Article

This investigation was carried out on EL-Harouge mountain located within the Libyan desert. A very important area from the Naturalistic point of view tha t should be preserved. The natural vegetation in this region is very poor, scattered and concentrated mainly in Vallies, but consisted of special species which have adapted significantly to survive in such arid conditions. The flora is constituted of about 64 species (about 3% of the total number of Libyan flora) belonging to 55 genera and 21 families, with the presence of one endemic species Fagonia arabica var. membranacea. Zygophylaceae and Chenopodiaceae are the most common species on the study area. In addition to the effect of climate in this fragile ecosystem, the accumulation and increased frequency of human activities have a great negative impact on the plant environment. The most important activity in this area is agriculture, grazing has caused the removal of the natural vegetation in depressions and valleys. The most destructive activity is oil exploration and extraction in different oil concessions, resulting in hydrocarbon pollution, solid waste disposal, and spilling of waste water mixed with oil, which causes a great soil pollution, in addition to soil trampling due to vehicles and machinery activities around oil wells and camps.