*2.1.2.4 Biological framework*

The steppe space in the Naâma region is characterized mainly by plant formations of herbaceous, sub-shrub and shrub types. The steppe vegetation is characterized by the abundance either of cespitose grasses (*Stipa tenacissima, Lygeum spartum, Stipagrostis pungens*) or of chamaephytes (*Artemisia herba-alba, Hammada scoparia*), but also by the frequency of annual species. For the shrub layer is quite common in arid and pre-Saharan areas (*Ephedra alata, Retama retam, Salsola vermiculata,Thymellaea microphyla*).

For the shrub layer is characterized by the presence of forest species (*Quecus ilex, Pinus halepensis, Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus oxycedrus, Pistacia atlantica*) in the mountains such as the case in Djebels (mountains) of Aissa, Merghad, Mekther, etc. **Figure 3** below shows a map of the main plant formations in the study region.
