The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily

Monumental olive trees, with their longevity and remarkable size, represent an important information source for the comprehension of territory where they grow human societies that have kept them through time. Across centuries, trees are only cultivated plants tell story Mediterranean landscapes. The same as stone monuments, these green monuments a real natural cultural heritage. aim this paper is to discuss value monumental “biocultural heritage” elements role play in interpretation historical stratification landscape. We present results survey most significant growing Sicily. selection was based on “monumentality” aspects taking into account dendrometric parameters environmental contexts. collected dataset constitutes heterogeneous sample 367 specimens considerable size that, some cases, reach circumference about 19 m. Starting from data presented here, whole Sicilian shows relationship between olive. presence plant is, therefore, evidence long-term, often centennial, landscapes result sustainable use territory.