Multiple ecosystem services modelling and mapping for Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (NE Italy) planning Carbon storage and Recreation Ecosystem Services.

Ecosystem services (ESs) mapping and quantification is considered a key resource for policy support and decision making. Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (NE Italy) has recently expressed the interest to evaluate its natural capital from a ESs point of view to address novel planning strategies. In this light, we developed a pilot framework for integrating ES concept in the regional planning. In the first phase we presented the ES concept to regional decision makers and starting from the available information on nature-based potential two ESs were selected for quantification. Secondly, we quantified and mapped the selected ESs through transferable modelling frameworks. In the third phase (in progress), the developed contents, integrated to show synergies and trade-offs, were discussed in relation to land management and environmental strategies. In this study we present the second step of the framework, which correspond to the quantification and mapping of the two ESs, namely carbon stock and recreation, in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (NE Italy). Carbon storage and recreation ESs were chosen to address territorial strategies for climate change mitigation and support of societal values provided by ecosystems in terms of life-quality and wellness. The InVEST carbon model was used to spatialize literature and regional data of carbon stocked in four pools (aboveground, belowground, in soil and in litter) using as a reference layer the Corine Biotopes map. ARIES recreation model functions and data were customized and employed to model nature-based recreation: supply was computed through a multiplicative function of naturalness and the distance-driven accessibility of natural elements, and demand was computed through an additive function of population density and recreation-driven mobility. The abovementioned layers were aggregated to highlight synergies and trade-offs. Carbon stocked in biomass was associated to the northern forested area of the region, with highest values occurring in silver fir and spruce forests, while soil C maxima were found in plain plantations where active management facilitate C retention. Recreation supply was high along plain riverbeds, in the Alps, in lagoon wetlands and in the karst, while demand was high in the surroundings of provincial capitals In conclusion, this framework is triggering ES concept integration in the next regional planning programs. The presented research provided for the first time an advanced, intuitive and reproducible informative content to open a discussion about land management and environmental strategies, associated to an agreed key to understanding.