Work Productivity, Costs and Environmental Impacts of Two Thinning Methods in Italian Beech High Forests

In the Mediterranean area, most common management of beech forests relies on shelterwood system. However, more effort has been put into developing alternative silvicultural treatments to enhance forests’ capacity provide higher ecosystem services. The crop-tree system seems perform well, particularly under economic point view. Moreover, it can quality timber from thinning interventions which are carried out before end rotation period. very few articles have found in literature dealing with evaluation and environmental performance method based (AT) comparison traditional below typical (TT). Therefore, three study areas Italy were selected assess working productivity, costs GHG emissions associated two methods. application mechanized extraction systems, AT showed work productivity lower than TT, whereas reduction by was observed only one areas. There not significant improvement related when using animals for operations. economically sustainable high forests, but as effective TT. Crop-tree proved be a suitable option applied forest stands, although further studies should focus overall cycle include impacts presence saplings expected after intervention.