Characteristics of the vegetation of tree stands on sacred sites in comparison to well-preserved forests in northwestern Morocco

Abstract

Muslim burial grounds and the surroundings of Saints’ tombs (marabouts) in Morocco consist of spontaneous vegetation which is often protected from land use due to religious believes. Nevertheless many sacred sites are subjected to land-use practices like grazing or cutting of wood which alter the vegetation. In the present study, the vegetation of tree stands on 68 sacred sites (cemeteries and marabouts) in northwestern Morocco was analysed and compared to the vegetation of least disturbed stands of the corresponding forest communities. Those are thermomediterranean evergreen forest communities dominated by the tree species Quercus coccifera L., Quercus suber L. and Olea europaea L. The aim of the study was to determine the main factors affecting floristic differentiation of the sacred sites’ stands and to assess their degree of ‘naturalness’. The main gradient explaining floristic variance was associated with the proportion of annual species per plot and with the litter layer cover. Both were assumed to be proxies for the degree of land-use pressure, especially grazing. In heavily grazed tree stands, annual species replace woody and perennial plant species of the shrub and herbaceous layer (‘therophytization’), while in little used, non-grazed forest stands annual species are rare or lack completely. Different stand structure types, like isolated trees, do not have a strong influence on the floristic composition. Quercus coccifera stands from the examined sacred sites were mostly similar in their floristic composition to reference Q. coccifera stands, while Olea europaea stands showed no strong floristic similarity to reference stands. Quercus suber stands were partly similar, partly unsimilar to reference stands.

Sacred sites in north‐western Morocco – naturalness of their vegetation and conservation value for vulnerable plant species

“…This is congruent with the findings of Taiqui et al. (2009) who stated that less the 50% of the sites in Larache Province are forests and by the observations of Frosch , focussing on forested sites: Even in some holy forests with a more or less closed tree canopy (especially in groves with Wild Olive and with Cork Oak), a reduced cover of the litter layer and a dominance of annual plants in the ground floor indicate intense grazing and browsing.…”

“…This preliminary and non-quantified impression was confirmed by an inventory of 575 sacred sites in the province of Larache (NW Morocco) by Taiqui et al (2009) who stated 178 sites with forests, 14 with maquis and 383 without vegetation. As a result of overgrazing and nitrification, sacred groves seem to be often degraded, overaged or reduced to tree groups or a single tree, and processes like the replacement of woody underbrush and perennial forest herbs by ruderals and annual species (therophytisation, ruderalisation) take place (Frosch 2010;Frosch & Deil 2011).…”

Density, Spatial Pattern and Relief Features of Sacred Sites in Northern Morocco

“…Morocco (Deil 2003, Deil et al 2005, 2008, Taïqui et al 2005, Jäckle & Frosch 2008, Fateh 2008, Tataru 2010. More detailed vegetation studies were realized by Frosch (2010) and Frosch & Deil (2011). Frosch & Deil (2011) could prove a long existing hypothesis (Emberger 1939, Mikesell 1960, Sauvage 1961, Barbéro et al 1981, Benabid 1984, Quézel & Barbéro 1990 that some of these forests (Fig.…”

“…Consequently, national inventories of SaS are needed (Wild & McLeod 2008): Only known and documented SaS can be protected and monitored. Deil et al (2009), Taiqui et al (2005 and Frosch (2010) showed that near-natural vegetation can still be found at SnS on the Tangier Peninsula in NW Morocco. Some forest types even exist almost exclusively on such sites (Frosch & Deil 2011).…”

“…6 Conclusions Khan et al (2008) list maintenance of ecological balance, conservation of biodiversity and supply of resources as important ecological features of SaS in India. In Northern Morocco however, SnS are threatened by degradation (Zouanat 2007, Deil et al 2009, Frosch 2010, Frosch & Deil 2011, despite of their high cultural (Lang 1992, Verdugo & Kadiri Fakir 1995 and ecological value (Quézel & Barbéro 1990, Deil et al 2005. Population growth, land use pressure and decreasing spiritual value of SaS are the main reasons for size reduction or total destruction of SnS in Morocco.…”