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The values of goods and services by natural resources are not included in the political decision making process concerning natural resources management. This gap is due to the fact that many ecosystem services are not marketed. In order to overcome this gap in the management of natural resources, it is necessary to apply some environmental economic methods to capture the total economic value of marketed and non-marketed ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are not homogeneous across landscapes but they are heterogeneous in space. Consequently, mapping ecosystem services is considered as a fundamental requirement for landscape planning. The aim of this paper is to show a method for the economic valuation and mapping of the forest ecosystem services. The method was applied to a case study characterized by a high importance of ecosystem services and involved in the recharge.green project (Alpine Space Programme): the Gesso-Vermenagna valley in Italy. Results show that the highest economic values are for regulating services (from 11 € ha-1 to 4.300 € ha-1 per year) and for provisioning services (from 6 € ha-1 to 1.980 € ha-1 per year), while the lowest values are for cultural services (from 6 € ha-1 to 627 € ha-1 per year). This study can provide useful information to decision makers in order to improve the management of natural resources at local level. ; El valor de los bienes y servicios suministrados por ecosistemas naturales no se incluye, a menudo, en el proceso político de toma de decisiones sobre manejo de recursos naturales. Esto, debido a que muchos beneficios no se llegan a comercializar. Para evitar este límite en la gestión de los recursos naturales, es necesario desarrollar técnicas que evalúen los servicios ecosistémicos y que capturen el valor económico total de los servicios comerciales y no comerciales. Los servicios ecosistémicos no son heterogéneos a través de los paisajes. Por consiguiente, el conocimiento de la distribución espacial y la importancia económica de los servicios ecosistémicos es una información fundamental para mejorar la planificación de las intervenciones. En el artículo se muestra un procedimiento para la evaluación económica y localización espacial de servicios ecosistémicos que son suministrados por un ecosistema forestal. El método propuesto fue analizado mediante un caso de estudio en el valle del Gesso-Vermagnana, Italia. Este se caracteriza por su importancia en el ámbito de los recursos naturales y por estar involucrado en el proyecto recharge.green (Programa Espacial Alpino). Los resultados muestran que los valores más altos corresponden a los servicios de regulación (11 a 4.300 € ha-1 año-1) y a los servicios de aprovisionamiento (6 a 1.980 € ha-1 año-1), mientras que los servicios culturales presentan los valores más bajos (6 a 627 € ha-1 año-1). Este estudio permite ampliar el conocimiento y la información útil para los responsables encargados de la toma de decisiones sobre el manejo de recursos naturales.

Nowadays energy transition is a recurring topic, which describes the process of an energy system moving from fossil-based sources towards renewables. The transition can unfold at different levels, from the single initiative of a local com-munity to a complex cross-border agreement. The latter type is well represented by EUSALP, the European macro-regional strategy for the Alpine region. One of its aims is to transform its territory into a model region for energy efficiency and renewable energy. To support a well-informed decision making process, this study provides the first insight about the status quo of energy balances in EUSALP, at local as well as aggregated level. Moreover, it offers an overview on the various energy targets defined by the territorial units that constitute the EUSALP region. Data has been retrieved via a bottom-up quality-oriented process consisting of (i) a survey targeted at responsible person in local energy departments; and (ii) data control and harmonization. We found that the EUSALP region is actually a model region only in clean power production, whereas starting point as well as energy targets of territories are highly heterogeneous. We al-so identified the need of more harmonized data collection methodologies. We conclude that this bottom-up process can support and legitimate policy makers in cross-border cooperation activities under a smart macro-regional energy strategy, which pursues an increment in energy savings, renewable energy production and a broad engagement of relevant stakeholders. DOI: http://dx.medra.org/10.19254/LaborEst.16.13

Background and Purpose: In the EU political agenda, the use of forest biomass for energy has grown rapidly and significantly, in order to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and reduce the energy dependence on fossil fuels of European member countries. The target of the EU climate and energy package is to raise the share of renewable energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20% in 2020 (Directive 2009/28/EC). With regards to biomass energy, the supply of forest wood biomass is expected to rise by 45% (reference period: 2006-2020), in response to increasing demand for renewable sources. The increase of forest biomass supply could have both positive and negative effects on several forest ecosystem services (ESs) and local development. These effects should be assessed in a proper manner and taken into account when formulating management strategies. The aim of the paper is to assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy, using the Figure of Merit (FoM) approach. Materials and Methods: Sustainability was assessed through a set of four indicators: two focused on experts' opinions regarding the effects of forest biomass harvesting and the other two focused on the cost-benefit analysis (potential energy obtained and costs for wood chips). The research was developed through four case studies located in the Alpine Region. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered face-to-face to 32 selected experts. The perceived effects of forest biomass harvesting for energy on ESs and local development were evaluated by experts using a 5-point Likert scale (from "quite negative effect" to "quite positive effect"). Results: All experts agree that forest biomass harvesting has a positive effect on forest products provision and local economic development (employment of local workforce, local entrepreneurship and market diversification), while the effects on other ESs are controversial (e.g. carbon sequestration, habitat quality, natural hazards protection and recreational values). Conclusions: Therefore, it can be asserted that the effects of forest biomass harvesting on sustainability vary according to the local context. The results of FoM can support decision makers in order to analyze the environmental, social and economic sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy.