Causes of shifts in vegetation in the past and present

Abstract

Apart from the greenhouse effect several other factors are responsible for Laurophyllisation. It might even be stated, that the other factors are more decisive than anthropogenic climate warming. Most of the area in which Laurophyllisation presently occurs had been cultivated land such as fields or vineyards until thirty years ago. Due to this intensive management, no exotic species succeeded to establish in the vicinity of the settlements. Only after these areas were abandoned, the spread of exotic evergreen species begun. It occurred very sparsely in woodland and chestnut-Selvas and was mostly restricted to the former areas of vineyards and cultivated fields.

Personal observations lead to the hypothesis, that within the next two to three decades more of the evergreen broad-leaved individuals might grow up to the tree layer. However, the area with laurophyllous species will probabely not expand much further and these new established forests with evergreen exotic species are likely to remain a mixed forest type with evergreen broad-leaved and indigenous deciduous shrub and tree species.