Cupressus dupreziana var. atlantica
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| PLANTAE |
TRACHEOPHYTA |
CONIFEROPSIDA |
CONIFERALES |
CUPRESSACEAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Cupressus dupreziana var. atlantica |
| Species Authority |
A.Camus |
| Infra-specific Authority: |
(Gaussen) Silba |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Atlas Cypress, Moroccan Cypress |
|
| Synonym/s: |
Cupressus atlantica
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
ver 2.3
|
| Year Assessed: |
2000 |
| Assessor/s |
|
| History: |
| 2000 |
– |
Endangered
(Hilton-Taylor 2000)
|
| 1998 |
– |
Endangered
(Oldfield et al. 1998)
|
| 1997 |
– |
Endangered
(Walter and Gillett 1998)
|
|
Geographic Range
[top]
| Range Description: |
One or two small groves remain in dry woodland on steep scree slopes in Oued n'Fiss Valley south of Marrakech in the Atlas Mouintains. Estimates of the area of occupancy have declined from 5,500 ha in 1950 to 1,460 ha in 1986.
|
| Countries: |
|
Population
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Habitat and Ecology
[top]
| Habitat and Ecology: |
The cypresses are presumably the remnants of a forest that flourished in a wetter climate. Today they occur only in wadis and sheltered areas in the Sahara Desert.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The decline is largely due to habitat degradation, overgrazing and to some extent exploitation. Observations during a visit to the site in 1997 indicated a complete absence of natural regeneration.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
One subpopulation is fenced and attempts are being made to replant the species but the rates of success are very low.
|
