Sustainable forest management in Menorca in a context of climate change (LIFE BOSCOS-MENORCA)

Image author: Javier García Fernández/ Fototeca CENEAM

The LIFE BOSCOS Menorca project, launched in January 2009 by the Island Council of Mallorca, had as its central objective the adaptation of Mediterranean forest ecosystems to the adverse impacts of climate change through sustainable forest management practices. This five-year project sought to directly address the challenges imposed by climate change in Menorca, an island that, due to its geography and climate, faced unique environmental risks that required specific adaptive solutions.

The LIFE BOSCOS approach was particularly relevant given the predicted increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as droughts and forest fires, which were particularly damaging to island forest ecosystems. In addition, the project included a strong component of community participation and inter-institutional collaboration, working together with private landowners, forest managers and various social actors to promote forest management that was both ecologically and socially sustainable.

Case Study Description

Challenges:

The Mediterranean islands are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. All models agree in forecasting an increase in water stress and its associated risks for this region: drought, pests, fires, as well as those linked to changes in ecological conditions (extinction of species, desynchronisation of mutualisms, alteration of biodiversity, phenological changes). Insularity is also a factor that will increase the vulnerability associated with these effects.

In addition to the changes related to the acceleration of climate change, there are socio-economic changes (livestock crisis, increase in recreational activities, energy crisis, economic crisis), which will lead to a scenario of significant transformation in the island's forest structure that may affect the adaptive response capacity of the forest communities and put at risk the ecosystem functions and services of supply, regulation and cultural services.

Objectives:

General objective:

To contribute to the adaptation of the Mediterranean forest ecosystems of Menorca to the negative impacts of climate change, through sustainable forest management.

Partial objectives:

Demonstrate the feasibility of reducing the vulnerability of forest systems to climate change through forest management actions conducted on private farms.
Develop forest management guidelines at the island level, with governance and participation criteria, which allow forest ecosystems to adapt to climate change scenarios.
Train owners, managers and other social agents linked to forests in aspects related to sustainable forest management and good forestry practices.
Raise awareness of society at large about the values of forests, the impacts of climate change and the role of sustainable forest management in this context.

Adaptation measures implemented in the case study:

Structural/physical: Technology options

Structural/physical: Ecosystemic options

Social: Education options

Social: Information options

Social: Behavior options

Solutions:

Information and analysis of the effects of climate change on Mediterranean forest areas
Developing forest management guidelines at the island level
Drafting of pilot plans for forest management of farms
Implementing of pilot tests of forest management plans on farms
Conducting an environmental assessment of the implementation of forest management guidelines
Evaluating the cost-efficiency of actions
Analysing the non-implementation of guidelines
Training managers
Informing the public.
Disseminating results
Execution of pilot tests: on ten farms, silvicultural actions were conducted on 22.30 hectares of forest and improvements were made on 581 meters of stone walls.
Reducing competition among trees
Reducing scrub cover
Encouraging pasture growth (allowing entrance for livestock)
Promoting seed regeneration
Conducting sanitary treatments (pruning)
Conducting Hydrological restitution

Importance and relevance of the adaptation:

Ecological Resilience: The project was designed to strengthen the resilience of Menorca's forests through the implementation of management techniques that not only mitigate the effects of climate change, but also promote the recovery and maintenance of biodiversity. This included actions such as reducing tree density to reduce competition for limited resources and increase resistance to pests and diseases.

Water Resource Sustainability: In a context where water stress was a growing problem, LIFE BOSCOS implemented practices that improved water use efficiency and soil conservation, helping to maintain the hydrological balance of forest ecosystems, and mitigating the effects of drought.

Governance and Community Participation: The project emphasised the importance of participatory governance in forest management, integrating landowners and other local stakeholders in the decision-making process. This ensured that adaptation measures were accepted and effective, reflecting the needs and priorities of the local community.

Additional Details

Stakeholder engagement:

Developer: Agency Menorca Biosphere Reserve
Administration: Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Territory of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
Other research centres: Menorcan Institute of Studies and Socio-environmental Observatory of Menorca
University: Scientific committee of the project, with staff from the University of the Balearic Islands, Generalitat Catalunya, Forest Technology Centre Catalonia, Alcalá Henares University
Other entities involved: Project monitoring committee, which is made up of social agents on the island, including the Balearic Ornithological Group, Unió de Pagesos, Forestry Business Association, Menorca Excursionists Union, etc.

The awareness-raising and dissemination actions that have been conducted include:

Guide to good forest management practices for adaptation to climate change in Menorca
Training Seminar on Forest Management for Climate Change Adaptation: Challenges and Opportunities
Manual for the preparation of forest management plans

Project interest:

The incorporation of practical pilot actions in the project, which were subsequently monitored, enabled an initial evaluation and redefinition of the planning and management guidelines for Menorca's forests in the face of climate change.

Furthermore, the information obtained was transferred within the island's agroforestry sector and at seminars and congresses, with the aim of promoting sustainable and adaptive forest management of Menorca's forests, and by extension of the Mediterranean basin, in the face of climate change.

Success and limiting factors:

During the development of LIFE+BOSCOS, as much importance was attached to the implementation of direct actions to improve forest planning and management on the island (the what) as to the development of governance tools in the implementation of these measures (the how).

For example, work was done on the participation of society in decision-making; on establishing formulas for relations and collaboration between farmers and landowners; on making the economic and social activity of the forest compatible without compromising its conservation; and, finally, instruments were developed to improve coordination between the competent administrations in the management of the territory.

Budget, funding and additional benefits:

Total project cost: €1,145,000 (€571,000, EU contribution)

The additional benefits of the project have been in three principal areas:

Environmental awareness in terms of contributing to a better environmental understanding of the effects of climate change and on environmental services in general. In this sense, an opinion poll was carried out at the beginning and at the end of the project and is available on the project website.

An important additional benefit was the adjustment and introduction of measures financed by public support for the agricultural sector to improve the adaptation of forest systems to climate change. In particular, the knowledge generated in the cost/benefit studies of the pilot farms was used to transfer it to all the farms on the island within the Biosphere Reserve Agrarian Contract (a public call that recognises the environmental services of farmers).

A third environmental benefit has been to improve social understanding of the diagnosis of the forestry sector. As a result of the participatory meetings to define the adaptive forest management guidelines, progress was made in the mutual understanding of the different sectors involved.

Legal aspects:

The project used a planning tool such as the Forest Management Plans, but it also made a specific contribution to these tools to incorporate actions for adaptive management to climate change with the publication of the Manual for the preparation of forest management plans.

On the other hand, the drafting and approval of the Balearic Islands Forestry Plan took place in parallel to the implementation of the LIFE-BOSCOS project. The incorporation of climate change as a factor to be considered was included in the plan as part of:

AXIS II.- ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

CHALLENGE 2.- FOREST MANAGEMENT AND ADAPTIVE FORESTRY OF FORESTS TO THE FORESEEABLE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

Implementation time:

January 2009 - June 2015

Reference Information

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