Jabal Rihane in autumn JABAL RIHANE RESERVE Study prepared by: Dr. Georges Tohmé & Dr. Henriette Tohmé: Botany & Mammalogy Dr. Ghassan Ramadan Jaradi: Ornithology Dr. Souad Hraoui-Bloquet: Herpetology Dr. Raymond Gèze: Geology General Coordinator: Dr. Georges Tohmé This study has been prepared on behalf of Albert Abela's Foundation (Cedrus Conservation Foundation) for the Conservation of the Environment. Beirut 2004 1 This report is published by the ARAM Society (www.aramsociety.org): “Jabal Rihane .Reserve”, in the ARAM Periodical, volume 17 (2005), pages 285-356 منظر مليخ من جهة الغرب A view of Mlikh from the west منظر بلدة الريحان A view of Rihane-village 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and general information 1. Establishment of the Rihane Reserve 2. Role of Mr. Abela 3. The working Team and the role of the local communities 4. Characteristics of the Rihane Reserve 5. Geographical location of the site 6. Climatology 7. History Geology of the study area 1. Generalities and Tectonics 2. Stratigraphy 3. Geological relation with climate and vegetation cover Flora 1. Species identification and bio-indicators 2. Flora prioritized list (list 1) 3. Medicinal plants 4. Identification of habitats Mammals 1. Scientific basis and source of information 2. Species identification and bio-indicators 3. Mammal prioritized list (list 2) with constraints and threats 4. Remarks about the list and some zoological orders Herpetofauna 1. Introduction 2. Species identification and bio-indicators 3. Herpetofauna list (list 3) and species status Avifauna 1. Introduction 2. Species identification and bio-indicators 3. Birds list (list 4) 4. Future of research and status updates 5. Monitoring of birds References and source of information Recommendations towards the declaration of Jabal Rihane a Reserve 3 Introduction & source of information 1. Establishment of the Rihane Reserve In the early December 2001, the Reverend Father Dr. Shafiq Abouzayd has called me on telephone from London to propose the idea of declaring the Jabal Rihane a protected area. Since he is from Mlikh village where he was born and spent his childhood, Dr. Abouzayd showed a constant tendency to protect its environment on the basis of a scientific biodiversity background and cooperation with its inhabitants as well as the local communities of its surroundings. Accordingly, he asked me if I have the willingness to conduct preliminary field studies in Jarjou’a, Loueizeh, Mlikh, Kfarhouneh, Aramta and Rihane villages similarly to what I have previously done, in cooperation with a team of scientists, in five protected areas. One of them (Al-Chouf Cedar Reserve) is in the proximity of Jabal Rihane. As my wife & I often used to conduct wildlife field studies all over Lebanon, we welcomed the said idea of Dr. Abouzayd. The following day, we prospected these areas that weren't accessed by us since thirty years. Continuous records in these villages continued during the last two years, often twice monthly, and once per week during spring seasons. 2. Role of Mr. Albert Abela During January and February 2002, we had, in Beirut, several working meetings with Mr. Albert Abela and the team of his foundation (Cedrus Conservation Foundation). Mr. Abela established this foundation a few years ago. It encompasses researchers from all over the world and aims at protecting the environment. Mr. Abela who resides in London is one of the most enthusiastic Lebanese to introduce the Lebanon and its beautiful natural heritage to the global community. He decided to develop and implement a research study project that is of a type rarely undertaken by the private 4 sector in the country. However, two weeks later he organized at the Ministry of environment another working meeting, under the leadership of H. E. Dr. Michel Moussa where the major guidelines for the study were developed as a pre-requisite for and/ or to assist in the declaration of the Rihane a protected area. It is worthy to note that during this period of time, an intensive exchange of letters between us (myself and Mr. Abela) took place and in which I explained the programme that we intend to run as well as the terms of references for our study in order to conduct researches similar to those previously done by us in five protected areas (Al- Chouf Cedar, Horsh Ehden, Palm Islands, Tyre Beach and Aammiq Swamp) on behalf of the Ministry of Environment through the National Council for Scientific Research. The new study covered two years whereas the previous studies were extended over only one year. 3. The working team and the role of the local community Under the leadership of Dr. Georges Tohmé, the working team was formed of: o Dr. Raymond Gèze who studied the geology of the area, its relation with the fauna and flora and the forms of life in the geological era of the past, o Dr. Souad Hraoui who studied the herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles), o Dr. Ghassan Ramadan Jaradi who surveyed the birds and their migration, o Dr. Henriette Tohmé who studied the mammals along with Dr. Georges Tohmé, o Dr. Georges Tohmé who studied the flora with Dr. Henriette Tohmé, and who prepared the present report. On this occasion, we would like to deeply thank Mr. Albert Abela and his foundation for trusting us. We hope that others will follow his initiative. Also we would like to thank the Heads and Members of municipalities' councils as well as the mayors and the inhabitants of the Jabal Rihane area who cooperated with us and subsequently became the most supporters to the idea of declaring the said area a reserve. We hope that the efforts will accumulate to have it declared by law, very soon, a protected area. 4. Characteristics of the reserve 5 The Rihane differs from other protected areas in Lebanon by its situation at middle altitudes. All the others are either at high altitude with dominance of cedar trees (Tannourine, Ehden, Al-Chouf Cedar reserves) or at very low altitudes such as Palm Islands or Tyre Beach reserves. Also it differs by its nature from the Aammiq wetland. The main characteristics of the Rihane area are: o Diversified multi-ecosystems Each ecosystem is formed from a biotope (mountains, rivers, valleys, etc.) and its fauna and flora that are living in it. Though, the ecosystem contains an acting community of living organisms (biocoenosis) interacting together as well as with their environment. The term "interacting" used here means that these living organisms influence the environment and are impacted by it. The size of the ecosystem varies from small (e.g. pool) to medium (e.g. swamp) or large (e.g. desert, river, sea, whole earth) through a variety of sizes where ecosystems may even overlap or interfere. As for the studied Rihane area, which is described in this report, it is characterized by several ecosystems. The main four are: 1) mountainous with mainly limestone rocky substratum, 2) mountainous with sandy and argillaceous substratum, 3) natural humid where the living organisms are adapted or accommodated with the humidity of the soil or the atmosphere and 4) dry, sub-desert with its distinguished community. Between these main four ecosystems, there is a whole chain of biotopes where each is characterized by its dominant species. In some, the woods of oak and juniper trees dominate whilst in others, a variety of pine tree species prevail. In each of these biotopes, the dominant trees have their own associated plant species. Therefore, we have added to the present report a new chapter that wasn't considered in the other five protected areas. It is entitled: "Identification of habitats in the Jabal Rihane reserve". o Presence of local microclimates: 6 In each mountain fold, valley corner and barren or covered slope, there is a local microclimate to which a specialized community of flora and fauna is adapted and with which it interacts. o Special mountainous features The Rihane area lies in the proximity of the Northern Palestine. Subsequently, it groups two factors: the altitude and the hot and dryer climate. In addition, the flora and fauna of the Rihane display some similarity with these of Hermon Mountain and its southwestern slopes. o Easy protection from grazing activities Jabal Rihane offers through its landscape facilities for easy surveillance and control over the grazing activities. The protection of the area from the teeth and feet of sheep and goats will result in increased trees and fast growth of the vegetal cover. Therefore, the managing parties of each public area will be able to reasonably harvest the timber similarly to what is practiced in the French Jura, with the condition that this matter needs the expertise of forest agents or experts in the planning for the trees and the species that are to be cut every year. o Potential for eco-tourism promotion In addition to the natural landscapes, natural and historical sites and availability of handcrafts, the following findings are of high significance to promote eco- tourism: (a) The Hyrax that is found in the karsts of the area is of strange habits and anatomically distinct as indicated far below. As such, its communities may be of high attraction to eco-tourists. (b) The bird flyways in the area offer several hotspots, which constitute attraction points to birdwatchers. Hence, there is a necessity to plan for the future of eco-tourism in the area in order to complement the development projects that are currently implemented by municipalities. 7 (c) The flora offers a wide diversity due to the fact that it groups plants of hot and Mediterranean climates as well as other plants that originally characterize the Anti-Lebanon. This diversity is certainly maximized and more obvious in spring times.