Download Hani & Sattout_Shouf BR and climate change

Shouf Biosphere Reserve - Lebanon
Elsa J. Sattout, PhD
Chef de Projet
Appui Aux Reserves Naturelles du Liban
Agence Francaise de Developpement
Beirut-Lebanon
E-mail:[email protected]
Nizar Hani
Scientific Coordinator
Shouf Biosphere Reserve
Lebanon
E-mail:[email protected]
Lebanon
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
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 World’s 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.
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
Eco-tourism and Rural development
Infrastructure – ACS and LMT
Conservation through socioeconomic activities
Trail : 100 km
Guesthouses
Reserve Entrances
Ateliers
Picnic Area
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 (>1500m).
 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
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]
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 & 5°C may become
increasingly under stress with the upward shift in
bioclimatic zones.
SOS: Serious decline & rapid disappearance
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.
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
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
Framework for a Monitoring Program in Cedar
ecosystem
Biotic parameters:
a.
Meteorological data
b.
Soils (pH, carbon, nitrogen, and nutrients)
Abiotic parameters:
I. Portfolio on Cedar ecosystem structure & composition
a.
Species richness (trees, understory, and lichens)
b.
Productivity (growth)
c.
Forest structure (size, distribution, etc.)
d.
Tree crowns (status and change in dieback and foliar transparency)
e.
Insect and disease (defoliation and mortality)
f.
Tree mortality (lost volume/gained volume)
g.
Tree damages (insects, diseases, storms, etc.)
h.
Sequestration of carbon
Framework for a Monitoring Program
in Cedar ecosystem [Cont’d]
Abiotic parameters [Cont’d]:
II. Diversity indices
III. Insects
IV. Mammals wild boars (Adaptive
management purposes)
. . . . . . & WHERE R W NOW
Projet sur l’Appui aux Reserves
Naturelles du Liban
Agence Française de
Developpment
Fond Français pour
l’Environnement Mondial
The project is designed to provide
support for 4 major components of each
reserve:
Ministry of Environment
Consortium of Lebanese
Nature Reserves
Amiq
Arz Tannoutine
Arz Shouf
Bentael
Horsh Ehden
Kfarzabad
Tyr
[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
WHAT’S NEXT
ROAD MAP. . . . . . . . .
Sustaining the Diversity of Life in Mosaic Ecosystems:
Long-term Conservation Program in Lebanese Protected Areas
DEVELOPING A LONG TERM
PROGRAM FOR NATURE RESERVE
Thank YOU!!