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This study provides an overview of the forests of Basilicata, Southern Italy, including their recent history, dominant forest types, current management, and vulnerability to climate change and wildfire. It outlines silvicultural and management proposals that can be implemented in the new forest plan that the Basilicata Region is about to adopt. The proposals are based on the principle of adaptive management to support forest functionality, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Silvicultural methods include continuous cover forestry, natural regeneration, species richness and functional diversity, structural diversification, imitation of natural disturbances, tree retention to increase biodiversity. The characteristics of the forest-wood supply chain have been analyzed, highlighting weaknesses and possible improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an overview of the forests of Basilicata, Southern Italy, including their recent history, dominant forest types, current management, and vulnerability to climate change and wildfire. It outlines silvicultural and management proposals that can be implemented in the new forest plan that the Basilicata Region is about to adopt. The proposals are based on the principle of adaptive management to support forest functionality, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Silvicultural methods include continuous cover forestry, natural regeneration, species richness and functional diversity, structural diversification, imitation of natural disturbances, tree retention to increase biodiversity. The characteristics of the forest-wood supply chain have been analyzed, highlighting weaknesses and possible improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an overview of the forests of Basilicata, Southern Italy, including their recent history, dominant forest types, current management, and vulnerability to climate change and wildfire. It outlines silvicultural and management proposals that can be implemented in the new forest plan that the Basilicata Region is about to adopt. The proposals are based on the principle of adaptive management to support forest functionality, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Silvicultural methods include continuous cover forestry, natural regeneration, species richness and functional diversity, structural diversification, imitation of natural disturbances, tree retention to increase biodiversity. The characteristics of the forest-wood supply chain have been analyzed, highlighting weaknesses and possible improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefits and well-being perceived by green spaces users during heat waves. In urban environments, green spaces have proven to act as ameliorating factors of some climatic features related to heat stress, reducing their effects and providing comfortable outdoor settings for people. In addition, green spaces have demonstrated greater capacity, compared with built-up areas, for promoting human health and well-being. In this paper, we present results of a study conducted in Italy with the general goal to contribute to the theoretical and empirical rationale for linking green spaces with well-being in urban environments. Specifically, the study focused on the physical and psychological benefits and the general well-being associated with the use of green spaces on people when heat stress episodes are more likely to occur. A questionnaire was set up and administered to users of selected green spaces in Italy (metropolitan area of Milan and Bari - n=400). Results indicate that longer and frequent visits of green spaces generate significant improvements of the perceived benefits and well-being among users. These results are consistent with the idea that the use of green spaces could alleviate the perception of thermal discomfort during periods of heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Regional Oriented Reserve "Bosco Pantano" near Policoro (province of Matera, Southern Italy) has been established to preserve one of the most interesting lowland forests in Southern Italy which survived to the uncontrolled land drainage and intensive agriculture occurred in the last century. Floodplain forests were indiscriminately exploited for millenia according to economic demands, that led to a loss of habitats and their biodiversity. In this context, a survey was carried out through a questionnaire administered to local stakeholders with the aim of investigating the most relevant factors that might impact on the ecosystem vulnerability of the natural reserve, either now or in the future, thus undermining its survival. The application of the hybrid method SWOT-AHP (A'WOT) allowed to categorize the different SWOT factors. The survey revealed the strong and shared willingness of stakeholders to valorize the peculiar characteristics of the reserve in order to promote its protection and preserve its biodiversity. Nonetheless, several critical points were found like the poor attention to the weaknesses factors, that might compromise the survival of the protected forest. In general, a limited interest in the research and monitoring activities, as well as their possible benefits on the whole area, has been recorded. Yet, multiple actions are recommended for the preservation and valorization of the peculiarity of this biotype, for example by promoting the development of sustainable forms of tourism, implementing long-term research and monitoring projects, establishing control bodies, and improving the environmental awarness of local inhabitants through specific dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since February 2022, the National Forestry Strategy (NFS) for the forest sector and its supply chains is public. The NFS addresses in an innovative and science-based way key issues related to forest fire governance such as the integrated fire risk management, the convergence of forest, agro-pastoral and nature conservation policies with fire governance strategies, the regulatory update and the roadmap to open-access wildfire data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Regional Oriented Reserve "Bosco Pantano" near Policoro (province of Matera, Southern Italy) has been established to preserve one of the most interesting lowland forests in Southern Italy which survived to the uncontrolled land drainage and intensive agriculture occurred in the last century. Floodplain forests were indiscriminately exploited for millenia according to economic demands, that led to a loss of habitats and their biodiversity. In this context, a survey was carried out through a questionnaire administered to local stakeholders with the aim of investigating the most relevant factors that might impact on the ecosystem vulnerability of the natural reserve, either now or in the future, thus undermining its survival. The application of the hybrid method SWOT-AHP (A'WOT) allowed to categorize the different SWOT factors. The survey revealed the strong and shared willingness of stakeholders to valorize the peculiar characteristics of the reserve in order to promote its protection and preserve its biodiversity. Nonetheless, several critical points were found like the poor attention to the weaknesses factors, that might compromise the survival of the protected forest. In general, a limited interest in the research and monitoring activities, as well as their possible benefits on the whole area, has been recorded. Yet, multiple actions are recommended for the preservation and valorization of the peculiarity of this biotype, for example by promoting the development of sustainable forms of tourism, implementing long-term research and monitoring projects, establishing control bodies, and improving the environmental awarness of local inhabitants through specific dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since February 2022, the National Forestry Strategy (NFS) for the forest sector and its supply chains is public. The NFS addresses in an innovative and science-based way key issues related to forest fire governance such as the integrated fire risk management, the convergence of forest, agro-pastoral and nature conservation policies with fire governance strategies, the regulatory update and the roadmap to open-access wildfire data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since February 2022, the National Forestry Strategy (NFS) for the forest sector and its supply chains is public. The NFS addresses in an innovative and science-based way key issues related to forest fire governance such as the integrated fire risk management, the convergence of forest, agro-pastoral and nature conservation policies with fire governance strategies, the regulatory update and the roadmap to open-access wildfire data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increase in forest growth: new evidences from temperate forests. A paper recently published on PNAS provides a new evidence for an increase in forest growth in temperate forests. The possible causes of this process are discussed. The results show a relation between this change in tree growth with the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, temperature, and length of growth season. A better understanding of the specific mechanisms involved and the assessment of the consequences on the current and future global changes are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]