Mediterranean lowland to submontane Pinus woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG3.7 |
---|---|
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
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 Ah horizon (indicates low intense of disturbances and adequate nutrient cycle).
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
- Agriculture
- Intensive mixed animal grazing
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Grazing in forests/ woodland
- Transportation and service corridors
- Roads, motorways
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Natural System modifications
- Burning down
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
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
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Adapt forest management
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establishing wilderness areas/allowing succession
- Manage landscape features
- Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Specific single species or species group management measures
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Croatia | Present | 170 | Unknown | Unknown |
Cyprus | Present | 1291 | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 3770 | Stable | Stable |
Corsica | Present | 3770 | Stable | Stable |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 6882 | Increasing | Increasing |
Crete | Present | 6882 | Increasing | Increasing |
East Aegean | Present | 6882 | Increasing | Increasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 939 | Stable | Stable |
Sardinia | Present | 939 | Stable | Stable |
Sicily | Present | 939 | Stable | Stable |
Portugal mainland | Present | 511 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 140 | Stable | Stable |
Slovenia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | 19 | Unknown | 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 | 2734150 | 2352 | 13582 | |
EU28+ | 2395 | 13582 |
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 |
---|---|---|
Juniperus oxycedrus | Conifers | |
Juniperus phoenicea | Conifers | |
Pinus brutia | Conifers | |
Pinus halepensis | Conifers | |
Pinus pinaster | Conifers | |
Pinus pinea | Conifers | |
Acer monspessulanum | Flowering Plants | |
Aetheorhiza bulbosa | Flowering Plants | |
Allium subhirsutum | Flowering Plants | |
Anthyllis hermanniae | Flowering Plants | |
Arbutus andrachne | Flowering Plants | |
Arbutus unedo | Flowering Plants | |
Arisarum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
Asparagus acutifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Asparagus aphyllus | Flowering Plants | |
Carex distachya | Flowering Plants | |
Carex flacca | Flowering Plants | |
Ceratonia siliqua | Flowering Plants | |
Cistus albidus | Flowering Plants | |
Cistus creticus | Flowering Plants | |
Cistus monspeliensis | Flowering Plants | |
Clematis flammula | Flowering Plants | |
Coronilla minima | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus monogyna | Flowering Plants | |
Crepis fraasii | Flowering Plants | |
Daphne gnidium | Flowering Plants | |
Erica arborea | Flowering Plants | |
Erica manipuliflora | Flowering Plants | |
Eryngium campestre | Flowering Plants | |
Euphorbia spinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Galium rubrum | Flowering Plants | |
Genista acanthoclada | Flowering Plants | |
Genista fasselata | Flowering Plants | |
Genista hispanica | Flowering Plants | |
Hedera helix | Flowering Plants | |
Hieracium pilosella | Flowering Plants | |
Jasminum fruticans | Flowering Plants | |
Lonicera implexa | Flowering Plants | |
Myrtus communis | Flowering Plants | |
Olea europaea | Flowering Plants | |
Ononis minutissima | Flowering Plants | |
Osyris alba | Flowering Plants | |
Phillyrea angustifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Phillyrea latifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Pistacia lentiscus | Flowering Plants | |
Pistacia terebinthus | Flowering Plants | |
Prasium majus | Flowering Plants | |
Psoralea bituminosa | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus coccifera | Flowering Plants | |
Quercus ilex | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus alaternus | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus lycioides | Flowering Plants | |
Rhamnus myrtifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Rosa sempervirens | Flowering Plants | |
Rosmarinus officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
Rubia peregrina | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus ulmifolius | Flowering Plants | |
Ruscus aculeatus | Flowering Plants | |
Sanguisorba minor | Flowering Plants | |
Smilax aspera | Flowering Plants | |
Spartium junceum | Flowering Plants | |
Staehelina dubia | Flowering Plants | |
Stipa bromoides | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium chamaedrys | Flowering Plants | |
Teucrium montanum | Flowering Plants | |
Thymus vulgaris | Flowering Plants |