HTML Document Red juniper

Release date 19/10/2006
Geographical coverage Morocco
Keywords ecosystems, Red juniper

The Red Juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) exists in Morocco in two groups; the first concerns coastal plantings, the second concerns interior population which replace  Barbary Thuya when continentality becomes important.  This type is not considered a major forestral species and this is the reason why we do not have statistics on its surface area.  Red Junipers are preforestral or presteppic formations, generally taking the form of low and open forests with scanty underbrush and often found mixed with Barbary Thuya, Green Oak, or Aleppo Pine.  The fauna, which has been relatively little studied, is comprised of Arthropods (100 species) and birds typical  of low woody areas: Partridge (Alector’s barbara), dove (Straptopelia turtur) blackbird (Turdus merula), warbler (Sylvia melanocephala).

Juniper grove birds, with their tendency for mountainous areas, are fewer in number, with a predominance of the black titmouse (Parus ater). The mountainous areas are the winter station of the blackbird.