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49-570: The reserve contains the Lebanon cedar forests of Barouk, Maaser el Shouf and Ain Zhalta-Bmohray. It is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Eco-tourism area. It hosts 32 species of wild mammals, 200 species of birds, and 500 species of plants. The Barouk mountain comprises rocks from the Pliocene which have undergone major tectonic movement that divided the mountains of Lebanon into two parallel parts;

98-598: A combination of birds found in Europe , Africa , and Asia which include: chukar ( Alectoris chukar ), Eurasian jay ( Garrulus glandarius ), blackbird ( Turdus merula ), common raven ( Corvus corax ), common kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ), shore lark ( Eremophila alpestris ), common redstart ( Phoenicurus phoenicurus ), common chaffinch , ( Fringilla coelebs ), turtle dove ( Streptopelia turtur ), rock sparrow ( Petronia petronia ), European goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis ). Two species at least have been introduced to

147-552: A metaphor for the pride of the world and in Psalm 92:12 it says "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon". The Lebanon cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the flag of Lebanon and coat of arms of Lebanon . It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines , which is Lebanon's national carrier. Beyond that, it is also the main symbol of Lebanon's " Cedar Revolution " of 2005,

196-471: A project to reintroduce the Nubian ibex ( Capra nubiana ) to the area from Jordan, after it was extinct in the mid-twentieth century. Birds: The reserve is home to 200 species of birds, of which 19 are considered rare at the national level. More than 22 species have been confirmed to be resident, the rest are migratory or rare visitors, and at least two or three species have been introduced. The reserve holds

245-438: A subspecies in earlier literature, is now recognized as an ecotype of C. libani var. libani. It usually has a spreading crown that does not flatten. This distinct morphology is a habit that is assumed to cope with the competitive environment, since the tree occurs in dense stands mixed with the tall-growing Abies cilicica , or in pure stands of young cedar trees. C. libani var. brevifolia : The Cyprus cedar occurs on

294-615: Is a large evergreen conifer that has great religious and historical significance in the cultures of the Middle East, and is referenced many times in the literature of ancient civilisations. It is the national emblem of Lebanon and is widely used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. Cedrus libani can reach 40 m (130 ft) in height, with a massive monopodial columnar trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. The trunks of old trees ordinarily fork into several large, erect branches. The rough and scaly bark

343-554: Is a much branched evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m (33 ft) high. Due to its short stature (in relation to other oaks) it is sometimes referred to as the dwarf oak . Its leaves are simple, obovate to suborbicular, 1.5–8 cm (0.59–3.15 in) long, 1–7 cm (0.39–2.76 in) wide, glabrous and shining dark green above and densely golden or brownish tomentose below, with serrate margins and raised nervation. The petioles are strong, 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) long and pilose. The flowers are unisexual;

392-877: Is dark grey to blackish brown, and is run through by deep, horizontal fissures that peel in small chips. The first-order branches are ascending in young trees; they grow to a massive size and take on a horizontal, wide-spreading disposition. Second-order branches are dense and grow in a horizontal plane. The crown is conical when young, becoming broadly tabular with age with fairly level branches; trees growing in dense forests maintain more pyramidal shapes. The shoots are dimorphic, with both long and short shoots. New shoots are pale brown, older shoots turn grey, grooved and scaly. C. libani has slightly resinous ovoid vegetative buds measuring 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) long and 1.5 to 2 mm (0.059 to 0.079 in) wide enclosed by pale brown deciduous scales. The leaves are needle-like , arranged in spirals and concentrated at

441-479: Is endemic to elevated mountains around the Eastern Mediterranean in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. The tree grows in well-drained calcareous lithosols on rocky, north- and west-facing slopes and ridges and thrives in rich loam or a sandy clay in full sun. Its natural habitat is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters with an annual precipitation of 1,000 to 1,500 mm (39 to 59 in);

490-653: Is estimated to be over 100 years old. The Lebanon cedar is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. When the first cedar of Lebanon was planted in Britain is unknown, but it dates at least to 1664, when it is mentioned in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber by John Evelyn . In Britain, cedars of Lebanon are known for their use in London's Highgate Cemetery . C. libani has gained

539-402: Is exceptionally durable and immune to insect ravages. Wood from C. libani has a density of 560 kg/m ; it is used for furniture, construction, and handicrafts. In Turkey, shelterwood cutting and clearcutting techniques are used to harvest timber and promote uniform forest regeneration. Cedar resin (cedria) and cedar essential oil (cedrum) are prized extracts from the timber and cones of

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588-437: Is located near Niha village. The highest peak on the range at 1,980 metres (6,500 ft). Precipitation in the watershed is the source of both surface streamflow and groundwater. The major portion of this occurs as rain. Snowfall often occurs at the upper elevations but snow seldom persists more than a few days and disappears before the end of the rainy season. Normally snow has little overall direct effect on stream-flow within

637-586: Is the most important broadleaved species forming pure or mixed stands, within the conifer ( Pinus brutia , Pinus nigra ) dominated forests of Cyprus. Thick stands of Q. alnifolia in mesic habitats, considerably modify the humidity conditions of the site and form forest soils with "mull" humus favouring the existence of sciophilous herbal species. Like other members of the oak genus, Q. alnifolia forms mutually beneficial, ectomycorrhizal associations with various fungi . A preliminary study in 2011, reported over 80 mycorrhizal fungi to be associated with

686-610: Is −0.6 °C (30.9 °F). The absolute temperature ranges from −10.8 °C (12.6 °F) in January to 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) in August. The mean relative humidity lies around 65% but the eastern slopes are slightly drier. There are about 50 to 55 days of snow fall per year. The flora of the Al-Shouf Cedar area is partly covered by Mouterde's 1966, 1970 and 1983 flora of Lebanon. The most recent and extensive botanical researches on

735-647: The 17 October Revolution , also known as the Thawra ("Revolution") along with many Lebanese political parties and movements, such as the Lebanese Forces . Finally, Lebanon is sometimes metonymically referred to as the Land of the Cedars. Arkansas , among other US states, has a Champion Tree program that records exceptional tree specimens. The Lebanon cedar recognized by the state is located inside Hot Springs National Park and

784-475: The Eastern Mediterranean or Middle East area. The reserve is also home to 24 tree species, of which some are found in Europe and the Mediterranean area as well as in Lebanon. The reserve is known for its official's efforts to save the cedar of Lebanon through continues management of the forests and planting new trees in previously logged and deforestated areas. The reserve form the last natural limits to

833-485: The Old Testament , she was held up as a model of virtue and devotion. A feretory was erected in her name. Lebanon cedar Cedrus libani , commonly known as cedar of Lebanon or Lebanese cedar ( Arabic : أرز لبناني , romanized :  ʾarz lubnāniyy ), is a species of tree in the genus Cedrus , a part of the pine family , native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It

882-482: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017). In order to germinate Cedrus libani seeds, potting soil is preferred, since it is less likely to contain fungal species which may kill the seedling in its early stages. Before sowing it is important to soak the seed at room temperature for a period of 24 hours followed by cold stratification (~3–5°C) for two to four weeks. Once

931-632: The Troodos Mountains of Cyprus at medium to high elevations ranging from 900 to 1,525 m (2,953 to 5,003 ft). In the Epic of Gilgamesh , one of the earliest great works of literature, the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu travel to the legendary Cedar Forest to kill its guardian and cut down its trees. While early versions of the story place the forest in Iran, later Babylonian accounts of

980-409: The golden oak , is an evergreen oak species of Cyprus . Its common English name refers to the golden coloured lower surface of its leaves. Quercus alnifolia belongs to the endemic flora of the island and it is confined to the igneous geological complex of the Troodos Mountains . In February 2006, the parliament of Cyprus selected the golden oak to be the country's national tree. The golden oak

1029-884: The Chouf Cedar Reserve, the Jaj Cedar Reserve, the Tannourine Reserve, the Ammouaa and Karm Shbat Reserves in the Akkar district, and the Forest of the Cedars of God near Bsharri . Because during the seedling stage, differentiating C. libani from C. atlantica or C. deodara is difficult, the American University of Beirut has developed a DNA-based method of identification to ensure that reforestation efforts in Lebanon are of

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1078-884: The Lebanon cedars. The first was made by the Roman emperor Hadrian ; he created an imperial forest and ordered it marked by inscribed boundary stones , two of which are in the museum of the American University of Beirut . Extensive reforestation of cedar is carried out in the Mediterranean region. In Turkey, over 50 million young cedars are planted annually, covering an area around 300 square kilometres (74,000 acres). Lebanese cedar populations are also expanding through an active program combining replanting and protection of natural regeneration from browsing goats , hunting, forest fires, and woodworms. The Lebanese approach emphasizes natural regeneration by creating proper growing conditions. The Lebanese state has created several reserves, including

1127-540: The Shouf is a nexus of many cultures, religions, and historical events. The following are some major landmarks: The cave castle of Tyron Niha relates to one of the closing episodes of Prince Fakhreddin II 's epic history and are the only remaining vestiges of a once powerful fortress which was successively used by the Arabs , Crusaders , and a number of princes of Mount Lebanon. A feretory

1176-729: The age of 45 to 50 years; growth becomes extremely slow after the age of 70. Cedrus is the Latin name for true cedars. The specific epithet refers to the Lebanon mountain range where the species was first described by French botanist Achille Richard ; the tree is commonly known as the Lebanon cedar or cedar of Lebanon. Two distinct types are recognized as varieties: C. libani var. libani and C. libani var. brevifolia. C. libani var. libani : Lebanon cedar, cedar of Lebanon – grows in Lebanon, western Syria , and south-central Turkey . C. libani var. stenocoma (the Taurus cedar), considered

1225-420: The area. Surface water flows originating on the range are mostly seasonal but some are perennial. Underground water generates outflow rivers such as: - Al Awali River, more commonly known as Al-Barouk river - Damour River, known as Al-Safa river The summit of the range is considered as a divide between two hydrological systems because of the difference between the two slopes of the mountain. The rivers that flow in

1274-454: The base of trunks or stumps and attacks the roots of cedars growing in wet soils. The Lebanese cedar shoot moth ( Parasyndemis cedricola ) is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae found in the forests of Lebanon and Turkey; its larvae feed on young cedar leaves and buds. Online books , and library resources in your library and in other libraries about Cedrus libani Cyprus oak Quercus alnifolia , commonly known as

1323-477: The cedar tree. Over the centuries, extensive deforestation has occurred, with only small remnants of the original forests surviving. Deforestation has been particularly severe in Lebanon and on Cyprus; on Cyprus, only small trees up to 25 m (82 ft) tall survive, though Pliny the Elder recorded cedars 40 m (130 ft) tall there. Attempts have been made at various times throughout history to conserve

1372-440: The cedars of Lebanon and not other types. C. libani is susceptible to a number of soil-borne, foliar, and stem pathogens. The seedlings are prone to fungal attacks. Botrytis cinerea , a necrotrophic fungus known to cause considerable damage to food crops, attacks the cedar needles, causing them to turn yellow and drop. Armillaria mellea (commonly known as honey fungus) is a basidiomycete that fruits in dense clusters at

1421-544: The chouf area in particular. The reserve is also home to four species of amphibians, almost the same number of species found in the whole of Lebanon. The species include: Palestinian viper ( Vipera palaestinae ), Greek tortoise ( Testudo graeca ), Mediterranean chameleon ( Chamaeleon chamaeleon ), European copper skink ( Ablepharus kitaibelii ), common toad ( Bufo bufo ), European green toad ( Bufo viridis ), Near Eastern fire salamander ( Salamandra infraimmaculata ), Hyla savignyi . The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy

1470-649: The eastern range is called the Anti-Lebanon , and the western range is called Mount Lebanon . The two mountain ranges are separated by the Beqaa Valley , which is composed of recent infill sediments. The main rocks are limestone . The whole of the Barouk Mountain is cavernous limestone, with many surface features such as dolines indicating the underlying cavernous forms of the mountain range. One particularly noteworthy cave, estimated to be 700 metres (2,300 ft) long,

1519-450: The island's Troodos Mountains . This taxon was considered a separate species from C. libani because of morphological and ecophysiological trait differences. It is characterized by slow growth, shorter needles, and higher tolerance to drought and aphids. Genetic relationship studies, however, did not recognize C. brevifolia as a separate species, the markers being indistinguishable from those of C. libani. C. libani var. libani

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1568-503: The male catkins are greenish-yellow forming spreading or pendulous clusters at the tips of the branches; the female flowers are axillary , solitary or in groups of two to three. The acorns are narrowly obovate or subcylindrical, usually tapering towards the base, 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) long and 0.8–1.2 cm (0.31–0.47 in) wide, with a woody endocarp and cupule with strongly recurved scales. Quercus alnifolia belongs to subgenus Cerris , section Ilex , as with much of

1617-733: The male cones appear in early September and the female ones in late September. Male cones occur at the ends of the short shoots; they are solitary and erect about 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 in) long and mature from a pale green to a pale brown color. The female seed cones also grow at the terminal ends of short shoots. The young seed cones are resinous, sessile , and pale green; they require 17 to 18 months after pollination to mature. The mature, woody cones are 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in) long and 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) wide; they are scaly, resinous, ovoid or barrel-shaped, and gray-brown in color. Mature cones open from top to bottom, they disintegrate and lose their seed scales, releasing

1666-589: The mediterranean evergreen oak species. Occasional hybridization with kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera ) has been described. Quercus alnifolia is restricted to Troodos Massif, where it grows on igneous geological substrate at altitudes of 400 to 1,800 m (1,300 to 5,900 ft). It occupies dry habitats in association with Pinus brutia or forms dense maquis in mesic habitats, characterized by deep forest soils. Golden oak offers soil stabilisation against erosion due to its ability to colonize stony and rocky slopes. In its distribution area, Q. alnifolia

1715-473: The middle of the twentieth century. They are fragmentary and provided little information on the mammals inhabiting the country. Many species and subspecies were not yet recorded for Lebanon till the 1970s. Between 1980 and 1985, Tohmé, G. and Tohmé, H. alone produced 33% of the known published papers on the Lebanese mammals. The only documented data of the mammals of Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve apparently appeared in

1764-509: The official site were conducted, on behalf of the Ministry of Environment (Protected Areas Project), by (Georges Tohmé) the National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR) in 1999. Since then extremely few flora reports on the official site were published or known. Tohmé continued his field botanical studies at Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve during the last three years in order to obtain confirmation on

1813-401: The proximal end of the long shoots, and in clusters of 15–35 on the short shoots; they are 5 to 35 mm (0.20 to 1.38 in) long and 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 to 0.059 in) wide, rhombic in cross-section, and vary from light green to glaucous green with stomatal bands on all four sides. Cedrus libani produces cones beginning at around the age of 40. Its cones are borne in autumn,

1862-1125: The report of Tohmé, H. that was prepared, on behalf of the Protected Areas Project at the Ministry of Environment, in 1999 by the NCSR. This report, which was based on inventory and surveys as well as brochures and other documents developed by the managing team of the reserve, produced a list of 32 mammals which include: wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), gray wolf ( Canis lupus ), beech marten ( Martes foina ), mountain gazelle ( Gazella gazella ), golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), European badger ( Meles meles ), Cape hare ( Lepus capensis ), Caucasian squirrel ( Sciurus anomalus ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), Persian fallow deer ( Dama dama mesopotamica ), wild goat ( Capra aegagrus ), Syrian brown bear ( Ursus arctos syriacus ), Middle East blind mole-rat ( Nannospalax ehrenbergi ) Indian porcupine ( Hystrix indica ), striped hyena ( Hyaena hyaena ), wild cat ( Felis silvestris ), Cape hyrax ( Procavia capensis ). The reserve launched

1911-440: The seeds have been sown, it is recommended that they be kept at room temperature (~20°C) and in the vicinity of sunlight. The soil should be kept slightly damp with low frequency watering. Over-watering may cause damping off which will quickly kill the seedlings. Initial growth will be around 3–5cm the first year and will accelerate subsequent years. Cedar wood is prized for its fine grain, attractive yellow color, and fragrance. It

1960-524: The seeds until only the cone rachis remains attached to the branches. The seed scales are thin, broad, and coriaceous , measuring 3.5 to 4 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in) long and 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) wide. The seeds are ovoid, 10 to 14 mm (0.39 to 0.55 in) long and 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) wide, attached to a light brown wedge-shaped wing that is 20 to 30 mm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long and 15 to 18 mm (0.59 to 0.71 in) wide. C. libani grows rapidly until

2009-482: The shouf area for hunting and expanded their range into the reserve, the two species are: rock partridge ( Alectoris graeca ), and common pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus ). The reserve is also home to many species of birds of prey such as: griffon vulture ( Gyps fulvus ), and the golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ). Reptiles and amphibians: Al-shouf cedar reserve is home to a rich variety of reptiles, 26 species were documented with two species endemic to Lebanon and

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2058-573: The spread of Cedrus libani on the planet. The reserve is also known for the ability of the forests to regenerate by their own without any human interference. Other tree species in the reserve include : Cyprus oak ( Quercus infectoria ), Brant’s oak ( Quercus brantii ), kermes oak ( Quercus calliprinos ), Calabrian pine ( Pinus brutia ), Aleppo pine ( Pinus halepensis ), stone pine ( Pinus pinea ), Greek juniper ( Juniperus excelca ), Syrian juniper ( Arceuthos drupacea ). Mammals: Mammal explorations in Lebanon were limited until around

2107-591: The status of certain species. His recent new findings are published in Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, H. (2002). Few of them are incorporated here and the others will be added to the final report of the present study-project. The list of Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve species includes 500 identified species distributed over 61 families. Also the reserve is habitat to 25 internationally and nationally threatened species , 48 endemic to Lebanon or Lebanon and Syria or Lebanon and Turkey , and 14 rare species , whilst 214 species are restricted to

2156-655: The story place the Cedar Forest in the Lebanon. The Lebanon cedar is mentioned several times in the Bible . Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon cedar in the treatment of leprosy. Solomon also procured cedar timber to build the Temple in Jerusalem . The Hebrew prophet Isaiah used the Lebanon cedar (together with "oaks of Bashan", "all the high mountains" and "every high tower") as examples of loftiness as

2205-503: The trees are blanketed by a heavy snow cover at the higher elevations. In Lebanon and Turkey, it occurs most abundantly at elevations of 1,300 to 3,000 m (4,300 to 9,800 ft), where it forms pure forests or mixed forests with Cilician fir ( Abies cilicica ), European black pine ( Pinus nigra ), Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), and several juniper species. In Turkey, it can occur as low as 500 m (1,600 ft). C. libani var. brevifolia grows in similar conditions in

2254-507: The unique distinction as the oldest documented forests in history. The cedars were important enough in the history of man to be traceable to the very earliest written records, that of the Sumerians in the third millennium BC . In the ancient Sumerian story, The Epic of Gilgamesh , one of the oldest pieces of literature in the world, the cedars feature prominently. Gilgamesh has since been recognized as King Gilgamesh of history. The setting of

2303-401: The valleys are the major source of agriculture irrigation and supply a dozen Shouf villages with domestic water and some of the western Bekaa villages. The annual rainfall average is 1,200 mm (47 in), and the mean annual temperature is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). The mean daily maximum temperature is 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in August whereas the mean minimum temperature in January

2352-476: The watershed/ A large proportion of the exposed surface rock in the Barouk region is cavernous, fissured and broken limestone, and its porous condition makes it very permeable. This results in much of the precipitation infiltrating with minimum surface runoff despite the often-shallow soils and sparse vegetative cover. Water percolates downward through the various formations and feeds the springs found on lower slopes in

2401-578: Was built on the hill above the village of Niha to honor Job's memory and hold his relics. Ayoub is the Arabic name of the prophet Job . This once powerful Druze fortress served as a guardian outpost controlling the road that linked Beirut to Damascus , and a marching post for the Druze and Chehab rulers of the South Bekaa or Wadi al-Taym . El Sit Cha'wane is a famous figure in the Druze religion. Like Job in

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