http://http://dspace.unitus.it:80 The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. 2013-06-19T20:44:11Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2151 Title: Biomass estimates by satellite data and ground measurements Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Tonti, Daniela; Travaglini, Davide Abstract: L'abstract è disponibile nel file allegato 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2141 Title: Advances in Forest Inventory for Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Monitoring Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Kohl, Michael; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: The increasing awareness and concern of people, researchers and decision makers for the maintenance and enhancement of goods and services provided by forest ecosystems significantly widened the scope of information needs for sustainable forest management on the task-specific, integrative and strategic level. Forest resource assessments have to provide reliable, harmonized, politically relevant, cost-efficient and intuitively visible information on the multiple functions of forests in the form of statistics, georeferenced data and thematic cartography. In this perspective, the need of reviewing and discussing improvements of forest inventory and monitoring approaches is acknowledged to cope with assessment and analysis tools required for the full understanding of forest ecosystems, from local to global scales. Only a limited amount of information can be provided by adding a set of new attributes to the list of attributes commonly used in assessing the productive function of forests and utilizing traditional survey designs. The diversity of information needs that have to be satisfied by current forest resource assessments require the adoption of new survey approaches and the extension of assessment frames from forests to landscapes. This is deemed distinctively true for the issues related to sustainable forest management and biodiversity monitoring. Within this framework, the major purpose of this volume of Kluwer`s "Forestry Science Series" is to give readers hands-on experiences about inventory and monitoring problems and potential by reviewing a selection of approaches, methods and tools for multi-resource forest surveys, with special reference to remote sensing, statistical sampling and spatial analyses. The book is intended for researchers and practitioners in the field of forest and environmental planning, environmental monitoring and environmental policies. Description: Il testo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.wkap.nl 2002-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2148 Title: Sviluppo di una procedura innovativa per la cubatura del volume della massa legnosa di fustaie di latifoglie mediante LiDAR Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Chirici, Gherardo; Lamonaca, Andrea; Travaglini, Davide; Mason, Franco; Minari, Emma; Marchetti, Marco; Montaghi, Alessandro Abstract: La tecnica di scansione aerea con strumentazione LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) è sempre più presa in considerazione ai fini di analisi e monitoraggio degli attributi dendrometrici dei popolamenti forestali, ma anche per stimare attributi complessi quali il volume della massa legnosa e la biomassa legnosa. Il presente contributo propone una procedura innovativa per la stima del volume di massa legnosa di soprassuoli forestali mediante elaborazione di dati LiDAR in ambiente GIS, in particolare per i popolamenti a prevalenza di latifoglie dove i convenzionali metodi di stima basati sulle misurazioni LiDAR dell’altezza dei singoli fusti arborei conducono in genere a risultati relativamente insoddisfacenti. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.asita.it 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2082 Title: Large-scale monitoring of coppice forest clearcuts by multitemporal very high resolution satellite imagery. A case study from central Italy Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Giuliarelli, Diego; Biscontini, Daniele; Tonti, Daniela; Mattioli, Walter; Marchetti, Marco; Corona, Piermaria Abstract: Reliable assessment of forest resource stock, productivity and harvesting is a commonly agreed objective of environmental monitoring programs. Distinctively, the assessment of wood harvesting has become even more relevant to evaluate the sustainability of forest management and to quantify forest carbon budget. This paper presents the development and testing of procedures for assessing forest harvesting in coppice forests by very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. The study area is located in central Italy over approximately 34,000 km2. A set of SPOT5 HRG multispectral images was acquired for the study years (2002–2007). Official administrative statistics of coppice clearcutswere also acquired.More than 9500 clearcuts weremapped and dated by on-screen interpretation of the SPOT5 images. In a subset of the study area various methods for semi-automatic clearcut mapping were tested by pixel- and object-oriented approaches. The following results are presented: (i) clearcut map developed by visual interpretation of the SPOT5 images resulted in high thematic (overall accuracy of 0.99) and geometric (rootmean square error of clearcut boundary delineation of 5.3 m) reliability; (ii) object-oriented approach achieved significantly better accuracy than pixel-based methods for semi-automatic classification of the coppice clearcuts; (iii) comparison between mapped clearcut area and official forest harvesting statistics proved a significant underestimation by the latter (65% of the total mapped clearcut area). A sample-based procedure exploiting VHR satellite imagery is finally proposed to correct the official statistics of coppice clearcuts. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sciencedirect.com 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2079 Title: Boschi e foreste in Italia secondo le più recenti fonti informative Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Macrì, Antonio; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: Negli ultimi anni, il contesto internazionale, nazionale e locale è divenuto sempre più impegnativo per quanto riguarda gli indirizzi di politica forestale e ambientale e, conseguentemente, sempre più stringenti le connesse richieste di dati. Nella prospettiva di un quadro di sintesi a livello nazionale, la presente nota mira a fornire una panoramica sulle principali fonti informative relative ad alcuni aspetti salienti dei sistemi forestali. Lo scopo non è un’analisi critica delle fonti, quanto piuttosto una rassegna di dati in forma di breve compendio commentato. Particolare attenzione viene riservata al commento delle statistiche di superficie forestale fornite da ISTAT. 2003-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2122 Title: Potenzialità delle immagini telerilevate Spot 5 per inventari forestali su vasta scala. Authors: Davide, Travaglini; Chirici, Gherardo; Corona, Piermaria; Lamonaca, Andrea; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: The current needs of an in-depth knowledge about forest ecosystems requires the support of very detailed information. That is why up to now air-born imagery has been preferred to satellite imagery for forest inventory applications, at least in Italy. The new satellite sensors with high or very high spatial resolution and quite high spectral resolution allow to overcome such a limit and can be considered as suitable data for forest mapping at high and medium scales as well as inventory supports. In such a view, this paper shows the results of an experimental comparison between sampling point photointerpretation by Spot 5 images and by digital orthophotos (grey scale/8 bit), over a 15000-ha-wide study area in Central Italy. Albeit a more enlarged testing is needed for definitive conclusions, the obtained results already prove the significative efficiency of Spot 5 high resolution images for forest inventory application. 2002-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2098 Title: Spazializzazione di dati climatici a livello nazionale tramite modelli regressivi localizzati Authors: Blasi, Carlo; Chirici, Gherardo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Maselli, Fabio; Puletti, Nicola Abstract: The availability of spatialised climatic data is an essential pre-requisite for the implementation of GIS-based analysis in many application fields. Among the different methodologies for the spatialization of climatic data collected in weather-stations the most used are those based on geostatistical approaches, on parametric correlative models or on neural networks. Within the “Completamento delle Conoscenze Naturalistiche di Base” project, funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment (Department of Nature Protection) a database of 403 weather-stations distributed across Italy with a time series of thirty years was collected. Data of mean monthly temperature (minimum and maximum) and rainfalls were spatialized by a local linear univariate regressive method based on elevation as independent variable. A total of 36 monthly maps with a geometric resolution of 250 m was generated. The present paper introduces the adopted methodology and the accuracy results estimated by leave-one-out cross validation. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sisef.it 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2147 Title: Criterion 3. Maintenance and Encouragement of Productive Functions of Forests (Wood and Non-Wood) Authors: Marchetti, Marco; Corona, Piermaria; Lassere, Bruno; Pettenella, Davide; Stahl, Goran Abstract: - Description: Il report è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.foresteurope.org 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2092 Title: Confronto sperimentale tra superfici a ceduo tagliate a raso osservate mediante immagini satellitari ad alta risoluzione e tagliate riscontrate amministrativamente Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Giuliarelli, Diego; Lamonaca, Andrea; Mattioli, Walter; Tonti, Daniela; Chirici, Gherardo; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: The aim of this work is to test the potential of SPOT5 satellite images for monitoring coppice clearcuts. The clearcuts, delineated by on screen interpretation of the satellite images, are compared with the administrative statistics reported for a sample of 230 administrative units. Administrative statistics result significantly lower than those by satellite images, with an average ratio between clearcut area observed by SPOT5 images within each sample unit and the corresponding administrative statistics equal to 1.45. The underestimation by the administrative data is likely due to the simplified process of authorization of coppice clearcuts as well as the eventual lack of timeliness and/or loss of data that sometimes hinder the information flow from administrative bodies to National Forest Service, that is in charge of feeding the official forest statistics. In the light of the experimentation carried out, an operational procedure by SPOT5 images is proposed for the statistical calibration of administrative data about coppice clearcuts. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sisef.it 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2090 Title: Background, main results and conclusions from a test phase for biodiversity assessments on intensive forest monitoring plots in Europe Authors: Fisher, Richard; Granke, Oliver; Chirici, Gherardo; Meyer, Peter; Seidling, Walter; Strofer, Silvia; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Travaglini, Davide Abstract: The Forest Biodiversity Test phase Assessments (ForestBIOTA) project was carried out on 97 intensive monitoring plots located in 12 European countries. It aimed at the development and test implementation of monitoring methods for forest biodiversity across Europe. More specifically it covered the fields of (i) stand structure, (ii) forest deadwood, (iii) ground vegetation and (iv) epiphytic lichens. A forest type classification was applied in addition. The project took into account policy requirements stated by a number of political processes and institutions including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe, the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference and the European Union. Whereas detailed results of the assessments are presented in additional publications (Stofer et al. 2007, in prep, Meyer et al. 2007, submitted), this paper draws a number of general conclusions and gives recommendations for future development of forest biodiversity monitoring in Europe. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2114 Title: ForestBIOTA data on deadwood monitoring in Europe Authors: Travaglini, Davide; Barbati, Anna; Chirici, Gherardo; Lombardi, Fabio; Marchetti, Marco; Corona, Piermaria Abstract: Deadwood is a key ecological factor in forest ecosystems. Its occurrence is fundamental since it represents a microhabitat for hundreds of species of invertebrates, fungi, bryophytes, lichens, amphibians, small mammals and birds. In recent years, deadwood has been recognized as a relevant indicator for the assessment and monitoring of forest biodiversity. In this paper the methodology for surveying woody necromass proposed by the ForestBIOTA project under Regulation (EC) No 2152/ 2003 (Forest Focus) is described. The amount of deadwood found on 91 Intensive Monitoring Level II plot of the EU and ICP Forest condition monitoring programme range from 0 to 258 m3 ha71. In the examined areas, total deadwood volume does not differ significantly among forest types, due to the high intra-type variability. On the other hand, its distribution between coarse and fine necromass and among necromass components is highly dependent on forest types. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.tandf.co.uk/journals/ 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2153 Title: Risorse forestali e rischio di desertifcazione in Italia. Standard programmatici di gestione Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Ferrari, Barbara; Marchetti, Marco; Barbati, Anna Abstract: Saggio monografico frutto di approfondite indagini riguardanti le foreste di alcune delle più aride regioni italiane, il cui obiettivo principale è illustrare il ruolo della gestione forestale nella lotta alla desertificazione in Italia e proporre, altresì, una strategia di prevenzione, contrasto e mitigazione attraverso standard programmatici appositamente elaborati 2005-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2144 Title: Estimation of growing stock of broadleaved forests by airborne laser scanning Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Lamonaca, Andrea; Chirici, Gherardo; Travaglini, Davide; Marchetti, Marco; Minari, Emma; Montaghi, Alessandro Abstract: Airborne laser scanning (ALS) is increasingly being proposed for surveying forest attributes. The objective of this paper is to present a new approach for the estimation of growing stock based on ALS data. The approach is distinctively developed for broadleaved stands where conventional methods for growing stock estimation based on ALS measurements of single tree heights frequently provide poor results. Theoretical background and model-based statistical estimators are reported. 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1905 Title: Proposta metodologica per l'inventario su vasta scala fuori foresta. Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Chiriacò, Maria Vincenza; Ferrari, Barbara; Salvati, Riccardo; Marchetti, Marco; Lasserre, Bruno Abstract: Methodological proposal for large-scale inventory of trees outside forests Trees outside forests (TOF) are all those forest trees or group of trees scattered within rural and urbanized areas and not classified under forest. The importance of TOF is known as a source of energy for domestic use, soil and wind protection, biodiversity conservation, atmospheric CO2 sequestration, etc. The aim of this note is to outline a survey methodology to assess TOF on large territories, exploiting the first phase of the large-scale multiphase forest inventories. The protocol was tested in various landscapes in Italy, for a total inventoried land of 3533 km2. In the test areas TOF proved to stock 12,1 Mg C km-2, on average. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2143 Title: Armonizzazione degli inventari forestali per il monitoraggio della biodiversità Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Marchetti, Marco; Corona, Piermaria Abstract: Gli approcci selvicolturali orientati alla gestione sostenibile delle risorse forestali richiedono la disponibilità di informazioni di supporto qualitativamente e quantitativamente superiori rispetto a quelle richieste da un approccio più tradizionale finalizzato alla massimizzazione della produzione legnosa. Negli ultimi anni la selvicoltura si è evoluta proponendo nuovi approcci orientati alla ottimizzazione delle funzionalità biologiche del sistema bosco. Parallelamente vari processi internazionali a livello Europeo (Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Streamlining Biodiversity Indicators by 2010) e globale (Montreal Process, Protocollo di Kyoto) richiedono la quantificazione di numerosi indicatori attraverso i quali valutare il livello di sostenibilità della gestione forestale e il valore ecologico degli ecosistemi forestali. L’ampliata domanda di informazioni su aspetti ecologici e ambientali delle foreste richiede un adattamento dei protocolli di rilevamento inventariale che ne costituiscono la principale fonte informativa. Il presente contributo è basato sui primi risultati dell’azione COST E43 “Harmonisation of National forest inventories in Europe: techniques for common reporting” Working Group 3 che è impegnato nella valutazione della capacità di reporting armonizzato del livello di biodiversità degli ecosistemi forestali da parte degli inventari forestali nazionali. Dall’analisi dei metodi, delle definizioni e dei protocolli adottati da 27 Paesi è possibile dedurre l’attuale capacità degli inventari forestali per la derivazione di un gruppo di indicatori della biodiversità forestale organizzati in sette aree tematiche (core variables): tipologie forestali, legno morto, diversità compositiva e strutturale, età, naturalità, vegetazione non forestale, rinnovazione. Sulla base delle analisi realizzate nell’azione COST E43 viene qui presentato l’inquadramento metodologico delle procedure di armonizzazione e la loro possibile applicazione finalizzata alla derivazione di indicatori di biodiversità forestale. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2135 Title: Estimation of Mediterranean forest attributes by the application of k-NN procedures to multitemporal Landsat ETM+ images Authors: Maselli, Fabio; Chirici, Gherardo; Bottai, Lorenzo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: Routinely, applications of nonparametric estimation methods to satellite data for assisting the creation of forest inventories in Northern European countries are stimulating interest in the possible extension of these methods to more complex Mediterranean areas. This is the subject of the current work, which presents an experiment based on the integration of remotely sensed images and sample field measurements aimed at producing forest attribute maps in central Italy. Testing was carried out in an area where 370 geocoded field plots, sampled on a singlestage cluster design, were collected to characterize wood and non-wood forest attributes. These ground data served to apply various k-Nearest Neighbour (k- NN) estimation procedures to multitemporal Landsat 7 ETM+ images in order to map major forest attributes (basal area and simulated leaf area index, LAI). More specifically, the investigation focused on evaluating the effects of using satellite images from different periods of the growing season and spectral metrics of increasing complexity. The results achieved by the examined methods are finally discussed in order to provide guidelines for possible operational utilization. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/ 2004-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2117 Title: Post fire natural regeneration monitoring with the integrated use of high resolution remotely sensed images: the case study of the Pineta di Castel Fusano Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Balsi, Marco; Bertini, Roberta; Bonora, Nico; Chiavetta, Ugo; Ottaviano, Marco; Corona, Piermaria; Lamonaca, Andrea; Giuliarelli, Diego; Mastronardi, Alessandro; Nardinocchi, Giovanni; Sambucini, Valter; Tonti, Daniela; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: La pineta di Castel Fusano (Roma) è stata colpita il 4 luglio del 2000 da un importante incendio boschivo in seguito al quale si è avviata nell’area una intensa rinnovazione naturale sia per via gamica che agamica. Ai fini di monitoraggio della suddetta rinnovazione sono stati realizzati una serie di rilievi a terra in aree campione nel 2003 e nel 2006. Negli stessi anni è stata acquisita la copertura di immagini telerilevate multispettrali ad altissima risoluzione Ikonos e Quick Bird. Scopo del presente lavoro è la sperimentazione di diverse metodologie finalizzate alla modellizzazione delle relazioni esistenti tra i dati telerilevati acquisiti e le misure realizzate a terra per la stima e la mappatura dei fenomeni di rinnovazione gamica e agamica. Sono stati per questo sperimentati metodi sia tradizionali di analisi regressiva multivariata, sia di tipo non parametrico, con algoritmi basati su reti neurali (Relevance Vector Machine e Multi-Layer Perceptron) e k-Nearest Neighbors. Le attività si inquadrano nell’ambito del progetto GRINFOMED - MEDIFIRE per il quale è stato realizzato un apposito software denominato Spatial Forest Modeller (SFM) capace di analizzare le relazioni tra variabili telerilevate e misurate a terra e di individuare i modelli predittivi migliori in modo da derivare mappe tematiche delle variabili acquisite mediante campionamento a terra. Il contributo illustra i dati acquisiti, le metodologie di analisi e di modellizzazione e i risultati ottenuti. Viene inoltre illustrato il funzionamento del software SFM.; Stone pine stand of Castel Fusano (Rome) burnt on July the 4th 2000 during a huge wildfire. As a consequence of the fire an intensive natural sexual and asexual regeneration began. In order to monitor such a regeneration field surveys were carried out in 2003 and 2006 in sample plots. Remotely sensed high resolution images from Ikonos and Quick Bird were acquired for the same years. The purpose of this work is to test different methodologies for modeling existing relationships between remotely sensed images and ground collected data in order to estimate and to map both sexual and asexual regeneration. For such a purpose different methodologies were tested: step-wise Muliple Linear Regression, Neural Networks (Relevance-Vector-Machine and the Multi-Layered-Perceptron) and the k-Nearest-Neighbors. These activities were carried out within the framework of the GRINFOMED- MEDIFIRE also developing a specific software named Spatial Forest Modeler (SFM) able to analyze existing relationships between remotely sensed variables and data collected in the field in order to identify the best available models to map and estimate the studied variables acquired on the basis of a field sampling design. The present paper presents data collected in the field, analysis and modeling methods and achieved results. The SFM software is also presented. 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2136 Title: Estimating forest area at the year 1990 by two-phase sampling on historical remotely sensed imagery in Italy Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Fattorini, Lorenzo; Chirici, Gherardo; Valentini, Riccardo; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: Forest area in the year 1990 is a fi gure of great interest under the Kyoto Protocol. This note is devoted to a scientifi c exercise for the probabilistic ex post assessment of such a fi gure in Italy. Estimation was performed by twophase point sampling, which made use of historical remotely sensed imagery. In the fi rst phase, a sample of 12 089 points was selected according to an unaligned systematic sampling and the selected points were classifi ed in land-use categories by Landsat 5 TM imagery. In the second phase, a sample of 3000 points was selected by stratifi ed sampling in which the strata were determined by the satellite classifi cation and the selected points were classifi ed by aerial photos, assumed as ground truth. A two-phase estimate of land-use coverage partitioning the Italian territory was obtained together with a conservative estimate of the sampling variance-covariance. The procedure has proved to be of relatively easy implementation and objective repeatability Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.springerlink.com/ 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2134 Title: LaDy: software for assessing local landscape diversity profiles of raster land cover maps using geographic windows Authors: Ricotta, Carlo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Chirici, Gherardo; Innamorati, Stefano Abstract: Landscape ecology starts from the assumption that diversity and spatial arrangement of ecosystem mosaics have ecological implications and tries to understand the interactions between diversity and structure of large spatially heterogeneous areas and their ecological functions. These assumptions imply effective use of earth observation techniques and geographic information systems, enabling a global view of the landscape mosaics. In this paper, a software, LaDy (Landscape Diversity Software), for computing Re´nyi’s local landscape diversity profile on raster land cover maps is presented. LaDy is based on the use of Merchant’s adaptive geographic window, which is designed to operate on a neighborhood of patches instead of a fixed rectangular neighborhood of pixels (the conventional approach in image analysis). Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.elsevier.com 2002-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1902 Title: Deadwood in forest stands close to old-growthness under Mediterranean conditions in the Italian Peninsula Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Lombardi, Fabio; Chirici, Gherardo; Marchetti, Marco; Tognetti, Roberto; Lasserre, Bruno; Barbati, Anna; Ferrari, Barbara; Di Paolo, Silvia; Giuliarelli, Diego; Iovino, Francesco; Nicolaci, Antonino; Bianchi, Livio; Maltoni, Alberto; Travaglini, Davide Abstract: Considering that indicators of old-growth features can vary across the European ecoregions, this paper provides some results to identify the distinctive traits of old-growth forests in the Mediterranean ecoregion. Deadwood occurrence as indicator of naturalness is investigated in some remote forest areas that have developed in absence of anthropogenic disturbance over the past few decades. Eleven study sites across the Italian peninsula were elected and records of deadwood were carried out in 1-ha size plots. Deadwood volume, deadwood types and decay stages were inventoried in the selected sites. The amounts of deadwood indicate a large variability among the investigated forest stands: the total volume ranged between 2 and 143 m3ha-1, with an average of 60 m3ha-1. Lying deadwood is the most abundant component of deadwood in the investigated forests, due to the natural mortality occurring in the stands in relation to the processes established in the last decades. On the contrary, stumps are the less represented type of deadwood in almost all the study areas. All the decay classes are present in each study site. The amount of deadwood in Southern Europe, even if lower than that reported for North and Central European countries, could have a different meaning due to the faster decay occurring in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. For this reason, old-growth features and the characteristics of each indicator should be framed and referred to well-defined climatic and biogeographic contexts. Distinctively, under the conditions here investigated, three main deadwood features prove to characterize forest stands close to old-growthness: a ratio of dead to living wood not lower than 10%; lying deadwood much more abundant than the standing one; large range of deadwood size and decay classes across all the deadwood components. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2131 Title: On parametric fragmentation measures Authors: Ricotta, Carlo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Chirici, Gherardo Abstract: In the landscape ecological literature, a number of measures have been proposed for quantifying landscape fragmentation based on distinct objectives and motivations. However, none seems to be generally preferred. The main reason for this disagreement is that, from a statistical viewpoint, by mapping fragmentation into a single scalar, information is necessarily lost and no ideal function is able to uniquely characterize all aspects of landscape fragmentation. A more complete summarization of fragmentation is possible if, instead of one single index, a parametric index family is applied whose members have varying sensitivities to the presence of large and small landscape patches. While traditional indices supply point descriptions of fragmentation, according to a parametric fragmentation family Ha, there is a continuum of possible fragmentation measures that differ in their sensitivity to the presence of large and small patches as a function of the scaling parameter a. Therefore, changing a allows for vector description of fragmentation. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a parametric generalization of Shannon’s entropy to summarize landscape fragmentation. A small set of artificial landscapes is used to clarify our proposal Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.springerlink.com 2005-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2156 Title: Developing biodiversity assessment on a stand forest type management level in north-eastern Italy Authors: Barbati, Anna; Corona, Piermaria; Carraro, Giovanni; Del Favero, Roberto; Dissegna, Maurizio; Lasen, Cesare; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: This paper discusses a simple operative proposal, elaborated by a team of advisers to the Forestry Service of the Veneto administrative region (north-eastern Italy), concerning the definition of stand-level forest type biodiversity indicators and biodiversity oriented management provisions. Such tools are conceived to transfer biodiversity conservation understanding in current forest stand management practices. The developed assessment system is targeted to: maintenance and increase of the variability of forest landscape mosaic; conservation of species variability; creation of resource reservoirs. The following criteria and indicators are taken into consideration: spatial pattern (widespreadness, connectedness, species contagion potential), forest structure (uneven aged stands: percent of trees in three broad diameter classes; even aged stands: number of development stages and surface of each development stage), herbs/shrubs species (average, minimum and maximum number of species; average number of short-lived herb/ shrub species recorded in minimal anthropic disturbance conditions; dynamic trend in the number of herb/shrub species), bird species (average, minimum and maximum number of species); overall naturalistic quality (flora; vegetation; fauna). Such indicators are proposed as biodiversity reference standards for each forest type in the considered region: they provide practical baseline information with which forest stand management efficiency in achieving biodiversity targets can be compared. 1998-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1904 Title: The application of the ecosystem approach through sustainable forest management: an Italian case study. Authors: Barbati, Anna; Corona, Piermaria; Portoghesi, Luigi; Iovino, Francesco; Marchetti, Marco; Menguzzato, Giuliano Abstract: During the last decades adapting silvicultural systems to a changed society, increasingly aware of the multifunctional role of forests, was a much debated issue in Italy. Stemming from this discussion is the systemic silviculture concept, an adaptive forest management tool aimed at cultivating the forest as a self-organizing system and focusing on sustaining its functional efficiency as the best way to enhance forest multi-functionality. This concept has much connection with the Ecosystem Approach defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity as a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. In the following a case study is presented where the principles of systemic silviculture are implemented in the management of private and common forest properties in the Serre mountains of the Calabria Region (Italy); relationships with the Ecosystem Approach principles are analyzed in order to evaluate to what extent systemic silviculture can be regarded as a means to bring the EA to the implementation level. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2067 Title: Climate change impacts, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability of European forest ecosystems Authors: Marcus, Lindner; Maroschek, Michael; Netherer, Sigrid; Kremer, Antoine; Barbati, Anna; Garcia-Gonzalo, Jordi; Seidl, Rupert; Delzon, Sylvain; Corona, Piermaria; Kolström, Marja; Lexer, Manfred J.; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: This study compiles and summarizes the existing knowledge about observed and projected impacts of climate change on forests in Europe. Forests will have to adapt not only to changes in mean climate variables but also to increased variability with greater risk of extreme weather events, such as prolonged drought, storms and floods. Sensitivity, potential impacts, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability to climate change are reviewed for European forests. The most important potential impacts of climate change on forest goods and services are summarized for the Boreal, Temperate Oceanic, Temperate Continental, Mediterranean, and mountainous regions. Especially in northern and western Europe the increasing atmospheric CO2 content and warmer temperatures are expected to result in positive effects on forest growth and wood production, at least in the short–medium term. On the other hand, increasing drought and disturbance risks will cause adverse effects. These negative impacts are very likely to outweigh positive trends in southern and eastern Europe. From west to east, the drought risk increases. In the Mediterranean regions productivity is expected to decline due to strongly increased droughts and fire risks. Adaptive capacity consists of the inherent adaptive capacity of trees and forest ecosystems and of socio-economic factors determining the capability to implement planned adaptation. The adaptive capacity in the forest sector is relatively large in the Boreal and the Temperate Oceanic regions, more constrained by socio-economic factors in the Temperate Continental, and most limited in the Mediterranean region where large forest areas are only extensively managed or unmanaged. Potential impacts and risks are best studied and understood with respect to wood production. It is clear that all other goods and services provided by European forests will also be impacted by climate change, but much less knowledge is available to quantify these impacts. Understanding of adaptive capacity and regional vulnerability to climate change in European forests is not well developed and requires more focussed research efforts. An interdisciplinary research agenda integrated with monitoring networks and projection models is needed to provide information at all levels of decision making, from policy development to the management unit. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2086 Title: Non-parametric and parametric methods using satellite images for estimating growing stock volume in alpine and Mediterranean forest ecosystems Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Barbati, Anna; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Maselli, Fabio; Bertini, Roberta Abstract: This paper describes applications of non-parametric and parametric methods for estimating forest growing stock volume using Landsat images on the basis of data measured in the field, integrated with ancillary information. Several k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) algorithm configurations were tested in two study areas in Italy belonging to Mediterranean and Alpine ecosystems. Field data were acquired by the regional forest inventory and forest management plans, and satellite images are from Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+. The paper describes the data used, the methodologies adopted and the results achieved in terms of pixel level accuracy of forest growing stock volume estimates. The results show that several factors affect estimation accuracy when using the k-NN method. For the two test areas a total of 3500 different configurations of the k-NN algorithm were systematically tested by changing the number and type of spectral and ancillary input variables, type of multidimensional distance measures, number of nearest neighbors and methods for spectral feature extraction using the leave-one-out (LOO) procedure. The best k-NN configurations were then used for pixel level estimation; the accuracy was estimated with a bootstrapping procedure; and the results were compared to estimates obtained using parametric regression methods implemented on the same data set. The best k-NN growing stock volume pixel level estimates in the Alpine area have a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) ranging between 74 and 96 m3 ha− 1 (respectively, 22% and 28% of the mean measured value) and between 106 and 135 m3 ha− 1 (respectively, 44% and 63% of the mean measured value) in the Mediterranean area. On the whole, the results cast a promising light on the use of non-parametric techniques for forest attribute estimation and mapping with accuracy high enough to support forest planning activities in such complex landscapes. The results of the LOO analyses also highlight the importance of a local empirical optimization phase of the k-NN procedure before defining the best algorithm configuration. In the tests performed the pixel level accuracy increased, depending on the k-NN configuration, as much as 100%. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sciencedirect.com 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2110 Title: Outlining multi-purpose forest inventories to assess the ecosystem approach in forestry Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: A summary and discussion of selected published results on the current and potential role of forest inventories (with particular reference to the national ones) are presented in the light of the challenges posed by society and policy decisions in the environmental sector. The analysis concentrates mainly on the ecological and socio-economic aspects of the question and on forest inventories’ potential contribution to achieving sustainable forest management. Description: L'articolo è diponibile sul sito dell'editore wwww.tandf.co.uk/journals/ 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2112 Title: A forest typology for monitoring sustainable forest management: The case of European Forest Types Authors: Barbati, Anna; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: Sustainable forest management (SFM) is presently widely accepted as the overriding objective for forest policy and practice. Regional processes are in progress all over the world to develop and implement criteria and indicators of SFM. In continental Europe, a set of 35 Pan-European indicators has been endorsed under the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) to measure progress towards SFM in the 44 countries of the region. The formulation of seven indicators (forest area, growing stock, age structure/diameter distribution, deadwood, tree species composition, damaging agents, naturalness) requires national data to be reported by forest types. Within the vast European forest area the values taken by these indicators show a considerable range of variation, due to variable natural conditions and anthropogenic influences. Given this variability, it is very difficult to grasp the meaning of these indicators when taken out of their ecological background. The paper discusses the concepts behind, and the requirements of, a classification more soundly ecologically framed and suitable for MCPFE reporting than the three (un-informative) classes adopted so far: broadleaved forest, coniferous forest, mixed broadleaved and coniferous forest. We propose a European Forest Types scheme structured into a reasonably higher number of classes, that would improve the specificity of the indicators reported under the MCPFE process and its understanding. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.tandf.co.uk/journals/ 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2118 Title: Forest ecosystem inventory and monitoring as a framework for terrestrial natural renewable resource survey programmes Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Chirici, Gherardo; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: The established practice of forest ecosystem inventory and monitoring is recognised as a main support for terrestrial natural renewable resource survey programmes. Inventory and monitoring programmes focused on an overall assessment of ecosystem attributes evolving into global environmental survey programmes have been devised, but implementation is still quite contradictory. The state-of-the-art is discussed here, with special reference to the European Union and Italy. Topical issues are reviewed, with selective concern to: remote sensing capability, probability sampling, forest type (habitat) classification and landscape ecology, sustainable management indicators. Benefits brought by information technology are highlighted. Its development and the implementation of approaches based on a sound “per habitat” landscape ecological perspective will bring unique benefits, thus leading to an effective integration among sector surveys aimed at global environmental inventory/monitoring. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.tandf.co.uk/journals/ 2001-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2138 Title: Aspects of biological diversity in the CONECOFOR plots. V. Deadwood surveying experiments in alpine and mediterranean forest ecosystems Authors: Travaglini, Davide; Mason, Franco; Lopresti, Massimo; Lombardi, Fabio; Marchetti, Marco; Chirici, Gherardo; Corona, Piermaria Abstract: In recent years, deadwood has become more and more considered as indicator in the assessment of the biodiversity and naturalness of forest ecosystems. Its occurrence, in an appropriate proportion according to forest use, is fundamental for the maintenance of biological diversity, since it represents a microhabitat for hundred of species of invertebrates, fungi, bryophytes, lichens, amphibians, small mammals and birds. Having acknowledged its importance in forest coenoses, quantification of deadwood components in a given habitat, in relation to forest type and type of management, becomes essential. In our study, different survey designs were tested and compared for assessing deadwood components: stumps, lying coarse wood pieces and lying fine wood pieces. As expected, the experiments carried out show that sample-based estimates of ground necromass tend to be more accurate as the quantity of necromass present within the area to be surveyed and the size of the sampling units increase. The adoption of four 7-m-radius subplots in a systematic configuration has proved to be a good compromise between accuracy and survey costs for volume estimation of stumps and lying wood pieces within the examined experimental forest stand plot.; Esperienze sperimentali di rilevamento della necromassa legnosa in cenosi forestali alpine e mediterranee. Negli ultimi anni, il legno morto è sempre più considerato un indicatore per valutare la biodiversità e la naturalità di un sistema forestale. La sua presenza, nelle opportune proporzioni commisurate anche alle finalità di coltivazione della foresta, è fondamentale per il mantenimento della diversità biologica, rappresentando il microhabitat per centinaia di specie di invertebrati, funghi, briofite, licheni, anfibi, piccoli mammiferi ed uccelli. Riconosciuta l’importanza della necromassa legnosa nelle cenosi forestali, diviene fondamentale la sua quantificazione in un determinato ambiente, distinguendone la presenza in funzione dei tipi forestali e delle forme di gestione. A tal fine, in questo studio sono state sperimentate e valutate comparativamente differenti strategie di rilievo di alcune componenti della necromassa legnosa a terra: ceppaie, rami grossi e rami fini. Come atteso, la sperimentazione mostra che la stima della necromassa grossolana e fine a terra tende ad essere più accurata all’aumentare della quantità di legno morto presente e all’aumentare delle dimensioni della superficie di rilevamento. Nelle condizioni esaminate, l’adozione di quattro subplots di 7 m di raggio in configurazione sistematica è risultato un buon compromesso tra accuratezza e costi di indagine per la stima del volume delle ceppaie e del legno morto a terra. 2005-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2121 Title: Beware of contagion! Authors: Ricotta, Carlo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco Abstract: Landscape ecology starts from the assumption that diversity and spatial arrangement of ecosystem mosaics has ecological implications and tries to understand the interactions between diversity and structure of large spatially heterogeneous areas and its ecological functions. This approach implies effective use of earth observation techniques and geographic information systems, enabling a global view of the landscape mosaics. Consequently, a large number of indices has been used to quantify the structure of categorical maps as a surrogate of actual landscapes and correlate them to ecological processes. In particular, the entropy-based contagion index has been extensively used to summarize the amount of clumping or fragmentation of patches on raster categorical maps. However, despite its widespread application, the contagion index is very dependent on pixel resolution. This effect may render it inadequate as a meaningful measure of landscape structure. To overcome this major shortcoming, in this short note we propose to quantify pixel adjacency with a bivariate summary statistics that is not adversely influenced by pixel resolution. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.elsevier.com 2002-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2310 Title: Stato dell'arte delle applicazioni laser scanning aereo a supporto della gestione delle risorse forestali in Italia Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Scrinzi, Gianfranco; Torresan, Chiara Abstract: I dati da laser scanning aereo (ALS) vengono sempre più proposti per la descrizione della struttura dei popolamenti forestali nei suoi aspetti della distribuzione verticale e orizzontale e di copertura delle chiome. Al contempo varie procedure sono state proposte per la stima del volume e della biomassa legnosa dei popolamenti forestali a partire dalla relazione tra valori di queste grandezze misurati in aree campione a terra e valori ipsometrici ottenuti dai ritorni ALS. La conoscenza sulle potenzialità dei dati ALS è però ancora relativamente modesta nell’ambiente operativo italiano. L’utilizzo dei dati ALS è stato finora finalizzato prevalentemente alla stratificazione dei popolamenti boschivi, all’identificazione di tipi forestali e colturali e alla stima delle masse legnose a scala locale. Rimangono ancora quasi inesplorate le possibilità di integrazione dei dati ALS nell’ambito di inventari forestali di ampie superfici e per la misurazione di fenomeni emergenti quali i boschi di neoformazione, le variazioni della timberline, la stima delle quantità di combustibile nelle formazioni forestali e preforestali. Anche l’integrazione di dati multispettrali e dati ALS in processi tesi all’inventariazione contestuale sia qualitativa che quantitativa delle risorse forestali rappresenta tematica di interesse così come, probabilmente in un futuro meno immediato, l’analisi della correlazione tra variazioni ipsometriche desunte da dati ALS e fattori quali l’incremento corrente di volume, il tasso di prelievo legnoso, i fenomeni di degradazione strutturale dei popolamenti forestali. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.asita.it 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2307 Title: Airborne Laser Scanning to support forest resource management under alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments in Italy Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Cartisano, Rosaria; Salvati, Riccardo; Chirici, Gherardo; Floris, Antonio; Di Martino, Paolo; Marchetti, Marco; Scrinzi, Gianfranco; Clementel, Fabrizio; Torresan, Chiara Abstract: This paper aims to provide general considerations, in the form of a scientific review, with reference to selected experiences of ALS applications under alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments in Italy as case studies. In Italy, the use of ALS data have been mainly focused on the stratification of forest stands and the estimation of their timber volume and biomass at local scale. Potential for ALS data exploitation concerns their integration in forest inventories on large territories, their usage for silvicultural systems detection and their use for the estimation of fuel load in forest and pre-forest stands. Multitemporal ALS may even be suitable to support the assessment of current annual volume increment and the harvesting rates. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2311 Title: Cambiamenti di copertura forestale e dell’uso del suolo nell’inventario dell’uso delle terre in Italia Authors: Marchetti, Marco; Bertani, Remo; Corona, Piermaria; Valentini, Riccardo Abstract: Changes of forest coverage and land uses as assessed by the inventory of land uses in Italy. The paper presents the IUTI program, a land use inventory of Italy, based on point sampling. It has been carried out to support the National Carbon Sink Accounting Register and it was realized within the framework of the Italian National Remote Sensing Plan managed by the Italian Ministry of Environment. IUTI has monitored the land use and land use change and forestry in the last two decades over the country at the years 1990, 2000, 2008, adopting a tessellated stratified sampling scheme with about 1.2 million sample points on aerial orthophotos. Following definitions, methods and inventory procedures, the main results are discussed. They show the heavy changes affecting surface and distribution of the various classes for arable lands, forests and urban areas. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sisef.it 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2333 Title: K-NN FOREST: a software for the non-parametric prediction and mapping of environmental variables by the k-Nearest Neighbors algorithm Authors: Chirici, Gherardo; Corona, Piermaria; Marchetti, Marco; Mastronardi, Alessandro; Maselli, Fabio; Bottai, Lorenzo; Travaglini, Davide Abstract: In the last decades researchers investigated the possibility of extending the information collected in sampling units during a field survey to wider geographical areas through the use of remotely sensed images. One of the most widely adopted approaches is based on the non-parametric k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) algorithm. This contribution describes the software K-NN FOREST we developed to provide a complete tool for the implementation of the k-NN technique to generate spatially explicit estimations (maps) of a response variable acquired in the field by sampling units through the use of remotely sensed data or other ancillary variables. K-NN FOREST is designed to guide the user through a graphic user interface in the different phases of the process. K-NN FOREST is freely available for download and it is designed to run under Windows environment in conjunction with the GIS software IDRISI. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2338 Title: Carbon sequestration by forests in the National Parks of Italy Authors: Marchetti, Marco; Sallustio, Lorenzo; Ottaviano, Marco; Barbati, Anna; Corona, Piermaria; Tognetti, Roberto; Zavattero, Laura; Capotorti, Giulia Abstract: Recent attempts to mitigate global change have brought forestry-based carbon (C) sequestration into sharp focus due to its potential to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the consequences of actual forest management practices on C storage capacity are still controversial to a certain extent. Under such a perspective, a distinctive relevant issue concerns the management of forest ecosystems within areas specifically designated for nature conservation. From the analysis of biomass data from forests in the National Parks of Italy, we found that the average forest C stock and sink per unit area is relatively higher within National Parks (81.21 and 2.18 tons ha71, respectively) than on the overall national territory (76.11 and 1.12 tons ha71 year71, respectively). The analysis confirms the influence of ecological conditions and management approach on C sequestration capacity. Although the results of the proposed assessment approach have to be considered as rough estimates, the trial proves interesting, given the relative lack of specific information, at least on a large scale, about C stocks and sinks within forest areas designated for nature conservation, and the direct comparison with those forest areas not designated to such an end. The C storage capacity can be enhanced by increasing the productivity of forests, minimizing the disturbance to stand structure and composition. Extending conservation strategies adopted in National Parks to other forest areas of the national territory would allow the restoration of C sequestration potential, where unsustainable management practices have degraded relatively large stocks of biomass. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.tandfonline.com 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2339 Title: Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry Authors: Kolström, Marja; Marcus Lindner, Marcus; Maroschek, Michael; Seidl, Rupert; Lexer, Manfred J.; Netherer, Sigrid; Kremer, Antoine; Delzon, Sylvain; Barbati, Anna; Marchetti, Marco; Corona, Piermaria Abstract: Developing adaptation measures in forestry is an urgent task because the forests regenerated today will have to cope with climate conditions that may drastically changeduring the life of the trees in the stand. This paper presents a comprehensive review of potential adaptation options in forestry in Europe based on three pillars: a review of the scientific literature, an analysis of current national response strategies, and an expert assessment based on a database compiled in the COST Action ECHOES (Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture). The adaptation measures include responses to both risks and opportunities created by climate change and address all stages of forestry operations. Measures targeted to reduce vulnerability to climate change may either aim to reduce forest sensitivity to adverse climate change impacts or increase adaptive capacity to cope with the changing environmental conditions. Adaptation measures mitigating drought and fire risk such as selection of more drought resistant species and genotypes are crucial. For adaptation to be successful it is of the utmost importance to disseminate the knowledge of suitable adaptation measures to all decision makers from the practice to the policy level. The analysis of the ECHOES database demonstrates that this challenge is well recognized in many European countries. Uncertainty about the full extent of climate change impacts and the suitability of adaptation measures creates a need for monitoring and further research. A better understanding of how to increase adaptive capacity is also needed, as well as regional vulnerability assessments which are crucial for targeting planned adaptation measures. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2346 Title: Land use inventory as framework for environmental accounting: an application in Italy Authors: Corona, Piermaria; Barbati, Anna; Tomao, Antonio; Bertani, Remo; Valentini, Riccardo; Marchetti, Marco; Fattorini, Lorenzo; Perugini, Lucia Abstract: Land use inventories are sound measures to provide information on the area occupied by different land use or land cover types and their changes, although less widespread than traditional mapping; as such, they are distinctively wellestablished tools for generating statistics on the state and the dynamics of land use in the European Union. Italy has recently set up a land use inventory system (IUTI) as a key instrument for accounting removals and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) associated to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities elected by Italy under the Kyoto Protocol. IUTI adopts a statistical sampling procedure to estimate the area covered by LULUCF land use categories in Italy, and associated uncertainty estimates. Estimates of land use have been so far processed for the period 1990-2008 and highlight three interlinked land use change patterns in Italy: (i) increase in forest land for a total uptake of 1.7% of the Italian territory; forest cover estimates, with a standard error of 0.1%, indicate an annual increase of forestland higher over the period 1990-2000 (32 901 ha year-1) than in 2000-2008 (22 857 ha year-1); surprisingly, also a significant deforestation rate is observed (-7000 ha year-1), due to forest land conversion mainly into artificial areas; (ii) consumption of arable land (-4.2% of the Italian territory) primarily due to land uptake by urban areas and to conversions to permanent crops (mainly orchards and vineyards); (iii) urban sprawl uptakes 1.6% of the Italian territory in this period, with a total coverage of settlements reaching 7.1% of total land surface in Italy in 2008. Overall, land use dynamic results in land uptake by forest land is of the same magnitude of land uptake by urban areas, but the effects of these processes on GHG removals (by forest sinks) and emissions (by urban areas) is expected to be significantly different. In a broader perspective, IUTI methodology, by providing reliable estimates and well-defined levels of statistical uncertainty for assessing stocks and flows of land use at national level, can be further implemented to frame other key questions for sustainable development policies, like the set up of environmental-economic accounting systems. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.sisef.it 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z