-The initial data of a long-term research programme aimed at determining the silvicultural choices for management of ageing holm oak coppices are reported. The
The topic of forest sector carbon balance in connection with climate changes currently has both great scientific and political importance for ecological sustainability on a global scalc. The concentration of C02 in the atmosphcre has increased by 1-2 ppm per year in the last few decades. The present paper examines the actual and potential rolc of forest management to deplete atmospheric CO2 concentration, with specific reference to the Italian situation as a case study. Italian carbon emission derived from fossil fuels amounts to 432 Mtlyear, of which 65% comes from burning oil.
Il leccio rappresenta una delle specie stenomediter ranee il cui areale interessa con continuità le coste italiane, quelle della Dalmazia, della Grecia, della Turchia occidentale e del nord Africa, indipendente mente dal substrato pedologico, per raggiungere la massima diffusione nella Penisola iberica. Gli antichi annoverarono il leccio tra le piante sacre, probabil mente per l'importanza che aveva nell'economia del l'epoca, per il temperamento frugale, e per la non co mune vigoria e longevità, sia quando è governato a ceduo che a fustaia. L'Italia, come riferisce Pavari (1930), conserva ancora oggi numerosissimi toponi mi conferiti proprio da questa specie.Oltre all'ottimo combustibile, ancora oggi apprez zato sul mercato, la specie forniva legname per at trezzi e parti di manufatti soggetti a forte usura, cor teccia per le industrie conciarie, ghianda e frasca per l'allevamento del bestiame e per la fauna selvatica. I boschi di questa specie hanno svolto e svolgono ancora oggi un ruolo insostituibile nella protezione del terreno dall'eccessiva insolazione e dal dilava mento da parte delle acque meteoriche, anche in con dizioni geomorfologiche estremamente difficili.Nonostante l'azione dell'uomo, in generale tesa a sostituire il leccio nelle migliori condizioni pedologi che e geomorfologiche, per la sua diffusione, per la non comune resilienza nei riguardi di fattori di di sturbo e per la capacità di colonizzare i luoghi più impervi, a giusta ragione questa specie è da conside Forest@ 5: 318-336 (2008) 318 318 it). Abstract: Silvicultural options in ageing holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) coppices in Gargano: results after 14 growing sea sons.In the frame of a long-term research program concerning management of ageing holm oak coppices, re sults available after 14 growing seasons are reported in present paper. Experimental treatments include: A) 50 standards per hectare, all of the same age; B) 250 standards per hectare, all of the same age; C) 140 stan dards per hectare, with two different ages; D) conversion to high forest; E) natural evolution (control). A to tal of 15 permanent plots were established (5 treatments x 3 replicates per treatment) and the experimental design used is that of randomised blocks. Based on observations concerning seedlings and shoots develop ment and standards growth and competitive effects, the following preliminary results may be highlighted: i) recovering the traditional coppicing system with few standards per hectare represents a valid option from both ecological and shoots growth point of view; the stools, with few standards per hectare, showed a larger number of sprouts, provided with a higher average height and larger diameters; ii) uneven-aged standards represent a good alternative form the points of view of both landscape impact immediately after felling ope rations and stand resistance to climatic damages; iii) a good alternative is to apply conversion treatments to high forest, whenever their site quality allows these operations. Keywords
As a consequence of past deforestation, degraded areas in Italy have been subjected to afforestation since the beginning of the XXI century. These afforestations have been done mainly with conifers (Pinus nigra, Pinus pinaster, Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea), and with the aim to 1) protect the soil and to 2) prevent floods. Exotic forest tree species have been used for the afforestation of selected sites of the Apennine. In the case of Douglas fir, it is possible to state that after ninety years the results are very good in terms of both ecological adaptability and high growth-rate.Nowadays, the lack of silvicultural treatments, the ageing processes, insect and fungi outbreaks have led pine afforestations to a condition of an unsteady biological equilibrium in many sites. Moreover, this condition seems to be due to additional factors related to climate change such as wind storms and dryness. The restoration of these pine afforestations is therefore one of the main aims of the present Italian forest management policy which aims to increase their level of resilience. In particular, the priority of the researchers has been given to the most fragile stands where three possible objectives of restoration measures should be considered:To rehabilitate conifer stands by introducing native broadleaves when these stands are in a very degraded condition, and when the local wood energy chain needs to be started;To conserve the conifer stands in the cases where the cultural, aesthetic and recreational functions, are the prevailing obtainable ecosystem services;To foster the mixed stands, with the conifers of the old cycle and native broadleaves, which could increase resilience to the extreme events.In regards of Douglas-fir stands, new silvicultural models have been developed which aim to a) conserve these stands and to b) combine a higher growth rate with a much improved mechanical tree stability.
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