Ecological-economic analysis and evaluation of Water Ecosystem Servicies (ES) of Forest System of the Marche Region

This research aims to investigate the role of forest cover and forest management and their Ecosystem Services (ES) in the context of the water balance, the protection of hydrogeological instability and soil erosion of the Marche Region (according to the objectives of the Reclamation Plan and the Helsinki Resolution (MCPFE 2011)) to better define an action strategy for the correct use of water resources and their priority use, in order to improve the management of water resources, in current and future conditions, and to increase hydraulic safety and the prevention of hydrogeological risk, since, with some local exceptions (Goio et al., 2008) and in-depth studies aimed at certain geographical areas (Santolini et al. 2015), the ecological functions of forest systems and their ESs have not been subjected to a sufficiently thorough evaluation. Another research objective is to estimate the ecological-economic value of the ESs and environmental clusters (SEA, article 70, LN221 / 15) relating to the water cycle and the instability, provided by forest cover, in order to express values of indirect use, associated with protective functions, also to assess environmental and resource costs, as established by Decree n. 39, 24/02/2015. Preliminary results of the study carried out on the entire territory of the Marche Region show how the forest areas have a decisive influence on water balance, in its production and in storage, depending also on the forest management typology adopted. In general, the sub-basins and the basins with a greater surface area covered by forests show a greater capacity of storage and regulation of the water. In the same way, the forest areas contribute to preventing hydraulic and hydro-geological risks (soil erosion) as opposed to the more populated areas.[M1]