Forestry interventions on sporadic species in mixed coppice forests

LIFE09 ENV/IT/000087

Application of tree forestry techniques in favour of individuals of sporadic species (rowan, maple, ash, cherry, laburnum, lime tree ...) in coppices characterised by a prevalence of Turkey oak, chestnut and beech.

PROJECT REFERENT
Magni Adriano

WEBSITE

Promote the conservation and enhancement of sporadic species through the application of tree forestry in order to increase tree biodiversity and enhance the production of valuable timber obtainable from many sporadic species. These, in fact, since if properly managed can be used after 2-4 turns of the coppice, can improve its economic value.

The techniques of tree silviculture consist of localised thinning around single plants in order to favour their conservation and their economic enhancement. In the case of coppices it is advisable to limit this silvicultural approach to fertile areas, well served by roads and characterised by a sufficient number of individuals of sporadic species.

First of all, the best individuals of sporadic species (target plants) must be selected and marked considering:

·          plant vigor,

·          stem quality,

·          crown size,

·          spatial distribution

·          sporadic rarity of the species.

The target plants must be chosen respecting a minimum distance between the selected neighbouring trees of 8-14 m. Silvicultural interventions around the target plants differ according to the evolutionary state of the coppice and the context in which they are found.

The application of these techniques is more effective if you intervene in young stands and in particular populations characterised by heliophile species.

The PProSpoT project developed in the Metallifere Hills (GR), a hilly area near the Tyrrhenian Sea that reaches elevations of 800-900 m asl (mixed coppices with a prevalence of Turkey oak), and the Pistoia Apennines (Abetone and Melo forest) characterised by mountain peaks that reach up to 2000 m asl (mixed coppice with a prevalence of beech and chestnut).

Wherever sporadic species are found within regularly managed coppices.

From the GoProFor database, in the final part of the sheet, it is possible to download material relating to the project and in particular the technical manual entitled "Forestry for sporadic tree species" and the Layman's report.