In Italy, the diffusion of black pine plantations is mainly linked to the pre-existing local orographic and social conditions. The main goal of the SelPiBioLife project (LIFE13 BIO/IT/000282) is to demonstrate the positive outcomes of the selective thinning scheme under the economic and ecological point of view, in comparison to the more classical approach of thinning from below. With this treatment, the attention is focused just on 100 candidate trees per hectare which must grow free from competition of surrounding trees. Two study areas were selected and submitted to thinning trials in 2015 with this thinning system, in the Monte Amiata and in the Pratomagno districts. Each of them shows a similar ecological profile but different history and future perspectives.