Vegetation and plant landscape of Asinara National Park (Italy)

The vegetation of the Asinara National Park, established in 1997, is dramatically degraded as a consequence of the intensive human use during the last centuries. Fire, overgrazing, intensive and extensive farming activities, carried out during the 112 years of the presence of a penal colony, determined the spread of secondary plant communities. Human induced effects are evident also in the communities of the psammophilous and hygrophilous geo-sigmeta. Overall, 51 plant communities, ascribed to 21 classes, were detected. Six new associations and seven new subassociations were described. In the plant landscape three vegetation series and five geo-sigmeta were identified. 18 habitats of community interest were recognized. Issues concerning the management of the plant communities and plant landscape are stressed in the discussion.