Forests for future

Abstract

Forests are an essential resource for life on our planet and to provide the welfare for the whole human population living on it. Forest ecosystems are nevertheless hampered by the growing human pressure and by an unsustainable use of natural resources leading to concerning world phenomena, first of all global climatic change, biodiversity loss and soil, ecosystems and habitats degradation. Such issues impact on the structure, composition and balance of forests, so reducing their own capacity to contribute to the solution of the same problems. The situation is so serious to require now a serious rethinking of forest policies and measures to be implemented into the forest sector, in order to imagine, at the 2050 year horizon, more resilient forests adapted to the new climatic conditions and able to provide at their best also the requested vital ecologic, economic and social functions. In such global framework it has to be considered the activity carried out by the Arma dei Carabinieri - Command of Forest Environment and Agrifood Units (CUFA), whose present role is analyzed here, trying to design also future commitments and developments