Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
LIFE11 ENV/IT/000215 RESILienza al cambiamento climatico nelle FOReste MEDiterranee Resilience of Mediterranean forests to Climate change
Management of Mediterranean forests to improve its resilience to Climate Change
Marcello Miozzo (1), Gabriele Mugnai (1), Donato S. La Mela Veca (2), Sebastiano Cullotta (2), Federico G. Maetzke (2), Sebastiano Sferlazza (2), Luciano Saporito (3)
(1) DREAM Italia (2) University of Palermo (3) Sicily Region Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Background
Climatic conditions of Mediterranean region, characterized by frequent dry years, contribute to the weakening of forest ecosystems. As result, forests reduce their production capacity and are more vulnerable to risks, such as pest attacks. In addition, the economic and social conditions may exacerbate the degradation with the spread of the improper use of resources (improper forest cutting, over grazing) and the higher incidence of forest fires.
Sicily with its 258,502 hectares of high forests is one of the Italian regions with a lower coefficient of woodiness; it is known that historically forested areas were wider, with a lost of forest areas that continued until the beginning of the last century, when this trend stopped and huge investments were done to reafforestate wide cleared surfaces. However, the regional forests are at risk of degradation for the growing phenomenon of forest fires and even more for its exposure to climate change.
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Climate change - Scenarios in Europe Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Forecast
Current status Forest vegetation in view of some scenarios of climate change in Italy (Pignatti G. , 2011) Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Forest Landscape in Sicily CFRS, 2007) Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Surface Forest category Forest category (IFRS, 2010) ha % Maquis and shrublands 139304 29.00 Reforestation stands 105460 21.96 Pubescent oak forests 84753 17.64 Holm oak forests 28649 5.96 Turkey oak forests 25289 5.26 Other broadleaved forests 20180 4.20 Riparian forests 19177 3.99 Cork oak forests 18831 3.92 Beech forests 15964 3.32 Chestnut forests 11520 2.40 Wood plantations 4642 0.97 Corsican pine forests 4316 0.90 Mediterranean pine forests 2245 0.47 Total 480330 100.00 Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Reforestation stands (CFRS, 2010) Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016 Madonie
Protected areas in Sicily
Nebrodi Madonie
Alkantara Protected area Area (ha) Etna Natural reserves (n. 72) 78403
Sicani Sicani Natural Park 44020 Madoonie Natural Park 40237 Nebrodi Natural Park 84259 12% of the regional area Etna Natural Park 58370 Alkantara River Natural Park 1801 Total 307090 Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Natura 2000 Network in Sicily
238 sites Natura2000 639,135 ha 24,7% of regional surface Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
LIFE11 ENV/IT/000215 RESILienza al cambiamento climatico nelle FOReste MEDiterranee Resilience of Mediterranean forests to Climate change
Details of ResilForMED
Approval date by European Commission: 14th June 2012 Starting date: 1th June 2012 Closing date: 30th June 2016 Lifetime: 49 momths Total cost: 1.557.743 Euro EU contribution: 778.871 Euro % EU confunding 50% Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
The partnership COORDINATING BENEFICIARY Regione Siciliana, Assessorato regionale delle risorse agricole e alimentari, Dipartimento Regionale Sviluppo Rurale e Territoriale
Referent: Luciano Saporito - [email protected]
University of Palermo Comando Corpo D.R.E.Am. Italia soc. coop. Depatrtment of Agricultural and Forestale, Regione Agricolo-Forestale Forest Science, Siciliana Referent: Marcello Miozzo Referent: Federico G. [email protected] Maetzke [email protected]
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Project objectives
The project stems from the need to identify new forest practices in order to promote the ecological resilience of forest communities in Sicily threatened by risk of desertification.
The overall objective of ResilForMed is to preserve Mediterranean forest ecosystems from the risks due to climate change.
The specific objective is to implement a regional forest policy able to increase the resilience of forests in Sicily, improving ecosystem efficiency and promoting forest biodiversity conservation. Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
The ResilForMed strategy
Identify key factors and attributes positively correlated to the resilience of the forest ecosystems.
Define and implement in a demonstrative way good forest management practices with the aim to increase resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change. Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Project actions Preparatory actions A1 Identification and mapping of areas at greatest risk to climate change at regional and landscape scale; A2 Analysis of the value of the forest practices according to tradition and local custom; A3 Analysis, evaluation and quantification of the effects of climate change in Sicilian forests; A4 Define, through indicators, the role of forest ecosystems in adaptation measures to climate change.
Demonstration actions and implementation B1 Definition of optimal management models for improving the resilience of forests; B2 Implementation of the main silvicultural techniques in favor of the evolutionary dynamics of forest ecosystems (120 hectares of interventions); B3 Implementation of management plans to address patterns of agroforestry through a participatory table with local communities; B4 Updating of the Regional Forest Plan.
Communication and Dissemination Actions D1 Realization of the guidelines for the protection of biodiversity and the resilience of forest; D2 Training of technicians and forestry workers; D3 Videoclips of project actions; D4 Website; D5 information panels; D6 Publication of the Layman's report; D7 Final conference of the project and networking. Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Forest landscape scale and Natura 2000 Network scale application
Territorial
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
From forest landscape scale to planning and intervention scale
Forest landscape scale scale
Demonstration area of application intervention scale Territorial
Demostration area of planning scale
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Sensitivity map to the risk of desertification of forests in Sicily (Action A1)
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest managementLIFE11 andENV/IT/000215 Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016 RESILienza al cambiamento climatico nelle FOReste MEDiterranee
Main indicators of the forest resilience 1) Tree density 2) Trees composition 3) Structural complexity 4) Presence/absence of Old-growth trees 5) Presence/absence of natural regeneration 6) Presence/absence of exotic/alien species
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Good forest management practices to increase the resilience of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (Action B1) BP01: ACTIONS TO PROMOTE MIXING OF SPECIES AND THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL STABILITY OF FORESTS Practices to improve soil quality (nutrients, texture and structure), which at the same time ensure or maintain adequate levels of organic matter, water supply efficiency and optimal lighting and temperature conditions for the acceleration of the progressive successional dynamics.
BP02: RENATURALIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL FORESTS Measures to facilitate the renaturalization process in order to increase stability and ecological-structural ecosystem efficiency. Are also foreseen interventions to reintegrate native species in stands without seed-bearing trees.
PB03: RECOVERY AND RESTORATION OF DEGRADED FORESTS Restoring degraded forest stands by over grazing or by fire: e.g. salvage felling (tramarrature, succisione) for oaks species or introduction of native species more resistant to fires. Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Good forest management practices to increase the resilience of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (Action B1)
BP04: ACTIONS TO PROMOTE THE STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY OF THE STANDS Conversion of coppices to high forests (holm oak forests, deciduous oak forests, beech forests) within the protected areas in order to encourage greater productivity and ecosystem stability of stands.
BP05: ACTIONS TO ENCOURAGE GREATER CONNECTIVITY IN THE AGRO- FORESTRY SYSTEMS Actions aimed at reducing the fragmentation of forested areas by increasing their connectivity so mitigating the influence of human activities in the surrounding areas (agricultural and pasture areas). Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Implementing the best management practices for increasing the resilience of Mediterranean forests in the regional forest policy of Sicily
Drafting of 6 pilot management plans that implement the RESILFORMED Good Practices in the project areas:
l Monti Sicani, Municipaloty of Castronovo di Sicilia (Palermo province), estesa 261,18 ha;
l Monti Madonie, Municipality of Isnello (Palermo province), estesa 526,78 ha;
l Monti Nebrodi, Municipality of Tortorici (Messina province), estesa 436,79 ha;
l Calatino area, Municipality of Caltagirone (Catania province), estesa 421,31 ha;
l Monte Etna, Municipality of Maletto (Catania province), estesa 421,69 ha;
l Island of Pantelleria, Municipality of Pantelleria (trapani province), estesa 233,22ha.
Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Implementing of best management practices for increasing the resilience of Mediterranean forests in the regional forest policy of Sicily
Update of the Regional Forest Plan by introducing good management practices to improve the health and vitality of the forest ecosystem, the contribution of forests to the global carbon cycle, the conservation of biological diversity in forest ecosystems that are strategic in encouraging the adaptation of forest ecosystems to climate change. Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000 Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 May 2016
LIFE11 ENV/IT/000215 RESILienza al cambiamento climatico nelle FOReste MEDiterranee Resilience of mediterranean forests to climate change www.resilformed.it Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/liferesilformed
Donato Salvatore La Mela Veca University of Palermo Department of Agricultural and Forest Science Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 4, Ingresso H 90128 Palermo