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Management of natural forests in Costa Rica allows timber extraction in so far as it is guaranteed that the logging activities comply with diverse Sustainability Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCIs). These are hierarchical and complex systems used, ex-ante in the formulation and approval of the Management Plan but have not been used for ex-post evaluation of managed forests. Development of sustainability evaluation systems that include few criteria is highly recommended. In that sense, the choice experiments contribute to simplification of the initial system of decision making, complementing a complex system of PCIs that permits detailed analysis of the management units. In this study, a choice experiment was included in a Delphi application and 5 key variables were identified to evaluate the sustainability of managed natural forests. These variables are, in order of importance&mdash, technical, legal and administrative conditions, external financing conditions, production performance, costs of preparing the Management Plan, and payment mechanisms for environmental services. The definition of these variables confirms not only that the technical, legal and administrative conditions are critical for sustainability but also that they could reflect the type of governance involved in sustainability forest management.

Trabajo presentado a la X Reunión de Ungulados Silvestres Ibéricos (RUSI): “Ungulate Rewilding: Challenges and Opportunities”, celebrada en Lousã, Coimbra (Portugal) el 18 y 19 de octubre de 2019.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al XIV Congreso de la Sociedad Española para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM), celebrado en Jaca (Huesca) del 5 al 8 de diciembre de 2019., Los atlas de distribución de mamíferos constituyen la principal fuente de información sobre la distribución a gran escala de la mayoría de estas especies. Sin embargo, en algunas ocasiones, los mapas proporcionados en los atlas no reflejan fehacientemente la distribución de ciertas especies por diferentes motivos, como por ejemplo: 1) la dificultad de detección propia de determinadas especies; 2) la falta de muestreos u observadores en amplias zonas, que determina la escasez o incluso la total ausencia de citas; y 3) los cambios en la distribución de las especies en el tiempo. Un buen ejemplo de todo esto es el mapa de distribución del meloncillo (Herpestes ichneumon) que, en el caso de España, parece haberse quedado obsoleto desde la publicación del último atlas (SECEM, 2007). Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo es actualizar la distribución del meloncillo en la península Ibérica combinando dos aproximaciones. Por un lado, se realizaron sendas encuestas a agentes medioambientales de Andalucía y Castilla-La Mancha en las que se preguntaba por observaciones de meloncillo dentro y fuera de su demarcación territorial. Por otro lado, se recopilaron citas de meloncillo proporcionadas por expertos de ambas Comunidades. En particular, se obtuvo información de avistamientos, foto-trampeo y atropellos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el meloncillo está presente en casi la totalidad de las provincias occidentales de Andalucía y Castilla-La Mancha. Su presencia es más ocasional en las provincias orientales, aunque se han registrado citas en algunas de ellas, como por ejemplo Cuenca y Guadalajara. Este trabajo pone de manifiesto la utilidad de las encuestas a determinados colectivos que trabajan en el medio natural y abarcan una buena cobertura geográfica para mejorar el conocimiento de la distribución de algunas especies de mamíferos para las que la información de citas ocasionales puede no ser suficiente. Además, una revisión exhaustiva de información recopilada por expertos puede contribuir también a la elaboración de mapas de distribución más precisos de estas especies.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al I Congreso Ibérico de Ciencia Aplicada a los Recursos Cinegéticos (CICARC), celebrado en Ciudad Real (España) del 1 al 4 de julio de 2019.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al XIV Congreso de la Sociedad Española para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM), celebrado en Jaca (Huesca) del 5 al 8 de diciembre de 2019.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al 8th European Congress of Mammalogy, celebrado en Varsovia (Polonia) del 23 al 27 de noviembre de 2019.

En esta investigación se presenta en primer lugar la metodología aplicada en RECAMAN, que incluye el sistema de cuentas agroforestales simplificado (se omiten las actividades animales y agrícolas), el método de valor de cambio simulado y los métodos de valoración empleados para cada una de las actividades consideradas. El sistema de contabilidad de los ecosistemas presentado amplía el concepto de proceso productivo manufacturado admitido por el actual sistema de cuentas nacionales, al incorporar los procesos productivos naturales de las actividades públicas y las ganancias de capital. El objetivo es medir la renta total social, la renta ambiental y los capitales sociales privados y públicos. La renta ambiental se obtiene residualmente y representa la contribución de los servicios del ecosistema que se producen sin la intervención humana a su renta total social. Los valores comerciales se estiman directamente del mercado. Para las actividades actualmente fuera del mercado se aplican métodos de valoración ambiental para estimar las demandas de bienes y servicios no comerciales. Utilizando esta información y los costes implicados se utiliza el método del valor de cambio simulado para estimar los valores que se intercambiarían si el bien o servicio estuviera comercializado. Esto permite integrar estos valores de servicios y productos no comerciales de manera consistente en las cuentas con valores comerciales. Los resultados se muestran en forma de tablas, gráficos y mapas, al encontrarse todos los valores georreferenciados. Se obtienen valores para el conjunto de Andalucía, para las ocho provincias y para las vegetaciones principales. Los resultados muestran que el capital en los ecosistemas forestales de Andalucía es principalmente ambiental, siendo el servicio ambiental privado el componente principal, seguido de los servicios recreativos públicos. Respecto a la renta total, las actividades ambientales siguen siendo las que más contribuyen, en especial los servicios ambientales privados, el carbono y el agua forestal, aunque hay que resaltar la importancia de la renta total generada por la actividad forestal, especialmente por la mano de obra ligada a esta actividad. Las metodologías de valoración de las rentas de los activos individuales y las aplicaciones experimentales a escala regional en cerca de 4,4 millones de hectáreas de ecosistemas forestales de Andalucía representan una novedad entre las publicaciones que están apareciendo sobre la valoración de los servicios de los ecosistemas en la literatura internacional especializada. El contenido de esta investigación sigue una presentación de resultados a escala de Andalucía y por especies forestales principales individuales y agregadas por formaciones vegetales. Los resultados se presentan por cuentas privadas, públicas (del gobierno) y sociales. El análisis del texto se centra en los resultados sociales. Se presentan los resultados de renta ambiental por vegetaciones clasificada en servicios de suministro de materias primas (madera, corcho, leña, frutos industriales, pastos y bellotas, agua y setas), regulación (carbono, paisaje y biodiversidad amenazada) y culturales (residenciales, caza, autoconsumo ambiental, y recreativo público).

National accounting either ignores or fails to give due values to a country´s ecosystem services, products, total income and environmental asset variations. To overcome these shortcomings, we develop a spatially-explicit extended ecosystem accounting framework, which we test in the Mediterranean forests of Andalusia (Spain). This framework goes beyond the production boundary of standard national accounting by considering four private activities (forestry, hunting, residential and private amenity) and six public activities (mushroom, carbon, water, recreation, landscape and threatened biodiversity). To keep valuation consistent with standard accounts, we simulate exchange values for non-market goods and services. Manufactured capital and environmental assets are also integrated. Upon comparing extended to standard accounts, our results are 3.7 and 2.9 higher for gross value added and total income, respectively. These differences are explained primarily by the undervaluation of recreation, landscape and threatened biodiversity, and the omission of private amenity, carbon and water activities in standard accounts. Extended accounts, with their implementation of simulated exchange values, demonstrate that standard accounts measures only 17% of Andalusian forest ecosystem services. Published

National accounting either ignores or fails to give due values to a country´s ecosystem services, products, total income and environmental asset variations. To overcome these shortcomings, we develop a spatially-explicit extended ecosystem accounting framework, which we test in the Mediterranean forests of Andalusia (Spain). This framework goes beyond the production boundary of standard national accounting by considering four private activities (forestry, hunting, residential and private amenity) and six public activities (mushroom, carbon, water, recreation, landscape and threatened biodiversity). To keep valuation consistent with standard accounts, we simulate exchange values for non-market goods and services. Manufactured capital and environmental assets are also integrated. Upon comparing extended to standard accounts, our results are 3.7 and 2.9 higher for gross value added and total income, respectively. These differences are explained primarily by the undervaluation of recreation, landscape and threatened biodiversity, and the omission of private amenity, carbon and water activities in standard accounts. Extended accounts, with their implementation of simulated exchange values, demonstrate that standard accounts measures only 17% of Andalusian forest ecosystem services.

Aim of study: We aim at (i) developing a reference definition of mixed forests in order to harmonize comparative research in mixed forests and (ii) review the research perspectives in mixed forests.Area of study: The definition is developed in Europe but can be tested worldwide.Material and Methods: Review of existent definitions of mixed forests based and literature review encompassing dynamics, management and economic valuation of mixed forests.Main results: A mixed forest is defined as a forest unit, excluding linear formations, where at least two tree species coexist at any developmental stage, sharing common resources (light, water, and/or soil nutrients). The presence of each of the component species is normally quantified as a proportion of the number of stems or of basal area, although volume, biomass or canopy cover as well as proportions by occupied stand area may be used for specific objectives. A variety of structures and patterns of mixtures can occur, and the interactions between the component species and their relative proportions may change over time.The research perspectives identified are (i) species interactions and responses to hazards, (ii) the concept of maximum density in mixed forests, (iii) conversion of monocultures to mixed-species forest and (iv) economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by mixed forests.Research highlights: The definition is considered a high-level one which encompasses previous attempts to define mixed forests. Current fields of research indicate that gradient studies, experimental design approaches, and model simulations are key topics providing new research opportunities. Aim of study: We aim at (i) developing a reference definition of mixed forests in order to harmonize comparative research in mixed forests and (ii) review the research perspectives in mixed forests.Area of study: The definition is developed in Europe but can be tested worldwide.Material and Methods: Review of existent definitions of mixed forests based and literature review encompassing dynamics, management and economic valuation of mixed forests.Main results: A mixed forest is defined as a forest unit, excluding linear formations, where at least two tree species coexist at any developmental stage, sharing common resources (light, water, and/or soil nutrients). The presence of each of the component species is normally quantified as a proportion of the number of stems or of basal area, although volume, biomass or canopy cover as well as proportions by occupied stand area may be used for specific objectives. A variety of structures and patterns of mixtures can occur, and the interactions between the component species and their relative proportions may change over time.The research perspectives identified are (i) species interactions and responses to hazards, (ii) the concept of maximum density in mixed forests, (iii) conversion of monocultures to mixed-species forest and (iv) economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by mixed forests.Research highlights: The definition is considered a high-level one which encompasses previous attempts to define mixed forests. Current fields of research indicate that gradient studies, experimental design approaches, and model simulations are key topics providing new research opportunities.

18 Pág. Centro de Investigación Forestal (CIFOR), This study was supported by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid-Funded Research, Development and Innovation Programme (specifically the Funding for predoctoral contracts for the completion of doctoral degrees at UPM schools, faculties, and R&D centers) and project RTI2018-096348-R-C21 funded by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation

Landowners' attitudes towards energy crops are a keystone for the fulfillment of the European Union objectives of energy production (electrical, thermal and biofuels) from biomass in the next years. Economic instruments play a fundamental role to increase the participation of the landowners in renewable energy schemes. A discrete choice experiment was conducted using a mail survey to 268 private forest landowners from the Andalusia region (southern Spain). The aim was to examine forest landowners' willingness to implement afforestation schemes considering short rotation plantations based on woody energy crops (eucalyptus, paulownia and poplar) and traditional tree species (holm oak and pine). Results show that afforestation with holm oak is the preferred alternative followed by woody energy crops. According to the experiment results, the participation of about half of the Andalusian forest owners in a woody energy crops scheme would imply a public expenditure in incentives for this land use change of 265 million of euros, i.e. an unrealistic figure given the current institutional framework for renewables in Europe. Finally, it is shown that compensations to forest landowners are affected by the payment timeframe and that the discount rate implicitly used by landowners exceeds the 4% rate commonly used in forest economics literature.

9 Pág., The EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 sets out a framework of commitments and actions to tackle the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Such framework needs to be built on a whole-of-society approach to biodiversity protection, mobilizing private and public funding. In this context, our goal was estimating societal support and preferences about some basic wildlife management principles, which may be useful to inform EU decision-makers about societal priorities and other additional funding sources for wildlife conservation. A discrete choice experiment was conducted by 2415 inhabitants in six European countries (Spain, France, Italy, UK, Germany, Sweden), including residents in both rural (47% of respondents) and urban areas. Our findings reveal a clear pattern across western Europe with similar trends along the studied countries, and even between rural and urban citizens, on some basic wildlife management principles. According to our survey, payments for environmental services contribute to achieving a higher well-being from European citizens in any of the prospective wildlife programs considered, which suggests it is an acceptable tool to share out funds for biodiversity conservation. In addition, managing scarce species is preferred over managing too abundant species; management in forest, agricultural and aquatic habitats is prioritized over that in urban landscapes; and management in protected areas is preferred over management in non-protected ones. These findings suggest that there is a common culture in Europe related to the management of wildlife even when considering citizens with contrasted ways of life: rural vs urban citizens from northern to southwestern Europe. Overall, this study may help in the design of wildlife management policies that maximize societal acceptability and gather higher support., This study was funded by project RTI2018-096348-R-C21/C22 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, Spain, UE).

9 Pág. Instituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR), Conflicts derived from the proactive management of ecosystems and wildlife populations abound in national parks, which can prevent the control of some animal populations, consequently causing negative effects to the ecological values and creating health risks for the ecosystems. This work quantifies a conflict related to population control of the Iberian ibex in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park in Spain where ecological values and health risks are at stake. A discrete choice experiment was conducted of three population samples: 430 on-site visitors, 210 off-site visitors and 210 non-visitors, and two levels of status quo information were considered. The results show that not conducting any ibex management program in the park causes a loss of social well-being and that the design of the management program is shown to be relevant for obtaining greater or lesser acceptance by the surveyed population. In general, better ecological and health levels, as well as avoiding having to kill animals in the park, increase a program's acceptance. Management measures are also shown to take on greater importance to the extent that the results in the health and ecological indicators are worse. Finally, in aggregate terms, additional information about the status quo did not generate major differences in the estimates of a change of well-being., This work has been financed by project RTI2018-096348-R-C21 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation), with the consent of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Autonomous Community of Madrid).