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Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis C.Sm. ex DC) is a species endemic to the Canary Islands (Spain) that was for centuries overexploited for its wood and resin. Due to the state of the pine forest, more than 10,000 hectares were reforested in the middle of the 20th century. Now, under the silvicultural management plan, thinning operations have allowed Canary Island pine wood to be mechanically characterised for the first time using large test pieces. In total, 1529 pieces measuring 2600 × 120 × 35 mm and visually graded according to Spanish standard UNE 56544 (Visual grading of large structural coniferous sawn timber) were assessed, resulting in 872 pieces in grades ME-1 and ME-2 and 657 rejects. After the characteristic values of density (479–453 kg∙m−3), modulus of elasticity (MOE) (14,023–11,276 N∙mm−2) and bending strength (MOR) (26–14 N∙mm−2) were determined for both grades (ME-1 and ME-2), strength class C24 was assigned to grade ME-1, with similar values to Pinus radiata D.Don and Pinus pinaster Aiton, and C14 was assigned to grade ME-2. Density, number of growth rings, growth ring width, and presence/absence of resinous wood have a significant influence on MOE and MOR, for a confidence level of 95%. Reforestation of Canary Island pine not only allows restoration of the forest cover, but also provides an opportunity, through thinning, to obtain quality wood, helping to create employment and associated industry. This local example with an endemic species can be extrapolated to other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Canary Islands; growth rings; human pressure; Juniperus cedrus; oceanic island; radiocarbon dating; tree longevity In October 2018, we spent 1 week in the Teide National Park sampling wood cores from Canary Islands junipers with the help of park managers and rangers. Our tree, instead, lives in an easy-access area that was under high pressure of domestic herds for a long time, and where juniper trees were exploited by aboriginal people and later by Europeans because of their high-quality wood. [Extracted from the article]