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Paper short abstract:

An analysis of the traditional technical knowledge associated with the Mediterranean dry-stone landscape of Pantelleria is presented from the point of view of the unique adaptations of cultural system to cope with the environmental constraints such as water scarcity, strong winds and lack of soil

Paper long abstract:

Due to its geographic location, the Island of Pantelleria has long been a site of settlements and agricultural activities facing a chronic scarcity of resources. Woody species growing deeply affected the formation of landscape and, to date, about 80% of its surface is still terraced. The dry-stone landscape of Pantelleria presents specificities both for the cultural biodiversity and the unique adaptations of cultural techniques adopted. Strong winds and water scarcity were the most determinants in shaping such cultural systems. As an example, sheltering from winds by tree dwarfing and canopy confinement within the boundary layer of the dry-stone walls can be easily identified as a common general criterion in pruning and training systems. Water saving is pursued by techniques specifically adopted for the traditional species following the general criterion of foliage reduction and aging of wood and tree scaffold branches. A prostrate low-bush shape is the typical training system for grapevine and caper; olive trees are grown with strong pruning which constrains tree shape close to the ground in an unusual tree structure. The same goals are achieved in citrus in a different way, to deal with the physiological limitation of these species, preventing the usage of strong pruning. In this case, the need of sheltering lead to develop a unique system which entirely surrounds each tree by a dry-stone wall, shaped into a "tower" named with the Sicilian vernacular term "Jardinu", allowing to avoid irrigation at all