State of the Eastern side reforestation of Calvana Mounts (Barberino di Mugello Municipality, Province of Florence, Italy)

Abstract

This work is a further contribution to the debate on the management of Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) reforestation. This study concern the Eastern side of the Calvana Mounts, a short chain connected to the Tosco-Emiliano sector of the Central Appennines (Province of Florence, Italy) reafforested mainly in two periods: 1932-1942 and 1953-1958. A description of the main geographic and environmental parameters of this drought station is given: geology, soil, climate and vegetation. The land use history is examined with special emphasis on the XX TH century, integrated with an analysis of the local toponymy. The method of the silvicultural survey is based on many field trips in the forest, during which a silvicultural card has been filled in with the data of every different forest stand. In a first part the collected data is presented to give a picture of the reforestation. In a second part the data is analysed. The study verify the good bioecological state of the reforestation and that confirms the suitability of the Black Pine to facing difficult climatic and edaphic conditions. Furthermore, the research shows that over half of the reforestation has not been subjected to logging in the last thirty years or it hasn’t been managed using improvement measures. Because of that, many problems relating to mechanical stability, fire danger and tourism suitability have arisen.