Mediterranean and Balkan subalpine Pinus heldreichii-Pinus peuce woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG3.6 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Near Threatened |
Relation to |
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Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat comprises timberline coniferous woodland in southern Italy, the southern Balkans and Greece, dominated by the two pine species Pinus peuce and P. heldreichii, trees which survive better in the summer-drought conditions of southern Europe than Picea abies or Fagus sylvatica, which extend as dominants to the timberline further north. Both these pines are considered to be Tertiary relict species, but these woodlands are not relicts, as pines survived glaciations at lower altitude. P. peuce can be found on non-carbonate bedrock, whereas P. heldreichii occurs on carbonate deposits. P. peuce can be found above altitudes of 1500 m and forms canopies of even 30-40 m tall, often mixed with Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica or Abies borisii-regis, but it also extends to lower altitudes and can dominate on sites that were originally occupied by Fagus sylvatica and deforested.
The soil in the stands is poor in nutrients with a lot of bedrock on the surface, which suggests that the stands of P. peuce can be of secondary origin. Pinus heldreichii grows at altitudes above 1000m and is a heliophilous tree, surviving better then P. peuce in dry conditions, growing more slowly and forming canopies up to 20-30m high. Its stands are often monodominant, especially on rocky, sunny slopes, but it can occur mixed with P. sylvestris or P. nigra, on Monte Pollino (Italy) also with Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica. The populations of both endemic pine trees are occur scattered and fragmented, due to the specific soil conditions.
Indicators of good quality:
- Overwhelming dominance of the pines
- Species richness
- Absence of logging and intensive grazing and consequent erosion
- Absence of intensive destructive fires
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | B2 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest replanting
- Forestry clearance
- Grazing in forests/ woodland
- Natural System modifications
- Burning down
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Species composition change (succession)
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Adapt forest management
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bulgaria | Present | 65 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 286 | Increasing | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | 3.5 | Stable | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 65 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | 20 | Stable | Increasing |
Montenegro | Present | 189 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Serbia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Kosovo | Present | 3.8 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 147300 | 77 | 445 | |
EU28+ | 135 | 722 | Data from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia are still missing (for EOO and AOO). Kosovo habitat area has been included in Current estimated Total Area |
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 |
---|---|---|
Abies alba | Conifers | |
Abies borisii-regis | Conifers | |
Juniperus communis | Conifers | |
Juniperus hemisphaerica | Conifers | |
Picea abies | Conifers | |
Pinus heldreichii | Conifers | |
Pinus peuce | Conifers | |
Polystichum lonchitis | Ferns | |
Pteridium aquilinum | Ferns | |
Anemone nemorosa | Flowering Plants | |
Avenella flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
Brachypodium pinnatum | Flowering Plants | |
Calamagrostis arundinacea | Flowering Plants | |
Calamintha grandiflora | Flowering Plants | |
Cotoneaster nebrodensis | Flowering Plants | |
Daphne mezereum | Flowering Plants | |
Fagus sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca penzesii | Flowering Plants | |
Fragaria vesca | Flowering Plants | |
Galium rotundifolium | Flowering Plants | |
Gentiana asclepiadea | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Homogyne alpina | Flowering Plants | |
Luzula luzuloides | Flowering Plants | |
Luzula sylvatica | Flowering Plants | |
Mycelis muralis | Flowering Plants | |
Orthilia secunda | Flowering Plants | |
Oxalis acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
Rosa pendulina | Flowering Plants | |
Sorbus aucuparia | Flowering Plants | |
Sorbus graeca | Flowering Plants | |
Vaccinium myrtillus | Flowering Plants | |
Veratrum album | Flowering Plants | |
Veronica chamaedrys | Flowering Plants | |
Veronica officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Viola reichenbachiana | Flowering Plants | |
Wulfenia carinthiaca | Flowering Plants |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableOther classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711 | G3.6 | Subalpine mediterranean Pinus woodland | same |