Dead wood characterisation in Quercus frainetto stands in Calabria (Southern Italy)

Abstract

Pan European Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) recognized dead wood as an indicator in the assessment of the biodiversity and naturalness of forests ecosystems. Dead wood plays an important role in limiting atmospheric CO2 levels as well. The aim of this work was to produce data about the quantities and the quality of dead wood. In this context investigations have been carried out in Quercus frainetto stands in two protected areas in southern Italy. Dead wood was divided into: coarse woody debris (CWD), standing dead trees (SDT), litter and stumps. The average volume of CWD was 5.3 m3 ha-1 while the average volume of SDT was 3.6 m3 ha-1. Average total litter production was 4.6 Mg ha-1 and stumps average volume was 0.4 m3 ha-1. Total carbon stored in dead wood was 3.1 Mg C ha-1. Observations and comments on the dead wood management in Quercus frainetto stands in Mediterranean area are reported.

Keywords

• Biodiversity
• Dead wood
• Litter
• Carbon storage
• Quercus frainetto