Mainland laurophyllous woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG2.2 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat comprises micro-forest vegetation with a low canopy dominated by lauriphyllous evergreen shrubs or small trees growing in warm-temperate oceanic to hyper-oceanic environments along the Atlantic coasts of northern Iberian Peninsula, central and southern Italy, Sardinia and Sicily. Nowadays, they present small remnants in the most humid and oceanic areas of the Atlantic areas of the continent or isolated enclaves surviving where sheltered situations like ravines provide local protection against summer heat and dessication. Typically species-poor, the habitat is usually dominated by shrubs of the humid Mediterranean zone, such as Arbutus unedo and Laurus nobilis which have a broad Mediterranean and southern Atlantic distribution and has an associated liane and field flora with general affiliations to the evergreen oak forests of the Quercetea ilicis.
Indicators of good quality:
- When the stands are in optimal conditions they show the appearance of a closed deep shady bush or small forest.
- Canopy is continuous and evergreen
- Soil is covered by a thick layer of decomposing litter.
- Ferns are common in the understory, sometimes as epiphytes, and bryophytes cover the stones and the trunks.
- No signs of disturbance (logging, grazing, etc.) should be visible
- Dead wood can be considered as a good indicator of maturity
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Forest replanting (non native trees)
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Increasing ![]() |
Increasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Other forestry-related measures
- Adapt forest management
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Legal protection of habitats and species
Distribution
Geographic occurrence and trends
EU28 | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Italy mainland | Present | 5 | - | - |
Sardinia | Uncertain | 5 | - | - |
Sicily | Uncertain | 5 | - | - |
Portugal mainland | Present | 130 | Unknown | Increasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 45 | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Corsica | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Croatia | Uncertain | Unknown | - | - |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Switzerland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Serbia | Uncertain | unknown | - | - |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 1623700 | 704 | 180 | AOO and EOO incl. potential distribution |
EU28+ | 704 | 180 | AOO and EOO incl. potential distribution |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Arbutus unedo | Flowering Plants | |
Ilex aquifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Laurus nobilis | Flowering Plants | |
Prunus lusitanica | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus alaternus | Flowering Plants | |
Rosa sempervirens | Flowering Plants | |
Rubia peregrina | Flowering Plants | |
Smilax aspera | Flowering Plants | |
Tamus communis | Flowering Plants | |
Viburnum tinus | Flowering Plants |