The role of geomorphological processes at the treeline ecotone: a collection of study cases from the Italian Alps and the Apennines

The treeline ecotone is one of the most distinctive features of mountain environments and although is widely considered as a climatic boundary, climatic parameters are not the only factors influencing the treeline position. In fact, the treeline belt may be locally influenced by environmental factors, geomorphological processes, soil development and human activities. In this study we want to investigate the role of the main environmental factors (geomorphology, climate and human impact) that constrain the treeline elevation in some sample areas of the Italian Alps and the Apennines. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the geomorphological constraints at both sub-regional scale with a GISbased approach, and at local scale, using a combined geopedological and dendrochronological approach.