CONIFEROUS FOREST AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

The pine forests spreading along the coastlines, specifically the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), Calabrian pine (P. brutia) and stone pine (P. pinea) forests are among the most special agroforestry landscapes of the Mediterranean. They create forests either on stable soils (mainly Pinus halepensis and P. brutia), but also on sand dunes (mainly P. pinea, often mixed with other species). In fact, sand dunes with P. pinea forests are a priority habitat type under Directive 92/43/EEC, code 2270 (Dafis et al. 2001). The collection of resin and the production of edible pine nuts in the pine forests were a very important occupation of the forest-dwelling populations. Additionally, they required cleaning of the understory, which removed significant amounts of biomass and thus reduced the risk of catastrophic fires. The removal of the understory biomass and the maintenance of an open canopy in these forests also allowed their use as pastures for farm animals. Their floristic composition was influenced by many factors and mainly by the intensity of their use. In intensively grazed forests the understory consisted of phrygana (e.g. dominated by Sarcopoterium spinosum), in resin-extracted and intensively grazed forests it consisted of resistant herbaceous species (e.g. Allium chamaemoly), while in forests without such activities the understory was dense, with the participation of many evergreen broad-leaved shrubs (e.g. Pistacia lentiscus, Erica arborea). The abandonment of many agricultural activities has turned these forests into dense stands (due to rapid understory growth), making them impassable and at risk of devastating crown fires. On the other hand, the pine forests of the mountainous zone and especially those of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and the Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii) (Figure 3), which, in addition to their valuable wood, were also used as summer pastures or places for livestock sheds, host interesting plant species of central and northern European origin, such as e.g. Avenella flexuosa (Dafis et al. 2001, Caballero et al. 2009).

The mountain cypress forests of Crete and Symi represent a very special type of vegetation and agroforestry system for Europe. Their exploitation began in ancient times for their valuable wood, especially for shipbuilding, but they were also an important pasture for sheep and goats. In these forests, important endemic and rare plant species are often found, such as the endemic Asperula pubescens and Silene sieberi (Dafis et al. 2001).

Juniper forests and shrublands are found throughout Greece, from coastal sand dunes up to very high altitudes, dominated by different species depending on the substrate and the altitude zone (e.g. Juniperus oxycedrus, J. phoenicea, J. macrocarpa, J. foetidissima, J. drupacea, J. excelsa). Many of them are classified as priority habitat types under the codes 2250 (Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.) and 9560 (Endemic forests with juniper species (Juniperus spp.)). Juniper species are mainly photophilous and very resistant to dry conditions and intense grazing. At the same time, however, they are among the slowest growing species, and for this reason they produce good quality wood, while the fruit of some species is used in cooking and for the production of beverages. Many important and rare plant species are found in these forests; they include species limited to the Balkan Peninsula with a small distribution, such as Iris attica, or Greek endemic species, such as Cerastium candidissimum and Marrubium velutinum. In fact, in the low canopy cover juniper forests of Prespa National Park (NW Greece), a very high plant diversity was observed, with up to more than 20 plant taxa per 0.25 square meters. However, the diversity of these ecosystems is threatened by the reduction or even abandonment of grazing, as they are gradually replaced by broadleaf or fir forests (Vrachnakis et al. 2011, Fotiadis et al. 2014). Moreover, tourism poses a significant threat to juniper formations on coastal sand dunes.