Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Lebanon

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Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Lebanon
Elsa J. Sattout, PhD Nizar Hani Chef de
Projet Scientific Coordinator Appui Aux
Reserves Naturelles du Liban Shouf Biosphere
Reserve Agence Francaise de Developpement Lebano
n Beirut-Lebanon E-mailnizar_at_shoufcedar.org E-
mailesattout_at_hotmail.com
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Lebanon
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Shouf Cedar Reserve An overview

• Largest Nature Reserve in Lebanon (2 of the
  Lebanese territory)
• Important Bird Area (IBA)
• Globally southern limit of Cedrus libani and
  including 25 of the remaining cedar forests in
  Lebanon (520 ha)
• First Biosphere Reserve in Lebanon which includes
  in addition to the Shouf Cedar Reserve the most
  important wetland in Lebanon Ammiq wetland

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Shouf Biosphere Reserve Environmental
Highlights

• Some of the highest mountains in the Middle East,
  providing a full wealth of environmental services
  including wild genes pool, freshwater storage,
  climate mitigation, hydro-geologic balance, and
  aesthetic/leisure value.
• The largest stands of Lebanese Cedars, one of the
  Worlds great tree icons.
• Rich flora and plenty of medicinal plants with
  high potential economic value.
• Interesting wildlife with a good potential for
  restoration through the reintroduction of
  charismatic species such as Ibex, Gazelle,
  Vultures, etc.
• A crossroads for bird migration, strategically
  located on the routes between Europe, Africa, and
  West Asia.

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SBR Management

• Co-Management between APAC (Appointed Protected
  Area Committee) and Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS)
  under the umbrella of MOE
• Permanent Staff (13 persons Manager, Assistant
  manager, Scientific Coordinator, Awareness
  Coordinator, Secretary, Guides and Rangers) in
  addition to three seasonal staff

Management Plan - Five programs

1. Research and Monitoring Program
2. Environmental Awareness Program
3. Capacity Building program
4. Eco-tourism Program
5. Rural Development Program

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Eco-tourism and Rural development Infrastructure
ACS and LMT
Conservation through socio-economic activities
Trail 100 km
Guesthouses
Reserve Entrances
Ateliers
Picnic Area
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Climate Change in Lebanon Predictions

• Altitudinal shift in bioclimatic zones
• Most vulnerable bioclimatic zones
• 1 Most humid and cold ones
• 2 Areas lying under severe drought conditions
• 3 Areas where a climatic warming would occur
  within the high altitudinal ranges (gt1500m).
• Medium vulnerability
• Zones with altitude ranging from 500 up to 1500
  where cedar forests grow
• Species within this range will migrate to the
  closest vegetation zone

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Cedar ecosystem Hints on Conservation Status

• In the 90s
• Cedrus libani A. Rich Taxon at lower risk and
  near threatened (LR/nt) IUCN Redlist
• Endangered species, threatened or on the way to
  extinction National records

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Cedar forest ecosystems amidst climate change
impacts

• Location Montane vegetation
• The distribution of cedar ecosystems falling
  within 500 to 1300 precipitation range with a
  mean winter temperatures between 2 5C may
  become increasingly under stress with the upward
  shift in bioclimatic zones.
• SOS Serious decline rapid disappearance

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Migratory aspect of potential species Assumptions

• Cedar forest altitude range will migrate to
  upper altitude ranges
• . . . Narrow broad endemic species
• 1 Abies cilicica
• 2 Tulipa sp.
• 3 Ornithogalum sp.
• 4 Sternbergia sp.
• 5 Romulea sp.
• 6 Orchis sp.
• 7 Rosularia sp.
• 8 Quercus sp.
• . . . Etc.

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Preventing climate change effects in cedar
ecosystems

• !!!!!!!!!! Application of adaptation measures
• Constraints
• Lack of national database on biodiversity
• Lack of human and financial resources for the
  implementation of flora and fauna monitoring
  program designed since 1998

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First indicator of climate change in Cedar
ecosystem Pest Outbreak

• Defoliation by a new insect in the genus
  Cephalcia
• 70 of the Tannourine forest infested
• Located in the northern part of the country
• Major concern arises because of its potential to
  spread to the nearby Bsharry famous cedars and
  other cedar forest in Lebanon the Mediterranean
  region

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Framework for a Monitoring Program in Cedar
ecosystem

• Biotic parameters
• Meteorological data
• Soils (pH, carbon, nitrogen, and nutrients)
• Abiotic parameters
• I. Portfolio on Cedar ecosystem structure
  composition
• Species richness (trees, understory, and lichens)
• Productivity (growth)
• Forest structure (size, distribution, etc.)
• Tree crowns (status and change in dieback and
  foliar transparency)
• Insect and disease (defoliation and mortality)
• Tree mortality (lost volume/gained volume)
• Tree damages (insects, diseases, storms, etc.)
• Sequestration of carbon

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Framework for a Monitoring Program in Cedar
ecosystem Contd

• Abiotic parameters Contd
• II. Diversity indices
• III. Insects
• IV. Mammals wild boars (Adaptive management
  purposes)

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. . . . . . Where R W Now
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Projet sur lAppui aux Reserves Naturelles du
Liban

• Agence Française de Developpment
• Fond Français pour lEnvironnement Mondial
• Ministry of Environment
• Consortium of Lebanese Nature Reserves
• Amiq
• Arz Tannoutine
• Arz Shouf
• Bentael
• Horsh Ehden
• Kfarzabad
• Tyr

• The project is designed to provide support for 4
  major components of each reserve
• 1 Site management (Administrative natural
  resources)
• 2 Biodiversity protection, monitoring
  management
• 3 Environmental awareness
• 4 Biodiversity conservation through local
  development and eco-tourism activities
• 5 Capacity development with provision of
  international technical support

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Whats NextRoad Map. . . . . . . . .
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Developing a long term program for nature
reserve

• Sustaining the Diversity of Life in Mosaic
  Ecosystems
• Long-term Conservation Program in Lebanese
  Protected Areas

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Thank YOU!!