Biodiversity conservation and wood production in a Natura 2000 Mediterranean forest. A trade-off evaluation focused on the occurrence of microhabitats

The study investigates how different silvicultural interventions affect the balance between biodiversity conservation and timber production within a Natura 2000 Mediterranean forest. Tree-related Microhabitats (TreMs) were assessed across all living and standing dead trees to evaluate habitat value, while timber production was measured through biomass removal, the number of harvested trees and economic return. By simulating four harvesting scenarios, the authors provide a detailed comparison of ecological and economic outcomes.

The results show that TreMs increase with tree diameter and that large trees contain significantly more microhabitats, making them high-value habitat trees. Scenarios prioritising production remove more TreMs, while the conservation-oriented scenario (S4) preserves most microhabitats yet still yields a substantial economic return. This demonstrates the practical trade-offs forest managers face when balancing ecosystem services.

The study also highlights the importance of integrating TreM-based assessment into sustainable forest management, particularly in protected areas such as Man and Biosphere (MaB) reserves and Natura 2000 sites. The authors argue that TreMs can serve as valuable indicators for identifying habitat trees, improving decision-making in tree marking operations, and enhancing structural diversity.

Overall, the article reinforces the idea that biodiversity conservation and timber production are not mutually exclusive, provided that ecological indicators like TreMs are used to guide silvicultural decisions. The work contributes to wider European efforts to reconcile forest multifunctionality, policy aims and practical management.