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A relict of vegetational landscape related to seasonal migratory grazing in the south of Italy: the ‘Bosco dell'Incoronata’ (Foggia) southern Italy
Pubhshers B.V..
Amstr Jam
of vegetational landscape related to seasonal migratory
relict
razing in the south of Italy: the ‘Bosco dell’Incoronata’ (Foggia) southern Italy R.Venanzoni*, F. Pedrotti,
A. Manzi
Abstract pass transhumance of sheep was an important phenomenon which took place ail over the terrltorles of central and Ital!. The flocks, which m summer were pastured In thy mountains of the central 4penmnes. in wntcr were ross an mtncate nemork of tracks (called ‘Tratturl’ In Italian ) to the lowlands of the 4drlatlc cost and the piams As a result of a cmss this t)pe of sheep-rearing 1s dlsappearlng as well as the characterwcs of the landscape which resulted from theseJourneys. ‘Weexamme what remams ofthe characterlstlcs of rhe landscape and vegetation of the ‘Bosco dell’lncoronata’ one of the last winter pastures of P@ia.
Introduction Transhumance is ;: very ancient practice and is found particularly in the Mediterranean basin: here in consequence of a climate characterised by dry summers and wet winters, this type of sheep-rearing allows the exploitation of mountain pasture in summer and the lowlands in winter ( Ruiz and Ruiz. ! 986). In central and southern Italy sheep-rearing transhumance was practised mainly in two areas (Quilici, 1987 ). The first involved the Papal States and in particular the mountain areas of Marche, Umbria and Lazio in summer and the countryside around Rome and the Maremma in winter, the second, larger one, involved the Neapolitan Kingdom where this phenomenon assumed very important dimensions. Here the numerous flocks grazed on the mountains of Abruzzo and Molise in summer; in winter they were transferred to the warmer
Torrespondmg
territories of Puglia and to the coastal pastures of Abruzzo and Molise. This phenomenon considerably influenced the society of the period both from the socioeconomic and cultural points of view; moreover the repercussions were even greater on the natural landscape wlqich was drastically changed. It is enough to recall the deforestation that took place to make more pastures in the mountains and plains. Consequently, therefore, new landscapes developed with seminarural characteristics which were colonised by ani.ma1 and plant species particularly of open and steppe habitats. As a result of the crisis of transhumant sheep-rearing and its replacement by other economic activities, the environment and landscape linked to transhumante disappeared almost totally, especially on the plains where the repercussions on vegetation and animals were particularly serious. The ‘Bosco de!l’Incoronata in Puglia is one of the few areas where the sheep-rearing landscape has survived, providing rare and valua-
author.
18 1993 Eisevler Science Pubhshers
B.V. Ail rights reserved 0169-2046/93/$06.00
blc widence of a natural and anthropic vegetation landscape which meri ts preservation. Historical background of transhumant sheeprearing in the Neapolitan Kingdom
The transhumance of flocks from the mountains of Abruzzo and Molise to the plain of Puglia was even practised by the pre-Roman populations. It was later reorganised by Romans and then, in the Middle Ages, by Swabians and by Alfonso I of Aragon, in the first half of the fifteenth century (Paone, 1987 ). This king initiated state management and control of transhumance with a fiscal institution and autonomous magistrates in Foggia (Puglia ) called ‘ ogana’. During this period. the nctwork of tracks was reorganiscd and dcvelopcJ while the local type of sheep was crossed wth Merino sheep imported from Spain with the aim of improving the quality of the wool. The transhumance was also necessary for owners of small flocks. In order to encourage further winter grazing. the area of public pastures was increased in Puglia and, in addition, much private land along the coast of Abruzzo and Molise was compuisorily designated as pasture by the State. In this way. the ‘Tavoliere Doganale’ was born, which included the Puglia Plain, some coastal areas encl ea!!‘ee Fox-tore. Trigno and Sangro, and the coastal areas between the Pescara and Trigno rivers (Fig. 1). An enormous area, extending for about 362 009 ha was reserved exclusively for the winter grazing of flocks. To further increase the grazing land, areas along the sheep tracks were designated for use during the migration. This enormous development of grazing increasingly damaged agriculture and was one of the most important topics of discussion and argument between the intellectuals and
economists of the Neapolitan Kingdom during the eighteenth century. The flocks migrated in September from the mountain pastures to the winter ones on the
plain; in May, the process was reversed. These movements were along a complex network of sheep tracks (the three main ones were P 10 m wide) which were connected by a series of nor paths. The golden period of transhumance was between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In 1604, the sheep CL‘locati’ (the rented winter pastures) included ords of the ‘Dogana’ were 5.5 mill ber probablv_ ex erated but whit shows the encrm s impact of the poured across the central Apemaine mountains during the summer period and in the Plain during the winter. The e repercussions were severe; vast areas of mountain were deforeszed to become summer turc, much territory that should have bee ricultural was designated as winter pasture. The crisis of transhumant sheep-rearing, which for centuries represented a major source of income for the Neapolitan Kingdom and a fount of riches for many of the mountain towns of Abruzzo, began at the end of the eighteen century when a change of land use was initiated and. consequently, the Puglia Plain became more intensideij cultivated. The subsequent political. social and political events that involved the Neapolitan Kingdom before the unification of Italy practically signalled the end of transhumant sheep-rearing. Nowadays, very little evidence remains of this great phenomenon. The winter pastures are now all cultivated, while the summer pastures have been abandoned and have been taken over by secondary successions of the original wooded vegetation. The incredible network of sheep tracks has been completely privatised and, as a consequence, destroyed. The geographic and historic aspects of the ‘Bosco delMncoronata’ The Bosco dell’ Incoronata is located in the Puglia Plain at a level of around 70 m above
l.IIl Other territories charged by statal rights
“1
Fig. 1. Terrltones asslgned to wrnter grazing and controlled \ sy ‘Dogana’ m the Neapohaan winter du-ectlon of transhumance; white arrow: summer dlre&on.
,
Principal pastures
MAR TIRRENO
-
_--.-
-
-
Kmgdom (after Sprengel, 197 1). Black arrow:
MARE ADRIATIC0
--
P
Pea arww Poa infirma Lohum prrennr Cororw ‘1% sqlrar?ulrr Sclerochloa dlrra A rrarycllrstorncwlosm Creprs btrrsr folia Poa htrlhosa Plantag0 serraria Romtrlca cohrrunar Asphodelrrs rnrcrocarpu~ Fmrla cornrmrnrs Euphorbla hclroscopra Creprs \‘esicariu Cental pa mcuecnm Medrcago rlgrdula Erodrurn cm/ar/rrrrl (3rnlthogalum wnhcllarltru Dacr vh r:glomcrata Brorzt u aIr~tollrs Sherardra arvensls Plantago lagopus Hyoserrs sea bra Hlppocrspls rtnrsllrqrr~~~a 3 3
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Record no. 17
Ovcrtrampling
Specrcs
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Trampling and grazing
Table 1 Florists composltion of pastures rn the graz ng area of ‘R~~xo dcll’lncoronata’
I.1
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+ A.
t
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+ + +
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.
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I6 1s I2 JO 8 15 I4 14 I.; I3 I3 13 12 ii 9 9 9
5
4 IO 19 4 IQ II
88 Noof. occurrences
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88
.
1I
Ovcrgra7lng (on!) cattle)
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‘Rclevb
after Pedrottl and Vcnanzom,
1992 (modlficd)
Values arc according to rhc scale of Braun -Blanquct
( 196-1)
nepera + . Torrlrs Japonrcu +, Ophrys sphecodes-+, Ptrus amygdal~fortnrs-k, Pea ttwralrs+, Leonmdon tuberosus, GCIU~II,1ttt pu~rlhrttr + . Record No. I 3: TordJ*Irum apulum, Acg!llopsgenrclrlala f , Cerrnh major -+ , I%tlu~ ttutwt -+-, C’raracgus monog~~tta + , Oswxs alha+, Sclhum rrrananum 1.2 . Record No. 4: Tordjftum apulum 2.2, Plantago medta I. 1 Record No. 14: Ceraslrum glomcra~um -I-, Bcra rwlgatrs-t , Eruca salrw -k , Echruttr r~alrcwttt +. PtL*t-tJ~cluo~d~~~+, C_~wod~rr dacwlon. Record No. 18: Aegvlops gcnrwlara +, Ccrrn~k maJot-+, C’ltwrs ttt~tto~+, 0~~~s d/w + , Bcatawlgut IS+, Etuc a ratt\c*u +, EChruttr rmlrcum+ . Record No. 18: Dasvpvr um ~*dlosum 2 .?, llharla pclwlala f .
Record No. 1a: Ranunculus garganrcus 1. I , Rattutuwlus drmorphotr:\*.-v> -+ , Gcvatuum pusrllwtt -k . Record No. 2a: Ceraslrum glomerafum +, Srellarra tnedra +, Ranutwhrs Ju~II~~FI~J + , Calamrntha
Sporadic species
A nagallw arvensrs Scorprurus vermiculalus Eruca balrva Podospertnum lacrnra~um Bupleurum SQ. Daucus carota Malva parwflora Hordeum Ieponnum Medlcago orb&arts Planrago lanceolala Capsella hursa-paslorrs Avena fatua Salvra verbenaca Foenrculum vulgarc Trrfolr urn repens Belles perennrs Podospertnum resedr fhlrum Etyngtum catnpeslre Cvnara cardunculus Asparagus acutifolrus Tr$olwn subterraneum Bromus slertlrs
60
sea level and is delineated to the north by the Cervaro river ;dnd to the south by an ancient river bed, This area is covered by 162 ha of forest, I 15 ha of grassland and 43 ha of cultivated land (Barbone, 1982 ). The geological strata is character&d by recent alluvial deposits. The soil is deep, a little permeable, and quite rich in organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous ntanelli, 1939 ) . he forest area of the Bosco dell’Incoronata (the only one in the Puglia Plain) which exists today has survived unchanged as can be seen from a map of 1620. In the thirteenth century, the forest was rich in oaks and evergreens and was the hunting reserve of Frederic0 II of Svevia. Certainly, in former times, the forest area was larger than today. As eariy as I793 Galanti denounced the destruction and spoilage of the forest. The area of Bosco dell’Incoronata is maintained intact today thanks to the presence of the sanctuary of Madonna dell’Incoronata, a place of prayer, pilgrimage and retreat for transhumant shepherds and the people from southern I ialy. The cult of Niadonna dell’Incoronata is widespread along the ancient sheep tracks and the surrounding areas as far as Abruzzo. At the moment, 1 ata’ only the raising of cows of the local type ‘podolica’ is practised from September to May. The presence of a large number of pilgrims and the introduction of Eztca/“,prns trees for reforestation has had a serious repercussion on the area.
The characteristics of the flora and the vegetation of this territory have been described according to the phytosociological methad \‘Braun-Blanquet, 1964) by Pedrotti and Venanzoni ( 1992 ); in this paper they are sunmarised to emphasise the relationships between transhumant sheep-rearing and vegetation. Three kinds of river-bank forests are present
on the meanders and terraces of the Cervaro river, associated with the geomorphological characteristics: Salicetum albae over the river bank, Populetum alhae over the first terrace, periodically flooded and on the old meander, CIvici remotae-Fruxinetum IQ Ficario-Ulmetunz on the te sporadically by inundations ( The vegetation of the plai downy oak ( Quevcus ptlb reduced in favour of pastu a very interesting example of semi-n etation due to their floristic and characteristics. The several releves made allow two main types of pasture to be recognised: the first one beiongs to the i%wted2 buhxae class and the second one to the Po!‘~gwuMkwtea annuae both distributed in the Mediterranean area. The pastures belonging to the Poetedz bulbosae class are characterised mainly by perennial species with a high presence of therophytes. They are maintained by permanent grazing of flocks and are originated by t5e evolution of therophytic pastures of the class Tuberwietec1 guttati or by the subnitrophilous community of the Brometalia rubenti-tectori (Santos et al , 1989 ). The records, in Table 1, show, by comparison with those made in Spain (Rivas Goday and Borja Carbonell, 196 1; Rivas Goday and Ladero Alvarez, 1970), a general impoverishment of the floristic composition, probably due to the overgrazing of the cattle which have replaced sheep-rearing in the last decades. Selective grazing by cattle can change the floristic composition and thta structure of the pasture. Such a situation is we;! represented by releves in which we note the large numbers of Ferula communis and Asphodelus microcarpus. The erosion action, exercised principally near the cattle fences and along tracks, allows the installation of communities of the Polygono-Poetea annuae class ( Rivas-Martinez, 1975 ) in which are assembled pioneer vegetal communities formed prevalently by thero-
61
Fig. 2. Vegetation
map of ‘Bosco dell’lncoronata’
(after Pedrottl and Venanzom,
phytes, cosmopolitan and anthropic species adapted to the trampling areas of the Mediterranean region such as the Poa annua, Sclerochloa rigida and Coronopus squamatus communities. conclusions Transhumant sheep-rearing has practically disappeared and the number of sheep has vastly diminished; the tracks are no longer used for sheep migration and flocks are moved by motor transport. With the end of this activity, the related landscape characterised by the interaction of man with animals and the environment is destined to disappear. The landscape is strongly suggestive of the open fields in Gran Sasso mountain (Abruzzo), arising from the
1992 ).
need to reconcile sheep-rearing and agriculture; the ‘difese’, the lightly wooded pastures with large and ancient trees, which it is still possible to see in the mountain regions of central Italy, are endangered (Manzi, 1990). In the Puglia region today, the winter pastures are almost all cultivated. only a few patches survive, such as those in the Bosco dell’Incoronata area or in the grasslands near Manfredonia. Similarly affected are the ‘mezzane’, ancient pastures planted with trees (Pims amygdaliformis) which are in some aspects similar to the schibljak formation of the Balkan peninsula ( Sarfatti, 1953 ) . The disappearance of such environments represents not only the loss of a valuable area of beauty but also the loss of a natural and biological value. By the destruction of such win-
ter pastures, spccics and vegetation associated with it arc also lost. For the species of flora, it is very important to remember Webb’s almond (Prmr,s w&ii) found in Italy only in the Pugh region. The destruction of this area has had negative repercussions on animals and in particular on birds. The typical species of the steppe area that are now disappearing from Puglia are the stone urki~ts oedicnemus), the blackcurlew nting ( Emberizamehnocephalu ) headed and, in particular, the little bustard ( Tetrm tetrax) which today in Puglia is reduced to a population of SO- 100 birds as a consequence of hunting and the reduction of their habitats (Petretti, 1988 ). In central-southern Italv the decline of free-ranging farm animals has negatively influenced carrion birds such as the Egyptian vulture ( Neophrort pemoptertrs ). which in the peninsula of Italy is near to extinction. The negative consequence of the reduction of biological diversity is not limited only to wild species - it has even affected zootechny. In fact. many of the local breeds of sheep and COWS have either disappeared or have been greatly reduced in favour of standardised varieties. TO avoid the loss of this biological, landscape and cultu preserve these last areas linked to this transhumant phenomenon and promote an accurate census in order to preserve and manage them according to scientific criteria.
References Barbonc. E , I982 II Bosco dcli’lncoronata Un progetto per la salvaguardta c la v alortzzarrone Srrtonc dt Cap~tanata dr “Italla Nostra”. Foggra. pp 9-3 I Braun-Blanquet, J ., 1964. Pflanzensorrolsgie. 3 Auk. Spnnget=.Wien. pp. I-865 Galantt. G.M., 1793. Della descnrrone geogr, ka e pohtrca delle Swlle TIP. Dentro la prcta de’ Turchawa. Neaples. pp. I-257. Manzt. A.. 1990. La gcsuonc de1 pascoh mowtanr mn ~brwzo c la SocrctA dcllc Erbc Sccondc da Pescasscrola cd Opa. Arc Bot. ltal . 66, 129- 132 Pantancllt. E , 1939 Lc terrc de! Tavolrcre dt Pugha Ann. Spcrimcntar 4gric . 36 1- 169 Paonc. N , 1987 La transumanza immagma da una ctv [tati. Cosmo lannone ( Ednor). Isernra. pp. 5-B 48 Pedrottr F and Venanronl R . 1992 Carta deha vegetaraone dcl Bosco dell’lncoronata (Foggla) Dot Ph~msoc . rm prose Pctrcttl. F.. 198X An rn\cnton ofstcppc habmts m sour8\ern Itaty. In: P.D. GGriiip ( EdlKN j. ECd@ and CO!lSehvatlon of Grassland Bards. pp. P25- 143. Qud~cl. L , 1987. La transumanza neill’ltaha ccntrale m eti modcrna e medloevalc comz contnbuto ah conoscenza dl quella antlca. in: Ambaente e socnetti pastorale nella rxontagna maceratese. Centro dt Studt Stonct Maceratesl. Macerata. pp. B43- 16-l. Rum M. and Rutz. J.P. 1986. Ecological h~sto~ oftranshumante II? SpaHI. Bioi. Culrsrn.. 3 3: /3-X6. Rlkas ISoda). S. and Borya Carbonelk 4.. 1961. Estudlo fitoswlologlco dc 10s “pastas” de! Maestrazgo turolense ( Mac~zos de Gudar ! Jabalambre ). 4~1. inst. Bot. 4-J. Cavantiles ( Madnd ). 19: l-33-t. Rtvas Godab. S. and Ladcro Alvarez. M.. 1970. Pasttz+s ccspltosos de ?%a hlbos~ 1. Ongen. suceslon 1 slstemattca. An. R. Acad. Farm.. 36: 139- 18 I. Rtvas-Martmez. S.. 1975. Sobre la nueva clase Po!l,gonofoe~u cuuzu~~. Fhq tocoenologta. 2: I23- 140. Santos. M.-T., Ladero. M. and Amor, A., 1989. Vegetacton de las mtercalactones bastcas de la provmcia de Caceres ( Extremadura. Espana ). Stud. Bot . 7: 9- I47 Sarfattt. G , 1953. Consteraztom e rtcerche botamche SUIpasco11de! Tavohere dt Foggta. Ann. Fat. Agrar. Unw. Ban. 8: l-28. Sprengel. U.. 197 I. DK Wanderherdnwn-tschaft rm mrttel und slidostttahenrschen Raum. Marburg.
Amstr Jam
of vegetational landscape related to seasonal migratory
relict
razing in the south of Italy: the ‘Bosco dell’Incoronata’ (Foggia) southern Italy R.Venanzoni*, F. Pedrotti,
A. Manzi
Abstract pass transhumance of sheep was an important phenomenon which took place ail over the terrltorles of central and Ital!. The flocks, which m summer were pastured In thy mountains of the central 4penmnes. in wntcr were ross an mtncate nemork of tracks (called ‘Tratturl’ In Italian ) to the lowlands of the 4drlatlc cost and the piams As a result of a cmss this t)pe of sheep-rearing 1s dlsappearlng as well as the characterwcs of the landscape which resulted from theseJourneys. ‘Weexamme what remams ofthe characterlstlcs of rhe landscape and vegetation of the ‘Bosco dell’lncoronata’ one of the last winter pastures of P@ia.
Introduction Transhumance is ;: very ancient practice and is found particularly in the Mediterranean basin: here in consequence of a climate characterised by dry summers and wet winters, this type of sheep-rearing allows the exploitation of mountain pasture in summer and the lowlands in winter ( Ruiz and Ruiz. ! 986). In central and southern Italy sheep-rearing transhumance was practised mainly in two areas (Quilici, 1987 ). The first involved the Papal States and in particular the mountain areas of Marche, Umbria and Lazio in summer and the countryside around Rome and the Maremma in winter, the second, larger one, involved the Neapolitan Kingdom where this phenomenon assumed very important dimensions. Here the numerous flocks grazed on the mountains of Abruzzo and Molise in summer; in winter they were transferred to the warmer
Torrespondmg
territories of Puglia and to the coastal pastures of Abruzzo and Molise. This phenomenon considerably influenced the society of the period both from the socioeconomic and cultural points of view; moreover the repercussions were even greater on the natural landscape wlqich was drastically changed. It is enough to recall the deforestation that took place to make more pastures in the mountains and plains. Consequently, therefore, new landscapes developed with seminarural characteristics which were colonised by ani.ma1 and plant species particularly of open and steppe habitats. As a result of the crisis of transhumant sheep-rearing and its replacement by other economic activities, the environment and landscape linked to transhumante disappeared almost totally, especially on the plains where the repercussions on vegetation and animals were particularly serious. The ‘Bosco de!l’Incoronata in Puglia is one of the few areas where the sheep-rearing landscape has survived, providing rare and valua-
author.
18 1993 Eisevler Science Pubhshers
B.V. Ail rights reserved 0169-2046/93/$06.00
blc widence of a natural and anthropic vegetation landscape which meri ts preservation. Historical background of transhumant sheeprearing in the Neapolitan Kingdom
The transhumance of flocks from the mountains of Abruzzo and Molise to the plain of Puglia was even practised by the pre-Roman populations. It was later reorganised by Romans and then, in the Middle Ages, by Swabians and by Alfonso I of Aragon, in the first half of the fifteenth century (Paone, 1987 ). This king initiated state management and control of transhumance with a fiscal institution and autonomous magistrates in Foggia (Puglia ) called ‘ ogana’. During this period. the nctwork of tracks was reorganiscd and dcvelopcJ while the local type of sheep was crossed wth Merino sheep imported from Spain with the aim of improving the quality of the wool. The transhumance was also necessary for owners of small flocks. In order to encourage further winter grazing. the area of public pastures was increased in Puglia and, in addition, much private land along the coast of Abruzzo and Molise was compuisorily designated as pasture by the State. In this way. the ‘Tavoliere Doganale’ was born, which included the Puglia Plain, some coastal areas encl ea!!‘ee Fox-tore. Trigno and Sangro, and the coastal areas between the Pescara and Trigno rivers (Fig. 1). An enormous area, extending for about 362 009 ha was reserved exclusively for the winter grazing of flocks. To further increase the grazing land, areas along the sheep tracks were designated for use during the migration. This enormous development of grazing increasingly damaged agriculture and was one of the most important topics of discussion and argument between the intellectuals and
economists of the Neapolitan Kingdom during the eighteenth century. The flocks migrated in September from the mountain pastures to the winter ones on the
plain; in May, the process was reversed. These movements were along a complex network of sheep tracks (the three main ones were P 10 m wide) which were connected by a series of nor paths. The golden period of transhumance was between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In 1604, the sheep CL‘locati’ (the rented winter pastures) included ords of the ‘Dogana’ were 5.5 mill ber probablv_ ex erated but whit shows the encrm s impact of the poured across the central Apemaine mountains during the summer period and in the Plain during the winter. The e repercussions were severe; vast areas of mountain were deforeszed to become summer turc, much territory that should have bee ricultural was designated as winter pasture. The crisis of transhumant sheep-rearing, which for centuries represented a major source of income for the Neapolitan Kingdom and a fount of riches for many of the mountain towns of Abruzzo, began at the end of the eighteen century when a change of land use was initiated and. consequently, the Puglia Plain became more intensideij cultivated. The subsequent political. social and political events that involved the Neapolitan Kingdom before the unification of Italy practically signalled the end of transhumant sheep-rearing. Nowadays, very little evidence remains of this great phenomenon. The winter pastures are now all cultivated, while the summer pastures have been abandoned and have been taken over by secondary successions of the original wooded vegetation. The incredible network of sheep tracks has been completely privatised and, as a consequence, destroyed. The geographic and historic aspects of the ‘Bosco delMncoronata’ The Bosco dell’ Incoronata is located in the Puglia Plain at a level of around 70 m above
l.IIl Other territories charged by statal rights
“1
Fig. 1. Terrltones asslgned to wrnter grazing and controlled \ sy ‘Dogana’ m the Neapohaan winter du-ectlon of transhumance; white arrow: summer dlre&on.
,
Principal pastures
MAR TIRRENO
-
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Kmgdom (after Sprengel, 197 1). Black arrow:
MARE ADRIATIC0
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Pea arww Poa infirma Lohum prrennr Cororw ‘1% sqlrar?ulrr Sclerochloa dlrra A rrarycllrstorncwlosm Creprs btrrsr folia Poa htrlhosa Plantag0 serraria Romtrlca cohrrunar Asphodelrrs rnrcrocarpu~ Fmrla cornrmrnrs Euphorbla hclroscopra Creprs \‘esicariu Cental pa mcuecnm Medrcago rlgrdula Erodrurn cm/ar/rrrrl (3rnlthogalum wnhcllarltru Dacr vh r:glomcrata Brorzt u aIr~tollrs Sherardra arvensls Plantago lagopus Hyoserrs sea bra Hlppocrspls rtnrsllrqrr~~~a 3 3
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Record no. 17
Ovcrtrampling
Specrcs
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9
Trampling and grazing
Table 1 Florists composltion of pastures rn the graz ng area of ‘R~~xo dcll’lncoronata’
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I6 1s I2 JO 8 15 I4 14 I.; I3 I3 13 12 ii 9 9 9
5
4 IO 19 4 IQ II
88 Noof. occurrences
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88
.
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Ovcrgra7lng (on!) cattle)
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‘Rclevb
after Pedrottl and Vcnanzom,
1992 (modlficd)
Values arc according to rhc scale of Braun -Blanquct
( 196-1)
nepera + . Torrlrs Japonrcu +, Ophrys sphecodes-+, Ptrus amygdal~fortnrs-k, Pea ttwralrs+, Leonmdon tuberosus, GCIU~II,1ttt pu~rlhrttr + . Record No. I 3: TordJ*Irum apulum, Acg!llopsgenrclrlala f , Cerrnh major -+ , I%tlu~ ttutwt -+-, C’raracgus monog~~tta + , Oswxs alha+, Sclhum rrrananum 1.2 . Record No. 4: Tordjftum apulum 2.2, Plantago medta I. 1 Record No. 14: Ceraslrum glomcra~um -I-, Bcra rwlgatrs-t , Eruca salrw -k , Echruttr r~alrcwttt +. PtL*t-tJ~cluo~d~~~+, C_~wod~rr dacwlon. Record No. 18: Aegvlops gcnrwlara +, Ccrrn~k maJot-+, C’ltwrs ttt~tto~+, 0~~~s d/w + , Bcatawlgut IS+, Etuc a ratt\c*u +, EChruttr rmlrcum+ . Record No. 18: Dasvpvr um ~*dlosum 2 .?, llharla pclwlala f .
Record No. 1a: Ranunculus garganrcus 1. I , Rattutuwlus drmorphotr:\*.-v> -+ , Gcvatuum pusrllwtt -k . Record No. 2a: Ceraslrum glomerafum +, Srellarra tnedra +, Ranutwhrs Ju~II~~FI~J + , Calamrntha
Sporadic species
A nagallw arvensrs Scorprurus vermiculalus Eruca balrva Podospertnum lacrnra~um Bupleurum SQ. Daucus carota Malva parwflora Hordeum Ieponnum Medlcago orb&arts Planrago lanceolala Capsella hursa-paslorrs Avena fatua Salvra verbenaca Foenrculum vulgarc Trrfolr urn repens Belles perennrs Podospertnum resedr fhlrum Etyngtum catnpeslre Cvnara cardunculus Asparagus acutifolrus Tr$olwn subterraneum Bromus slertlrs
60
sea level and is delineated to the north by the Cervaro river ;dnd to the south by an ancient river bed, This area is covered by 162 ha of forest, I 15 ha of grassland and 43 ha of cultivated land (Barbone, 1982 ). The geological strata is character&d by recent alluvial deposits. The soil is deep, a little permeable, and quite rich in organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous ntanelli, 1939 ) . he forest area of the Bosco dell’Incoronata (the only one in the Puglia Plain) which exists today has survived unchanged as can be seen from a map of 1620. In the thirteenth century, the forest was rich in oaks and evergreens and was the hunting reserve of Frederic0 II of Svevia. Certainly, in former times, the forest area was larger than today. As eariy as I793 Galanti denounced the destruction and spoilage of the forest. The area of Bosco dell’Incoronata is maintained intact today thanks to the presence of the sanctuary of Madonna dell’Incoronata, a place of prayer, pilgrimage and retreat for transhumant shepherds and the people from southern I ialy. The cult of Niadonna dell’Incoronata is widespread along the ancient sheep tracks and the surrounding areas as far as Abruzzo. At the moment, 1 ata’ only the raising of cows of the local type ‘podolica’ is practised from September to May. The presence of a large number of pilgrims and the introduction of Eztca/“,prns trees for reforestation has had a serious repercussion on the area.
The characteristics of the flora and the vegetation of this territory have been described according to the phytosociological methad \‘Braun-Blanquet, 1964) by Pedrotti and Venanzoni ( 1992 ); in this paper they are sunmarised to emphasise the relationships between transhumant sheep-rearing and vegetation. Three kinds of river-bank forests are present
on the meanders and terraces of the Cervaro river, associated with the geomorphological characteristics: Salicetum albae over the river bank, Populetum alhae over the first terrace, periodically flooded and on the old meander, CIvici remotae-Fruxinetum IQ Ficario-Ulmetunz on the te sporadically by inundations ( The vegetation of the plai downy oak ( Quevcus ptlb reduced in favour of pastu a very interesting example of semi-n etation due to their floristic and characteristics. The several releves made allow two main types of pasture to be recognised: the first one beiongs to the i%wted2 buhxae class and the second one to the Po!‘~gwuMkwtea annuae both distributed in the Mediterranean area. The pastures belonging to the Poetedz bulbosae class are characterised mainly by perennial species with a high presence of therophytes. They are maintained by permanent grazing of flocks and are originated by t5e evolution of therophytic pastures of the class Tuberwietec1 guttati or by the subnitrophilous community of the Brometalia rubenti-tectori (Santos et al , 1989 ). The records, in Table 1, show, by comparison with those made in Spain (Rivas Goday and Borja Carbonell, 196 1; Rivas Goday and Ladero Alvarez, 1970), a general impoverishment of the floristic composition, probably due to the overgrazing of the cattle which have replaced sheep-rearing in the last decades. Selective grazing by cattle can change the floristic composition and thta structure of the pasture. Such a situation is we;! represented by releves in which we note the large numbers of Ferula communis and Asphodelus microcarpus. The erosion action, exercised principally near the cattle fences and along tracks, allows the installation of communities of the Polygono-Poetea annuae class ( Rivas-Martinez, 1975 ) in which are assembled pioneer vegetal communities formed prevalently by thero-
61
Fig. 2. Vegetation
map of ‘Bosco dell’lncoronata’
(after Pedrottl and Venanzom,
phytes, cosmopolitan and anthropic species adapted to the trampling areas of the Mediterranean region such as the Poa annua, Sclerochloa rigida and Coronopus squamatus communities. conclusions Transhumant sheep-rearing has practically disappeared and the number of sheep has vastly diminished; the tracks are no longer used for sheep migration and flocks are moved by motor transport. With the end of this activity, the related landscape characterised by the interaction of man with animals and the environment is destined to disappear. The landscape is strongly suggestive of the open fields in Gran Sasso mountain (Abruzzo), arising from the
1992 ).
need to reconcile sheep-rearing and agriculture; the ‘difese’, the lightly wooded pastures with large and ancient trees, which it is still possible to see in the mountain regions of central Italy, are endangered (Manzi, 1990). In the Puglia region today, the winter pastures are almost all cultivated. only a few patches survive, such as those in the Bosco dell’Incoronata area or in the grasslands near Manfredonia. Similarly affected are the ‘mezzane’, ancient pastures planted with trees (Pims amygdaliformis) which are in some aspects similar to the schibljak formation of the Balkan peninsula ( Sarfatti, 1953 ) . The disappearance of such environments represents not only the loss of a valuable area of beauty but also the loss of a natural and biological value. By the destruction of such win-
ter pastures, spccics and vegetation associated with it arc also lost. For the species of flora, it is very important to remember Webb’s almond (Prmr,s w&ii) found in Italy only in the Pugh region. The destruction of this area has had negative repercussions on animals and in particular on birds. The typical species of the steppe area that are now disappearing from Puglia are the stone urki~ts oedicnemus), the blackcurlew nting ( Emberizamehnocephalu ) headed and, in particular, the little bustard ( Tetrm tetrax) which today in Puglia is reduced to a population of SO- 100 birds as a consequence of hunting and the reduction of their habitats (Petretti, 1988 ). In central-southern Italv the decline of free-ranging farm animals has negatively influenced carrion birds such as the Egyptian vulture ( Neophrort pemoptertrs ). which in the peninsula of Italy is near to extinction. The negative consequence of the reduction of biological diversity is not limited only to wild species - it has even affected zootechny. In fact. many of the local breeds of sheep and COWS have either disappeared or have been greatly reduced in favour of standardised varieties. TO avoid the loss of this biological, landscape and cultu preserve these last areas linked to this transhumant phenomenon and promote an accurate census in order to preserve and manage them according to scientific criteria.
References Barbonc. E , I982 II Bosco dcli’lncoronata Un progetto per la salvaguardta c la v alortzzarrone Srrtonc dt Cap~tanata dr “Italla Nostra”. Foggra. pp 9-3 I Braun-Blanquet, J ., 1964. Pflanzensorrolsgie. 3 Auk. Spnnget=.Wien. pp. I-865 Galantt. G.M., 1793. Della descnrrone geogr, ka e pohtrca delle Swlle TIP. Dentro la prcta de’ Turchawa. Neaples. pp. I-257. Manzt. A.. 1990. La gcsuonc de1 pascoh mowtanr mn ~brwzo c la SocrctA dcllc Erbc Sccondc da Pescasscrola cd Opa. Arc Bot. ltal . 66, 129- 132 Pantancllt. E , 1939 Lc terrc de! Tavolrcre dt Pugha Ann. Spcrimcntar 4gric . 36 1- 169 Paonc. N , 1987 La transumanza immagma da una ctv [tati. Cosmo lannone ( Ednor). Isernra. pp. 5-B 48 Pedrottr F and Venanronl R . 1992 Carta deha vegetaraone dcl Bosco dell’lncoronata (Foggla) Dot Ph~msoc . rm prose Pctrcttl. F.. 198X An rn\cnton ofstcppc habmts m sour8\ern Itaty. In: P.D. GGriiip ( EdlKN j. ECd@ and CO!lSehvatlon of Grassland Bards. pp. P25- 143. Qud~cl. L , 1987. La transumanza neill’ltaha ccntrale m eti modcrna e medloevalc comz contnbuto ah conoscenza dl quella antlca. in: Ambaente e socnetti pastorale nella rxontagna maceratese. Centro dt Studt Stonct Maceratesl. Macerata. pp. B43- 16-l. Rum M. and Rutz. J.P. 1986. Ecological h~sto~ oftranshumante II? SpaHI. Bioi. Culrsrn.. 3 3: /3-X6. Rlkas ISoda). S. and Borya Carbonelk 4.. 1961. Estudlo fitoswlologlco dc 10s “pastas” de! Maestrazgo turolense ( Mac~zos de Gudar ! Jabalambre ). 4~1. inst. Bot. 4-J. Cavantiles ( Madnd ). 19: l-33-t. Rtvas Godab. S. and Ladcro Alvarez. M.. 1970. Pasttz+s ccspltosos de ?%a hlbos~ 1. Ongen. suceslon 1 slstemattca. An. R. Acad. Farm.. 36: 139- 18 I. Rtvas-Martmez. S.. 1975. Sobre la nueva clase Po!l,gonofoe~u cuuzu~~. Fhq tocoenologta. 2: I23- 140. Santos. M.-T., Ladero. M. and Amor, A., 1989. Vegetacton de las mtercalactones bastcas de la provmcia de Caceres ( Extremadura. Espana ). Stud. Bot . 7: 9- I47 Sarfattt. G , 1953. Consteraztom e rtcerche botamche SUIpasco11de! Tavohere dt Foggta. Ann. Fat. Agrar. Unw. Ban. 8: l-28. Sprengel. U.. 197 I. DK Wanderherdnwn-tschaft rm mrttel und slidostttahenrschen Raum. Marburg.