Effect of anthropogenic drivers of change on the local plant community diversity of chestnut grove on Elba Island.

Chestnut groves have a long history in Europe. They have been cultivated and managed for centuries for their suitability to produce wood and fruit, as well as for their landscape and natural value. In Italy, the products of chestnut groves have been the basic sustenance of many local populations, especially in the mountains. Initially, many chestnut groves were planted well outside the climatic optimum of the species but managed and cultivated in such a way that they thrived for a long period. However, the socio-cultural changes of the last century have led to a progressive decrease in chestnut cultivation and thus to the abandonment of chestnut groves. This study investigates the consequences of the stresses potentially caused by the abandonment of chestnut groves, on Elba Island, in the Tuscan Archipelago. The preliminary results indicate varying levels of species richness based on the degree of site disturbance. In addition, the fragile health of chestnut trees results in leaf loss and openings in the canopy, which allows more light to pass through and nourish the herbaceous layer. However, this can lead to an increase in grazing ungulates and subsequently impoverish the undergrowth.