Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve
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Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve is an area of protected "evergreen sclerophylic broussailles and forests" in Southern Lebanon, Lebanon. Established in 2007 It includes several peaks between 1,200 and 1,360 meters high and covers an area of 18,430 hectares and is administered by the Ministry of Environment.[1] The reserve features Oak trees that are up to 500 years old.[2]
| Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve | |
|---|---|
  Location within Lebanon |
Latitude 33° 27′ 01.17″ N; Longitude 35° 33′ 47.17″ E. It is bordered by the Litani River to the south, Mzairaa in the north, and the Jezzine and Niha villages. Parts of the preserve overlook the Beqaa Valley to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.[1]
Conservation and Management
Jabal Al Rihane is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).[3] Along with the Shouf and Jabal Moussa biosphere reserves, it forms an ecological corridor along Lebanon's mountainous spine.[4] This designation has helped promote sustainability principles and practices in the local area.[5]
Geography
The reserve runs along the ridge of southern Mount Lebanon chain overlooking the Baqaa valley to the east and the Mediterranean to the west with altitude ranging from 270m in the south, where the Litani River forms a natural boundary, up to 1,500m in the north at Mzairaa, south of Jezinne and Niha. The area cover 18,430 hectares. Four peaks dominate the terrain Jabal Safi (1,300 m), Jabal Sujud (1,200 m), Jabal Bir Kallab (1,360 m) and Jabal Bourqab (1,300 m).[1][4]
Ecology
Ecologically, it's a mosaic of systems broadly representing the evergreen sclerophyllous broussailles and forests biogeographic region within a Mediterranean biome. According to the Arab MAB reserve profile, the tree cover mixes kermes oak, gall oak, carob, storax, lentisk and stone pine, with an understorey of Orchids, Lebanese woodruff, brooms, oregano, hyssop, St John's-wort, Lavender, tumble thistle and myrtle, and the reserve in noted for forty four endemic plants plus oaks over five centuries old. Fauna recorded there includes the rock hyrax, wild boar, wolf, badger, common otter, wildcat, striped hyena and various bat species.[1][5][3]
Population and socioeconomics
According to The Arab-MAB, the reserve has a population of around 23,476, which drops to around 12,000 around winter, as professionals relocate to Beirut and its suburbs for work, school and milder weather.[6]