Criteria and indicators for sustainable forestry under Mediterranean conditions applicable in Spain at the forest management unit scale

Abstract

Aim of study: to identify criteria and indicators (C&I) of sustainable forest management (SFM) under Mediterranean conditions. The indicators are meant to monitor changes in the provision of ecosystem services at a local scale (forest management unit, FMU). We support that if a forest provides a bundle of ecosystem services its management can be considered sustainable; thus, we adjust C&I to an ecosystem services classification.Area of study: La Hunde y La Palomera, a public FMU in the region of Valencia (east of Spain), 100km southwest of the city of Valencia.Material and methods: first, a literature review of the following themes took part: SFM, features of Mediterranean forests, ecosystem services and C&I. Some C&I were proposed and, later on, a participatory process in Ayora, the municipality where the mentioned FMU is located, was carried out with different stakeholders (forestry professionals, users for recreation, hunters, environmentalists and professionals of cultural and rural development activities) in order for them to value the C&I proposed according to their management preferences for La Hunde y La Palomera.Research highlights:- 15 criteria and 133 indicators were identified: a balance has been achieved among economic, social and ecological concerns.- People value the ecological issues associated to forestry on top and the economic ones at the bottom.- Results suggest that SFM under Mediterranean conditions is based on more than one product and on the provision of several ecosystem services.Keywords: Sustainable forest management; ecosystem services; local scale, literature review, participation.

Short communication: AHP for indicators of sustainable forestry under Mediterranean conditions

“…The set of indicators identified by Valls-Donderis et al (2015) consists of 133 indicators. Even though only the ones of the same criterion were meant to be compared, it still meant many indicator pairs to value.…”

“…The consideration of local conditions becomes especially relevant under Mediterranean conditions (Osem et al, 2008). Valls-Donderis et al (2015) identified C&I adapted to ecosystem services of Mediterranean forests and applicable at the forest management unit (FMU) scale. Those C&I are verified with stakeholders, however, their indicators are too technical for not professionals and these are arranged into aspects (general issues covered by a criterion).…”

“…Mendoza & Prabhu (2000) conclude that MCA methods are useful to prioritise and evaluate C&I, and that, for indicators, pairwise comparison methods, like the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), are more accurate. The aim of this research was to verify the indicators from Valls-Donderis et al (2015) with experts using AHP.…”

A New Collaborative Methodology for Assessment and Management of Ecosystem Services

“…[51]. As an example, Table 3 represents the evaluation table for five zones of the natural park including one indicator for all ESS of the Serra d'Espadà Natural Park (Figure 3), except for biodiversity which has two indicators.…”

Assessment of Ecosystem Services Based on Multiple Criteria and Group Decision Making

“…(Valls-Donderis et al, 2015). As an example, Table 4-3 represents the evaluation table for five zones of (Figure 4-3), except for biodiversity which has two indicators.…”