The Réserve Naturelle de Saddine is a nature reserve composed of forest areas, permanent rivers and seasonal streams. The Site is a biodiversity-rich zone with a dense forest vegetation cover of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), conifers, oak (Quercus sp.), herbs, shrubs and other woody forest species. The steep relief and the permanent rivers provide a safe habitat and source of food for many raptor species including the booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), short-toed snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) and the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). The forest ecosystem supports a diversity of wildlife species including the golden jackal (Canis aureus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and over 15 reptile species such as the viperine snake (Natrix maura), Algerian psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and the Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca). Human activities in the Site include agriculture, beekeeping, livestock grazing and hiking, and there is an eco-museum dedicated to the reserve’s natural history.

Gouvernorat du Kef