La tempesta Vaia sul Bondone
The Vaia Storm - Data
Between October 27 and 31, 2018, the northeastern region of Italy was struck by what is known as the "Vaia Storm." The precipitation that fell over 72 hours was exceptional, reaching half of the total annual rainfall in Trentino (with maximum peaks of 600 mm).
The combination of wind and rain caused significant damage to infrastructure, disrupting electrical lines as well as access to gas and potable water. The scirocco gusts reached speeds of up to 120 km/h, with peaks of 190 km/h. Numerous landslides and road and bridge collapses occurred, but the greatest damage was suffered by forested areas.
On a national level, the estimated damage amounts to approximately 8.5 million cubic meters of felled timber and 42,000 hectares of forest affected. In Trentino alone, 19,800 hectares of forests (primarily Norway spruce stands) were felled, corresponding to over 4 million cubic meters of wood.
The damage to the forests managed by the Trento-Sopramonte Forest Agency involved around 35 hectares. The volume of timber extracted due to the hurricane amounts to approximately 4,000 cubic meters.
The Effects of the Vaia Storm... and Now?
It is difficult to imagine how the forest can recover after a disturbance such as the Vaia storm.
However, forests know well where to start: the first species to emerge, among the herbaceous vegetation, are shrubs and heliophilous trees. These plants need a lot of light, poorly tolerate competition from larger trees, and are therefore perfect for post-disturbance conditions.
It is these species that, by claiming light, space, and nutrients in the soil, will pave the way for more stable stands, such as beech or spruce forests.
Often, these species, with their fruits, provide an excellent source of food for birds and mammals, while protecting young seedlings in their shade that will become the future forest.
Here, ecotone environments are formed, i.e., transition zones between one ecosystem and another, ideal for species like roe deer.
They may seem a bit disorderly, but within them, they hold a high biodiversity.