Selvicoltura e tutela del territorio - Silviculture and land protection

In a climatically unstable period such as the present one, intense rain phenomena are causing effects which more and more frequently have catastrophic consequences. Such effects are exacerbated, as territories are made particularly vulnerable by the excessive urbanization and by the abandonment of many hill and mountain areas. The role of forests in soil conservation been studied and is widely acknowledged both at the national and international level. However, silviculture for watershed and land protection is not always recognized as an effective means in policies and strategies aimed at mitigating these phenomena. In this paper, we first analyze the relationship between silviculture and the functioning of forest ecosystems. Then, we highlight the criticalities and opportunities relating to the different factors affecting land degradation and hydrogeological risk at the different scales. We conclude that if silviculture aims at increasing overall complexity of forest systems and is adequately planned and implemented, it can be an essential tool for watershed protection and land safety.