A strategy for the management of abandoned mountain pasture land colonised by dwarf pine

The uncontrolled spread of naturally forested areas might in itself represent a problem. Such extensions often imply a loss of cultural landscapes and habitat variety, the depletion of bio- and ecodiversity, and territorial homogenisation accompanied by the loss of economic and natural resources. In the northern part of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, a plateau area in the Venetian Alps, dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) has been the most invasive species and has had a high impact on the occupation of alpine pasture land, roads, paths and historical sites. This analysis considers the operational costs for the felling of dwarf pine stems, for the transport of the material to staging areas and for the chipping of the material at these areas. This logistic problem is broadly analysed using a GIS-based decision support system based on a network analysis model and assuming various scenarios associated with different levels of upgrade of the forest road network. Supply-cost curves are then constructed to analyse the total reclamation cost in terms of the quantities of wood material produced. The study highlights the high operational costs for harvesting wood material. The actual supply-cost ranges from 52 € t-1 to 143 € t-1. It decreases, ranging from 52 € t-1 to 107 € t- 1, only if the upgrade of the forest road network is assumed. This work also highlights the problem that the financial measures adopted by the European Union, as well as by national and regional governments, seem not to be sufficient to counteract the phenomenon. The opportunities for overcoming the economic constraints through the alternative use of the material in a small-scale process are considered.