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Lombardy Region – Direct protection forests

2024–2026 · Lombardy Region · University of Milan
Scientific lead: Alessio Cislaghi

Boulder stopped by trees in a protection forest
Photo: LWF Bayern · Source: LWF Bayern

The project develops methods to identify, characterise and map forests that directly protect people, buildings and infrastructure from avalanches, rockfall, shallow landslides and debris flows.

A simplified regional method integrates forest maps, natural hazards and exposed assets, while an advanced approach combines field surveys, remote sensing and spatially distributed modelling to compare scenarios with and without forest cover and quantify protective effectiveness. Results support forest planning and silvicultural guidance.

Related research lines: Protection forests and hydrogeological hazards · Monitoring, remote sensing and forest modelling

Planned outputs: Regional mapping methodology, management guidelines, spatial database and maps of forests with direct protection functions.