Large-scale effects of forest management in Mediterranean landscapes of Europe

Lafortezza, Raffaele; Sanesi, Giovanni; Chen, Jiquan

doi:10.3832/ifor0960-006

Cited by 33 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…As we will show in the following, the inspection of the detected changes suggested to us to use metrics to evaluate the effects of different management practices, analyzing public-and private-ownership areas separately so as to understand how forest tenure regimes may influence arrangement, spatial heterogeneity, and ecological functionality of vegetated classes (Botequilha Leitato and Ahern, 2002;Blondel et al, 2010;Lafortezza et al, 2013).…”

Section: T Simoniello Et Al: Land Cover Changes and Forest Landscapmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evolution of forests can be advantageously explored through adopting a landscape ecological approach (Lafortezza et al, 2013) that relies on the identification of ecological patterns generated by mutual interactions between anthropogenic activities and natural processes (Ingegnoli, 2002). By using landscape metrics it is possible to quantify parameters linked to geographical patterns generated by land use/land cover dynamics.…”

Section: T Simoniello Et Al: Land Cover Changes and Forest Landscapmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Land cover changes and forest landscape evolution (1985–2009) in a typical Mediterranean agroforestry system (high Agri Valley)

Simoniello

Coluzzi

Imbrenda

et al. 2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The present study focuses on the transformations of a typical Mediterranean agroforestry landscape of southern Italy (high Agri Valley -Basilicata region) that occurred over 24 years. In this period, the valuable agricultural and natural areas that compose such a landscape were subjected to intensive industry-related activities linked to the exploitation of the largest European onshore oil reservoir. Landsat imagery acquired in 1985 and 2009 were used to detect changes in forest areas and major land use trajectories. Landscape metrics indicators were adopted to characterize landscape structure and evolution of both the complex ecomosaic (14 land cover classes) and the forest/non-forest arrangement. Our results indicate a net increase of 11 % of forest areas between 1985 and 2009. The major changes concern increase of all forest covers at the expense of pastures and grasses, enlargement of riparian vegetation, and expansion of artificial areas. The observed expansion of forests was accompanied by a decrease of the fragmentation levels likely due to the reduction of small glades that break forest homogeneity and to the recolonization of herbaceous areas. Overall, we observe an evolution towards a more stable configuration depicting a satisfactory picture of vegetation health.

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Section: T Simoniello Et Al: Land Cover Changes and Forest Landscapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: T Simoniello Et Al: Land Cover Changes and Forest Landscapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land cover changes and forest landscape evolution (1985–2009) in a typical Mediterranean agroforestry system (high Agri Valley)

Simoniello

Coluzzi

Imbrenda

et al. 2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…This has led to the emergence of new, integrated concepts and approaches. In this regard, as a result of exploring approaches and forest issues, Lafortezza et al (2013b) reached the conclusion that forest planning and management have to be made within the landscape context with the integration of landscape ecology principles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The concept of green infrastructure and urban landscape planning: a challenge for urban forestry planning in Belgrade, Serbia

Vasiljevic¹,

Radić²,

Gavrilović³

et al. 2018

iForest

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The beginning of the 21 st century has witnessed a growth in our understanding of the importance of planning urban landscapes in the context of urban population growth and unpredictable climatic conditions. In the search for responses to the challenges set by the development of contemporary urban landscapes, researchers have offered solutions based on the concept of sustainable and resilient cities, whose spatial development would be based on an interdisciplinary approach to strategy development: biodiversity, urban ecological networks and connectivity, multifunctionality and modularity. Although the concepts of a green infrastructure, in their spatial and functional dimensions, allow the application of such strategies, there are still problems when it comes to implementation and measuring the results achieved. At the same time, there is a growing discussion of the important role played by urban forestry in the context of the collaborative planning of urban landscapes and the application of the ideas of a green infrastructure. The key question is: what are the modalities of application of the concept of green infrastructure in the process of planning the development of the modern city and how can the resulting benefits be evaluated? With the modalities of application of the concept of green infrastructure in mind, we discuss its multi-scale and multifunctional dimensions as applied in the case of Serbia. The realisation of the green infrastructure concept is presented through the example of the Urban Forest Management Plan for the City of Belgrade -Mladenovac Municipality. The results of using the spatial-ecological approach in creating the plan and establishing connectivity as a new aim in forest management planning show that the implementation of the green infrastructure concept, and the achieved multifunctional ecosystem values, can be presented on the basis of the parameters of landscape metrics. In light of the new urban world, future research should focus on the application of the landscape ecological approach of the green infrastructure concept in collaborative planning at the urban landscape scale, which allows the creation of ecosystem services and benefits to human wellbeing.

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“…Under natural conditions dormancy allows the persistence of viable seeds within the soil seed bank over long time periods (Willan 1991). Seed hardiness gradually declines over time as a result of natural factors, which may include the friction with soil particles (mechanical scarification), wildfire heat (thermal scarification), or the action of digestive acids when seeds are eaten by wildlife and/or domestic animals (chemical scarification -Willan 1991, Hartmann et al 1997, Robles et al 2005, Gibson et al 2011. The persistence on the soil seed bank allows the survival of some viable seeds until the occurrence of environmental conditions favorable to germination, plant survival and growth (Willan 1991, López et al 1999, Pugnaire & Lázaro 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several pre-germination treatments may be used in the nursery to emulate the mentioned natural processes, such as the immersion in near-boiling water or sulphuric acid, the physical abrasion or pressure, or the seed exposure to low or alternating temperatures (Hartmann et al 1997). López et al (1999) reports germination rates after 30 days of 40-47% (after a pre-germination treatment of 1 minute in 100 °C water, simulating natural warming due to wildfires), 97-100% (following 60 minutes in sulphuric acid, 96% concentration, simulating animal consumption) and 0% (untreated seed).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of mother plant and scarification agents on seed germination rate and vigor in Retama sphaerocarpa L. (Boissier)

Faria¹,

Almeida²,

Fabião³

2014

iForest

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© iForest -Biogeosciences and Forestry IntroductionArid and semi-arid zones are very susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance and degradation (MacDonald & Larsen 2009, Vallejo 2009. Usually plant cover is scarce in these areas, being susceptible to disturbance and prolonged drought periods (Vallejo 2009). Also, human activities often impoverish natural seed banks, negatively influencing the regeneration capacity of arid and semi-arid ecosystems (Bonet 2004, Cortina et al. 2004. Therefore, natural regeneration of Mediterranean woodlands after disturbance is often absent or very slow (Thirgood 1981, Vallejo 2009). Consequently, the area occupied by such ecosystems has decreased considerably over the centuries, particularly in the driest areas (e.g. Silva 1969, Thirgood 1981, Blondel & Aronson 1999, Radich & Alves 2000. The effects of non-sustainable land management practices, such as intensification of grazing, could limit successional patterns and vegetation responses to natural disturbance (Lafortezza et al. 2013). Nitrogen cycling may be a key factor in those processes, as well as the occurrence of ruderal plants with phytotoxic capabilities that inhibit other plant species. The establishment of a nitrogen-fixing plant prone to play a facilitation role in disturbed woodlands, like Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boissier, may represent an opportunity to rehabilitate degraded communities (Rivest et al. 2011).Suitable management and restoration activities in Mediterranean woodlands are fundamental, in that vegetation cover may mitigate erosion and desertification effects, preserving soil quality and favoring soil evolution (Castillo et al. 1997, Piotto & Di Noi 2003. Such activities imply the diversification of plant species used in restoration projects, a broad use of the wide variety of native species available, and the consideration of wildlife, microorganisms, soil and flora as an integrated framework (Vallejo 2009).Retama sphaerocarpa (Fabaceae family) is a shrub naturally growing in the above mentioned ecosystems of northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula. It is a common species in Portugal, mainly in the southern part of the country, although its natural distribution includes much of central Portugal and some areas in the interior north deep valleys (Bingre et al. 2007). This species is well adapted to the seasonal water stress conditions and shallow soils typical of semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems, showing morphological and architectural features suitable to water conservation, such as small leaf area (very small leafs, only present for a short period during the spring) and the presence of photosynthetic stems with a vertical orientation that minimize light interception and overheating (Haase et al. 1996). Additionally, it has a thick root system, which can reach 25 meters deep through crevices in the soil parent material (Haase et al. 1996). It also has the ability to hydraulically lift water from deep to shallow soil layers (Prieto et al. 2010).R. sphaerocarpa exhibits a broad ecological range with no spe...

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Large-scale effects of forest management in Mediterranean landscapes of Europe

Cited by 33 publications

References 54 publications

Land cover changes and forest landscape evolution (1985–2009) in a typical Mediterranean agroforestry system (high Agri Valley)

Land cover changes and forest landscape evolution (1985–2009) in a typical Mediterranean agroforestry system (high Agri Valley)

The concept of green infrastructure and urban landscape planning: a challenge for urban forestry planning in Belgrade, Serbia

Influence of mother plant and scarification agents on seed germination rate and vigor in Retama sphaerocarpa L. (Boissier)

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