In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part)
The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Yahya El Karmoudi Nikos Krigas Brahim Chergui El Hemiani Abdelmajid Khabbach Mohamed Libiad |
| author_facet | Yahya El Karmoudi Nikos Krigas Brahim Chergui El Hemiani Abdelmajid Khabbach Mohamed Libiad |
| author_sort | Yahya El Karmoudi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and factors that could influence their in situ conservation was undertaken, employing a series of field surveys conducted in the Northern Moroccan IBRM ecosystems. In total, 42 sites were surveyed in four protected areas of the Moroccan part of the IBRM. In total, 21 Orchidaceae species and subspecies (taxa) belonging to seven genera were identified, including <i>Orchis spitzelii</i> subsp. <i>cazorlensis,</i> as newly recorded in Morocco, as well as several new reports for different sites and/or areas surveyed, thus updating the previous knowledge of Moroccan Orchidaceae. Most of the Orchidaceae taxa were found in limited numbers of individuals (<30) and were restricted in a few sites (1–3) or a single area; thus, they were assessed as poorly conserved due to the scarcity of rainfall coupled with human pressures, such as the abstraction of surface water, forest fires, and the conversion of protected forests to <i>Cannabis</i> farms. The enforcement of existing laws, the adoption of strategies to combat desertification and forest fires, the prohibition of <i>Cannabis</i> farming, and raising awareness among the local population could reduce the pressures on the protected Orchidaceae members and their habitats, thereby contributing to their conservation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-248b5bf6ef85447da393e6a76699e2f0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-248b5bf6ef85447da393e6a76699e2f02025-08-20T03:13:58ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01148125410.3390/plants14081254In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part)Yahya El Karmoudi0Nikos Krigas1Brahim Chergui El Hemiani2Abdelmajid Khabbach3Mohamed Libiad4Ecology, Systematics and Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, URL-CNRST N° 18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, M’Hannech II, Tetouan 93002, MoroccoInstitute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation Demeter (ELGO-DIMITRA), 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceEcology, Systematics and Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, URL-CNRST N° 18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, M’Hannech II, Tetouan 93002, MoroccoBiotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fès 30003, MoroccoEcology, Systematics and Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, URL-CNRST N° 18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, M’Hannech II, Tetouan 93002, MoroccoThe focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and factors that could influence their in situ conservation was undertaken, employing a series of field surveys conducted in the Northern Moroccan IBRM ecosystems. In total, 42 sites were surveyed in four protected areas of the Moroccan part of the IBRM. In total, 21 Orchidaceae species and subspecies (taxa) belonging to seven genera were identified, including <i>Orchis spitzelii</i> subsp. <i>cazorlensis,</i> as newly recorded in Morocco, as well as several new reports for different sites and/or areas surveyed, thus updating the previous knowledge of Moroccan Orchidaceae. Most of the Orchidaceae taxa were found in limited numbers of individuals (<30) and were restricted in a few sites (1–3) or a single area; thus, they were assessed as poorly conserved due to the scarcity of rainfall coupled with human pressures, such as the abstraction of surface water, forest fires, and the conversion of protected forests to <i>Cannabis</i> farms. The enforcement of existing laws, the adoption of strategies to combat desertification and forest fires, the prohibition of <i>Cannabis</i> farming, and raising awareness among the local population could reduce the pressures on the protected Orchidaceae members and their habitats, thereby contributing to their conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1254<i>Cannabis</i> farmingforest fireshuman activitiesorchidsparksthreatened species |
| spellingShingle | Yahya El Karmoudi Nikos Krigas Brahim Chergui El Hemiani Abdelmajid Khabbach Mohamed Libiad In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) Plants <i>Cannabis</i> farming forest fires human activities orchids parks threatened species |
| title | In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) |
| title_full | In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) |
| title_fullStr | In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) |
| title_short | In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part) |
| title_sort | in situ conservation of orchidaceae diversity in the intercontinental biosphere reserve of the mediterranean moroccan part |
| topic | <i>Cannabis</i> farming forest fires human activities orchids parks threatened species |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1254 |
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