Rare Al-Shemari Shrub in Green Mountain Threatened by Disease

A serious environmental threat has been identified targeting the Al-Shemari shrub, a rare and vulnerable species scientifically known as Bavarian Strawberry Tree (Arbutus pavarii). The Libyan Platform detected the risk during a field tour through the valleys of the Green Mountain (Jabal al-Akhdar), covering the area from Balhadid to Al-Bayda. The shrub was found to be infected with a disease that is inhibiting its growth and threatening its proliferation, leading to the collection of samples from affected areas for examination and analysis by specialists. Dr. Abdul Halim Al-Zein, a resident of Balhadid in the coastal municipality, noted that Al-Shemari constitutes an essential component of the Green Mountain’s natural heritage, warning that the spread of diseases could eradicate its existence. The shrub is an evergreen species belonging to the Ericaceae family and is native to the Green Mountain in northeastern Libya. Its height typically ranges between 1.5 and 3 metres, though some specimens can reach 7 metres. It flowers between November and February and produces a fruit locally named “Ajoor,” which is valued for its high nutritional content and abundance of Vitamin C. locals attach great importance to the shrub for both environmental and economic reasons; bees produce a bitter-tasting honey from its flowers, known as “Hannoun honey,” and its fruits are consumed as a traditional food celebrated for its various health benefits