The literature dealing with Spanish chestnut coppices from 1990 till 2001 is reviewed. Assuming that the basal area and Hart's indexes are the best parameters to identify the optimal environmental conditions for chestnut trees, the best ecological conditions for sweet chestnuts are given according to Spanish districts.
It is concluded that it is possible to increase the surface of chestnut forests in western Spain. In northern districts, however, mean annual temperature and soil permeability are important limiting factors for chestnut reforestation. Evapotranspiration in summer and soil moisture storage are the limiting factors in southern Spain.