FORWARDS partner introduces a comprehensive tool to enhance sustainable forest management amid climate change.

Giovanni Santopuoli from the University of Molise, a key partner in the FORWARDS project, has co-authored a new research paper titled “Exploring Climate-Smart Forestry in Mediterranean Forests through an Innovative Composite Climate-Smart Index.” This study introduces a new composite climate-smart index (ICSF) that assesses climate-smart forestry (CSF) in Mediterranean forests.

Climate-Smart Forestry is an innovative approach to sustainable forest management, aiming to enhance the resilience of forests while balancing the provision of ecosystem services amidst climate-related threats. The study provides an assessment of CSF in Mediterranean forests, focusing on key indicators such as tree species composition, forest damage, and regeneration.

Through the analysis of data from the Italian National Forest Inventory (NFI) for the years 2005 and 2015, the researchers found that CSF practices in Italy have shown a positive trend over the last two decades. The ICSF serves as a comprehensive tool for forest managers, aiding in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts. This innovative index, derived from extensive data, offers a replicable and reliable method for evaluating the effectiveness of CSF practices over time.

You can read the full publication here.

 

Cover image by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.