Téniet El-Had Forest Joins UNESCO World Heritage: Algeria's Greenery Honored

The Téniet El-Had National Park in Algeria has officially joined the prestigious global network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. This international recognition, achieved at the 38th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in Paraguay, celebrates years of dedicated work to preserve one of Algeria's most valuable natural jewels.

Spanning more than 3,400 hectares of forests and mountainous terrain in the Tissemsilt province, the park is a remarkable natural site in the Maghreb. Its rich botanical diversity includes Atlas cedars, Aleppo pines, and holm oaks, forming a dense vegetation cover that represents a remnant of North Africa's primary forest. The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), an endemic species to the mountains of Algeria and Morocco and listed as endangered, finds one of its last refuges here, with centuries-old specimens bearing witness to millennia of natural history.

The park is also a biodiversity hotspot, with over 100 species of wild animals, including reptiles, mammals, and birds, recorded within its boundaries. Beyond its ecological significance, Téniet El-Had offers breathtaking mountain landscapes. Peaks like Ras El-Brarit and Kaf Siqa, exceeding 1,700 meters in altitude, provide panoramic views of the massif and surrounding mountain ranges, making them popular destinations for hikers and ecotourists.

The UNESCO MAB Programme, established in 1971, aims to foster a scientific understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment. The Téniet El-Had designation contributes to a global network of over 750 biosphere reserves in 134 countries, promoting coexistence between conservation and sustainable development. This recognition is expected to further bolster ecotourism and conservation efforts in the region.

“

This classification came after the approval by the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO MAB Programme of the park's application dossier, during its 38th session held in Paraguay between June 3 and 6.