Dead wood characterisation in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppices in the Aspromonte (Southern Italy)

This research aimed to provide further qualitative and quantitative information on the presence of dead wood in the forests of Southern Italy. Investigations were made in two unmanaged chestnut coppices, 40 and 45 years old, growing in the Aspromonte National Park (Southern Italy). The volume of standing dead trees and of coarse woody debris ranged between 14.8 and 30.9 m3/ha and between 6.7 and 28.1 m3/ha, respectively. The overall carbon stored in dead wood ranged between 5.9 and 16.5 Mg C/ha.