Mediterranean lowland to submontane Pinus woodland

Mediterranean lowland to submontane Pinus woodlands include forests of Pinus halepensis Mill., P. brutia Ten., P. pinaster Aiton and P. pinea L. These forests occur mainly within the Mediterranean biogeographic region of Europe, in areas with Csa, Csb and BSk climate type according to Köppen’s classification and play a fundamental role in shaping the Mediterranean landscape. The three former pine species are fire resilient and produce a high number of serotinous cones.

• P. halepensis is distributed all over southern Europe (from Spain to European Turkey), as well as North Africa but is more widespread in the western part of its range. It grows on a variety of soils, and although it occurs more frequently on limestone and marl, it can grow also on very strong acidic soils, as those formed on gneiss (e.g. in Chalkidiki region; NE Greece). It forms stands with understory of evergreen broadleaved species (e.g. Quercus coccifera, Phillyrea latifolia, Quercus ilex, Arbutus andrachne, Arbutus unedo, Pistacia lentiscus, Smilax aspera) or phyganic species (e.g. Erica manipuliflora, Cistus sp.pl.). The plant communities of Aleppo pine may be considered in many cases as paraclimax vegetation, although in some arid or semi-arid sites they represent mature, stable forests.

• P. brutia forests are distributed in the eastern Mediterranean area. In Europe, the P. brutia forests are found at the northeastern part of the Greek mainland, at the Aegean islands (e.g. Thasos, Samos, Chios, Kos, Rhodes, Crete) and in Cyprus. They cover lowland to mountainous areas (in Cyprus they reach the altitude of 1600 m a.s.l). P. brutia forms open forests, with an understory occupied mainly by Mediterranean woody species, such as Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus unedo, Phillyrea latifolia, Olea europaea subsp. oleaster and Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides. It prefers calcareous and fissured soils, but it can be found also on siliceous ones. P. brutia often forms climax vegetation types more than its ecologically similar species, P. halepensis.

• P. pinaster grows on a variety of substrates and is distributed naturally at the western Mediterranean area of Europe (Iberian Peninsula, France and Italy), as well as at the northwest part of Africa. However, it is considered indigenous only in the Iberian Peninula. It has been widely used in reforestation and afforestation. It occupies sites with an unstable substrate, where soil conditions prevent the development of Quercus forests.

• P. pinea is distributed all over southern Europe (from Portugal to Greece and Cyprus), as well as in Syria and Lebanon. Its forests are more common in Spain, Portugal and Italy, while are rare in the other countries. Because of its edible seeds, much of its distribution is of artificial origin and it is difficult to determine its natural range. It grows mainly on acidic and sandy soils.

Indicators of quality:

• Natural composition of canopy
• Structural diversity/ complexity with (semi) natural age structure or completeness of layers (diversity of Pinus species age classes and existence of at least two - dominant and dominated - tree layers)
• High coverage of Pinus individuals in reproductive age (indicator of increased possibilities of successful post-fire recovery and low frequency of forest fires).
• Typical flora and fauna composition of the region
• Presence of old trees and a variety of dead wood (lying or standing) and the associated flora, fauna and fungi
• Absence or low cover (<5%) of non-native, of ruderal and grassland plant species in all layers
• Adequate regeneration of Pinus species in both the herb and shrub layers, although in some cases adequate regeneration is possible only after a forest fire.
• Existence of a shrub layer with cover higher than 50% (indicates natural formed forests and not disturbed).
• Low levels of soil compactness, absence of trampling and erosion (especially in the form of rills and gullies), high cover of litter and well developed A_h horizon (indicates low intense of disturbances and adequate nutrient cycle).

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats