Spatial Optimization and Tradeoffs of Alternative Forest Management Scenarios in Macedonia, Greece

Managing forests has been demonstrated to be an efficient strategy for fragmenting fuels and reducing fire spread rates severity. However, large-scale analyses examine operational aspects of implementing different forest management scenarios meet governance objectives are nonexistent many Mediterranean countries. In this study we described optimization framework build that leverages simulation, management, tradeoff areas in Macedonia, Greece. We the evaluate five priorities aimed at (1) protection developed areas, (2) optimized commercial timber harvests, (3) ecosystem services, (4) resilience, (5) suppression difficulty. Results revealed by managing approximately 33,000 ha across all lands allocations 100 projects, area accounted 16% wildfire exposure was treated while harvesting 2.5% total wood volume. The treatments also reduced on responsible 3% potential impacts sites with important difficulty transmission protected attainment 4.5% 16%, respectively. tested performance multiple district when applying a proposed four-year fuel treatment plan targeted achieving high levels treating less but strategically selected lands. Sharp tradeoffs were observed among priorities, especially harvest production compared difficulty, areas.