| The upper slopes of Wadi Manshura in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains before July 2000 ...... A unique and very sensitive ecosystem at a level of appr. 2000 meters and above. The habitat of the Asian Leopard, various reptiles and endemic insects some of them only discovered and described within the last few years, e.g. Mallosia baioccii Sama, 2000. Here I also found the first specimen of Elathous ekaterinae Preiss, 2003. |
| The same slopes (photographed from the opposite direction) after July 2000 ... Within one month completely terraced to establish cherry plantages and part of a reforesting programme by the Syrian Government. Convinced that this will increase the value of this site. A fatal misunderstanding for this unique place. And maybe a failure of naturalists to inform the Government about the biodiversity on time? |
| Some snow cornices remain until the middle of July (!) and supply water to small spots, which are settled by unique associations of plants and animals. |
| It takes a long time for shrub pillows to settle down under the extreme conditions above 2000 meters, such as here on Mount Hermon. But it takes only a few minutes to rode them. The original nomads know this and usually don't take the whole pillow when collecting woods for fire. |
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| WADI MANSHURA IN THE ANTI-LEBANON MOUNTAINS (SYRIA) A BAD EXAMPLE OF 'TERRA FORMING' |
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| BUT THEN ... |