Values, Alterations and Degradation of the Natural Landscape 93
and artificial reforestation of the burned areas or, mainly, by the natural
forestation of mountainous agricultural lands whose cultivation has been
abandoned. However, this tendency will probably be reversed in a future
context of climate change. The forests that are burned and are in recession
are mainly peri-urban, coastal and insular; they are mostly pine forests at
low altitudes. Nevertheless, the quality of many forests is degraded due to
the maltreatment (frequent wars, over-grazing, nomadic cultivation, fires,
felling) that they have suffered for centuries.
5.2.6.2 Scrubs
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by summer draught, rainfalls
mainly in the winter, and strong solar radiation. Vegetation is also characterized by its adaptation to the summer dryness, which may constitute a
limiting factor. Mediterranean ecosystems exhibit a wide biodiversity and
are divided into the following categories:
• Evergreen sclerophyllous bushes (maquis) that can reach a height of
some meters and extend from the coast up to an altitude of 800 meters.
They include kermes-oaks, lentisks, holm-oaks, strawberry-trees,
carob-trees, wild olive trees, junipers, cedars, laurels, Spanish brooms
etc.
• Low bushes with thorny branches and small leaves (phrygana) that
grow at the driest regions as well as on degraded soil. They include
thyme, Jerusalem sage, rock roses etc. Among the phrygana we find
many aromatic plants as well as bulbous plants, like asphodel.
5.2.6.3 Alpine Meadows
In mountain areas above 2000 m, where the average temperature is between
0°C and 10°C and atmospheric precipitations usually exceed 2000 mm, we
find the alpine ecosystems that can also occur in lower mountains, if the
forest limits recede for various reasons to a lower altitude. They include
small bushy and herbaceous plants, some of which have brightly coloured
flowers in the summer.
5.2.6.4 Forest Fires and Restoration
Fires are one of the major threats for the forests and every year they cause
huge catastrophes to the whole planet. However, it should be taken under
consideration that the forest, as an ecosystem, especially in Mediterranean
climates, is in a dynamic equilibrium with fire, which constitutes a natural
factor that necessitates the corresponding adaptation. Forest ecosystems
possess remarkable restoration mechanisms after the fire. Thus, if natural
and artificial reforestation of the burned areas or, mainly, by the natural
forestation of mountainous agricultural lands whose cultivation has been
abandoned. However, this tendency will probably be reversed in a future
context of climate change. The forests that are burned and are in recession
are mainly peri-urban, coastal and insular; they are mostly pine forests at
low altitudes. Nevertheless, the quality of many forests is degraded due to
the maltreatment (frequent wars, over-grazing, nomadic cultivation, fires,
felling) that they have suffered for centuries.
5.2.6.2 Scrubs
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by summer draught, rainfalls
mainly in the winter, and strong solar radiation. Vegetation is also characterized by its adaptation to the summer dryness, which may constitute a
limiting factor. Mediterranean ecosystems exhibit a wide biodiversity and
are divided into the following categories:
• Evergreen sclerophyllous bushes (maquis) that can reach a height of
some meters and extend from the coast up to an altitude of 800 meters.
They include kermes-oaks, lentisks, holm-oaks, strawberry-trees,
carob-trees, wild olive trees, junipers, cedars, laurels, Spanish brooms
etc.
• Low bushes with thorny branches and small leaves (phrygana) that
grow at the driest regions as well as on degraded soil. They include
thyme, Jerusalem sage, rock roses etc. Among the phrygana we find
many aromatic plants as well as bulbous plants, like asphodel.
5.2.6.3 Alpine Meadows
In mountain areas above 2000 m, where the average temperature is between
0°C and 10°C and atmospheric precipitations usually exceed 2000 mm, we
find the alpine ecosystems that can also occur in lower mountains, if the
forest limits recede for various reasons to a lower altitude. They include
small bushy and herbaceous plants, some of which have brightly coloured
flowers in the summer.
5.2.6.4 Forest Fires and Restoration
Fires are one of the major threats for the forests and every year they cause
huge catastrophes to the whole planet. However, it should be taken under
consideration that the forest, as an ecosystem, especially in Mediterranean
climates, is in a dynamic equilibrium with fire, which constitutes a natural
factor that necessitates the corresponding adaptation. Forest ecosystems
possess remarkable restoration mechanisms after the fire. Thus, if natural