• The Corsican pine
• Datum sheet
• Properties
• Geographical distribution
• The Corsican pine forest
• L'homme et la forêt
• Further information

   

The corsican pine

Pinus Nigra subsp laricio var corsicana (Scientific name)

U làrice or u lariciu (corsican name).

 

Datum sheet

The Corsican pine

Biological and ecological features :

• Coniferous tree from the Pinacea family, the corsican pine can reach up to 160 feet high ;
• The silvery gray bark comes in the form of large irregular slabs ;
• The trunk is straight, tall and slender, and can have large diameters (70 inches)
• Its cones are small (1.5 to 3 inches long) and good cone production occurs every 2 or 3 years ;
• Its exceptionnal longevity can go over 500 years old ;
• Being a light-demanding species, it grows up rapidly in the open light ;
• Young trees have a conical shape bearing whereas older trees or those situated on ridges get flat-topped ;
• Perfectly adapted to the mediterranean climate, it whithstands summer drought and takes advantage of corsican mountains good annual rainfall (800 to 1500 mm/year)

Properties

Thanks to these properties, the corsican pine is the third tree species used for reforestation in continental France after the Douglas fir and the Maritime pine.

• Hardiness: it adapts to different sorts of climate.
• Adaptability: it grows on a great variety of soils (except on chalky or very wet soils).
• Productivity: it grows rapidly and gives high quality wood.

Geographical distribution

Two Corsican pine ranges can be identified:

• Natural area: it’s the natural habitat of the Corsican pine. It is only found in the Corsican mountains which is why the species is considered as endemic to Corsica. Corsican pine forests cover more than 111 150 acres out of 525 910 acres of Corsican forest; pure Corsican pine stands cover 51 870 acres.
• Introduction zone: this is where the species was introduced for different rehaznos, even though it is not part of the natural vegetation. In continental France, plantations of Corsican pine represent 247 000 acres.

The Corsican pine forest

The Corsican pine forests are characteristic of Corsican mountains (from an altitude of 1 000 to 1 800 m) where they reign on sunny slopes (sulana).

On northern slopes (umbria), where it’s darker and cooler, they combine with Beech, Silver fir, Common Yew and Holly tree forests.

Little by little, as we go down to the coast, these forests first mix with and then yield to Evergreen oak and Maritime pine woods.

 

 

These Corsican pine forests are the keystone of a complex ecosystem made up around them. Their existente guarantees the destiny of many animal and plant species. Their heritage value is exceptionnal.

Sheltering 28 bird species, they are the habitat of the unique French endemic bird, the Corsican Nuthatch (Sitta whiteheadi).

The Corsican pine is not a threatened species and its stands are globaly well-preserved. The real threat comes from forest fires. They are too frequent and devastating because of mankind.

 

 

Nowadays, two main challenges direct island forests management:

• an economic multifunctionnal highlight of forests made in a permanent concern of ecological ressources ;
• the restoration of the ancient ecological biodiversity that the age-old forest harvest by mankind has unbalanced and weakened.

 

L’homme et la forêt de pin laricio de Corse

 “Ce ne sont point les ouvrages de l'art qui agrandiront 
   la pensée de celui qui voyage en Corse, mais bien
    l'effroi et l'admiration que produit nécessairement
     une nature dont toutes les scènes sont effrayantes
      et majestueuses ”
        (Hubert Lauvergene, Mémoire sur la Corse, 1823, 
            dans L'île d'à côté de Paul Silvani, 1998).

In the 1880’s, Guy de Maupassant wrote about the Aitone forest :

“…enormous pine trees created a groaning Canopo above
   our heads that gave out a sad and constant lament,
    whilst both to the left and to the right, their
     straight and slender trunks formed a sort of army 
      of organ pipes that seemed to make monotonous 
       music of winf amongst the pines…”

Further information

European environmental policy

The preservation of the environment has been a major concern of the European Union since the 1970’s. European directives Duch as “Bird Life” and “Habitats” have created a solid legislative basis for the protection of species (fauna and flora) and of natural habitats that are either rare or endangered throughout Europe.

Natura 2000

A network of protected sites has been created in Europe to reinforce these directives. It is known as Natura 2000. Its aim is to maintain biodiversity within a sustainable management framework, taking both economic and socio-cultural requirements into account.

The Corsican pine habitat

The natural habitat of the Corsican pine is relatively scarce in Europe and it has been given priority status within the framework of the “Habitats” directive. It constitutes the environment for several species of interest at the EU level Duch as the Corsican nuthatch (endemic bird) and the Corsican painted frog.

LIFE programme

LIFE is one of the Europe’s financial aids for the implement of its Directives. The Office National des Forêts (French forest service, public forests manager) is the manager of almost all the Corsican pine forests in Corsica. It has received LIFE funding for its programme called “Towards the conservation management of the Corsican pine habitat” implemented on sites of the Natura 2000 network.

Actions taken

• Development of theme paths ;
• Creation of an exhibition presenting the Corsican pine (Bavella Forest, Arza Forest Lodge) ;
• Design of management tools for Corsican pine stands, taking their diversity into account ;
• Forestry projects intended to recreate the species mix, to improve the biotope of species (such as the Corsican wild sheep) that live in Corsican pine forests and to protect habitats of other species closely linked to that of the Corsican pine (Yew, Thuriferous juniper).