Sustainability and mountain regions. A case study of greenhouse gas inventory

Preserving (and managing) mountain ecosystems is fundamental because they continuously provide environmental functions, goods and services to the global community and for their heritage of biodiversity, traditions and culture. In Italy, 54% of the total area is classified as mountainous, with 12 million inhabitants in 4200 municipalities. More than 44% of the mountainous area is characterised by woodlands, while only 2.3% is urbanized. Because of their geomorphology, many Italian regions present industrially developed coastal areas together with mountain areas whose socio-economic reality is atypical for several reasons: the low level of population density and the propensity of the young people to leave and look for a job elsewhere, the natural difficulties in communication and transportation, limited industrial settlements, and many others. However, at the same time, the mountain lands still keep environmental heritage worthy of preservation. This paper presents the results of a greenhouse gas accounting experience at the local level for a mountain zone, according to the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that one of the most important services provided by a mountain ecosystem is its function as a sink for CO2 equivalent emitted by anthropic activity. The results of the analysis are also compared with the data processed for cities and industrialized regions. The resulting information could also be useful for a better territorial administrative and economic planning which is founded on a deeper knowledge of the local ecosystems and their properties