Monteroni di Lecce Project - Fondazione Sylva

MONTERONI DI LECCE

Hectares reforested

Trees planted

500

liters of oxygen generated per day
(estimated in 10 years)

15000

kg of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere
(estimated in 10 years)

10000

PROPERTY OF THE LAND

CREA

PLANTING SITE

MONTERONI DI LECCE – Sant’Anna Agricultural Company

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Creation of an experimental forest in collaboration with CREA (Council for Research in Agriculture and the Analysis of Agricultural Economics) and the University of Salento for studies on agroforestation and the CO2 absorption capacity of native species.

TYPE OF INTERVENTION

Experimental agroforestation project.

PLANTING DATE

26/02/2023

STATUS OF THE WORK

2nd year: care and maintenance

DRAG

SELECTED SPECIES

Hawthorn

The hawthorn (scientific name: Crataegus monogyna L.) is a shrub or small tree of the Rosaceae family, widespread in Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. In our environments, it rarely exceeds 3-4 meters in height, with a dense canopy and spiny branches. The leaves, diamond-shaped with a serrated tip, are green in summer and yellow-orange in autumn. The white flowers bloom in spring in corymbs. The red fruits, containing a single pit, are edible but sour. Known for its medicinal properties, it is used to treat heart disorders and anxiety, and is also used in hedges and for soil stabilization.

Arbutus

The arbutus tree (scientific name: Arbutus unedo L.) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Ericaceae family, native to Mediterranean regions. It reaches a height of 5-8 meters and has a dense canopy, with oval, glossy leaves of dark green color. The small bell-shaped flowers, white or pink, bloom in autumn, forming pendulous clusters, followed by the fruits, called "corbezzoli," which ripen in winter. These fruits are red, fleshy, and sweet-tasting. The arbutus tree is drought-resistant and adapts well to poor, rocky soils. It is appreciated both for its ornamental appearance and for the production of honey and liqueurs, in addition to being used for soil stabilization.

Holm oak

The holm oak (scientific name: Quercus ilex L.) is an evergreen tree of the Fagaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 15-20 meters and has a dense, rounded canopy. The leaves are dark green, leathery, oblong, and with smooth edges. The holm oak produces small acorns that ripen in autumn and are highly valued by wildlife. Resistant to drought and poor soils, the holm oak is particularly suited to warm, slightly cool climates. It is used for the production of high-quality timber, charcoal, and as an ornamental plant in gardens and green areas. Its bark also has traditional medicinal uses.

Mastic tree

The mastic tree (scientific name: Pistacia lentiscus L.) is an evergreen shrub of the Anacardiaceae family, typical of hot Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 3-4 meters and has a globular, rounded canopy. The leaves are bright green, leathery, compound, and pinnate, with a strong aromatic scent due to the presence of essential oils. The fruits are small, spherical, and red, ripening in summer. The bark, when incised, produces a resin, well known as mastic from Chios, a secretion that coagulates into round or tear-shaped, transparent, yellow beads with a balsamic scent and a sour, bitter taste. The resin gets its name from the region where it is primarily cultivated, the island of Chios in Greece. Mastic has medicinal properties. Resistant to drought and poor soils, the mastic tree is particularly suited to hot, arid climates.

Kermes oak

The kermes oak (scientific name: Quercus coccifera L.) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Fagaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 3-6 meters and has a compact, branching canopy. The leaves are leathery and glossy, dark green in color, with spiny edges. The plant produces acorns that ripen in autumn and are appreciated by wildlife. Resistant to drought and poor soils, it primarily grows in rocky and arid environments. The kermes oak is important for its association with the kermes scale, an insect historically used to produce the crimson dye (kermes). It is also used to create hedges and as an ornamental plant.

Vallonea oak

The Vallonea oak (scientific name: Quercus ithaburensis Decne. subsp. macrolepis (Kotschy) Hedge & Yalt.) is a deciduous tree of the Fagaceae family, found not only in the Tricase area (Lecce) but also in the Balkan regions and parts of the Middle East. It can reach a height of 10-15 meters and has an expansive canopy with lobed and serrated dark green leaves. The flowers, which bloom in spring, are followed by large acorns, protected by a thick cupule. The Vallonea oak is resistant to calcareous and poor soils, but is not tolerant of cold temperatures. In the past, its acorns were used to extract tannin. It is also valued for its ornamental qualities and the durability of its wood.

Spiny broom

The spiny broom or invasive sparzio (scientific name: Cytisus infestus (C.Presl) Guss.) is an evergreen shrub of the Fabaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 2-3 meters and has a bushy growth habit with branches covered in thorns. The leaves are reduced to small scales, while the yellow, butterfly-shaped flowers bloom in spring and are highly fragrant. The plant is drought-resistant and adapts well to poor, rocky soils. The spiny broom is often used for creating protective hedges and for soil stabilization. It is also known for its use in folk medicine, thanks to its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cork oak

The cork oak (scientific name: Quercus suber L.) is a deciduous tree of the Fagaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 15-20 meters and has a broad, rounded canopy. The lanceolate leaves are dark green and persistent. The cork oak is famous for its thick, leathery bark, which is periodically harvested for cork production, a material widely used in industry. Its wood is durable and is used for making furniture and barrels. Resistant to drought and poor soils, the cork oak is also used for soil stabilization and as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens.

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