Mediterranean and Balkan subalpine Pinus heldreichii-Pinus peuce woodland

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

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats