and may be considered a stress-tolerant species (Grime 1979). Moreover, maritime
junipers have shown vigorous growth as a response to burial in greenhouse
experiments (Muñoz-Reinoso et al. 2000), which seems to demonstrate its adaptation to living on mobile dunes. Sprouting from roots has been observed in
maritime junipers growing on sandy cliffs, but the vegetative multiplication by
layering from decumbent branches as observed in J. communis (Clifton et al. 1997)
have not been registered. Thus, coastal woodlands of maritime juniper represent
the late successional stage in the harsh environment of Mediterranean sand dunes
and cliffs.
9.3 Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
In Andalusia, maritime juniper woodlands (locally known as enebrales) are distributed along the Gulf of Cádiz, between El Rompido and Tarifa, in the provinces
of Huelva and Cádiz respectively (Fig. 9.2). The climate of this coast is of a
Mediterranean type with oceanic influences. The average temperature is 17 °C,
with temperate winters (9 °C) and high temperatures (25.2 °C) in the summer.
Mean precipitation is 600 mm, increasing from west to east (495.7 mm in Punta
Umbría to 841.8 mm in Barbate). Highest precipitation occurs in November
through January, with a second peak in spring (March/April). Summer drought is
severe, with no rains during July and August, and scarce rainfall in June and
September.
Three types of maritime juniper woodlands have been recognized along the
western coast of Andalusia (Muñoz-Reinoso 2003):
1. Juniper woodlands on sandy dunes
2. Juniper woodlands on cliffs
3. Juniper woodlands as the understory of Pinus pinea plantations
Juniper woodlands on sandy dunes and cliffs may be considered the remnants of
natural stands that should cover the sandy coast of Huelva and Cádiz. However,
junipers appearing as the understory of pine plantations are the result of past land
management practices carried out in order to stabilize the dunes since the second
half of the nineteenth century (Granados and Ojeda 1994). In the present work, we
will pay special attention to juniper woodlands on sandy dunes and under pine
plantations.
Nowadays, the distribution of maritime juniper along the Atlantic coast of
Andalusia is fragmented in heterogeneous populations of different sizes, coastal
physiography, and management. The whole population has been estimated to
comprise 25,000 individuals, who are concentrated mainly in the dunes of Doñana,
the Chiclana-Conil coast, and La Breña Natural Park (Muñoz-Reinoso 2003). This
relatively large number of individuals is not a guarantee of the conservation of the
species if the habitats are not properly preserved and managed. Other populations
are much smaller and more isolated, especially in Huelva province.
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
147
junipers have shown vigorous growth as a response to burial in greenhouse
experiments (Muñoz-Reinoso et al. 2000), which seems to demonstrate its adaptation to living on mobile dunes. Sprouting from roots has been observed in
maritime junipers growing on sandy cliffs, but the vegetative multiplication by
layering from decumbent branches as observed in J. communis (Clifton et al. 1997)
have not been registered. Thus, coastal woodlands of maritime juniper represent
the late successional stage in the harsh environment of Mediterranean sand dunes
and cliffs.
9.3 Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
In Andalusia, maritime juniper woodlands (locally known as enebrales) are distributed along the Gulf of Cádiz, between El Rompido and Tarifa, in the provinces
of Huelva and Cádiz respectively (Fig. 9.2). The climate of this coast is of a
Mediterranean type with oceanic influences. The average temperature is 17 °C,
with temperate winters (9 °C) and high temperatures (25.2 °C) in the summer.
Mean precipitation is 600 mm, increasing from west to east (495.7 mm in Punta
Umbría to 841.8 mm in Barbate). Highest precipitation occurs in November
through January, with a second peak in spring (March/April). Summer drought is
severe, with no rains during July and August, and scarce rainfall in June and
September.
Three types of maritime juniper woodlands have been recognized along the
western coast of Andalusia (Muñoz-Reinoso 2003):
1. Juniper woodlands on sandy dunes
2. Juniper woodlands on cliffs
3. Juniper woodlands as the understory of Pinus pinea plantations
Juniper woodlands on sandy dunes and cliffs may be considered the remnants of
natural stands that should cover the sandy coast of Huelva and Cádiz. However,
junipers appearing as the understory of pine plantations are the result of past land
management practices carried out in order to stabilize the dunes since the second
half of the nineteenth century (Granados and Ojeda 1994). In the present work, we
will pay special attention to juniper woodlands on sandy dunes and under pine
plantations.
Nowadays, the distribution of maritime juniper along the Atlantic coast of
Andalusia is fragmented in heterogeneous populations of different sizes, coastal
physiography, and management. The whole population has been estimated to
comprise 25,000 individuals, who are concentrated mainly in the dunes of Doñana,
the Chiclana-Conil coast, and La Breña Natural Park (Muñoz-Reinoso 2003). This
relatively large number of individuals is not a guarantee of the conservation of the
species if the habitats are not properly preserved and managed. Other populations
are much smaller and more isolated, especially in Huelva province.
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
147