Conservation Status of Crop Wild Relatives in Lebanon’s Protected Areas: Eco-botanical Surveys for Baseline Data on Medicago

Abstract

Lebanon, located within the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot, harbors a rich diversity of Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs), including more than 35 species of the genus Medicago (Fabaceae). These taxa are vital genetic resources for developing climate-resilient crops and sustaining agrobiodiversity. However, their persistence is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, overgrazing, land-use change, and climate variability. Despite Lebanon’s ecological richness and its network of protected areas, the conservation status and distribution of Medicago CWRs remain insufficiently documented. This study, conducted in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), represents the second mission within a five-year monitoring program aimed at assessing Medicago CWR populations in Lebanon. Field surveys were conducted across eight protected areas using transect and quadrat sampling, combined with GIS spatial mapping and morphological characterization. A total of 232 georeferenced occurrences representing 20 taxa were recorded across 41 transects, showing clear variation in distribution patterns influenced by altitude, soil type, and disturbance gradients. Richness mapping identified the Shouf Biosphere Reserve as the main hotspot for Medicago diversity, while smaller reserves such as Mashaa Chnaniir and Bentael provided complementary habitats enhancing ecological representativeness. In addition to new field data, 14 previously unidentified accessions from earlier ICARDA missions were characterized through ex situ morphological analyses. The integration of current and previous findings refines the understanding of Medicago distribution and ecological associations within Lebanon’s protected areas.

The study reinforces the national baseline for Medicago CWR conservation, identifies priority taxa and sites, and supports the establishment of genetic reserves within protected areas. Ultimately, it contributes to targeted in situ and ex situ strategies that strengthen Lebanon’s agrobiodiversity conservation and align with global efforts toward sustainable biodiversity management.