Multipurpose plants in the Northern Libya rangeland area of Syrt

Urbanization and irrigation plans strongly implemented by the passed Gheddafi's government started the abandonment of rangeland in the northern of Lybia. Sedentarization also caused the loss of nomad traditions, including knowledge of wild forages, food and medicinal plants that could become new industries in the future after selecion and analytical investigation. A trial was carried out in 2009 in their traditional uses. The trial was managed thanks to agreements of the Italian Agronomic Institute for Overseases (Forage Ministry), the University of Florence, and the University of Syrt (now destroyed). The results have shown the existence of a wide plant diversity and a good balance of the plants' specific contributions. The most common plants include wild grasses and legumes and few shrubs of the steppe vegetation. In spite of the traditions being lost, herders still know traditional uses of many plants, uses that have not been yet scientifically investigated. Further research would be needed as soon as new security conditions in the area will make possible again.