Come misurare il valore dei beni naturali

I servizi ecosistemici sono definiti come i \u201cbenefici multipli forniti dagli ecosistemi al genere umano\u201d. L\u2019attribuzione di un valore economico a questi servizi \ue8 un passo importante per il mantenimento degli ecosistemi che li erogano. Sono numerosi i metodi diretti e indiretti per la stima del valore dei beni ambientali

From failure to value: Economic valuation for a selected set of products and services from Mediterranean forests

Aim of study: the paper estimates the economic value of a selected range of forest products and services, i.e. roundwood, nonwood forest products (NWFPs), and carbon-related services. Area of study: the research covers 21 Mediterranean countries, distinguished into four sub-regions. Material and methods: data have been gathered from official statistical sources (e.g. FAOSTAT), scientific literature and technical reports. Different estimation approaches based on market-price have been used for different products/services. Main results: the estimated value ranges between \u20ac10,512 and \u20ac11,158 million (M). Wood products represent more than 85% of the total value. Within them, industrial timber is the most relevant component (65%). Figures for NWFPs are likely to be underestimated because data are available only for some products and countries. When using alternative estimates for pine nuts, pine resin and cork, figures show a \u20ac36.8-572 M increase. In geographical terms, the economic value of Mediterranean forests is highly concentrated: North-West Mediterranean countries account for 70%, and nearly 90% is in just four countries (France, Spain, Turkey and Italy). Research highlights: enhancing the offer of Mediterranean forest products and increasing their role in the rural economy could help to reduce the costs of forest protection: a well-structured forest economy ensuring stable flows of incomes can provide a fundamental set of public non-market services and social values to both local people and the whole community. Understanding the true value of natural resources, then, is an essential step for promoting their protection and sustainable use

Disentangling the Diversity of Forest Care Initiatives: A Novel Research Framework Applied to the Italian Context

In the effort of advancing the knowledge and disentangling the diversity of emerging forest-based initiatives for wellbeing, we propose (i) an umbrella definition – i.e. Forest Care Initiatives (FCIs), (ii) a custom-made repository to collect and systematize information on FCIs in Italy, (iii) and discuss a categorization scheme to cluster initiatives into three main categories according to target users, substitutability of the forest ecosystem and the specificity of the health contributions they aim to. We analysed 232 initiatives, showing a lively panorama of Italian FCIs mainly provided by privates and civil society. FCIs development appear to be occasions for, but not only, rural and marginal areas to deliver inclusive wellbeing services to a wide target of users and business opportunities. However, due to the novelty of this area of investigation, further research is needed to account for benefits, opportunities, and increase the knowledge on enabling forest environments

A preliminary review of forest care initiatives for health in italy: identifying models and success factors

INTRODUCTION: Forest Care Initiatives (FCIs) \u2013 meant as organized initiatives supporting active and passive interaction with forest ecosystems aimed at increasing levels of human wellbeing and quality of life- are becoming increasingly popular in many countries. On the one side FCIs can be a cost-effective solution to the increasing societal demand for health and well-being services; on the other they can be an opportunity for valuing forest resources and supporting development and social innovation in marginal areas. While the positive effects of contact with trees and forest ecosystems on health are increasingly studied and confirmed by scientific literature, there is a general lack of knowledge about the FCIs management models and their economic and institutional framework. In order to contribute filling this gap, this paper considers the Italian context, where FCIs have been recently introduced and are rapidly growing. The paper aims to present a review of the FCIs for health (FCIH), identifying different management models and the success factors of selected case studies, to support the development of future initiatives and inform policies. METHODS: Through an extended literature review encompassing scientific and grey contributions, formal and informal contacts with experts and practitioners, an updated state-of-the-art of the FCIH in Italy is developed, and representative case studies are selected. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected through interviews and participant observation. The contextual biophysical and institutional conditions and their interplay are presented through a conceptual framework, which helps identifying models and critical success factors (e.g. type and number of partnerships, type and number of services, type of forest ownership and management, target beneficiaries, business model, etc.). RESULTS: FCIH in Italy are quite recent -the first registered project was started in 2013- and still poorly coordinated. At present, the only example of network at national level is \u201cMontagna Terapia\u201d that keeps in connection dozens of different initiatives where forests are used as set for rehabilitation and social inclusion initiatives. Within analysed FCIH the role of forest resources ranges from a simple frame for the activities, to an \u201cactive\u201d instrumental function as a medium, and management activities vary accordingly. The target beneficiaries range from the general population, to people with very special needs and this heterogeneity reflects also on the organizational and business models. Common success factors among FCIH include the level of engagement of public sector agencies and key actors, and the value proposition. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding success factors, business models and the institutional context of FCIs is critical for the replicability and successful implementation of novel solutions. This paper represents a preliminary analysis of selected FCIH in Italy and a testing of the assessment conceptual framework. Although these first results are promising, further research and tests are needed to fine-tune the framework and facilitate the assessment and eventual transfer, up-scaling and innovation of successful models. While supporting the development of FCIs and benefiting the management of forest resource, research in this field might contribute to enhance stakeholders\u2019 awareness about FCIs and get informed about new opportunities for job creation and income diversification