Stand structure and species diversity are two useful parameters to provide a synthetic measure of forest biodiversity. The stand structure is spatial distribution, mutual position, diameter and height differentiation of trees in a forest ecosystem and it highly influences habitat and species diversity. The forest stand and species diversity can be measured through indices that provide important information to better address silvicultural practices and forest management strategies in the short and long-term period. These indices can be combined in a composite index in order to evaluate the complex diversity at the stand level. The aim of the paper is to identify and to test a complex index (S-index) allowing to take into account both the tree species composition and the stand structure. S-index was applied in a case study in the north-east of Italy (Trentino province). The results show that the Norway spruce forests in Trentino province are characterized by a medium-low level of complexity (S-index is in a range between 0.14 and 0.46) due to a low tree species composition rather than to the stand structure (diametric differentiation and spatial distribution of trees).

Abstract. In traditional forest management practices, the non-living woody biomass in forests was perceived negatively. Generally, deadwood was removed during the silvicultural treatments to protect forests against fire, pests and insects' attacks. In the last decades, the perception of forest managers regarding forest deadwood is changing. However, people's opinions about the presence of deadwood in forests have been little investigated. In light of this gap, the aim of the paper is to understand tourists' perception and opinions towards deadwood in mountain forests. The survey was carried out in two study areas: the first one in Italy and the second one in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of visitors (n = 156 in Italy, n = 115 in Bosnia-Herzegovina). Tourists' preferences were evaluated through a set of images characterized by a different amount of standing dead trees and lying deadwood. The collected data were statistically analyzed to highlight the preferred type of forests related to different forms of deadwood management (unmanaged forests, close-to-nature forests, extensively managed forests and intensively managed forests). The results show that both components of deadwood are perceived positively by tourists. More than 60% of respondents prefer unmanaged forests and close-to-nature managed forests, 40% of respondents prefer intensively managed forests in which deadwood is removed during the silvicultural treatments. Concerning the differences between the two study areas, a positive opinion on intensively managed forests was expressed by 40% of respondents in Italy and 22% in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Conversely, in both study areas a similar percentage of respondents preferred unmanaged forests and close-to-nature managed forests (about 40% Genova valley and 44% in Sarajevo Canton).

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract