Articles
ORIGINAL VEGETATION RECOVERY OF TWO DEGRADED AREAS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF MARETTIMO
Article number
813_34
Pages
271 – 278
Language
English
Abstract
The Egadi archipelago consists of three islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo) located west of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea.
Of the three islands, Marettimo with a surface area of 12 km2, is the furthest from Sicily (38 km) and the most mountainous island and richest in endemic species.
Soils are mostly thin and low in fertility and organic matter. Maquis and garigue represent the natural vegetation.
Since ancient times, islanders developed a productive agricultural system based on a series of finely constructed terraces which supplied food for the populations needs.
However, unemployment and poverty, after World War II, forced many growers, to abandon entire fields.
Since then, human activity and soil erosion have largely depleted the original vegetation in some parts of the island.
The aim of this study was the vegetation recovery of two degraded areas of Marettimo, where naturally growing plant species have largely disappeared.
After a detailed analysis of the remaining original ground cover vegetation, several species adapted to survive in the hot arid summers of the South Mediterranean were identified.
Seeds and/or cuttings were collected from Coronilla valentina L., Erica multiflora L., Euphorbia dendroides L., Helichyrisum rupestre (Raf) DC. var. messerii, Inula crithmoides L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Senecio bicolor (Willd.) Tod. and used to propagate new plants.
Propagated plants were reintroduced to their native habitat.
Of the three islands, Marettimo with a surface area of 12 km2, is the furthest from Sicily (38 km) and the most mountainous island and richest in endemic species.
Soils are mostly thin and low in fertility and organic matter. Maquis and garigue represent the natural vegetation.
Since ancient times, islanders developed a productive agricultural system based on a series of finely constructed terraces which supplied food for the populations needs.
However, unemployment and poverty, after World War II, forced many growers, to abandon entire fields.
Since then, human activity and soil erosion have largely depleted the original vegetation in some parts of the island.
The aim of this study was the vegetation recovery of two degraded areas of Marettimo, where naturally growing plant species have largely disappeared.
After a detailed analysis of the remaining original ground cover vegetation, several species adapted to survive in the hot arid summers of the South Mediterranean were identified.
Seeds and/or cuttings were collected from Coronilla valentina L., Erica multiflora L., Euphorbia dendroides L., Helichyrisum rupestre (Raf) DC. var. messerii, Inula crithmoides L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Senecio bicolor (Willd.) Tod. and used to propagate new plants.
Propagated plants were reintroduced to their native habitat.
Authors
G. Iapichino, G. Curatolo, M. Bertolino, A. Sciortino
Keywords
Revegetation, conservation, terraces, land degradation, plant propagation
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