Cedars Forests - The Orange Room

Lebanese_dream

The Cedrus libani in Lebanon is limited to twelve, separate stands. From north to south, these stands are: Jabal Qammoua forest, Wadi Jahannam in the Akkar area, Ehden, Bcharre, Tannourine-Hadeth, Jeij in the Jubail mountains of central Lebanon, and in the Jabal el-Barouk forest s of the Chouf mountains, Ain Zhalta/Bmohrain, Barouk, and Maasser el-Chouf. The areas are briefly described below, and Bcharre and Jabal el-Barouk will be discussed in further depth and detail.

The Jabal Qammoua is a large forest area of several hund red hectares. It is highly degraded and only about 30 hectares are closed forest. It is a mixture of Cedrus, Abies cilicica, and Juniperus species, with Abies dominating on northwest and north slopes, and Cedrus on northeast and east slopes. Jabal Qammoua supports a high population of goats, which damage seedlings and the lower parts of trees.

Ehden forest, located northeast of the village Ehden, is approximately 140 hectares of closed and well-protected forest. Ehden forest is floristically the rich est locality in Lebanon. There is very little sheep and goat-grazing.

The Bcharre cedars, also known as Arz el-Rab [the cedars of the Lord] is the most famous stand of cedars in Lebanon. It comprises only 7 hectares, and contains the oldest and largest specimens of Cedrus libani, reported to be over 2000 years old. There is scant cedar reproduction. Mistakenly, the literature often suggests that it is the very last remnant of cedar forest in Lebanon. Bcharre cedars have been nominated as a World Her itage area by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon.

Tannourine and Hadeth forests are located on Jabal Mar Moroune and Jabal es Sair between the villages Hadeth ej Joube and Tannourine et Tahta. They encompass about 200 hectares of forest of which only 85 hectares can be called closed.

Jeij cedars, located above the village of Jeij, comprise a mere, but beautiful, 2 hectares. Jabal el-Barouk is located on the slopes of the central portion of the Mount Lebanon chain, at the southern-most limit of the cedar's growing range in Lebanon. It has the largest self-regenerating stand of the Cedrus libani in Lebanon. Jabal el-Barouk is comprised of three adjacent but separate stands of cedars on communal land belonging to the respective municip alities, and covering an area of about 3509 hectares. The forested area, however, covers a total of only 216 hectares, a mere 8.6% of the 3509 hectares. The cedars have adapted to the heat and dryness of the area by sending down deep roots. Every three years an abundant production of seeds allows the only significant natural propagation of this tree in Lebanon. It is one the last remaining areas in Lebanon were larger mammals such as the wolf and the wild boar can still be found, and where the ibex an d the mountain gazelle can be reintroduced. In addition, Jabal el-Barouk has been cited as an important bird area by BirdLife International.

Source

Lebanese_dream

Bcharré (Bsharreh)

The trip to Bcharré and The Cedars, about 30km (19mi) inland from Tripoli, passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Lebanon. The road winds along mountainous slopes, gaining altitude and winding precipitously above spectacular gorges. Villages of red-tile roofed houses perch atop hills or cling precariously to the mountainsides and there are vistas of olive groves, vineyards, lush valleys and mountain peaks at every turn. This village at the head of the Qadisha valley is noted as the birthplace of Gibran Khalil Gibran, author of The Prophet and other famous works. One of Gibran's last wishes was to spend his final days there and to be buried in the small Monastery of Mar Sarkis at the entrance of the town. The first part of his wish was not to be, but Gibran's tomb lies in the Monastery, which today serves as the Gibran Museum. Here his paintings and manuscripts are on display.

In Winter the Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays. In Summer, it is open every day including Mondays.

Above Bcharré the road climbs to Lebanon's last remaining forest of Biblical cedars, known as Arz Ar-rab, The Cedars of God. Some of the trees are over 1500 years old, and the site is classified as a world monument. Below Bcharré, the spectacular Qadisha Valley holds the tombs of the early Maronite patriarchs, as well as rock-cut monasteries. The gorge is a hiker's paradise, with paths along the top and bottom.

An interesting tour can made of the villages around the horseshoe-shaped rim of the Qadisha Valley. If you are driving to The Cedars via the village of Qnat, the first village you come to on the south side of the gorge is Hadeth Al-Jubbeh, a town which goes back to at least the early 6th century AD. Then comes Diman, the summer residence of the Maronite Patriarch since the 19th century. The site ovelooks the Monastery of Qannoubin, an early seat of the Patricarchy. From Diman a steep path takes you down to the gorge. Not far from here is Hasroun, a red-roofed town that hugs the edge of the Qadisha Valley. This village is known for its picturesque dwellings, old churches and gardens. Bqaa Kafra reached via a turn-off from Bqorqacha, is the highest village in the country at 1,600 metres. This picturesque town is also the birthplace of Lebanon's famous Saint Charbel, born in 1828.

Source

Lebanese_dream

Tannourine Cedars

HOURS OF OPERATION
The Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve is open to visitors during the spring, summer, and fall (April to November) of each year. The reserve is open daily from 8:00 to 18:00.

ENTRANCE FEE

There is no entrance fee, but donations for the management of the reserve are welcome.

SAFETY REGULATIONS & PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

Visitors are encouraged to abide by the ethos: Take only memories, leave only footprints. Stay on officially designated trails. Cutting across and between trails can cause severe environmental damage and can be dangerous.

The following are NOT allowed inside the reserve:

Smoking, campfires, or starting any type of fire
Hunting Tree or shrub cutting
Collection of any flora or fauna
Littering
Pets
Camping

ESTABLISHMENT

The Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve was created under Law No.9 on February 25, 1999. The reserve is managed by the Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve Committee under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve protects one of the largest and densest cedar forests in Lebanon. Ninety percent of the trees in the forest are cedars. The unique geography and topography of the forest has sheltered the area from excessive tourist activity. The hiking trails here, in the rocky terrain of the mountains, are not for the faint of heart. However, a trip to Tannourine is well worth it. The stunning mountainous landscape, with cedars seemingly defying gravity and growing on extremely vertical slopes, is impressive. Visitors will also enjoy the opportunity to discover rock-cut or naturally occurring grottos on their hike, as well as rare flowers particular to this high altitude terrain, like the Mountain Tulip or Lebanese Prickly Thrift.

BEST SEASON TO VISIT

The best seasons to visit the reserve are late spring (May to June), summer (July to August), and fall (September to November). In the spring, you will see many flowers, butterflies, and birds. In the summer, there are a variety of flowering plants, and many animals are active. In the fall, you can enjoy the beautiful changing colors of the few deciduous trees in the reserve (maple and oak), as well as migratory birds en route to their winter destination.

MAJOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INSIDE THE RESERVE

The major activities inside the Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve are hiking and bird watching. These activities are especially enjoyable because of the tranquility of the reserve. The Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve has less tourist activity than some of the other reserves, and visitors can relish their solitude with the impressive cedars.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

There are no archaeological sites located within the boundaries of the reserve.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES NEARBY THE RESERVE

In close proximity to the reserve are many traditional and picturesque mountain villages: Tannourine El-Faouqa, Hadath Ej-Jebbé, Qnat, Niha, Kfour El-Aarbi, red-roofed Douma, Aaqoura with its many churches and shrines, and Wadi Aain Al-Raha with its old monasteries. Have lunch at a quiet café and spend a few hours breathing in the fresh alpine air and touring the local sites before continuing to or from the reserve.

Down the road to Tannourine El-Faouqa is the ski resort of Laqlouq. Besides downhill skiing, there is good cross-country skiing. On the drive from Laqlouq, you will pass the region's impressive karst limestone formations. Stop off to see the Balaa Sinkhole and naturally formed rock bridges.

Continuing north from Tannourine El-Faouqa, you will come to the Qadisha Valley, the village of Bcharré, and the Arz Ar Rab, “the Cedars of the Lord.”

For more infos

Lebanese_dream

Barouk Cedars Nature Reserve

The Cedrus libani forest community represents about 25% of the remaining cedar forests in Lebanon and is thus significant at the national level. Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve represents around 550 km² of Lebanese territory. It forms the southern limit of Cedrus libani. The reserve makes up 5 percent of the entire territory of the country and 70 percent of Lebanon's green area, making it the largest nature reserve in the Middle East. The reserve, formed in 1994, is one of three protected areas in Lebanon to benefit from the United Nations' Protected Areas Project.
Oak, pine and juniper are some of the 16 types of trees that also grow in the reserves. Squirrels, wild boars, porcupines, wolves and gazelles can be found in the reserve. The reserve is accessible from Barouk, Maaser al-Chouf and Ain Zhalta. Al-Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve is managed by the Al-Shouf Cedars Society, which is a non-governmental organization that conceived the idea of the reserve, created it, and currently manages it in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.
Visitors to the forest cannot picnic inside the reserve.

A really amazing visit… where you can know really the meaning of the reserve that is lacking as practice in our country… well organized work, despite the low resources… a really protected area… while ascending you can see the variety in ages… in the lower parts of it, the cedars that are 30-40 years old covers the major parts of it, but still you can see some of the old trees that passes the human invasion and destruction in the past… getting the highest point that is reachable by car, near the “diwan el mir”, where the past princes passes the summer in camps, in a natural hall, between 5-7 old cedars, of minimum age of 1500 years… And a stay in this place for moments, to hear the silence, which is disrupted by some sounds, made by the contact of the wind with the powerful cedar branches…
We continued our walk, in specified roads… looking around, we saw the cedars of many ages, the smallest to the biggest… from the age of months to the age of years, to centuries… without forgetting the flowers variety, the grass, the other trees that were blooming with their extremely green leaves in the early spring…
I didn’t met in this visit the animals of it, except for 2 small insects…
When we reached the end of the thick forest, we saw the most beautiful view… the cedars above the clouds level… the cedars on the mountain top, above a deep valley where lays the village of Barouk and the other surrounding villages… as the highest point of Sannin Mountain, that is still covered with snow…

Whatever we want to describe, the words cannot replace the real picture of this beauty… you must go and see, and even believe, yes… this reserve is in Lebanon… these cedars are for us and for our sons… these cedars are the only witness of our history…
I really thank god for making all this beauty in my country… I thank for sure all the ones that worked & are working to keep it alive…

Source

Lebanese_dream

Ehden Reserve

ESTABLISHMENT
The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve was created under Law No.121 on March 9, 1992. The reserve is managed by the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve Committee under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve contains a particularly diverse and beautiful remnant forest of the Cedars of Lebanon, making the reserve a very important part of the country’s cultural and natural heritage. Located on the northwestern slopes of Mount Lebanon and pampered by mist and relatively high precipitation, a multitude of rare and endemic plants flourish here. Stands of cedars are bordered by a mixed forest of juniper, fir, and the country's last protected community of wild apple trees. On a peaceful hike through the forest, the lucky visitor might spot an endangered Imperial Eagle or Bonelli Eagle, a wolf, or a wildcat. The reserve's beautiful valleys and gorges, with their wild orchids, brightly colored salamanders, mushrooms, and other flora and fauna, are sure to soothe even the most harried visitor.

HOURS OF OPERATION
The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve is open to visitors year-round. Visitors are only allowed in the reserve from 8:00 till 17:00.

ENTRANCE FEE
There is no entrance fee, but donations for the management of the reserve are welcome.

SAFETY REGULATIONS & PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Visitors are encouraged to abide by the ethos: Take only memories, leave only footprints. Stay on officially designated trails. Cutting across and between trails can cause severe environmental damage and can be dangerous.

The following are NOT allowed inside the reserve:
Smoking, campfires, or starting any type of fire Hunting
Tree or shrub cutting Collection of any flora or fauna
Littering Pets
Camping

INFORMATION CENTER

There is an information center located at the Aain Al-Bayada entrance to the reserve. It is open from 8:00 to 17:00. Visitors may purchase memento mugs at the entrances to the reserve.

TOILETS
Currently, there is one public toilet located at the Naba'a Jouit entrance and another one at the Aain Al-Bayada entrance.

REST AREA
There is a rest area at Aain Al-Na'asa.

WHAT TO BRING
Visitors should come equipped with good hiking or walking shoes, a fleece jacket, backpack, water container, camera, and binoculars.

BEST SEASON TO VISIT
For hikers, autumn and spring are the most temperate and enjoyable seasons for outdoor walks. For visitors who love soaking up nature's many colors, October is the best month to enjoy autumnal colors, and April to May are the best months to see the reserve in bloom.

MAJOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INSIDE THE RESERVE
Bird watching, hiking, and photography can be enjoyed throughout the year. The reserve has a camp offering outdoor educational activities for children during the week and for adults on the weekend. The precise activities depend on the season and vary from year-to-year.

For more information, please contact:
+961-(0)6-561800
+961-(0)6-660248
+961-(0)6-560189
www.horshehden.org

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
There are no archaeological sites inside the reserve. However, in the village of Ehden, you can visit some historical churches and monasteries, as well as the old souk in the historic part of the city. For example, the Church of St. Mamas (Mar Memas) is considered to be the first Maronite church constructed with stones in Lebanon.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES NEARBY THE RESERVE
Visitors may want to spend the night in Ehden or one of the other villages near the reserve. For a panoramic view of north Lebanon, visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Citadel (Saydet Al-Hosn), a modern church built in the shape of a star and located on a summit. Visitors will also not want to miss Al-Midan, Ehden’s historic souk characterized by traditional Lebanese architecture and filled with cafés, patisseries, and restaurants.

Source

METALLICA

Don't you just love Lebanese cedar. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets this sense of pride when visiting a cedar reserve.
The cedar is a majestic tree, resists wind and harsh weather conditions and is green year long. A great choice to be on our nation's flag I must say.

The reserves are a great idea since forests are of secondary importance in Lebanon, although we are blessed with good weather especially when compared to our neighbours'.

Ya3eesh Arz Lebnen..
:o)

Diabolo_7

u guys mean, whats left of the cedars...

I have a pic of whats left from the Cedars forrest in Becharre, taken New Year's day 2007, I will post it later...

Lebanese_dream

CedarLb

A trip to Maaser el Chouf on a foggy day in early October...

The so-called "Arzet Lamartine".

Here's a 6000 years old cedar!

Chief

Ehden Natural Reserve - Pictures shot by my cam -