The Fronloq protected area in Latakia Syria:

Al Fronloq, which extends up to 4,500 ha. Is located in the northwestern coastal region of Syria. It has a unique northern (European) natural vegetation. It is a place where you can tour in designed tracts the protected area and see natural beauty of streams and various herbaceous plants.

The Fronloq protected area (35.51N, 36.00E-580m) is located in the Al- Bayer sub-district of the governorate of Lattakia (North west Syria), about 47 kilometers of Lattakia city. The Lattakia-Kassab road forms the Western border of the protected area. Whereas the “current Syrian Turkish borders” forms the most northern borders of the site. From the East, a 50-100m strip bound the site to the east of nahr Al Kabier Al shamali. Agricultural lands of Al-saraf, Zahie, Al-kabier, Biet shardaq and Kantara villages form the southern borders.
©M.S.Abido

Physical and ecological features:

The Fronloq protected area is located in the Al- Bayer sub-district of the governorate of Lattakia about 47 kilometers of Lattakia city. The Lattakia-Kassab road forms the Western border of the protected area. 

The site forms part of the watershed of Nahr Al-Kabier Al-Shamali. Qwameeh and Al- Kabier are the major mountains in the area. Parent materials are composed of ultra basic green rocks of igneous nature, which are quite unique in Syria and Eastern Mediterranean.

Climatically, the area falls within the cool variant of the sub-humid to humid bio-climatic zone of the Mediterranean climate. 

Deciduous trees are concentrated in the middle of the protected area with penetration into surrounding Brutia pine forests.

The core area of the Fronloq site is composed of pure deciduous trees of Quercus cerris subsp. pseudocerris, where it dominates the forest. However, this situation is very limited to few sites. These include humid western, northern and eastern slopes and sites where soil is deep and hold enough water to support lush vegetation. Deciduous species also are found along watercourses and depressions. 

Quercus trees density may reach up to 200/ha, .Height of trees is estimated at 24 m. Major associated species of Quercus pseudocerris in these sites include Alnus orientalis, carpinus orientalis, and Styrax officinalis. Quercus pseudocerris trees mingle with Brutia pine trees Pinus brutia.

The other major species in the protected area is Pinus Brutia; the species belongs to the Eu-mediterranean bio-climatic zone. However, it is found in Syria on different strata occupying altitudes from sea level to about 700m. It occupies large tracts of the protected areas on strata that hold enough water to support its growth (drier sites) but not deciduous forest species. On these sites, Brutia pine dominates forests with an Underwood of deciduous species including Quercus pseudocerris, Pistacia palaestina, Carpinus orientalis, Ostrya carpinifolia, etc.

Brutia pine is a keystone species for landscape and ecosystem stability in al Fronloq site. It protects soils from erosion and contributes to soil development and enhance rock and soil capacity to hold water. 

Phyto-sociologically, five associations (assemblages) have been noted in the site. These are:

1- Chaerophyllo-Quercetum pseudocerridis ,Main species of this category is the Quercus cerris subsp. Pseudocerris.

2- Cerco-Ferulagetum autumnalis .Associated species that distinguish this association are: Cercis siliquastrum, Pinus Brutia, Rhus cotinus, Juniperus oxycedrus, Ferulago autumnalis and Celsia heterophylla.

3- Alysso (crenulatae)-Quercetum pseudocerridis .Major species that distinguish the association are: Centaurea arifolia, Alyssum crenulatum, Euphorbia cassia and Thymus cilicicus.

4- Pineto (brutia)-Quercetum pseudocerridis. The following species distinguish this association: Pinus brutia, Q. cerris subsp. pseudocerris, Aster amani, Fumana oligosperma, Spiranthes autumnalis.

5- Saliceto (libani)-Smilacetum excelsae: Major species of this category include, Eupatorium cannabium, Smilax excelsa, Salix libani, Aster amani, Scilla bifolia, Polypodium vulgare, Corylus avellana.

Global significance:

The ecosystem is quite distinctive in Syria as it represents the climax vegetation in the area. The ecosystem itself is composed of an ecotone of unique assemblages of species of European origin, which are remains of ancient climate reign in Syria, mingled with Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian species. The site importance comes from its being one of the few viable ecosystems in a country threatened by drought and desertification. The ecosystem is considered fragile and sensitive to pressures. It is well documented that plant diversity of Mediterranean forests is much greater than that of European forests. Several factors contributed to this diversity including palaeogeographical, historical, ecological factors as well as 10,000 years of past human activities . Mediterranean forests have nearly twice as many woody species as European forests. The Fronloq site is of no exception of that. 

The site contains about 325 vascular plant species, which belongs to 232 genus and 73 families. Nearly 50 percent of these species are of Mediterranean origin and 40% of them are endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean region (Lebanon, Syria and Turky). The site contains 9 endemic species. Number of endemic species on the green rocks in north of Lattakia and through the border of Turkey reaches 26. More than 40 species are rare or endangered in the site as well as in Syria as a whole

A large number of species have economical importance such as Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis ferriginea, Fraxinus ornus, Laurus nobilis, Lavandula stoechas and Pistacia palaestina …etc. 

It is believed that the protected site contains several ecotypes of Brutia pine as well as wild relatives of fruit trees. Brutia pine ecotypes are distinguished from each other by several characteristics such as drought and cold tolerance, tolerance to soil nutrient imbalance, etc.

Due to its geographic location, the site constitutes a bridge between southern Europe and Asia Minor for migratory wildlife species that cross the area. Furthermore, the site is one of the stop over points for globally endangered and migratory birds. Of these are: Black vulture (Aegypius monachus), Golden eagle (Aquile chrysaetos homeyeri) and the Crane (Grus grus) A number of globally endemic and endangered species in Syria in particular and Middle East in general reside in the site. These include, Syrian serin (Syrinus syriacus), Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus), Finsch’s wheatear (Oenanthe finschii), Masked shrike (Lanius nubicus), Wolf (Canis lupus), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and tiger salamander (Salamandra salamandra) .The site host’s quite number of rare and endangered animal species. Of these; 16 globally threatened species (GTS), which include, Canis lupus, red fox (Vulpes vulpes), follow deer (Dama dama), Aquile chrysaetos homeyeri, and European roller (Corracias garrulous); 12 globally endangered species (GES), which include, Badger (Meles meles), stripped hyena (Hyanea hyanea), Jackal (Canis aureus), chukar (Alectoris graeca sinaica), Oenanthe oenanthe, Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus). In addition a number of rare insect species such as Lucanus cervus, Iphiclides podalirius, and Papilio machaon are found .