PurposeLebanon has been subject to important reforestation activities which resulted in the estab... more PurposeLebanon has been subject to important reforestation activities which resulted in the establishment of several cedars, pine and other mixed forest stands on communal lands. These stands are not designated for timber production but rather for nonwood forest products (NWFPs), landscape restoration and for environmental services. The study aims at valuating old reforested sites from the perspective of rural communities neighboring those reforested stands.Design/methodology/approachTo assess the non-timber goods and services provided by these forest ecosystems, 13 reforested sites located in different regions in Lebanon were selected. The socioeconomic assessment was done using questionnaires distributed to locals that have close interactions with the neighboring forests; it included, among others, a double-bonded dichotomous contingent valuation (CV) related to their willingness to pay (WTP) for reforestation and forest management activities.FindingsResults of the goods and servi...
The Syrian juniper, Juniperus drupacea Labill has a very limited distribution and is facing sever... more The Syrian juniper, Juniperus drupacea Labill has a very limited distribution and is facing severe fragmentation and dieback in Lebanon. The present investigation is a pilot study conducted in Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve in order to develop a plan for conservation and sustainable management of this species. A total of 106 individuals were studied from five areas. The correlations between environmental factors (altitude, exposition, and slope) as well as canopy density with the trees distribution, size and vitality were investigated. The most remarkable individuals were mainly found in Aarbi, the central karstic area in association with Quercus calliprinos Webb., Q. infectoria Oliv. and Pistacia palaestina Boiss. The statistical analysis showed that the optimum conditions for Juniperus drupacea growth is at middle altitudes, at western expositions with low slope and in relatively open forest. In short term, to manage and conserve this unique species, we can perform a selective cut...
The 13-page "First molecular-based contribution to the checklist of Lebanon macrofungi"... more The 13-page "First molecular-based contribution to the checklist of Lebanon macrofungi" by Sleiman, Bellanger, Richard, and Stephan may now be downloaded from Mycotaxon's mycobiota webpage. This well-documented annotated species list brings to 148 the number of free-access fungae now available on our website: http://www.mycotaxon.com/mycobiota/index.html
The taxonomy of oaks in Lebanon relies on the works of Mouterde (1966). Since half a centrury, th... more The taxonomy of oaks in Lebanon relies on the works of Mouterde (1966). Since half a centrury, there were no taxonomic revision for these species, namely for Quercus pinnatifida Gmelin, which is no more in use worldwide after successive nomenclature revisions. This name was replaced by Quercus pubescens Willd. subsp. pubescens which has never been recorded in Lebanon. However, Quercus kotschyana O. Schwarz is cited as an endemic species of Lebanon, but it was never mentioned by Mouterde works, nor by the literature that followed (i.e. Abi Saleh, 1976, 1996; Menitsky, 2005; Tohme & Tohme, 2014). This work aims at revealing the taxonomy of an endemic oak of Lebanon, and clarify the existing confusion in the nomenclature of species. The comparison of collected plant material from different sites, with the holotype of Quercus kotschyana, and the botanical description and drawings found in the literature, allowed us to conclude that Quercus pinnatifida Gmel. was wrongly attributed to the...
This study contributes in listing and understanding the distribution of riparian species accordin... more This study contributes in listing and understanding the distribution of riparian species according to environmental and anthropogenic factors, recognizing the impact of these factors on biodiversity and tree growth and conducting an easy method for the assessment of habitat quality in a typical riparian ecosystem in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. The methodology involved field assessment and the evaluation of riparian habitat quality by giving scores to different criteria, composing the habitat quality index. The results showed that river channel deviation is the most significant factor affecting riparian habitat quality. Non disturbed sites have significant higher scores, yet they are not classified as in natural conditions due to the effect of intrinsic environmental factors on habitat quality, namely bioclimatic conditions and river flow regime. An increase of biodiversity was recorded when habitat quality improved. Higher riparian habitat quality resulted in the presence of ol...
Page 1. Ramzi Touchan Æ Elena Xoplaki Æ Gary Funkhouser Ju¨rg Luterbacher Æ Malcolm K. Hughes Æ N... more Page 1. Ramzi Touchan Æ Elena Xoplaki Æ Gary Funkhouser Ju¨rg Luterbacher Æ Malcolm K. Hughes Æ Nesat Erkan U¨nal Akkemik Æ Jean Stephan ... Most studies are recent (Akkemik 2000; Akkemik and Aras 2005; Akkemik et al. ...
Few studies addressed the distribution of riparian trees and shrubs, and the factors affecting th... more Few studies addressed the distribution of riparian trees and shrubs, and the factors affecting their distribution and structure in Lebanon. The objective of this investigation is to identify the riparian tree and shrub species around Nahr Ibrahim River. We selected 21 sites covering all altitudinal range from sea level up to 1766 m as well as a cross section gradient from river bed. Results showed that biodiversity indices are affected by bioclimatic conditions (vegetation stages) and river flow regime. A moderate dry period of less than 3 months seems to have a positive effect on species richness and composition (trees vs shrubs). A regulated flow would increase the number of tree individuals and reduce biodiversity. Salix acmophylla Boiss., Salix alba L. and Platanus orientalis L. are obligate riparian (phreatophytes) and Salix libani Bornm., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Juglans regia L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. are classified as facultative riparian (facultative phreatophytes). Fu...
PurposeLebanon has been subject to important reforestation activities which resulted in the estab... more PurposeLebanon has been subject to important reforestation activities which resulted in the establishment of several cedars, pine and other mixed forest stands on communal lands. These stands are not designated for timber production but rather for nonwood forest products (NWFPs), landscape restoration and for environmental services. The study aims at valuating old reforested sites from the perspective of rural communities neighboring those reforested stands.Design/methodology/approachTo assess the non-timber goods and services provided by these forest ecosystems, 13 reforested sites located in different regions in Lebanon were selected. The socioeconomic assessment was done using questionnaires distributed to locals that have close interactions with the neighboring forests; it included, among others, a double-bonded dichotomous contingent valuation (CV) related to their willingness to pay (WTP) for reforestation and forest management activities.FindingsResults of the goods and servi...
The Syrian juniper, Juniperus drupacea Labill has a very limited distribution and is facing sever... more The Syrian juniper, Juniperus drupacea Labill has a very limited distribution and is facing severe fragmentation and dieback in Lebanon. The present investigation is a pilot study conducted in Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve in order to develop a plan for conservation and sustainable management of this species. A total of 106 individuals were studied from five areas. The correlations between environmental factors (altitude, exposition, and slope) as well as canopy density with the trees distribution, size and vitality were investigated. The most remarkable individuals were mainly found in Aarbi, the central karstic area in association with Quercus calliprinos Webb., Q. infectoria Oliv. and Pistacia palaestina Boiss. The statistical analysis showed that the optimum conditions for Juniperus drupacea growth is at middle altitudes, at western expositions with low slope and in relatively open forest. In short term, to manage and conserve this unique species, we can perform a selective cut...
The 13-page "First molecular-based contribution to the checklist of Lebanon macrofungi"... more The 13-page "First molecular-based contribution to the checklist of Lebanon macrofungi" by Sleiman, Bellanger, Richard, and Stephan may now be downloaded from Mycotaxon's mycobiota webpage. This well-documented annotated species list brings to 148 the number of free-access fungae now available on our website: http://www.mycotaxon.com/mycobiota/index.html
The taxonomy of oaks in Lebanon relies on the works of Mouterde (1966). Since half a centrury, th... more The taxonomy of oaks in Lebanon relies on the works of Mouterde (1966). Since half a centrury, there were no taxonomic revision for these species, namely for Quercus pinnatifida Gmelin, which is no more in use worldwide after successive nomenclature revisions. This name was replaced by Quercus pubescens Willd. subsp. pubescens which has never been recorded in Lebanon. However, Quercus kotschyana O. Schwarz is cited as an endemic species of Lebanon, but it was never mentioned by Mouterde works, nor by the literature that followed (i.e. Abi Saleh, 1976, 1996; Menitsky, 2005; Tohme & Tohme, 2014). This work aims at revealing the taxonomy of an endemic oak of Lebanon, and clarify the existing confusion in the nomenclature of species. The comparison of collected plant material from different sites, with the holotype of Quercus kotschyana, and the botanical description and drawings found in the literature, allowed us to conclude that Quercus pinnatifida Gmel. was wrongly attributed to the...
This study contributes in listing and understanding the distribution of riparian species accordin... more This study contributes in listing and understanding the distribution of riparian species according to environmental and anthropogenic factors, recognizing the impact of these factors on biodiversity and tree growth and conducting an easy method for the assessment of habitat quality in a typical riparian ecosystem in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. The methodology involved field assessment and the evaluation of riparian habitat quality by giving scores to different criteria, composing the habitat quality index. The results showed that river channel deviation is the most significant factor affecting riparian habitat quality. Non disturbed sites have significant higher scores, yet they are not classified as in natural conditions due to the effect of intrinsic environmental factors on habitat quality, namely bioclimatic conditions and river flow regime. An increase of biodiversity was recorded when habitat quality improved. Higher riparian habitat quality resulted in the presence of ol...
Page 1. Ramzi Touchan Æ Elena Xoplaki Æ Gary Funkhouser Ju¨rg Luterbacher Æ Malcolm K. Hughes Æ N... more Page 1. Ramzi Touchan Æ Elena Xoplaki Æ Gary Funkhouser Ju¨rg Luterbacher Æ Malcolm K. Hughes Æ Nesat Erkan U¨nal Akkemik Æ Jean Stephan ... Most studies are recent (Akkemik 2000; Akkemik and Aras 2005; Akkemik et al. ...
Few studies addressed the distribution of riparian trees and shrubs, and the factors affecting th... more Few studies addressed the distribution of riparian trees and shrubs, and the factors affecting their distribution and structure in Lebanon. The objective of this investigation is to identify the riparian tree and shrub species around Nahr Ibrahim River. We selected 21 sites covering all altitudinal range from sea level up to 1766 m as well as a cross section gradient from river bed. Results showed that biodiversity indices are affected by bioclimatic conditions (vegetation stages) and river flow regime. A moderate dry period of less than 3 months seems to have a positive effect on species richness and composition (trees vs shrubs). A regulated flow would increase the number of tree individuals and reduce biodiversity. Salix acmophylla Boiss., Salix alba L. and Platanus orientalis L. are obligate riparian (phreatophytes) and Salix libani Bornm., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Juglans regia L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. are classified as facultative riparian (facultative phreatophytes). Fu...
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