La vegetazione antica e l’attuale situazione floristica dell’Isola di Pasqua

Various floristic and paleobotanic considerations on the current and previous state of Easter Island are reported, based on two archaeological excavations, in 1993 and 2001, organized by the Centro Studi e Ricerche Archeologiche Precolombiane di Brescia (Italy). The researches confirmed the presence of some endemic species while others were disappearing due to the stark anthropical actions in the recent past. Nowadays the increase in the invasive species is due to tourism and to the increasing exploitation of natural resources. Moreover the allochthonous species of the new re-forestations and the local unsuitable agrarian practices, have upset the original floristic composition and not many parts of the Island have remained uncontaminated.