The current AIB (Anti Incendi Boschivi - Forest Fire Fighting) organization in Tuscany and the Florence Province experiences in year 2017 were the starting points for optimization in forest fire prevention and control activities. The thematic database covered the 2012-2017 period, and the following variables were considered: number of fire events; burned wooded area and total area affected by flames. In 2017, the highest number of fire events were observed, while in average the fire affected area per event was lower than what recorded in less critical years. Besides the combination of several factors and circumstances, these results indicated the high-quality standard, in terms both of effectiveness and efficiency, achieved by the AIB regional organization. The current organizational model is the result of the year-long experience gained over time, and includes the participation of several Public Administration Institutions and Voluntary Associations in fire-fighting activities: in our opinion, resulting in a successful example of forest fire organization model. Our synthesis will introduce the Florence Group Carabinieri Foresters current control and prevention activities to forest fire fighting. In particular, the main methodologies will be presented covering the themes of (i) prevention and fire control operations; (ii) patrolling in operational readiness in order to ensure an immediate assessment of fire causes; (iii) investigation layout for the “Fire Event Dossiers - Fascicolo Eventi Incendi, (FEI), and (iv) fire fighting checks and investigation activities. Finally, some ideas and critical points - stemming from our professional experiences - will be brought to attention with the aim of improving the several different aspects - including the legal ones - relevant for reducing fire-affected areas in Tuscany, including landscape classification in terms of fire danger exposure and identification of those meteorological conditions, that will predispose the occurrence of the most serious events. In conclusion, most of the here-proposed evaluations highlight the importance of prevention together with the fire-fighting activities. The key-point - to be deeper investigated together with the Tuscany Region - concerns the analysis of events, which will help to determine fire-event causes and to ascertain possible interrelations and operational strategies.

For the period between 2009 and 2016 the former State Forestry Corps (C.F.S. Corpo Forestale dello Stato) and after 1 st January 2017 the Carabinieri Forestry Corp had made a comprehensive analysis regarding police checks carried out within Florence province, about forms concerning declarations and authorizations for forest fellings under the 39/2000 Tuscany Regional Law and subsequent implementing Regulations. In order to inform further legal and regulatory developments on this subject, the most commonly found regulation violations were listed and discussed with particular concern about the impact to forest conservation and safeguarding of the territory. The always increasing complexity in implementing this type of controls was highlighted, and knowledge of the territory, technical skills and competence of the operator remained the essential features of approach to the single cases. Controls mainly concerned (i) verification of technical-cultural aspects using suitable technological equipment and (ii) compliance of legality in workforce employment and safety in workplace, defined by Italian Legislative Decree No. 81/2008 and subsequent amendments and addenda.To contrast the increasingly widespread phenomenon of rule violations, survey should be tackled through repression actions - with joint controls among Police, Local Health Authority (ASL) and Labor Inspectorate etc. - and prevention activities - fostering cooperation with Trade Associations; while introduction of rules aimed to limit or even to cancel out the phenomenon would be recommended (e.g., introducing a qualification card for chainsaw use and extending the Register to Forest Companies). Moreover, the here-presented analysis suggested the introduction of a new professional figure: the forest worksite director, devoted to pay attention to worksite organization, especially for all those aspects related to worker safety.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of roe deer and fallow deer on Silver fir planted in small clusters after a clear cut in the Vallombrosa Forest (Florence, Italy). We measured height and deer impact on all firs planted in various sized clusters (from 6 to 59 fir per cluster, distance between firs in the cluster: 15-20 cm). Six years after planting, almost all the young fir were impacted by deer and often showed deviated stem growth as a result of past browsing. The majority of the silver fir saplings were less than one meter high, and were significantly smaller than firs planted inside a fenced control area. Plant position inside the cluster did not affect stem height and number of deer impacts. Height and impact incidenc ewas instead related to fir density within each cluster. We conclude that in a situation of maximum susceptibility to deer impact such as the one we have analyzed, planted firs are strongly affected by deer and cluster planting does not seem successful in reducing this impact.

Vallombrosa, la culla dei forestali e delle scienze forestali, e ancora oggi al centro dell’attenzione e del dibattito scientifico in quanto sede di applicazione degli innovativi principi della Selvicoltura Sistemica. Le prime esperienze di applicazione in soprassuoli artificiali di conifere hanno dato risultati molto interessanti sia sul piano scientifico che su quello produttivo-gestionale. Il costante monitoraggio delle dinamiche in atto e l’osservazione dei risultati ottenuti si confermano attivita fondamentali per il forestale che intende perseguire una gestione forestale sostenibile, nell’ottica di una rinaturalizzazione dei popolamenti semplificati.

Vallombrosa, la culla dei forestali e delle scienze forestali, è ancora oggi al centro dell’attenzione e del dibattito scientifico in quanto sede di applicazione delle innovative tecniche di gestione forestale sostenibile. La valorizzazione di una esemplare filiera “foresta-legno-energia” consentirà l’attivazione di un moderno impianto di teleriscaldamento alimentato a legno cippato proveniente dal comprensorio vallombrosano. La filiera sarà corta, locale e consentirà all’amministrazione forestale di dare nuovo impulso per una gestione attiva dei comprensori forestali. Agli indubbi benefici di carattere economico, si sommeranno esemplari passi in avanti nell’ambito dell’impiego di energia proveniente da fonti rinnovabili, con abbattimento di emissioni nocive dovute alla combustione di materie prime fossili.

Considerate le peculiarita del nuovo Piano di Gestione della Riserva Naturale Biogenetica di Vallombrosa, decisamente innovativo nei suoi caratteri fondamentali,e apparso fin da subito estremamente interessante monitorare in dettaglio le varie tipologie di intervento. Saranno qui brevemente descritti alcuni casi rappresentativi di questi primi anni di applicazione. Alla luce delle attuali caratteristiche del mercato, fatte salve le finalita istituzionali perseguite dall’Amministrazione Forestale di Vallombrosa, si evince l’importanza ed il valore intrinseco di uno strumento di gestione flessibile, aperto sia alle esigenze del gestore che a quelle dell’ecosistema.