Hashim worries about the degradation of the juniper forest, which has been badly impacted by natural calamities and the actions of locals. Although the government declared the Ziarat juniper forest a national park in 2017, its management plan is still unclear. As a result, the juniper trees now get less water and this is impacting their health negatively. For example, the parasitic disease Dwarf Mistletoe recently infected the juniper trees on a large scale. Dieback and fungal diseases have also had adverse effects on the health and productivity of juniper trees.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 31, 2023 15:55 UTC