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Libya

Five confirmed IPAs have been identified in Libya to date: Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Tawuorgha Sebka, Jabal Nafusah, Jabal Aweinat and Messak mountain.

Libya occupies an area of about 1.7 million km2, most of which is desert (the
Sahara). It is bounded to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the west by Tunisia and Algeria, to the southwest by Niger, to the south by Chad and Sudan and to the east by Egypt. Libya’s coastline is the longest of any African country bordering the Mediterranean. The climate is mostly dry and desert like in nature, but the northern regions enjoy a milder Mediterranean climate.

The most important areas for plant diversity are the coastal strip and mountains of the 1900km long Mediterranean coastline. The original coastal vegetation is dominated by wormwood and white broom, with early spring flowering annuals such as southern ragwort, Hussonia pinnata, rocket, corn marigold, common mallow and cut-leaved storksbill, and the perennial herb hispid viper’s-bugloss. These species cover large areas for a short time after the winter rainfall. The oases and valleys of the Sahara have sparse vegetation that is low in diversity and includes date palm trees, Tamarix spp., white broom, the buckthorn Ziziphus lotus, European boxthorn and umbrella thorn acacia. Herbaceous plants include Judean wormwood, Egyptian henbane and spiny zilla, though perennial grasses such Panicum turgidum, Stipagrostis pungens and S. plumosus predominate. In total there are approximately 1750 plant species in Libya, 4% of which are Libyan endemics. The flora is predominantly Mediterranean in type, with strong links to the Eastern Mediterranean (Palestine to Greece), more than with the rest of North Africa; particularly strong are the links to Crete. Approximately 50% of the Libyan endemics are endemic to Cyrenaica, the eastern coastal region of Libya. It has been estimated that there are approximately 26 endemic plant species on the coastal belt of Cyrenaica. Two plant genera, Pachyctenium Maire and Libyella Pamp are endemic to the district of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, each contain one species; Pachyctenium mirabile and Libyella cyrenaica.

Five confirmed IPAs have been identified in Libya to date: Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Tawuorgha Sebka, Jabal Nafusah, Jabal Aweinat and Messak mountain; with a further five that require study to confirm their status as internationally significant sites for plants. IPAs in Libya are found in the coastal, mountain and desert habitat types, Al Jabal Al Akhdar IPA (The Green Mountain) in the Cyrenaica region of north east Libya being the largest and most significant. The unique physiographic and climatic conditions which isolate the mountains of Cyrenaica from the rest of Libya have resulted in Al Jabal Al Akhdar holding 75 – 80% of the Libyan flora and a significant proportion of Libya’s endemic plant species, despite only covering 1% of the Libyan territory. The other confirmed Libyan IPAs include the hot springs and open canals of Tawuorgha and the limestone formations of Jabal Nafusah which stretch 500km from the Tunisian border to the Niggaza area on the Mediterranean coast. The latter encompasses a recently established national park Sha afeen. The Environmental General Authority (EGA) is considering the creation of a protected area at Alaweinat IPA in the south eastern corner of the country.

Threats to Libyan IPAs

Libyan IPAs face a number of threats including development of tourism infrastructure, overgrazing of livestock, forest cutting for wood and charcoal, and the spread of invasive alien species. Unregulated development at the coast is a particular threat. Planning processes are erratic and environmental impact assessments (although required by law) are seldom completed or adhered to.

Coordinating organisation:

Dr F El-Rtaib, Alfateh University

Contact:

Matthew Hall (Centre for Middle East Plants, RBG Edinburgh)