Structural dynamics and post-silviculture evolution of mountain silver fir stands (Central Italy)

Abstract

The present study aims to highlight the successional pattern of forest standsshowing a simplified structure and in which the silvicultural practices have long beenneglected, so far allowing an undisturbed evolution of the forest. In order tounderstand the management style better performing with the future increase of thestructural complexity of the stands, surveys were carried out in test sites where recordson the stand dynamics of the last thirty years are available. The plots are located in theApennine silver fir stands of Vallombrosa (Tuscany) and Sasso Fratino (EmiliaRomagna). The changes in structure are synthetically expressed by means of indexes ofstructural and floristic diversity.As for management aspects, according to the results of the present research, isemphasised that the canopy reduction is the prerequisite for a silviculture style aiming to enhance the system diversity. Gradual openings of the canopy, as the ones followingselection or shelterwood systems, basing on long regeneration time span, are suitableto enahance the re-naturalisation (e.g. increasing the amount of broadleaves in theunderstorey) of silver fir stands. Because the undisturbed conifer stands dynamicsfollowing the abandonment of forestry practice results very often uncertain as trendand direction, it appears important to follow up the process by mean of close-to-naturesilviculture interventions. In this sense, the paper finally outlines the necessity to facethe interactions between forest regeneration and wild ungulate populations, whichcurrently represents one of the most dramatic problems of sustainable management.