Article

In thc Maghreb countries, the surroundings of Qubbas (= buildings where saints (Marabut) are buried) are used as cemeteries by local people. Such areas anen shelter thc [ast remnants ofnatural vegetation in intcnsely cultivated regions. Two holy forests in diffcrcnt ccorcgions of thc Tangier Peninsula in Northem Morocco have been studied and mapped to sec, which plant species and vegetation types do occur there. At both graveyards, pasturing, smal] scale buming and burial activities result in a fine grained mosaie or diflerenl vegetalion types. The heterogcneity ofthe whole Marabut-area is ofanlhropozoogenic origin o ]t is ensurcd by a continuation ofthe traditional use. Protection in the sense of "non-use" would diminish its floristic and structural diversity. The Marabut-areas are or outstanding biological importance and or esthetic and spiritual value. In the Holy forests, the noosphere bccomes tangible in thc biosphere.