Relevance of secondary forest successions and their possible management

Abstract

According to FAO, a 12.9% crop land decrease was registered in Europe from 1965 to 2001 and it was particularly evident in Italy (-29.7%). Besides, FAO stated a further reduction of forest (-1.7%) and cropland (-3.1%) from 2000 to 2013. Over the same period, forest land increased of 0.7% at European level confirming the positive trend occurred over previous decades. The abandonment of marginal land became established since mid 1900 and allowed the increase of forest lands due to secondary successions and reafforestation. Such an important phenomenon shows positive and negative effects, both on forest management and landscape planning. The spreading of secondary successions and, particularly, of shrubland, increases the biomass stock as well as the risk of wildfires. Rural areas abandonment and lack of maintenance of hydraulic infrastructures increase mountainside instability, but a higher forest land coverage reduces and controls erosion. The changes from cropland and rangeland to forest and shrubland reduce landscape diversity but shrublands are particularly rich in biodiversity. Other aspects are: the increased carbon sequestration capability of secondary successions and the interesting opportunity of valuable timber production, (e.g. annual increment of ash-sycamore stands can reach 10 m 3 ha -1 yr -1 .). An analysis of the European and Italian situation is reported, highlighting strength and weakness of these new woodlands and the role that an adequate management can play.