53 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region CHAPTER 3 39 26 ALGERIA 17 15 37 Argel 21 32 19 36 08 12 33 30 01 04 27 07 24 03 38 05 28 25 14 11 13 34 18 10 09 02 06 20 22 35 23 31 16 29 KBA for plants in Algeria (source IUCN Med) KBAs for plants Mediterranean hotspot boundary ALGERIA Authors Salima Benhouhou Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie, El Harrach Nassima Yahi Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, Bab Ezzouar Errol Véla Université de Montpellier Contributors Abdelkader Benkheira Direction Générale des Forêts Ministère de l’Agriculture, du Développement Rural et de la Pêche de l’Algérie Ilham Loucif Kabouya Direction Générale des Forêts Ministère de l’Agriculture, du Développement Rural et de la Pêche de l’Algérie Wissam Toubal Direction Générale des Forêts, Ministère de l’Agriculture, du Développement Rural et de la Pêche de l’Algérie Roger Manière SIG consultant for methodology and habitat mapping, Nice, France 01 El Kala 1 B1 Erodium populifolium L’Hér Formed of sand dunes, alluvial plains and sandstone and clay hills in Numidia. The richness of its flora is due to the high diversity of habitats, the most remarkable of which are lagoons, marshes, lakes, meadows and hills. This KBA hosts twothirds of Algeria’s orchids and pteridophytes and nearly 10% of its taxa of Afrotropical origin. 02 El Kala 2 B1 Odontites triboutii Gren. & Paill. The cork oak and zeen oak forests of the Medjerda mountains in this KBA, based on the sandstones and clays of Numidia, are characterised by a diversity of habitats (cliffs, small rivers, springs and temporary ponds) with high species richness. 03 Edough peninsula B1 Calamintha hispidula Boiss. & Reut. The Edough crystalline complex forms a promontory in the Mediterranean, which reaches an elevation of 1,008 m at Kef Sebaâ. The varied lithology combined with the insularity of this massif and its generous rainfall are responsible for a high level of biodiversity dominated by forests of cork oak and zeen oak. 04 Guerbes B1 Bellis prostrata Pomel This complex comprises more than 41 wetlands, including lagoons, ponds, marshes and riparian areas. Its morphological and lithological diversity, combined with 700 mm annual rainfall, explain the diversity of the area’s flora and fauna. 05 Djebel Ouahch B1 Ranunculus batrachioides Pomel subsp. maghrebianus Dobignard. Djebel Ouahch, located north-east of Constantine on Numidian sandstone in the sub-humid zone with cool winters, is very favourable for orchids and bulb species (Iridaceae and Liliaceae), with around 10 endemic taxa. 06 Belezma B1 Hedysarum perrauderianum Coss. & Durieu Belezma KBA is located in a continental high-mountain national park at 1,000 to 2,178 m above sea level). The pedological diversity (marl, sandstone and dolomitic limestone) and the cool sub-humid to cold semi-arid bioclimatic zone favours a varied vegetation with cedar forests, Quercus ilex forest and open formations that contain numerous endemic plant species. 07 Babor mountains A1, B1 Abies numidica Carrière The Babor range is a hilly area 15 km from the sea that receives high rainfall. The mainly limestone substrate favours the establishment of a diverse vegetation dominated by many remarkable tree species (Atlas cedar, Numidian fir, oak, maples, mountain ash, aspen poplar). Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region 08 Taza National Park B1 Digitalis atlantica Pomel Taza National Park is a very rugged, mountainous area that rises to 1,121 m, comprising sedimentary terrains with igneous parent rock and volcanic terrains. The temperate humid zone favours the development of major forest formations hosting many endemic and more than 100 rare and very rare plant species. 09 Gouraya National Park B1 Bupleurum plantagineum Desf. This dolomitic limestone massif stretches from the Wadi Tazeboudt coast in the west to the end of the Cape Bouak peninsula in the east. Its unique geography makes it an exceptional site for the establishment of a stenoendemic flora on vertical limestone walls with north-facing exposure to the sea. 10 Akfadou Forest B1 Teucrium kabylicum Batt. This KBA contains one of the most important deciduous oak forests in Algeria (primarily zeen and afares oaks) as well as well-developed keratin trees . These forest formations have developed on substrates composed mainly of Numidian sandstones in the warm sub-humid to cold humid bioclimatic zones. 11 Djurdjura National Park B1 Bunium chabertii (Batt.) Batt. Djurdjura National Park consists of a limestone range rising to 2,308 m at LallaKhedidja. The high annual rainfall (1,200 to 1,500 mm) allows a remarkable flora to develop. It is a biodiversity hotspot with nearly 1,100 plant species, including many that are endemic or rare. 12 Theniet El Had National Park B1 Silene reticulate Desf. This KBA is home to the westernmost cedars in Algeria, in a humid to sub-humid bioclimate with cold winters. The soils, established on Numidian sandstones, are poorly developed and allow cedar trees to grow in association with zeen oaks, holm oaks and cork oaks. 13 Chrea National Park B1 Cirsium kirbense Pomel This KBA is home to the northernmost cedars in the country, together with centenarian yew and holly trees. Rainfall varies between 700 and 1,400 mm. It also contains formations of green oak, cork oak, Aleppo pine, thuja and riverine forest alongside stunning gorges and waterfalls. 14 Oran Hills B1 Bellevalia pomelii Maire Occupying a limestone hill in a semi-arid bioclimate, this KBA contains a relict Quercus suber forest. 15 Mount Chenoua B1 Polygala munbyana Boiss. & Reut. Mount Chenoua is a rugged coastal area that rises to 905 m. It receives an annual rainfall ranging between 600 and 1,000 mm. The main plant formation is pure Tetraclinis or mixed with Aleppo pine and, more rarely, holm oak. There is also a remarkable formation on rocks and limestone scree represented by Crucianella latifolia and Lathyrus saxatilis. 16 Ghar Rouban B1 Linaria burceziana Maire This area of mountain forest cut by gorges was formerly well known for its now abandoned mines. This border area is difficult to access and has not been explored botanically for a long time. 17 Cap Tenes B1 Limonium letourneuxii (Batt.) Greuter & Burdet A narrow strip of compact Eocene conglomerates forms the ‘prow’ of this headland. The Cape itself is made up of compact Jurassic limestone. The remarkable palaeogeographical history of this site is undoubtedly why several stenoendemic plant species occur here. 18 Traras mountains B1 Orobanche leptantha Pomel These coastal mountains have a semi-arid bioclimate with warm winters. Occupying a variety of pedological and geological substrata, this KBA is characterised by well-preserved vegetation that holds many endemics. 19 Habibas Islands B1 Brassica spinescens Pomel The Habibas Islands, devoid of watercourses, have a land area of about 40 hectares. From a geological and sedimentary point of view, the Habibas are almost entirely made up of volcanic rocks and harbour a flora of high heritage value. CHAPTER 3 20 Eastern Aurès (Chelia and Ouled Yagoub) B1 Centaurea tougourensis Boiss. & Reut., The Aurès massif rises to 2,326 m at Jebel Chelia, which receives enough rainfall to maintain cedar forests. The ridges are covered with grassland with thorny chamaephytes, rich in taxa. In the eastern part of Aurès, the Ouled Yagoub massif is home to Crepis faureliana, which has not been seen since 1938. 21 Mount Zaccar B1 Hedysarum naudinianum Coss. & Durieu Mount Zaccar is a forested area dominated by green oak in which innumerable springs give rise to a flourishing hygrophilous vegetation. Despite the richness of this site, very few studies have been carried out because of its inaccessibility. 22 Tiaret Mountains B1 Centaurea phaeolepis Coss. The Guezoul mountains south of Tiaret reach 1200 m and are influenced by a semi-arid climate with cold winters. The sandy soils are mostly decarbonated and rest on a sandstone basement. The KBA contains beautiful green oak formations and hosts an appreciable number of endemic plants. 23 Djebel Boughachwa B1 Otocarpus virgatus Durieu Djebel Boughachwa is a small, isolated mountain with a mesomediterranean climate and limestone-clay soils. On its northern flank is a vegetation of pre-forest formations with Barbary thuja (Tetraclinis reticulata). It contains the noteworthy monospecific taxon Otocarpus, which deserves proper study and conservation. 24 Dréat Mountains B1 Thymus dreatensis Batt. The Dréat Mountains rise to 1,555 m. They lie under the influence of a sub-humid climate on their northern slopes, with Aleppo pine and juniper. The southern slopes have a semi-arid climate with Stipa and white wormwood. 25 Sahel d’Arzew B1 Anthemis boveana J.Gay The ‘Sahel’ (coastal hills) of Arzew is characterised by the alternation of limestone and siliceous rocks with the presence of sandy soils. The climate is 54 55 CHAPTER 3 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region coastal semi-arid Mediterranean and the state of conservation of the site is variable, very good in inaccessible areas but degraded in areas accessible by road between Canastel and Gdyel as well as around villages. 26 Bainem forest – Bouzaréah hills B1 Onopordum algeriense (Munby) Pomel The state-owned forest of Bainem is a remarkable remainder of natural vegetation on a metamorphic, siliceous base, dominated by cork oak and Aleppo pine. The bioclimate is sub-humid thermomediterranean with temperate winters and relatively temperate summers. 27 Ben Haroun Gorges (Oued el Kebir) B1 Campanula baborensis Quézel main summit. The state of conservation of the site seems reasonable but is not known with any accuracy. 31 Western Aures (Djebel Mahmel) B1 Festuca aurasiaca Trab. Located in the north of the Aurès massif, Djebel Mahmel rises to 2,321 m, on a calcareous basement. This KBA is subject to an upper sub-humid to lower humid bioclimate varying from cold to very cold. The mountain has high-elevation grasslands resulting from the degradation of old stands of cedar and Juniperus thurifera. 32 Djebel Ouarseniss B1 Astragalus reinii subsp.nemorosus (Batt.) Maire The gorges of the Oued el Kebir immediately downstream of the Ben Haroun dam are framed by limestone cliffs. The climate is sub-humid thermomediterranean. This site has not been studied for a long time despite the presence of a unique stenoendemic campanula. Djebel Ouarsenis is an isolated mountain of 1,985 m. The slopes are covered in open forest and the summit in herbaceous vegetation. The mountain boasts the westernmost Cedrus forest in Algeria. The Aleppo pine forest of D’Ain Lellout became known to the botanical community after Battandier collected the unique endemics Astragalus nemorosus and Silene pseudovestita there in the late 19th century. 28 Bibans B1 Bunium elatum (Batt.) Batt. 33 Tamesguida–Djendjen B1 Thlaspi atlanticum Batt. This KBA consists of a natural gorge cutting through vertical marly layers. The climate varies from warm semi-arid at low elevations to a milder bioclimate at high elevations. The area is dominated by matorral with juniper and holm oak and harbours many endemic plant species. Its state of conservation is generally good. Djebel Tamesguida rises to 1,626 m and dominates the Djendjen valley south of Texenna. The climate of the region is extremely cold and wet in winter. There are few recent studies on this site, where the vegetation of the summits and slopes is lush, with mature forests of zeen and afares oaks and a permanent lake rich in aquatic vegetation. 29 Djebel Amour B1 Centaurea djebel-amouri Greuter This KBA corresponds to a mountain range in the Saharan Atlas where tabular surfaces and deep valleys alternate. Precipitation is between 300 and 400 mm per year, enough to maintain forests of Aleppo pine and green oak. Very little studied, this region contains endemic plants that have not been reviewed in the last 50 years. 30 Djebel Boutaleb B1 Mauranthemum reboudianum (Pomel) Vogt & Oberpr. Djebel Boutaleb, which rises to 1,890 m, has a rainy-snowy climate in winter and is dry in summer. The rocks are sedimentary (sandstone, limestone, dolomite, marl, clay and gypsum). The mountain shelters a beautiful stand of Atlas cedars towards the 34 Western Dahra Range B1 Salvia balansae Coss. The western Dahras are dominated by Miocene clays and marls and the climate of the region is very varied, with maritime influences giving mild winters and cool summers in the north, and very dry and warm summers on the southern slopes. The state of conservation of the site is generally good because it does not attract human activities. 35 Zahrez Chergui dune belt B1 Tricholemma breviaristatum (Barratte) Röser This KBA is the largest non-Saharan continental dune belt in Algeria and the Maghreb. The climate is semi-arid. The dune complex is interspersed with small wetlands in the intra-dune depressions and bordered by pastureland of therophytic grasslands. The patrimonial flora and the state of conservation of the vegetation on the site are not known. 36 Macta wetlands A1, B1 Spergularia doumerguei Monnier This KBA consists of a series of coastal marshes. Alluvial deposits are clay and silty-clay with accumulations of salt. The Mediterranean climate is semiarid. Although Macta is classified as a Ramsar site, it suffers from anthropogenic degradation. 37 Algiers Sahel B1 Calendula suffruticosa Vahl. subsp. monardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Ohle The Algiers Sahel (coastal zone) stretches from the 407 m Bouzaréah hills in the east to the foothills of Mount Chenoua in the west. It comprises small coastal plains, plateaux, hills and lowland agricultural or forested slopes, including the forest of Ben Aknoun zoological and leisure park, the beaches of Zéralda and the hills east of Tipaza. The entire site is extremely fragmented by rampant urbanisation in the suburbs of Algiers and many roads and motorways. 38 El Aouana coastline B1 Limonium acutifolium (Rchb.) Salmon The coastline of El Aouana stretches for about 10 km. The geology is quite varied and changes from island to island and from peninsula to island. The climate of the region is the rainiest of the entire Algerian coast (> 1,000 mm per year on the shore). The state of conservation is still reasonable but has deteriorated rapidly since summer tourist activities resumed at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. 39 El Collo Peninsula Regional KBA (IPA) The forested hills of El Collo Peninsula, which rise higher than 1,000 m, are covered with a variety of oaks and an endemic vegetation of Pinus pinaster subsp. renoui, which is also found in Kroumirie. This forest is in a relatively good state of conservation and hosts numerous stenoendemics, including Pedicularis numidica Pomel, Stachys durieui f. rubriflora Batt, Carduus numidicus Durieu, and Moehringia stellarioides Coss. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region CHAPTER 3 Djurdjura National Park in Algeria is a KBA with a remarkable flora of more than 1,000 plant species including many that are endemic or rare © Khellaf Rebbas Description of the Algerian KBA network To date, 39 KBAs for plants have been described in the Mediterranean part of Algeria. They are mostly located in the northern part of the country, especially along the coast and the Tell Atlas, with only five southern KBAs in the Saharan Atlas and the Aurès (Djebel Amour, Zahrez Chergui continental dunes, Djebel Mahmel, Belezma, Aurès–Chelia). They include a mosaic of diverse environments encompassing wetlands, salt marshes, rocky coastlines, coastal dunes, continental dunes, forest massifs, rocky areas and riparian zones. Initially, 21 important sites were identified in northern Algeria in 2010 (Radford et al., 2011), where 152 target species were identified, mainly RRE and SRE species. Among them there are several Algerian–Moroccan and Algerian–Tunisian endemic plant species (Yahi et al., 2012). El Kala 1 KBA (wetland) and El Kala 2 KBA (forests of the Medjerda Mountains) have the highest endemicity rates with 11 and 8 stenoendemic plant species, respectively, followed by Djebel Chelia–Aurès and Mont Gouraya with 7 stenoendemics (Yahi et al., 2012). After the agreement on the KBA criteria in 2016, sites were re-evaluated against the new criteria and 16 new sites were proposed (Véla et al., 2016) that also include a mosaic of habitats and a large number of endemic plant species. Global KBAs were qualified on the basis of 38 trigger species. Finally, a third review of sites, boundaries, species and thresholds took place in 2017, resulting in a total of 39 KBAs in northern Algeria. Remarkable KBAs due to their high number of endemics include El Kala, Djurdjura, Eastern Aurès and Gouraya. Of the 39 KBAs identified, 9 are included in nationally protected areas (7 in national parks and 2 in the nature reserves of Babor and Chenoua). 56 CHAPTER 3 57 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region Main threats to the Algerian KBA network In forests and mountain areas, the main threats to KBAs are wildfires and overgrazing. In coastal areas, KBAs are mainly threatened by urbanisation, excessive tourism pressure and pollution. • Urbanisation • Fire • Overgrazing • Pollution • Excessive tourism pressure Main conservation actions recommended for the Algerian KBA network There is an urgent need to reduce the anthropic pressures listed as the main threats to KBAs. In the KBAs included in nationally protected areas, management plans should be implemented to protect the target plant species and to reduce pressures through participatory methods that promote alternative solutions (such as beekeeping, arboriculture and cultivation of aromatic or medicinal plants). For KBAs outside protected areas, efforts are needed to have them classified as nature reserves so that management plans can be put in place for the in situ conservation and monitoring of their endemic species. Our knowledge of the biology and ecology of these plant species must be improved in order to target conservation actions most effectively. At the same time, the ex situ conservation of endemic plant species is a paramount conservation measure. Living plant collections should be grown in botanical gardens and properly sampled collections of seeds and other propagules should be stored in gene banks. It is also important to provide legal cover for those endemic plant species that do not have any. Endemic and threatened plant species should be included on a future national Red List. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region CHAPTER 3 Aurès, Algeria © Nassima Yahi Examples of conservation actions • Imbricated resolution allowing decisions, visualization and data storage at different scale levels • Use of hierarchical habitat classification system (also linked with previous) • GIS analysis allows integration of different source data into common frame Field data (species records…), satellite images (Google maps, Bing Maps) and Digital Terrain Models (topography, exposition…). MAPPING HABITATS FOR SITE CONSERVATION As part of the IPAS Med project, the General Directorate of Forestry initiated a process to prepare habitats maps at site level as tool for planning and decision making for managers. The objective of those maps was double, from one hand to integrate existing data (species distributions, land use…), and from other to support decision making by showing homogenous units. The preparation of habitat maps is not an automatic process, since it requires to answer quite number of questions that will define which methodology to apply. This includes questions like: What is an habitat? Many countries have their own definition of “habitat”, if not a series of defining characters must be settled. A regional dialoge to agree on a common hierarchical ecosystems (or habitats) classifications might be very useful at regional scale. The proposed methodology that was developed for Algeria, allowed Habitat maps for two pilot sites to be drafted (see imagexx). The model used seemed to be useful and applicable, as it was based in a number of methodological assumptions: 58 59 CHAPTER 3 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region EASTERN AURÈS KBA Eleven endemic plant species have been reported in Eastern Aurès KBA (5 SRE and 6 RRE). The stenoendemic (SRE) species are Crepis faureliana, Festuca aurasiaca, Galium numidicum, Juniperus thurifera var. aurasiaca and Romulea vaillantii, while the endemics with a wider distribution area (RRE) are Ammoides atlantica, Campanula jurjurensis, Centaurea tougourensis, Jacobaea gallerandiana, Cedrus atlantica and Quercus faginea subsp. faginea. Overgrazing is the main threat to vegetation and flora in Eastern Aurès. Local residents allow their herds (sheep and goat) to graze freely all over the KBA for long periods. The main conservation measure to be recommended concerns grazing management. Land tenure issues, local customs and traditions that determine rangeland management have to be taken into consideration. It is also essential to involve local populations in conservation through participatory management of sites, offering rotating use of tracks and alternative solutions such as beekeeping and mountain arboriculture. Among the conservation actions in this KBA there is a project to restore an ancient nursery on the heights of Mt Chelia, to produce endemic plants that will be used to reinforce natural populations. GOURAYA NATIONAL PARK KBA Twelve endemic plant species have been reported in Gouraya KBA (7 SRE and 5 RRE). The SRE species are Bupleurum plantagineum, Erysimum cheiri subsp. inexpectans, Hypochaeris saldensis, Sanguisorba ancistroides var. battandieri, Silene sessionis, Genista ferox var. salditana, and Pancratium foetidum var. saldense. The five RRE species are Erodium battandieranum, Sedum multiceps, Genista vepres, Allium trichocnemis and Calamintha nervosa. The last has been reported from Gouraya KBA in the past but it was not found there during field work in 2014–2016. The main threat to this KBA is pressure from tourism. Gouraya is not only a national park but also a leisure area with outstanding landscapes that attracts people from both nearby Béjaia and other parts of the country. The excessive number of visitors has led to the emergence of harmful waste dumps and the significant deterioration of footpaths. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for plants in the Mediterranean region CHAPTER 3 Gouraya National Park and KBA, Algeria © Khellaf Rebbas CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Gouraya National Park and KBA, Algeria © Nassima Yahi Conservation actions to raise awareness in local communities should be a priority. These could include: • producing flyers to make visitors aware of the richness of the site and the need to preserve it. • involving the younger generation by extending the awareness-raising campaigns to schoolchildren in Béjaia regarding the importance of preserving the biodiversity of the KBA. • displaying posters in public places such as town halls, post offices, banks, cultural centres and libraries in order to target a wider audience. • • producing an ecotourism guide with the aim of making the local and regional population aware of the importance of conserving habitats and rare and endemic plant species, in collaboration with ecological associations in the region. establishing an experimental plot for the ex situ conservation of endemic plant species (Yahi et al., 2016). Of the 12 endemic taxa identified in Gouraya KBA, it might be worth focusing on the rarer species, such as Erysimum cheiri subsp. inexpectans, Sanguisorba ancistroides var. battandieri, Silene sessionis, Erodium battandieranum, Allium trichocnemis and Calamintha nervosa. The main challenge to ensure sustainable management of KBAs across the country is to reduce the impact of overgrazing in KBAs. Some special consideration: in the case of freshwater KBAs consensus for management of riparian habitats involving local people, in a participatory management process is also critical; In coastal KBAs, it is essential to keep fighting uncontrolled urbanisation and excessive tourist development. • For KBAs included in the national protected areas system, it is vital to ensure that management plans are implemented that will promote habitat protection, reduce pressures and encourage participatory management actions. • For KBAs outside protected areas, efforts must be made to have them classified as nature reserves in order to implement suitable management plans. • Ex situ conservation of endemic species is also a recommended conservation measure. Plants grown in botanical gardens and seeds stored in seed banks would help to conserve geographically restricted endemic species. • At a legal level, it would be beneficial to draw up a national Red List of plant species, including endemic species that exist in KBAs. 60 Conserving wild plants in the south and east Mediterranean region Editors: Marcos Valderrábano, Teresa Gil, Vernon Heywood and Bertrand de Montmollin INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE