1. Il protocollo di monitoraggio:
proposta di utilizzo a livello europeo
Giovanni Sanesi
DISAAT – University of Bari

2. The protocol proposal
The aim of this part of the project was to establish monitoring methods for several
levels of biological spectrum – species (different taxonomic groups), communities,
habitat - indicating environmental changes in forest.
During this project, monitoring methods was developed, and in some case compared
between Italian and Slovenian sites, in other case carried out only in one country
We synthesized the different monitoring approaches that were carried out; this
protocol proposal was applied in the study areas (14 in Italy and 4 in Slovenia). Each
monitoring was applied in all study areas or in a smaller number of plots.

3. The protocol proposal
General aspect Monitoring
Level of
organization
Mandatory Methodologies Recommended Methodologies Optional Methodologies Aims Survey period
F
l
o
r
a
Flora Species x
Harmonized methods
and criteria proposed
by European Expert
Panel on Biodiversity
and Ground
Vegetation
/ /
Description of flora, of
chorological and biological
spectra, use of Ellemberg
indicators
Vegetation Communities x
Harmonized methods
and criteria proposed
by European Expert
Panel on Biodiversity
and Ground
Vegetation
/ /
Description of vegetation's
structural diversity in terms of
composition, vertical
stratification, percentage of cover,
species richness and abundance.
Description of dynamical
processes of vegetation on the
basis of temporal changes of
vegetation and causes
Vegetation and
habitat
description
Habitat / x
BIOHAB approach
based on classical
plant life forms and
their statistical
correlation with the
primary environmental
gradient
/
Description of Urban forestry
habitat in a consistent scale at
auropean level

4. The protocol proposal
F
a
u
n
a
Birds Species x
Birds census with point
counting approach
proposed by Bibby et
al. 2000
/ /
Potential use of birds as
bioindicators of forest structure
and compostion
Carabid beetles Species / x
Pitfall traps on a linear
transect in sample
areas and
identification to
species level
/
Carabids beetles monitoring is
based on differente trophic groups
to describe environmental
changes of forest resources
Butterflies Species / / x
Linear multi-species transect
counts to monitor diversity and
abundance (Pollard & Yates, 1993)
Butterflies reflect the general
landscape structure and the
quality of open habitats - We do
not reccomend as main group for
animal biodiversity in urban
forests
Other insect's
taxa
Species / / x
Linear multi-species transect
counts to monitor diversity and
abundance (Pollard & Yates, 1993)
Similar to carabid beetles

5. The protocol proposal
F
o
r
e
s
t
r
y
Live trees tree level x
Standard
methodologies applied
for National Forestry
inventories and criteria
suggested by IPCC
/ /
Growth and yield (biomass
sequestration), Biodiversity (tree
richness and structural diversity),
Carbon sequestration, Forest
stability, Data important for forest
management
Deadwood tree level / / x
Standard methodologies applied
for National Forestry inventories
and criteria suggested by IPCC
Biodiversity (availablehabitats),
Carbon sequestration, Nutrients
Stand
characteristics
site level / / x
Standard methodologies applied
for National Forestry inventories
and criteria suggested by IPCC
General characteristics of forest,
Forest stability, Naturalness,
Human impact, Data important for
forest management
Forest
functions
site level / x
Assessment of
aesthetic and
regenerative
properties through
interviews and
questionnaires
administered in situ
/
Analisys of social and economic
value of forest
Crown
Condition and
Damaging
Agents
tree level x
Surveys and Evaluation
Monitoring (SEM):
Crown defoliation and
discoloration assessed
on the basis of specific
scales (Ferretti et al
1995)
/ /
Assessing the condition of urban
trees and forests to describe
health trends over time and to
provide management tools.
Pathologies tree level / / x
Intensive Site Monitoring (ISM):
specific analyses to detect the
aetiology of the observed
phenomena and describe the
extent, severity, and causes of
plant pathologies

6. The protocol proposal
S
i
t
e
Weather
/
Qualitative and
quantitative
deposition
x /
Continuous sampling,
sampling period 14 days
Description of climate and site
characteristics
x
Standard
measurements of air
temperature, solar
radiation, wind
speed and direction,
relative humidity
and precipitation at
2 m height with
automated
meteorological
station in the open
and in the forest
stand
/ / Only at the beginning of the monitoring process
/ / x
Continuous measurement of
temperature and relative
humidity over tree crown
(about 15m) and under tree
crown (about 8m)
Only at the beginning of the monitoring process
/ / x
Continuous measurement of
soil temperature (at5cm and
30cm depth) and soil moisture
(at30cm depth)
In the study plot (1600 m2
) atthe beginning of the monitoring process and every 10
years
Soil
x
Soil profile
description
/ /
Definition of soil diagnostic
horizons, properties and
materials; definition of the
thickness of topsoil and
subsoil; soil classification
(WRB)
In the study plot (1600 m2
) atthe beginning of the monitoring process and every 10
years
x
Laboratory
determinations for
soil profile horizons
/ /
Soil horizons characterization
(pH, TOC, total N, total
carbonates, CEC, exchangeable
Ca, Mg, Na and K, base
saturation, available P,
particle-sizedistribution)
In the study plot (1600 m2
) atthe beginning of the monitoring process and every 10
years
x
Basic laboratory
determinations for
topsoil and subsoil
/ /
Determination of pH and TOC
on composite samples (not less
than 10 subsamples) from
topsoil and subsoil (as defined
accordingly to the profile
description)
/ x
Determination of
topsoil and subsoil
contamination
/
Determination of trace
elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg,
Cr, etc.) on composite samples
(not less than 10 subsamples)
from topsoil and subsoil (as
defined accordingly to the
profile description)
/ / x
Special determinations for
topsoil and subsoil
Determination the organic
contaminants (oil
hydrocarbons, POPs, etc.) on
composite samples (not less
than 10 subsamples) from
topsoil and subsoil (as defined
accordingly to the profile
description); determination of
bulk density at the soil surface
(0-10 cm);determination of
soil water properties (available
water capacity, permanent
wilting point, etc.) of
industurbed samples from
topsoil and subsoil
Visitors /
Different kind of
counters
/ x /
Following visits with aim to
monitor the capacity of urban
forest

7. The network proposal
The aim of project is also to establish a network of research plots where we can adopt
all or a part of the activities included in the protocol in order to promote the acquiring of
data in different context. By this network activities we can improve a more
comprehensive approach to urban forestry, providing an articulated and organized
data set for maintenance, planning and UPF establishing.
The next mission of the project is to expand this network in the greater number of
European countries.