Assessment of forest biomass derivable from the sustainable mana-gement of Mediterranean plantations in the Sicani mountains (Sicily)

Abstract

In view of an ecological and environmentally use of the biomass drew from forest operations, it is utterly important to well know the forest ecosystems characterizing the regional territory and in particular the pilot area of the Proforbiomed project. In this way it was possible to acquire specific information on the forest types in the area, its ecological and structural characteristics and the evolutionary dynamics. The information gathered have been fundamental in order to detect the most suitable forest management policies and interventions, able to put together the use of biomass and an increased of forest ecosystems stability.The studies carried out in the pilot area of the Proforbiomed project can be considered representative of a fair part of the regional territory what concerns the social, economic and environmental context. This work has the purpose of providing an overview and a short description of the consistency of forests potentially available for biomass production within the pilot area of the Proforbiomed project in Sicily.