Rescuing stone pine forests in the Mediterranean
MED-CORE brought together a group of thirteen universities and research institutes with a distinctly Mediterranean flavour to improve management of coastal ecosystems in the region. Scientists with the Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali e Forestali in Italy brought their forestry knowledge to bear upon the problem. Several coastal regions in Italy are populated with the species Pinus pinea, otherwise known as the stone pine. It was originally planted to improve the local microclimate and boost production of pine nuts. The tree has since accumulated added value owing to its aesthetic contribution to the local landscape. Unfortunately, the MED-CORE research indicated that the stone pine is coming under increasing environmental pressure. The natural process of salinisation of underground water resources has been accelerated by anthropogenic factors. Climate change has reduced local rainfall while increasing water consumption for agricultural and domestic purposes has drained underground freshwater reservoirs. Working in the Pineta di Alberese in Tuscany, the Italian ecologists determined that a combination of these factors was impeding proper sap flow in the local stone pine population. In order to prevent further damage, a series of recommendations have been made. These include limiting coastal erosion processes, regulating water consumption, avoiding heavy machinery traffic in the pine stands and implementation of silvicultural practices such as thinning.
