Sweet chestnut

In Europe the sweet chestnut covers an area of more than 2.5 million hectares. Most of the area (89 %) is concentrated in just a few countries (France, Italy, followed by Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland) with a long tradition of chestnut cultivation. Due to its multipurpose character, the chestnut tree has always been cultivated in different management systems,

according to the targeted products and services. Chestnut wood is particularly suitable for external use, thanks to its natural high tannin content that acts as a protection against decay. In former times tannin extraction was also a very common use of the timber. Due to its high re-sprouting capacity, coppice represents the main type of forest management with about 80 % in cover of the chestnut forests, supplying principally fire wood, charcoal, poles (fence, pit-props, etc.), and wood for small products (barrels, shingles, sleepers, etc.). Pure chestnut high forests are rare with a cover of about 10 %, producing timber wood for construction, furniture or long poles. Traditional chestnut management approaches (i.e. coppices, high forests, orchards) requires continuous cultural inputs. In the absence of management, chestnut stands tend to be invaded by other species and to evolve towards mixed deciduous forests.

Important source of economic loss for the chestnut growers are fruit damaging insects such as the chestnut weevil (Curculio elephas) and tortrices (Cydia splendana; Cydia fagglandana; Pammene fasciana).