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Enhancing the conservation status and resilience of a narrowly distributed forest: A challenge to effectively support ecosystem services in practice
LORILLA, Roxanne Suzette; Kefalas, George; Christou, Andreas K. et al.
2023In Journal for Nature Conservation, 73, p. 126414
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Keywords :
Cedrus brevifolia; Cyprus; Ecosystem services; Forest dynamics; Habitat conservation; Management interventions; Mediterranean island; Ecology; Nature and Landscape Conservation
Abstract :
[en] The conservation and sustainable management of forests has become an important issue, especially in ecosystems where keystone species form unique and marginal forest habitats with narrow distribution. With increasing pressures and threats to nature, the establishment of Protected Areas has been recognized as a major tool for maintaining well-functioning forest ecosystems and their associated ecosystem services (ES). This study aims at assessing the changes in the status of a narrowly distributed Mediterranean forest through the perspective of land cover dynamics and the ES framework. Using the priority habitat of Cedrus brevifolia forest as a case study, the distribution of land use and land cover (LULC) was mapped and simulated, together with the supply of multiple ES before and after the implementation of conservation measures. The results prior applying the management actions revealed a general pattern of forest densification that did not act fully in favor of C. brevifolia due to competitions among forest species. From an ES viewpoint, forest densification led to landscape homogenization affecting important ES such as the increase in the supply of regulating services, and the decrease in the ability to support nursery populations and habitats. By contrast, the future simulation of LULC integrated with afforestation and thinning measures showed an expected increase in both high-density vegetation and cedar trees, benefiting multiple ES. The current findings highlight the importance of sustainable forest management in enhancing the co-occurrence of several ES and supporting the overall multi-functionality of ecosystems. The holistic approach presented in this study can offer new insights into the relation between ES and natural ecosystem and/or habitats’ management while avoiding potential negative impacts on human well-being and ecosystem resilience.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
LORILLA, Roxanne Suzette  ;  National Observatory of Athens > BEYOND Center
Kefalas, George;  International Hellenic University, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Drama, Greece
Christou, Andreas K.;  Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Department of Forests, Nicosia, Cyprus
Poirazidis, Konstantinos;  Ionian University, Department of Environment, Zakynthos, Greece
Homer Eliades, Nicolas-George;  Frederick University, Nature Conservation Unit, Nicosia, Cyprus
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Enhancing the conservation status and resilience of a narrowly distributed forest: A challenge to effectively support ecosystem services in practice
Publication date :
June 2023
Journal title :
Journal for Nature Conservation
ISSN :
1617-1381
eISSN :
1618-1093
Publisher :
Elsevier GmbH
Volume :
73
Pages :
126414
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
LIFE programme
European Commission
Funding text :
The authors wish to thank the staff of Department of Forests (Cyprus) and Frederick University, for contributing with fieldwork and the implementation of the project. Funding. The manuscript is part of the project entitled “Integrated conservation management of priority habitat type 9590* in the Natura 2000 site Koilada Kedron-Kampos” (Acronym: LIFE-KEDROS) a project co-funded by LIFE programme of the European Union (EU); grant number LIFE15 NAT/CY/000850.The manuscript is part of the project entitled “Integrated conservation management of priority habitat type 9590* in the Natura 2000 site Koilada Kedron-Kampos” (Acronym: LIFE-KEDROS) a project co-funded by LIFE programme of the European Union (EU); grant number LIFE15 NAT/CY/000850.
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