Baïnem Forest is one of the most famous forests in Algiers Province, located about 15 km from Algiers city. It covers an area of 590 hectares and is adjacent to five municipalities: Raïs Hamidou, Ain Benian, El Hammamet, Bouzareah, and Beni Messous.
Description
Baïnem Forest is a popular tourist destination, attracting around 800 visitors daily, with the number increasing on weekends.
Biodiversity
The forest’s environmental heritage hides a wealth of animals and plants, making it a lung for Algiers Province. It consists of a series of hills ranging from 80 to 300 meters in height and represents the western slopes of Mount Bouzareah. The lower layer is composed of metamorphic rocks (mica schist) covered by clay-based rocks and red Pliocene sands, to the west. The soil that formed there supports primitive acidic vegetation consisting of cork oak, kermes oak, Aleppo pine, and olive trees. There are still areas where lichens are well diversified, but they are subject to environmental changes, making their preservation no longer possible. The conversion of some plots into eucalyptus plantations has completely altered the landscape and also affected or made it difficult to maintain water sources or shrubs. Wildlife has certainly been affected as well. On the other hand, the installation of the nursery has positively contributed to the introduction of some species, such as Atlas cedar, or the adaptation testing for the Tassili cypress tree.
Ecosystems
The forest is an exceptional natural habitat and a social, cultural, and recreational space. The forest plays a vital role in protecting against water erosion of the infrastructures and settlements located on the downstream coast. This function alone makes it one of the most sensitive sites in the entire coastal area of Algiers. Only the status of a protected area (nature reserve) can save this forest and preserve it from urban encroachment and other threats (deforestation, summer fires, clearance).
Threats
- Forest fires during heatwaves that have damaged nearly 20 hectares
- Proliferation of wild boars
- Environmental pollution caused by random waste disposal
Baïnem Forest is one of the most famous forests in Algiers Province, located about 15 km from Algiers city. It covers an area of 590 hectares and is adjacent to five municipalities: Raïs Hamidou, Ain Benian, El Hammamet, Bouzareah, and Beni Messous.
Description
Baïnem Forest is a popular tourist destination, attracting around 800 visitors daily, with the number increasing on weekends.
Biodiversity
The forest’s environmental heritage hides a wealth of animals and plants, making it a lung for Algiers Province. It consists of a series of hills ranging from 80 to 300 meters in height and represents the western slopes of Mount Bouzareah. The lower layer is composed of metamorphic rocks (mica schist) covered by clay-based rocks and red Pliocene sands, to the west. The soil that formed there supports primitive acidic vegetation consisting of cork oak, kermes oak, Aleppo pine, and olive trees. There are still areas where lichens are well diversified, but they are subject to environmental changes, making their preservation no longer possible. The conversion of some plots into eucalyptus plantations has completely altered the landscape and also affected or made it difficult to maintain water sources or shrubs. Wildlife has certainly been affected as well. On the other hand, the installation of the nursery has positively contributed to the introduction of some species, such as Atlas cedar, or the adaptation testing for the Tassili cypress tree.
Ecosystems
The forest is an exceptional natural habitat and a social, cultural, and recreational space. The forest plays a vital role in protecting against water erosion of the infrastructures and settlements located on the downstream coast. This function alone makes it one of the most sensitive sites in the entire coastal area of Algiers. Only the status of a protected area (nature reserve) can save this forest and preserve it from urban encroachment and other threats (deforestation, summer fires, clearance).
Threats
- Forest fires during heatwaves that have damaged nearly 20 hectares
- Proliferation of wild boars
- Environmental pollution caused by random waste disposal
