Professional paper

https://doi.org/10.32779/gf.7.2-3.5

Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in the maquis of the northern Dalmatian islands – influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors

Damir Viličić ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Biološki odsjek, Zagreb, Hrvatska. *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The primary forests of holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in the Mediterranean have disappeared. Cutting of forests for agriculture, wood for firewood and shipbuilding, and grazing as well as fires, degraded holm oak forests into thickets – maquis. On the northern Dalmatian islands (central Adriatic coast), the summer drought is more pronounced than elsewhere in Croatia, which slows down the growth of maquis with holm oak. Anthropogenic influences enable the spread of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Miller). Afforestation and planting of holm oak can alleviate the high temperature and dryness of the soil and air in summer, increase biological diversity, enrich the visual experience of the landscape, improve the quality of life and health of people, and prevent erosion of fertile soil. Until the organization of a national initiative,
the planting of holm oak, which is a characteristic and stabilizing species of climatogenic evergreen maquis, can be carried out by private initiative along the drystone walls of private properties. The island is a good experimental laboratory for the implementation of biodiversity management and climate change protection. Comparative studies of holm oak growth along the eastern coast of the Adriatic would be useful

Keywords

Holm oak, Quercus ilex, islands, Dalmatia, Croatia.

Hrčak ID:

322563

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/322563

Publication date:

30.6.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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