Renaturalisation of simplified forest systems in Southern Italy

Abstract

Classic forest management, aimed at maximum wood production, leads to the simplification of the forest. In forest ecosystems a higher diversity is related to a higher stability, mainly in regards to the system's capacity of reducing the spread of perturbations. Management based on renaturalisation can favour the repair of natural processes, i.e. the self-regulating and self-perpetuating mechanisms, and an increase in the ecosystem's resistance and resilience. The renaturalisation of simplified forest systems in Southern Italy concerns first of all forest plantations, but also those stands of natural origin that have been simplified in composition and structure by uniform silvicultural treatments. Above all renaturalisation leads to man's presence in the forest as part of the system. This is the best insurance for the forest against various destructive factors.