Mapping Coverage, Function, Spatial Configuration and Typology of Forests and Trees of Latium Region, Central Italy

Among LULC products, tree cover maps are crucial tools to assess forest functionality and ecosystem services (ES), and implement sustainable forest management. Advances in remote sensing technologies continue improving maps’ accuracy, detail and proficiency. This study focuses on a novel high resolution tree cover mapping of Latium region, central Italy, emphasizing spatial configuration, function and typology. Regional forests and trees covers 44.2% of Latium. Forests in mountain areas represent 38.3% of the regional mountain surfaces. Covering 469,593 ha, trees in hilly and floodplain areas plays a crucial role for biodiversity, environmental risks and other ES. We distinguished between forests, which comprise 96.9% of tree cover, and TOF, which contribute to ecological connectivity and landscape resilience. Although representing 2% of the total tree cover, urban forests are vital for climate and urban air quality. Major forest categories of Latium include Turkey oak, Temperate broadleaf, Beech, Downy oak and Holm oak forests. Proposed methodology was found to be reliable for similar purposes. Study has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of producing reliable and cost-effective regional forest maps using open-source data. The regular release of such data should enable rapid map updates, promoting their use for monitoring purposes.