Forgeo Lab

Early impact of alternative thinning approaches on structure diversity and complexity at stand level in two beech forests in Italy

Becagli , Claudia , Puletti , Nicola , Chiavetta , U. , Cantiani , Paolo , Salvati , Luca , Fabbio , Gianfranco

beech forest thinning competition indexes stand structure structure diversity

Stand structure, tree density as well as tree spatial pattern define natural dynamics and competition process. They are therefore parameters used to define any silvicultural management type. This work aims to report first data resulting from a silvicultural experiment in beech forests. The objective of the trial is testing the structure manipulation in terms of diversity and the reduction of inter-tree competition of different thinning approaches. Alternative thinning methods have been applied in two independent experimental sites located in the pre-Alps and southern Apennines, in Italy. Specific goals were to: (i) verify the impact early after thinning implementation on forest structure through a set of diversity and competition metrics resulting from a literature review; (ii) the sensitivity of tested indexes to detect effectively thinning manipulation. Main results show the low sensitivity of stand structure indexes and the ability of competition metrics to detect thinning outcome.

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2013

Rivista

Annals of Silvicultural Research

Dettagli

Vol. 37 (1) pp. 55 - 63

DOI

10.12899/ASR-802

Comparison of TLS against traditional surveying method for stem taper modelling. A case study in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests of mount Amiata

Torresan , C. , Pelleri , F. , Manetti , Maria Chiara , Becagli , Claudia , Castaldi , Cristiano , Notarangelo , Monica , Chiavetta , U.

terrestrial laser scanner log stem volume taper function wood assortments

Mostra abstract

Traditionally, taper equations are developed from measurements collected through a destructive sampling of trees. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) enables high levels of accuracy of individual tree parameters measurement avoiding tree felling. With this study, we wanted to assess the performance of two approaches to calibrate a taper function: using stem diameters extracted from TLS point clouds and measured at different tree heights with the traditional and usual forest instruments. We compared the performance of four taper equations built with data collected by TLS and traditional survey in a European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests of mount Amiata (Tuscany Region, Italy). We computed the volume of stem sections 1.00 m long by integrating the most performing TLS-based taper equation and by the Huber, Smalian and cone formulas applied on the diameter and height values measured with the traditional field surveys. We conducted the analysis of error distribution in volume estimates computed integrating the most performing TLS-based taper function along the stem. We tested if the differences in the volume estimate of the two methods were significant. Schumacher and Hall (1933) equation was the most performing taper function both in case of using TLS and traditional surveyed data, being the TLS-based function more performant (rRMSE = 6.90% vs 9.17%). Its performance did not increase when diameter values were extracted from TLS point clouds with a higher frequency (i.e. 25.0 cm vs 1.00 m). By integrating the TLS-based Schumacher and Hall (1933) function, the sections with the highest error resulted from 5.00 to 7.00 m of stem height (i.e. RMSE from 14.72 to 19.14 dm<sup>3</sup> and rRMSE from 13.00 to 17.76%). This study case represents the first attempts to develop a taper equation for European beech of mount Amiata using values of stem diameter and height extracted from the TLS point cloud. The results demonstrated that TLS produces the same stem volume estimates as traditional method avoiding falling trees. © 2021 Centro di Ricerca per la Selvicoltura, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria. All rights reserved.

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2021

Rivista

Annals of Silvicultural Research

Dettagli

Vol. 46 (2) pp. 128 - 140

DOI

10.12899/asr-2198

Exploratory analysis of structural diversity indicators at stand level in three Italian beech sites and implications for sustainable forest management

Bertini , Giada , Becagli , Claudia , Chiavetta , U. , Ferretti , Fabrizio , Fabbio , Gianfranco , Salvati , Luca

silviculture forest diversity multiway factor analysis structural diversity indicators tree stand structure

Mostra abstract

The present study introduces an exploratory data analysis based on structural indicators with the aim to assess the effect of silvicultural practices on tree stand structure. The study was carried out in three Italian beech forests of different ages with stand structures that originated from dissimilar regeneration and cultivation techniques (Cansiglio, northern Italy, Chiarano, central Italy, and Mongiana, southern Italy). Ten structural indicators were considered when investigating the latent multivariate relationship between stand structure attributes before and after thinning operations by using a multiway factor analysis (MFA). The MFA results identified the older stand at Cansiglio as more homogeneous for cultivation regimes, and more stable to practices when compared with the younger sites (Chiarano and Mongiana). Heterogeneous stands were sensitive to silvicultural practice thus suggesting their possible impact on forest attributes. The proposed approach proved to be an operational tool to evaluate comprehensively the response of forest structure to planned interventions. © 2018, Northeast Forestry University and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

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2019

Rivista

Journal of Forestry Research

Dettagli

Vol. 30 (1) pp. 121 - 127

DOI

10.1007/s11676-018-0616-7

Sustainable land management, adaptive silviculture, and new forest challenges: Evidence from a latitudinal gradient in Italy

Fabbio , Gianfranco , Cantiani , Paolo , Ferretti , Fabrizio , Di Salvatore , Umberto , Bertini , Giada , Becagli , Claudia , Chiavetta , U. , Marchi , Maurizio , Salvati , Luca

beech italy adaptive forest management experimental trial pro-active silviculture

Mostra abstract

Aimed at reducing structural homogeneity and symmetrical competition in even-aged forest stands and enhancing stand structure diversity, the present study contributes to the design and implementation of adaptive silvicultural practices with two objectives: (1) preserving high wood production rates under changing environmental conditions and (2) ensuring key ecological services including carbon sequestration and forest health and vitality over extended stand life-spans. Based on a quantitative analysis of selected stand structure indicators, the experimental design was aimed at comparing customary practices of thinning from below over the full standing crop and innovative practices of crown thinning or selective thinning releasing a pre-fixed number of best phenotypes and removing direct crown competitors. Experimental trials were established at four beech forests along a latitudinal gradient in Italy: Cansiglio, Veneto; Vallombrosa, Tuscany; Chiarano, Abruzzo; and Marchesale, Calabria). Empirical results indicate a higher harvesting rate is associated with innovative practices compared with traditional thinning. A multivariate discriminant analysis outlined significant differences in post-treatment stand structure, highlighting the differential role of structural and functional variables across the study sites. These findings clarify the impact of former forest structure in shaping post-treatment stand attributes. Monitoring standing crop variables before and after thinning provides a basic understanding to verify intensity and direction of the applied manipulation, the progress toward the economic and ecological goals, as well as possible failures or need for adjustments within a comprehensive strategy of adaptive forest management. © 2018 by the authors.

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2018

Rivista

Sustainability (Switzerland)

Dettagli

Vol. 10 (7)

DOI

10.3390/su10072520