Biodiversity Over 1,058 plant species have been identified in the reserve, accounting for nearly 40% of all native plant species in
Lebanon, though the reserve represents less than 0.1% of the total area of Lebanon. The forests form an assemblage of
conifers,
deciduous, and evergreen broadleaf trees in an isolated climatic
phytochorion with a varied topography.
Flora 1,020 species of native plants and 39 species of native trees have been identified. Seventy species use "Lebanon" in their names, such as
Cedrus libani,
Salix libanii, and
Berberis libanotica. Twenty-two other species carry names significant to Lebanon, such as
Dianthus karami (after
Youssef Bey Karam, a 19th-century national figure), and
Astragalus ehdenensis (after the village of
Ehden). A total of 212 (20%) species are rare and another 126 (12%) are considered
threatened; 115 are endemic to Lebanon, and ten are endemic to Horsh Ehden. Seventy-eight species are recognized as medicinal plants. The reserve is also considered the southernmost limit to
Cilician fir (Abies cilicica).
Plant communities The forest
plant communities of highest conservation importance are: •
Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani var. libanii), which represents about 20% of the remaining cedar forests in Lebanon, •
Cilician fir (Abies cilicica), •
Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa), which is a gene pool for possible reforestation projects at higher altitudes, including the peaks of Mount Lebanon above 2000 m. •
Lebanese wild apple (Malus trilobata). • Kotschy oak (
Quercus kotschyana) Horsh Ehden is the only protected area in Lebanon that contains a community of the wild apple of Lebanon. File:Cedar of lebanon 788.jpg|
Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani var. libanii) File:Abies cilicica in Ehden cedar reserve.jpg|
Cilician fir (Abies cilicica) File:Apple of lebanon.jpg|
Lebanese wild apple (Malus trilobata) File:Greek juniper.jpg|
Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) Fauna Mammals More than 27 species of mammals have been sighted in the reserve, representing a third of Lebanese mammals.
Insectivores,
carnivores,
rodents,
lagomorpha,
chiroptera, and
artiodactyls have all been identified in the reserve. 13 species are globally
threatened, one species is locally threatened and highly endangered (the gray
wolf,
Canis lupus), and one species is endemic to the reserve (the
lesser white-toothed shrew,
Crocidura suaveolens). Species identified in the reserve include
Cape hare (
Lepus capensis),
wood mouse (
Apodemus sylvaticus),
Eurasian badger (
Meles meles),
southern white-breasted hedgehog (
Erinaceus concolor),
Indian porcupine (
Histrix indica),
Caucasian squirrel (
Sciurus anomalus),
striped hyena (
Hyaena hyanena),
least weasel (
Mustela nivalis),
wildcat (
Felis silvestris),
gray wolf (
Canis lupus), and
marbled polecat (
Vormela Peregusna). Image:Caucasian_squrriel.gif|Caucasian squirrel Image:Stripedhyena3.jpg|Striped hyena Image:Capreolus capreolus 2 Jojo.jpg|Roe deer (male and female) Image:Euro_badger.jpg|Eurasian badger
Birds The reserve has different birds habitats. Four of the identified bird species are globally threatened, five are regionally vulnerable, eighteen face unfavorable conditions in Europe, and fifty-seven are rare in Lebanon. Species include
eastern imperial eagle (
Aquila heliaca),
Bonelli's eagle (
Hieraaetus fasciatus),
blue tit (
Parus caeruleus),
corn crake (
Crex crex),
Levant sparrowhawk (
Accipiter brevipes),
saker falcon (
Falco cherrug),
white pelican (
Pelecanus onocratalus),
black stork (
Ciconia nigra),
Egyptian vulture (
Neophron perenopetrus),
European bee-eater (
Merops apiaster),
sand martin (
Riparia riparia),
white stork (
Ciconia ciconia),
common wood-pigeon (
Columba polumbus),
great spotted cuckoo (
Clamator glandarius),
barn owl (
Tyto alba), and the
Syrian woodpecker (
Dendrocopos syriacus). Image:Song_thrush.gif|Song thrush Image:Egyptian vulture.jpg|Egyptian vulture Image:Blue Tit aka.jpg|Eurasian blue tit Image:Woodpigeoncloseup.jpg|Common wood-pigeon
Amphibians and reptiles There are four species of amphibians and nineteen species of reptiles. One species (
Mediterranean chameleon,
Chamaeleo chamaeleon) is globally threatened, one subspecies is unique, and nineteen species are threatened in Lebanon. Species include
Lebanon viper (
Montivipera bornmuelleri),
Palestinian viper (
Vipera palaestinae),
green whip snake (
Hierophis viridiflavus),
bridled mabuya (
Trachylepis vittata),
Schreiber's fringe-fingered lizard (
Acanthodactylus schreiberi),
desert black snake (
Walterinnesia aegyptia),
common toad (
Bufo bufo). Image:Hierophis viridiflavus.jpg|Green whip snake Image:Mabuya vittata 002.jpg|Bridled mabuya Image:Black_cobra.gif|Desert black snake Image:Common_toad_tcm4-111436.jpg|Common toad ==See also==