Nature reserves There are five nature reserves in Libya. These are: the Alhesha Nature Reserve, which was established in 1984, covers an area of ; the Bier Ayyad Nature Reserve covers an area of and was established in 1992; the Msalata Nature Reserve established in 1998 has an area of ; the Nalout Nature Reserve covers and was established in 1998; and the Zulton Nature Reserve created in 1998 encompasses an area of . Wetlands There are two wetlands of "International Importance" inscribed under the Ramsar Convention. These are: The Ain Elshakika Wetland, which covers an area of , was included in the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands on 5 April 2000. It also covers part of the Kouf National Park. It is a hypersaline coastal sebkha ('sebka' means: "depression"). The geological formation, on its southern part, consists of limestone. Sand dunes, mudflats and large areas of shrubs are also part of this wetland. Its importance is on account of migratory and resident waterbirds, which provide ample opportunities for bird watching and also for eco-tourism. The Ain Elzarga Wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site on 5 April 2000 and it covers an area of . Its small coastal depression has link with the sea and hence water is visible in the wetland throughout the year, though saline particularly in summer. This land of marshes and mud flats is bounded on the south and east by rocky hills and sand dunes. It runs from east to west. It is part of the Kouf National Park and is important on account of the large population of migratory birds. Its potential for bird watching is also of eco-tourism interest. Wildlife The Libyan coast line of is rich in flora and fauna; the interior region including the Sahara Desert Region is also fairly rich in flora and fauna. Flora The plants found in the coastal zone are mostly herbaceous with abundance of grasses. The most recorded species are the asphodel (a herb of family of lily), Jabule, bougainvillea and oleander. There are also many plants under cultivation such as citrus and olive. There is a narrow buffer zone along the coast where agriculture is practiced. This zone also has grass lands. Moving away from the coast, the topography changes to the Green Mountains (Libya), which rises to a height of about . Influenced by the Mediterranean climate, the region has dense forest or maquis