Phytosociological and sylvicultural research of a residual oak and hornbeam wood situated in Valsesia (Piedmont - North West Italy)

Abstract

The authors report on the results of a research conducted on a residual oak and hornbeam wood, located in Valsesia (Piedmont, Vercelli), regarding its vegetation, physiognomy and structure. The tree-populating appears particulary interesting, since the object of study is situated in a area which is internal enough to come in contact with the beech-wood zone. The vegetation found can be set from a phytosociological point of view within the Polygonato multiflori-Quercetum roboris Sartori 1980 association, carpinetosum betuli subassociation. The authors also describe a number of sylvicultural lines most suitable for the improvement and preservation of the populating at issue, taking into account its naturalistic peculiarities.