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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
Mostra abstract
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
How different thinning can improve carbon sequestration, carbon stock and mechanical stability in peri-urban mixed forest stands: a study case in Mediterranean environment
Chiavetta , U. , Cantiani , Paolo
carbon sequestration thinning payback time peri-urban plantations tree mechanical stability
Mostra abstract
Peri-urban plantations in the Mediterranean are often degraded due to human inactivity and climate change, leading to a loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity. This study investigates the impact of different thinning practices on carbon sequestration and tree stability in a degraded peri-urban plantation in the Italian Apennines, six years after thinning. Three treatments were compared: (a) moderate thinning from below (− 25% biomass), representing the typical practice; (b) intense selective thinning (-35% biomass), representing an innovative approach; and (c) no management as the control. Growth projections were used to estimate carbon recovery for these treatments, based on site-specific models calibrated with real data. The results show that both thinning approaches increased carbon sequestration over time, with the innovative thinning achieving a 7% higher annual carbon sequestration rate than traditional thinning and 8% more than the control. Estimated payback times were 9 years for recovering the harvested volume in both thinning approaches, 10 years for innovative thinning to surpass traditional thinning, 17 years for innovative thinning to surpass the control, and 24 years for traditional thinning to surpass the control. Additionally, tree mechanical stability improved significantly in both thinning treatments after two years, with further increases observed in the innovative thinning group after six years. These results suggest that selective thinning can accelerate forest recovery and carbon sequestration, especially in areas with high stem density, where it can reduce the negative impacts of tree mortality and deadwood accumulation. However, careful planning is required to mitigate potential short-term stability issues, particularly in challenging environments (e.g., windy conditions, steep slopes). Forest management strategies should therefore aim to balance growth, carbon storage, and tree stability, considering both long-term sustainability and local environmental conditions. The findings are particularly relevant for current climate change mitigation strategies, emphasizing that thinning should be carefully tailored to forest type and conditions to maximize benefits in carbon credit generation and sustainable forest management practices. © Northeast Forestry University 2025.
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2025
Rivista
Journal of Forestry Research
Dettagli
Vol. 36 (1)
DOI
A multi-criteria analysis of forest restoration strategies to improve the ecosystem services supply: an application in Central Italy
Paletto , Alessandro , Pieratti , Elisa , De Meo , Isabella , Agnelli , Alessandro Elio , Cantiani , Paolo , Chiavetta , U. , Mazza , Gianluigi , Lagomarsino , Alessandra
carbon sequestration carbon stock biophysical assessment economic evaluation multiple-criteria decision analysis (mcda) recreational activities
Mostra abstract
• Key message: A multi-criteria analysis can be an interesting tool to assess the effects of silvicultural treatments on ecosystem services supply. In the degraded forests, thinning has a positive effect on the provision of ecosystem services such as timber and bioenergy production, climate change mitigation, and recreational attractiveness. • Context: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment highlights the importance of the ecosystem services for human well-being and for maintaining conditions for life on Earth. Silvicultural treatments can improve the provision of ecosystem services to increase local communities’ well-being. • Aims: The aim of this study is to understand the effects of two-forest restoration practices (selective thinning and thinning from below) on three ecosystem services (wood production, climate change mitigation, and recreational opportunities) in an Italian case study. • Methods: A multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was performed to compare the effects of three forest restoration scenarios (baseline, selective thinning, thinning from below) on ecosystem services. Wood production was estimated considering the local market prices and the wood volumes harvested, while climate change mitigation was quantified through the C-stock and C-sequestration changes in carbon pools due to the silvicultural treatments. The recreational activities were assessed through a questionnaire survey. A sample of 200 visitors was interviewed face-to-face to estimate the impact of thinning on recreational activities. • Results: The results of the MCDA show that the selective thinning scenario is the optimal forest restoration practice to increase the recreational attractiveness and the wood production in the study area. • Conclusion: The results concerning the effects of the silvicultural treatments on ecosystem services supply are an important tool to support decision makers. © 2021, INRAE and Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.
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2021
Rivista
Annals of Forest Science
Dettagli
Vol. 78 (1)
DOI
Short-term effects of thinning on soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes in Mediterranean forest ecosystems
Mazza , Gianluigi , Agnelli , Alessandro Elio , Cantiani , Paolo , Chiavetta , U. , Doukalianou , Foteini , Kitikidou , Kyriaki G. , Milios , Elias , Orfanoudakis , Michail Z. , Radoglou , Kalliopi M. , Lagomarsino , Alessandra
forest floor global warming potential green-house gas fluxes pine plantations restoration soil moisture soil temperature
Mostra abstract
In Mediterranean ecosystems an increasing demand for in situ trace gas exchange data is emerging to enhance the adaptation and mitigation strategies under forest degradation. Field-chamber green-house gas fluxes and site characteristics were analysed in two Mediterranean peri-urban pine forests showing degradation symptoms. We examined the effect of different thinning interventions on soil CO<inf>2</inf>, CH<inf>4</inf> and N<inf>2</inf>O fluxes, addressing the relationships with the environmental variables and C and N contents along forest floor-soil layers. Soil temperature resulted as the main driving variable for CO<inf>2</inf> efflux and CH<inf>4</inf> uptake. Soil moisture content and organic matter availability affected CO<inf>2</inf> emission patterns in the two sites. N<inf>2</inf>O fluxes showed a positive correlation with soil moisture under wetter climatic conditions only. GHG fluxes showed significant correlations with C and N content of both forest floor and mineral soil, especially in the deepest layers, suggesting that it should be considered, together with environmental variables when accounting GHG fluxes in degraded forests. Short-term effects of thinning on CO<inf>2</inf> emissions were dependent on disturbance induced by logging operations and organic matter inputs. After thinning CH<inf>4</inf> uptake increased significantly under selective treatment, independently from specific site-induced effects. N<inf>2</inf>O fluxes were characterized by low emissions in both sites and were not affected by treatments. Soil CO<inf>2</inf> efflux was the largest component of global warming potential (GWP) from both sites (11,553 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> on average). Although it has a large global warming potential, N<inf>2</inf>O contribution to GWP was about 131 kg CO<inf>2</inf>eq ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup>. The contribution of CH<inf>4</inf>-CO<inf>2</inf> equivalent to total GWP showed a clear and significant CH<inf>4</inf> sink behaviour under selective treatment (36 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> on average). However, in the short-term both thinning approaches produced a weak effect on total GWP. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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2019
Rivista
Science of the Total Environment
Dettagli
Vol. 651 pp. 713 - 724
DOI
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
Assessing the mechanical stability of trees in artificial plantations of Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold using the LWN tool under different site Indexes
Marchi , Maurizio , Chiavetta , U. , Cantiani , Paolo
silviculture pinus nigra living whorl number site index slenderness ratio tree stability
Mostra abstract
In young black pine plantations, the most valuable and interesting thinning scheme is mainly based on the positive selection of dominant and well-shaped trees to be candidates for carbon sequestration, timber production and natural regeneration. The mechanical stability of candidate trees is here a fundamental skill that must be taken into account and the slenderness ratio (HD) is one of the main indicators. HD has been recently proved to be correlated to the living whorl number (LWN) by Cantiani & Chiavetta (2015). In this study, the statistical model was re-calibrated in order to study the influence of soil fertility on the HD - Living whorls number (LWN) relationship. The fertility-balanced models estimated a different LWN threshold. The model for the highest fertility class (Site index 24) estimated 12 LWN (RMSE of 20%). Similarly, a lower value were detected for the other two fertility classes, SI20 and SI16, where 10 LWN were considered enough with an associated RMSE of 16% and 17% respectively. Compared to the general model provided by Cantiani & Chiavetta (11 LWN with 18% of RMSE) the site index approach improved the accuracy and reliability.
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2017
Rivista
Annals of Silvicultural Research
Dettagli
Vol. 41 (1) pp. 48 - 53
DOI
Assessing the maintenance of forest resources and their contribution to carbon cycles
Becagli , Claudia , Bertini , Giada , Cammarano , Mario , Cantiani , Paolo , Čater , Matjaž , Chiavetta , U. , Coletta , Vittoria , Conforti , Massimo , D'Andrea , Ettore , Di Salvatore , D. , Fabbio , Gianfranco , Ferlan , Mitja , Ferreira , Andreja , Ferretti , Fabrizio , Giovannozzi Sermanni , A. , Kobler , Andrej , Kovač , Marko , Marinšek , Aleksander , Micali , Marco , Pellicone , Gaetano , Planinšek , Špela , Rezaei , N. , Sicuriello , Flavia , Skudnik , Mitja , Tonti , Daniela
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2016
Rivista
Annals of Silvicultural Research
Dettagli
Vol. 40 (1) pp. 55 - 63
ManFor C.Bd sites and the drivers of forest functions
Di Salvatore , Umberto , Tonti , Daniela , Bascietto , Marco , Chiavetta , U. , Cantiani , Paolo , Fabbio , Gianfranco , Becagli , Claudia , Bertini , Giada , Sansone , Dalila , Skudnik , Mitja , Kobal , Milan , Kutnar , Lado , Ferreira , Andreja , Kobler , Andrej , Kovač , Marko , Ferretti , Fabrizio
biodiversity italy silviculture slovenia carbon retention forest functions landscape driving forces silviculture driving forces life manfor c.bd management options
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2016
Rivista
Italian Journal of Agronomy
Dettagli
Vol. 11 (S1) pp. 64 - 95
Estimating the mechanical stability of Pinus nigra arn. Using an alternative approach across several plantations in central Italy
Cantiani , Paolo , Chiavetta , U.
living whorl number slenderness ratio tree stability black pine crown depth crown eccentricity crown projection
Mostra abstract
Black pine has been used often in central and southern Italy to reforest mountainous areas depleted by the intensive use of natural resources. The main purpose of establishing pine forests in Italy was to protect the soil from excessive erosion, and also to facilitate the natural succession toward mixed forests with deciduous species. The most common silvicultural treatments in Europe currently aim at maximizing the stability of the stands and facilitating the transition from pure to mixed stands comprising a larger component of native tree species. In this work, we investigated the relationships between the living whorls number and four indexes of individual tree stability: the slenderness ratio, the crown depth, the crown projection, and an eccentricity index of the canopy. The data set used was composed of 1098 trees from ten black pine plantations located in central Italy. Our results demonstrate that the living whorls number can be handily used to predict the slenderness ratio with an error of 18%. A non-parametric model based on a reduced number of field measures was obtained as a support for thinning operations aimed at improving single tree stability. © SISEF.
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2015
Rivista
IForest
Dettagli
Vol. 8 (Dec2015) pp. 846 - 852
DOI
Multifunctionality assessment in forest planning at Landscape Level. The study case of Matese mountain community (Italy)
Di Salvatore , Umberto , Ferretti , Fabrizio , Cantiani , Paolo , Paletto , Alessandro , De Meo , Isabella , Chiavetta , U.
forest landscape management planning forest multifunctionality function fulfilment index matese district (italy) silvicultural system
Mostra abstract
The main objective is to improve a method that aims at evaluating forest multifunctionality from a technical and practical point of view. A methodological approach - based on the index of forest multifunctionality level - is proposed to assess the "fulfilment capability" of a function providing an estimate of performance level of each function in a given forest. This method is aimed at supporting technicians requested to define most suitable management guidelines and silvicultural practices in the framework of a Forest Landscape Management Plan (FLMP). The study area is the Matese district in southern Apennines (Italy), where a landscape planning experimentation was implemented. The approach includes the qualitative and quantitative characterization of selected populations, stratified by forest category by a sampling set of forest inventory plots. A 0.5 ha area around the sample plot was described by filling a form including the following information: site condition, tree species composition, stand origin and structure, silvicultural system, health condition, microhabitats presence. In each sample plot, both the multifunctionality assessment and the estimate of the effect of alternative management options on ecosystem goods and services, were carried out. The introduction of the term "fulfilment capability" and the modification of the concept of priority level - by which the ranking of functions within a plot is evaluated - is an improvement of current analysis method. This enhanced approach allows to detect the current status of forest plot and its potential framed within the whole forest. Assessing functional features of forests with this approach reduces the inherent subjectivity and allows to get useful information on forest multifunctionality to support forest planners in defining management guidelines consistent with current status and potential evolutive pattern.
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2013
Rivista
Annals of Silvicultural Research
Dettagli
Vol. 37 (1) pp. 45 - 54
DOI