A database on truffles diffusion on forestation plot: the contribution to biodiversity by forest ecosystem (original) (raw)
Related papers
L'italia Forestale E Montana, 2013
The “Nocella” forest farm (Ficulle Umbria Italy) presents database collection of spontaneous truffle production following the forestation of fields previously cultivated with traditional crops. Critical points and constraints to reach the assessment of the symbiotic plants and the truffle quarries are explained. Some of the first results of the Multivariate Analysis MVA analysis on the database and soil analysis are reported and the map of truffle quarries and “cultivar” and forest plants is presented. The non-wood forest products, as truffles are, have agro- forestry theoretical and operational consequences for the conservation of biodiversity. The data popularization of detailed data of truffle production is not popular, even it is a scientific task to fulfill a complete understanding of the ecosystem. The truffle’s “underground” economy and the anthropological convictions are hostile surroundings. The importance of improving cooperation of sociology and forest sciences for forest...
The hidden value of non-timber forest products: income contribution of the Basilicata wild truffle
Aestimum, 2022
The hidden value of nontimber forest products: income contribution of the Basilicata wild truffle The Basilicata region (South of Italy) is land of truffles where the gastronomic, economic and cultural awareness has developed for this non-timber forest product only in the past decade. Little is known about truffle production and its social, economic and environmental implications. In this article we investigate the Basilicata truffle sector by devoting particular attention to the truffle hunters who gather the truffles from the forests. The data for the analysis were collected through a survey with the aim of describing the gathering activity (people involved, specie and quantities collected, etc.) and assessing its significance as a source of income. Results show that truffles can provide local communities with earning opportunities. However, the truffle sector needs to be protected and enhanced.
VI Jornada De Jóvenes Investigadores en Conservación y Uso Sostenible De Sistemas Forestales
2012
The Mediterranean region has an old history with grazing by herbivores dating back to 10000 and 6000 BC, despite its role in maintaining diversity and stability, the ecological role of livestock grazing is not sufficiently highlighted. Forest grazing has shown an important potential in reducing fire risk by reducing fuels, especially in abandoned forests, if managed correctly, forest grazing is very important in preserving biodiversity. Grazing can favor tree growth since the removal of understory vegetation reduces the competition for water and nutrients, it has also an important economic value as it is a source of livelihood for many communities, However!! If mismanaged, grazing can have a drastic impact on forest regeneration (saplings, seedlings).Our field trip was to an area called Finca Ferreres, in 1994, part of this area was devastated by a wildfire, mostly affecting the Q. humilis zone, the need for a fire prevention planned there to avoid similar incidents and Bovine grazing was a tool for fire prevention in such Mediterranean forest dominated by: Q. ilex, Q. humilis and P. mugo, The main species grazed was Brachypodium phoenicoides, in addition to shrubs .In conclusion ,applying Grazing helped reducing fuels, a main factor in fire spread, Therefore the high risk of fire spread facilitated by herbaceous species was reduced, Natural forage from grazing (60-70% of requirements) showed to have a higher quality and nutrient value than the silage (i.e. barley straw). The field trip helped us to notice that grazing capacity is crucial for a proper forest management (livestock/ha) and the livestock owners should comply with a certain management plan, hence allowing to graze only a few months each year and perhaps not in all years (threatening natural regeneration) for that reason a close collaboration among foresters, range managers, animal scientists, and shepherds is needed.
Environmental management, 2018
The European black truffle is a mycorrhizal fungus native to Spanish Mediterranean forests. In most Spanish regions it was originally commercially harvested in the second half of the 20th century. Experts agree that wild truffle yields suffered a sharp decline during the 1970s and 1980s. However, official statistics for Spanish harvest are scarce and seemingly conflicting, and little attention has been paid to the regime for the exploitation of truffle-producing forests and its implications on the sustainability of this resource. Trends in harvest from 1969 to 2013 and current harvesting practices were analyzed as a case study, taking into account that Spain is a major truffle producer worldwide, but at the same time truffles have only recently been exploited. The available statistical sources, which include an increasing proportion of cultivated truffles since the mid-1990s, were explored, with estimates from Truffle Harvesters Federation showing higher consistency. Statistical sources were then compared with proxies for wild harvest (rents from truffle leases in public forests) to corroborate time trends in wild harvesting. Results suggest that black truffle production is recovering in recent years thanks to plantations, whereas wild harvest is still declining. The implications of Spanish legal and institutional framework on sustainability of wild truffle use are reviewed. In the current scenario, the decline of wild harvest is likely to continue and eventually make commercial harvesting economically unattractive, thus aggravating sustainability issues. Strengthening of property rights, rationalization of harvesting pressure, forest planning and involvement of public stakeholders are proposed as corrective measures.
Selvicoltura: produzioni forestali, certificazione e filiera legno
L'Italia Forestale e Montana, 2010
This paper outlines the potential and critical issues of forest production in Italy, according to recent forest statistics (Italian National Institute of Statistics and Italian National Forest Inventory) and to the findings from the Third Italian National Congress of Silviculture. There is currently a growing interest towards forest products which meet sustainability goals through reduced impact on the forest ecosystems, improvement of human well being and a strong link to the territory; this concerns notably the demand for: wood as an optimal material for sustainable building; non-wood products; wood biomass for energy use. Indeed, sustainable forest management is not in conflict with a productive use of forestland, without which abandonment and land neglection could further occur. To meet these new societal demands through a viable and sustainable use of forest resources is a true challenge; forest owners must be supported in this regard, to supply a variety of forest goods and services while maintaining economic viability. To this end operative strategies are outlined.
Agro-climatic zoning of Spanish forests naturally producing black truffle
Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2019
Black truffle is a highly appreciated edible fungus that grows wild in southwestern Europe, although its cultivation has recently spread to other continents. In Spain the widespread exploitation of wild truffles began only after 1950, whereas plantations play a relevant role in truffle production from the late 1990s. However, most plantations continue to apply empiric practices not taking into account local environmental conditions. The identification of environmental factors driving black truffle distribution and yield could help to optimise cultivation practices, but no agro-climatic zoning is currently available for this fungus in Spain. This study characterises the climate of Spanish forests naturally producing black truffle, defines an agro-climatic zoning for the fungus and examines the climatic patterns across its spatial distribution. The examined forests presented climatic ranges coherent with the available experts' surveys, except for an extended low end in annual precipitation. The clustering identified three agro-climatic zones, with dry environments tending to be dominant. The principal components analysis indicated that the examined forests tended to cluster along water availability and temperature gradients. Only in one of the zones mean precipitations during the vegetative period were similar to those characterising optimum years for black truffle fruiting, thus suggesting that plantations could benefit from practices increasing soil water content. Similarly, the results suggested that in two of the zones plantations could benefit from practices increasing soil temperature in winter and early spring. The study provides a basis for large-scale planning of truffle cultivation and identification of research priorities in Spain.
The Socioeconomic Impact of Truffle Cultivation in Rural Spain1
Economic Botany, 2008
The Socioeconomic Impact of Truffle Cultivation in Rural Spain. Commercial black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) plantations have been promoted in Europe with the intention of benefiting rural economies while conserving biodiversity through the expansion of oak woodlands. In this context, a socioeconomic study was conducted around the town of Sarrión in eastern Spain, where government subsidies have supported oak reforestation and truffle cultivation in unproductive hilly areas since 1987. Currently there are about 4,500 ha of truffle orchards in the surrounding county and 530 members in the local truffle association, which has provided a key forum for truffle cultivators to share technical, financial and administrative experiences. Structured interviews were carried out in 2002 with a number of orchard owners, as well as representatives of financial and governmental institutions. Truffles, which are harvested using trained dogs, typically fetch local cultivators average prices of 220-670 EUR/kg, although retail prices of highquality specimens may reach twice this amount. In addition to the direct economic impact, an increase in local land prices was also documented, as well as a tendency for continued expansion of truffle orchards, and thus oak reforestation. In conclusion, the promotion of truffle cultivation through autonomous community and provincial government subsidies, in conjunction with support by local banks, a dedicated local truffle association, and growing interest on behalf of local farmers, seems to have achieved the mutual goals of biodiversity conservation and improving the rural economy in this region of Spain.