From waste to wonders

This factsheet explores how managing forests to be used as spiritual forests and forest kindergartens could benefit both the forest and the forest owner. The core impact of the case study is to raise awareness of the importance of cultural ecosystem services and to motivate forest actors to manage forests appropriately.

• cultural ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem services
• spiritual forests
• funeral forests
• private forests

This innovation case is strengthening the link between forests and water with the overall aim of diversifying financing sources for forest management by integrating ecosystem service provision into the economic balance sheet. Work includes integration in the Urban Masterplan for the Rialb Reservoir where different local stakeholders (economic, tourism, water and others) are already working together. The aim is for written recognition in a legal document of the role of forestry in water and landscape conservation, and the recognition of forestry as a potentially relevant economic activity in the area that can be promoted along with tourism. The innovation action also works with the public Segre-Rialb Consortium to assess the suitability of a payment for ecosystem services scheme in relation to water in the area.

• ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem services
• water regulation
• water quality
• water availability
• water provision
• forest-water planning
• joint strategic planning
• joint forest management
• participatory design
• forest and water fund

The “Mushrooms of Borgotaro IGP” are produced in the woods of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The way the woods are managed has a great influence on the micro-climate of the undergrowth and consequently on fungal production. The Consorzio Comunalie Parmensi intends to improve the commercialisation of recreational permits for wild mushrooms collection in forest through an online platform. One of the main goals of this innovation case is to have a better distribution of mushroom pickers in the forest, avoiding their concentration in specific areas.

• recreational mushroom picking
• mushroom picking permits
• application-based tool
• online marketing
• online commercialisation