Presence of Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in Calabria

Abstract

Calabrian Cork oak forests covered a larger area in the past. Data from historical documents together with the fragmented distribution of small Cork oak stands and isolated trees along the Tirrenean and Ionian coast and in some internal areas, show that the present day distribution is the result of human intervention. The historical causes that have contributed to the destruction of many Cork oak stands are examined and the peculiarity of this forest formations in Calabria is outlined. Present day Cork oak stands are described separetely for the different geographic areas and, on the basis of climatic data, the ecological range of the species is defined.