Atlas Cedar

The royal tree from Morocco

Just as its name suggests this tall cedar originates from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. In the Old Testament the cedar was described as a symbol of beauty, youth and power, and regarded as a royal tree. An essential oil is extracted from the wood, which is effective against various health problems. Nowadays it is often planted as an ornamental in parks. The bluish-green needles are 1 to 2 cm long and sit together in clusters of about 40 needles. The tree bears both male and female cones. Female cones are erect and barrel-shaped with a recess at the top. After two years they have matured to a pale, purplish brown colour and are 5 to 8 cm long. The scales fall off and release the winged seeds.

The most often mentioned tree in the bible

The Atlas cedar has a wide conical crown and can reach heights of 40 m. As the tree matures, grooves appear in the dark grey bark, which form large, scale-like flakes that peel off. The Atlas cedar is the most often mentioned tree in the bible and is has traditionally been in demand for shipbuilding and for building palaces and temples. For centuries the tree has been heavily exploited including for its essential oils from wood and leaves. Little left of the original populations growing in mountainous regions around the Mediterranean Sea. This species was introduced to Europe in 1839 and is grown in parks across south and northwest Europe (where it is not too cold), often in prominent solitary position. The Atlas cedar (from Morocco, Algeria) is closely related to the Lebanon cedar (from Turkey, Lebanon and Syria).

Ecology and habitat

Cedrus atlanticus is resistant to hot and dry conditions. It grows between 1300 and 2600 m in altitude in dry areas (200 – 500 mm per year). Forests of Atlas cedar can be found in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria, within seven main localities.The Middle-Atlas Mountains in north Morocco supports 80% of these forests (about 100,000 ha). The subpopulations in Morocco and Algeria differ - both are fragmented.

Threat

Logging aside, Cedrus atlantica has succumbed mainly to overgrazing and fire. Since 1940 the range has been reduced by more than 75%. Sites are mainly located in national parks, which offer some sort of protection to the remaining Atlas cedars. From the 1980s onwards regular droughts and plagues (of processionary caterpillars, beetles and Barbary macaques) have occurred, with drought on the increase as a result of climate change. The Atlas cedar is closely monitored but without additional measured being put in place, numbers will inevitably become further reduced.