Importance of low perennial plant formations to the sustainability of forest ecosystems in the Saida Mountains (Algeria)

The forest ecosystems of the Saida Mountains are subject to several pressures (range, cut, fire) inducing a strong presence of low formations. Out of a total area of 174,300 hectares or 26.17% of the total area, matorrals represent 73% of the total forest area. Adaptation to edaphic, climatic, and pressure conditions has resulted in low forest formations composed of resistant and strain-rejecting species. The light matorral dominates about 30% in the area and evolves towards the disappearance of all the forest cover. All forest groups are: Pinetum halepensis, Tetraclinis articulata, Quercetum ilicis, Olé-lenticetum, and Juniperus oxycedrus. Forest cover rehabilitation involves the selection of resilient and resistant species such as Quercus rotundifolia, Tetraclinis articulata, Olea europaea, Quercus coccifera, and Phillyrea angustifolia.