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TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

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326 IMPROVEMENT OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPIOAL RANGELANDS<br />

Early investigations in Syria revealed the presence of a large<br />

number of hemtJ-like reservations, maintained at present in STouPS.<br />

The local name for these is mtJhmitJ (plural mtJhmitJt), derived, like<br />

tJhmitJ, from the Arabic word for protection. The term mtJrcUa or<br />

mtJhmitJ is used along the Syrian-Lebanese border, while koze is<br />

Kurdi for hemtJ. The reserves along the Syrian-Lebanese border<br />

(rainfall about 300 rom) are maintained chiefty for winter foraging<br />

by goats. The 1958 Forest Protection Act designed to control the<br />

foraging of goats in forest areas (including most of the mountainous<br />

areas of Syria) is enforced by confiscation of the m4hmitJt or by<br />

slaughter ofthe goats. However, in border areas, the government has<br />

not enforced the act.<br />

In non-border areas, where the act is enforced, it has resulted<br />

in the confiscation of some 30 mtJhmitJt. However, after control of<br />

the mtJhmitJt was taken over by the government, poor management<br />

has l'esulted in excessive cutting of the edible BindytJn trees (Quercu<br />

sp.) for firewood <strong>and</strong> charcoal, which in turn has denuded hills<br />

<strong>and</strong> mountains, leaving the l<strong>and</strong> vulnerable to erosion. Where the<br />

mtJhmitJt remained under the control of the Syrians, this has not<br />

occurred. These remain carefully managed <strong>and</strong> grazed to maintain<br />

good tree, shrub, <strong>and</strong> grass cover.<br />

A mtJhmitJ studied in more detail was found to have a vegetative<br />

cover mainly composed of sindytJn trees, ztJ'rur (OrtJttJegu. sp.),<br />

PhyllyretJ medi4, <strong>and</strong> a comparatively small number of the prickly,<br />

shrubby billtJn (Poterium .pino.um). A rich understory of clovers,<br />

vetches, <strong>and</strong> a large number of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial grasses at an<br />

early stage of development were present. About 50 goats were grazing<br />

this 50-hectare reserve.<br />

The vegetative cover in the surrounding areas was greatly deteriorated.<br />

The shrubby billtJn was the dominant plant species, indicating<br />

previous forest cover. Remnants of the heavily grazed <strong>and</strong><br />

cut .indtJo.n trees are scattered over the area. The mulchttJr of the<br />

nearby Elhawi village stated that these trees were cut down within a<br />

few years after the 1958 Forest Protection Act. The only remaining<br />

mtJhmitJt are the trees within the village cemetery.<br />

These findings indicate that humans rather than goats are probably<br />

responsible for the destruction of the forests. Elimination of<br />

goats has not proven to be the answerj in fact it has asgravated the<br />

situation. As demonstrated in the protected mtJhmitJt. a system of<br />

grazing management with the correct numbers of goats <strong>and</strong> sheep has<br />

proven its efficiency. These systems, whether named hemo., mo.hmitJ,

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