Deliverable D2.3.7. Modelling the impacts of forest management alternatives on recreational values in Europe

Abstract

This report demonstrates the application of recreational scores, obtained through a pan-European Delphi survey as part of EFORWOOD, to model the impacts of changes in forest management on the recreational value of European forests. Changes in the level of implementation of the Natura 2000 policy is used as an example. Currently, about 8% of the EU forest area is allocated to biodiversity conservation (MCPFE class 1; MCPFE 2007). According to the Natura 2000 Agenda, 15% of the territory of the EU should be designated as conservation area by 2025. It is to be expected, therefore, that the forest conservation area will increase considerably in the near future. The impact of different nature conservation implementation levels on the recreational value of forests in Europe was explored using recreational scores derived from the Delphi survey, and combined with outputs from the forest scenario model EFISCEN. Changes in recreational value were considered against two background futures (A1 and B2 from the SRES scenarios) and three different nature conservation implementation levels. The results suggest that overall an increase in forest area managed for conservation would cause a slight net increase the recreational value per hectare of forests in Europe, although there is considerable variation between countries.