Forests have accompanied our species on its journey for thousands of years, yet only today, in the midst of a severe climate crisis and ecological crisis, are we beginning to truly understand their importance. In Italy, forests currently cover almost 12 million hectares — 39 per cent of the national territory — and are constantly expanding. This expansion, however, is happening mainly in mountain areas and rural zones, Giorgio Vacchiano, a researcher in forest management and planning at the University of Milan, pointed out: "whereas in the plains, the spread of urban centres and soil sealing continues at a rate of 2 square metres of fertile soil lost every second."

Forests also appear to be increasingly exposed to extreme weather events caused by global warming. It is therefore more and more necessary to reflect on forest management policies and land conservation. It is precisely to take stock of the state of health of our forests and promote their sustainable management that the twelfth national congress of the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (Sisef) is under way in Palermo.

The role of silviculture

The congress, which began on the 12th and will conclude on 15 November, aims to highlight the importance of silviculture as "the science of synthesis between ecological knowledge and management techniques, with interventions that safeguard the existence of the forest system and reconcile it with human social and economic expectations," as the congress portal states.

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In particular, it represents an opportunity to present new ideas and share experiences and "to take stock of the application of established knowledge and experimental techniques to be channelled into planning in order to achieve true sustainability in the relationship between humans and forests." The event therefore sets out to try to address some of today's issues relating to green areas, in order to provide concrete guidance to forest managers.

Forests for the climate

One of the most urgent issues debated at the congress is the role of forests in the fight against climate change. Italy's forests absorb 6 per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and recent studies have shown that forest management can offset 7 per cent of the European Union's total emissions. In light of the pace of change currently under way, however, interventions are needed to help forests adapt, such as creating mixed-species and structurally diversified woodlands, assisted migration and the enhancement of genetic resources.

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Bringing forests into cities

Another issue to be addressed is that of urban green space. Urban areas are the zones most affected by the impacts of climate change, and it is precisely in cities that the presence of forests would be most needed, as they are capable of countering those impacts. Trees, for example, are regulators of the microclimate and can mitigate the rise in urban temperatures by several degrees. Urban forests are also able to remove pollutants, which are present in ever-higher concentrations in European cities, thereby contributing to improvements in human health.

How to manage forests

"Forests have existed for 500 million years, humans for fewer than 5 million," said Giorgio Vacchiano. "Ecosystems do not need humans. On the contrary, it is humans who need healthy ecosystems and the services they provide." Sustainable management and forest planning — the central themes of the Sisef congress — design and implement the interventions needed to achieve them, while at the same time conserving the forest heritage. In our country, sustainable forest management, which is indispensable for ensuring the ecological, economic and social sustainability of the sector, still needs to be improved. Currently, only 18 per cent of woodlands are subject to planning, and only 1/5 of Italy's demand for timber is met with domestic resources, with the risk of "exporting" deforestation and forest degradation.

Listening to science

Before acting — perhaps rashly, as has happened in the past — it is necessary to assess the situation carefully and, above all, to listen to the views of scientists. "In some circumstances, an intervention in the ecosystem is compatible with the environment," said Vacchiano, "for example, using timber sustainably to replace high-impact materials such as concrete, plastic or steel. But only on condition that these interventions follow the development trajectories of ecosystems — such as the capacity of forests to regenerate from their own seeds — and that we continue to improve our understanding of the consequences of our actions on every natural process. Only in this way will we be able to responsibly decide what actions to take to achieve the common good."