Abstract:Characterization of an abandoned pastoral area in the Northern Apennines, Italy. This paper reports the first results of an investigation carried out within the research project "Study and improvement of woods and shrubbery derived from abandoned agricultural areas" (RiSelvItalia Project). Changes occurred in the past 50 years in the pastoral area of S. Paolo in Alpe (Appennino Romagnolo, Northern Apennines, Italy) were described on the grounds of photo-interpretation of three sets of aerial photos (1955, 1976, 1997). A high reduction of the surface of sowable lands and pastures (from 80% to 33%) was pointed out, together with an increase of shrubbery (from 5% to 18%) and woods (from 0 to 42%). The characterization of woods, shrubbery and pastures was performed through structural transects and phyto-sociological investigations. Thus it was possible to reconstruct the dynamic series of vegetation, from grasslands belonging to the association Centaureo bracteatae-Brometum erecti (Festuco-Brometea) to woods referable to the association Aceri obtusati-quercetum cerridis (Querco-Fagetea). Investigations on meadows revealed also a good quality of pastures, not only in open grasslands (mean pastoral value -VP -of 30), but even in partially shrubby areas (VP 21). Some guidelines for a multi-purpose exploitation of the site are suggested, taking into account not only economic aspects, but also the conservation of environment and landscape.
IntroduzioneAlla famiglia delle Rosaceae appartengono numerose specie; fra quelle a portamento arboreo ce ne sono alcune ad elevato potenziale ecologico e produttivo come quelle dei generi Sorbus, Prunus, Pyrus e Malus (Mori et al. 2007, Nicolescu et al. 2009, Girard 2009.L'interesse per le Rosacee arboree nei boschi della Toscana deriva dalle loro elevate potenzialità produttive, ecologiche ed ambientali e dalla loro significativa presenza che risulta meno sporadica di quanto comunemente ritenuto. Queste specie appartengono infatti al gruppo delle latifoglie nobili, dalle quali è possibile ricavare legname pregiato (Mori et al. 2007, Gauthier 2009); hanno inoltre una rilevante importanza ecologica per la produzione di frutti appetiti dall'avifauna e una spiccata valenza paesaggistica per le belle fioriture primaverili e le colorazioni autunnali delle foglie.La loro presenza (Sorbus spp., Prunus avium, Pyrus pyraster e Malus sylvestris) è stata stimata dall'Inventario Forestale della Toscana (Hofmann et al. 1998) in circa 41 milioni di individui, il 50% dei quali rappresentato dai sorbi (che nell'Inventario sono raggruppati insieme). Considerando la loro distribuzione nei diversi strati inventariali, si può osservare che sono presenti prevalentemente nei cedui produttivi e in Forest@ 6: 289-298 (2009) it).Abstract: Characterization of Rosaceae tree species in a young Turkey oak-dominated coppice forest. First results of a trial carried out in an experimental area ("Comunità Montana Colline Metallifere", Tuscany). After coppicing (winter 1998-1999), 77 Sorbus torminalis, Sorbus domestica and others valuable tree species were released on the whole of 220 standard trees per hectare. Aim of the present study was to estimate the opportunity to produce valuable timber from standards of sporadic tree species living into coppice forests. A research trial aimed at evaluating stem and crown quality as well as radial growth of standards after coppicing was carried out in an area 3 hectares wide. Wild service tree, Service tree and Turkey oak trees were analysed. Seven years after coppicing, the growth pattern of the different species, was also analysed by means of two structural transects. In the early phase after coppicing, root and stump suckers of both Sorbus species (especially Service tree) are able to compete with Turkey oak sprouts as for height growth. In the following stage, the social regression of Sorbus trees is easily foreseeible because of the high competitive ability of Quercus. The good stem and crown shaping showed to be characters owned by a few Sorbus standards only. These were characterized as the largest-sized and early well-crown shaped trees. The same trees showed the highest dbh growth and developed few epicormic branches. A better targeted selection rule of valuable timber tree species to build up the standards' stock is the recommended practice to improve forest biodiversity, as well as to create an economically important additional option to firewood, usually produced in these coppice forests.
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