This paper is a literature review of the silviculture of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.), combined with information available from North Africa in comparison with the northern Mediterranean zone. The objective is to use the available research results to provide guidance for stone pine stands for timber, cone, and pine nuts production management established in the Mediterranean zone. Pinus pinea L. is a Mediterranean species of economic importance due to its timber and pine nuts that have high market value, and its production can increase the economic value and development of degraded and marginalized areas. Special emphasis is given to the case study of Tunisia silvicultural system and other Mediterranean basin areas to characterize the production of stone pine stands. Among the objectives of this work is to give results on the methodology for producing grafted plant of stone pine on different regions and edaphic conditions and to evaluate the development of the plantations that generate both economic and ecological benefits (soil protection). In North Africa, we conclude that the area allocated to pine nuts should be notably greater. Our results provide useful information for the silviculture of Pinus pinea production of cones to be used in new program of forest management in North Africa.

Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) has been cultivated since centuries in Mediterranean areas for its products and economic benefits, including edible pine nuts, timber, mushrooms, firewood, and grazing. However, current management objectives of stone pine stands also include recreational use, biodiversity conservation, protection from soil erosion, and CO2 fixation. Stone pine stands are considered to be among the ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change, and the current increase in drought frequency in the Mediterranean Basin has been shown to negatively impact their long-term establishment. Understanding the effects of climate change on the distribution, tree-ring growth and water use of stone pine forests can help assessing the adaptive capacity of the species, and developing management programs aimed at its conservation. This paper reviews the impacts of climate change on stone pine in the Mediterranean region. The high sensitivity of stone pine to climate change has been widely demonstrated in that: (i) climatic models predict the loss of suitable habitats and the shift of its geographical distribution in the next future; (ii) tree-ring analysis showed that winter and spring rainfalls have positive effects on growth, whereas high spring temperature has a negative effect; (iii) the strategy of stone pine to cope with water deficit affects the processes regulating its growth, including wood formation, leading to peculiar tree-ring anatomical features such as intra-annual density fluctuations. The silvicultural interventions and the most effective management strategies for stone pine forests are reviewed and discussed in the context of current climate change in the Mediterranean Basin.

Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne subsp raddiana Savi. (Famille des Fabaceae), ou Acacia faux gommier, est l’arbre pionnier des surfaces sèches. L’espèce constitue, dans les zones arides tunisiennes, une entité particulière et un élément capital dans l’équilibre et le maintien des écosystèmes arides et désertiques ainsi que dans la lutte contre la désertification. Les différentes parties de l’espèce : racines, feuilles, gousses, exsudats de gomme et écorce sont très utiles dans un but médical, pastoral et commercial. Le tanin provenant de l’écorce est utilisé comme un colorant, les gousses et la gomme comme aliment, et les feuilles pour fertiliser les sols. En médecine, Acacia tortilis est utile pour le traitement d’allergies cutanées, du diabète, de l’insuffisance de diurèse et d’hypertension. Dans cet article l’accent est mis sur la composition chimique, le potentiel thérapeutique, ainsi que le potentiel pharmacologique de différentes parties d’A. tortilis et l’importance de la plante pour la valorisation de cette espèce emblématique du parc. Acacia tortilis (Forssk) Hayne subspraddiana (Savi) Brenan (Fabaceae) is a pioneer tree of dry areas. In Tunisian arid land, it’s a particular entity and a capital element in maintaining the dry desert ecosystems and the fight against desertification. The different parts of the species: leaves, pods, gum exudates and bark are very useful in the pastoral and commercial medical purpose. Commercially tannin from the portion of the bark used as a colorant, pods and gum are used as food, and leaves are useful for soil fertility and grazing by livestock. In medicine, it is useful for the treatment of various diseases such as skin allergy, diabetes, hypertension and diuretic. In this article the emphasis is on the chemistry and therapeutic potential and the pharmacological potential of different parts of Acacia tortilis and its importance for the recovery of this iconic species in the park.

The aim of this work is to review studies on the silviculture of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin over a period of 50 years. The study presents a synthesis of: (i) silviculture; (ii) wood productivity and growth; (iii) cone and seed production; and (vi) the socio-economic role of Aleppo pine. The results show that the production of the Aleppo pine is enhanced by the potential of the site, which is closely related to the bioclimatic stage and soil fertility. For instance, production increased from 0.4 to 4 m3 ha-1 yr-1 in an Aleppo pine stand with a dominant height varying between 9.7 and 22.8 m. Previous studies confirmed that the average maximum volume in annual growth of Aleppo pine is 3.3 m3 ha-1 yr-1 for 40-year old stands at good-fertility sites. The lowest values (100-year old stands. There is high demand for Aleppo pine seeds in North Africa, making their production profitable, and this represents an important sector for the sustainable development and improvement of living-standards of the local populations. There has been a steady increase in the demand for seeds across years, with seed production becoming a very promising niche. Silviculture oriented towards the commercial production of seeds is expected to enhance this species, as well as facilitate its preservation.