II. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND RISKS EVALUATION OF OFFSHORE DRILLING
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In these wetlands which covered an area of 194.36 hectares, the cork oak occupies an area of
82.24 hectares. The cork forest adjoins the marine pine forest, a third of which are natural
residents who are located on an area equal to 32.62 hectares, with a small area of 5.65 hectares
occupied by zenaie whish is the stand of a deciduous oak, the Zene grows from sea level to
1800m on cool, deep soils (C.F.S., 2006).
This complex represents sites of national and international importance, they provide a rare
example of type of natural wetland for the Mediterranean region, even for the Maghreb, North
Africa, sub-region North Africa - Central Africa.
Several criteria allow the Guerbes plain as a RAMSAR site (Boumezbeur 2001):
- It is a bioclimatic crossroads, due to the prevailing winter winds and promote some hot
and humid cooling in summer.
- Characterized by the presence of certain species of particular characteristic, a nesting site
of two very rare species, the Erismature à tête blanche (Oxyura leucocephala) which
exceeds 1% of the world population, and even considered globally threatened, and its
numbers are declining due to climate effects and human impacts on the habitats where
the species is located. The Canvasback nyroca (Aythya nyroca), and the hen sultana and
thus the presence of 23 rare floristic species..
- Maintains biological diversity on an area of more than 28,000 hectares, thanks to the
richness and diversity of its fauna and flora, where there are about 234 plant species (out
of 1800 in total for Northern Algeria) various biogeographical origins representing 145
taxa directly subservient to the aquatic environment, 50 bird species and 27 species of
Odonates. Of the listed plant species, 19 are rare and 23 are extremely rare.
- Represents a favorable place for migration of eels and other marine species not yet
determined such as mules, beards, because of food availability.
- Low-developed soils, a hydrological network consisting mainly of two large wadis: Oued
El Kebir and Oued Magroune. The first is one of the most important in both length and
volume, its width varies between 20 and 50 m. It leads to the beach of Marsa in the
Mediterranean Sea. Eight other wadis of lesser importance complete the hydrological
network of the plain.
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41
In these wetlands which covered an area of 194.36 hectares, the cork oak occupies an area of
82.24 hectares. The cork forest adjoins the marine pine forest, a third of which are natural
residents who are located on an area equal to 32.62 hectares, with a small area of 5.65 hectares
occupied by zenaie whish is the stand of a deciduous oak, the Zene grows from sea level to
1800m on cool, deep soils (C.F.S., 2006).
This complex represents sites of national and international importance, they provide a rare
example of type of natural wetland for the Mediterranean region, even for the Maghreb, North
Africa, sub-region North Africa - Central Africa.
Several criteria allow the Guerbes plain as a RAMSAR site (Boumezbeur 2001):
- It is a bioclimatic crossroads, due to the prevailing winter winds and promote some hot
and humid cooling in summer.
- Characterized by the presence of certain species of particular characteristic, a nesting site
of two very rare species, the Erismature à tête blanche (Oxyura leucocephala) which
exceeds 1% of the world population, and even considered globally threatened, and its
numbers are declining due to climate effects and human impacts on the habitats where
the species is located. The Canvasback nyroca (Aythya nyroca), and the hen sultana and
thus the presence of 23 rare floristic species..
- Maintains biological diversity on an area of more than 28,000 hectares, thanks to the
richness and diversity of its fauna and flora, where there are about 234 plant species (out
of 1800 in total for Northern Algeria) various biogeographical origins representing 145
taxa directly subservient to the aquatic environment, 50 bird species and 27 species of
Odonates. Of the listed plant species, 19 are rare and 23 are extremely rare.
- Represents a favorable place for migration of eels and other marine species not yet
determined such as mules, beards, because of food availability.
- Low-developed soils, a hydrological network consisting mainly of two large wadis: Oued
El Kebir and Oued Magroune. The first is one of the most important in both length and
volume, its width varies between 20 and 50 m. It leads to the beach of Marsa in the
Mediterranean Sea. Eight other wadis of lesser importance complete the hydrological
network of the plain.