Study of the floristic diversity of the Maamora cork oak forest in northwest Morocco

Abstract

The Maamora forest, located in northwest Morocco, is one of the largest continuous cork oak forests in the Mediterranean basin. Since the last comprehensive floristic survey in 2005, the forest has been highly affected by human activities and climate change, making an updated list of its plant diversity both timely and necessary. This study aimed to renew the knowledge of the floristic composition of the forest and assess its actual ecological context. During 95 days of fieldwork between 2021 and 2023, a systematic sampling was conducted across 57 representative sites within the natural cork oak zone. The survey documented 171 species and subspecies, distributed across 132 genera and 38 families, with 64 taxa recently reported in the Maamora. The most represented families were Asteraceae (26 species), Fabaceae (23 species), Poaceae (19 species), and Caryophyllaceae (13 species). The life-form spectrum was dominated by therophytes (60.82%), followed by geophytes (16.37%) and hemicryptophytes (10.53%). A total of 22 endemic species were recorded, including 9 strictly endemic to Morocco. Although most species (84%) were found not to be concerned by the IUCN red list, 41% of the endemic taxa were classified as threatened. This updated inventory highlights ongoing ecological changes in the Maamora forest and provides a valuable reference for future conservation strategies and sustainable forest management in the region.