Vegetation

The Arabians defined the Nebrodi as "an island within the island" for its richness in charming woods, high mountain green pastures, silent lakes, and flowing streams. If you leave the coast and you climb the mountains, you can see how precise vegetation changes depending not only on the altitude and climatic conditions. The Mediterranean level (from the sea-level up to 600-800 meters) is characterized by the typical evergreen Mediterranean maquis, where the Spurge, the Myrtle, the Lentisk, and the Broom dominate and where you can find narrow leaf arboreal elements like the Strawberry Tree, the Cork Oak and the Ilex. The cork plantation (interesting formations can be mainly found in the territory of Caronia) is present in its original state when the climate and the soil are favorable; however, it mainly appears together with other species like the Ilex and the Downy oak with a thick underwood.
Above the 800 meters of height and up to the 1,200-1,400 meters a.s.l., the deciduous oaks grow. The Turkey oak is also widespread; it dominates in the coolest areas, especially with a north exposure.
Above the 1,200-1,400 meters of height, on the mountain-Mediterranean level, there are the beech woods, marvellous wood formations covering the whole ridge of Nebrodi for more than 10,000 hectares and characterizing environments of great value for their naturalistic aspects and their landscape. At the highest altitudes, the Beech is almost the only one growing species: only some rare specimens of Sycamore maple, Maple, and Ash tree are present. Among the species of the undergrowth there are the Holly, the Butcher's-broom, the Hawthorn, the Daphne, and the Yew, a relict species surviving in very localized microclimatic conditions.