The article, in relation to the importance of canopy cover as stand density and biodiversity indicator, describes the main related Weld measurement techniques. In particular the authors emphasize the distinction between canopy cover and canopy closure when forest cover is usually measured through the current techniques. After a conceptual clariWcation the study focuses on the comparison of three ground-based canopy cover estimation techniques and two ground-based canopy closure estimation techniques, analyzing the data collected in a test carried out on Alpine stands. As expected, the results indicate that some techniques [GRS densiometer, visual estimation and hemispherical photographs (HP) assessed with a narrow angle of view] are more suitable to measure canopy cover, while others (spherical densiometer and HP with a wide angle of view) are more adapted to estimate canopy closure. In general, the techniques that use a wide angle of view tend to overestimate the canopy cover.

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Provision of forest ecosystem services is influenced by site and stand characteristics as well as forest management practices. In order to evaluate the influence of forest management on ecosystem services provision, two artificial black pine forests located in Central Italy were studied where two different thinning approaches (traditional and selective) were applied under the SelPiBio LIFE project. Four main ecosystem services were selected and assessed: timber and bioenergy production, carbon sequestration, forest stand stability-protection, and biodiversity conservation. Even if not supported by statistical evidence, results highlighted an interesting trend just 2 years after treatment. The selective thinning was able to enhance the majority of ecosystem services compared to the traditional one. A higher growth rate of selected crop trees was measured (i.e., carbon sequestration). The slenderness ratio was sensibly reduced (i.e., mechanical stability) with a positive implication on soil retention and the prevention of landslides. Moreover, valuable and interesting commercial assortments have been proven to be retrieved from the stands with the selective approach. Larger and also better formed trees were harvested, given the impact of selective thinning on the co-dominant class. The Shannon index increased only with the selective thinning intervention. In conclusion, the provided results and methods are encouraging and might represent the basis for novel and longer monitoring efforts.

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