When nature meets the divine: effect of prohibition regimes on the structure and tree species composition of sacred forests in northern Greece
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Published:2020-08-07
Issue:2
Volume:20
Page:53-86
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ISSN:1399-1183
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Container-title:Web Ecology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Web Ecol.
Author:
Marini Govigli Valentino, Healey John R.ORCID, Wong Jennifer L. G., Stara KalliopiORCID, Tsiakiris Rigas, Halley John M.
Abstract
Abstract. Sacred forests are an integral component of the mountainous
cultural landscape of northern Greece, hypothesized to be the result of both
ecological processes and site-specific forest management regimes through
strict religious prohibition. These practices acted as constraints on
natural forest development by suppressing understory growth, while
prohibition of woodcutting has preserved large trees. The aim of this study
was to investigate the relative effects of physical site environment and
management regimes on the structure and composition of woody plant groups in
six such forests. Species rank–abundance curves, dissimilarity indices and
cluster analyses were used to assess variation within and amongst the woody
plant groups of the sites. Species abundance was found to be highly variable
amongst the sites, with notable variation between canopy and understory
layers indicating dynamic change in floristics and structure. Cluster
analysis revealed four main woody plant groups statistically associated with
environmental variables (aspect) and forest management (different forest
prohibition regimes, and presence or absence of infrastructure). Our results
indicate that tree composition is significantly associated with different
prohibition regimes linked to the forests' sacred status, as well as the
inherent environmental variation amongst sites. Exploring further the
role of traditional management systems in shaping sacred forest structure
is a relevant research path for designing effective conservation practices
tailored to sacred natural sites facing cultural abandonment.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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