Biodiversity conservation and forest management in Sicily

Abstract

The traditional forest management (frequent cutting, considerable biomass drawing) does not help the forest natural regeneration. Fortunately, the forest management is going to change doe to socio-economical transformations that involved Sicily. Consequently the silvicultural treatment to preserve the forest biological cycles and the ecological complexity of the plant communities have to be modified. On the other hand the desirable transition to a better forest management encounters several obstacles. Financial difficulties and the large use of forest areas for grazing are the main obstacles.