Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii is a sub mediterranean conifer characteristic of the cold, continental mediterranean mountains. It grows mainly on carbonate sedimentary rocks (dolomite and limestone) and represents the dominant overstorey species at the Supra mediterranean altitudinal zone, where two climatic climax communities are described: Lon ic e ro xy los te i-Pin etu m sal zm anni i and Th al i ct ro tu b eros i-Pin e tum s a I z man n i i. In the southernmost mountains of the Iberian peninsula Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii also forms open forests with climax value at the Oro-mediterranean alti tudinal zone, at the timber-line. Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii also defines several edapho climax communities in rocky and steep slopes of the Supra-mediterranean altitudinal zone and, as a result of human disturbance, secondary communities in the Meso-mediterranean altitudinal zone.

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ResumenLos trabajos de carácter paleobotánico realizados en la península Ibérica en las dos últimas décadas han proporcionado un importante volumen de resultados con aplicación en el ámbito del conocimiento geobotánico. En muchos casos, esos resultados han aportado soluciones a debates clásicos relativos a la interpretación del paisaje vegetal. Uno de los más conocidos es el de la consideración, como espontáneos o no, de muchos de los pinares ibéricos en diferentes ámbitos del territorio peninsular. Se revisan las contribuciones más importantes de la Paleobotánica a los procesos que explican la actual distribución de las plantas, en un marco tanto espacial como temporal, desde periodos geológicos antiguos (Mesozoico, Terciario) a los más recientes (Pleistoceno, Holoceno). Dentro de estos últimos nos hemos referido, por una parte, a problemas planteados en ámbitos territoriales extensos y, por otra, a problemas vinculados a la interpretación de la evolución y/o comportamiento de taxones concretos. Por último se hace referencia a las tendencias recientes y nuevas metodologías de aplicación en paleofitogeografía, aludiendo a los primeros resultados que hayan podido proporcionar en el marco peninsular.Palabras clave: geobotánica, Paleofitogeografía, península Ibérica, Paleoecología, macrorrestos, Pinus. Abstract Palaeophytogeographical contributions to the Iberian vegetal landscape interpretation: state of the art and new prospects for researchThe palaeobotanical studies that have been accomplished in the Iberian Peninsula during the last two decades have provided a great amount of data that can be applied in geobotanical knowledge. In most of the cases, those results have contributed to solve classical scientific debates regarding vegetal landscapes interpretations. One of the most relevant discussions is related to the aloctonous or non-aloctonous origin of much of the Iberian pine forests, on diverse Iberian habitats. The main contributions of Palaeobotany to the processes that explain the present distribution of plants are reviewed in a spatial and temporal framework, from old geological periods (Mesozoic, Tertiary) to the recent ones (Pleistocene, Holocene). Linked to the history of our vegetal landscapes, Pleistocene and Holocene epochs have been treated from two different points of view: firstly the problems within extensive territorial environments and, secondly, the problems related to the interpretation of the evolution and/or behaviour of taxa. In the last part, some new investigation trends related to palaeophytogeography are exposed, focusing on the high potential interest on being applied to Iberian ecosystems.

Dry stone-walled terraces are peculiar features of Mediterranean farmland, representing typical examples of social-ecological systems combining ecological functionality and ecosystem services provision. In the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (Lebanon) a program of restoration of abandoned terraces applying Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) principles is ongoing from 2016, combined with biodiversity monitoring activities. This study illustrates preliminary results of the plant monitoring, with the aim to (1) draft a checklist of the plants found in the terraces, (2) compare plant diversity and evaluate consistency of species assemblages observed among 3 different terrace managements (abandoned, restored and intensively-cultivated) and (3) compare ecological and ecosystem service value of the plant communities in the 3 types of terraces. Overall, 332 species were observed, with significantly higher diversity found in abandoned and restored terraces compared to intensively farmed terraces. Similarly, species assemblages of restored terraces were closely related to abandoned and distantly related to intensively-managed terraces. According to the study, restored terraces provide the same ecological value and ecosystem services functions as abandoned terraces, significantly higher than intensively-managed terraces. This study showcases the effectiveness of FLR programmes in restoring economic and social functions of terraced Mediterranean farmland while maintaining ecological functionality.