Naturgemäßer Waldbau in Trentino/Norditalien : 3. Internationaler PRO-SILVA Kongress

2001

S. 312-315

Unselbständiges Werk

200084632

The paper deals with the introduction of close-to-nature silviculture since the end of the second world war in the autonomous province of the Trentino, situated in the Alps of North Italy. The starting point was the constatation, that the Trentino forest showed at the end of world war two, heavy impacts of over-exploitation, devastation and erosion. Annual cuttings regularly exceeded the sustainable possibility, and so average stand volume had decreased to only 143 mß per ha. Since 50 yeas, new management plans tried to stop over-exploitation, clear-cuttings, and to create more stable stand structures, mixed stands, continuous regeneration without clearcuts, higher stand volumes, and to convert poor coppice forest into close to nature forest. These objectives were much sustained by the catastrophic event of severe erosion damages in the town of Trento and the adjacent valleys in 1966. Demographic degression of valley populations by mingration to bigger towns also helped to diminue over-exploitation, and the increasing common sense for nature protection issues promoted close to nature approaches in forest management. The actual results can be considered as one of the outstanding examples of realisation of close to nature silviculture in Europe. The standing volume increased from 143 to now 200 mß/ha, and strong timber can be found on more than 50 % of the whole surface. The rate of increment rose from progressing, and with many mixed stands the natural forest composition is coming back. the lack of clearcuts and various stand structures prevent effectively erosion hazards. Finally, the paper is discussing some actual problems, resulting from surrounding economic conditions, social changements, nature protection and legislation.