Biodiversity, conservation and old-growth forests
We study relationships among forest structure, ecological continuity, management and biodiversity. Particular attention is given to old-growth forests and to features associated with mature and senescent stages, including large trees, deadwood, tree-related microhabitats and structural complexity.
Research questions
- Which forest structures and processes most strongly support biodiversity?
- How can old-growthness, naturalness and ecological continuity be identified and monitored?
- How can conservation and management be integrated in multifunctional forests?
Approaches and methods
We use surveys of forest structure, deadwood and tree-related microhabitats, habitat and species data, naturalness indicators, remote sensing and spatial analysis. In recent projects we also integrate citizen science and participatory monitoring.
Related projects
ForBEST · eLTER+ · LIFE FOREST4FUTURE · Lombardy Region – old-growth forests · Val di Mello · BIO-WATCH · Parco Agricolo Sud Milano · Valmalenco · Valli del Verbano · Parco Italia
Selected publications
- Paillet Y. et al. (2024). One to rule them all? Assessing the performance of sustainable forest management indicators against multitaxonomic data for biodiversity conservation.
- Nagel T.A. et al. (2025). Can triad forestry reconcile Europe’s biodiversity and forestry strategies? A critical evaluation of forest zoning.
- Barredo J.I., Vizzarri M., Kuželová K. (2024). Archetypal typology of European forest ecosystems integrating management intensity and naturalness.
- Vacchiano G. et al. (2016). Frequent coppicing deteriorates the conservation status of black alder forests in the Po plain.
- Santopuoli G. et al. (2022). Effects of forest management on tree-related microhabitats in Mediterranean forests.