IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PLANT COMMUNITIES AND ECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS ON THE CORK GROWTH IN MAMORA FOREST, MOROCCO

This work aims at evaluating how cork growth, in Mamora forest, is conditioned by the plant communities as well as the ecological conditions that determine their distribution. The findings of this study showed that the cork growth varies according to the identified plant communities. That is to say, Quercus suber-Teline linifolia reaches the highest average yearly growth. However, it is observed that Quercus suber-chamaerops humilis knows a small growth. It is noteworthy to mention that this study revealed that the factors that are responsible for the distribution of the plant communities and which affect their average yearly growth are conditioned by the sand layer’s thickness, the altitude, and distance with regard to the ocean. These results provide the forester with strategical orientations to help in planning the cork harvesting operation according to the rotation carried out, taking into account the nature of the plant communities.