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Exploring climate-smart forestry in Mediterranean forests through an innovative composite climate-smart index

Publications

Nov 12, 2025
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Mountain forest in Dolomites, Italy. Source: Epic Vision / Adobe Stock

This study develops and tests a novel composite climate-smart index (ICSF) to assess Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) in Mediterranean forests, using data from Italian National Forest Inventory (NFI). Eight carefully weighted indicators were applied across three pillars – adaptation, mitigation, and the social dimension – to evaluate CSF in 2005 and 2015. Tree species composition, forest damage, and regeneration were identified as key drivers. The results show a positive trend in CSF values over the last two decades, demonstrating the potential of the ICSF as a practical tool for forest managers to enhance resilience and mitigate climate-related impacts.

The publication introduces a practical methodology for assessing Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) in Mediterranean forests through a new composite index (ICSF). Building on extensive literature review, eight indicators were selected to capture adaptation, mitigation, and socio-economic aspects of CSF. The Analytic Hierarchy Process translated expert stakeholder preferences into indicator weights, enabling a structured assessment for Italian forests in 2005 and 2015.

The analysis highlights tree species composition, forest damage, and regeneration as the most influential indicators for evaluating CSF. Results show a slight increase in ICSF values over the ten-year period, indicating positive trends in forest resilience and management practices. By combining systematic indicator selection, national-scale inventory data, and expert weighting, the ICSF offers a replicable, user-friendly approach to monitor and guide forest management in the Mediterranean. This tool supports forest managers in aligning practices with climate adaptation and mitigation objectives, providing actionable insights for sustainable forest stewardship.

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Source/Author(s)
  • Diana Alfieri
  • Roberto Tognetti
  • Giovanni Santopuoli
Topic
  • Implementation
  • Monitoring & Projecting
Stakeholders
  • Landowners & Practitioners
  • Planners & Implementers
  • Policy Actors
Biogeographic region
  • Mediterranean
Countries
  • Italy
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