Rockrose Land Management: Contribution of Periodic Harvesting to Increase Value and to Control Cistus ladanifer L. Shrublands

Abstract

Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) occupies extensive areas as a dominant species (shrublands) or is associated to other major forest typologies in the Iberian Peninsula. Cistus ladanifer shrublands are mostly present in oligotrophic lands with little valorisation and management and as they develop over the years (up to 20-years-old) they promote the ignition and perpetuation of fire. To contribute to the proper management and valorisation of such systems, a 5-year-old dense shrubland was evaluated for its labdanum resin, seeds, and biomass productivity using different non-destructive harvest periodicities (annual and biennial) and seasons (early, mid-, and late summer), in a two-year case-study. Annual harvest modality maximized labdanum resin productivity (reaching 230 ± 50 kg∙ha−1∙2 years−1 at late summer) and photosynthetic biomass productivity. In contrast, a biennial harvest yielded significant amounts of more diversified products. It maximized seeds productivity (reaching 75 ± 41 kg∙ha−1∙2 years−1 independently of the summer season) and lignified biomass. However, it also reached a labdanum resin productivity of 134 ± 20 kg∙ha−1∙2 yearrs−1 at late summer and a photosynthetic biomass productivity around two times lower than the annual harvest. In this study, we propose two modalities of periodic harvest to be considered as proper long cycle management practices of rockrose lands. It intends to minimize fire risks, break the vegetation auto-succession mechanism, and increase profit from non-productive lands based on three direct outputs with a myriad of applications and valorisation pathways.

Labdanum Resin from Cistus ladanifer L. as a Source of Compounds with Anti-Diabetic, Neuroprotective and Anti-Proliferative Activity

“…The rockrose Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistacea family, subgenus Leucocistus, Ladanium section), namely the subspecies ladanifer, is an abundant and widespread plant resource in the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and Spain [1][2][3]. A shrubland dominated by C. ladanifer tends to persist rather than to develop into mature vegetation stage and, in addition, presents low abundance of other plant species [4,5], registering their occupation mostly on abandoned and degraded areas. It is, therefore, a not-endangered plant resource worth being exploited in a sustainable manner.…”