Old-growth forests in the Pollino National Park (southern Italy): current status and future perspectives

Forest

article

Maria Castellaneta¹  Danilo Travascia¹  Antonio Lapolla¹  Michele Colangelo¹  Anna Rita Rivelli¹  Giuseppe Misano¹  Luana Regina¹  Veronica Maradei¹  Francesco Ripullone¹  Aldo Schettino³  Vittoria Marchianò³  Liliana Bernardo⁴  Domenico Gargano⁴  Nicodemo Passalacqua⁴  Salvatore Digilio⁵  Piernicola Viggiano⁵ 

[1] Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari e Ambientali - SAFE, Università della Basilicata;Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología;Parco Nazionale del Pollino;Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Reggio Calabria;Ufficio Foreste e Tutela del Territorio, Regione Basilicata, Via Vincenzo Verrastro 10

关键词: Biodiversity;    Natural Ecosystem;    Forest Management;    Old-growth Forests;    Structural Heterogeneity;   

DOI  :  10.3832/efor4303-020

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Societa Italiana di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale (S I S E F)

【 摘 要 】

Old-growth forests have a primary environmental and ecological value, as they closely recall primeval forests and the natural forest landscape that was spread throughout Italy and Europe before man intervention heavily altered the functioning of most natural ecosystems. These ecosystems are more and more recognized as keystones of environmental policies (i.e., the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030) aimed to preserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change. A recent report highlights that Europe’s old-growth forests account for only 3 percent of the overall forest surface. The majority of italian old-growth forests are located along the Apennines, especially in the Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte National Parks, in remote montane areas characterized by irregular topographical conditions (i.e., high slopes and/or shallow soils) which hamper the access and exploitation of these less productive stands, thus allowing the survival of old-growth forests for many centuries. The ongoing climate change is a significant challenge to the conservation of old-growth forests, particularly in areas such as the Mediterranean basin, where an intensification of extreme climate events is expected. Heat waves can exacerbate drought’s negative impacts on tree growth and survival, leading to reduced woody carbon stocks and biodiversity in old-growth forests. To date, there is poor understanding of such highly valuable and extremely fragile natural ecosystems in Italy. Insights are available based on data gathered as part of two research programs, funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Land and Sea Protection, with the purpose of creating a Network of Old Growth Forests in Italy’s National Parks. In this study, we aimed to highlight the role and importance of old-growth forests, focusing on those located within the Pollino National Park. A comprehensive overview of the key strengths and weaknesses, that mark these peculiar forest ecosystems, was followed by a discussion of the future outlook, grounded on strategies that will ensure not only the protection and conservation of these ecosystems, but also their development and promotion.

【 授权许可】

Unknown