Identifying institutional configurations for policy outcomes: A comparison of ecosystem services delivery

This paper employs the Institutional Analysis and Development framework across six ecosystem delivery measures in the European Union to develop a configurational explanation of (un)successful outcomes. By undertaking comparative institu tional analysis, we systematically examine the effect of varia tion across rule types and generate insights on how different institutional configurations result in varying degrees of success ful implementation of ecosystem delivery measures. We apply explanatory typology methods to identify the institutional features that best explain variation in implementation success across a number of cases. We argue that institutional rules shape outcomes in conjunction rather than in isolation. The findings show that differences in implementation success across cases can be explained by the interplay of differences in knowledge exchange, flexibility in implementation, and participation in the policy design process.We are very grateful to our H2020 EFFECT project partners for the precious assistance in col lecting background information about the cases under scrutiny and in conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders. We are also grateful to the research funding received for the research project EFFECT from the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 817903

Clash or concert in European forests? Integration and coherence of forest ecosystem service-related national policies

This paper compares how forest ecosystem service-related policies are integrated in different national European forest governance contexts. Efforts to achieve policy integration at the EU and national levels are often described in terms of limited success. Our analysis of forest, energy/bioeconomy, climate, and conservation policies sug-gests that notions of progress or failure merit careful assessment. Combining theories of policy integration (PI), environmental policy integration (EPI), and policy coherence, we argue that integration outcomes depend on the combined effects of the degree and nature of PI, EPI, and multilevel coherence in the context of the prevailing forest governance system. The nature of the interdependencies, specifically anticipated synergies, and the scope of FES-related climate objectives, are crucial. Realizing the range of FES-related objectives entails safeguarding objectives not synergistically aligned with economic aims. Failures to safeguard biodiversity and regulating and cultural ecosystem services in the process of integration may have far-reaching consequences

Discourses of conflict and collaboration and institutional context in the implementation of forest conservation policies in Soria, Spain

This article examines the emergence of conflict and collaboration in the implementation of forest conservation policies in Soria, Spain. We draw insights from discursive institutionalism and use a comparative case study approach to analyse and compare a situation of social conflict over the Natural Park declaration in the Sierra de Urbión, and a civil society led collaborative process to develop management plans for the “Sierra de Cabrejas” in Soria. The implementation of the EU Habitats Directive generated different outcomes in these two cases, which unfolded in the context of the same nature conservation legislation and national and provincial administrative structures but differed in terms of types of forests involved, property rights arrangements and forest use histories. We critically examine the influence of the institutional context and dominant discourses on the emergence of outcomes: conflict emerged where local institutions and discourses were threatened by the EU directive, while collaboration was possible where local institutions and counter-discourses were weak. We find that the institutional context plays an important part in determining local discourses in the implementation of forest conservation policies. Yet local counter-discourses have limited influence in the implementation and policy processes in the face of contestation by the discourses of regional civil servants conservation activists

Supplying trees in an era of environmental uncertainty: identifying challenges faced by the forest nursery sector in Great Britain

In recent years, numerous articles have addressed management strategies aimed at assisting forests to adapt to climate change. However, these seldom take into account the practical and economic implications of implementing these strategies, notably, supply of forest plants and seed. Using semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in the plant and seed supply chain in Great Britain, we highlight a series of practical and economic bottlenecks commonly encountered in the supply of locally sourced seed and domestically produced planting stock for native woodland and hedging markets. We find that adoption of alternative seed sourcing strategies, designed specifically to account for directional climate warming, is likely to exacerbate existing problems by adding further complexity to decisions nurseries make about tree species and seed origins to produce. The lack of long-term market predictability brought about by the current configuration of forestry grants and regulations and, in particular, the administrative systems for processing grant applications is identified as a major impediment to having a sustainable and competitive supply of home-grown and currently adapted planting stock. Finally, the time and effort it takes to supply healthy plants for native woodland creation projects deserves much wider recognition throughout the industry and will be crucial if planting objectives are to be met sustainably

La contribución de los espacios verdes y los bosques a la mejora de la salud y al bienestar

En: Ambienta. La Revista del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, nº.60 (octubre 2006).Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la primera causa de mortalidad de la población europea. En el caso de España, durante el año 2003 hubo más de 333.000 defunciones por esta causa, que representa algo más de un tercio del total de los casos de mortalidad registrados (Instituto Nacional de Estadística). La vida sedentaria es responsable de estas enfermedades y de otras dolencias como la obesidad, algunos tipos de cáncer y la diabetes tipo II. Este y otros factores asociados al ritmo de actividad acelerada en las sociedades avanzadas han dado lugar a preocupantes desequilibrios tanto para la salud física como mental, sobre todo entre las poblaciones que residen en los entornos más urbanizados. Los enfoques de la medicina clásica con relación a la enfermedad y la salud han sido uno de los éxitos de la ciencia moderna. Sin embargo, la sociedad actual afronta una incidencia mayor del empobrecimiento de la salud, relacionada con los estilos de vida modernos, los cuales no pueden ser dirigidos sólo desde la perspectiva médica.Peer reviewe

Contribución de los Espacios Verdes a la Salud y al Bienestar Humano

Este documento recoge y amplía los materiales del primer seminario del estado español sobre la contribución de los espacios verdes a la salud y al bienestar humano que se celebró en Lérida el noviembre de 2005. En este seminario se recopiló, por primera vez, un conjunto de proyectos, iniciativas y acciones relacionadas con la incorporación de aspectos de salud en el planeamiento territorial y en la gestión del medio natural. Estas prácticas han sido enmarcadas en el contexto de las políticas sanitarias, forestales, urbanísticas y de desarrollo rural por David Moscoso, Roser Cristòbal y Mireia Pecurul.Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a las aportaciones hechas por los miembros españoles de la Acción COSTE-E39

Contribución de los Espacios Verdes a la Salud y al Bienestar Humano

Este documento recoge y amplía los materiales del primer seminario del estado español sobre la contribución de los espacios verdes a la salud y al bienestar humano que se celebró en Lérida el noviembre de 2005. En este seminario se recopiló, por primera vez, un conjunto de proyectos, iniciativas y acciones relacionadas con la incorporación de aspectos de salud en el planeamiento territorial y en la gestión del medio natural. Estas prácticas han sido enmarcadas en el contexto de las políticas sanitarias, forestales, urbanísticas y de desarrollo rural por David Moscoso, Roser Cristòbal y Mireia Pecurul.Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a las aportaciones hechas por los miembros españoles de la Acción COSTE-E39

Clash or concert in European forests? Integration and coherence of forest ecosystem service–related national policies

This paper compares how forest ecosystem service–related policies are integrated in different national European forest governance contexts. Efforts to achieve policy integration at the EU and national levels are often described in terms of limited success. Our analysis of forest, energy/bioeconomy, climate, and conservation policies suggests that notions of progress or failure merit careful assessment. Combining theories of policy integration (PI), environmental policy integration (EPI), and policy coherence, we argue that integration outcomes depend on the combined effects of the degree and nature of PI, EPI, and multilevel coherence in the context of the prevailing forest governance system. The nature of the interdependencies, specifically anticipated synergies, and the scope of FES-related climate objectives, are crucial. Realizing the range of FES-related objectives entails safeguarding objectives not synergistically aligned with economic aims. Failures to safeguard biodiversity and regulating and cultural ecosystem services in the process of integration may have far-reaching consequences.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-04-05 (hanlid);Funder: ERA-Net Sumforest Project “POLYFORES” (606803); Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT) (101201/1); Ministry of Economy and Business of the Spanish Government ( PCIN2017-050); German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) via the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) (2816ERA03S): CEPF RAS’ state assignment (No. 121121600118-8)</p

Assessing the dynamics of forest ecosystem services to define forest use suitability: a case study of Pinus sylvestris in Spain

Abstract Adopting a multi-criteria approach in forest management is essential for preserving or improving specific benefits while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Determining the appropriate long-term management approach for a forest requires considering heterogeneous environmental and social factors, as well as changes in forest characteristics over time. Conducting a strategic assessment of forest use suitability (FUS), namely productive, protective, conservation-oriented, social and multifunctional, at the national level, taking into account the dynamics in the provision of forest ecosystem services and the trade-offs between FUS alternatives, can guide the development of customized management strategies and policies that align with the specific requirements and conditions of the forest. In this study, we evaluate the supply and simulation-based changes over time of diverse ecosystem services of Pinus sylvestris stands in Spain and utilize a decision model to determine the most suitable FUS alternative that enhances the provision of these services. The assignment of the most appropriate FUS alternative aims to help in decision-making processes and in the selection of the most adequate management strategies. To achieve this, we utilize the last version of ecosystem management decision support (EMDS) system, a spatially focused decision support tool capable of generating precise results for multi-criteria assessment. Participatory planning actions based on Delphi principles and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis were applied and combined with geospatial logic-based modelling. According to the results, the dominant FUS is protective, followed by productive alternative, exhibiting high levels of multifunctionality