Boschi di betulla- una risorsa per il territorio alpino

The birch is a forest species wide spread in many abandoned aread in hilly and montain regions. Some proposals are formulated in order to start a discussion on possible new management systems for these large areas invaded by birch. Silvicultural characteristics and management experiences in northern Europe base on a bibliographic study are analized. In this kind of approach birch is non only a "forest tree": thereforeit is important to consider these proposals as contributions for an economically and ecologically sustainable management of the rural areas and for the valorization of the local resources. The authors put forward formulate some ideas about the topics that should be researched in the future.