The Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve is the largest of Lebanon nature reserves, Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve stretches from Dahr Al-Baidar in the north to Niha Mountain in the south. The reserve hosts 32 species of wild mammals of which 9 are considered to be rare at the international levels.
Blanketed with oak forests on its northeastern slopes and juniper and oak forests on its southeastern slopes the reserves most famous attractions are its three magnificent cedar forests of Maasser Al-Shouf , Barouk and Ain Zhalta – Bmohary . These Cedar forests account for a quarter of the remaining cedar forest in Lebanon , and some tress are estimated to be 2,000 years old. The size of the reserve makes it a good location for the conservation of medium size mammals such as the wolf and the Lebanese jungle cat, as well as various species of mountain and plants.
The list of Shouf Biosphere Reserve species includes 436 identified plant species distributed over 61 families. The reserve provides habitat to 25 internationally and nationally threatened species, 48 endemic to Lebanon (Lebanon/Syria/Turkey), 14 rare species, whilst 214 species are restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean/Middle East area.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is most famous for hosting one of the largest stands of Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani) in the country. The reserve hosts about 620 hectares of cedar forest, which are largely confined to the steeper and less accessible areas, and represents the natural southern limit of this tree. The Shouf is a nexus of many cultures, religions, and historical events all of which have left an imprint that makes the area’s cultural heritage as rich as its ecosystems.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) lies at an altitude ranging from 1200 to 1980 meters. It is located along a mountain range known as the Barouk Mountain, a southern extension of the Mount Lebanon Range, which runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The Beirut-Damascus highway and the town of Jezzine define the northern and southern borders of the reserve. The overall SBR biosphere covers an area of about 500 square km. that is equivalent to about 5% of Lebanon.
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