Physical and ecological features:
Jebel Abdul-Aziz lies in the northeastern part of the Syrian Jezira on an east west axis. The site belongs to Al- Hasakeh province of about 35km distance from city center. Topography is variable in the mountain. The area itself is composed of a series of hills and wadis with an elevation of 400-920m. A number of summits exist in the site, most importantly MarkabAli Rajm Barzan and Badeeh sign.
The climate of the Jebel is arid Mediterranean of cool variant with a continental dominance. and The ecosystem of the site is composed of steppe vegetation with dominance of scattered woody elements. Major woody species include Pistacia atlantica, P. khinjuk, Amygdalus orientalis, Prunus microcarpa, Pirus syriaca, Crataegus azarolus, Rhamnus palaestina. Biannual species present in the site are Artemisia herba-alba, Noea mucronata, Salsola vermiculata, Achillea sp. Phlomis sp. and Thymus syriacus. Herbaceous vegetation grows mainly in springtime due to extreme high temperature in summer and extreme minimum temperature in the winter.
Phytosociologically, P. atlantica is the dominant species in Pistacietum atlanticae which is well developed only in the northern Syrian desert (Jabal Abdul Al Aziz). Pistacia atlantica here has a wider leafs which may represent a unique transitional forms to P. mutica.
P. khinjuk is the other major component of vegetation (nearly 60%) in the protected area with various ecotypes. The species occurs naturally only in this site in Syria and perhaps isolated population are scattered in northern Iraq and in south east Turkey.
Global significance:
The Jebel has a remnant of forest/steppe associations. These associations represent the nearest living examples to Neolithic sites along the Euphrates some 160 kms to the west where fruits and charcoal of these species were common. Although P. khinjuk is present in Iraq, Iran and Turkey, it represents a viable well-preserved population with good genetic pools of various species in the Abdul Aziz Mountain, which deserve protection and management.
Nearly 200 species were mentioned in bibliography of the area and/or listed in present fieldwork, are found in the site. Seven of them are endemic to Syria including, Allium karyateini Post, Astragalus chlorostegius Boiss. et Hausskn., Astragalus megaloceras Sam., Echinops descendens Hand.-Mazz., Onobrychis pinnata (Bertol.) Hand.-Mazz., Satureia pallaryi Thieb., Scutellaria cretacea Boiss. et Hausskn.
The site includes a number of species that have an economical and ecological importance. Of these we mention:
(1) Genetic resources of fruit trees, Of these are: Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia khunjuk, and Amygdalus orientalis
(2) Excellent protein rich forage species. Of these we may mention Atriplex leucloda, Avena barbata, Dactylis glomerata, Salsola villosa, Stipa barbata, Aegilops spp., and Vicia spp.
(3) Medicinal plants are present in prosperous populations. Some of these species are: Thymus syriacus, Artemisia herba-alba, Capparis spinosa, Teucrium polinum, Achillea spp., Ziziphora spp
(4) Ornamental species adapted to dry zone such as Gladiolus aleppicus, Ixiolirion tataricum and Tulipa Montana are found too.
The site harbors a number of wild animals. These include 25 species of mammals, 51 species of birds and quite number of reptiles and insects. There are 12 globally threatened species in the site including, Fox (Vulpes vulpes syriacus), Wild Cat (Felis catus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and White Stork (Ciconia ciconia).
Twenty-six globally endangered species was recorded in the site. Of these we may mention: Wolf (Canis lupus), Striped hyena (Hyanea hyanea), Badger (Meles meles), Nubian Ibex (Capra ibex), Short-toed Eagle (Circetus gallicus), Lanner Falcon (F. biarmicus), Houbara (Chlamydotis undulata) and Little bustard (Tetrax tetrax).
In addition, a number of rare animals appear in different times of the year in the site. |
