Modeling Italian forests: state of the art and future challenges

This review is a follow-up to the first meeting of the Forest modeling working group (FMWG) of the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF), held in December 2009. 18 talks were delivered to an audience of 40 researchers. We review the state of the art of forest ecosystem modeling in Italy, highlight findings from Italian research groups, and summarize relevant issues. Developing on the discussion session of the meeting, we indicate current research gaps and future challenges for modelers, forest ecologists and foresters alike, with a special emphasis on model validation, data availability, and communication between researchers and managers.