Minimum national contents of forest management plans and opportunities for professional activity in forest planning

Abstract

In recent years, two implementing decrees envisaged by the Consolidated Law on Forests and Forestry Supply Chains (Legislative Decree 34/2018) have been published regarding forestry planning.
Through these regulatory tools, new opportunities arise for forest planning in Italy, both in terms of quantity of surfaces subject to planning, and in terms of homogeneity and quality of the documents that will be produced. Although the rules established by the decrees make extensive reference to the traditional contents envisaged by forest management, some innovative aspects still play a very important role, not always considered in the planning documents produced so far. In particular, specific attention is envisaged for participatory processeses, for the identification and reporting of monumental trees/old-growth forests/direct protection forests, as well as for the management methods of silvo-pastoral areas in relation to: 1) the conservation objectives in Protected Natural Areas and/or in Natura 2000 Network Sites; 2) the objectives of protecting landscape peculiarities; 3) natural risks and climate change. The integration between traditional and innovative aspects therefore is a challenge for agronomic and forestry technicians, called to increase and update their skills.