Cedrus atlantica

Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas cedar, is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae, native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco (Middle Atlas, High Atlas), to the Rif, and to the Tell Atlas in Algeria. A majority of the modern sources treat it as a distinct species Cedrus atlantica, but some sources consider it a subspecies of Lebanon cedar (C. libani subsp. atlantica).

Description

Fully grown, Atlas cedar is a large coniferous evergreen tree, 30 to 35 m (98 to 115 ft) (rarely 40 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 1.5 to 2 m (4.9 to 6.6 ft). It looks very similar to other varieties of Lebanon cedar. Differences are difficult to see. The mean cone size tends to be somewhat smaller (although recorded to 12 cm, only rarely over 9 cm long, compared to up to 10 cm in C. brevifolia, and 12 cm in C. libani), though with considerable overlap (all can be as short as 6 cm). The Cedrus atlantica leaf length (10-25 mm) is similar that of C. libani subsp. stenocoma is on average shorter than C. Brevifolia but longer than C. Libani subsp. libani, but again with considerable overlap.

Ecology

Atlas cedar form forests on mountainsides at 1,370 to 2,200 m (4,490 to 7,220 ft), often in pure forests, or mixed with Algerian fir – Abies numidica, Juniperus oxycedrus, holm oak – Quercus ilex, and Acer opalus. These forests can provide habitat for the endangered Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), a primate that had a prehistorically much wider distribution in northern Morocco and Algeria.

Currently, Morocco has the highest total surface of Atlas cedar in the world, and it forms vast forests in the humid zones of the country, around the Middle-Atlas range, the oriental and Northern High-Atlas range, and in the Western and Central Rif mountain range. There are currently 163,000 hectares of land, with approximately 115,000 hectares (80%), located in the Middle-Atlas mountain range. Human use, wood harvesting, and fires are all threatening to the species. Data from 1927 shows a higher number of Atlas cedars in the Middle-Atlas Mountains (more than 150,000 ha) Although the Rif Mountains had one of the most extensive cedar forests in Morocco in the past, they are now only 15% of Morocco’s total cedar forests. Recent massive reforestation efforts have been carried out in Ifrane Province.

In Algeria, the Atlas cedar has been in significant decline. According to data from 1966 the species inhabited 23,000 hectares, forming forests around the Djurdjura Mountains in Kabylie and Aures Mountains. However, it is expected that it currently inhabits fewer than 15,000 hectares owing to extensive fires and human use.