Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area
Although coppice forests represent a significant part of the European forest area, especially across southern Countries, they received little attention within the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) processes and scenarios, whose guidelines have been mainly designed to high forests and national scal...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21007056 |
| _version_ | 1819039486643798016 |
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| author | A. Cutini M. Ferretti G. Bertini G. Brunialti S. Bagella F. Chianucci G. Fabbio R. Fratini F. Riccioli C. Caddeo M. Calderisi B. Ciucchi S. Corradini F. Cristofolini A. Cristofori U. Di Salvatore C. Ferrara L. Frati S. Landi L. Marchino G. Patteri M. Piovosi P.P. Roggero G. Seddaiu E. Gottardini |
| author_facet | A. Cutini M. Ferretti G. Bertini G. Brunialti S. Bagella F. Chianucci G. Fabbio R. Fratini F. Riccioli C. Caddeo M. Calderisi B. Ciucchi S. Corradini F. Cristofolini A. Cristofori U. Di Salvatore C. Ferrara L. Frati S. Landi L. Marchino G. Patteri M. Piovosi P.P. Roggero G. Seddaiu E. Gottardini |
| author_sort | A. Cutini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although coppice forests represent a significant part of the European forest area, especially across southern Countries, they received little attention within the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) processes and scenarios, whose guidelines have been mainly designed to high forests and national scale. In order to obtain “tailored” information on the degree of sustainability of coppices on the scale of the stand, we evaluated (i) whether the main coppice management options result in different responses of the SFM indicators, and (ii) the degree to which the considered SFM indicators were appropriate in their application at stand level. The study considered three different management options (Traditional Coppice TC, coppice under Natural Evolution NE, and coppice under Conversion to high forest by means of periodical thinning CO). In each of the 43 plots considered in the study, which covered three different European Forest Types, we applied a set of eighteen “consolidated” SFM indicators, covering all the six SFM Criteria (FOREST EUROPE, 2020) and, additionally, tested other sixteen novel indicators shaped for agamic forests and/or applicable at stand level. Results confirmed that several consolidated indicators related to resources status (Growing stock and Carbon stock), health (Defoliation and Forest damage), and socio-economic functions (Net revenue, Energy and Accessibility) were highly appropriate for evaluating the sustainability of coppice at stand level. In addition, some novel indicators related to resources status (Total above ground tree biomass), health (Stand growth) and protective functions (Overstorey cover and Understorey cover) proved to be highly appropriate and able to support the information obtained by the consolidated ones. As a consequence, a subset of consolidated SFM indicators, complemented with the most appropriate novel ones, may represent a valid option to support the evaluation of coppice sustainability at stand level. An integrated analysis of the SFM indicators showed that NE and CO display significant higher environmental performances as compared with TC. In addition, CO has positive effects also on socio-economic issues, while TC -which is an important cultural heritage and a silvicultural option that may help to keep local communities engaged in forestry – combines high wood harvesting rates with dense understory cover. Overall, each of the three management options showed specific sustainability values; as a consequence, their coexistence at a local scale and in accordance with the specific environmental conditions and the social-economic context, is greatly recommended since it may fulfill a wider array of sustainability issues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:53:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd6f3254b39d4361a7bb18d689b2eb9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:53:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd6f3254b39d4361a7bb18d689b2eb9e2022-12-21T19:09:36ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-11-01130108040Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice areaA. Cutini0M. Ferretti1G. Bertini2G. Brunialti3S. Bagella4F. Chianucci5G. Fabbio6R. Fratini7F. Riccioli8C. Caddeo9M. Calderisi10B. Ciucchi11S. Corradini12F. Cristofolini13A. Cristofori14U. Di Salvatore15C. Ferrara16L. Frati17S. Landi18L. Marchino19G. Patteri20M. Piovosi21P.P. Roggero22G. Seddaiu23E. Gottardini24CREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy; Corresponding author.Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, SwitzerlandCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyTerraData Environmetrics, Spin Off Company of the University of Siena, Via Bardelloni 19, 58025 Monterotondo Marittimo, GR, ItalyUniversity of Sassari, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyUniversity of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), Piazzale delle Cascine 18 50144, Firenze, ItalyUniversity of Pisa, Department of Veterinary Science-Rural Economics Section, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyRegional Forestry Agency for the Development of the Territory and the Environment of Sardinia, FORESTAS, viale Luigi Merello 86, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyTerraData Environmetrics, Spin Off Company of the University of Siena, Via Bardelloni 19, 58025 Monterotondo Marittimo, GR, ItalyTERETO, Ente Terre Regionali Toscane, Via di Novoli 26, 50127 Firenze, ItalyFondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (TN), ItalyFondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (TN), ItalyFondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (TN), ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Via Valle della Quistione 27,00166 Roma, ItalyTerraData Environmetrics, Spin Off Company of the University of Siena, Via Bardelloni 19, 58025 Monterotondo Marittimo, GR, ItalyUniversity of Sassari, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyRegional Forestry Agency for the Development of the Territory and the Environment of Sardinia, FORESTAS, viale Luigi Merello 86, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, ItalyUniversity of Sassari, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viale Italia39/A, 07100 Sassari, ItalyUniversity of Sassari, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, ItalyFondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (TN), ItalyAlthough coppice forests represent a significant part of the European forest area, especially across southern Countries, they received little attention within the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) processes and scenarios, whose guidelines have been mainly designed to high forests and national scale. In order to obtain “tailored” information on the degree of sustainability of coppices on the scale of the stand, we evaluated (i) whether the main coppice management options result in different responses of the SFM indicators, and (ii) the degree to which the considered SFM indicators were appropriate in their application at stand level. The study considered three different management options (Traditional Coppice TC, coppice under Natural Evolution NE, and coppice under Conversion to high forest by means of periodical thinning CO). In each of the 43 plots considered in the study, which covered three different European Forest Types, we applied a set of eighteen “consolidated” SFM indicators, covering all the six SFM Criteria (FOREST EUROPE, 2020) and, additionally, tested other sixteen novel indicators shaped for agamic forests and/or applicable at stand level. Results confirmed that several consolidated indicators related to resources status (Growing stock and Carbon stock), health (Defoliation and Forest damage), and socio-economic functions (Net revenue, Energy and Accessibility) were highly appropriate for evaluating the sustainability of coppice at stand level. In addition, some novel indicators related to resources status (Total above ground tree biomass), health (Stand growth) and protective functions (Overstorey cover and Understorey cover) proved to be highly appropriate and able to support the information obtained by the consolidated ones. As a consequence, a subset of consolidated SFM indicators, complemented with the most appropriate novel ones, may represent a valid option to support the evaluation of coppice sustainability at stand level. An integrated analysis of the SFM indicators showed that NE and CO display significant higher environmental performances as compared with TC. In addition, CO has positive effects also on socio-economic issues, while TC -which is an important cultural heritage and a silvicultural option that may help to keep local communities engaged in forestry – combines high wood harvesting rates with dense understory cover. Overall, each of the three management options showed specific sustainability values; as a consequence, their coexistence at a local scale and in accordance with the specific environmental conditions and the social-economic context, is greatly recommended since it may fulfill a wider array of sustainability issues.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21007056SFM criteriaSilvicultureCoppice systemCoppice natural evolutionCoppice conversionEnvironmental monitoring |
| spellingShingle | A. Cutini M. Ferretti G. Bertini G. Brunialti S. Bagella F. Chianucci G. Fabbio R. Fratini F. Riccioli C. Caddeo M. Calderisi B. Ciucchi S. Corradini F. Cristofolini A. Cristofori U. Di Salvatore C. Ferrara L. Frati S. Landi L. Marchino G. Patteri M. Piovosi P.P. Roggero G. Seddaiu E. Gottardini Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area Ecological Indicators SFM criteria Silviculture Coppice system Coppice natural evolution Coppice conversion Environmental monitoring |
| title | Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area |
| title_full | Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area |
| title_fullStr | Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area |
| title_short | Testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in Mediterranean coppice area |
| title_sort | testing an expanded set of sustainable forest management indicators in mediterranean coppice area |
| topic | SFM criteria Silviculture Coppice system Coppice natural evolution Coppice conversion Environmental monitoring |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21007056 |
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