The MIMOSE approach to support sustainable forest management planning at regional scale in Mediterranean contexts

In recent decades, Mediterranean landscapes have been affected by human induced drivers, such as land use and climate change. Forest ecosystems and landscapes have been particularly affected in mountainous regions due to the lack of management and stewardship especially in remote areas. Therefore there is a need to set up new strategies to enhance ecosystem services in forested areas which in turn will benefit local communities and economy. In this study, we implemented a new approach, called “MIMOSE”, to assess ecosystem services in Mediterranean-forest types located in a mountainous region of Italy. We spatially assessed timber provision and carbon sequestration according to three forest management strategies: Business-as-usual; Maximizing economic incomes; and Prioritizing conservation purposes. Sustainable strategies for forest planning were identified at landscape scale. We found that (i) timber provision is a conflicting service, especially when adaptation strategies are promoted; (ii) the most balanced set of forest ecosystem services is achieved through a conservative approach; and (iii) the bundle of ecosystem services is enhanced by optimizing the spatial allocation of different management strategies. Our approach is suitable to support landscape planning in balancing forest ecosystem potentialities while respecting local community needs and promoting sustainable development goals in the Mediterranean area.