compensate for 

the lack of data available in a format recognised for key biodiversity area 

selection. 

Landscape of the Middle Atlas 

Morocco 


The CEPF profile identified 36 priority key biodiversity areas, 19 of which 

overlap with IPAs, but these are not necessarily those IPAs in greatest 

need of conservation action from a wild plant perspective. IPA country 

teams made their own selection and prioritised up to five IPAs in terms 

of their importance for conservation investment. They made a subjective 

assessment of the importance of these sites based on biological 

importance, threats affecting the site and the need for action. ‘Priority’ IPAs 

selected in this way are shown in table 5, nine overlap with priority Key 

biodiversity areas and of these seven are prioritised for investment by CEPF. 

“IPA country teams 

made their own selection 

and prioritised up to 

five IPAs in terms of 

their importance for 

conservation investment” 

[Fig. 4] IPAs and key biodiversity areas in the western Mediterranean



SECTION 2 

19 

Key references 

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. 

2010. Ecosystem Profile Mediterranean 

Basin Biodiversity Hotspot. Conservation 

International, Washington D.C. (Black and 

White report: http://www.cepf.net/where_ 

we_work/regions/europe_central_asia/ 

mediterranean/Pages/default.aspx) 

Cuttelod, A., García, N., Abdul Malak, D., 

Temple, H. and Katariya, V. 2008. The 

Mediterranean: a biodiversity hotspot 

under threat. In: J.-C. Vié, C. Hilton-Taylor 

and S.N. Stuart (eds). The 2008 Review of 

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

IUCN Gland, Switzerland. 

Radford, E.A. and Odé, B. eds. 2009. Conserving 

Important Plant Areas; investing 

in the Green Gold of South East Europe. 

Plantlife International, Salisbury.* 

[Fig. 5] IPAs and key biodiversity areas in the eastern Mediterranean 

Morocco 

Algeria 

Tunisia 

Libya 

Egypt 

Israel 

Palestine 

Lebanon 

Syria 

Albania 

Talassemtane National Park. Bou-Naceur and Bou Iblane. Ifrane National 

Park*, High Eastern Atlas National Park*, Toubkal National Park*. 

El Kala 1*, El Kala 2*, Djurdjura*, Babor*, Gouraya. 

Garaa Sejenane, Kroumirie (a suite of 11 small IPAs), Majen Choucha, 

Oued Ziatine, Toujane. 

Al Jabel Al Akhdar (the whole peninsula – larger than the key 

biodiversity area currently selected).* 

Western Mediterranean Coastal Dunes, Sallum Area, Saint Katherine, 

Nabq, Halayeb Triangle. 

Meron, Hula, Hebron Gradient. 

Faqoua`-Jalaboun Safa, W Elbalat - W Armyah Ein Samya, Wad Qana- 

Wad Eshai`r, Yaseed-Ibzeik. 

Makmel, Qammouaa-Dinneyh, Jabal Moussa- Nahr Ibrahim. 

Kurd Dag, Salma-Haffeh, Ghab; Anti-Lebanon*, Jabal al Arab. 

Gramozi Mt, Korabi Mt, Tomorrin Mt. 

(*) 

Indicates site is also a priority KBA by CEPF. 

[Table. 5] Priority Important Plant Areas for conservation selected by country IPA teams 

Regato, P., 2001. The Mediterranean 

Forests, a New Conservation Strategy. 

WWF-MedPO Ed, Rome. 

Other Mediterranean 

country IPA accounts 

Blasi C., Marignani M., Copiz R. Fipaldini 

M., Bonacquisti S., Del Vico E., Rosati L. 

& Zavattero L. (in press) Important Plant 

Areas in Italy: from data to mapping. 

Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j. 

biocon. 2010.08.019 * 

Jogan, N. 2005. IPAs in Slovenia. In Important 

Plant Areas in Central and Eastern 

Europe. (eds. Anderson, S., Kušik, T. and 

Radford, E.A.) Plantlife International.* 

Melovski, Lj., Matevski, V., Kostadinovski, 

M., Karadelev, M., Angelova, N., & 

Radford, E. A. 2009. Important Plant Areas 

in the Republic of Macedonia. (In Macedonian) 

Special Issues of the Macedonian 

Ecological Society, Vol. 9, Skopje. 

Nikolić T., Vuković N., Topić J (eds), 2009. 

Područja značajna za floru Hrvatske/ 

Important Plant Areas in Croatia * 

Petrovic, D. (ed) 2009. Važna Biljne Staništa 

– U Crnoj Gori IPA projeket/ Important 

Plant Areas in Montenegro 

*Available to download from the Plantlife 

International website: http://www.plant- 

life.org.uk/international/plantlife-data-

20 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

03 

section 

[This page] 

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani ), in Maaser forest. 

Although protection measures such as the creation 

of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve have been 

undertaken, the Cedar woodlands of Central Mount- 

Lebanon are threatened by overgrazing, unregulated 

tourism, and a high occurrence of forest fires in 

forests below the slope. Lebanon 



COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Algeria 

SECTION 3 

21 

COUNTRY REPORTS 

& CASE STUDIES * 

.Morocco 

.Algeria 

.Tunisia 

.Libya 

.Egypt 

.Occupied Palestinian 

Territories 

.Israel 

.Lebanon 

.Jordan 

.Syria 

.Albania 

* The order of the countries in the publication 

follows a West to East geographical structure

22 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Morocco 

M. S. Taleb and M. Fennane 

Univ. Mohammed V-Agdal 

(Morocco) 

IPA Team 

Mohammed Sghir Taleb 

National IPA Coordinator (Forestry 

Research Centre of the Moroccan High 

Commission for Water, Forests and 

Desertification Control) 

Mohamed Fennane 

(Institut Scientifique) 

Brahim Haddane 

(IUCN Regional Councillor for Africa) 

Mustapha Madbouhi 

(Secretary of State for Water and the 

Environment), 

Hayat Mesbah 

(High Commission for Water, Forests 

and Desertification Control) 

Mohamed Ribi 

(High Commission for Water, Forests 

and Desertification Control). 

[Fig. 6] IPAs of Morocco 

01 Jbel Bouhachem 

02 Talassemtane National Park 

03 Al Hoceima National Park 

04 Beni Snassene 

05 Jbel Bou-Naceur 

06 Jbel Bou Iblane 

07 Tazekka National Park 

08 Jbel Tichoukt 

09 Ifrane National Park 

10 Eastern High Atlas National Park 

11 Jbel Ayachi 

12 Jbel Maâsker 

13 Jbel Krouz 

14 Jbel Mgoun 

15 Tamga and Aqqa Wabzaza 

16 Toubkal National Park 

17 Aghbar 

18 Jbel Kest, Anezi and Jbel Imzi 

19 Maamora 

Overview of Moroccan IPAs 

Nineteen Important Plant Areas (IPAs) have been identified from a 

preliminary list of 57 potentially eligible sites (15 classed as priority, 27 

highly remarkable and 15 important) drawn from Sites of Biological and 

Ecological Interest. Most of the IPAs are located in mountain areas (High, 

Middle and Saharan Atlas); more than half of them are at elevations above 

2,500m and some, like Toubkal and Jbel Mgoun, reach 4,000m. There are 

two coastal IPAs: Al Hoceima National Park and Maamora.


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco 

SECTION 3 

23 

The predominant vegetation in most of the mountain IPAs is forest, 

sometimes degraded, with stands of Algerian oak, cork oak, holm oak, pine, 

cedar, fir, Tetraclinis and juniper. Above 3,000m, woody vegetation gives 

way to formations of thorny cushion-like xerophytes and meadows very rich 

in endemics. The rate of endemism is over 80 percent in the summit region 

of Toubkal. In the lowlands, Maamora boasts a potentially very extensive 

cork oak forest (130,000ha), whereas Al Hoceima National Park is mainly 

characterized by a wild, rocky coastline with cliffs rising out of the sea. 

Morocco’s IPAs are characterized by particularly high numbers of national 

endemics and stenoendemics: there are 16 areas with more than 20 such 

species. The richest sites for locally endemic species are Ifrane National 

Park (196), Toubkal National Park (164), Jbel Ayachi (75), and Jbel Bou- 

Naceur and Jbel Bou Iblane (92). Many of these species are stenoendemics 

found only at a single site. 

Six IPAs are included within national parks. The others have not yet been 

awarded any special protection. 

• Number of IPAs: 19 

• Number of IPAs containing national endemics: 19 

• Number of IPAs containing stenoendemics: 15 

• Number of IPAs containing more than 20 national endemics or 

stenoendemics: 16 

High mountain cushion shrubs 

in Middle atlas 

Morocco 

© P. Regato 

“Morocco’s IPA are 

characterized by high 

numbers of locally 

endemic species - some 

found only at a single 

site”


Transhumance in the Eastern High Atlas. 

Morocco 

© M.S. Taleb 

Threats to the IPAs 

The main threats to Morocco’s IPAs are water stress, exacerbated 

by drought; overgrazing, climate change, deforestation and habitat 

fragmentation and isolation. 

IPAs 

18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

08 

06 

04 

02 

0 


Climage change 

Forestry deforestation (inc. firewood) 







Threats Unknown 

[Fig. 7] Top 10 threats to Morocco’s IPAs 

Flora, vegetation and conservation 

Morocco covers a total area of 710,850km 2 in North-West Africa. It lies in 

a position between Africa and Europe, which has resulted in considerable 

genetic exchange between these regions, these with the great diversity of 

biotopes in the country has resulted in high species diversity.


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Morocco 

SECTION 3 

25 

The four major mountain ranges - the 

Rif, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas and 

the Anti-Atlas - form an important part 

of the relief of Morocco, occupying 15 

percent of its land area.The Moroccan 

climate is classed as Mediterranean 

and is influenced by both the 

Atlantic and the Sahara. Precipitation 

decreases from north to south and 

from west to east. It is high in the 

mountain massifs, reaching 2,000mm 

in the Rif, but less than 150 mm in the 

pre-Saharan and Saharan regions. 

The main vegetation units consist 

essentially of forest and preforest 

ecosystems (with stands of argan, 

kermes oak, cypress, cedar, holm oak, 

cork oak, deciduous oak, Tetraclinis, 

Spanish juniper, fir, Phoenician juniper, 

carob, wild olive, prickly juniper, pine, 

mastic, Retama and Adenocarpus), 

steppes (esparto, wormwood and 

thorny xerophyte steppes) and 

Saharan ecosystems (with acacias 

and chamaephytes). 

The Moroccan flora is particularly rich, 

with approximately 7,000 species in 

920 genera and 130 families, these 

include an estimated 4,500 species and 

subspecies of vascular plants. There 

are 951 national endemics (over 20 

percent of the vascular plants). Some 

500 local endemics (of restricted range) 

are shared with Algeria, the Iberian 

Peninsula and even Mauritania and the 

Canary Islands. The rate of endemism 

is particularly high in the High Atlas 

and, to a lesser extent, in the Middle 

Atlas, the Rif and the Anti-Atlas. This 

is because these mountains played 

an important role during the Quaternary ice ages in providing refuges for 

Holarctic taxa that either survived or evolved after being isolated there. 

Morocco has identified 160 sites of biological and ecological interest. All of 

them should soon be classed within the five categories of legally protected 

areas: national park, natural park, natural reserve, biological reserve and 

natural site. There are currently 10 national parks. 

Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest. Atlantic cedar 

is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and 

Algeria in northern Africa. Middle Atlas, Morocco 



Priority IPAs for conservation measures 

Of the nineteen IPAs described in detail for this project the Moroccan IPA 

Team has selected the following as priorities for conservation measures: 

Talassemtane National Park, Bou-Naceur and Bou-Iblane, Ifrane National 

Park, Eastern High Atlas National Park and Toubkal National Park. Three of 

them are described below. 

Talassemtane National Park 

Located in the eastern part of the limestone ridge of the Rif, Talassemtane 

National Park covers an area of 58,950 ha and is remarkable for its biodiversity. 

The natural heritage of the park, with its rugged scenery typical of the Rif 

mountains, is outstanding at Mediterranean level. The bioclimatic zones are 

semi-arid, subhumid and humid. The vegetation stages present are thermo- 

Mediterranean, meso-Mediterranean, supra-Mediterranean and mountain- 

Mediterranean. The principal forest species are Abies pinsapo, Cedrus 

atlantica, Quercus ilex, Quercus suber, Pinus halepensis, Pinus nigra, Pinus 

pinaster and Tetraclinis articulata. The park’s flora comprises approximately 

747 taxa, including 47 that are endemic to Morocco alone, 27 restricted to 

the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, and 9 to Algeria and Morocco. The local 

people are engaged in arable and livestock farming and forestry. 

Ifrane National Park 

Ifrane National Park 

The threatened Juniperus thurifera 

ecosystem 

© M.S. Taleb 

Further reading 

Leipzig, 1996. Rapport de pays pour la 

conférence technique internationale de la 

FAO sur les ressources phytogénétiques. 

Maroc. 

Ministère de l’Aménagement du territoire, 

de l’Urbanisme, de l’Habitat et de 

l’Environnement 2001- Stratégie et Plan 

d’Action National sur la Biodiversité Marocaine. 

Indicateurs de surveillance. 

Taleb M.S & Fennane M., 2010. Rapport 

national sur les Zones Importantes pour 

les Plantes (ZIP) au Maroc. 

Mardaga, 1999. Le grand livre de la forêt 

marocaine. 

Covering an area of 125,000ha, Ifrane National Park is located in the Middle 

Atlas. Three vegetation stages succeed one another: meso-Mediterranean 

(1,200–1,600m), supra-Mediterranean (1,600–2,000m) and mountain- 

Mediterranean (1,600–2,000m). The park is approximately 60 percent 

forested, with cedars, oaks, pines and junipers and is home to 1025 species 

of vascular plants, 25 percent of which have restricted ranges. Sixty-four 

species are endemic to the park itself, and 90 are endemic to northern 

Morocco, making this IPA especially important. The park is inhabited by 

many communities who use its resources. The flora and vegetation suffer 

from pressures of overgrazing and firewood collection. 

Eastern High Atlas National Park 

The Eastern High Atlas National Park comprises very rugged mountain 

massifs covering an area of 49,000ha at elevations ranging from 1,600m to 

over 3,000m. The bioclimatic zones are arid, semi-arid and subhumid, with 

cold winters. The north-facing slopes of the park are covered with fine, tall 

cedar forest, following on from stands of holm oak, Phoenician juniper and 

Aleppo pine. At higher elevations, the cedar forest is replaced by stands 

of Spanish juniper. Above 3,000m, trees give way to thorny cushion-like 

xerophytes. On the southern slopes cedars are absent and the forested area 

is small. The vascular flora of the park comprises 300 taxa, 54 of which are 

endemic to Morocco. Sheep and goat herding is the predominant occupation 

of the local communities, arable farming (in the valleys) and timber extraction 

is secondary. These activities are putting the flora and vegetation under 

increasing pressure. Repeated droughts are a cause for concern.



SECTION 3 

27 

Algeria 

N. Yahi and S. Benhouhou 

IPA Team 

N. Yahi 

National IPA Coordinator 

(Université des Sciences et de la 

Technologie Houari Boumédiène, 

Bab Ezzouar) 

S. Benhouhou 

(Ecole Nationale Supérieure 

d’Agronomie, El Harrach) 

G. de Belair 

(Université d’Annaba) 

R. Gharzouli 

(Université Ferhat Abbas, Sétif) 

E. Vela 

(Université de Montpellier II, France) 

[Fig. 8] IPAs of Algeria 

01 El Kala 1 

02 El Kala 2 

03 Edough Peninsula 

04 Guerbes 

05 Djebel Ouahch 

06 Belezma National Park 

07 Babor Mountains 

08 Taza National Park 

09 Gouraya National Park 

10 Akfadou Forest 

11 Massif Djurdjura National Park 

12 Theniet El Had 

13 Chréa National Park 

14 Sahel d’Oran 

15 Mount Chenoua 

16 Ghar Rouban 

17 Cape Ténès 

18 Traras Mountains 

19 Habibas Islands 

20 Aures-Chelia 

21 Mount Zaccar


Forest and riverine vegetation of Oued El 

Maboun in the Guerbes-Sanhadja plain (the 

site was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2001 

and has been proposed as a Regional Nature 

Park). Algeria. 


Overview of Algerian IPAs 

Algerian IPAs cover all vegetation stages present in the Mediterranean 

part of country and are often marked by a large elevational range, as in the 

Aurès Massif (100–2,300m) and Djurdjura (600–2,300m). Several coastal 

IPAs (El Kala 1, Edough Peninsula, Taza and Gouraya National Parks, 

Sahel d’Oran, Mount Chenoua, Cape Ténès, Trara Mountains et Habibas 

Islands) have high plant diversity and are rich in restricted range species, 

which are often highly localised (stenoendemic). Forested habitats are well 

represented, particularly with cedars (in Belezma, Djurdjura, Theniet El Had 

and Chréa National Parks, the Babor Mountains and Aurès Massif) or oaks 

(Quercus canariensis, Q. suber and Q. ilex). Several IPAs are rich in wetland 

habitats (El Kala 1 & 2, Edough Peninsula, Guerbes/Senhadja Plain, Djebel 

Ouahch, and Taza and Chréa National Parks). 

The number of restricted range or locally endemic taxa in northern Algeria 

is 407. These include 224 endemic to Algeria alone, 124 shared with 

Morocco, 58 with Tunisia and one with Sicily. Some IPAs have a flora with a 

particularly high proportion of national endemics or stenoendemics, such as 

Djurdjura National Park with over 25 sub-national and stenoendemics, and 

El Kala 1 & 2 and the Babor Mountains, each with 20. 

Twenty-one IPAs have initially been identified for northern Algeria. Many 

other sites may also deserve to be included but require further study, 

particularly in the Collo Peninsula, the Tlemcen Mountains, the Arzew 

Peninsula, Cape Falcon, Ouarsenis, Sersou, the Aflou region and Djebel 

Aissa. Sites in the steppe and Saharan zones of the country have not been 

described, since they are located beyond the Mediterranean part of Algeria. 

Eight IPAs are entirely or partly located inside national parks, while 13



SECTION 3 

29 

others enjoy no management or protection measures. The Babor Massif is 

in the process of being listed as a natural reserve. 


• Number of IPAs containing national endemics: 20 

• Number of IPAs containing stenoendemics: 21 

• Number of IPAs containing more than 20 national endemics or 

stenoendemics: 4 

IPAs 

18 


16 

14 

Natural disasters (floods, fires, droughts) 


The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs are fire, followed by overgrazing, which 

12 

result in the direct disappearance of species and the erosion of topsoil, 

10 

making it difficult to restore the vegetation cover. Some sites also suffer 

08 

from too many visitors or from quarrying. Pollution from domestic effluent is 

06 

a threat to many wetlands, while some IPAs are affected by deforestation. 

04 

The lack of security that prevailed in part of Algeria for several decades 

02 

often prevented management or conservation measures from being 

0 

implemented and impeded data collection on the ground. 

[Fig. 9] The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs 


Mineral extraction 


With an area of 2,381,741km 2 , Algeria is the largest country with a 

Mediterranean coastline. It is bordered by Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, 

Mauritania and Morocco. In the north of the country, the relief consists of 

the Tellian and Saharan Atlas, the Aurès Massif, the Tell coastal strip and 

the Nememcha Plateau. 

Since Algeria is influenced by the sea, relief and elevation, its climate is 

classed as ‘temperate extra-tropical Mediterranean’, characterized by a 

long period of summer drought that varies from 3–4 months on the coast 

to 5–6 months on the high plains and more than 6 months in the Saharan 

Atlas. All Mediterranean bioclimates are represented in the north, from 

perhumid (Babor Mountains) to semi-arid (Sahel d’Oran). 

The main vegetation units found in northern Algeria are: 

• Sclerophyllous forests (holm oak, cork oak, etc.), deciduous forests 

(Algerian oak, afares oak, maples) and conifer forests (Aleppo pine, 

black pine, maritime pine, thuja, cedar, fir); 

• Matorral, which includes evergreen vegetation dominated by mastic, 

Cistus, brooms, Calicotome, diss grass, rosemary and Globularia; 

• Therophytic, orophytic and chasmophilic meadows, and asphodel 

grassland; 

• Hygrophilous vegetation represented by riparian forests with Populus 

alba, Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus angustifolia, as well as the 

vegetation of marshes, lakes, ponds and lagoons; 



Climate change (sea level rise) 


El Kala IPA - rich inlocal endemic species and 

Mediterranean threatened habitats 

© S. Benhouhou 

Several coastal IPAs 

(El Kala 1, Edough 

Peninsula, Taza and 

Gouraya National Parks, 

Sahel d’Oran, Mount 

Chenoua, Cape Ténès, 

Trara Mountains et 

Habibas Islands) have 

high plant diversity and 

are rich in restricted 

range species, which 

are often highly localised 

(stenoendemic).


• Halophilous and littoral vegetation, including the vegetation of coastal 

dunes, cliffs and coastal scrub. 

• 

The Algerian flora comprises approximately 4,000 taxa in 131 families and 

917 genera. There are 464 national endemics (387 species, 53 subspecies 

and 24 varieties). 


The Algerian IPA Team has prioritised the following IPAs for conservation 

measures: El Kala 1, El Kala 2, Djurdjura National Park, Babor Mountains 

and Gouraya National Park. Three of them are described below. 

El Kala 2 

Viola munbunya var. rifane on El Kala 2, a 

restricted range species 


The Medjedra mountain forests, which cover the El Kala 2 IPA, are located 

in the far north-east of Algeria and continue into Tunisia, where they are 

included in the Jbel Ghorra IPA. They range in elevation from 200m to 

1,200m. Sandstones and clays are predominant, with a large number of 

rocky outcrops and cliffs. Small oueds (rivers) springs and temporary pools 

are common in the forested areas. The diversity of exposed surfaces and 

elevations gives rise to a very rich flora. Forests are mainly represented by 

cork oak and Algerian oak. This IPA is home to 20 national endemics and 

stenoendemics. The main threats are fire, overgrazing, deforestation and 

over-exploitation of certain species (Quercus canariensis, Quercus suber, 

Laurus nobilis). 

Gouraya National Park 

Serapia stenopetala a site restricted 

species (


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia 

SECTION 3 

31 

Tunisia 

Z. Ghrabi Gammar 

IPA Team 

[Fig. 10] IPAs of Tunisia 

01 Garâa Sejenane Majen Chitane Lake 

02 Dar El Orbi Peat Bog 

03 Oued Ziatine 1 +2 

04 Aïn Zana Natural Reserve 

05 Sidi Ali El Mekki 

06 a Dat Fatma Natural Reserve (K) 

06 b Sources du 18ème (K) 

06 c Camp du 18ème (K) 

06 d Piste de Legba (K) 

06 e Le Merij (K) 

06 f Majen Barbit (K) 

06 g Majen El Ouez 1 (K) 

06 h Majen El Mouajène (K) 

06 i Sraï el Majen (K) 

06 j Majen El Ma (K) 

06 k Majen Sghaïer (K) 

06 l Majen El Ouez 2 (K) 

07 Majen Choucha 

08 La Galité Archipelago 

09 Zembra and Zembretta National Park 

10 Toujane 

11 El Feija Jbel Ghorra 

12 Ichkeul 

13 Jbel Zaghouan 

Zeineb Ghrabi Gammar 

National IPA Coordinator (Institut 

National Agronomique de Tunisie). 

A. Daoud-Bouattour 

(Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) 

S. Ben Saad Liman 


I. Ben Haj Jilani 

(Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de 

Mateur) 

H. Ferchichi-Ben Jamaa 


S. D. Muller 

(Université de Montpellier 2, France) 

L. Rhazi 

(Université de Rabat, Morocco) 

A. M. Gammar 

(Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des 

Humanités de Manouba) 

E. Véla 

(Université de Montpellier 2, France), 

A. Chaabane 

(Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tabarka) 

M. Neffati 

(Institut des Régions Arides de 

Médenine) 

S. Rouz 

(Banque Nationale de Gènes) 

B. Jaziri 

( Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des 

Humanités de Manouba) 

M. Ouali 

(Faculté des Sciences de Tunis) and M. 

Tarhouni (Institut des Régions Arides de 

Médenine) 

Specialists consulted on the flora: 

A. Khaldi, A. Smaoui, A. Khouja, A. Sfaihi, 

A. Ferchichi, F. Maamouri, M. Boussaid, 

M. E. Kchouk, M. L. Khouja, M. Ridha, N. 

Boussaidi, R. N’cibi and M. Selmi. 

(K): ‘Kroumirie’, a combination of these sites comprising peat bogs, small semi-permanent lakes and temporary pools

32 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Collecting wood on Garâa Sejenane, IPA 


Overview of Tunisian IPAs 

Thirteen Important Plant Areas (IPAs) have been identified in Tunisia, 

while eight other sites are known for their rich flora but require further 

investigation. One of these IPAs, No 6, Kroumirie, is made up of a dozen 

small independent sites that have been combined because they are all 

small-scale wetland habitats; peat bogs, ponds or temporary pools. The 

thirteen IPAs are essentially located in the north of the country and most 

are characterized by a subhumid to humid Mediterranean climate. Ten of 

them have an average elevation below or around 500m, whereas three (Jbel 

Zaghouan, Jbel Ghorra, Aïn Zana) are more clearly mountainous. 

Wetland environments are well represented as they make up more than half 

the IPAs, in the form of permanent lakes (Ichkeul), semi-permanent lakes 

(Majen Chitane, Majen Choucha, etc.), temporary pools (Garâa Sejenane, 

Majen el Ma, Sraï el Majen, etc.), marshes (Ichkeul), and peat bogs based 

on Sphagnum or Osmunda (Kroumirie) or bracken (Dar el Orbi). Although 

these sites are not particularly rich in national endemic or stenoendemic 

species—a large proportion of the species that occur in them are shared 

with neighbouring countries—they do contain most of the nationally or 

regionally threatened or rare habitats. 

The Tunisian IPAs are also representative of the main forest and coastal 

habitat types of Tunisia. The most outstanding forest types are more or less 

protected; Algerian oak (Quercus canariensis) and cork oak (Quercus suber)



SECTION 3 

33 

at Aïn Zana and Jbel Ghorra, olive-mastic with carob on Jbel Ichkeul, juniper 

(Juniperus phoenicea) at Toujane, and alder (Alnus glutinosa) in the Oued 

Ziatine riparian forest. Coastal flora is represented on three IPAs; the La 

Galite Archipelago and the Zembra and Zembretta National Park, both rich 

in rare species and species endemic to Tunisia or North Africa, and Sidi Ali el 

Mekki. All three are particularly rich in endemics (Linaria cossonii, Malcolmia 

doumetiana, Limonium gougetianum and L. zembrae, and Silene barrattei). 

Six Tunisian IPAs contain national endemic or stenoendemic plant species. 

Half of Tunisia’s IPAs lie fully or partly inside protected areas, namely the 

three national parks, three Ramsar sites, two biosphere reserves and four 

natural reserves. 

Of the thirteen IPAs, six contain national endemics and six have species 

with restricted ranges, none contain more than twenty national endemics or 

stenoendemics. 


The main threat to Tunisia’s IPAs is overgrazing, which affects wet and 

marshy areas as much as sites with xerothermophilic vegetation. That is 

followed by climate change (causing wetlands to dry out), the pressure of 

tourism and leisure activities and fire. Drainage and water extraction are a 

specific threat to wetland IPAs. 

Eleocharis uniglumis in threatened 

wetland habitat, Tunisia 

© S. D. Muller 

IPAs 


18 

16 

The main threats to Algeria’s IPAs are fire, followed by overgrazing, which 

14 

result in the direct disappearance of species and the erosion of topsoil, 

12 

making it difficult to restore the vegetation cover. Some sites also suffer 

10 

from too many visitors or from quarrying. Pollution from domestic effluent is 

08 

a threat to many wetlands, while some IPAs are affected by deforestation. 

06 

The lack of security that prevailed in part of Algeria for several decades 

04 

often prevented management or conservation measures from being 

02 

implemented and impeded data collection on the ground. 

0 

Agricultural intensification (pasture) 



Natural disasters (floods, fires, droughts) 

Water (extraction and drainage) 

Agricultural intensification (cultivation) 



[Fig. 11] The main threats to Tunisia’s IPAs 


Tunisia is located in North Africa at the junction of the two basins that 

make up the Mediterranean, between the Mashreq (the Arab East) and the 

Maghreb (the Arab West). 

The mountain ranges in the north and east of the country are well watered 

and form the eastern ends of the Tellian and Saharan Atlas. The arid high 

steppes are drained by oueds (wadis), and the semi-arid low steppes end at 

a flat coastal strip. The bioclimatic zones follow a rising gradient from south 

Half of Tunisia’s IPAs 

lie fully or partly inside 

protected areas, namely 

the three national parks, 

three Ramsar sites, two 

biosphere reserves and 

four natural reserves.

34 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Tunisia Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Majen Chitane IPA 

Tunisia 


to north, from hyper-arid in the Saharan area to humid Mediterranean in 

the northern mountains. Forests and matorral cover five percent of the land 

(reduced from twenty percent at the beginning of the 19th century), mainly 

in upland areas. They comprise stands of oaks (Quercus canariensis, Q. 

ilex, Q. suber, Q. coccifera), olive–mastic (Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus), 

pines (Pinus halepensis) and Tetraclinis articulata. Steppes of esparto 

(Stipa tenacissima), white wormwood (Seriphidium herba-album = Artemisia 

herba-alba), Rhanterium suaveolens, or Haloxylon (Haloxylon scoparium, H. 

schmittianum) cover approximately 20 percent of the country. 

The Tunisian flora contains 2162 species. Of these, 2103 species in 115 

families and 742 genera are included in the three-volume Flore de Tunisie 

(Cuénod et al., 1954; Pottier-Alapetite, 1979, 1981). The remaining 59 

species not mentioned in these volumes are additions by other authors. 

The most recent work on the nomenclature of Tunisian flora (Le Floc’h 

and Boulos, 2008) has the advantage of mentioning all taxa correctly 

or incorrectly attributed to Tunisia. According to the Ministry of the 

Environment and Sustainable Development (Ministère de l’Environnement 

et du Développement Durable, 2010), the Tunisian flora contains 1798 taxa. 

The number of national endemics is relatively low (71 taxa, comprising 53 

species, 12 subspecies, 5 varieties and 1 form). There are 99 North African 

endemics shared with Algeria and 13 with Libya.



SECTION 3 

35 


The Tunisian IPA Team has prioritized the following IPAs for conservation 

measures: Garâa Sejenane, the Kroumirie wetland sites (Sphagnum peat 

bogs, small semi-permanent lakes and temporary pools), Majen Choucha, 

the Oued Ziatine alder forest and Toujane. Three of them are described 

below. 

Garâa Sejenane 

Garâa Sejenane is within the Mogods region of northern Tunisia, at 

an average elevation of 100m. The region is characterized by a humid 

Mediterranean bioclimate with mild winters and a mean annual precipitation 

of 750mm. As recently as the 1950s, Garâa Sejenane was a 15km 2 lake 

surrounded by a wide belt of quillwort (Isoetes velata), with a club-rush 

(Schoenoplectus lacustris) marsh in the middle. Much of the site is now dry 

and grazed or cultivated. It consists of a mosaic of marsh, temporary pools 

and temporarily flooded fields, with a small peat bog habitat at the edge. It 

is home to about 25 species that are rare and threatened in Tunisia, as well 

as one stenoendemic species found only at this site: Rumex tunetanus. The 

main threats to this IPA are drainage, the spread of croplands and pastures, 

eutrophication and infrastructure development. The site is not yet covered 

by any conservation measures. 

Oued Ziatine 

Oued Ziatine is a permanent watercourse that runs 36km to the 

Mediterranean Sea at Cap Serrat, in northern Tunisia. Its drainage basin 

covers 95km 2 and receives a mean annual precipitation of 850mm. The 

region belongs to the humid Mediterranean bioclimate with warm winters. 

The IPA is characterized by an alder (Alnus glutinosa) riparian forest covering 

some 10ha, and is rich in species that are rare and protected in Tunisia and/ 

or endemic to Tunisia and Algeria (Fuirena pubescens, Solenopsis bicolor) or 

North Africa (Bellis prostrata). This alder forest is threatened by the spread 

of agriculture and grazing, changes in the water regime and climate change. 

This site is not subject to any conservation measures. 

Sphagnum auriculatum in threatened 

wetland habitat, Tunisia 

© A. Daoud-Battour 

Toujane 

The IPA of Toujane is located in the Matmata massif at an elevation 

of approximately 600m, not far from the east coast of Tunisia in the 

Governorate of Gabès. Its bioclimate is arid Mediterranean and it receives 

an average of 200mm of rainfall a year. The vegetation is garrigue 

with Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea). The site boasts two 

stenoendemic species (Rosmarinus eriocalyx and Dianthus cintranus subsp. 

byzacenus), endemics shared with Algeria or Libya, as well as species 

that are rare and threatened in Tunisia. The main threats to the site are 

grazing, collecting of esparto (Stipa tenacissima) for handicrafts, medicinal 

plants and firewood. Fire and climate change are also a threat to this IPA. 

The Toujane site belongs to the state and is protected by the Forestry 

Department. It is classed as a sensitive natural area. 


Z. Ghrabi Gammar, 2010. Proposition de 

Zones Importantes pour les Plantes de 

Tunisie, May [www.plantlife.org.uk]

36 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya 


Libya 

F. El-Rtaib (Alfateh University) 

With additional information provided by Matthew Hall (Centre for Mediterranean Plants) 

IPA Team 

F. El-Rtaib 

IPA country coordinator 

(Alfateh University) 

[Fig. 12] IPAs of Libya 

01 Al Jabel Al Akhdar 

02 Tawuoryhe Sebkha 

03 Jabal Nafusah 

04 Messak Mountain 

05 Jabal Aweinat 

IPA Summary 

Five confirmed IPAs have been identified in Libya to date: Al Jabal Al 

Akhdar, Tawuorgha Sebka, Jabal Nafusah, Jabal Aweinat and Messak 

mountain; with a further five that require study to confirm their status 

as internationally significant sites for plants (Alheesha, Farwa Island, 

Mamarica, Jabal Al Harouj and Benghazi coast). IPAs in Libya are found in 

the coastal, mountain and desert habitat types. Al Jabal Al Akhdar IPA (The 

Green Mountain) in the Cyrenaica region of north east Libya is the largest 

and most significant IPA in Libya. The unique physiographic and climatic 

conditions which isolate the mountains of Cyrenaican from the rest of Libya, 

have resulted in Al Jabal Al Akhdar holding 75 – 80% of the Libyan flora 

and a significant proportion of Libya’s endemic plant species, despite only


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya 

SECTION 3 

37 

covering 1% of the Libyan territory. This site was the primary focus for the 

IPA investigation in this project and is described in detail below. 

The other confirmed Libyan IPAs include the hot springs and open 

canals of Tawuorgha and the limestone formations of Jabal Nafusah IPA 

which stretch 500km from the Tunisian border to the Niggaza area on 

the Mediterranean coast. The latter encompasses a recently established 

national park Sha afeen. The Environmental General Authority (EGA) is 

considering the creation of a protected area at Alaweinat IPA in the south 

eastern corner of the country. 

Sedum cyrenaicum endemic to 

Cyrenaica peninsula 

© S.Jury 

Libyan IPAs face a number of threats including development of tourism 

infrastructure, overgrazing of livestock, forest cutting for wood and charcoal 

and the spread of invasive alien species. Unregulated development 

at the coast is a particular threat. Planning processes are erratic and 

environmental impact assessments (although required by law) are seldom 

completed or adhered to. 

• Number of IPAs: 5 (4 in the Mediterranean region) 

• Number of IPAs containing >20 single country or very restricted range 

species: 1

38 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya 


Libya: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Libya occupies an area of about 1.7 million km 2 most of which is desert (the 

Sahara). The most important areas for plant diversity are the coastal strip 

and mountains of the Mediterranean coastline (1900km). 

The original coastal vegetation is dominated by wormwood (Artemisia 

campestris) and white broom (Retama raetam), with early spring flowering 

annuals such as Senecio gallicus, Hussonia pinnata, Eruca sativa, 

Chrysanthemum segetum, Malva sylvestris and Erodium laciniatum, and the 

perennial herb Echium angustifolium. These species cover large areas for a 

short time after the winter rainfall. 

The oases and valleys of the Sahara have sparse vegetation that is low in 

diversity and includes date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera), Tamarix spp., 

white broom (Retama raetam), Ziziphus lotus, European boxthorn (Lycium 

europaeum) and Acacia tortilis. Herbaceous plants include Artemisia judaica, 

Hyoscyamus muticus and Zilla spinosa, though perennial grasses such 

Panicum turgidum, Stipagrostis pungens and S. plumosus predominate. 

In total there are approximately 1750 plant species in Libya, 4% of which 

are Libyan endemics. Phytogeographically, the flora is predominantly 

Mediterranean, with strong links to the Eastern Mediterranean (Palestine to 

Greece), more so than with the rest of North Africa; particularly strong are 

the links to Crete. Approximately 50% of the Libyan endemics are endemic 

to Cyrenaica. Qaiser & El-Gadi (1984), estimate that there are approximately 

26 endemic plant species on the coastal belt of Cyrenaica. Two plant 

genera, Pachyctenium Maire and Libyella Pamp are endemic to Al Jabal 

Al Akhdar, each contain one species; Pachyctenium mirabile and Libyella 

cyrenaica. 

Al Jabal Al Akhdar IPA (The Green Mountain) – a priority IPA 

Thapsia garganica var. sylphium 

endemic to the Cyrenaica peninsula 

© S.Jury 

Jabal Akhdar dominates the Cyrenaica region, located in the north east, 

it is a biogeographic ‘island’ with the Mediterranean Sea to the north and 

west, Marmarica plateau to the east and the Sahara desert to the south. It 

rises from sea level through three levels of escarpments and plains to 882 

m. The northern most mountain escarpments (predominantly sandstone) 

are frequently dissected with deep wadis and the southern slopes descend 

gradually to the Sahara desert. It is relatively wet (600mm), red alluvial terra 

rosa soils dominate and therefore is the most important area for agriculture 

(fruits, cereals and vegetables) in Libya. 100 - 140 species, sub species or 

varieties are endemic to Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The vegetation communities 

are (from sea level): coastal plain, coastal escarpment, central plateau and 

upper escarpment, upper plateau. 

The coastal plain consists of the sandy beaches, salt marshes and rocky 

coasts. As in the majority of Mediterranean dune communities Elytrigia 

juncea (L.) Nevski subsp. juncea is common, its association on Jabal 

Akhdar with Centaurea pumilio L. and Silene succulenta is unusual. 

Endemics of the dunes include Helianthemum cyrenaicum, Anthemis


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Libya 

SECTION 3 

39 

taubertii, Teucrium zanonii and Plantago libyca. The salt marshes are 

analogous to others in the Mediterranean with endemic species such as 

Frankenia syrtica and Limonium teuchirae. 

The coastal escarpments are dominated by Juniperus phoenicea scrub/ 

forest. Endemic species include Cyclamen rohlfsianum, Micromeria 

conferta and Stachys rosea. The wadis are poorly known; the vegetation 

comprises Juniperus phoenicea scrub/forest on the slopes, with dense 

semi-deciduous mixed woodland in the channels dominated by Quercus 

coccifera, Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus pavarii, Ceratonia siliqua, Olea 

europaea and Cupressus sempervirens. These wadis are rich in endemic 

plant taxa, e.g. Arum cyrenaicum, Erica sicula subsp. cyrenaica, Onosma 

cyrenaica and Nepeta cyrenaica. 

The central plateau of Al Jabal Al Akdhar is used heavily for agriculture. The 

vegetation of this area is a mixture of maquis and a shrubby batha community 

in areas of grazing and/or shallow soils. Patches of dense woodland also 

occur on the upper escarpment above the central plateau. The tree layer 

here is dominated by Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus phoenicea, Olea 

europaea, Quercus coccifera, Ceratonia siliqua and Pinus halapensis. The 

upper plateau is also heavily used for agriculture, with only small patches of 

Juniperus remaining. Batha forms a major plant community in this area, again 

often dominated by Sarcopoterium spinosum, Phlomis floccosa, Pallenis 

spinosa and a rich diversity of grasses and ruderal species. The upper plateau 

site of Sidi Al Hamri is one of two known locations for Pachyctenium mirabile. 

Many areas of Al Jabal Al Akhdar lack botanical data, which greatly hinders 

conservation planning. Four areas within Jabal Akhdar were investigated 

during the compilation of this report and are described in more detail 

within the national report (see references): Ain Estowa, Dabbusia spring, 

Morcus Valley and Spring and El Kouf Valley.The principal threats to the 

conservation of this IPA are: heavy grazing and inappropriate development 

and agricultural activities. There is poor environmental planning & 

management, and the coastal zone is being developed without detailed 

environmental impact studies. Deforestation is occurring for domestic fuel 

and charcoal and there is die-back of Juniperus forest. 

Cupressus sempervirens in Wadi Mahboul, 

Al Jabal Al Akhdar 

© S.Jury 

“One hundred to one 

hundred and forty 

species, sub species or 

varieties are endemic to 

Al Jabal Al Akhdar” 


El-Rtaib, F. 2010. The Country Report - 

Important Plant Areas in Libya [Black and 

white report which can be found at www. 

plantlife.org.uk]

40 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt 


Egypt 

K. H. Shaltout and E. M. Eid 

IPA Team 

K.H. Shaltout 

IPA country coordinator 

(Tanta University) 

M. Kassas and H. Hosni 

(Cairo University) 

W. Amer and M. Fouda 

(Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency) 

M. Zahran, M. El-Demerdash 

and A. Khedr 

(Mansoura University) 

A. El-Gazzar 

(Suez Canal University) 

A. Fayed 

(Assiut University) 

S. Heneidy and M. El-Sheikh 

(Alexandria University) 

M. Sheded 

(South Valley University), 

H. El-Kady and A. Keshta 

(Tanta University) 

E. Eid 

(Kafr El-Sheikh University) 

B. Hatab 

(Siwa Protectorate) 

R. Rizk 

(National Gene Bank) 

T. Ahmed 

(Wadi El-Gemal National Park) 

H. Shabana and A. Shaltout 

(Saint Katherine Protectorate) 

[Fig. 13] IPAs of Egypt 

01 North Sinai Mountain 

02 Lake Bardawil 

03 Lake Manzala 

04 Lake Burullus 

05 Lake Edku 

06 Lake Mariut 

07 Omayed Biosphere Reserve 

08 Moghra Oasis 

09 Western Mediterranean 

Coastal Dunes 

10 Sallum Area 

11 Wadi El-Rayan 

12 Saint Katherine 

13 Nabq 

14 Hurghada 

15 Wadi El-Gemal 

16 Dungul and Dineigil Oases 

17 Lake Nasser 

18 Wadi Allaqui 

19 Saluga and Ghazal 

20 Halayeb triangle


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt 

SECTION 3 

41 

IPA Summary 

Twenty IPAs have been identified in Egypt to date, with six proposed that 

require further study to confirm their status as internationally significant sites 

for plants. Of these, ten are located within the Mediterranean region and five 

of those contain single country endemics or very restricted range species. 

The Mediterranean IPAs of Egypt consist of five coastal lakes or 

lagoons, including the only oligotrophic hypersaline lake on the Egyptian 

Mediterranean coast and three lakes within the Nile Delta; as well as the 

limestone mountains of North Sinai, the coastal ridges and depressions 

of Omayed Biosphere Reserve, the Moghra Oasis, the oolitic sands of 

the Western Mediterranean coastal dunes and the plateau of Sallum 

on the border with Libya. Significant species on these sites include 

the relict patches of Juniperus phoenica populations in North Sinai, 

Egyptian endemics Astragalus camelorum, Bellevallia salah-eidii, Bromus 

aegyptiacus, Sinapis allionii, Sonchus macrocarpus (of the coastal lagoons) 

and Anthemis microsperma, Atractylis carduus var. marmarica, Pancratium 

arabicum and Zygophyllum album var. album (of the coastal dunes). 

Wadi vegetation, Saint Katherine IPA 

© K. Shaltout 

Floristically, the richest IPA in Egypt is the mountainous Saint Katherine 

IPA. It contains around 500 vascular plant species and approximately 50% 

of Egypt’s endemic plant flora. This huge protected site covers over 5,000 

km 2 of South Sinai and rises up to 2641 m; it is outside the Mediterranean 

region. 

• Number of IPAs: 20 (10 in the Mediterranean region) 

• Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 5 in the 

Mediterranean region; 3 elsewhere in Egypt 

• Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (stenoendemics): 1 

in the Mediterranean; 2 elsewhere in Egypt 


species:1 (not Mediterranean) 

Threats to IPAs in Egypt 

Nº IPAS 

Hyoscyanus boveanus 


09 

08 

07 

06 

05 

04 

03 

02 

01 

0 









Aquaculture / fisheries 


[Fig. 14] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Egypt 

Mediterranean IPAs 

Non Mediterranean IPAs

42 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt 


IPAs in Egypt face numerous threats, particularly from overgrazing, tourism 

and infrastructure related development, eutrophication and mineral extraction. 

Egypt: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Egypt is situated in the south east of the Mediterranean Sea; her coast 

includes the delta of the River Nile which bifurcates north of Cairo into 

two branches that enter the Mediterranean at Rosetta and Damietta 

promontories. Egypt’s diverse flora contains over 2300 vascular plant species 

and subspecies, and approximately 190 species and subspecies of mosses 

and hepatics. This reflects the long Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts 

combined with Egypt’s position between Africa and Asia. Four floral zones 

are recognised: Mediterranean-Sahara regional transition zone, Sahara- 

Sindian regional zone, Irano-Turanian regional centre of endemism and Sahel 

regional transition zone. 

The preliminary red data list for the vascular plants of Egypt classifies 

nearly 450 species as threatened on a national level, although these are not 

necessarily threatened across the Mediterranean region. There are twenty 

seven protected areas across the country, which are ecologically significant 

sites, twelve of these, or parts of them, are also IPAs. 

Three Egyptian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 

Sand dunes Lake Burullus 

IPA Egypt 


“The preliminary red 

data list for the vascular 

plants of Egypt classifies 

nearly 450 species as 

threatened on a national 

level, although these 

are not necessarily 

threatened across the 

Mediterranean region” 

1. Western Mediterranean coastal dunes IPA / Alkothban Alsahelyya 

Situated along the coastline west of Marsa Matrouh (100 km), this IPA 

contains snow-white dunes made from coarse, calcareous oolitic sand which 

is more than 90% CaCO 3 

and almost free from salts. Close to the shore, the 

dunes are small and active, while inland they are stabilised and vegetated. 

This site remains following the destruction of much the coastal dune belt west 

of Alexandria over the past twenty years through construction of summer 

resorts. A total of 219 species (116 annuals and 103 perennials), belonging 

to 151 genera and 44 families have been recorded. Some 30 species have 

unique occurrence in these dunes, most are endemic to the Mediterranean; 

for example Anthemis microsperma, Atractylis carduus var. marmarica, 

Pancratium arabicum, Helianthemum sphaerocalyx, Onopordum alexandrinum, 

Plantago crypsoides, Centaurea alexandrinea, Centaurea glomerata, 

Asphodelus aestivus, Ajuga iva and Sonchus bulbosus. Mediterranean coastal 

dunes are recognised as a threatened habitat across the region. 

Threats to the site include overgrazing, collecting and cutting, clearing land 

for agriculture, habitat loss, anthropogenic disturbance linked to tourism 

and quarrying. Currently there are no conservation activities within the 

IPA. As an urgent priority, it is recommended that the best sites within this 

stretch of dunes should be located and protected as nature reserves. 

2. Sallum Area 

This IPA extends for about 120 km from Sallum on the Egyptian- 

Libyan frontier to Sidi Barrani on the Mediterranean coast, varying in


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Egypt 

SECTION 3 

43 

Fagonia Garden 

© Ilf El Kebir 

width between 2 and 36 km. The total area is 4374 km 2 , and five major 

geomorphologic units can be distinguished (from the coast in the north to 

the fringes of the Diffa plateau in the south): Sallum plateau, coastal saline 

depressions, inland sandy plains, inland rocky plains and shallow wadis. 

Agriculture (barley, olive and fig crop and grazing livestock) is the main land 

use, mainly by Bedouin. A total of 219 species were recorded in this area. 

These include a number of Mediterranean endemics, some of which are 

restricted to Egypt and Libya and assessed as rare in Egypt: e.g. Allium 

barthianum, Bellevalia sessiliflora, Carduncellus mareoticus, Carthamus 

glaucus and Verbascum letourneuxii. 

Nabq IPA Egypt 


Major threats include agricultural expansion and intensification of arable land, 

overgrazing and over cutting of shrubby plants. There are no conservation 

activities on this site, but it is newly declared as a protected area. 

3. Saint Katherine IPA 

This IPA is also a protected area occupying much of the central part of South 

Sinai, its diverse landscapes contain many habitats associated with wadis, 

caves, gorges, plains, mountains, hills, waterfalls and oases. The highest 

mountains Gebel Saint Katherine (2641m), Gebel Um Shomer (2586m) and 

Gebel Mousa (2285m), were formed during the Great African Rift around 24 

million years ago which led to the creation of the Red Sea and the Aqaba 

Gulf. This mountainous area is bordered to the north by El-Tih calcareous 

plateau (540-1620m), the considerable rainfall drains into the Gulf of Suez 

and Aqaba through a network of deep gorges and relatively shallow wadis. 

The site contains around 500 vascular plant species, 30 of which are 

endemic to Egypt (ca 50 % of the endemic species in Egypt) such as 

Silene oreosinaica, Veronica kaiseri, Primula boveana and Allium sinaiticum 

which are classified as nationally endangered species. In addition, this area 

contains 85 moss taxa (48.8 % of moss taxa recorded in Egypt), including 

the endemic Tortula kneuckeri and Grimmia anodon var. sinaitica. It contains 

also one hepatic species Riccia cavernosa. Wadi habitats are particularly 

under pressure and the site as a whole is threatened by agricultural expansion 

(especially downstream of the wadis), tourism development linked to transport 

and hotels, overgrazing, over collection of medicinal plants and drought. 

St Katherine IPA is among the network of the Egyptian protectorates that 

have a management team and a reasonable management facility. 

Endemic species, Primula boveana 

in Saint Katherine 

Egypt 



Shaltout, K.H. and Eid, E. M. 2010. Important 

Plant Areas in Egypt with emphasis 

on the Mediterranean region. [Black and 

white report which can be found at www. 

plantlife.org.uk]

44 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES 


Occupied Palestinian 

Territories 

B. Al-Sheikh 

IPA Team 

Banan Al-Sheikh 

Country coordinator 

(Al Quds University) 

The Wildlife Society 

Husam Tleeb 

(Director of Forestry Department, 

Ministry of Agriculture) 

Thaer Rabi 

(Director of Natural Reserves, Ministry 

of Agriculture) 

Dima Halawani 

(Scientific Museum, Al Quds University) 

Said Khaseeb 

(Biology Department, Arab American 

University) 

[Fig. 15] IPAs in Palestine 

01 Faqoua`- Jalaboun 

02 Wad Alhrameyah - Wad Elbalat - Um Safa - Beit Illo - Ein Samya 

03 Wad Qana- Wad Eshai`r 

04 Yaseed-Ibzeik 

05 Dead Sea Coast 

06 Khali (Hebron) Gradient



SECTION 3 

45 

IPA Summary 

Nine IPAs have been identified in Palestine; four have been confirmed and 

described as internationally important sites the remainder require further 

investigation, due to access difficulties and lack of capacity. Three IPAs 

contain single country endemics and all sites contain species that have very 

restricted distributions but cross adjacent borders for example Iris haynei 

in Palestine and Israel. The current distribution of many of these locally 

endemic species is not known (see section 04). 

The IPAs of Palestine are dominated by maquis (chaparral) vegetation 

– both dense and open, with Pistacia palaestina, P. lentiscus, Rhamnus 

palaestinus, Quercus calliprinos and Q. boisseri, frequently interspersed 

with ancient olive groves. The softer leaved garrigue (phyrgana) with Cistus 

incanus, C. salvifolious, Smilax aspera; and many medicinal and aromatic 

species such as Origanum syriaca, Saturja thymbra and Teucrium spp. is 

found on some IPAs. 

Remnants of once dense carob forest (Ceratonia siliqua) occur on some 


sites and populations of Pinus halapenis are found on parts of the more 

4,5 

mountainous sites. 

4 

3,5 

Threats to IPAs in Palestine 

3 

2,5 

2 

1,5 






The IPAs in Palestine are threatened by cutting, grazing, occasional 

1 

burning, habitat fragmentation and very high levels of unsustainable harvest 

0,5 

of medicinal and aromatic plants. Wood cutting is largely domestic and wild 

0 

plant harvesting is important for supplementing household incomes. 

[Fig. 16] Threats affecting IPAs in Palestine 


Agricultural intensification (hort) 



Iris haynei 

© B. Al-Sheihk 

Palestine: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Palestine is situated in South West Asia in the east of the Mediterranean 

basin. The targeted area (5800 square km) has 1600 vascular plant species, 

tremendously high plant diversity for such a small area; it has three 

biogeographical areas: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian (semi-desert) and 

extreme desert. Many habitats present are associated with the climatic 

transition between Mediterranean and extreme desert. The semi-desert belt 

(Transition) has higher diversity than other two areas. The preliminary red 

list of Palestine is available electronically from the author and contains 298 

vascular plant species, some of which are globally threatened. 

Three Palestinian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 

1. Faqoua`- Jalaboun IPA 

Situated in Jenin in the north eastern part of the West Bank, Faqoua`- 

“Since the 1930s carob 

forest (Ceratonia siliqua) 

and the maquis on the 

mountains at the edge of 

Marj Ibin Amer has come 

under intense pressure 

from deforestation and is 

very degraded”

46 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES 


Overcollection of medicinal plants 

affects many IPAs in Palestine and Syria 


Jalaboun IPA has a typical Mediterranean climate and is covered largely by 

open maquis (chaparral) interspersed with olive groves and fields of wheat 

and pasture. The latter are part of the famous and most fertile meadow in 

the Middle East, Marj Ibin Amer. The vegetation is dominated by Rhamnus 

palaestinus, Quercus calliprinos, Pistacia lentiscus, Calycotome villosa, 

Ruta chalapensis, Sarcopoterium spinosa and some Ceratonia siliqua trees, 

in addition to other aromatic and medicinal dwarf shrubs for e.g. Salvia 

fruticosa, Teucrium divaricatum, Thymbra spicata, Teucrium polium and 

Foeniculum vulgari. The most restricted species is Iris haynei which is a site 

restricted endemic (with a range of



SECTION 3 

47 

the existence of Iris haynei and its status as a unique species to this area; 

possibly undertaking ex situ conservation of this species in local gardens; 

educating local collectors of aromatic plants on methods of sustainable 

harvesting; implementation of the law to prevent uprooting of certain 

species; and finally through decreasing grazing potentially through fencing 

certain areas with the cooperation of the local council. 

2. Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r 

Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r IPA is situated in Salfit in the West Bank between 

500–775m on the mountainous ridge of Palestine. It has a Mediterranean 

climate with mean annual rainfall of 676mm. The vegetation is dominated by 

maquis (chaparral) with some areas of Pinus halapensis. The most frequent 

species are Pistacia palaestina, P. lentiscus, Rhamnus palaestinus, Quercus 

calliprinos, Cistus incanus, C. salviifolius, Smilax aspera, Calycatome villosa, 

Styrax officinalis, Lonicera etrusca, Ruta chalapensis, Sarcopotrium spinosa, 

Inula viscosa and some shrubs and trees e.g. Quercus boissieri and Ceratonia 

siliqua. Other aromatic and medicinal dwarf shrubs include Salvia fruticosa, 

Origanum syriaca, Thymbra spicata, Teucrium polium. The area is a reservoir 

of medicinal plants for Salfit and Nablus cities and contains many species 

protected by law such as Ophrys species and Tulipa agenesis. The IPA also 

contains olive groves that produce more than 30,000 tones of olive oil in good 

years, also well as weak springs with associated wetland species. 

Wood cutting, over harvesting of medicinal plants, agricultural expansion 

and road construction all threaten this IPA, and there are a number of very 

active quarries where white gold is being mined. Wad Qana-Wad Eshai`r 

is currently being considered by the Palestinian Authorities as a natural 

reserve. Improving the local community awareness of the importance of this 

site is also a priority. 

Allium qasunense site restricted 

endemic species 

Palestine 


3. Yaseed-Ibzeik IPA 

Yaseed-Ibzeik IPA is situated in Nablus in the West Bank the area is typically 

Mediterranean and dominated by maquis (both intact and degraded) carob 

woodland and garrigue (phrygana). The area has many endemic species like 

Ferula orietalis, Iris atrufusca, Iris lortetii, Biarum pyrami, Teucrium montbretii 

and Phylitis sagitata; it is also rich in more widespread Mediterranean 

endemic species. 

The area is subjected to heavy grazing, cutting for home use, 

overharvesting of medicinal plants – some formerly prolific local populations 

are nearly extinct – and shifting from traditional (extensive) to modern 

(intensive) agricultural practices with increased used of herbicides and 

chemical fertilisers with a subsequent reduction in farmland biodiversity. 

In addition overpumping of ground water has dried out the springs and 

destroyed their plant communities. 


Al-Sheikh, B. 2010. The Country Report - 

Important Plant Areas in Palestine [Black 

and white report which can be found at 

www.plantlife.org.uk] 

Increasing public awareness of the importance of the site and its species is 

crucial for its conservation. In addition to implementing laws which prevent 

uprooting of species, teaching sustainable harvesting techniques for

48 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel 


Israel 

A. Shmida and G. Pollak 

IPA Team 

IPA Country coordinators: 

Prof. Avi Shmida 

(Hebrew University of Jerusalem) 

Dr. Eliezer Frankenberg 

(Nature and Parks Authority) 

Collaborators: 

Dr. Noam Levin Hebrew and Mr. 

Noam Nisanholz 

(Hebrew University of Jerusalem) 

Dr. Gad Pollak 

(Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv) 

Dr. Margareta Walzcak and Mr. Dotan 

Rotem 

(Nature and Parks Authority), Mr. 

Menahem Zalutsky 

(Ministry of Environmental Protection) 

[Fig. 17] IPAs in Israel 

01 Meiron 

02 Hula 

03 Mount Carmel 

04 Affula 

05 Poleg 

06 Dead Sea Coast 

07 Hebron Gradient 

08 Lahav 

09 Nizana Sands 

10 Har Negev 

11 Hatzeva 

12 Sedom 

13 Eilat Mountains 

14 Acre 

15 Netofa


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel 

SECTION 3 

49 

IPA Summary 

Fifteen IPAs have been identified in Israel; seven have a high priority for 

conservation. These sites encompasses the following habitats: Mediterranean 

maquis (chaparral); Mediterranean-desert transition (for e.g. Hebron IPA); 

desert shrubland (Har HaNegev); extreme desert oasis (Dead Sea coast); 

coastal plain (Poleg), including the unique vegetation associated with the 

sandy habitats on Hamra soil (red sandy loam) and kurkar (calcareous 

sandstone); sand dunes; coastal seasonal pools; wadi beds; wetlands and 

swamp (Hula); springs and riparian vegeation and coastal salt marshes (Acre). 

Significant species include the Israeli endemics Allium negense, Bufonia 

ramonensis and Ferula daniniias well as numerous regional endemic species 

such as Iris atrofusca, I. vartanii, Mosheovia galilae and Rheum palaestinum. 

[Fig.18] Hotspots of Israel’s red list plants 

compared with the 15 IPAs 

(Levin et al unpublished) 


• Number of the seven priority IPAs containing single country endemic 

species: 4 

• Number of the seven priority IPAs containing very restricted species 

(steno-endemics): 7 

Threats to IPAs in Israel 

Habitat fragmentation and urbanisation are the greatest threats to IPAs in 

Israel. 


09 

08 

07 

06 

05 

04 

03 

02 

01 

0 







Development (industry) 


Security / Military 

Nº of national Red List species 

[Fig. 19] Threats affecting the seven priority IPAs in Israel 

Israel: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Israel is a small country (20,770 sq km) and about 70% desert nevertheless 

it is very rich in plant diversity. The flora of Israel comprises 2272 different 

wild species from 128 families and 775 genera. 414 of these species are 

threatened (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable) on a national 

level and 56 are national endemics. While the number of the Red Plants 

of Israel is high compared with homologous countries, the number of 

endemic species is much lower. 

The richness of the flora is due to Israel’s geographical position between 

Africa and Asia, where three phytogeographical regions intersect: the 

Red Species Ratio 

(Nº of red list species/ total richness)



Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanian and the Saharo-Arabian. At this 

crossroads a wide range of habitats, altitudes and climates are present, 

where temperate species coexist alongside species from tropical, desert 

and xero-alpine climates. Steep geomorphological and ecological gradients 

rise from the sea, range over lush green arboreal mountains and descend to 

extreme desert around the Dead Sea, the lowest region on earth. 

47.8% of the wild plants in the Mediterranean and desert regions are 

annuals that occupy small niches and are known for their fast speciation 

rate. Israel’s flora reflects these characteristics. The long co-evolution of 

the local flora with human culture in the Fertile Crescent yields a rich and 

diverse annual and antipastoral flora well adapted to the disturbed habitats 

associated with human civilization. 

Campanula heirosolymthana 

a typical Levantine annual 

© O .Golan 

As Israel’s borders cut across the three phytogeographical regions, there is a 

relatively low rate of national endemism in the flora with only 44 strict endemic 

plant species and 12 more “near-national endemics” (whose distribution 

extends just a few kilometres over the border into adjacent states). 

Three IPAs in Israel that are priorities for conservation action 

1. Meron IPA 

“Israel is a small country 

(20,770sq km) and about 

70% desert nevertheless 

it is very rich in plant 

diversity. The flora of 

Israel comprises 2272 

different wild species 

from 128 families and 

775 genera” 

Meron IPA is located in the Har Meron and Wadi Dishon region in the 

mountain area of Galilee in north Israel. Har Meron is the most humid area 

in Israel, with 800-1000 mm annual rainfall, and over 800m snow falls 

one to three times each winter. The vegetation is Mediterranean maquis 

(chapparal) dominated by Quercus calliprinos and Pistacia palaestina and 

at the higher elevations also by Quercus boissieri. This is the richest mesic 

maquis region, 76 species of trees and shrubs are found in Israel only in 

this northern region. Wadi Dishon sub region is located at the rain shadow 

of Mt. Meron, where there is a steep gradient from humid Mediterranean to 

Mediterranean-desert transition vegetation. The vegetation changes from 

dense maquis to open woodland dominated by Quercus ithaburensis and 

Pistacia atlantica, accompanied by many steppe herbaceous species. Iris 

lortetii is endemic to that region and threatened. 

Meron contains sixty seven nationally threatened species, 12 Israeli 

endemics such as Iris lortetii and Vicia hulensis and 47 species with 

restricted distributions in the eastern Mediterranean e.g. Campanula 

sidoniensis, Iris bismarckiana, Mosheovia galilaea, Orchis israelitica and 

Sedum palaestinum. A number of species reach their southern extension 

on Meron IPA for e.g. Prunus ursine, Arabis alpina and Juniperus oxycedrus. 

Inland the land use is mostly agricultural and in transition from traditional 

cultivation to intensive methods. Here natural vegetation occurs in 

abandoned fields, in margins of cultivated areas and in planted groves 

where many threatened and endemic plants are represented (e.g Mosheovia 

galilaea, Teucrium spinosum and Potentilla reptans). 

Meron IPA is threatened by overgrazing cattle; habitat fragmentation 

through reclamation of land for grazing and military roads; new settlements


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Israel 

SECTION 3 

51 

and expanding old villages; over pumping ground water in wadies and 

springs; fires due to military activity and agricultural expansion. Most of the 

area is included in the Har Meron Nature reserve which is protected, though 

some over grazing occurs. 

Meron IPA 

© A. Shmida 

2. Hula Valley 

The Hula valley is located in north-east Israel in the northern part of the 

Dead-Sea rift. The climate is typically Mediterranean with 400-650 mm 

rainfall between October and May. The vegetation is dominated by Oak- 

Pistacia woodland (Quercus ithaburensis and Pistacia atlantica) on the dry 

habitats and wetlands in the lower areas. Most of the natural vegetation has 

been destroyed by modern agriculture in the last 60 years but few small 

nature reserves have been established. The Hula swamp was once the 

largest wetland habitat in the Levant until it was drained in 1965. Significant 

wetland habitat was destroyed and five wetland plant species became 

extinct from Israel, including Berula erecta, Marsilea minuta and Nymphaea 

alba. Rich water plant flora, including wetland species at their most 

southern extent, can be found in the marginal springs which drain to the 

Hula Lake, this remains under severe threat. The Hula reserve is the most 

northerly site for tropical Cyperus papyrus. 

Hula Valley contains three Israeli endemics and numerous east 

Mediterranean restricted range species, as well as 69 nationally 

threatened species. The important habitats are highly fragmented and 

threatened by water extraction, grazing, agricultural activities and 

urban development. Only a few small reserves remain which could be 

included under a protection mechanism by the Ministry of Agriculture. A 

management plan is badly needed for this IPA. 

“In Meron natural 

vegetation occurs in 

abandoned fields, in 

margins of cultivated 

areas and in planted 

groves where many 

threatened and endemic 

plants are represented”



Maquis habitat on Meron IPA 

© A. Shmida 

Hebron gradient 

Annual poppies and olives 

Transition zone 

© Oz Golan 

“The Hula swamp was 

once the largest wetland 

habitat in the Levant until 

it was drained in 1965” 


Shmida, A. and Pollak, G. 2010. Israel IPA 

general report [Black and white report 

available on Plantlife website www. 

plantlife.org.uk] 

3. Hebron Gradient IPA 

This site straddles the border between Israel and the West Bank of 

Palestine in the south. The Hebron – Eon Gedi Gradient is the most well 

preserved transition between the Mediterranean and desert vegetation in 

the Middle East. The gradient runs west to east in the rain-shadow of the 

Judean-Samarian ridge where altitude drops from 1010m-420m in the east 

Judean desert, and the rainfall from 450 mm to 76mm. 

Three vegetation belts typical of the Levant are found: open Mediterranean 

maquis (chaparral), Mediterranean transition and Hot Desert Oasis - where 

springs of freshwater are found within extreme hot and arid environments. 

Sudanese (xero-tropical) species are found in these oases e.g. Capparis 

deciduas, Maerua crassifolia, Grewia villosa and Cordia sinensis. The 

Hebron ridge hosts many Mediterranean plants within degraded and grazed 

Querqus calliprinus maquis including a rich annual flora. South along the 

ridge species endemic to transitional mountains of the Levant are found. 

Fifteen Israeli endemics species occur in Hebron IPA as well as numerous 

species with restricted range in eastern countries e.g. Iris atrofusca, I. 

vartanii, Petrorhagia arabica and Suaeda palaestina. 

The site is threatened by sheep grazing which has changed the composition 

of the flora, increasing spiny plants and reducing overall diversity. Habitat 

fragmentation, agricultural expansion, urban development, tourism and 

water exploitation along the Dead Sea coast are also causing concern. This 

site is not protected and is in need of a management plan.


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon 

SECTION 3 

53 

Lebanon 

Yazbek M., Machaka-Houri N., Al-Zein M.S., Safi S. 

Sinno N. and Talhouk, S.N.T. 

IPA Team 

Mariana Yazbek 

Nisrine Machaka-Houri 

(IBSAR, American University of Beirut 

(AUB)) 

Mohammad S. Al-Zein 

(Department of Natural Sciences, 

School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese 

American University, Beirut) 

Samir Safi 

(Lebanese University, Faculty of 

Sciences II, Dept. of Life and Earth 

Sciences) 

Nada Sinno 

(Biology Dept, AUB) 

Salma Talhouk 

(LDEM and IBSAR, AUB) 

[Fig. 20] IPAs of Lebanon 

01 Mount Makmel 

02 Hermel Plain 

03 Aarsal 

04 Aammiq 

05 Mount Hermon 

06 Menjez 

07 Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel 

08 Palm Islands 

09 Bcharreh-Ehden 

10 Ras Chekka 

11 Tannourine 

12 Jbail Coast 

13 Wadi Jannah 

14 Keserwan 

15 Sannine - Knaisseh 

16 Chouf 

17 Nahr Ed-Damour 

18 Beirut – Jiyyeh Coast 

19 Tyre - Naqoura 

20 Rihane

54 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), in 

Maaser forest. Although protection 

measures such as the creation of the Al- 

Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve have been 

undertaken, the Cedar woodlands of 

Central Mount-Lebanon are threatened 

by overgrazing, unregulated tourism, 

and a high occurrence of forest fires in 

forests below the slope. 

Lebanon 


IPA Summary 

In the current study the Lebanese team worked in bilateral cooperation with 

IUCN, Plantlife and WWF to define twenty IPAs in Lebanon using published 

literature and consultations with national experts. The IPAs of Lebanon 

are distributed throughout the country and are representative of its major 

ecosystems and habitats. Although as expected, the majority of the IPA sites 

lie on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon range and include Qornet 

Es-Sawda (the highest peak in the country at 3088m). IPAs are also found on 

the Eastern Mediterranean shore, the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, the semi 

arid areas of the Bekaa valley and the marshes of West Bekaa. 

Endemic and/or threatened species are found in almost every designated 

IPA, most of them contain more than 10 nationally endemic species 

and some sites are exceptionally rich in endemics: Bcharreh-Ehden (50 

species), Chouf (32), Makmel (25) and Keserwan (25). 

They include threatened endemics represented in a single IPA: Vicia 

canescens Labill (in Mount Makmel IPA), Chaerophyllum aurantiacum Post 

(Tannourine IPA), Centaurea mouterdii Wagenitz. (Rihane) and Tulipa lownei 

Baker (Chouf) or within more than one IPA for example: Matthiola crassifolia 

Boiss. et Gaill., Melissa inodora Boiss., Viola libanotica Bornm. and Iris 

sofarana Foster. In addition to endemics, the designated IPAs include 

some species that are at the edge of their distribution range such as Abies 

cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carr found in Bcharreh-Ehden IPA and Ostrya



SECTION 3 

55 

carpinifolia Scop. in Jabal Moussa (Wadi Jannah IPA). Although all identified 

IPAs contain species with trans-boundary distributions, many contain (very 

local) steno-endemics (see section IV on restricted range species). 

Qammouaa-Dinnyeh-Jurd Hermel, Palm Islands, Bcharreh-Ehden, 

Tannourine and Tyre-Naqoura IPAs include entire nature reserves or parts 

thereof. Aamiq, Palm Islands, Ras Chekka and Tyre Naquora include 

Ramsar sites. Qadisha valley is a natural heritage site, Wadi Jannah, Chouf 

and Rihane are bioreserves and Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel is under 

consideration for some kind of protection. 


• Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 16 

• Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (stenoendemics) 

within Lebanon: 12 

Threats to IPAs in Lebanon 

Silene makmeliana 

Restricted to small areas of 

Lebanon and Syria 


Almost every type of habitat in Lebanon is threatened; urban expansion 

is invading every mountain, coast, plain, and valley. Examples of IPAs 

facing anthropomorphic threats include the coast (Beirut–Jiyyeh Coast 

and Tyre-Naqoura), dry plains (Hermel Plain), wetlands (Aammiq), riparian 

ecosystems (Wadi Jannah and Nahr Ed-Damour), as well as mountains 

and valleys in most of the IPAs of Mount Lebanon. The expansion and 

intensification of agriculture, deforestation and climate change (are also 

frequent threats to IPAs (Fig. 21). 


18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

08 

06 

04 

02 

0 











Wadi Nahr Ibrahim 

Lebanon 


[Fig. 21] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Lebanon 

Lebanon: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Lebanon hosts a rich variety of wildlife including many rare and endemic 

plant species, due to variation in topography, habitats and climate. Around 

2,790 species of vascular plants comprise the Lebanese flora, including 

approximately 92 national endemic species. Two floristic ensembles are 

recognised in the country; Mediterranean and Presteppic Mediterranean, 

they are represented in almost all of their vegetation levels. 

“Almost every type 

of habitat in Lebanon 

is threatened; urban 

expansion is invading 

every mountain, coast, 

plain, and valley”

56 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Lebanon Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Arbutus andrachne 

El Chouf, Lebanon 

© Pedro Regato 

The Mediterranean ensemble includes diverse vegetation series, such as the: 

• Thermomediterranean serie of Ceratonia siliqua and Pistacia lentiscus 

• Thermo- and Eu-mediterranean series of Pinus brutia and Cupressus 

sempervirens 

• Thermo-, Eu- and Supra-mediterranean series of Pinus pinea, Quercus 

calliprinos and Q. infectoria, 

• Eu-mediterranean series of Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus and Q. 

cerris 

• Mountainous series of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica and Q. 

cedrorum and Q. brantii ssp. look 

• Mountainous and Oro-mediterranean series of Juniperus excelsa 

The Presteppic Mediterraneranean ensemble includes: 

“Efforts to produce 

inventories for 

elaborating management 

of sites remain hindered 

by the absence of 

baseline data” 

• Presteppic mediterranean and supra-mediterranean series of Q. 

calliprinos and 

• Presteppic mountainous and oro-mediterranean series of J. excelsa. 

Lebanon has been designating protected areas since the 1930s. These 

currently include nature reserves (8 sites), natural sites protected by 

decision of the Minister of Environment (Forests and Landscape, 8 sites; 

River and streams, 8 sites), Hima and forests declared by the Minister of 

Agriculture (17), tourism sites declared by the Ministry of Tourism (14), 

natural sites & monuments declared by decrees (8), and sites of natural 

and/or ecological importance in need of protection. 

To manage its biodiversity, Lebanon, a signatory of the Convention on 

Biological Diversity (CBD), has devised management teams consisting of a



SECTION 3 

57 

consortium of private and public groups including local non-governmental 

organisations (NGOs) and municipalities. The management teams have 

subsequently contracted national and international scientists to produce 

species inventories in order to elaborate management approaches. 

These efforts remain hindered by the absence of baseline data identifying 

ecosystems, habitats, assemblages and populations, as well as the 

absence of species maps and a formal threat status for species (provided 

for example by a red-listing process). 

Three Lebanese IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 

Makmel 

Forest in Qammamine villlage 

Devil’s valley, Lebanon 


This IPA comprises a chain of high mountain peaks in the North of Lebanon 

covered with snow for long periods, sometimes more than six months. 

Al-Qournet es-Sawda, the highest peak along the Eastern Mediterranean 

coast is within this site. The vegetation is predominantly oromediterranean 

and the area is very rich in plant species (ca. 200 recorded). It is home to 

47 species restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 6 endemic to Lebanon, 

Syria and Turkey, 36 to Lebanon and Syria and 25 to Lebanon. 

Qammouaa- Dinnyeh 

Qammouaa- Dinnyeh IPA is situated mostly in the Akkar district in North 

Lebanon and contains the largest continuous stands of natural forests in 

Lebanon. A huge diversity of forest types occur at this site: Calabrian pines, 

mixed cedar, fir and juniper, mixed fir and cedar, pure fir, evergreen oak and 

relic turkey oak stands. The area covers four vegetation series: the Eu-, 

Supra-, Mountainous and Oro-Mediterranean and it is characterised by a 

wide variety of landscapes: valleys, forests, rivers, gorges, rocky cliffs and 

mountains. 320 species plant species have been recorded: 82 species are 

restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 6 are endemic to Lebanon, Syria 

and Palestine, 17 to Lebanon and Syria, 9 to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, 10 

to Lebanon and 2 threatened species according to experts’ opinion. 

Remnant Cedrus libani forest under 

Al-Quornet es-Sawda peak 

Makmel IPA 


Jabal Moussa- Nahr Ibrahim 

Situated on the western slopes of Mount Lebanon, in the central part of 

the country, this IPA extends along the southern banks of Nahr Ibrahim 

(Ibrahim River). The site has been continuously inhabited for more than 

a thousand years and contains Roman inscriptions, deserted houses 

and wells. The importance of this IPA resides not only in its species and 

ecosystem diversity (deciduous oak-pine woodlands, mixed evergreendeciduous 

woodlands and garrique) but it is also the southernmost limit of 

Ostrya carpinifolia in the Eastern Mediterranean. The core area of the Jabal 

Moussa Biosphere, one of Lebanon’s globally recognised Important Bird 

Areas (IBA) is included and it is one of Lebanon’s sites for old growth trees. 

The IPA is very rich in plant species (216 species) and is home to 61 species 

restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, 8 endemic to Lebanon, Syria and 

Palestine, 2 endemic to Lebanon and Syria, 8 to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, 

13 to Lebanon and 10 threatened species according to experts’ opinion. 


Yazbek M., Machaka-Houri N., Al-Zein 

M.S., Safi S., Sinno N. and Talhouk S. 

2010. Important Plant Areas of Lebanon. 

ISBAR (AUB)/IUCN 

[Black and white report which can be 

found at www.plantlife.org.uk]

58 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Jordan Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Jordan 

Dawud al- Eisawi 

[Fig. 22] IPAs in Jordan 

01 Wadi Rum 

02 Dana Nature Reserve 

03 Karack 

04 Salt 

05 Alouk 

06 Um Queis 

07 Lava Safawai 

08 Burqu’ 

09 Ajlum 

10 Bayer 

11 Azraq 

12 Mujib


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria 

SECTION 3 

59 

Syria 

H. Hmidan, Z. Shater, F. Al-Mahmoud, S. Karzon, N. Sanadiki, 

R. Hamoudeh, A. Al-Hasan, A. Almasri and A. E. Darwich 

IPA Team 

IPA country coordinator: 

Hayan Hmidan 

Conservation Officer, Syrian Society for 

Conservation of Wild Life (SSCW) 

Dr. Zuheir Shater 

(Tishreen University) 

Fadi Al-Mahmoud 

(UNDP project plant expert) 

Sulaiman Karzon 

(University of Hohenheim) 

[Fig. 23] IPAs in Syria 

01 Karatchok-Tigris 

02 Kurd Dag 

03 Jabal Abdul Aziz 

04 Jabal Al Wastani 

05 Hass-Jabbul 

06 Jisr al shogur 

07 Fronloq-Kasab 

08 Umm Al Tuyur-Bassit 

09 Salma-Haffeh 

10 Slenfeh-Jaubet et Berghal 

11 Ghab 

12 Jabal Bishri 

13 Abu Qbeis 

14 Kanfo 

15 Mayadin 

16 Massiaf-Qadmous 

17 Al Bil As 

18 Jabal al Sha ir 

19 Jabal Abu Rujmain 

20 Daher al Qseir 

21 Al Kabeer al Jonubi 

22 Akkoum 

23 Anti-Lebanon 

24 Qalamoun 

25 Qassioun 

26 Rakhleh - Wadi al Qarn 

27 Utaiba - Hijane 

28 Hermon 

29 North Golan 

30 Es Safa 

31 Lajat 

32 Jabal Al Arab 

33 Yarmuk Valley 

Nayef Sanadiki 

(former assistant botanist, Damascus 

University) 

Reham Hamoudeh 

(National Commission for Agricultural 

Scientific Research) 

Amin Al-Hasan 

(Directorate of Agriculture in Idleb, 

Ministry of Agriculture) 

Aroub Almasri 

(National Commission for 

Biotechnology) 

Dr. Akram Eissa Darwich 

(State Ministry for Environmental 

Affairs)

60 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Syria 


IPA Summary 

Thirty three IPAs have been identified in Syria, plus a further ten sites that 

require fundamental botanical research before they can be confirmed 

as IPAs. These IPAs are located throughout the country within each of 

the nationally recognised Mediterranean bioclimatic divisions: humid, 

sub-humid, semi arid, arid and Saharan. A large number of sites are 

mountainous, located within the parallel coastal and the eastern mountain 

ranges as well as in the isolated mountains of the interior. They include 

the endemic plant centres of the Northern Levant such as Kurd Dag IPA 

(endemics include Onosma cinerea, Cicer bijugum and various Astragalus 

spp.); centres of endemism in Antioch and Amanus; sites capturing Euro- 

Siberian plant species at their southern limit (for e.g. Smilax excelsa, Iberis 

sempervirens and I. taurica on Frolonq-Kasub IPA); and the best examples 

of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica forests (Slenfeh-Jaubet al Berghl), which 

are threatened across the whole Mediterranean. 

Anti-Lebanon IPA has exceptional 

local endemism 

© H. Hmidan 

The level of local endemism is exceptionally high in Syria (as across the 

whole of the Levant). Restricted range endemic species can be found 

in nearly every IPA, mega diverse hotspots for restricted range species 

include in Qassiun and Anti Lebanon IPAs, the extraordinary diversity of 

the latter is in part due to the presence of sub alpine and alpine habitats 

which are absent elsewhere in the country (restricted range species on Anti 

Lebanon include Iris antilibanotica, Thymus alfredae, Silene schlumbergeri, 

Alyssum subspinosum, Astragalus antilibani, Ferulago frigida). The isolated 

mountains of the interior are dominated by Syrian steppe vegetation and 

also harbour many local endemics, one of the richest sites being Jabal 

Abu Rujmain IPA which lies between the arid and Saharo-mediterannan 

bioclimatic zone and contains over 20 restricted range (and country 

endemic species) e.g. Iris postii-mout, Onobrychis pinnata, Ajuga 

rechingeri). 

Threatened wetlands are also represented in the Syrian IPA inventory - in 

the shallow saline lake of Hass Jabbul IPA, the riparian sites of Mayadin 

(the Euphrates) and Al Kabir al Jonubi (coastal river), and remnant swamp 

vegetation at Ghab and Utaib-Hijaneh. In the south of Syria IPAs such as 

Es Safa contain the northern limits of the Saharo-Arabian flora (Kickxia 

aegyptica and Rheum palaestinum) and Jabal al Arab – with its vast 

diversity and local endemism due its unique position at the junction of the 

sub-humid and semi-arid Mediterranean bioclimatic zones. 

Seven of the IPAs in Syria are partially or totally protected, including one 

Ramsar site (internationally important wetland), and three have some form 

of management plan active on part or all of the site. 


• Number of IPAs containing single country endemic species: 25 

• Number of IPAs containing very restricted species (steno-endemics): 27 


species: 5



SECTION 3 

61 

Threats to IPAs in Syria 

The most frequent threat to IPAs in Syria is the unsustainable collection of 

herbs and medicinal plants (affecting 91% of sites) this is closely followed 

by the threat from overgrazing. Deforestation (specifically gathering leaves 

and branches for fodder and wood for fuel) is another major cause for 

concern, which is exacerbated by burning on 14 IPAs. Tourism development 

and extraction of minerals are concerns on 50% of Syrian IPAs. 

Pistacia atlantica 

open woodland, Syria 

© H. Hmidan 


18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

08 

06 

04 

02 

0 











[Fig. 24] Top ten threats affecting IPAs in Syria



Syria: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Syria is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Basin and forms 

an integral part of the Levant countries. Syrian territory includes 183km of 

Mediterranean sea coast, plains, mountain ranges, plateaus and semideserts. 

Over 60% of the country is a plateau between 200-600m and 

mountains between 600 and 2000m form the remainder. The climate is 

Mediterranean with precipitation in the cool seasons of the year, summers 

are hot and dry. Altitude, latitude, orographic shadow effects and distance 

from the Mediterranean are the main factors that affect the climate; 

precipitation tends to decrease from west to east and from north to south. 

Sideritis nuarsariensis 


“Altitude, latitude, 

orographic shadow 

effects and distance 

from the Mediterranean 

are the main factors 

that affect the climate; 

precipitation tends to 

decrease from west to 

east and from north to 

south” 

Five Mediterranean bioclimatic zones are recognised: humid, sub-humid, 

semi arid, arid and Saharan, defined by gradually decreasing rainfall. In 

the humid Mediterranean the vegetation is evergreen forest covering in the 

coastal mountains and some high peaks of the eastern mountain chain. 

At lower elevations this is dominated by Quercus infectoria, Quercus 

calliprinos, Pinus brutia, Pistacia lentiscus, Fraxinus ornus and at higher 

elevations by Quercus infectoria, Abies cilicica, Cedrus libani, Juniperus and 

Picea. Sub-alpine forest (Juniperus excelsa) and meadows are found over 

2000m. The main vegetation type in the sub-humid Mediterranean zone is 

degraded oak forest (Quercus calliprinos, Quercus ithaburiensis, Pistacia 

palaestina) found on the coastal plains, the mid to high altitudes of the 

Eastern mountains, Golan Heights, and the highest peaks of Jabal al-Arab. 

Open degraded steppic woodlands (Pistacia atlantica, Crataegus sp., 

Amygdalus sp.) with grasses and legumes are found in the semi-arid zone 

on the eastern slopes of the Eastern mountain chain and the adjacent 

plains of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and the fringes of the Fertile Crescent 

(high peaks of the inner mountains and the Upper Jezira area). The arid 

zone comprises the western and the northern limits of the eastern plateau 

including Jezira plains, grasses and shrubs dominate (Astragalus, Salsola, 

and Artemisia). The Saharan zone is in the east and the southeast where 

perennial formations of dwarf shrubs are found (including species of 

Achillea, Anabasis and Haloxylon). 

The Syrian flora includes 3077 species belonging to 133 families and 919 

genera, the majority of which are Mediterranean or Irano-Tauranian. Syria 

has approximately 243 endemic species however historically, the Syrian 

and Lebanese floras have been treated together in which case there are 

330 endemic species to both countries; around 8% of the joint flora. The 

genera Iris, Astragalus, Centaurea and Allium have the largest percentage 

endemism in Syria. 

Three Syrian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 

The national expert team identified the following IPAs as priorities for 

conservation action: Kurd Dag, Salma Haffeh, Ghab, Anti Lebanon and 

Jabal al Arab – three of these are described in detail below.



SECTION 3 

63 

1. Kurd Dag IPA 

Kurd Dag is an elevated calcareous mountain massif which occupies the 

north-western corner of Syria and is an important example of the well 

preserved vegetation associated with the Eastern mountain chain. It forms 

the southern continuation of Taurus Mountains parallel to the Amanus 

Mountains in Turkey, running 50 km from the north-east to the south-west, 

its highest point is Kutchuk Darmik at 1230m. Sub-humid to semi-arid 

Mediterranean bioclimatic conditions prevail over the site. Botanically it is 

a centre of endemism for the Northern Levant due to the large numbers of 

species restricted to South Turkey/North Syria for example Vaccaria liniflora, 

Ranunculus millefolius, Astragalus antabicus, Astragalus darmikii, Vicia 

qatmnesis, Psoralea jaubertiana. 

The site is threatened by agricultural expansion, overgrazing of livestock, 

wood collection for fuel, collection of herbs and medicinal plants and 

burning of weeds in the adjacent agricultural lands. There are also concerns 

about extraction of minerals and construction of dams on this site. The site 

has no legal protection and no management plan. 

2. Anti Lebanon IPA 

Juniperus on Anti-Lebanon IPA 

© H. Hmidan 

This mountain range on the Syrian-Lebanese border is the most important 

centre of endemism for Syria and the only Syrian IPA to possess sub alpine 

and alpine habitats. The majority of the site is above 2000m and forms a 

large extended area of high uplands, unique to the Levant countries. The 

maximum height is 2616m at Tala’at Musa peak. The numerous mountain 

peaks, steep slopes, vertical cliffs and deep valleys provide diverse plant 

habitats. Precipitation is modest due to the rain shadow effect of the 

Lebanese mountains and the whole area is located within the semi-arid 

Mediterranean bioclimatic zones. Low temperatures and long period of 

snow and frost allow the survival of sub-alpine and alpine vegetation, this 

isolation promotes speciation that has resulted in large numbers of narrow 

endemics. 

Thirty eight species on this site are restricted to the Anti Lebanon IPA 

e.g. Phagnolon linifolium, Helichrysum pygmaeum, Thymus alfredae and 

Ferulago frigida over 50 additional species recorded here are restricted to 

specific mountain ranges in Syria and/or Syria and Lebanon. 

Numerous threats affect this very large IPA: agricultural expansion, 

overgrazing, wood gathering for fuel, over collection of medicinal plants, 

burning of weeds, mineral extraction and development for tourism, 

transport and urbanisation. A protected area covers about 60% of the IPA. 

Orchis tridentata 

Abu Quies IPA 

Syria 


3. Jabal al Arab IPA 

Jabal al Arab (also known as Jabal Druze or Jabal Hauran) is the second 

most important site for endemism in Syria and a unique site for basalt 

habitats. The site consists of a convex volcanic massif extending over 

southern Syria, the highest point on this plateau is Tall Ghineh at 1803 m



Jabal Al Arab IPA 

Centre of endemism for Syria 

© H. Hmidan 


Hmidan, H., Shater, Z., Al-Mahmoud, F. 

Karzon, S. Sanadiki, N. Hamoudeh, R., 

Al-Hasan, A., Almasri, A. and Darwich A.E. 

2010. Syria country report on the identification 

of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in 

Syria (Rapid assessment). Syrian Society 

for Conservation of WildLife (SSCW) 

[Black and white report which can be 

found at www.plantlife.org.uk] 

in the core of the IPA. No permanent water courses are present but many 

valleys (wadis) drain the mountain, these are deep and short on the eastern 

slopes and longer and shallower in the west. A few permanent and seasonal 

lakes and pools can be found within the IPA. Jabal al Arab is exposed to 

Mediterranean winds through the Golan-Galilee gap and so the sub-humid 

and the semi-arid Mediterranean zones meet on this mountain, accounting 

for the remarkably diverse and unique flora. Gagea procera, Allium 

drusorum and Iris auranitica are among the species unique to this range. 

Over 20 restricted range species can be found here as well as a number of 

species whose southern or northern limit fall within the IPA. Nationally (but 

not regionally) threatened habitats are pools, basaltic rocks, Quercus look 

and Pistacia atlantica open woodlands. 

The threats to this site are many and mirror those of the Anti Lebanon IPA, 

only 2% of the site is protected and there is no management plan.


COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania 

SECTION 3 

65 

Albania 

Lulëzim Shuka, Murat Xhulaj and Mihallaq Qirjo 

IPA Team 

Rezart Kapedani and Mihallaq Qirjo 

Assoc. Prof. PhD 

(Regional Environment Center Albania) 

Lulëzim Shuka 

Assoc. Prof. PhD 

Murat Xhulaj 

Prof. PhD (Tirana University, Faculty 

of Natural Sciences, Department of 

Biology) 

[Fig. 25] IPAs in Albania 

01 Grykëderdhja e Bunës - Velipojës 

02 Skoda Lake and Buna River 

03 Lugina e Cemit 

04 Alpet Veriore Shqiptare 

05 Pashtrik - Morinë 

06 Gjallicë - Koritnik 

07 Korabi 

08 Rrajcë - Shebenik - Jabllanicë 

09 Liqeni i Ohrit 

10 Mali i Thatë 

11 Liqenet e Prespës 

12 Gramoz - Shelegur 

13 Lugina e Vjosës - Çarshovë 

14 Zhej - Nemërçkë 

15 Kepi i Stillos 

16 Kolsh - Mali i Runës 

17 Bjeshka e Oroshit 

18 Kunorat e Lurës 

19 Zall - Gjoçaj 

20 Liqeni i Zi 

21 Grykëderdhja e Drinit - Ceka - Vain 

22 Qafë Shtamë 

23 Mali me Gropa - Bizë - Martanesh 

24 Krujë _Tujan 

25 Parku i Dajtit 

26 Kepi i Rodonit - Pylli i Ishmit 

27 Holtë - Bulçar 

28 Shpat - Polis 

29 Guri i Topit - Valamarë 

30 Tomorri 

31 Lugina e Gjergjevicës 

32 Drenovë - Nikolicë 

33 Parku i Divjakës 

34 Këneta e Roskovecit 

35 Vjosës (Vlorë) 

36 Karaburuni - Mali i Çikës 

37 Kanioni i Gjipesë 

38 Bredhi i Hotovës 

39 Porto Palermo 

40 Kardhiq 

41 Rrëzomë 

42 Borsh - Lukovë 

43 Bistricë - Muzinë 

44 Ksamil 

45 Liqeni i Butrintit

66 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 

Gramozi IPA 

Ten European threatened habitats 

are found here, including four priority 

habitats threatened throughout the 

Mediterranean. 


IPA Summary 

Forty five IPAs have been identified in Albania covering an area of 384,824 

hectares and including 15 transboundary sites; 4 with Montenegro, 2 with 

Kosovo, 5 with Macedonia FYR and 4 with Greece. These IPAs contain a 

huge variety of habitats; forests, maquis, grassland and wetland and are 

located throughout the country, in the mountain ranges in the north, south 

and east as well as along the coast in the west and around the lakes in the 

east. One hundred and thirty three European threatened habitats (from the 

EU Habitat Directive and the Bern Convention annexes) are found in Albania 

and have been used alongside threatened species to identify Albania IPAs 

under criterion C. 

One hundred ninety six red listed species can be found on these 45 IPA, 

these are not all ‘threatened’ but are frequently ‘rare’ on a nationally or 

global scale. Many are also Albanian and/or Balkan endemic species. 

Globally threatened species such as Wulfenia baldacci and Ligusticum 

albanicum are two endemics that are restricted to the Northern Albanian 

Alps. Two regionally threatened mosses are also restricted to a single site 

in Albania: Buxbaumia viridis (to Northern Albanian Alps IPA) and Mannia 

triandra (to Karaburun - Mali i Çikës IPA). The regionally threatened aquatic 

fern Salvia natans is found on Roskoveci swamp and the threatened 

vascular plant Marsilea quadifolia is found in Shkodra Lake and Fritillaria 

messanensis subsp. gracilis in Gjallicë-Koritnik. 

Albanian IPAs are subject to various levels of protection some sites have 

more than one type of designation.



SECTION 3 

67 

Level of protection 

No. of IPAs 

Strictly Protected Area 5 

National Parks 13 

Monuments of Nature 2 

Natural Managed Reserve 6 

Landscape/Seascape Protected Area 4 

Landscape Protected Area 4 

Protected Resource Area 2 

Ramsar Wetland Site 2 

No protected status 7 

Pashtrik IPA 


Seven IPAs have no protected area status and for others there are no 

clear management plans to provide information on how to safeguard the 

biodiversity present, special attention should be given to these sites. 

• No. of IPAs: 45 

• No. of IPAs from 10 selected sites with single country endemic species: 8 

• No. of IPAs from 10 selected sites with very restricted species (stenoendemics): 

8 

Threats to IPAs in Albania 

The main threats to IPAs in Albania are overgrazing, illegal deforestation, 

burning of vegetation, tourism development and recreational habitat 

fragmentation and eutrophication (enrichment). 

“Seven IPAs have no 

protected area status and 

for others there are no 

clear management plans 

to provide information 

on how to safeguard the 

biodiversity present”

68 SECTION 3 COUNTRY REPORTS & CASE STUDIES : Albania Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region. Priority sites for conservation 


5 

4,5 

4 

3,5 

3 

2,5 

2 

1,5 

1 

0,5 

0 





Natural events (floods, fires, droughts) 




[Fig. 26] Threats affecting 10 selected IPAs in Albania 

Albania: flora, vegetation and plant conservation 

Solanathus albanicus 

Albanian endemic species 


Albania is situated in the north east of the Mediterranean basin, covering 

28,748km 2 including 480km of coastline on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. 

Albania shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia FYR 

and Greece and is an integral part of the Balkan Peninsula; an area of 

considerable plant endemism. Mountains cover two thirds of Albania; these 

are frequently rugged and difficult to access. Prokletije range in the north is 

the southern end of limestone massif of the Dinaric Alps, mountains of the 

Serpentine zone (named after the bed rock) extend from Prokletije south to 

the Greek border and in the east the Eastern highlands form the border with 

Macedonia (including the highest peak in Albania, Mount Korabi – 2754m). 

Three important lakes occur on the eastern border with Macedonia and 

Greece: Ohrid (the deepest lake in the Balkans, Macro Prespa and Micro 

Prespa while Albania shares the biggest lake in the Balkans (Lake Shkodra) 

with Montenegro. The coastline also has a high biological diversity with 

approximately 100 km 2 of wetlands (most of them adjacent to the Adriatic 

Sea). The Albania flora contains 3200 species of vascular plants of which 27 

are national endemics and 160 endemic to the Balkans. Approximately 30% 

of the European flora is present in Albania. 

The latest Albanian national plant red list was produced in 2007 (Order 

Nr.146, dt. 8.5.2007) and contains 365 plant species, 74 % of which are 

threatened on a national level (CR, EN, VU). The country has 53 protected 

areas and monuments (June 2010). 

Three Albanian IPAs that are priorities for conservation action 

1. Gramozi Mountain IPA (Mali i Gramozit) 

Gramozi Mountain IPA is located in the south-east of Albania in the north 

Pindos Mountains on the border with Greece. The site is dominated by 

pasture, with forests with Abies borisii-regis and Fagus sylvatica in the 

south east of the site. There are also large communities of endemic black 

pine forest (Pinus nigra).



SECTION 3 

69 

Ten European threatened habitats (forest, grassland and screes) are found 

on this IPA including four priority habitats that are threatened throughout the 

Mediterranean: semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland on calcareous 

substrates, Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous 

grasslands, (sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines and 

Juniperus oxycedrus woods. Various restricted range species are present 

on the site such as Cistus albanicus and Chaerophyllum heldreichii, (which 

are threatened and endemic to Albania), and Balkan endemics such as 

Crocus cvijicii limited to mountains in south west Macedonia/south east 

Albania/north east Greece. 

Threats from natural events (disease/fire/drought) have increased over the 

last five years, overgrazing and unsustainable plant exploitation are also 

significant threats to the integrity of this site. The IPA is not protected and 

there is no management plan. 

2. Korabi Mountain IPA (Mali i Korabi) 

Korabi Mountain IPA is located in north eastern part of Albania and the 

mountain crosses the border into Macedonia FYR (where it is also an 

IPA). The area has predominately limestone substrates with outcrops of 

siliceous rocks at higher elevations. A significant part of the site is alpine 

pastures where many local endemic species are found; Draba korabensis, 

Ranunculus degenii and Ranunculus wettsteinii are only found on Korabi 

mountain and Phyteuma pseudorbicularis, Scrophularia bosniaca, Viola 

kosaninii and Crocus scardicus are Balkan endemics with very restricted 

ranges. Thirteen European threatened habitats are present on this site 

(alpine grassland, rocky habitats, river and forests) including the priority 

habitats: Endemic forests with Juniperus spp., specific calcareous or 

basophilic grasslands, xeric sand calcareous grasslands and active raised 

bogs. 

Deforestation is an increasing threat and overgrazing is a severe problem at 

this IPA. This site will be proclaimed as a protected area in 2010/11. 

3. Tomorri Mountain IPA (Mali i Tomorrit) 

Tomorri Mt. is the highest mountain in south-western Albania. The upper 

part is pasture, whereas the sub alpine belt is dominated by forest of 

Bosnian pine (Pinus heldereichii) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). The site is 

also an important point of pilgrimage for the region. Threatened species 

Astragalus autranii, Carduus cronicus and Onosma mattirolii are endemic 

to this mountain site. Considerable numbers of Balkan endemics species 

are also present: Pinus heldereichii, Melampyrum heracleoticum, Fritillaria 

graeca, Centaurea graeca, Pedicularis graeca and Sideritis raeseri. Tomorri 

hosts twelve European threatened habitats including four priorities: specific 

calcareous or basophilic grasslands, xeric sand calcareous grasslands 

and Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands. 

Overgrazing and burning of vegetation are severe at this site the threat from 

deforestation is decreasing. This area (4000 ha) was declared a Protected 

Area in 1996 in the category of ‘National Park’. 

“Threats from natural 

events (disease/fire/ 

drought) have increased 

over the last five 

years, overgrazing and 

unsustainable plant 

exploitation are also 

significant threats to 

the integrity of Gramozi 

Mountain IPA” 


Dida M., Dragoti N., Kromidha G., Fierza 

Gj. 2004. Albanian Natural Areas-National 

Parks. (in Albanian) 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and 

Water Administration (MEFWA) studies: 

• 2006. Study for the increase of the 

Protected areas in Albania (in Albanian) 

• 2007. Biodiversity Enabling Activity; 

370 pp. 

• 2007. Albanian national plant red list. 

• Various studies for the proclamation of 

protectes areas (the Divjakë-Karavasta 

ecosystem, the Kruja Mountain-Qafë 

Shtama mountainous ecosystem, the 

Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh mountainous 

ecosystem) 

• 

Quiro, M. 2010. Important Plant Areas of 

Albania. [Black and white report which 

can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk]

70 SECTION 4 RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN 

04 

section


SECTION 4 

71 

RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES IN THE 

SOUTH AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN 

.Describing restricted range or locally endemic species 

within this Mediterranean project 

.Preliminary restricted range species in North Africa 

and the Middle East 

There are approximately 13,000 plant species, sub species and varieties 

endemic to the whole Mediterranean region, i.e. they are found only within 

this region and nowhere else on earth. That around 45% of the region’s 

flora is endemic is significant in itself, but many of these species and sub 

species are restricted to particular sub-regions within the Mediterranean 

e.g. the Magreb, Levant or the Balkans or even further restricted to one 

small region of


Argyrocystitus battandieri, an endemic of 

Mediterranen cedar forests 

© P. Regato 

The process and preliminary results are described below, restricted range 

species lists were developed using existing data and expert knowledge. 

Assessing the threat status of these species has proved difficult beyond 

national level, and forms one of the recommendations for further work 

resulting from this project. 

Describing restricted range or locally endemic species within 

this Mediterranean project 

The objective for this part of the project was to develop a preliminary list of 

restricted range species regardless of whether they were located in a single 

country or in multiple countries. 

Iris antilibanotica restricted to the 

Anti-Lebanon mountains 


Plant taxa 1 (henceforth referred to as species) are often referred to as 

‘endemic’ to a particular location, i.e. restricted to one place; the smaller 

the area they cover the more unique (and potentially the more threatened) 

those species are. Species limited to a very small locality are known as 

steno-endemic or ‘site restricted’. Historically plant species have often been 

described as endemic to a particularly country, e.g. endemic to Albania 

or Algeria, i.e. as a ‘single country endemic’. This terminology has limited 

use. If the country is small the phrase ‘single country endemic’ may be 

significant because it may indicate a small distribution for that species, 

however if the country is large it may not be significant because the 

species distribution may also be large. Species of more significance may 

be ‘multi-country endemics’ that have very limited distributional ranges (for 

example a species present in Morocco and Algeria but only within a very 

local area on the coast that happens to cross the border). Despite universal 

recognition of multi-country endemicity the terminology associated with it is 

confusing. 

For this project terminologies were adopted to clarify the ranges were 

being ascribed to species (see box 2) and also to indicate certain ‘sub’ 

regions (box 3), this terminology has been used in this (first attempt) to draw 

together a list of restricted range species for these regions. 

1 Taxa (plural) taxon (singular) is a general term for a taxonomic group whatever its rank – e.g. 

genus, species, sub species, variety. Within the project we have considered plant taxa with the 

taxonomic rank of species, sub species and variety, but henceforth ‘species’ is used in place of 

‘taxa’ to improve the ease of reading the text.


SECTION 4 

73 

Box 02 

Endemic definitions used in this project 

Crassula vaillantii 

© G. de Belair 

A species whose distribution is 

confined to a given area or location 

and nowhere else in the world is 

said to be endemic to that area. 

‘Endemic’ should never be 

used without a complement (ie. 

endemic to Syria, endemic to 

Jabal Akhdar) 

SINGLE COUNTRY ENDEMIC 

• Species occurring only in one 

country (and nowhere else in 

the world) 

• Symbol used: SCE + country 

name (ie SCE/SY = country 

endemic to Syria) 

MULTICOUNTRY ENDEMIC 

• Species occurring in two 

or more usually adjacent 

countries (and nowhere else in 

the world) 

• Symbol used: MCE + region 

+ country names ( e.g. 

MCE/Levant /SY-LB = sub 

Mediterranean endemic to 

Syria and Lebanon) 

RESTRICTED RANGE ENDEMIC 

• Species occurring in a 

restricted area (and nowhere 

else in the world) in one 

or more usually adjacent 

countries 

• Extent of occurrence usually < 

5’000 km 2 • 

SITE 

• 

• 

• 

SUMMARY 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Symbol used: RRE + Country 

name(s) + sub-national name 

(e.g. RRE/MA/Atlas = restricted 

range endemic to Atlas 

mountain range in Morocco) 

RESTRICTED ENDEMIC 

Species occuring in only one 

site (and nowhere else in the 

world). Could occur in two 

countries. 

Extent of occurrence usually 


Box 03 

Geographical entities 

Various geographical entities are used in the tables of restricted range species 

found in appendix 3 these are explained below 

Region level 1 Region level 2 Region level 3 

NORTH AFRICA 

(SOUTH 

MEDITERRANEAN) 

Morocco, Algeria, 

Tunisia, Libya, Egypt 

Magreb 

(Morocco, Algeria, 

Tunisia) 

Libya/Tunisia 

Libya/Egypt 

Magreb - Algéro- 

Marocains 

(Morocco and Algeria) 

Magreb - Tunisoalgériennes 

(Algeria and Tunisia) 

Silene makmeliana restricted to small 

areas of Lebanon and Syria 


EAST MEDITERRANEAN 

Syria, Lebanon, Israel, 

Jordan, Palestine, 

Egypt- Sinai region, 

Turkey*, Cyprus* 

DISJUNCT 

Levant/Egypt (Sinai) 

Levant (Syria, Lebanon, 

Israel, Jordan, Palestine) 

Syria/Turkey 

Taxa found in two or more 

countries that do not 

share immediate borders. 

* This project has only considered those Turkish or Cypriot species that are also in the 

project region – not the whole flora of these countries. 

The prefix Ibéro is often used to those species that are found on the Iberian 

Peninsula (in Spain and/or Portugal as well as in Morocco or Morocco and 

Algeria). Species from the Iberian Peninsula present in this region have not 

been included in the preliminary restricted range species list developed during 

this project. 

Preliminary restricted range species in North Africa and the 

Middle East. 

The list of restricted range species for the south and east Mediterranean can 

be found in appendix 3 of this report. The challenges associated with putting 

together such a list should not be underestimated and the authors are keen 

to stress this is a very preliminary list and there remains considerable work 

to be done, not only on understanding the distributions of these species, but 

on verifying the taxonomy of the species (and sub species or varieties) – for 

example using the Euro + Med plantbase (http://www.emplantbase.org/home. 

html). There has been insufficient time to do a comprehensive check of the 

taxonomy during this project. The authors view the lists presented as the first 

step in the process of understanding the most restricted range species in the 

Mediterranean part of North Africa and Middle East, and hope they will help to 

identify those species for which conservation action maybe an urgent priority.


SECTION 4 

75 

Our results suggest that within North Africa and the Middle East there are 

approximately 1195 restricted range plant species (sub species/varieties) 

that have a distribution/extent of occurrence of less than 5,000km 2 i.e. 

endemic to an area of less than 5,000km 2 within the region. There are a 

further 1195 species that are probably restricted but not enough is known 

to make an ‘educated guess’ on the extent of restriction, and at least 58 

species (not included in the appendix) that are restricted to Morocco and/or 

Algeria and the Iberian Peninsula. 

Of the 1113 species nearly 1000 are present in a single country (‘single 

country endemics’) for example Abies marrocana (Morocco), Sixalix libyca 

(Libya) and Vicia hulensis (Israel). Of the restricted range species 513 

(around half) are classed as site restricted, i.e. they have a distribution 

of

76 SECTION 5 Conclusions and Recommendations for plant conservation in the South and East Mediterranean 

05 

section


SECTION 5 

77 

Conclusions and 

Recommendations for plant 

conservation in the South 

and East Mediterranean 

The two hundred and seven Important Plant Areas documented through this 

project represent international priorities for biodiversity conservation in the 

south and east Mediterranean. This is the first time such a comprehensive 

assessment of important sites for plant diversity, involving botanical experts 

from every country as well as regional level experts, has been attempted; it 

is a huge step forward for plant conservation. Not only has large amounts of 

site specific information on plant diversity been made more accessible for 

those who manage sites; but the project has facilitated the development of 

in-country botanical expert teams, and the sharing of data and skills across 

the region. The project began as a response to the (almost complete) lack 

of easily accessible information on the best sites for plant diversity in North 

Africa and the Middle East, which was needed to prepare the Ecosystem 

Profile for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. It has delivered far 

more than the rapid ‘quick and dirty’ assessment that was anticipated. The 

country teams have seized the long over due opportunity raise the profile of 

the most critical element of Mediterranean diversity – plants. 

Fieldwork on Gerbes IPA. 


None-the-less, all those involved are acutely aware that this project was 

largely a desk based study; the sites selected are undeniably important 

for plant diversity but there is considerable work to be done across the 

region to improve the accuracy of the data. This project has brought 

together enough data and information to start developing and implementing 

conservation measures on sites, and it is important these conservation 

measures start now; but further work on improving the distribution and 

threat data for plant species and habitats is needed alongside these. 

The species distribution data available are not always detailed or 

comprehensive; some species are very poorly known, vegetation and 

habitat types are not comprehensively described or mapped across the 

region, checklists of sites are not always complete and the global threat 

status of the majority of species and habitats is not properly understood. 

Many of these IPAs need further investigation in the field to ‘ground truth’ 

the information presented and to add further data that will undoubtedly 

[left page] 

Rural landscape and wetland in a 

Ramsar zone of El Kala National Park, 

Algeria 

©Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon


Quercus cerris spp. pseudocerris 

Syria 

© A. Almasri 

be missing. In many countries additional Important Plant Areas may be 

discovered when more comprehensive field based investigations can be 

carried out. 

The extent of threats to IPAs in the south and east Mediterranean is 

now better understood. Sixty seven percent of IPAs are threatened by 

overgrazing and nearly fifty percent by deforestation (largely for fuel). Over 

one third of sites are threatened by tourism development, agricultural 

intensification through arable farming and climate change. There is an 

urgent need to address the drivers of these threats. 

Initiatives for conserving plant diversity are few and poorly supported 

across the region. Whilst protected areas (National Parks) are the main 

legislative approach to protecting sites, there is little evidence that they 

are supported by well structured management regimes or take account of 

the plants and vegetation. Current pastoral and forestry activities are not 

sustainable on most of these sites and there is a need for better legislation


SECTION 5 

79 

Camel in Tunisia 

© Nieves García 

to ensure development and modernisation (both crucially important for 

improving economies) is not counter productive and destroying natural 

resources and irreplaceable plant diversity. 

The flora of the South and east Mediterranean is incredibly diverse. 

A significant part of this diversity is unique to the region, of global 

importance to conservation and under great threat from intensive 

overgrazing, deforestation, development and climate change. The Important 

Plant Areas project has begun the process of highlighting the most 

important sites for plant diversity and the issues that must be addressed to 

ensure the natural resources contained within these sites are safeguarded 

for the future. The next phase of biodiversity conservation work in this 

region should use and build on the information presented here. It should 

seek to increase the capacity of botanists and conservationists across 

the region and begin on-the-ground activities in partnership with local 

communities to ensure these sites and the natural resources they contain 

are sustained for the future. 

“All those involved are 

acutely aware that this 

project was largely 

a desk based study; 

the sites selected are 

undeniably important for 

plant diversity but there 

is considerable work 

to be done across the 

region to improve the 

accuracy of the data”


Recommendations 

Specific recommendations are included below however it is critical that 

all conservation-focused investment in the south and east Mediterranean 

includes investment in improving capacity across the whole ‘plant 

conservation skill set’. This is needed to: secure the basic botanical skills 

needed to identify plant species; enable mapping of the distribution 

and status (quality and integrity) of the flora and vegetation; undertake 

appropriate and targeted actions to ensure the conservation and 

sustainable use of plant species and habitats; and effectively advocate 

positive change to environmental policy and its implementation. 

IPA conservation 

1) Recognise Important Plant Areas as internationally significant 

priority sites for conservation in local, national and regional 

environmental policies and plans. 

Plants and their pollinators are crucial to 

Mediterranean livelihoods 

© Sandra García 

2) Target Important Plant Areas as priority sites for conservation 

action in the Mediterranean region. This will ensure that direct 

conservation action on priority plant sites can begin now, alongside 

the continued efforts to improve data. 

3) Incorporate IPAs (where appropriate) into protected area 

networks. 

4) Update management plans for protected areas that contain IPAs 

to take account of new plant data presented and ensure effective 

implementation. Develop and implement management plans for 

IPAs where they do not exist (starting with top priority sites). 

“The extent of threats 

to IPAs in the south and 

east Mediterranean is 

now better understood. 

Sixty seven percent of 

IPAs are threatened 

by overgrazing and 

nearly fifty percent by 

deforestation (largely for 

fuel)” 

5) Ensure Environment Impact Assessments are undertaken 

on development projects that affect IPAs and ensure their 

recommendations are enforced and monitored. 

6) Target IPAs for the implementation of sustainable forest 

management and agri-environment scheme and projects. 

7) Encourage communities whose livelihoods depend on plant 

resources to participate in IPA conservation planning activities (e.g. 

medicinal plant collectors, promoters of nature tourism, hunters, 

mountain guides). 

IPA data 

8) ‘Ground–truth’ the plant species and habitat data associated 

with IPAs through fieldwork (starting with priority IPAs named in this 

report) and ensure that IPA plant features are properly mapped. 

9) Invest in the provision of comprehensive and up to date 

information on plant and habitats species in the south and east


SECTION 5 

81 

Mediterranean, building on the work carried out in this project. This 

should include: 

Mediterranean vegetation 

© Carla Danelutti 

a. 

b. 

c. 

d. 

A definitive list of restricted range, endemic plant taxa 

for the Mediterranean with and accurate data on their 

distribution, abundance and importance to the local 

community. 

A regional IUCN Red List is for the Mediterranean (begin by 

focusing on restricted range species that are endemic to 

the region). 

National IUCN Red Lists for vascular plants for all south 

and east Mediterranean countries. 

A list of Mediterranean habitats and threatened habitats. 

10) Enable the data associated with IPAs to be stored electronically 

(such as on the IPA database) so it can be updated easily via the 

web.

82 SECTION 6 APPENDICES 


06 

.Important 

section 

APPENDICES 

Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria 

.IPAs identified 

.North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted 

range species 

Appendix 1 

Important Plant Area and Important Forest Area criteria 

Important Plant Areas 

An Important Plant Area is a natural or semi natural site exhibiting 

exceptional botanical richness, and/or supporting an outstanding 

assemblage of rare, threatened and/or endemic species and/or vegetation 

of high botanic value. 

In short IPAs are INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT SITES 

FOR PLANTS and their habitats 

Broad criteria 

A The site holds significant populations of species of global or regional 

concern 

B The site has exceptionally rich flora in a regional context in relation to 

its biogeographic zone 

Boats in Tunisia 

© Nieves García 

C The site is an outstanding example of a habitat or vegetation type of 

global or regional importance 

Sites qualify as IPAs if they satisfy 1, 2 or all 3 criteria 

Detailed criteria with thresholds are shown below


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

83 

CRITERION DESCRIPTION THRESHOLD NOTES 

A (i) 

(threatened species) 

A (ii) 


A (iii) 


Site contains globally threatened 

species 

Site contains regionally threatened 

species 

Site contains national endemic 

species with demonstrable threat 

not covered by A(i) or A(ii) 

All sites known, though or inferred to 

contain 5% or more of the national 

population can be selected, or the 5 1 

‘best’ sites, whichever is the most 

appropriate. 

1 

(In exceptional cases, for example 

where there are less than 10 sites 

in the entire country or there are 

between 5-10 large populations 

of a species, up to 10 sites can be 

selected) 

Species listed as ‘threatened’* on 

IUCN global red lists 

Species listed as ‘threatened’* on 

regional IUCN red lists or regionally 

approved lists 

Species listed as national 

endemic (on any recognised list or 

publication) and ‘threatened’* on 

national red lists 

A (iv) 


Site contains near endemic/ 

restricted range species with 

demonstrable threat not covered by 

A(i) or A(ii) 

(Populations must be viable or there 

is a hope that they can be returned 

to viability through conservation 

measures) 

Species listed as near endemic/ 

restricted range (on any recognised 

list or publication) and ‘threatened’* 

on national red lists 

B 

(botanical richness) 

Site contains high number of 

species within a range of defined 

habitat or vegetation type 

Up to 10% of the national resource 

(area) of each habitat or vegetation 

type, or 5 2 best sites; whichever is 

the most appropriate. 

2 

(In exceptional cases, for 

example there are between 5 and 

10 exceptionally rich sites for a 

particular habitat, up to 10 sites can 

be selected for each level 2 habitat 

type) 

Species richness can be based on 

a nationally created list of indicator 

species developed for each habitat 

or vegetation type. 

For example characteristic species 

and/or endemic species and /or 

nationally rare and scarce species 

(where the endemic and rare and 

scarce species are numerous and/or 

are characteristic for the habitat) 

Defined habitat or vegetation 

type taken from or based upon a 

regionally accepted classification 

C 

(threatened habitat or 

vegetation type) 

Site contains threatened habitat or 

vegetation type 

All sites known, thought or inferred 

to contain 5% or more of the 

national resource (area) of priority 

threatened habitats can be selected, 

or a total of 20-60% of the national 

resource, whichever is the most 

appropriate. 

Threatened habitats or vegetation 

taken from a regionally recognised 

list. 

* Criterion A, threatened species must be listed as Critically Endangered (CR), 

Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) using the new IUCN criteria, or Extinct/Endangered 

(Ex/E), Endangered (E) or Vulnerable (V) using the original IUCN categories



Official lists for criterion A 

For Ai – Globally threatened 

• The IUCN Global Red List including the World 

List of threatened trees 1998, and Global Red List 

1997 

For Aii – Regionally threatened 

• IUCN regional lists 

• In Europe: the Habitats Directive and Bern 

Convention species lists, European Bryophytes 

1995 (Global 2001), Fungi species proposed for 

the Bern Convention 2001, European Macrolichens 

1989 

For Aiii and Aiv - Nationally threatened 

• Threatened endemics and near endemics 

(restricted range species) from National Red lists 

Important Forest Areas 

Forest Areas are scored using the criteria below and 

their relative importance is worked out according to the 

final score of each area. 

All endemic relic/rare forest types exclusive of the 

country must be considered as IFAs. In this case 

the whole forest area of each type will be taken into 

account. 

All forest types which, despite being frequent in the 

Mediterranean region or in other floristic regions, are 

present in the country only as relics must be considered 

IFAs (key role in climate change adaptation). 

For the rest of the forest types the consultants should 

select the ‘best’ areas, according to the criteria: 

birds); e.g.presence in the area of forests important for 

the biological cycles of some species (like stop-over 

sites for the migrant birds). 

Maturity 

Areas with old growth forest formations close to their 

highest potential evolutional level: areas with forests 

with a high diversity of age classes, regeneration, young 

and old trees, dead wood, etc.; areas, for some forest 

types, with a high number of old-growth individuals; 

areas with forests with especially well developed 

shrub and/or herb layer. Presence of animal species 

(especially birds) linked to mature forests 

Wilderness 

Areas including natural forests with scarce or no human 

activity or under sustainable management 

Fragility 

Areas including forests with low capacity to stand, 

respond and/or recover from the disturbances linked to 

the identified threats. 

Richness 

Areas including different forest types, with especially 

rich flora and fauna inventories. 

Relative importance of IFAs 

Criterion 

Rarity 2.2 

Faunistic/floristic importance 1.9 

Fragility 1.8 

Maturity 1.7 

Wilderness 1.2 

Index 

Richness 1.2 

Rarity 

Areas including endemic rare forest types exclusive of 

the country, endemic forest types at a sub-regional level 

(i.e. North-African endemic, Middle Eastern endemic, 

Balkan endemic), whose distribution is mainly limited to 

the country, and relic forest types. 

Faunistic/floristic importance 

Presence in the area of rare/endemic threatened or relict 

ecosystem types, flora and fauna species (especially


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

85 

IFAs including endemic forest types exclusive of the country: score range 8-10 

Rarity 

IFAs including endemic forest types at a subregional level (i.e. North-African , Middle Eastern, or Balkan endemic): 

score range 5-7 

IFAs including relic forest stands of wider distributed forest types in other geographical areas: score range 3-4 

IFAs not including rare forest types: score range 1-2 

Floristic and 

faunistic 

importance (in 

accordance 

with IUCN 

categories) 

IFAs including forests with endangered species: score range 8-10 

IFAs including forests with significant vulnerable and rare species: score range 5-7 

IFAs including forests with significant declining, localized and insufficiently known species: score range 3-4 

IFAs including only forests with species of no significant importance (secure): score range 1-2 

50-100% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 7-10 

Maturity 

25-50% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 4-6 

Less than 25% of the IFA include mature forests: score range 1-3 

IFAs including only natural forests, with scarce or no human activities and difficult accessibility: score range 8-10 

Wilderness 

IFAs inc. only natural forests, under sustainable management, far from settlements, accessible by secondary roads: 

score range 5-7 

IFAs including more than 75% of natural forests, under human intervention, accessible by roads: score range 3-4 

IFAs with less than 75% of natural forests: score range 1-2 

IFAs including forests with low capacity to face the current threats identified in the area: score range 7-10 

Fragility 

IFAs including forests with medium capacity to face the current threats identified in the area: score range 4-6 

IFAs including forests with high capacity to face the current threats identified in the area: score range 1-3 

IFAs including more than 5 forest types, with particularly rich flora and fauna inventories: score 10 

IFAs including more than 5 forest types, with no particularly rich flora and fauna inventories: score 9 

Richness 

IFAs including between 2 and 5 forest types, with particularly rich flora and fauna inventories: score range 7-8 

IFAs including between 2 and 5 forest types, with no rich flora and fauna inventories: score range 5-6 

IFAs including only 1 forest type, with particularly rich flora and fauna inventories: score range 3-4 

IFAs including only 1 forest type with no rich flora and fauna inventories: score range 1-2



Appendix 2. List of IPAs identified 

IPAs in Albania 

Grykëderdhja e Bunës - Velipojës AL01 

Skoda Lake and Buna River 

AL02 

Lugina e Cemit 

AL03 

Alpet Veriore Shqiptare 

AL04 

Pashtrik - Morinë 

AL05 

Gjallicë - Koritnik 

AL06 

Korabi 

AL07 

Rrajcë - Shebenik - Jabllanicë AL08 

Liqeni i Ohrit 

AL09 

Mali i Thatë 

AL10 

Liqenet e Prespës 

AL11 

Gramoz - Shelegur 

AL12 

Lugina e Vjosës - Çarshovë 

AL13 

Zhej - Nemërçkë 

AL14 

Kepi i Stillos 

AL15 

Kolsh - Mali i Runës 

AL16 

Bjeshka e Oroshit 

AL17 

Kunorat e Lurës 

AL18 

Zall - Gjoçaj 

AL19 

Liqeni i Zi 

AL20 

Grykëderdhja e Drinit - Ceka - Vain AL21 

Qafë Shtamë 

AL22 

Mali me Gropa - Bizë - Martanesh AL23 

Krujë _Tujan 

AL24 

Parku i Dajtit 

AL25 

Kepi i Rodonit - Pylli i Ishmit 

AL26 

Holtë - Bulçar 

AL27 

Shpat - Polis 

AL28 

Guri i Topit - Valamarë 

AL29 

Tomorri 

AL30 

Lugina e Gjergjevicës 

AL31 

Drenovë - Nikolicë 

AL32 

Parku i Divjakës 

AL33 

Këneta e Roskovecit 

AL34 

Pishë Poro - Grykëderdhja e Vjosës (Vlorë) AL35 

Karaburuni - Mali i Çikës 

AL36 

Kanioni i Gjipesë 

AL37 

Bredhi i Hotovës 

AL38 

Porto Palermo 

AL39 

Kardhiq 

AL40 

Rrëzomë 

AL41 

Borsh - Lukovë 

AL42 

Bistricë - Muzinë 

AL43 

Ksamil 

AL44 

Liqeni i Butrintit 

AL45 

IPAs in Algeria 

El Kala 1 

DZ01 

El Kala 2 

DZ02 

Edough Peninsula 

DZ03 

Guerbes 

DZ04 

Djebel Ouahch 

DZ05 

Parc National du Belezma 

DZ06 

Chaine des Babor 

Parc Nazional de Taza 

Parc National de Gouraya 

Massif forestier de l’Akfadou 

Djurdjura National Park 

Theniet El Had 

Chréa National Park 

Sahel d’Oran 

Mont Chenoua 

Ghar Rouban 

Cap Tènés 

Mounts Traras 

Iles Habibas 

Aures-Chelia 

Mont Zaccar 

IPAs in Egypt 

North Sinai Mountain 

Lake Bardawi 

Lake Manzala 

Lake Burullus 

Lake Edku 

Lake Mariut 

Omayed Biosphere Reserve 

Moghra Oasis 

Western Mediterranean Coastal Dunes 

Sallum Area 

Wadi El-Rayan 

Saint Katherine 

Nabq 

Hurghada 

Wadi El-Gemal 

Dungul and Dineigil Oases 

Lake Nasser 

Wadi Allaqui 

Saluga and Ghazal 

Halayeb triangle 

Wadi Al-Arish 

Qattara Depression 

El-Qasr 

Ras El-Hekma 

Quseima 

Islands of the Nile Delta 

Deltaic Black Sand Dunes 

Gebel El-Shayeb 

IPAs in Israel 

Meiron 

Hula 

Mount Carmel 

Affula 

Poleg 

Dead Sea Coast 

Hebron Gradient 

DZ07 

DZ08 

DZ09 

DZ10 

DZ11 

DZ12 

DZ13 

DZ14 

DZ15 

DZ16 

DZ17 

DZ18 

DZ19 

DZ20 

DZ21 

EG01 

EG02 

EG03 

EG04 

EG05 

EG06 

EG07 

EG08 

EG09 

EG10 

EG11 

EG12 

EG13 

EG14 

EG15 

EG16 

EG17 

EG18 

EG19 

EG20 

EG21 

EG22 

EG23 

EG24 

EG25 

EG26 

EG27 

EG28 

IL01 

IL02 

IL03 

IL04 

IL05 

IL06 

IL07 

Lahav 

Nizana Sands 

Har Negev 

Hatzeva 

Sedom 

Eilat Mountains 

Acre 

Netofa 

IPAs in Jordan 

Wadi Rum 

Dana Nature Reserve 

Karack 

Salt 

Alouk 

Um Queis 

Lava Safawai 

Burqu’ 

Ajlum 

Bayer 

Azraq 

Mujib 

IPAs in Lebanon 

Mount Makmel 

Hermel Plain 

Aarsal 

Aammiq 

Mount Hermon 

Menjez 

Qammouaa-Dinnyeh- Jurd Hermel 

Palm Islands 

Bcharreh-Ehden 

Ras Chekka 

Tannourine 

Jbail Coast 

Wadi Jannah 

Keserwan 

Sannine - Knaisseh 

Chouf 

Nahr Ed-Damour 

Beirut – Jiyyeh Coast 

Tyre - Naqoura 

Rihane 

La Martin Valley 

IPAs in Libya 

Al Jabel El Akhdar 

Tawuoryhe Sebkha 

Jabal Nafusah 

Messak Mountain 

IL08 

IL09 

IL10 

IL11 

IL12 

IL13 

IL14 

IL15 

JO01 

JO02 

JO03 

JO04 

JO05 

JO06 

JO07 

JO08 

JO09 

JO10 

JO11 

JO12 

LB01 

LB02 

LB03 

LB04 

LB05 

LB06 

LB07 

LB08 

LB09 

LB10 

LB11 

LB12 

LB13 

LB14 

LB15 

LB16 

LB17 

LB18 

LB19 

LB20 

LB21 

LY01 

LY02 

LY03 

LY04


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

87 

Ichkeul National Park Area 

surrounding Lake Ichkeul 

Tunisia 


Jabal Aweinat 

IPAs in Morocco 

Jbel Bouhachem 

Parc National de Talassemtane 

Parc National d’Al Hoceima 

Beni Snassene 

Jbel Bou-Naceur 

Jbel Bou Iblane 

Parc National de Tazekka 

Jbel Tichoukt 

Parc National d’Ifrane 

Parc National du Haut Atlas Oriental 

Jbel Ayachi 

Jbel Maâsker 

Jbel Krouz 

Jbel Mgoun 

Tamga and Aqqa Wabzaza 

Parc National de Toubkal 

Aghbar 

Jbel Kest, Anezi et Jbel Imzi 

Maamora 

IPAs in the Occupied Palestianian 

Territories 

Faqoua`- Jalaboun 

Wad Alhrameyah - Wad Elbalat- 

Um Safa - Beit Illo - Ein Samya 

Wad Qana- Wad Eshai`r 

Yaseed-Ibzeik 

Dead Sea Coast 

LY05 

MA01 

MA02 

MA03 

MA04 

MA05 

MA06 

MA07 

MA08 

MA09 

MA10 

MA11 

MA12 

MA13 

MA14 

MA15 

MA16 

MA17 

MA18 

MA19 

PS01 

PS02 

PS03 

PS04 

PS05 

Khali (Hebron) Gradient 

IPAs in Syria 

Karatchok-Tigris 

Kurd Dag 

Jabal Abdul Aziz 

Jabal Al Wastani 

Hass-Jabbul 

Jisr al shogur 

Fronloq-Kasab 

Umm Al Tuyur-Bassit 

Salma-Haffeh 

Slenfeh-Jaubet et Berghal 

Ghab 

Jabal Bishri 

Abu Qbeis 

Kanfo 

Mayadin 

Massiaf-Qadmous 

Al Bil As 

Jabal al Sha ir 

Jabal Abu Rujmain 

Daher al Qseir 

Al Kabeer al Jonubi 

Akkoum 

Anti-Lebanon 

Qalamoun 

Qassioun 

Rakhleh - Wadi al Qarn 

Utaiba - Hijane 

Hermon 

North Golan 

PS06 

SY01 

SY02 

SY03 

SY04 

SY05 

SY06 

SY07 

SY08 

SY09 

SY10 

SY11 

SY12 

SY13 

SY14 

SY15 

SY16 

SY17 

SY18 

SY19 

SY20 

SY21 

SY22 

SY23 

SY24 

SY25 

SY26 

SY27 

SY28 

SY29 

Es Safa 

Lajat 

Jabal Al Arab 

Yarmuk Valley 

IPAs in Tunisia 

Garâa Sejenane Majen Chitane Lake 

Dar El Orbi Peat Bog 

Oued Ziatine 1 +2 

Aïn Zana Natural Reserve 

Sidi Ali El Mekki 

Dat Fatma Natural Reserve 

Sources du 18ème 

Camp du 18ème 

Piste de Legba 

Le Merij 

Majen Barbit 

Majen El Ouez 1 

Majen El Mouajène 

Sraï el Majen 

Majen El Ma 

Majen Sghaïer 

Majen El Ouez 2 

Majen Choucha 

La Galité Archipelago 

Zembra and Zembretta National Park 

Toujane 

El Feija Jbel Ghorra 

Ichkeul 

Jbel Zaghouan 

SY30 

SY31 

SY32 

SY33 

TN01 

TN02 

TN03 

TN04 

TN05 

TN 06A 

TN 06B 

TN 06C 

TN 06D 

TN 06E 

TN 06F 

TN 06G 

TN 06H 

TN 06 I 

TN 06J 

TN 06K 

TN 06L 

TN07 

TN08 

TN09 

TN10 

TN11 

TN12 

TN13



Appendix 3. 

North Africa and Middle East preliminary list of restricted range species 

Part 1: SITE RESTRICTED SPECIES: Extent of occurrence


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

89 

Species name and authority COUNTRY Notes on range 

(where provided) 

& No. of IPAs 




»Centaurea malinvaldiana MA, DZ Jbel Krouz 

»Centaurea musimonum MA, DZ Jbel Krouz 

»Centaurea resupinata ssp. rifana MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Centaurea sempervirens ssp. mauritanica MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Centaurea theryi MA 2 

»Centaurium barrelieroides ssp. bifrons MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Centaurium erythraea ssp. benardii MA Maamora 

»Chamaemelum flahaultii MA Jbel Kest , 

Anezi, Imzi 

»Cheirolophus sempervirens MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Chrysanthemum holophyllum MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Chrysanthemum reboudianum (Pomel) Q. et S. DZ Chelia, Dj. Bou 

Taleb (NE-Algeria) 

»Cicer atlanticum MA 5 

»Cirsium ducellieri MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Conopodium ssp. Atlantis MA Parc Tazekka 

»Convolvulus dryadum Maire MA, DZ Babor mountains 

(NE-Algeria) & Rif 

(N-Morocco) 

»Convolvulus glaouorum MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Convolvulus vidalii MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Crepis vesicaria ssp. proleptica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Cytisus grandiflorus ssp. barbarus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Dianthus gaditanus ssp. atrosanguineus MA Jbel Tichoukt 

»Digitalis lutea ssp. atlantica MA Toubkal 

»Digitalis lutea ssp. cedretorum MA Jbel Maasker 

»Digitalis lutea ssp. transiens var. dyris MA Parc Haut 

Atlas Oriental 

»Draba oreadum ssp. mariae-aliciae MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Echium humile ssp. nanum MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Elizaldia heterostemon MA Maamora 

»Epilobium psilotum MA Toubkal 

»Erigeron celerieri MA 3 

»Erinus thiabaudii MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Erodium atlanticum MA 3 

»Erucastrum littoreum ssp. glabum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Erucastum varium ssp. mesatlanticum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Erysimum wilczekianum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Euphorbia mazicum MA 2 

»Fagonia malvana MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Festuca humbertii MA Parc Tazekka 

»Festuca maroccana MA Toubkal 

»Festuca maroccana ssp. pozzicola MA Aghbar 

»Festuca sauvagei MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Filago evaciformis MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Fumaria vaillantii ssp. schrammii 

var. pugsleyana MA Parc Haut 


»Galium noli-tangere MA 2 

»Galium numidicum Pomel DZ Chelia (NE-Algeria) 

»Genista numidica ssp. sarotes (Pomel) Batt. DZ Zaccar (NW-Algeria) 

»Genista segonnei MA Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzi 

»Geranium cinereum MA Aghbar 

»Globularia liouvillei MA 5 

»Gnaphalium genevoisii MA 2 

»Guenthera (Eruca) setulosa MA, DZ Ghar-Rouban area/ 

orient.Tlemcen mts. 

»Halimium antiatlanticum MA Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzii 

»Halimium atlanticum MA Parc Tazekka 

»Helianthemum pergamaceum ssp. camillei MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium amplexicaule ssp. Olivicolor MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium peyrimhoffii Maire DZ Aurès (le Mahmel) 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Hieracium phlomoides ssp. mesatlanticum MA 2 

»Hieracium solida gineum ssp. Jahandiezii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium sonchoides ssp. mairei MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium viscosum ssp. africanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium viscosum ssp. mguildanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium viscosum ssp. tarchanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hypericum metroi (endém. locale) MA Parc Tazekka 

»Hypochaeris saldensis DZ Gouraya national 

vpark (NE-Algeria) 

»Iberis sempervirens var. pseudosaxatilis MA Jbel Maasker 

»Isoetes velata ssp. Intermedia MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane 

Algéro.marocains 

»Juncus bufonis ssp. mogadorensis MA Aghbar 

»Koeleria embergeri MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Kremeriella cordylocarpus MA, DZ Beni Snassen 

»Lactuca riviersii MA 2 

»Lavandula atlantica MA Aghbar 

»Lavandula pedunculata var. atlantica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Lavatera vidalii MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Lepidium hirtum ssp. atlanticum MA Aghbar 

»Leucanthemum mesatlanticum MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Leuzea fontqueri MA 2 

»Limonium boitardii Maire TN NE de la Tunisie 

»Limonium letourneuxii (Batt.) Greuter 

& Burdet = “(Coss.) Pons & Quézel” DZ Cap Ténès 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Limonium minutiflorum “auct. alg.” 

[= L. cyrtostachyum (Girard Brullo)] DZ Cap Ténès 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Limonium zembrae Pignatti TN Données insuf. 

»Linaria burceziana Maire DZ Ghar-Rouban 

(W-Algeria) 

»Linaria heterophylla ssp. galioides MA Toubkal 

»Linaria heterophylla ssp. gigantea MA Toubkal 

»Linum subasperifolium (endém. locale) MA Parc Tazekka 

»Lotononis tapetiformis MA 3 

»Marrubium fontianum MA Parc Tazekka 

»Marrubium litardierei MA Toubkal 

»Micropyrum mamoraeum MA Maamora 

»Minuartia mairei MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Misopates chrysothales MA Parc d’l Hoceima 

»Misopates font-queri MA Tamga 

»Narcissus cantabricus ssp. kesticus MA Jbel Kest , Anezi,Imzi 

»Narcissus romieuxii ssp. albidus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Nasturtium microphyllum MA Toubkal









»Nepeta barbara MA Parc Haut 


»Odontites maroccanus MA 2 

»Odontites viscosus ssp. eriopodus MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane 

Algéro.marocains 

»Odontites vulgaris ssp. mesatlanticus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Onobrychis pallasii var. ayachica MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Onopordon mesatlanticum MA 3 

»Orchis patens var atlantica Desf. [= O. 

spitzelii ssp. teschneriana B. & H. Baumann] DZ 

Zaccar (Miliana), 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Pancratium foetidum var. saldense DZ Gouraya national 

park (NE-Algeria) 

»Paronychia arabica MA Toubkal 

»Paronychia capitata ssp. atlantica MA Toubkal 

»Paronychia velata MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Peucedanum officinale ssp. vogelianum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Phagnalon latifolium MA 2 

»Pistorinia attenuata ssp. mairei MA 2 

»Pitardia nepetoides MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Plantago rhizoxylon MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Plantago subulata ssp. atlantis MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Polygala munbyana Boiss. DZ Djebel Chenoua 

»Potentilla alchemilloides ssp. atlantica MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Potentilla guilliermondii MA 2 

»Potentilla guilliermondii ssp. guilliermondii MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Prunus avium var. tazekkensis 

(endém. locale) MA Parc Tazekka 

»Ptilostemon pseudo-hispanicus MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Pyrus communis ssp. gharbiana MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Pyrus communis ssp. mamorensis MA Maamora 

»Ranunculus gerniifolius ssp. aurasiacus 

»var. mesatlanticus MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Ranunculus mgounicus MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Ranunculus spicatus ssp. fontqueri MA 3 

»Reseda alba ssp. trigyna MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Rhodanthemum briquetii MA Tamga 

»Rhodonthemum laouense MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Romulea vaillantii MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane 

Alg. Marocains. 

»Roripella atlantica MA Toubkal, Aghbar 

»Rosa mesatlantica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Rosmarinus eriocalyx Jordan & Fourr.= 

R. officinalis L. var. troglodytorum TN Massif des Matmata 

»Rumex tunetanus Barr. et Murb. TN Garâa Sejenane 

»Sagina saginoides ssp. nevadensis MA Toubkal 

»Salvia interrupta ssp. paui MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Salvia taraxacifolia MA Toubkal 

»Sarcocapnos crassifolia ssp. atlantis MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Saxifraga globulifera var. Integrifolia 

»Pons & Quézel DZ Cap Ténès (NW-Alg.) 

»Saxifraga luizetiana MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Saxifraga maireana MA Toubkal 

»Saxifraga tricrenata MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Scabiosa cartenniana Pons & Quézel 

[= Sixalix cartenniana] DZ Cap Ténès (NW-Alg). 

»Scleranthus perennis ssp. atlanticus MA Toubkal 

»Scrophularia eriocalyx MA 2 

»Scrophularia ramosissima 

ssp. macrorrhyncha MA 2 

»Sedum maurum MA Parc Tazekka 

»Senecio chalureaui MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Senecio maroccanus MA Toubkal 

»Serapias stenopetala 

(= S. lingua auct. p.p.) DZ, TN El Kala p. & wetlands; 

Beni M’tir wetlands 

»Silene barbarea MA Parc Tazekka 

»Silene dissecta MA Toubkal 

»Silene guinetii MA 3 

»Silene heterodonta ssp. platycalyx MA Jbel Bou Ibane 

»Silene secundiflora ssp. macrotheca MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene sessionis DZ Gouraya national 


»Sonchus fragilis MA 2 

»Spergularia pycnorrhiza DZ Habibas islands 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Stachys circinnata ssp. zaiana MA Parc Tazekka 

»Stachys fontqueri MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Stachys saxicola ssp. maweana MA Toubkal 

»Taraxacum atlanticum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Taraxacum atlantis-majoris MA 2 

»Taraxacum humbertii MA 3 

»Taraxacum pycnodes MA Toubkal 

»Teucrium barbarum MA Aghbar 

»Teucrium gaattefossei MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Teucrium grosii MA Parc d’l Hoceima 

»Teucrium schoenenbergeri Nabli TN Est du Jbel Ichkeul 

»Thymelaea putorioides MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Thymus serpyllum ssp. ayachicus MA 3 

»Thymus serpyllum var. atlanticum MA Jbel Tichoukt 

»Trifolium gibbosum MA 2 

»Trifolium miegeanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Trifolium pratensis var. mesatlanticum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Vicia glauca var. ayachica MA 2 

»Vicia onobychioides ssp. alborosea MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Vulpia geniculata ssp. pauana MA 2 

Site Restricted Species in North Africa : Magreb + other North 

African countries and Libya and/or Egypt 

»Allium crameri Asch. & Boiss. EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Anarrhinum pubescens Fresen. EG Endangered 


»Astragalus fresenii Decne. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Ballota kaiseri Täckh. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Bufonia multiceps Decne. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Colchicum cornigerum (Schweinf. Ex Sickenb.)


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

91 

Landscape with Stone pine forest (or 

Umbrella pine, or European nut pine), 

Pinus pinea. With the clearing away of 

forests in Lebanon in recent years only 

5% of the original forest cover remains. 

Although protection measures such 

as the creation of the Al-Shouf Cedars 

Reserve have been undertaken, the 

woodlands of Central Mount-Lebanon are 

threatened by overgrazing, unregulated 

tourism, and a high occurrence of forest 

fires. Lebanon 








»Täckh. & Drar EG End. St. Katherine 

»Euphorbia obovata Decne. EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Grimmia anodon Bruch & Schimp. 

var.sinaitica Renauld & Cardot EG Endemic mosses 


»Hyoscyamus boveanus (Dunal) 

Asch. & Schweinf EG Saint Katherine 

»Lupinus digitatus Forssk EG End. Wadi Allaqi 

»Micromeria serbaliana Danin & Hedge EG End. St. Katherine 

»Muscari salah-eidii (Täckh. & Boulos) Hosni EG Probably extinct 


»Najas pectinata (Parl.) Magn. EG Saint Katherine 

»Origanum syriacum ssp. sinaicum (Boiss.) 

Greuter & Burdet EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Phagnalon nitidum Fresen EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Plantago sinaica (Barn.) Decne. EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Polygala sinaica var. sinaica Botsch. EG Rare St. Katherine 

»Primula boveana Decne. ex Duby EG End. St. Katherine 

»Pterocephalus arabicus Boiss. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Rorippa integrifolia Boulos EG End. St. Katherine 

»Rosa arabica Crép. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Scorzonera drarii Täckh EG Probably extinct 


»Silene leucophylla Boiss. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Silene odontopetala Fenzl EG Saint Katherine 

»Silene oreosinaica Chowdhuri EG End. St. Katherine 

»Silene schimperiana Boiss. EG End. St. Katherine 

»Tortula kneuckeri Broth. & Geh. EG Endemic moss 


»Veronica kaiseri Täckh. EG Probably extinct 


»Vicia sinaica Boulos EG Indeterminate 


»Sinapis allionii Jacq. EG Endangered Lake 

Burullus, Lake Mariut 

»Solanum nigrum var. elbaensis Täckh. & Boulo EG Probably extinct 

Halayeb Triangle 

»Sonchus macrocarpus Boulos & C. Jeffrey EG Rare Lake Burullus 

»Bupleurum nanum Poir. EG, LY Omayed 

»Verbascum letourneuxii Asch. & Schweinf. LY, EG Gabel Akhdar 

and Egypt 

Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Levant 

»Acantholimon damassanum - Mobayen SY Anti-Lebanon 

»Aethionema oppositifohurn (Lab.) Boiss. LB 

»Aethionema stylosum D.C. LB 

»Agropyron libanoticum Hack. LB 

»Ajuga chasmophila - Davis SY Lower Anti-Lebanon 

»Alchemilla diademata Rothm. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1000-1500m 

»Alkanna leiocarpa Rech. fil. LB Kesrouan Mtns, 

1000-1500m 

»Alkanna prasinophylla Rech.fil. LB High Lebanon Mtns 

1500-2000m (Afqa 

to Berqacha)









»Allium chloranthurn Boiss. 

var montanum Mout. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1400-2000m 

»Allium damascenum - Feinbr. SY Golan 

»Allium davisii PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Allium drusorum - Feinbr. SY Jabal al Arab 

»Allium feinbergii Oppenheimer LB 

»Allium kollmannianum Brullo,Pavone&Salmeri IL 

»Allium negevense Kollm. IL 

»Allium opacum - Rech. SY Jabal Wastani & 

Jabal Semane 

»Allium pseudophanerantherum -Rech. fil SY Lower Anti-Lebanon 

(Qaryatein) 

»Allium qasunense Moutrede. PN Faqoua`-Jalaboun 

»Allium rupicolum Boiss ined. LB 

»Allium sannineum Gombault LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1400-2000m 

»Allium tardiflorum Kollm. & Shmida IL 

»Alyssum ssp.inosum -Dudley SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Maalula) 

»Anemone coronaria - L. var. alba Goaty & Pons SY Qassiun 

»Anthemis brachycarpa Eig IL 

»Anthemis didymaea Mouterde LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Arenaria libanotica Ky LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Asperula libanotica Boiss. LB 

»Asphodeline brevicaulis (Bertol.) 

ssp.druzorum Zohary SY Jabal al Arab 

(Kafer-Salkhad), 1 

»Astragalus angulosus D.C. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Astragalus antilibani - Bge SY Anti-Lebanon & 

Al Bil’as, 2 

»Astragalus cedreti Boiss LB 

»Astragalus darmikii -Mout SY Kurd Dag 

(Kutchuk Darmik), 1 

»Astragalus ehdenensis Mout. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Astragalus eriophylloides - Rech. fil. SY Coastal Mts 

(Slenfeh), 1. 

»Astragalus exiguus - Post SY Sum. of Anti-Lebanon 

(Tal’at Musa), 1 

»Astragalus faktorovskyi -Eig. SY Low. Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Astragalus griseo-sericeus - Eig SY Jabal Wastani & 

Jabal Az-Zawiyah, 1 

»Astragalus kurnet-es-Saudae Eig. LB High regions of Mt 

Lebanon ab. 1500m 

» Astragalus lanatus Labill 

LB 100-2000m on Mt 

Lebanon and 

Mt Hermon 

»Astragalus lepidanthus Boiss. LB 

»Astragalus louisii -Thiébaut SY Kurd Dag 

(Qatma), 1 

»Astragalus pabotii - Moût. SY Lower Anti-Lebanon 

(Qtayfeh), 1 

»Astragalus qatmensis - Thiéb. SY Kurd Dag 

(Qatma), 1 

»Astragalus selemiensis- Mout SY Salamiye-Al Bil’as, 1 

»Astragalus sofarensis Thiébaut LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Astragalus trifoliolatus Boiss LB E. slopes, Béqaa to 

Baalbeck, steppic reg. 

»Atriplex zahlensis Mout. LB 

»Ballota semaanica - Rech. fil. SY Jabal Semane & 

Kurd Dag, 1 

»Bellevalia douini - Pabot et Mouterde SY Qassiun, 1 

»Biarum pyrami PN 2 

» Brassica assyriaca -Mt 

SY Jabal Abdul Aziz, 1 

»Bryonia lasiocarpa - Mouterde SY Jabal Al-Arab, 1 

»Bufonia ramonensis Danin IL 

»Calamentha incana PN 2 

»Carex distans L. PN 2 

»Carum polyphyllum - Boiss. et Bl. SY Homs 

»Centaurea heterocarpa Boiss. et Gaill. ex Boiss. LB Sud 

»Centaurea mouterdei Wagenitz. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

300-1400m 

Beqaa, & S. of Rayak. 

»Centaurea reducta - Wagenitz. SY Homs, 2 

»Centaurea simulans - Wagenitz. SY Coastal Mt 

(Slenfeh), 1. 

»Centaurea trachonitica - Post SY Lajat, 1 

»Cephalaria cedrorum Mouterde LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Cephalaria kesruanica Mouterde LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

» Ceratophyllum demersum 

PN Wad Eshaìr-Wad Qana 

»Chaerophyllum aurantiacum Post LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Cicer bijugum -Rech. fil. SY Kurd Dag, 1 

»Cicer incisum (WiIld.) K.Maly. var. 

»libanoticum (Boiss.) Mout LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Colchicum libanoticum Ehr. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Consolida incana (E.D. Clarke)Munz PN 2 

»Convolvulus coelsyriacus Boiss. PN Wad Eshaìr- 

Wad Qana 

»Convolvulus tricolor L. PN Faqoua`-Jalaboun 

»Corydalis solida (L.)Swartz 

»var. brachyloba Boiss. LB 

»Corynephorus deschampsioides Bornm. LB 

»Cousinia libanotica D.C. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

500-2000m 

»Crocus aleppicus ssp.”litoral” IL 

»Crocus cancellatus 

var. Hermoneus – Herbert SY, LB Hermon


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

93 







»Crocus damascenus ssp.nov. not yet desc. IL 

»Cyclamen libanoticum Hildebr LB Mountains of Kesrouan 

»Cytisus cassius -Boiss. SY Bassit, 1 

»Cytisus syriacus Boiss. et Bl. LB 

»Daucus aleppicus - Thiéb. SY Aleppo 

»Delphinum ithaburanse Bioss. PN Faqoua`-Jalaboun 

»Dianthus karami Bl LB 

»Dorycnium anatolicum Boiss. var. 

libanoticum (Boiss.) Mout. 

LB 

»Echium pabotii - Mout. SY Upper Jezira, 1 

»Erigeron libanoticus Vierh. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500m 

»Erophila gilgiana (Muschler) O.E. Scheltz LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1000-2000m 

»Erysimum libanoticum Post LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above 1500m 

»Erysimum verrucosum Boiss. et Gaill. LB Pente de l’Hermon 

»Euphorbia petiolata Banks et Sol. PN Wad Eshaìr- 

Wad Qana 

»Ferula armandii - Moût. SY Jabal Al-Arab, 1 

»Ferula hermonis - Boiss. SY, LB Hermon 

»Ferula meironensis sp. nov. IL 

»Galium pestalozzae Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

300-2000m 

»Galium thiebautii Ehrendorfer LB Coast 1500m, Mt 

Leb. Béqaa, S Rayak 

& Anti Leb. 

»Geranium libanoticum Schenk LB 

»Gypsophila mollis (Boiss.) Bornm LB 

»Halimiium umbellatum (L.) Spach., 

var. syriacum (Boiss.) Wilk LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

800-2000m 

»Heleochloa acutiglumis Boiss. LB 

»Helianthemum syriacum (Jacq.) Dum.-courset PN Wad Eshaìr- 

Wad Qana 

»Helianthemum vesicarium Boiss PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

» Helichrysum virgineum D.C. LB Localised 1000 

2000m. Mtns of N. 

Lebanon. 

»Hormuzakia negevensis (Danin) Danin & Hilger IL 

»Iris antilibanotica - Dinsm. SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Bloudane), 1 

»Iris auranitica- Dinsmore SY Jabal Al-Arab (Kafer- 

Mayamas), 1 

»Iris basaltica -Dinsmore SY West Homs, 1 

»Iris calcarea- Dinms in sched. SY Kurd Dag- Wastani, 2 

»Iris cedreti Dinsm. LB 

»Iris damascena - Mt SY Qassiun, 1 

»Iris sofarana Foster f. kasruwana 

(Dinsm.) Mout. LB Kesrouan Mtns 

1400-2000m. 

»Iris yebrudi -Dinsm. SY Anti-Lebanon 

Mts (Yebrud), 1. 

»Kitaibelia balansae - Boiss. SY Amanus- 

Coastal Mts, 1. 

»Lathyrus lentiformis Plitm. IL 

»Leontodon libanoticus Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500m 

»Limodorum abortivum (L.)Sw. PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Linum carnosulurn Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above1500m 

»Linum chaborasicum -Mout SY Jabal Abdul-Aziz, 1 

»Linum toxicum -Boiss. SY, LB Hermon summit 

»Lycochloa avenacea Sam. LB 

»Marrubium hierapolitanum - Moût. SY Aleppo (Manbij) 

»Marrubium libanoticum Boiss., LB 

»Matthiola crassifolia Boiss. Et Gaill. LB Littoral coast 

» Melissa inodora Bornm. LB coast up to 2000m 

»Micromenia nummularifolia Boiss LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500-2000m 

»Minuartia libanotica LB 

»Myopordon pulchellurn 

(Winkler et Barbey) Wagenitz LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above 2000m 

»Nepeta pabotii - Moût. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Odontites lutea (L.) Clairv. var. hispidula Boiss LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

300-1400m 

»Ononis ornithopodioides L. PN 2 

»Ononis serrata Forsk PN Wad Elbalat,Um 

Safa, Beit Illo 

»Origanum bargyli - Moût. SY Berghal-Slenfeh, 1 

» Origanum ehrenbergii Boiss. LB coast up to 2000m 

»Origanum ehrenbergii Boiss. 

» X Origanum syriacum L. LB coast up to150000m 

»Origanum libanoticum Boiss LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

300-2000m 

»Origanum ramonense Danin IL 

»Ornithogalum libanoticum Boiss et Bal LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1400-2000m 

»Ornithogalum nutans sp.nova IL Israel 

»Orobanche palaestina Reuter. PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Orobanche astragali Mout. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1800m 

»Orobanche hermonis Mouterde LB Sommet de l’Hermon 

»Orobanche scultzii PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Papaver umbonatun Boiss. Diagn LB 

»Pentapera sicula (Guss.) Klotzsch 

var. libanotica C et W LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

500-2000m 

»Phylitis sagitata PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Pilgerochloa blanchei (Boiss.) Eig LB 

»Polygonum senegalense Meissner PN Wad Eshaìr-Wad Qana 

»Potentilla geranioides syriaca LB 

»Prangos deserti - Post et Beauv. SY Bilas-Shair, 2 

»Ptilosteman diacantha (Labill.) Greuter LB 

»Puschkinia scilloides Adams var. libanotica LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1800m



Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest. 

Atlantic cedar is native to the Atlas 

Mountains of Morocco and Algeria in 

northern Africa 

Middle Atlas, Morocco 








»Ranunculus ficaria L. PN Wad Elbalat,Um 


»Ranunculus orbiculatus Blanche LB 

»Ranunculus schweinfurthii Boiss LB 

»Rhamnus alaternus L. PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Rhododendron ponticum L. 

»var. brachycarpum Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

800-2000m 

»Romulea nivalis - Boiss et Ky SY, LB Lebanon 

Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Rorippa macrocarpa (Boiss.) Mout LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

500-1500m 

»Rosularia kesrouanensis Mout. LB 

»Rosularia parvifolia - Frod. et Sam. SY Hermon, 1 

»Rumex angustifolius Campd ssp. 

libanoticus Rech f 

LB 

»Rumex rothschildianum Aarons. IL 

»Salsola zenobiae - Mout SY Palmyra, 1 

»Salvia drusica -Moût. SY Jabal Al Arab, 1 

»Salvia nazalena - Hedge et Mouterde SY Lower Anti-Leb. 

(Qaryatein), 1 

»Saponaria bargyliana - Gombault SY Slenfeh, 1 

»Scandix blepharicarpa O.Cohen IL 

»Scandîx damascena - Bornm. SY Qassiun, 1 

»Scariola triquetra (Labill.) Sojak LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

0-2000m 

»Scorzonera libanotica Boiss. LB 

»Sedum palaestinum PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Sedum litoreum Guss. PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

» Sedum louisii -Frôd 

SY Qassiun, Palmyra, 1 

»Senecio delbesianus - Arènes SY Upper Jezira, 1 

»Senecio exilis Blanche ex Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above 2000m 

»Serapias vomeracea Briqu PN Wad Elbalat, 

Um Safa, Beit Illo 

»Silene conoidea L. LB 

»Silene damascena Boiss. et Gaill. LB 

»Silene physalodes - Boiss. SY Golan, 1 

»Silene reuteriana Boiss LB 

»Silene schlumbergeri -Boiss. SY Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Spartium junceum L PN Wad Elbalat,Um 


»Stachys palaestina PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Stachys ehrenbergii boiss LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500m 

» Stachys hydrophila Boiss. LB coast to 2000m 

»Stachys petrokosmos - Rech. fil. SY Amanus (Kassab), 1 

»Stellaria cilicica Boiss. et Bal ssp.neglata LB 

»Tanacetum yabrudae - 

»Charpin et Dittrich (Moût) SY Lower Anti-Lebanon 

(Yabrud-Maalula), 1 

»Teucrium antilibanoticum - Moût. SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Tal’at Musa), 1 

»Teucrium coniortodes - Boiss. et Bl. SY Abu-Rujmain 

(Jabal Abiad), 1 

»Teucrium heterotrichum - Briq. Ex Rech. fil. SY Coastal Mts 

(Bhamra), 1. 

»Teucrium lamiifolium PN Wad Elbalat 


»Teucrium montbretii PN Yaseed-Ibzeik


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

95 




»Teucrium montbretii Benth. LB 

»Thesium libanoticum Ehrenb. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1400m 

»Thymus alfredae - Post SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Rankouss, Maalula), 1 

»Trifolium sannineum Mout. LB 

»Trifolium bonnevillei - Moût SY Jabal Al-Arab 

(Qanawat) 

Lajat (Shahba), 2 

»Tulipa lownei Baker LB 

»Tulipa aucheriana Baker ssp westii ssp. Nova LB 

»Valerianella antilibanotica - Rech. f. SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Zabadani), 1 

»Valerianella soyeri - Buchinger in Boiss. SY Wadi al Qarn, 1 

»Veronica caespitosa Boiss. subsb. 

leiophyla (Boiss) M.A.Fisher LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above 2000m 

»Vicia basaltica Plitman IL 

»Vicia canescens Labill. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

above 2000m 

»Vicia esdraelonensis Warb. & Eig IL 

»Vicia qatmensis -Gomb. SY Kurd Dag (Qatma), 1 

»Viola libanotica Boiss. LB W. slopes. Mt.Lebanon 

1500m 

»Ziziphora ‘Abd-el-Asisii - Hand.-Mazz. SY Jabal Abdul Aziz, 1 

»Acantholimon antilibanoticum - Moût. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Anchonium billardieri -D.C. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Astragalus gaillardotii - Boiss SY, LB Hermon 

»Astragalus hirsutissimus - D.C. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Bellevalia hermonis - mt SY, LB Hermon. Anti-Lebanon 

»Convolvulus libanoticus - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Gypsophila frankenioides Boiss. 

»Var libanotica Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Iris lortetii W. Barbey PN, IL 

»Johrenia westii - Post SY, LB Upper Orontes valley 

»Micromeria libanotica - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Minuartia innominata -McNeill SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Minuartia labillardieri - Briquet SY, LB Hermon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Plantago maris-mortui Eig IL,JO,PN 

»Silene astartes - Blanche SY, LB Hermon 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Silene grisea Boiss. IL,LB,PN 

»Silene oxyodonta Barbey IL,JO,PN 

»Sison exaltatum Boiss. IL,LB, 

»Thlaspi brevicaule- Boiss. et Ky SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Lebanon Mts. 




Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Levant+ Egypt 

»Biarum olivieri Blume EG, PN 

Site Restricted Species in East Mediterranean/ Syria+Turkey 

»Allium calyptratum - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Allium cassium - Boiss. SY, TR Summets of 

Coastal Mts. 

»Convolvulus cassius - Sam. ex Rech. fil. SY, TR Amanus, 1 

»Ferulago amani - Post SY, TR Kaipok-Dag loc. 

» 

Site Restricted Species with disjunct distributions 

»Silene bocconei ssp. praecox DZ, IT, FR Edough Peninsula, 

Sardinia, Corsica 

»









Part 2: RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES: 

Extent of occurrence


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

97 







»Cirsium chrysacanthum MA 5 

»Cirsium dyris MA 5 

»Cistus munbyi MA, DZ Beni Snassen 

»Convolvulus gharbensis MA Maamora 

»Convolvulus mazicum MA 6 

»Convolvulus pitardii MA 2 

»Coris monspeliensis var. maroccana MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Coronilla viminalis MA 2 

»Crepis hookeriana MA 4 

»Crocus nevadensis MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Crocus nevadensis MA Toubkal 

»Crocus serotinus ssp. salzmanii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Cupressus atlantica MA Aghbar 

»Cyclamen repandum ssp. atlanticum Maire 

(= var. baborense) MA, DZ Babor mountains, 

Taza national park 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Cynara baetica ssp. maroccana MA 2 

»Cynoglossum pitardianum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Cynoglossum watieri MA 3 

»Cytisopsis ahmedii MA Jbel Krouz 

»Cytisus arboreus ssp. arboreus MA, DZ Beni Snassen 

»Cytisus maurus MA Parc Tazekka 

»Daucus tenuisectus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Dianthus rupicola Biv. ssp. hermaeensis 

(Coss.) O. Bolòs & Vigo TN Jebel El Haouaria et 

Ile de Zembra 

»Digitalis atlantica DZ Babor moutains, 

Taza national park 

»Digitalis lutea ssp. transiens MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Oriental, Jbel Mgoun 

»Draba hederefolia MA 2 

»Draba hederifolia ssp. hederifolia MA Toubkal 

»Draba hederifolia ssp. cossoniana MA 4 

»Draba oreadum MA 2 

»Draba oreadum ssp. oreadum MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Dracaena draco ssp. ajgal MA Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 

»Dracocephalum renati MA 4 

»Echium humile ssp. caespitosum MA Toubkal 

»Echium velutinum MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Oriental 

»Echium velutinum ssp. versicolor MA Toubkal 

»Elymus festucoides MA 2 

»Elymus marginatum ssp. marginatum MA 2 

»Epimedium perralderianum DZ Kefrida, Babors, 

Beni-Foughal 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Erodium battandierianum Rouy Park DZ Babor moutains, 

Taza national 

parkErodium cossoni MA Toubkal 

»Eruca loncholoma (Pamel) O.E. Schulz DZ Chelia, (NE-Algeria) 

»Erucastrum brevirostre MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Erucastrum elatum MA 2 

»Eryngium argyreum MA Maamora 

»Eryngium atlanticum MA Maamora 

»Eryngium maroccanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Eryngium tricuspidatum ssp., mauritanicum MA, DZ Beni Snassen 

»Eryngium triquetrum ssp. xauense MA Parc Tazekka 

»Eryngium varrifolium MA 2 

»Euphorbia mesatlantica MA 10 

»Euphorbia resinifera MA 2 

»Euphorbia rimarum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Evax crocidion MA, DZ Algéro.marocains 

»Evonymus latifolius var. kabylica MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Fedia pallescens ssp. hirsuta MA 4 

»Feeria angustifolia MA 2 

»Festuca atlantica ssp. oxyphylla MA 2 

»Festuca demnatensis MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Festuca fontqueri MA 5 

»Festuca mairei MA Toubkal 

»Festuca rifana MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Filago duriaei MA, DZ Algéro-Ibéro 

Marocains 

»Fumaria berberica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Fumaria macrosepala ssp. obscura MA Parc Tazekka 

»Fumaria pugsleyana MA 

»Galium acuminatum MA Toubkal 

»Galium bourgaeanum MA, DZ Ghar-Rouban area 

Morocco. 

»Galium bourgeanum ssp. maroccanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Galium brunnaeum Munby MA, DZ, TN Béjaia, Chenoua, 

Tlemcen (N-Algeria) 

»Galium viscosum ssp. rifanum MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Genista numidica ssp. filiramea DZ Djurdjura national 

park, Akfadou 

(N-Algeria) 

»Genista numidica ssp. numidica DZ and Edough peninsula, 

Taza national park + 

Collo peninsula 

»Genista scorpius MA 2 

»Genista scorpius ssp. myriantha MA Tamga 

»Genista vepres DZ and Taza national park, 

etc. (NE-Algeria) 

»Gentiana atlantica MA 2 

»Gentiana penetii MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Gentiana tornezyana MA 2 

»Geranium cataractarum ssp. pitardii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Geranium nanum MA 4 

»Globularia nainii MA 8 

»Hedysarum naudinianum Coss DZ Bibans, Guergour, 

Zaccar, Ouarsenis, 

Boghar 

»Hedysarum perralderianum Coss. DZ Djebel Chelia, 

Bellezma + djebel 

Bou Thaleb









»Helichrysum lacteum MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Heliocauta atlantica MA 2 

»Heracleum sphondylium MA Aghbar 

»Herniaria pujosii MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Hertia maroccana MA 2 

»Hieracium amplexicaule ssp. atlanticum MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Hieracium ernestii Maire DZ Babor mountains 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Hieracium faurelianum Maire DZ Djebel Chelia, 

Bellezma national 


»Hieracium pseudopiosella ssp. subtenuicaule MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium pseudopiosella ssp. tenuicaule MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hieracium pseudopiosella 

ssp. tenuicauliforme MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hippocrepis liouvillei MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Hippocrepis liouvillei ssp. liouvillei MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hippocrepis maura MA Maamora 

»Hippocrepis neglecta MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Hypochoeris angustifolia MA 3 

»Hypochoeris leontodoides MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Inula maletii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Isatis djurdjurae MA, DZ Djurdjura national 

park, Babor mnts. 

»Jasione montana ssp. cornuta MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Jasonia (Chiliadenus) rupestris MA, DZ Ghar-Rouban area 

orient. Tlemcen mnts. 

»Juniperus thurifera L. ssp. africana Maire DZ Aurès (NE-Algeria) 

»Juniperus thurifera ssp. africana MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Lactuca virosa MA Aghbar 

»Lactuca virosa ssp. cornigera MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Laserpitium emilianum MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Oriental 

»Lavandula stoechas ssp. atlantica MA Toubkal 

»Lavandula tenuisecta MA 2 

»Lens villosa MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Leontodon pitardii MA 4 

»Leontodon salzmanii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Leontodon taraxacoides ssp. mesorrhynchus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Leucanthemum mairei MA 5 

»Leuzea berardioides MA 5 

»Limonium mouretii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Linaria amethystea ssp. Broussonetii (Poir.) 

Malato-Beliz) MA Maamora 

»Linaria cossoni Barrate TN NE de la Tunisie 

»Linaria decipiens Batt. DZ Chelia, (NE-Algeria) 

»Linaria maroccana MA Tamga 

»Linaria multicaulis ssp. pseudosupina MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Linaria scariosa Desf. TN, DZ tuniso-algériennes 

»Linaria tristis MA Toubkal 

»Linaria tristis ssp. lurida MA 3 

»Linaria tristis ssp. pectinata MA Parc Tazekka 

»Linaria ventricosa MA 3 

»Linaria weilleri MA Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 

»Lithodora maroccana MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Lotononis maroccana MA 2 

»Lotus maroccanus MA 3 

»Luzula atlantica MA Toubkal 

»Marrubium ayardii MA 4 

»Marrubium echinatum MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Orient., Parc d’Ifrane 

»Marrubium multibracteatum MA 5 

»Matthiola scapifera MA 3 

»Medicago suffruticosa ssp. maroccana MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Orient., Parc d’Ifrane 

»Mentha gattefossei MA 2 

»Mentha suaveolens MA Toubkal 

»Mentha suaveolens ssp. timija MA Aghbar 

»Mibora maroccana MA Maamora 

»Moehringia stellarioides DZ Babor moutains, 

Taza national park+ 

Collo peninsula 

»Myosotis atlantica MA 4 

»Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Narcissus rupicola ssp. watieri MA Toubkal 

»Nasturtium africanum ssp. mesatlanticum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Nepeta atlantica MA 3 

»Nepeta hispanica ssp. statice MA Jbel Maasker, 

Parc d’Ifrane 

»Nepeta stachyoides MA Aghbar 

»Nivellea nivellei MA 2 

»Odontites powellii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Odontites violacea Pomel DZ Djurdjura national 

park, Babor mnts. 

»Oenanthe pimpinelloides ssp. callosa MA Parc Tazekka 

»Onobrychis cadevalli MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Onobrychis humilis MA Toubkal 

»Onobrychis humilis ssp. jahandiezii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Ononis serotina ssp. eu-serotina Maire DZ Zaccar, oued Imbert 

»Ononis atlantica MA 3 

»Ononis maweana var. fontqueri MA Maamora 

»Ononis thomsonii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Onopordum dyris MA 2 

»Origanum elongatum MA 2 

»Ormenis scariosa MA 4 

»Orobanche chrysacanthi MA Toubkal 

»Orobanche hookeriana MA Toubkal 

»Orobanche leptantha Pomel MA, DZ Monts Trara 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Oropetium africanum MA Jbel Kest, Anezi,Imzi 

»Paeonia corallina (mascula) ssp. atlantica DZ Akfadou forests, 

Djurdjura, Babor 

mnts., Taza, etc. 

»Papaver atlanticum MA Toubkal


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

99 

Lac des Oiseaux 

© Samraoui 







»Pedicularis numidica DZ Taza national park , 

Collo peninsula, 

Edough peninsula 

»Phagnalon atlanticum MA Toubkal 

»Phagnalon calycnum ssp. caroli paui MA Parc Tazekka 

»Phagnalon embergeri MA 3 

»Phagnalon helichrysoides MA 2 

»Phagnalon helichrysoides ssp. helichrysoides MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Phagnalon platyphyllum MA Toubkal 

»Phlomis bovei ssp. maroccana MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Pinus nigra ssp. mauritanica MA, DZ Djurdjura national 

park, Rif mountains, 

Sierra Nevada 

»Pinus pinaster ssp. Hamiltoni 

var. maghrebiana MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Pinus pinaster ssp. hamiltoni var. maghrebiana MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Pistorinia attenuata ssp. attenuata MA Tamga 

»Pitardia caerulescens MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Platanthera algeriensis MA Toubkal 

»Platycapnos saxicola MA Toubkal 

»Poa alpina ssp. atlantica MA 3 

»Polygala balansae MA 2 

»Polygala boissieri MA Toubkal 

»Polygonum balansae ssp. Rhizoxylon MA Jbel Bou Ibane 

»Potentilla maura MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Potentilla tornezyana MA 2 

»Primula acaulis ssp. atlantica MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Pterocephalus depressus MA Toubkal 

»Ptilostemon dyricola MA 3 

»Ptilostemon rhiphaeus MA Parc Tassemtane 

»Pyrus communis ssp. gharbiana MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Raffenaldia platycarpa MA 2 

»Ranunculus aurasiacus MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Ranunculus calandrinioides MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Ranunculus dyris MA 2 

»Reseda attenuata MA Toubkal









»Reseda nainii MA Parc Haut 


»Retama dasycarpa MA 2 

»Rhamnus lycioides ssp. atlantica MA 3 

»Rhodanthemum catananche MA 2 

»Rhodanthemum gayanum MA Toubkal 

»Rhodanthemum gayanum ssp. demnatense MA 2 

»Rhodanthemum maroccanum MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Rhodanthemum pseudo-catananche MA Toubkal 

»Rhodanthemum redieri MA 4 

»Rhodonthemum atlanticum MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Romulea battandieri Beguinot DZ Djurdjura nat. park 

»Romulea numidica MA, DZ Parc d’Ifrane Algéro. 

marocains 

»Romulea penzigii Beguinot DZ Djurdjura nat. park 

»Romulea vaillantii Quézel DZ Djebel Chélia 

»Rorippa hayanica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Rumex atlanticus MA 4 

»Rumex ginii MA 2 

»Sagina saginoides ssp. parviflorum MA Toubkal 

»Salix atrocinerea ssp. jahandiezii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Salvia lavandulifolia ssp. mesatlantica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Sanguisorba minor ssp. maroccana MA 2 

»Satureja arganietorum MA Jbel Kest ,Anezi,Imzi 

»Satureja atlantica MA 3 

»Satureja grandiflora ssp. baborensis MA, DZ Babor mnts. (NE-Alg.) 

Rif (N-Morocco) 

»Saxifraga numidica Maire DZ Babor mountains 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Saxifraga pedemontana ssp. demnatensis MA 4 

»Scutellaria orientalis ssp. demnatensis MA 5 

»Sedum dasyphyllum ssp. oblongifolium MA Toubkal 

»Sedum jaccardianum MA Jbel Ayachi 

»Sedum jahandiezii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Sedum melanantherum MA Toubkal 

»Sedum modestum MA 3 

»Sedum surculosum MA Toubkal 

»Sedum tuberosum Coss. & Letourn. TN, DZ tuniso-algériennes 

(Algérois, G de 

Kabylie) 

»Selaginella balansae MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Sempervivum tectorum ssp. atlanticum MA Toubkal 

»Senecio gallerandianus Coss. et Dur. DZ Djurdjura, Babor, 

Aures (NE-Algeria) 

»Seseli libanotis ssp. atlanticum MA 3 

»Sideritis jahandiezii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Sideritis oromaroccana MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Sideritis vilosa MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene ayachica MA 3 

»Silene barrattei Murb. TN Est de la Tunisie (de 

Bizerte à Gafsa) 

»Silene corrugata MA 2 

»Silene cuatrecasasii MA 3 

»Silene dyris MA 3 

»Silene filipetala MA Toubkal 

»Silene glabrescens MA Maamora 

»Silene heterodonta MA 2 

»Silene heterodonta ssp. rosella MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene mekinensis MA 2 

»Silene mentagensis MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene mesatlantica Maire MA 5 

»Silene pomelii ssp. adusta MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene portensis MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Silene reticulata Desf. TN, DZ tuniso-algériennes 

(Tell algérois, Gde 

Kabylie) 

»Silene reverchonii Batt. DZ Babor mountains 

(NE-Algeria) 

»Silene velutinoides Pomel DZ Monts Tlemcen,Ghar- 

Rouban, Constantine 

»Silene virescens MA Tamga 

»Silene volubilitana MA Jbel Bouhachem 

»Sisymbrium maurum MA 2 

»Sixalix (Scabiosa) cartenniana DZ Cap Ténès 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Sonchus tenerrimus var. amicus 

»Faure, Maire & Wilczek DZ Habibas islands 

(NW-Algeria) 

»Spergularia microsperma ssp. oreophila MA 2 

»Spergularia pycnorrhiza (Maire) P. Monnier DZ Habibas islands + 

Ain Franin (NW-Alg.) 

»Spergularia tenuifolia Pomel DZ Miliana, Relizane, 

Tiaret (NW-Algeria) 

»Stachys arenaria ssp. divaricatidens MA 2 

»Stachys mialhesi De Noe DZ Djebel Chenoua 

»Stachys mouretii MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Stachys saxicola ssp. saxicola MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Stachys saxicola ssp. villosissima MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Stipa nitens MA 7 

»Teucrium chamaedrys ssp. gracile MA 3 

»Teucrium collincola MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Teucrium decipiens MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Teucrium joannis MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Teucrium malenconianum MA Tamga 

»Teucrium mideltense MA Parc Haut Atlas Orient. 

»Teucrium musimonum MA 6 

»Teucrium rotundifolium var. atlanticum MA 2 

»Thymus atlanticus MA 4 

»Thymus ciiatus ssp. munbyanus var. comosus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Thymus dreatensis DZ Babor Mtns + 

Bibans, Mt Dreat, Mt 

Dira,Takoucht Belezma 

»Thymus maroccanus MA Aghbar 

»Thymus maroccanus ssp. maroccanus MA Parc d’Ifrane 

»Thymus satureioides MA 2 

»Tolpis barbata MA Aghbar 

»Tolpis barbata ssp. liouvillei MA Toubkal 

»Trifolium humile MA 5


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

101 







»Tripodion kremerianum MA, DZ Parc National 

de Tazekka 

»Tulipa sylvestris MA, DZ Algéro.marocains 

»Urginea fugax var. major MA Maamora 

»Vella mairei MA 3 

»Verbascum calycinum MA Toubkal 

»Verbascum hookerianum MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Oriental 

»Verbascum lychnitis var. giganteum MA Parc Haut Atlas 

Oriental 

»Veronica chartonii MA Jbel Mgoun 

»Viola dyris MA 2 

»Viola maroccana MA 3 

»Viola mumbyana var. rifana MA Jbel Bou Naceur 

»Viola saxifraga MA 4 

»Viola subatlantica MA Parc d’Ifrane 

Restricted range species in North Africa Magreb+ other North 

African countries or Egypt and/or Libya 

»Anacamptis cyrenaica (E.A.Durand & Barratte) 

H.Kretzsmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Anthemis cyrenaica Coss 

LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Anthemis kruegeriana Pamp. 


»Anthemis microsperma Boiss. & Kotschy EG Western Medit coast. 

dunes, St Katherine 

» Anthemis taubertii Durand & Barratte LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Arbutus pavarii Pamp. 


»Arbutus pavarii Pamp. LY, TN Libya & Tunisa 

»Arum cyrenaicum Hurby LY - Crete 

»Astragalus camelorum Barbey EG Lake Bardawil, 


» Athmanta della-cella Ascherson et Barbey LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Atractylis carduus 

var. marmarica Täckh. &Boulos EG Western Medit. 

coastal dunes 

» Ballota andreuzziana Pamp 


»Bellevalia salah-eidii Täckh. & Boulos EG Lake Bardawil 

»Bellevalia sessiliflora (Viv.) Kunth EG, LY Sallum Area 

» Bellevallia Cyrenaica Maire & Weiller ) LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

Type only 1938 

»Bellevallia sessiflora (Viv.) Kunth. LY, EG Libya & Egypt 

»Biscutella didyma var. elbensis 

(Chartek) ElNaggar EG Halayeb Triangle 

»Brassica deserti Danin & Hedge EG Saint Katherine 

»Bromus aegyptiacus Tausch EG Lake Manzala, Lake 

Mariut 

»Bunium fontanesii (Pers.) Maire MA, TN, LY du Maroc à la Libye 

»Carthamus mareoticus Delile EG, LY Lake Mariut, 

Omayed, Sallum Area 

»Centaurea alexandrina Delile EG, LY Rare Omayed, W 

Medit. coastal dunes 

» Centaurea cyrenaica Beguinot & Vacc. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Convolvulus maireanus Pamp. 


» Crocus boulosii Greuter 


» Cyclamen rohlfsianum Ascher. 


»Desmazeria lorentii H. Scholz LY, TN Libya & Tunisa 

»Ebenus armitagei Schweinf. &Taub. EG, LY Rare Omayed 

» Erodium tocranum Guitt. Et Le Houerou . LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Euphorbia pseudo-apios Maire & Weiller LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Frankenia syrtica (Maire & Weiller) 

Brullo & Furnari LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Helianthemum cyrenaicum (Grosser) 

Brullo & Furnari LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Herniaria cyrenaica F. Herm. LY, EG Libya & Egypt. 

» Heteromera philaenorum Maire & Weiller LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Hypericum decaisneanum Coss. & Daveau LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Ifloga spicata ssp. elbaensis Chartek EG Halayeb Triangle 

» Lactuca haimanniana E.A.Durand & Barratte LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Libyella cyrenaica 

(E.A.Durand & Barratte) Pamp. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Limonium cyrenaicum (Rouy) Brullo LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Limonium subrotundifolium (Bég. & Vacc.) Brullo LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Limonium vaccarii Brullo 


» Medicago cyrenaea Maire & Weiller LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Muscari stenanthum Freyn . 


Probably endemic & 

very rare 

» Nepeta cyrenaica Quézel & Zaffran LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Nepeta vivianii (Cosson) Béguinot & Vacc. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Onopordum cyrenaicum Maire & Weiller LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Onosma cyrenaica E.A.Durand & Barratte LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Orchis taubertiana B.Baumann & H.Baumann LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Origanum cyrenaicum Beg. Et Vacc. 

(=O. akhdarensis Letswart & Boulos, Amaracus 

akhdarensis (Ietsw. & al) Brullo & Furnari, 

and Amaracus pampaninii Brullo & Furnari) LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Pachyctenium mirabilis Maire & Pamp. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Pallenis cyrenaica Alavi 


»Pancratium arabicum Sickenb. EG W Medit. coast. dunes 

»Petrohagia cyrenaica (Durand & Barratte) 

Ball & Heywood LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

»Phlomis aurea Decne. EG Saint Katherine 

» Picris mauginiana Pam. 


» Plantago cyrenaica Durand & Barratte LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Polygala aschersoniana Chodat 


» Ranunculus cyclocarpus Pamp. 


» Satureja fortii Pam. 


» Sedum bracteatum Viv. 


» Sedum laconicum Boiss & Heldr 


»Silene biappendiculata Rohrb. LY, EG NE Libya and Egypt 

» Sixalix libyca (Alavi) Greuter & Burdet LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Stachys rosea (Desf.) Boiss 


probably endemic 

» Teucrium apollinis Maire & Weiller LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Teucrium barbeyanum Asch. & Taub. LY Jabal Akhdar area only 

» Teucrium davaeanum Coss. 


» Teucrium zanonii Pomel 

LY Jabal Akhdar area only









» Thesium erythronicum Pamp. 


» Umbilicus mirus (Pamp.) Greuter 


Restricted range species in East Mediterranean 

/Levant+ Egypt (Sinai) 

»Allium papillare Boiss. IL, EG (Si) Israel, Egypt (Sinai) 

»Allium sinaiticum Boiss. IL,EG (Si), SA, JO 

»Allium tel-avivense Eig IL,EG (Si), LB Israel coast, S. 

Lebanon and N. 

Sinai (Egypt) 

»Anthemis eliezrae Eig IL, EG (Si) 

»Anthemis zoharyana Eig IL, EG (Si), JO 

»Centaurea procurrens Sieb. 

ex Spreng. IL, LB, EG (Si) Israel coast, S. 

Lebanon and N. 

Sinai (Egypt) 

»Dianthus sinaicus Boiss. IL,EG (Si),PN 

»Hammada negevensis Iljin & Zohary IL, EG (Si) 

»Haplophyllum poorei ssp.negevense 

Zoh. Et Danin 

IS, LB, EG (Si)IS 

»Hypecoum aegyptiacum (Forssk.) 

Asch. & Schw. 

IL, EG (Si) 

»Ifloga rueppellii (Fresen.) Danin IL, JO, EG (Si) 

»Iris mariae Barbey EG (Si) , IL, PN Israel, Egypt (Sinai) 

»Kickxia floribunda (Boiss.) 

Täckholm & Boulos EG, PN North Sinai 

Mountains, Nabq 

»Acantholimon libanoticum - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

» 

Restricted range species in East Mediterranean/Levant 

»Allium asclepiadeum Bornm. IL 

»Allium makmelianum -Post SY, LB Anti-Lebanon -Leb. 

»Allium phanerantherum- Boiss. et Hkn SY, LB, PN Hermon-Lebanon Mts. 

»Amygdalus agrestis - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Anthemis edumea Eig JO 

»Anthemis lyonnetioides - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Anthemis maris-mortui Eig IL, PN, JO Israel, Palestine, 

Jordan 

»Anthemis samuelssonii - Rech. f. SY, LB Homs 

»Astragalus aaronii (Eig) Zohary JO 

»Astragalus argyrothamnos - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Astragalus azraqensis C. C. Towns. JO 

»Astragalus baalbekensis - Bornm. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Astragalus bhamrensis - Sirj. et Rech SY, LB Coastal Mts.. 

»Astragalus dictyocarpus - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Astragalus ehrenbergii- Bunge. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Astragalus emarginatus - Labili. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Astragalus moabiticus Post JO 

»Astragalus psilodontius - Boiss. SY, LB Lower Anti-Lebanon 

»Astragalus transjordanicus Sam. JO 

»Ballota antilibanotica - Post. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon Mts. 

»Bellevalia warburgii Feinbrun IL 

»Berberis libanotica - Ehrenb. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. IL 

»Biarum auraniticum - Mt SY, IL Hauran (Sanamein) 

»Centaurea dumulosa - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

Palmerene 

»Colchicum antilibanoticum Gombo IL,LB,SY, 

»Colchicum feinbruniae K. Pers. IL,LB,SY, 

»Colchicum ramonensis sp.nova IL 

»Colchicum tunicatum Feinbr. IL,JO, 

»Colchicum tuviae Feinbr. IL 

»Convolvulus palaestinus Boiss. IL,LB,SY, 

»Corrigiola palaestina Chaudh. IL, LB 

»Cousinia pestalozzae -Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Crepis robertioides - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Crocus hermoneus ssp. Palaestinus 

Feinb.&Shmida 

IL/JO 

»Crypsis minuartioides (Bornm.) Mez IL 

»Cyperus sharonensis Danin IL 

»Draba vesicaria -Desv. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Erodium choulletianum TN, DZ Djebel Ouahch area 

»Erodium subintegrifolium Eig IL 

»Erodium trichomanifolium - L’Hér. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Ferula daninii Zohary IL 

»Ferula orientalis L. IL/PN Israel 

»Ferula ovina Zohary IL 

»Ferulago frigida - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Filago inexpectata Wagenitz IL,JO,PN 

»Galium philistaeum Boiss. IL 

»Genista libanotica - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Hedysarum coelesyriacum - Sam. SY, LB. Anti-Lebanon 

»Helianthemum sphaerocalyx Gauba & Janch. Omayed, W Medit. 

coastal dunes 

»Heliotropium schweinfurthii - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Iphiona marismortui Feinbrun IL,JO,PN 

»Iris atrofusca Baker ,JO,PN 

»Iris edomensis Sealy JO 

»Iris hermona Dinsm. IS, SY 

»Iris jordana- Dinsm. SY, JO, IL Jordan valley 

»Iris mariae W. Barbey IL 

»Iris petrana Dinsm. IL, JO 

»Kickxia judaica Danin IL,JO, PN 

»Kickxia petrana Danin JO 

»Lamium ehrenbergii - Boiss. et Reut. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Lobularia arabica (Boiss.) Muschl EG, PN Rare Omayed 

»Lycium petraeum Feinbrun JO 

»Onosma caerulescens -Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Orchis israelitica Baumann & DafniI IL, ,LB, 

»Origanum dayi Post IL 

»Origanum petraeum Danin JO


APPENDICES 

SECTION 6 

103 







»Ornithogalum fuscescens IL, PN, SY 

»Papaver carmeli Feinbrun IL 

»Papaver libanoticum -Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Petrorhagia zoharyana Liston IL 

»Poterium compactum - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Ranunculus myosuroides - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Rheum palaestinum Feinbrun IL,JO, 

»Rindera schlumbergeri - Boiss. (Gùrke) SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Rubia danaensis Danin JO 

»Salvia eigii Zohary IL 

»Satureja mabateorum Danin & Hedge JO 

»Satureja thymbrifolia Hedge & Feinbrun IL 

»Satureja thymbrifolia Hedge & Feinbrun IL,JO, 

»Scorzonera libanotica - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Scrophularia nabataeorum Eig JO 

»Sedum palaestinum Boiss. IL,LB,PN 

»Silene danaensis Danin JO 

»Silene palaestina Boiss. IL 

»Silene palaestina Boiss. IL,LB,PN 

»Silene physalodes Boiss. IL,LB, 

»Sonchus suberosus Zohary 

& P.H.Davis IL,JO,PN Paleoendemic: 

related to a Canary 

Sonchus group. 

»Stachys paneiana -Moût. IL, PN, SY 

»Stachys zoharyana Eig IL 

»Sternbergia pulchella Boiss.& Bl. ,LB,SY, 

»Tanacetum densum - Labili. (Schultz Bip.) SY, LB Hermon- Anti- 

Lebanon 

»Tanacetum negevensis Shmida IL 

»Teucrium socinianum - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Tracheliopsis antilibanotica - P.H. Davis SY, LB Anti-lebanon 

»Trichodesma boissieri Post IL,JO,PN 

»Trifolium billardieri Spreng. IL,LB, 

»Trifolium farayense - Moût. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts. 

»Trifolium israeliticum D. Zohary & Katzn. IL 

»Trifolium modestum - Boiss. SY, LB High Levant Mts. 

»Trifolium prophetarum Hossain IL 

»Trifolium salmoneum - Moût. IL, SY Golan- Jabal al 

Arab, 2 

»Trigonella lilacina Boiss PN,IL, LB 

»Tulipa aucheriana - Baker ssp. westîi SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Tulipa lownei - Baker SY, LB Anti-Lebanon 

»Verbascum antilibanoticum - Hub,- Mor. SY, LB Anti-lebanon 

»Verbascum jordanicum Murb. IL,JO,PN 

»Verbascum petrae Davis & Hub.-Mor. JO 

»Vicia hulensis Plitm. IL 

»Ajuga rechingeri - Bilik SY Mountains of the 

Syrian Steppe 

»Alcea acaulis PN Wad Elbalat, 


»Alcea degitata PN Wad Elbalat,Um 


»Alcea leiocarpa - Sam. ex Rech. fi.) SY Kurd Dag 

»Allium chrysantherum - Boiss. Et Reuter SY Upper Jezira 

»Amygdalus korschinskii PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Anchusa tiberiadis - Post SY, IL Aleppo (Jabal 

Semane) -Tiberias 

»Anthemis hebronica Boiss. & Kotschy IL, JO, LB 

»Astragalus dorcoceras - Bunge SY Aleppo, Upper 

Jezira, 1 

»Astragalus duplostrigosus - Post et Beauv. SY Palmyra, Al Bil’as, 4 

»Astragalus galilaeus - Freyn 

et Bornm SY, IL, PN Yarmuk Valley, 1 

»Astragalus stramineus - Boiss. et Ky SY Anti-Lebanon 

(Zabadani-Maalula), 1 

»Astragalus tadmorensis - Eig et Sam. SY Palmyra, 3 

»Atractylis comosa PN 2 

»Bellevalia palmyrensis - Feinbrun SY Syrian Steppe, 2 

»Bupleurum brevicaule PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Callitriche sp. nova. (Mout) SY Golan-Jabal Al-Arab, 2 

»Campanula stellaris Boiss. IL, LB Israel, Lebanon 

»Centaurea longispina - Post SY Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Cicer pinnatifidum Jaub. Et Spach PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Consolida deserti-syriaci - (Zoh) Munz. SY, JO Hauran 

»Consolida gombaultii -(Thiéb) Munz SY Jabal Al-Arab, 2 

»Crocus dispathaceus - Bowles SY Aleppo region, 1 

»Draba oxycarpa - Boiss. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Hermon 

»Echinops descendens - Hand.-Mazz. SY Upper Jezira, 2 

»Euphorbia antilibanotica - Mout SY Anti-Lebanon 

»Euphorbia caudiculosa - Boiss. SY, LB Hermon summet 

»Euphorbia physocaulos - Moût. SY Jabal Al-Arab -Lajat, 2 

»Euphorbia postii - Boiss. SY Ghab, 1 

»Euphorbia promecocarpa - P.H. Davis SY Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Ferulago auranitica - Post SY Jabal Al-Arab 

-Hauran, 1 

»Fibigia heterophylla -Rech. SY Al Bil’as- Al Sha’ir 

»Gagea procera SY, PN, IL Jabal Al-Arab 

»Galium judaicum PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Gypsophila mollis - (Boiss) Bornm. SY, LB Anti-Lebanon- 

Lebanon Mts, 1 

»Gypsophila polygonoides 

Willd. Ssp. ansariensis Rech. SY, LB Coastal Mts. 

»Gypsophila polygonoides 

Willd. Ssp. Barradensis boiss. SY Qassiun- Rakhle, 2 

»Haplophyllum chaborasium- Boiss. 

Et Hausskn. SY Upper Jezira, 2 

»Helichrysum pygmaeum - Post SY Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Iberis odorata PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Iris bostrensis- Moût SY Hauran, Jabal Al- 

Arab, 2 

»Iris fumosa- Bois et Hkn. SY East Hama, 1 

»Iris melanosticta -Bornm. SY Hauran, Jabal Al- 

Arab, 2 

»Iris nusairiensis- Mt SY Coastal Mts, 4.






»Iris palaestina (Bak.) Boiss PN Yaseed-Ibzeik 

»Isoetes libani.- Musselman SY, LB Akkar-Homs 

»Lamium adoxifolium - Handel- Mazzetti. SY Aleppo, 1 

»Lathyrus basalticus- Rech. fil. SY, LB west Homs 

»Lathyrus pygmaeus - Gombault SY Palmyra, 1 

»Lathyrus stenolobus - Boiss. SY Bassit, 2 

»Lythrum junceum PN 2 

»Minuartia parvulorum -Mout et Sam. SY Anti- Lebanon, 2 

»Muscari dinsmorei - Rech. SY Tell Abiad- Upper 

Jezira, 1 

»Onobrychis gaillardotii - Boiss. SY Qassiun-Damascus, 1 

»Onosma cassia - Boiss. SY Amanus (Bassit), 2 

»Ophrys holosericea (Burm.f.)Greut. PN 2 

»Ophrys sintenisii Fleischm. et Bornm PN 2 

»Phagnalon linifolium - Post SY, LB Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Phlomis bailanica - Vierh. SY Coastal Mts, 2. 

»Postia lanuginosa - DC. (Boiss.) SY, LB Qalamun 

»Postia tnicrocephala - Boiss. SY Lower Anti-Lebanon, 1 

»Prangos hermonis - Boiss. SY Hermon-Jabal al- 

Arab, 2 

»Pulicaria laniceps - Bornm. SY Upper Jezira 

»Rosularia lineata -Boiss. SY Lajat, 1 

»Salsola azaurena - Mout SY Bishri- Deirezzor, 2 

»Salsola heliaramiae - Mout SY Palmyra 

»Salsola postii - Eig SY Palmyra, 1 

»Salvia hierosolymitana IL, PN, SY 

»Suaeda carnosissima -Post SY Hijaneh-Qaryetin, 2 

»Teucrium haradjianii - Briq. ex Rech. fil. SY Kurd Dag, Al 

Wastani, Jabal 

Semane, 2 

»Trifolium alsadami - Post SY, LB Jabal Al-Arab 

»Trigonella berythea Boiss. et Bl. PN 2 

»Vicia dionysiensis - Moût SY Jabal Al-Arab, 

Homs, 2 

»Vicia hyaeniscyamus -Moût SY, LB West Homs 

»Onobrychis aurantiaca - Boiss. SY, TR Antakya region 

»Psoralea jaubertiana - Fenzl SY, TR Southern Turkey 

»Salvia aramiensis - Rech. fil. SY, TR Amanus 

»Salvia cassia - Sam. ex Rech. SY, TR Amanus 

»Silene amana - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Silene cassia - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Silene confertiflora - Chowdhuri SY, TR Amanus 

»Silene intricata - Post. SY, TR Amanus 

»Stachys diversifolia - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Trifolium cassium - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Trifolium dichroanthoides - Rech. SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts. 

(Slenfeh). 

»Tunica syriaca -Boiss. SY, TR Antioch region 

»Verbascum scaposum - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Allium bassitense -Thiéb. SY, TR Bassit 

Restricted range species with disjunct populations 

»Fumaria bicolor IT, DZ East of Bou Ismail 

(NW-Algerian coast) 

»Crepis aculeata (DC.) Boiss. IL,LB,CY, 

»Allium lehmanni Lojác. TN, IT 

»Bellevalia dubia (Guss.) Rchb. TN, IT 

Restricted range species in Syria/Turkey 

»Alkanna confusa - Sam. ex Rech. fil. SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts. 

»Alyssum cassium -Boiss. SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts. 

»Alyssum crenulatum - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Anthemis halophila - Boiss. et Bal. SY, TR Antioch region 

»Asphodelus baytopae E.Tuzlaci(1983) SY,TR, 

»Astragalus antiochianus - Post SY, TR Antioch region 

»Astragalus dipodurus - Bunge SY, TR Gaziantep-Kurd Dag 

»Astragalus oxyphyllus - Boiss. SY, TR Gaziantep-Kurd Dag 

»Centaurea arifolia -Boiss. SY, TR Amanus 

»Centaurea cassia - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts. 

»Centaurea ptosimopappa - Hayek SY, TR Amanus 

»Cirsium amani - Post SY, TR Amanus-Kurd Dag 

»Euphorbia haussknechtii - Boiss. SY, TR Upper Jezira 

»Ferulago cassia - Boiss. SY, TR Amanus- Coast. Mts 

»Johrenia porteri - Post. SY, TR Amanus 

Lake Tonga 

Algeria 

© Samraoui

106 SECTION 1 

IPA team 

Morocco 

Egypt 

Jordan 

Univ. Mohammed V-Agdal 

(Morocco) 

Algeria 


Syria 

Tunisia 

Israel 

Albania 

Libya 

Lebanon

SECTION 1 

107 

Donors 

Coordinators

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing 

environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more 

than 1,000 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. The IUCN Centre for 

Mediterranean Cooperation, established in Malaga in 2000, reunites more than 170 IUCN member organizations in the region 

around a common programme of work dedicated to influence, encourage and assist Mediterranean societies to conserve 

nature and sensibly use its resources towards human development. The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a sciencebased 

network of some 7,500 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world, all working together towards achieving 

the vision of, “A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity.” There is an active specialist group working on 

Mediterranean Island Plants. 

www.iucn.org 

Plantlife International is the organisation speaking up for wild plants. We work hard to protect wild plants on the ground 

and to build understanding of the vital role they play in everyone’s lives. Wild plants are essential to life they clean our air 

and water, provide food and shelter for our insects, birds and animals and are critical in the fight against climate change. 

Plantlife carries out practical conservation work, manages nature reserves, influences policy and legislation, runs events 

and activities that connect people with their local wild plants and works internationally with partners to promote the 

conservation of wild plants to the benefit of all. 

www.plantlife.org.uk 

WWF The World Wide Fund for Nature is one of the world’s leading conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop 

the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. 

The network of the WWF’s Mediterranean offices has joined forces to launch the Mediterranean Initiative, a conservation 

strategy pursuing four major goals: protecting and reversing the loss of outstanding Mediterranean landscapes; securing the 

freshwater ecosystems; safeguarding marine ecosystems; ensuring that Mediterranean ecosystems are equipped to adapt 

to climate change. Both WWF Mediterranean Programme Office (MedPO) and WWF Italy contribute to this Initiative. 

www.wwf.org 

This publication has been made 

possible in part by funding from: 

Core support to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean 

Cooperation is provided by:

Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean ... - IUCN

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