Land-use history and succession of Larix decidua in the Southern Alps of Italy-An essay based on a cultural history study of Roswitha Asche

Larix decidua, the European Larch tree, is a typical forest species of the Southern Alps of North Italy growing in mixture with Picea, in isolated pure stands, or as solitary trees on meadows at 1000-2000 in elevation. Presently, the old-growth Larix forests show no regeneration, while Picea abies, Norway spruce, invades at lower elevation, and Pinus cembra, Stone pine, at higher elevation. In this study, we investigate the conditions that lead to pure stands of L. decidua in the past. It is shown that intensive land-use of grazing was essential for Larix regeneration, and that the pure stands of Larix will disappear in the future with the change of land-use, unless management will be intensified again to produce mineral soil for Larix to regenerate. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.