As a Syrian forester trying to communicate with the international forestry community i have been asked many questions about the forests in Syria, and the most frequent questions were: Is it true that Syria is an arid country consists of a massive desert? Does Syria have any forests? Where do they locate? What are the main species?

Forests in Syria

Syria is a country in Western Asia with a total area of (18518000 hectares) with 2% of forest area (Nahhal1988), Despite its location in Arid and semi-arid zone it is distinguished by a major bio- climatic and physiographic gradients which results in quite phytogeographical diversity, Thus Syria possess a remarkable plant diversity rounding (3150) species according to Mouterde flora.

Most of the forest Area in Syria is located in the coastal region where the Mediterranean climate is dominant; therefore, we can find a Mediterranean vegetation all over this region.

Natural coniferous forests

Natural coniferous forests in Syria are either consist of Turkey pine (Pinus brutia) or Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) as dominant species that usually mix with Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos) as understory species (in the gaps) and other shrubs like: (Pistacia palaestina, Phillyrea media, Laurus nobilis, etc…), this type can be found till 900m above sea level.

The other coniferous type consist of Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani) and Cilicican fir (Abies cilicica) starting from 1000m above sea level. Lebanese Cedar occurs in the eastern slope of the coastal mountains mixed with turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.subsp. pseudocerris), Aleppo oak (Quercus infectoria), Juniper (Juniperus drupacea) and other shrubs like (Juniperus oxycedrus, Rhus coriaria, Acer hyrcanum, etc…)

Abies cilicica occurs in the western slope and also mixes with Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.subsp. pseudocerris ).

Cedrus libani and Juniperus drupacea on the eastern slope (Cedar and fir reservation). Photo credit : Angham Daiyoub

Broad-leaved forests

Broad-leaved forests in Syria are scattered along the coastal range in small patches as a result to deforestation consisting mainly of Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos) that associates with wide range of trees and shrubs species like (Quercus infectoria ,Arbutus andrachne, Quercus cerris L.subsp. pseudocerris, Styrax officinalis, Acer syriacus, Pirus syriaca, Crataegus oxycantha, Cercis siliquastrum……..) and that depends on bioclimatic zone.

About the Author:

Angham Daiyoub

Forestry Engineer studied at the university of Tishreen Lattakia/ Syria. Participated in plenty of reafforestation campaigns to cover the damage on our pine forests (Pinus brutia) that were caused by explosives during the years of war. Worked on Contribution to the inventory of Geophytes in the -Syrian coast, and now is working on a contribution to register the ancient & remarkable trees of the Syrian coastal mountains.