Structure and management of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in Italy

Abstract

© iForest -Biogeosciences and Forestry IntroductionBeech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.) characterise the landscape of many mountain areas in Italy, from the Alps down to the southern regions of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily in the Mediterranean area (Fig. 1). According to the National Forest Inventory (INFC 2005), the total area covered by beech in Italy is 1 042 129 hectares, which corresponds to 9.4% of the country's total forest area. This area includes 1 035 103 ha of beech forests and 7 023 ha of "other wooded land" (according to the FRA2000 definitionTab. 1).Over the centuries wood from beech forests, mainly for firewood and charcoal as well as timber for building and furniture, has been a fundamental resource for people living in mountain areas. Thus intensive use has significantly the modified distribution, composition and structure of beech stands all over the country.Economic and social changes in the last decades have brought about changes in the forestry sector in Italy, which, in turn, have impacted forests and forest management. Beech forests have not been immune to these changes and in some ways represent an interesting case study on the changing perspectives of forest management in the face of changing environmental and socio economic conditions. This paper analyses the relationship between stand structure and the management history of beech forests in Italy. The aim is to outline possible strategies for the sustainable management of these forest formations. Distribution of beech forests in ItalyBeech forests are present in all the regions except for Sardinia (Tab. 1). In the Alps, beech generally forms pure stands above 1000 m altitude in areas with relatively low rainfall, while it grows at around 600-700 m in more humid areas.On the Apennine mountains beech usually grows above 900-1000 m. Beech forests are more widespread on the northern slopes and where rain and fog maintain moist air conditions. On the sunnier and warmer southern slopes, the lower vegetation limit for beech tends to move higher (Hofmann 1991, Pignatti 1998 Beech forests characterise the landscape of many mountain areas in Italy, from the Alps to the southern regions. This paper analyses the relationship between stand structure and the management history of beech in Italy. The aim is to outline possible strategies for the sustainable management of these forest formations. The present structure of beech forests in Italy is the result of many interacting factors. According to the National Forest Inventory, more than half the total area covered by beech has a long history of coppicing. High forests cover 34% of the total beech area and 13% have complex structures which have not been classified in regular types. Coppices are very widespread mainly because of the past, but also present importance of firewood and charcoal for mountain populations. A particular type of beech coppice, the selection coppice (or uneven aged coppice), was traditional in Tuscany and in some alpine areas. Starting from the fifties, following th...

Is anticipated seed cutting an effective option to accelerate transition to high forest in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) coppice stands?

“…In Italy, major portions of beech stands are currently coppice over the traditional rotation period or coppice in a transition stage to high forest (Nocentini 2009). In general, conversion to high forest has been carried out with a progressive reduction of stand density by applying periodic thinning of the shoots, the first one some years after the normal coppice rotation age; the aim is to favor growth of the best shoots and, at the same time, to reduce resprouting.…”

“…In general, conversion to high forest has been carried out with a progressive reduction of stand density by applying periodic thinning of the shoots, the first one some years after the normal coppice rotation age; the aim is to favor growth of the best shoots and, at the same time, to reduce resprouting. Conversion to high forest is completed with seedling establishment following regeneration felling carried out according to the uniform shelterwood system, but the regeneration stage has rarely been filled in practice (Nocentini 2009), due to the long time required to complete the conversion process. These conditions raise several questions concerning the current management of beech coppice stands.…”

Effects of traditional coppice practices and microsite conditions on tree health in a European beech forest at its southernmost range

“…Past silvicultural practices carried out in the analyzed stands have fostered irregular stand structures and increased structural variability, reinforcing the importance of the adoption of a correct coppicing management (Ciancio et al 2006, Coppini & Hermanin 2007, Nocentini 2009). Coppice with standards was the most common treatment of beech stands in Sicily, including the Madonie mountains, until the first half of the last century (Hofmann 1960).…”

“…To mitigate the negative effects of frequent coppice clearcutting on soils, landscape and biodiversity conservation, the conversion of coppices to high forests or to natural stand dynamics with continuous cover has recently become an increasingly common management goal, especially in hilly and mountainous Mediterranean regions (Serrada et al 1998, Ciancio et al 2006, Nocentini 2009, Montagnoli et al 2012. Anyway, in harsh habitats (as in the case study) where multi-stemmed shrublike growth forms are common and conversion is not feasible, it is compulsory to maintain a high canopy cover and a large stem density.…”

“…Coppicing to supply wood for charcoal in local markets has been the major factor affecting forest structure (Coppini & Hermanin 2007, Ciancio et al 2008, Nocentini 2009, Sabatini et al 2015. With a decreasing demand for charcoal production, the majority of the beech coppices were no longer managed, and many are currently being converted to high forests (Bergmeier & Dimopoulos 2001, Cian-cio et al 2006, Nocentini 2009, Lombardi et al 2012). …”