Climate trends and land degradation effects on tree decline in the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forests from northern Morocco

An understanding of the interactions between climate change and human-induced impact on tree decline is needed for decision making in forest conservation and management. In this paper, we revise and synthesize scientific literature dealing to understand the causes and impacts of recent Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forests decline in the Middle Atlas, northern Morocco. Climate trends, soil properties and dendrochronological data have been revised and analysed in order to relate tree growth, forest decline and climate. The Atlas cedar forests have been severely affected by drought, overgrazing and logging. Recurrent drought events and temperature increase have been identified from local climate records since the 1970s. An ongoing decline in Atlas cedar stands in intensively logged, pruned and overgrazed areas are leading to their replacement by species more resistant to water deficit and human disturbance such as Quercus rotundifolia.