Foreste vetuste e alberi antichi: i diversi valori intrinseci, strumentali e relazionali a supporto della protezione e del ripristino delle foreste

Abstract

The paper examines the biodiversity crisis as a systemic global risk, highlighting how accelerating species extinction and habitat loss are closely linked to climate change, pollution, and land-use transformation. Although more than half of global GDP depends on nature, economic and policy frameworks still prioritize instrumental values, neglecting intrinsic and relational ones. A paradigm shift is therefore needed to integrate ecological, economic, cultural, and social dimensions in decision-making. In this context, old-growth forests and ancient trees are presented as emblematic ecosystems: reservoirs of biodiversity and long-term carbon storage, but also places of identity, memory, and spirituality. Examples from Europe and other regions show how symbolic and cultural values have historically supported their conservation. The paper proposes an expanded definition of old-growth forests that, alongside ecological criteria (integrity, continuity, structural complexity), explicitly recognizes relational and cultural values, as conceptualized by IPBES. Old-growth forests also function as ecological reference systems, providing benchmarks and indicators for protection, restoration, and sustainable forest management, particularly within the framework of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 and National Restoration Plans. Establishing connected networks of reserves, buffer zones, and ecological corridors is essential to ensure long-term resilience and functionality. Their conservation thus becomes a strategic pillar for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and advancing integrated biodiversity governance.